March 2007
1 March 2007
Brussels, 28 Feb (IndianMuslims.info) A Palestinian national unity government provides the international community with an important opportunity for a much-needed change in policy towards the Palestinians. Failure to do so risks provoking greater internal Palestinian strife as well as Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"After Mecca: Engaging Hamas", the latest report from the International Crisis Group, examines the Saudi-brokered Mecca Agreement between rival Palestinian organisations Hamas and Fatah. Providing a detailed examination of the agreement and an analysis of Hamas based on extensive discussions with the Palestinian Islamist movement and others, it concludes there are significant challenges but also the chance of a fresh start: for the Palestinians to restore law and order and negotiate genuine power-sharing arrangements; for Israelis and Palestinians to establish a comprehensive cessation of hostilities; and for the international community to focus on a credible peace process.
“A year of pressure and sanctions has extracted little from Hamas�, says Mouin Rabbani, Crisis Group Senior Analyst. “The Quartet – the U.S., EU, Russia and UN – needs to adopt a pragmatic approach that judges a new government by its conduct and seeks to influence its deeds, not its members’ ideology. The alternatives are either illusory or worse�.
The past year has been fruitless for all sides. Hamas has failed to govern, Fatah has failed to rule, and their escalating conflict has been fuelled by the combination of international sanctions and foreign promotion of their power-struggle. While the EU pumped more money into the occupied territories more ineffectively and less transparently, Western commitment to democracy in the Middle East has been roundly discredited, and diplomacy has been virtually non-existent. By almost every standard – governance, security, economics, institution-building and the peace process – there has been only regression.
Without a Hamas-Fatah power-sharing arrangement and as long as the Islamists remain marginalised and unable to govern, there can be no sustainable diplomacy.
*
Hamas and Fatah should demilitarise their political rivalry and negotiate sustainable power-sharing arrangements open to all Palestinian political organisations.
*
The PA government and presidency should cooperate to negotiate a speedy prisoner exchange and comprehensive cessation of hostilities with Israel.
*
The EU and its Member States should engage the new Palestinian government and Hamas with the goal of ensuring the Islamists’ conduct is compatible with the objective of a two-state settlement rather than that of ousting it from power.
*
The members of the Quartet and Israel should refrain from undermining either the Mecca Agreement or attempts at engagement by other parties.
“If the international community is serious about its proclaimed goals, it will help stabilise inter-Palestinian relations, broker a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire, permit the unity government to govern and press for meaningful negotiations between Abbas and Olmert,� says Robert Malley, Crisis Group’s Middle East Program Director. “It will see Mecca as an opportunity to revive the peace process, rather than as yet another excuse to bury it�.
Link:
By Manish Chand,
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Snamprogetti, the Italian company Ottavio Quattrocchi represented for nearly 30 years in India, appears to have run out of luck in this country after the canny businessman, known once for his connections to the Gandhi family, got entangled in the Bofors gun scandal in the mid-1980s.
Snamprogetti, a Milan-based Italian fertiliser and engineering multinational, hasn't won any new project in India for quite some time.
It is mostly involved in the expansion of the existing projects like those of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO) at Phulpur and Tata Chemicals unit at Barbala in Uttar Pradesh, and the Chambal Fertilisers factory in Madhya Pradesh, company sources told IANS.
The company has a liaison office here with a support staff of barely six-eight people.
Snamprogetti was, however, not a party to the $2.1 billion Bofors gun deal in which several million dollars were, according to the Central Bureau of Investigation, paid to Quattrocchi - often referred to as simply 'Q' - for fixing the multi-billion dollar defence contract.
"Quattrocchi quit the company around the time he left India in 1993," a company official, who did not wish to be named, told IANS.
The multinational is now represented by Ashok Chopra in India. Snamprogetti, part of the Eni group and one of Europe's largest contractors, has operated more than 900 projects in nearly 100 countries of the world.
The company's business prospects in India soared when Quattrocchi arrived with his wife Maria in February 1964. The Italian couple cashed in on their ties with the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and his Italian-born wife Sonia Gandhi and gained unfettered access to key bureaucrats and politicians in his office.
With deft liaison with the powers-that-be in India and a free use of the Gandhi name, Snamprogetti's stock rose with the company winning its first big contracts during the emergency regime in the mid-seventies.
IFFCO's Phulpur plant with a urea capacity of 1,550 tonnes a day (mtd), four units of Krishak Bharati Co-operative Ltd (KRIBHCO) at Hazira, each with a capacity of 1,100 mtd, and the Trombay V and the Thal Vaishet plants of Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd were some of the first fertiliser projects executed by Snamprogetti in India between 1975-1986.
The big break for Snamprogetti came when it won contracts for the 10 plants (including two expansion projects) to be fed by natural gas from the HBJ (Hajira-Bijaipur-Jagdishpur) pipeline.
As all these plants depended on gas supplied by the public sector GAIL India Ltd from Bombay High through the HBJ pipeline, the company decided to make Snamprogetti the chosen technology licensor and contractor for all the projects.
Although the Italian firm was known for its cutting edge technology, those in the know argued that these projects were awarded to the company despite rivals offering a lower price.
Another big moment for Snamprogetti was when the then prime minister Indira Gandhi reversed a decision of the previous Janata Party government and awarded a contract for the Thai-Vaishet fertiliser complex to the Italian firm and its Danish associate Haldor Topsoe.
The World Bank and the Confederation of Engineering Industry (the predecessor of the Confederation of Indian Industry - CII) contended that that the fertiliser plants, which came up along the HBJ pipeline, cost the country an extra Rs.100 crore (over $22 million).
In his book, "Beyond Boundaries: A Memoir," the London-based Indian businessman Swraj Paul and head of the Caparo Group, has written revealingly about how he annoyed Rajiv Gandhi because he refused to oblige Quattrocchi despite "strenuous efforts" made by his office to get him to buy Snamprogetti equipment for a fertilizer project he was planning in India.
Shimla, March 1 (IANS) As many as 151 Dalits who had once converted to Christianity have returned to the Hindu fold after a religious ritual in a temple here.
"One hundred and fifty-one Christians have become Hindus again after an elaborate Hindu ceremony carried out in a Shimla temple on Wednesday," said Tarsem Bharti, chairman of the All India Scheduled Caste and Tribes Association here Thursday.
Mahant Suryanath, a priest of the Sanatan Dharma Temple, first washed the feet of each of them and offered them water from the holy Ganges river to drink. Then he welcomed them to the Hindu fold amid reciting of Vedic mantras by Brahmins.
"We welcome the children's return to Hinduism," said Suryanath.
Bharti said: "Many more people want to return to the Hindu fold after they were converted to Christianity as they were induced into it."
In Himahcal Pradesh, an anti-conversion law came into effect On Feb 21, banning forcible religious conversions.
The All India Christians Council (AICC) had warned, "it would challenge the law passed by the state assembly as it was against the minorities and was unconstitutional."
New Delhi, March 1(IRNA) Continuing its offensive against Tamil rebels, Sri Lankan jets today bombed suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) positions in the island's northeast, killing 18 people.
The aerial raids were conducted by MIG jets on a rebel training camp in Vavuniya, PTI reported here quoting Defence Ministry sources who didn't give further details.
Sri Lanka has intensified attacks on LTTE after the rebels fired mortars at two helicopters carrying foreign diplomats and a government minister to the restive eastern Batticaloa district on Tuesday.
The navy yesterday attacked a rebel flotilla in the eastern waters, destroying two of the boats.
In another incident, naval patrol boats fired at and sank a large vessel believed to have been carrying arms for the rebels. At least 15 separatists are believed to have died in the two incidents.
Over 60,000 people have died in the decades-long struggle for independence waged by the LTTE. With the surge in fighting since December 2005, over 3,800 lives have been lost on both sides.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid hit centuries apiece as India defeated defending champions Sri Lanka by 157 runs in a Group A match in the 1999 World Cup in England.
Ganguly notched up a magnificent 183 and Dravid made a solid 145 to virtually scupper Sri Lanka's chances at the County Ground in Taunton, May 26.
The duo shared the first triple century partnership in one-day internationals as India piled up 373 for six in 50 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka failed to put up a brave front and were all out for 216 in 42.3 overs.
The Sri Lankan fielding was atrocious with innumerable catches being spilled and the bowling was made to look like a Sunday afternoon romp as Ganguly and Dravid made mincemeat of the attack.
Left-hander Ganguly hit 17 fours and seven sixes to become India's highest scorer in ODIs beating Kapil Dev's 175 not out against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells in the 1983 World Cup.
Sri Lanka needed to beat India to stay in the competition, but faced a massive task of bettering their opponents' total.
They faltered right from the start and barring a composed 56 by Aravinda de Silva and 47 by captain Arjuna Ranatunga the efforts from the batsmen were not enough to beat India.
SCOREBOARD
India vs. Sri Lanka, Group A match, World Cup, County Ground, Taunton, May 26, 1999
India:
Sadagoppan Ramesh b Vaas 5
Sourav Ganguly c sub b Wickramasinghe 183
Rahul Dravid run out (Muralitharan) 145
Sachin Tendulkar b Jayasuriya 2
Ajay Jadeja c & b Wickramasinghe 5
Robin Singh c de Silva b Wickramasinghe 0
Mohammed Azharuddin not out 12
Javagal Srinath not out 0
Extras: (lb 3, w 12, nb 6) 21
Total: (for six wickets in 50 overs) 373
Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Ramesh, 0.5 overs), 2-324 (Dravid, 45.4), 3-344 (Tendulkar, 46.5), 4-349 (Jadeja, 47.3), 5-349 (Singh, 47.4), 6-372 (Ganguly, 49.5)
Bowling:
Chaminda Vaas 10-0-84-1 (3nb, 1w)
Eric Upashantha 10-0-80-0 (3nb, 3w)
Pramodya Wickramasinghe 10-0-65-3 (1w)
Muttiah Muralitharan 10-0-60-0 (2w)
Mahela Jayawardene 3-0-21-0
Sanath Jayasuriya 3-0-37-1 (2w)
Aravinda de Silva 4-0-23-0 (1w)
Sri Lanka:
Sanath Jayasuriya run out (Srinath) 3
Romesh Kaluwitharana lbw Srinath 7
Maravan Atapattu lbw Mohanty 29
Aravinda de Silva lbw Singh 56
Mahela Jayawardene lbw Kumble 4
Arjuna Ranatunga b Singh 42
Roshan Mahanama run out (Tendulkar) 32
Chaminda Vaas c Ramesh b Singh 1
Eric Upashantha c Azharuddin b Singh 5
Pramodya Wickramasinghe not out 2
Muttiah Muralitharan c Tendulkar b Singh 4
Extras: (b 4, lb 12, w 8, nb 7) 31
Total: (all out in 42.3 overs) 216
Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Jayasuriya, 2.1 overs), 2-23 (Kaluwitharana, 4.3), 3-74 (Atapattu, 14.2), 4-79 (Jayawardene, 15.3), 5-147 (de Silva, 28.1), 6-181 (Ranatunga, 34.3), 7-187 (Vaas, 36.4), 8-203 (Upashantha, 40.6), 9-204 (Mahanama, 41.3)
Bowling:
Javagal Srinath 7-0-33-1 (1nb, 2w)
Venkatesh Prasad 8-0-41-0
Debashish Mohanty 5-0-31-1
Anil Kumble 8-0-27-1 (2w)
Sourav Ganguly 5-0-37-0 (2nb, 1w)
Robin Singh 9.3-0-31-5 (4nb, 2w)
Result: India won by 157 runs
Toss: Sri Lanka
Umpires: R.S. Dunne (New Zealand) and David Shepherd (England)
Third Umpire: Ray Julian (England)
Match Referee: Cammie Smith (West Indies)
Man of the Match: Sourav Ganguly (India)
By Badal Mukherji
India's Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, until very recently, was heading to Budget 2007 quite comfortably. With a GDP growth rate over 9 percent and foreign exchange reserves in excess of $180 billion, the Indian economy seemed to be well under control. But inflation and state elections created concern.
The latter gets into the budget debate through the agrarian constituency that most MPs have. This perhaps explains why Chidambaram began his budget presentation Wednesday with the statement that to him agriculture was the first priority.
However, with its share in GDP below 20 percent, there is no way that agriculture can play a dominant role in the economy. There are two major policy corrections required.
First, in order to enhance productivity, infrastructure and technology bottlenecks in agriculture have to be lifted. Secondly, in order to provide gainful employment to a very large number of unemployed people, non-agricultural jobs must be found. Within a year none of these problems can be solved by an annual budget; if anything, it is a five-year plan that should address these issues.
However, in the approach document of the 11th Five-Year Plan there are some general discussions on the subjects but no tangible policies.
To make a realistic dent in the unemployment problem the most important instrument is the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector. But I have not seen any serious understanding of the problems of the sector either in the approach document or in the budget. Vast majority of the SMEs do contract jobs for large corporates but get bankrupted because those contracts cannot be enforced. They get broke in court cases. The state must intervene with a suitable instrument and protocol.
As for inflation, it is observed that there has been 6.2 percent increase in the wholesale price index, implying something like a 12 percent increase in the consumer price index, which is not extraordinarily high but high enough to adversely affect the budget of the lower middle-class and the poor.
It is in order to grapple with this that Chidambaram has lowered the import duties, sales, excise and other indirect taxes; measures that will also increase imports and further lower prices.
Again, international steel, cement and petroleum prices have increased sharply, and the tax component of each of these has been substantially lowered. Whereas industry seems to be unhappy about the lack of any tax sops, they should be thankful that Chidambaram has still avoided the most powerful contra-cyclical instrument of inflation control, which is increase in private and corporate income taxes.
Indeed, if a combination of the monetary policy already instituted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the reduction of indirect taxes introduced in the budget fail to significantly lower inflation, then an increase in income-tax rates across the board will be inevitable.
Hindsight is so easy that I almost decided not to talk about mistakes of the recent past, but to the extent that they have a bearing on the current policy, they need to be sorted out. One of the biggest sources of generation of incomes is capital gain, both on land and buildings and on equity.
In a country where income distributions are so grossly skewed, capital gain must be taxed. But last year taxes on long-term capital gains of equity shares were in fact abolished. Last month there were published estimates of the loss of revenue on this account - it is somewhere between Rs.150-250 billion.
The simple re-imposition of this tax will immediately mop up a substantial percentage of aggregate demand. The point I am trying to make is that whereas RBI has responded with the monetary policy to contain inflation, the discussions about the supply side problems are slightly irrelevant in the short run; there is serious need for appropriate management on the demand side.
With the savings rate of 32 percent and the investment of 33 percent, a good rate of growth is almost assured, especially as it is driven by the service sector, almost independently of what the government does. It is a matter of some concern that the service sector in turn is facing a very serious constraint in the form of supply of skilled manpower. I have not seen anything in the budget that takes this constraint head on.
I am afraid the problem of higher education is far more complex than a simple enhancement of budgetary allocation can handle. One needs not only a flow of quality students coming up through schools to colleges and universities and research institutions, one also needs just as importantly a matching supply of skilled teachers who can train the students.
But the academic scene has changed drastically in the recent past in as much as the top students going out of the universities are being bid away by the private corporate sector and hence there is nobody left for teaching at the higher level.
The consequence is that within a few years the same corporate sector starts bitterly complaining about the shortage of skills, without awareness of the fact that it is their own action that is partly responsible for the problem.
But this is not the full story; agencies like the University Grants Commission (UGC) have for decades permitted colleges and universities to virtually contribute nothing towards the cost of education. Both tuition for students and salary for teachers are miserably low. Growth depends on savings, investment and knowledge. I am afraid there seems to be no awareness of the last factor.
With the government losing its importance in overall economic activities, its responsibilities towards proper regulation of economy and towards social welfare increase substantially. But it has now become a standard practice that plan documents make noble statements about social welfare and budgets largely ignore them.
To sum up, this has been a carefully fine-tuned budget so as to least disturb the arrangement of policies that have generated such impressive growth as of the recent years, especially as that growth is almost entirely due to the private sector.
With large revenue collections in hand the state can turn to urgently required investment in infrastructure sectors. It will hope that better foodgrain output plus imports, wherever necessary, will, together with monetary policies already taken, help contain and lower the rate of inflation. But until such time as the analysis that explains the growth process is reasonably complete, no hard action on any front for who knows what might upset the apple cart!
Chennai, March 1 (IANS) Telecom service provider Aircel Thursday unveiled 3G technology in the city, for the first time in India, showing that the country is ready for the next generation of mobile services.
The union government has asked existing service providers to conduct 3G trials in specific cities.
Aircel, in collaboration with Chinese telecom major ZTE Corp., has conducted the trial of this technology for three weeks in the city, Aircel and ZTE officials told the media here Thursday.
ZTE has the capability to mix 2G and 3G technology in one network. The Chinese telecom giant is also researching R5 and R6 technologies (SoftSwitch-based control system of the commercial next generation core networks), which will comprise the 4G telephone services in future.
High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) services such as downloading of large volume of business data and streaming movies online at speeds of 3.3 MB per second have also been tested in India, for both computers and mobile handsets, using ZTE cards.
The services to be made available are internet access, mobile television, mobile video conferencing, video phone and voice and data services through the same equipment.
"We will be able to offer 3G mobile services upon necessary government clearance in a couple of months," Chinmay Mitra, Aircel group's chief technology officer said here Thursday.
At present a Nokia 6680 handset, which is 3G enabled, costs about Rs.25,000. Experts say once the 3G technology comes in, there will be more demand and hence instrument costs will come down.
Aircel's GSM subscriber base is touching five million and the company says it has the core network and switching in place to go 3G for its subscribers in a few months.
Aircel has also roped in Ericsson to provide its media gateway and servers and is also partner it for other telecom technology.
The 3G trials are taking place in Chennai, Guwahati, Coimbatore and Bhubaneswar. Chennai and Coimbatore will complete trial by March 31, Jagdish Kini, Aircel group's CEO.
By Arun Kumar,
Washington, March 1 (IANS) Al Qaeda and the Taliban maintain "critical sanctuaries" in Pakistan's northwestern tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, according to a top US intelligence official, but the US is not yet ready to play a direct role there.
Washington is working with Islamabad to ensure that the region does not become a safe haven for terrorists as Pakistan also has a "strong interest" in not allowing extremism to breed there, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday.
Vice president Dick Cheney, who has reportedly delivered a tough message to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, will "report to the president on what he learned", she told the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee on War Funding.
"But I do think that we need to remember that the Pakistanis have a very strong interest, also, in not having extremism breed in that area," she added, ruling out a direct US role.
Rice's comments came a day after Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell told the Senate Armed Services Committee that while 75 percent of Al Qaeda's leadership has been killed or captured, a new generation of terrorists is training in Iraq, the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region and East Africa.
McConnell, who recently succeeded John Negroponte, now serving as Rice's deputy as head of 16 agencies that make up the US intelligence community, said both Al Qaeda and the Taliban maintain "critical sanctuaries" in Pakistan's northwestern tribal regions.
Eliminating these strongholds will be top US priorities in Afghanistan this year along with breaking the link between militants and local warlords profiting from drug trafficking, he said.
Criticising Musharraf for making agreements with local tribal leaders who since have allowed the Taliban and Al Qaeda to regroup, McConnell said, "The president of Pakistan believed that he could be more effective by signing this peace agreement.
"And in our point of view, capabilities of Al Qaeda for training and so on increased," he said adding, "We believe (Pakistan) could do more.
"Many nation states are unable to provide good governance or sustain the rule of law within their borders," McConnell said without naming any one country. This sets the conditions for creating "failed states, proxy states, terrorist safe havens, and ungoverned regions that endanger the international community and its citizens," he said.
McConnell was joined by Lieutenant General Michael Maples of the Defence Intelligence Agency and Thomas Fingar, who chairs the National Intelligence Council, to deliver an assessment of current and emerging national security threats.
Terrorism remains the top threat to US security, and Al Qaeda, which is rebuilding itself and strengthening its ties to affiliated groups in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, is the intelligence community's pre-eminent challenge, they said.
Although conventional explosives are the terrorist's weapon of choice, Maples warned that intelligence agencies receive reports that Al Qaeda continues to seek chemical, biological and nuclear weapons for use in future attacks.
With the help of allies such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UK, Maples said, the US successfully has disrupted attacks, such as the 2006 plot to bomb US-bound trans-Atlantic flights, and brought several senior Al Qaeda operatives to justice, such as Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi, the Al Qaeda leader in Iraq.
In Iraq, Maples said, Al Qaeda accounts for a fraction of the overall violence, but its focus on executing large-scale, mass casualty bombings has magnified the group's impact on the country's complex security situation by accelerating Sunni-Shia violence.
"Conflict in Iraq is in a self-sustaining cycle, in which violent acts increasingly generate retaliation," he said. "Insecurity rationalises and justifies militias, in particular Shia militias, which increase fears in the Sunni-Arab community. The result is additional support or at least acquiescence to insurgents and terrorists, such as Al Qaeda in Iraq."
Maples told senators that Iraq's Shia militias have been discovered training in neighbouring Iran as well as in facilities operated by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
By Aroonim Bhuyan,
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Though the allocation in India's budget 2007-08 for health and education has been increased, there is scope for even more, feels Minar Pimple, deputy director (Asia), UN Millennium Campaign.
"The government has actually committed six percent (of the budget) to education and three percent to health," Pimple told IANS in a telephonic interview.
This, he said, though marks an increase from the previous budgets, is still not enough from the UN's Millenium Development Goals' (MDGs) perspective.
"India still ranks 126th among 177 countries across the world in the human development index," Pimple, who oversees the UN Millennium Campaign in 11 countries in Asia, said.
He pointed out that the MDGs closely resemble India's National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP).
There are eights MDGs in all: eradicating extreme hunger and poverty; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and developing a global partnership for development.
Pimple said that in India, 54 percent of pregnant women are still anaemic as also 50 percent of newly born babies. Besides this, a large number of children are stunted at growth.
"Hunger, malnutrition and maternal mortality - these are the issues India need to address on an urgent basis if it has to move up the human development index," he said.
Asked if he was unhappy with Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's allocation for the health and education sectors, he said, "I am happy that the allocation for these sectors have been hiked. But I still see scope for more allocation in the health and education sectors. These sectors are a cause of concern for the UN."
He also said that inequalities in economic wealth have been growing in India in the last 10 years.
"The rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer. I don't see this budget addressing the problem of inequalities in economic wealth," Pimple, who operates out of the UN office in Bangkok, said.
By Sujoy Dhar,
Kolkata, March 1 (IANS) As vehicles whiz past E.M. Bypass on the city's eastern fringe towards the airport, a signboard on the left indicates the Kolkata Municipal Corporation's dog pound now run by Maneka Gandhi's People for Animals (PFA).
It is here that the adage every dog has his day comes true. This sprawling pound aims to restore the mental and physical health of stray dogs. And it particularly focuses on anti-rabies vaccination for the canines.
"We are as much working for humans as animals. The welfare of animals and humans is related since our stray dog sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination programme only helps prevent rabies in humans," Debasis Chakrabarti, managing trustee, PFA Calcutta, told IANS.
"Since it costs only Rs.25 to vaccinate a stray dog against rabies compared to Rs.1,500 for a human, it is more advisable to spend money on vaccinating dogs for the sake of humans."
With an estimated 19,000 people dying from rabies in India every year, the NGO offers a new model to fight rabies and save thousands of poor people who cannot afford the costly post- bite anti-rabies injections. The injection costs around Rs.1,500, which not many can afford.
PFA suggests that the government spend more money on anti-rabies vaccination for dogs so that a dog bite in a locality is not cause for alarm among the victims.
Indian deaths from rabies account for nearly 35 percent of such deaths worldwide, according to data available with WHO. Worldwide nearly 55,000 people succumb to rabies, mostly caused by dog bites. Of this, Asia accounts for 31,000.
Chakrabarti said: "In a letter to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya we have written that the only way to tackle rabies effectively and economically is to vaccinate the stray dogs. Since the days of killing stray dogs in a cruel and futile exercise are over we can at best sterilise and vaccinate the dogs for our own well-being."
A visit to the otherwise forbidden zone of the PFA-run dog pound off E.M. Bypass offers a pleasant sight. Rows of cages where at least 325 dogs can be accommodated look relatively sanitised and the animals are treated with a lot of care.
PFA's veterinary doctor has conducted over 12,000 surgeries since 2002 as part of its ABC (Animal Birth Control) programme.
The West Bengal figure on rabies deaths is 162 in the year 2005, as provided by state joint secretary of public health S.N. Dutta quoting records of Kolkata's Infectious Diseases (ID) hospital, though he admits that the real figure could be much higher.
Though the West Bengal health department per se is not averse to the idea of vaccinating dogs against rabies, it feels the initiative should be taken by the state veterinary department.
"If the veterinary department wants funds from us we would provide the same. We already fund the vasectomy of stray dogs," Dutta told IANS.
According to Dutta, anti-rabies injections like Rabipol or Rabirix are distributed free among people who are BPL (below the poverty line) but the vaccines are not adequate to meet the demand.
"We offer the injections in two hospitals in Kolkata. But I must admit that the total production of the vaccine is not enough to meet the total number of patients who come to hospitals with dog bites," he said.
Dutta said even if dogs were vaccinated, a victim of bite would not know which dog was vaccinated and which was not.
But Chakrabarti differed.
"We have an extensive programme in every locality. Each dog that we sterilise or vaccinate is ear-clipped. We call it ear-notching so that we can keep track of the vaccination," he stated.
"For so many years we have been working to raise our own funds. PFA Calcutta is a flagship project of PFA nationwide and has set an example in animal management," said Chakrabarti.
He also said: "I have no faith in the state's veterinary department. They have no positive role to play and their contribution to the sterilisation programme is zilch."
With rabies causing a major health hazard in India and the government machinery not equipped to cope with the problem, it remains to be seen if the authorities realise the potential of the non-governmental organisations like PFA which runs Asia's biggest animal hospital ASHARI here besides a huge cat shelter.
Said WHO chief spokesman H.K. Pandey: "Since over 90 percent of the rabies cases are due to dog bite, what India needs to do is to vaccinate dogs. The dog population in India is much higher as compared to any other country and the canines should be sterilised to curb the growth."
Los Angeles, March 1 (DPA) Late Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith's funeral is set for Friday after her estranged mother lost a court appeal to prevent her burial in the Bahamas.
Smith's mother Virgie Arthur had appealed to Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal against a lower court ruling that gave custody of Smith's remains to the court-appointed guardian for her daughter, Dannielynn.
The court said Smith be buried in the Bahamas next to her son Daniel, who died in September, three days after Dannielynn's birth.
The ruling came as the National Enquirer, a salacious tabloid weekly, reported that Smith had died of severe pneumonia and not, as many had speculated, from a drug overdose.
Smith, 39, died Feb 8 after collapsing in a hotel room in Hollywood, Florida.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Lt Gen Saibal Mukherjee has taken over as the Director General of Army's Medical Services here Thursday.
An alumnus of Government Medical College, Nagpur he was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in May 1970. After obtaining MD in Radio Diagnosis from Pune University in 1977, he completed training in Radiation Oncology from the prestigious Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai and received MD from Bombay University.
A pioneer in the field of cancer treatment in the Armed Forces, he worked at the Malignant Diseases Treatment Centres, both at Pune and Delhi.
He has held important appointment of Commandant, Command Hospital Kolkata and Deputy Director Medical Services at HQ Eastern Command. He was commanding the prestigious Armed Forces Medical College before he took over as DGMS (Army). For his unflinching dedication to the cause of service, he was recently awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.
New Delhi, March 1 (Indianmuslims.info) Maheshwar Dayal’s drama 1857 ki Dilli was staged at Sri Ram Centre here Wednesday, the third day of the ongoing drama festival organised by Delhi Urdu Akademy.
Directed by Muhammad Shahid, the drama consists of 19 characters with the central role played by the poor Delhi which had witnessed the turbulent scenes of death and destruction of innocent lives and loot and arson of public properties during the first war of independence 1857.
The success of this one-hour-and-a-half long play lies in making it palpably clear that the 1857 incident was in fact the first war of independence rather than a mere revolt when both Hindus and Muslims were getting united all over the country, and that the Indians lost it due only to the treachery of their own people.
The drama portrays the carefree life of children, the waywardness of the progeny of nawabs and the elite, and the concern of people like lalaji, nawab and munshi in a very successful manner. Besides, it also presents how unaware of the then ongoing developments were the womenfolk and servants.
Important characters of the drama were Munshiji (Seekh Kumar), Lalaji (Faisal Zaman) and Meer Sahib (Arshad Khan), etc. Besides, Gami Khan (Vikas Shukla) and Chudiwali played very good roles though their faulty pronunciation of Urdu words marred the warmth of the play.
Other characters include Lalaji ki Bahu (Afreen Fatma), Kanhayya (Naseem Khan), Madhav (Zahid Chauhan), Bahuji (Sunbul Shakeel), Pahalwan (Shahzad Khan), Nathu (Saleem Raza), Chowkidar (Mumtaz Ahmad), Maulvi Sahib (Irshad Saifi), Yusuf (Munis Ahmad), Gulshan (Sonu Singh), Bablu, Zeeshan and Nauneet, etc.
The roles of Gopal Pathak for light arrangement, and Rinku Kumar Gupta, Gopal Pathak and Qayyoom Yasmeen for music direction added to the success of the drama.
Akademy’s secretary Marghoob Haidar Abdi presented a bouquet of flowers to Muhammad Shahid, thanking him for his excellent direction while the playwright Rais Azmi conducted the entire show.
Lahore, March 1 (IANS) Pakistan Thursday received a big jolt as drug-tainted fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif were withdrawn from the upcoming World Cup, with officials saying they were not fit to play.
Announcing this minutes before the team's departure to the West Indies as well as the International Cricket Council's (ICC) announcement to get rid of drugs from the game, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said pacer Mohammad Sami and pace-bowling all-rounder Yasir Arafat will replace them in the 15-member team.
The withdrawal of Shoaib and Asif further weakens Pakistan's pace bowling. The country has also lost all-rounder Abdul Razzaq to knee injury and hard-hitting batsman Shahid Afridi for the first two World Cup matches following a ban over breach of ICC code of conduct.
The PCB banned Shoaib for two years and Asif for one year after they tested positive in internal tests and missed the Champions Trophy in India.
But the PCB, against the wishes of ICC, dramatically reinstated both. The ICC then moved the Court of Arbitration in Sports against the PCB's decision to re-impose the ban. The case is still going on.
"On verbal reports from the doctors, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif require more time to become fit," PCB said in a short statement here Thursday.
"Hence, the national selection committee, in consultation with the team management, has decided that Mohammad Sami and Yasir Arafat would replace Shoaib and Asif for the World Cup."
Shoaib and Asif, skipping the precautionary dope tests conducted by PCB Friday, had gone to England for medical advice. But it was speculated that they had gone to England to take masking agents to avoid traces of Nandrolone. They were to undergo further tests on their return to Pakistan.
Had Shoaib and Asif tested positive again, they would have faced life bans under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules. ICC is a WADA signatory.
The rest of the World Cup-bound players and the seven reserve players took the precautionary dope tests Feb 16. The results are yet to be declared.
Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq had said a few days ago that if Shoaib and Asif were to miss the 16-nation World Cup starting March 11, Pakistan's prospects of doing well would be drastically undermined.
Pakistan are clubbed with the West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland in Group D. Following group league matches, two top teams from the four pools advance to the quarter-finals.
Coach Bob Woolmer conceded Thursday the ouster of Shoaib and Asif was a huge disappointment for Pakistan. "It is a big blow and I feel sorry for both these players," he was quoted as saying on a cricket website.
But he added: "They are missing a mega event. But last year we did well without Shoaib in Sri Lanka and the year before in India without either of the two bowlers."
Azhar Mahmood has replaced Razzaq but Pakistan will have to pick their XI from just 14 players for their first match against the West Indies March 13 at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. Afridi will also miss the second game.
Hyderabad, March 1 (IANS) Four people, including two teachers, were killed Thursday when the boat in which they were travelling capsized in a lake in Nalgonda district, about 200 km from here.
Police said the local made boat went down in a lake in Kottapet village in Ketaypalli mandal.
A group of eight people had gone for hunting in a boat. The mobile phone of one of them fell into the water and all others came to one corner of the boat in order to retrieve it. The boat lost balance and capsized.
Fishermen in the area managed to rescue four people. However, the rest, including headmaster and a teacher of a school, were drowned. All four bodies have been recovered.
Tashkent, March 1 (RIA Novosti) Road construction workers have found a teenaged boy in Uzbekistan's mountainous region eight years after he was reported missing in 1998, local prosecutors said Thursday.
"The boy acts like a wild animal. He is afraid of everything, cannot speak and only makes snarling sounds," prosecutors said, adding that road construction workers found him.
Experts identified the boy after studying his photographs taken in 1998. His parents recognised the boy from among several other teenagers in a line-up.
Prosecutors said the boy would be returned to his family following a course of rehabilitation.
"The boy is being taught to speak and live among people. Experts are also trying to find out where and how he survived all these years," prosecutors said.
SAO PAULO, Marhc 1(NNN-PRENSA LATINA) -- Brazilian and foreign intelligence agencies Tuesday began mounting the largest ever security operations for a president visiting Brazil, in view of United States President George W. Bush’s visit on Thursday and Friday.
The aim is to prevent "possible terrorist attacks" against Bush while he is in Sao Paulo, the largest city in the southern hemisphere.
Social movements in Brazil have called for demonstrations in the country’s main cities to condemn the US president’s visit.
The security system has the active participation of the US Central Intelligence Agency, the Brazilian Intelligence Agency, the country’s Federal Police and Armed Forces, as well as other local and foreign institutions.
This is Bush’s second visit to Brazil. The first took place in the federal capital, Brasilia, in November 2005, and security at that time included 1,800 police and soldiers.
In Montevideo meanwhile, Uruguayan social sectors announced that protests against the visit of Bush to that nation on March 9 would take the form of demonstrations in and outside the capital.
Bush will be making a Latin American tour that will also take him to Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico.
Daniel De Souza, secretary general of FUCVAM (National Federation of Housing Cooperatives for Mutual Assistance), confirmed that protests will also be held in the province of Colonia, 112 miles west of Montevideo.
Union leader Juan Castillo said that the Uruguayan people consider the US president persona non grata for his genocide of thousands of innocent people in the occupation wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
-- NNN-PRENSA LATINA
New Delhi, March 1 (indianmuslims.info) Though the Union Budget 2007-08 presented by Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday does not come up to the expectations of Indian Muslims – whose socio-economic and educational backwardness has been a subject of discussion and debate for quite some time – it does hold some better prospect for them in the future.
Various packages have been allocated for different heads related to minorities. Rs 63 crore has been allocated for Minority Development Council, Rs 60 crore for Awqaf, and Rs 108 crore for 108 selected districts across the country viz. 1 crore for each such district. Muslim observers hope that these 108 selected districts are the same socio-economically and educationally backward districts that have been recommended for special attention in the Justice Sachar Committee Report.
Rs 210 crore has been allocated for scholarships to poor students doing secondary school, high school and higher studies courses. Besides, Rs 6000 crore has been allocated for mid-day meals for school-going children, and for education for all schemes.
New Delhi, Mar 1 (IANS) The central government Thursday approved the merger of two state-run carriers Air India and Indian making the new entity the largest airline in India.
The government will continue to be the sole owner of the entity. However, it will go for an IPO (initial public offering) after getting necessary approval from the finance ministry, according to sources.
"The two state-owned carriers have both suffered from years of under-investment in their fleet and products," Kapil Kaul, chief executive for South Asia for Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, a leading airline industry think tank, had earlier told IANS.
According to industry experts, the merged entity will have a fleet size of 125 new generation aircraft by 2010 after new aircraft are added and some of the existing ones are phased out to emerge among the top 30 carriers globally. The turnover will also top Rs.150 billion ($3.3 billion).
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) The cabinet Thursday gave its approval for enactment of the Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill that aims at preventing sectarian strife and quicker justice to victims.
The bill envisages prevention of communal violence and offences, speedy investigation and dispensation of justice, said an official note issued after the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
It will also impose enhanced punishment on those guilty of communal violence, providing relief and rehabilitation facilities to the victims and empowering the states and central authorities to discharge their duties in assisting victims in the matter, it said.
By Probir Pramanik,
Mumbai, March 1 (IANS) After protesting the controversial blockbuster "The Da Vinci Code" last year, Roman Catholics in the metropolis have again sprung into action against the worldwide premiere of a documentary that claims to have found the burial place of Jesus that challenges the basic tenets the Christian faith.
The Catholic Secular Forum (CSF), a Mumbai-based community organisation, have written to the Discovery Channel's office in New Delhi requesting it to refrain from broadcasting the feature documentary scheduled for a worldwide premiere Sunday.
"The Lost Tomb of Jesus" is a feature documentary, directed by Emmy Award-winning documentary film-maker Simcha Jacobovici and produced by Oscar-winning director James Cameron of the "Titanic" fame, Flex Golubev and Ric Esther Bienstock.
"The documentary trivialises the credibility of the Bible and the Christian faith," said CSF general secretary Joseph Dias.
"'The Lost Tomb of Jesus' hurts the sentiments in a pluralistic society and is an attempt for selfish profits and commercial gains or cheap publicity."
"We want the Discovery Channel to relent from broadcasting the documentary in India. We have lodged our complaint with the channels' Delhi office and are expecting a response on the matter by Friday," Dias told IANS here Thursday.
"The documentary can be best described as a hotchpotch, concocting archaeological adventure," he added.
The organisation said that the timing of the broadcast during the 40 days of Lint, observed by Catholics is very unfortunate as was the case with movie version of Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code".
"The credibility of the Bible, which says that Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb and rose from the dead to rise to the heaven, is trivialised in the documentary," Dias said.
The CSF is also protesting references made in the documentary to Judah as the secret son of Jesus through Mary Magdalene and portrayal of Mathew, one of the writers of the Gospels, as a maternal relative of Jesus and the mention of the burial of Jesus' siblings in the same tomb.
According to the Discovery Channel website, "The Lost Tomb of Jesus" traces the discovery of thousands of tombs containing ossuaries or limestone boxes that served as coffins in the first-century Jerusalem.
"One of these tombs was found to contain ten ossuaries. Six ossuaries have inscriptions on them and it turns out that every inscriptions in this particular tomb relates to the Gospels," it says.
"In the feature documentary, a case is made out that the 2000-year-old 'Tombs of the Ten Ossuaries' belonged to the family of Jesus of Nazareth."
The film also documents DNA extraction from human residue found in two of the ossuaries and reveals new evidence that throws light on Jesus' relationship with Mary Magdalene.
The documentary includes dramatic recreations, based on the latest historical evidence, illustrating accurate images of Jesus of Nazareth, his family, his followers, his ministry, his crucifixion and his entombment.
"We are showing our disappointment to protest and warn viewers that a lot of mistruth is being shown on the Discovery Channel. The viewers should take such kind of telecast with a pinch of salt," Dias warned.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) The Supreme Court Thursday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into corruption charges against Mulayam Singh Yadav, saying the chief minister of a large state like Uttar Pradesh could not function under a cloud.
Dealing a severe blow to Mulayam Singh Yadav ahead of state elections, the bench comprising Justices A.R. Lakshmanan and Altamas Kabir directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry into the allegations of assets the chief minister has disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Acting on a writ petition filed by Congressman Vishwanath Chaturvedi, alleging that Mulayam Singh and his family members had amassed millions of rupees of ill-gotten wealth, the apex court held these allegations could not be decided in a court of law.
If the CBI finds there are justifications for registering a FIR (first information report) after the preliminary enquiry, it could be so in accordance with law.
Stating that the chief minister of a large state like Uttar Pradesh could not function in a cloud when his integrity had been questioned, the bench said such an enquiry was essential in his own interest.
The petitioner had enclosed copies of the sale deeds of the properties acquired by Mulayam Singh, his two sons and daughter-in-law over the years and alleged the value of these properties was worth more than Rs.1 billion.
The petitioner alleged that Mulayam Singh had in 1979 declared a taxable income of just Rs.79,000. But within three decades, particularly during the period when he was chief minister, he had acquired all these assets through corrupt means.
The petitioner sought a direction to CBI to prosecute Mulayam Singh and his family members under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code.
Lucknow/New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) In a severe blow to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav ahead of assembly polls, the Supreme Court Thursday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into his wealth and property, allegedly far disproportionate to his known sources of income.
As news of the damaging ruling came in, the chief minister stayed holed up inside his house leaving his brother Ram Gopal Yadav, a Rajya Sabha MP as well as general secretary of the ruling Samajwadi Party, to tell the media that he would file a review petition in court.
"The chief minister will file a revision petition as we have no faith in the CBI to which the probe has been assigned by the apex court.
"We have no objection to the probe but let it be done by a sitting or retired judge of a high court or Supreme Court," Ram Gopal Yadav said.
Ordering the CBI probe, the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices A.R. Lakshmanan and Altamas Kabir said the chief minister of a large state like Uttar Pradesh could not function under a cloud when his integrity had been questioned.
It directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry into allegations that assets the chief minister had were disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Acting on a writ petition filed by Congressman Vishwanath Chaturvedi, alleging that Mulayam Singh and his family members had amassed millions of rupees of ill-gotten wealth, the apex court held these allegations could not be decided in a court of law.
If the CBI finds there are justifications for registering a FIR (first information report) after the preliminary enquiry, it could be so in accordance with law. The bench said such an enquiry was essential in his interest.
The petitioner had enclosed copies of the sale deeds of the properties acquired by Mulayam Singh, his two sons and daughter-in-law over the years and alleged the value of these properties was worth more than Rs.1 billion.
The petitioner alleged that Mulayam Singh had in 1979 declared a taxable income of just Rs.79,000. But within three decades, particularly during the period when he was chief minister, he had acquired all these assets through corrupt means.
The petitioner sought a direction to CBI to prosecute Mulayam Singh and his family members under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code.
The court ruling has given an impetus to the opposition demand that Mulayam Yadav be ousted from office. "He has no moral ground to continue in office and he must step down," demanded state Congress Legislature Party leader Pramod Tiwari.
Added state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Keshrinath Tripathi: "We are going to raise this as an issue in the state assembly elections (in March-April)."
Surprisingly, however, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati did not even make a passing reference to the apex court order against her sworn political foe during her mammoth poll rally here Thursday afternoon.
The ruling comes just a few days after the Supreme Court disqualified 13 Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislators who had helped in the formation of the Mulayam Singh Yadav government
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) The make-or-break Class 12 Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examinations began Thursday with most students jubilant that the first paper, on physics, turned out to be an easy one.
There were some, however, who felt the three hours allotted to them was not enough.
"I had to leave a couple of questions worth seven marks unanswered because I didn't have the time to attempt them," said a somewhat upset Sneha outside the Delhi Public School in south Delhi's R.K. Puram area. "But I am still expecting around 85 percent."
Most other students had different ideas.
"It was an easy paper! The derivatives were easy and there were very few numericals. That's all that I wanted. It was definitely an easier paper than last year's," said an excited Ritika, as her father beamed.
Seeing the kids' reaction, the anxious parents, many of who had camped outside the school gates where their wards wrote the exams, heaved a sigh of relief.
"Thank god his paper was good. Otherwise it would have spoilt his mood and he wouldn't have been able to prepare for his next paper well," said Anjana Bandopadhyay, whose son Animesh studies at the Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan.
Each exam is of three-hour duration with an extra 15 minutes as cool-off time. The Physics question paper this year had less numerical questions and simple ones on derivatives.
This year 502,688 students from 4,789 schools are taking the school-leaving Class 12 examinations in India and abroad - an increase of 9.59 percent from 2006. The students will take their exams in 2,276 centres, of which 33 are in foreign countries.
Hyderabad, March 1 (IANS) A central team will visit Medak district of Andhra Pradesh on March 11 to identify the location for a proposed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
The district authorities have short-listed three villages for the institute in Sangareddy, about 70 km from Hyderabad. Out of the three, government land is available only near Lakadram village. Officials said if the central team selects any other location, the government might have to acquire private land.
The team comprising officials of the human resource development ministry is visiting the district amid rival demands over the location of the institute.
The opposition parties as well as leaders of the ruling Congress from some districts have demanded that the IIT be set up in the temple town of Basara in Adilabad district as was originally proposed.
The previous Telugu Desam Party government had lobbied for setting up an IIT at Basara and the state assembly had also passed a resolution in this regard.
In December last year when the central government sanctioned the institute for the state, the Congress government decided it would be located in Medak district because of its proximity to Hyderabad and thus to various infrastructure facilities.
The move evoked strong protests from the opposition parties, ruling party leaders in Adilabad, Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts and even leaders from Nanded in neighbouring Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has constituted a panel to look into the issue but ruled out shifting the location from Medak district.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 1 (IANS) Kerala opposition leader Oommen Chandy Thursday lauded the achievements made by non-resident Keralites for doing development works for the state in the last 50 years of its formation.
"If you ask me what is the biggest achievement made by Kerala in the last 50 years of its formation, I have no doubt to say that it is the development works done by the Keralites, staying in the country and outside," said Chandy while interacting with the media here Thursday to celebrate the golden jubilee of the state's first government.
"It is they who have brought laurels to the state through their hard work and dedication and we should really applaud their efforts," added Chandy.
He said that Kerala, despite making huge progress in the field of healthcare and education in the last 50 years, has not been able to sustain it.
"It is rather sad that despite making huge strides in the education sector, we have completely failed to take the best of the growing information technology sector," said Chandy.
Speaking on the state politics, he said there was no difference between the two rival fronts in Kerala - the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opposition.
"Look the Left opposed the tractor, computer, Smart City project at Kochi and now they all speak the same language as we do, so there is no difference between us and them," said Chandy, taking a dig at the LDF.
"We are very clear, we have the same set of ideology, when we are in power or when we sit in the opposition," he said.
Commenting on the nine-month old V.S. Achuthanandan government, Chandy said: "They have been able to pay the salary promptly and has anything happened beyond that?"
Taipei, March 1 (DPA) A grandson of late Taiwan president Chiang Kai-shek Thursday sued President Chen Shui-bian for libel for calling Chiang the main culprit in the 1947 massacre of thousands of Taiwanese.
John Chiang, an opposition lawmaker, filed the libel suit with the Taipei District Court. He demanded one Taiwan dollar (3 US cents) in compensation from Chen as well as a newspaper apology.
"President Chen's arbitrary conclusion of the Feb 28 incident can only deepen ethnic division. I ask him to hold a public debate with me," Chiang told reporters.
"If the debate shows that Chiang Kai-shek was not the main culprit, Chen must apologise to the whole nation and clear Chiang Kai-shek's name," Chiang said.
On Monday, President Chen blamed his predecessor Chiang Kai-shek for the 1947 massacre that killed tens of thousands of Taiwanese and said that Chiang should have been punished for his crimes.
Some US-based relatives of those killed in the massacre have asked Chen to set up a special tribunal to try Chiang in absentia.
In the past week, Taiwan has been holding a series of activities to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the massacre. But the opposition accused Chen of using the incident to fan ethnic conflicts and boost the ruling party's chance of winning the 2008 presidential election.
On Feb 28, 1947, Chinese nationalist inspectors arrested a woman vendor selling cigarettes without license in Taipei. The arrest triggered a mass protest suppressed by nationalist troops, who killed tens of thousands of Taiwanese, breeding hatred of mainlanders that still persists.
Those who were killed were the elite of the Taiwan society. Some were shot dead while others were bundled in sacks and thrown into the sea. Estimates of the death toll range from 15,500 to 28,000.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) A day after presenting India's general budget for the next fiscal, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram Thursday asked India Inc to help the government in containing the price line as the inflation rate had crept to two-year highs.
"I will urge the industry to hold the price line. I will ask them to cooperate in the fight against inflation," the minister said in a post-Budget interaction with top industry leaders here.
He said the government would also provide incentives to those companies that help in easing prices and tax others which tend to make undue profits by taking advantage of rising demand.
The finance minister has said the annual rate of inflation, based on wholesale price index, would be contained at between 3.8 percent and 2.1 percent.
During the interaction Chidambaram said he had already cautioned the industry against spiralling prices. "But I am happy most industries have not pushed up prices. But in cement, prices have gone beyond all reasonable limits," he said.
"Therefore, we say, we will try to reward those having inclination to hold the price line, but we will tax anyone using that opportunity for making huge profit," the finance minister said.
Presenting the national budget Wednesday, Chidambaram proposed to cut excise for those who retailed cement at up to Rs.190 per 50 kg bag from Rs.400 to Rs.350 and sought to raise duty to Rs.600 per tonne if the commodity was sold at a higher price.
He also told the industry leaders that the government has seen no cooperation from the cement industry even though they had promised to bring down prices.
According to the minister, moderation of inflation is possible through certain measures such as duty cuts announced in the budget 2007-08, the monetary steps undertaken by the central bank and supply side augmentation.
"Supply side must be augmented and price line, to the extent possible, must be held," he said, adding that inflationary bouts are not unusual in India.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and many of his party colleagues were apparently none too happy when Finance Minister P. Chidamabaram sought to highlight the fact that he had significantly reduced customs duty on pet food at a time when there is so much resentment over soaring prices of basic food items.
While reading out his tax proposals Wednesday, Chidambaram announced: "Sir, I have good news for cat and dog lovers. I propose to reduce the duty on pet food."
The remark provoked howls of protest in the packed Lok Sabha. One opposition MP shouted: "You are thinking about dog food? What about the food of the common man?"
Chidambaram's announcement has come under a lot of criticism, in a way overshadowing the numerous people-friendly budgetary proposals that he unveiled in parliament Wednesday, Congress leaders told IANS Thursday.
According to well informed sources in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Manmohan Singh, who had discussed major budgetary proposals with Chidambaram, "lost his excitement" after listening to him announcing duty cut for pet food, which he thought was singularly ill-timed.
Added a minister: "The moment I heard him reading out that, I shook my head in disbelief. How foolish he could be to highlight it at a time when the government is under fire for the soaring prices for food items."
Senior ministers as well as party leaders claimed that Chidambaram's "dog show" in the budget speech had taken away the charm of the budget, which they said had many positive proposals for the common man.
"In fact, the finance minister has done a good job. But unfortunately he could not convince either the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) or the public that it was a budget for them," pointed out a leader.
"Even if he was giving some sops for pet lovers, why should he announce it in the main budgetary speech?" asked another Congress leader.
The opposition and the communists were quick to pounce on Chidambaram's love for pets.
"What a wonderful budget! Food for human being becomes costlier and dog food cheaper!" Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sushma Swaraj yelled as she came out of parliament house Wednesday.
"This government cares for cats and dogs, not for the poor," chipped in Telugu Desam Party MP K. Yerran Naidu.
Beijing, March 1 (Xinhua) China has completed construction of a thermonuclear fusion reactor, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced here Thursday.
The Experimental Advanced Super conducting Tokamak (EAST) is an upgrade of China's first generation Tokamak device and the first of its kind in operation in the world, said Chinese scientists
About 2,000 Chinese researchers are engaged in studying thermonuclear fusion and succeeded in generating an electrical current of 250 kilo amperes in five seconds.
Compared with similar devices in other countries, EAST is the cheapest and fastest to build and the first to go into operation. In 2003, China joined the 4.6 billion euro ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), the largest international programme dedicated to experiments in thermonuclear fusion.
"EAST fusion reactor has obtained state ratification for test results, use of funds, operational management and data authenticity," said a 34-person joint ratification committee at the CAS news conference.
Beijing, March 1 (Xinhua) Southeast China's Fujian province was on high alert after it confirmed a human case of bird flu, an official said Thursday.
Zhang Changpin, vice governor of Fujian, ordered compulsory inoculation of all fowls to prevent an outbreak of the epidemic. He asked the health, stock-raising and forestry authorities at all levels to be on high alert and monitor the situation closely.
Li, a 44-year-old farmer in Jian'ou city, developed symptoms of fever, cough and expectoration Feb 18. Tests by the provincial disease control and prevention centre showed that the patient was infected with the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus.
The patient is said to be receiving treatment at a local hospital and is in a critical condition. She was confirmed to have made contact with dead fowls.
Li is the country's first human case of bird flu in about seven weeks. On Jan 10, a 37-year-old farmer in east China's Anhui Province had contracted bird flu but had recovered subsequently.
The virus has killed 14 people in China since 2003.
Beijing, March 1 (Xinhua) China's State Nuclear Power Technology Co. has selected Westinghouse Electric Co. of the US to provide technology for four nuclear power generating units to be built in China, according to a framework contract signed here on Thursday.
Under the contract, Westinghouse will provide four third generation pressurised water reactors, two in Sanmen City, in east China's Zhejiang Province, and two in Haiyang City, Shandong Province.
Beijing, March 1 (Xinhua) The governments of China and France signed a landmark cooperative treaty here Thursday to set new standards for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) expected by practitioners to help in the fight against AIDS and cancer.
The two countries will cooperate in academic and clinical TCM research, setting new standards for TCM products in line with western medical practice and developing new TCM products, said the document signed by Chinese Health Minister Gao Qiang and French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy.
"TCM is useful for treating cancers, AIDS and other serious diseases, and is indispensable in disease prevention, health care, treatment and recovery," Gao said.
TCM, considered an alternative medicine in many Western countries, has attracted foreign patients because of its perceived ability to alleviate AIDS and cancer symptoms and improve their life quality. It has millions of followers in China because of its effectiveness and its low cost compared with Western medicines.
Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said that France is ready to use its expertise in modern medicine to make TCM safer, more effective and to bring it into line with modern medical practices. France has had a total of 47 Nobel laureates, 8 of them are in the medical field.
China has now signed 26 cooperative agreements on TCM with foreign countries or international medical organizations, and more than 70 medical treaties with foreign countries including cooperation on TCM.
TCM, which has a 3,000-year history, has a unique system for diagnosing and curing illness, fundamentally different from that of Western medicine. Typical TCM therapies include acupuncture, herbal medicine and Qigong exercises.
Beijing, March 1 (Xinhua) Southeast China's Fujian province has put its health service on maximum alert to take preventive measures against bird flu after a a man was confirmed to have been infected with the virus, officials said Thursday.
According to the provincial health department, a 44-year-old farmer, surnamed Li, in Jian'ou city in the province developed symptoms of fever, coughing and expectoration Feb 18 and laboratory test results showed he had been infected with bird flu virus strain H5N1.
Zhang Changpin, vice governor of the Fujian province, has ordered compulsory inoculation on all fowls, and required local authorities to set up vaccination files and issue certificates to vaccinated animals.
Zhang required the health, stock-raising and forestry authorities at all levels to be on high alert and closely monitor it.
He also asked local workers to quarantine and check the animals at every stage when they leave farm, enter slaughter houses and are put in the market. Those who failed should be punished accordingly.
The patient is now receiving treatment at local hospital and is in severe condition. She was confirmed to have made contact with dead fowls.
Li is the country's first human case of bird flu in about seven weeks since China reported Jan 10 that a 37-year-old farmer in east China's Anhui
Province had contracted bird flu but had recovered.
H5N1 infection killed 14 people in China since 2003.
According to Fujian health authorities, China's Health Ministry has conveyed the information to WHO, health agencies in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and some other countries.
New York, March 1(IRNA) Some 25 American peace activists left San Luis, California, on a two-week peace mission to Tehran, the California-based `San Luis Tribune' announced Thursday.
The visit was organized by `Efforts for Peace', an international volunteer group dedicated to the cause of peace.
The organization has over 100 years of experience in peaceful activities and has played a significant role in many regional and international peace demonstrations aimed at promoting peace around the world.
The civic-minded group is to meet with ordinary civilians, the independent and government-run media, university instructors and students, religious leaders and representatives of religious minorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
According to the daily, the US delegation will also confer with politico-religious leaders and visit historical sites in Iran.
Details of the group's itinerary was not disclosed by the daily.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Thursday declined to stay the release of Ram Gopal Varma's controversial Amitabh Bachchan starrer "Nishabd" that releases Friday.
However, a division bench comprising Chief Justice M.K. Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Khanna issued notice to Ram Gopal Varma, RGV Films and the censor board on a revision petition filed by film director Jahar Kanungo accusing Varma of plagiarism.
The court asked the respondents to file their replies by April 9.
Kanungo, who has made a Bengali art film called "Nisshabd", accused Varma of resorting to plagiarism and sought a court direction seeking stay on the release of the movie.
Kanungo's counsel Kartik Jai Shanker had mentioned the matter Wednesday before the division bench that posted the matter for hearing Thursday.
On Tuesday, a single bench of Justice A.K. Sikri had dismissed Kanungo's petition, squarely blaming him for not getting legal reprieve because he approached the court late.
'Nishabd', directed by Varma, tells the story of a 65-year-old man, infatuated with a girl of his daughter's age. The lead roles in the film have been played by Amitabh Bachchan, Jiah Khan and Rewati.
Karnal, March 1 (IANS) A number of houses belonging to the Dalit community were set on fire near here Thursday afternoon following the murder of a person of another community.
District police officials confirmed that Rajput community members in Salwan village in Haryana set 12 to 15 houses of Dalits on fire.
The action was meant to avenge the murder of Mahipal Singh, a Rajput, by some Dalits Tuesday, police officials said.
Additional police force was rushed to the village to defuse the situation.
The Rajput youths ransacked homes of Dalits before setting some of them on fire.
No loss of life or injury was reported, district police chief Sibash Kabiraj said.
The police conducted raids at several places to arrest the culprits behind setting fire to the houses of Dalits.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) William Dalrymple's "The Last Mughal", a fascinating account of the final years of Bahadur Shah Zafar II's Delhi court during the first war of Indian independence in 1857, tops the list of non-fiction books while British journalist and author India Knight's "The Dirty Bits for girls" is top in the fiction list.
NON-FICTION
1. Title: The Last Mughal
Author: William Dalrymple
Publisher: Penguin-Viking
Price: Rs.695.00
2. Title: In Spite of the Gods
Author: Edward Luce
Publisher: Little, Brown
Price: Rs.695
3. Title: Trees of Delhi
Author: Pradip Krishen
Publisher: Delhi Tourism
Price: Rs.799.00
4. Title: Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq
Author: Michael R. Gordon and General Bernard E. Trainor
Publisher: Vintage
Price: $12.75 (Rs.564)
5. Title: Mohandas: A True Story of a Man, his People and an Empire
Author: Rajmohan Gandhi
Publisher: Penguin - Viking
Price: Rs.650.00
6. Title: The Tao of Deception
Author: Ralph D. Sawyer
Publisher: Basic Books
Price: $22.50 (Rs.990)
7. Title: 13 Dec
Author: Arundhati Roy
Publisher: A Penguin Original
Price: Rs.200
8. Title: Reflections in a Sacred Pond
Author: Murad Ali Baig
Publisher: Tara
Price: Rs.295
9. Title: The World Economy
Author: Angus Maddison
Publisher: Academic Foundation
Price: Rs.1,295.00
10. Title: The Oxford Companion to Economics in India
Author: Kaushik Basu
Publisher: Oxford
Price: Rs.2,750
FICTION
1. Title: The Dirty Bits for girls
Author: India Knight
Publisher: Virago
Price: Rs.495.00
2. Title: Nineteen Minutes
Author: Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Hodder Stoughton
Price: 6.90 pounds (Rs.595)
3. Title: The Peacock Throne
Author: Sujit Saraf
Publisher: Sceptre
Price: 11.99 pounds (Rs.1,034)
4. Title: Sophie Kinsella
Author: Shopaholic & Baby
Publisher: Bantam Press
Price: 7.25 pounds (Rs.626)
5. Title: The Inheritance of Loss
Author: Kiran Desai
Publisher: A Penguin Book
Price: Rs.395.00
6. Title: Animals People
Author: Indra Sinha
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Price: $12.50 (Rs.550)
7. Title: Ishq and Mushq
Author: Priya Basil
Publisher: Doubleday
Price: Rs.495.00
8. Title: Love in Torn Land
Author: Jean Sasson
Publisher: Doubleday
Price: 7.75 pounds (Rs.669)
9. Title: Shame: Forced into Marriage, Rejected by those she loved
Author: Jasvinder Sanghera
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Price: 7.50 pounds (Rs.647)
10. Title: HIDE
Author: Lisa Gardner
Publisher: Orion
Price: 5.50 pounds (Rs.474)
The list has been provided by Bahri Sons, Khan Market, Delhi.
Roorkee, March 1 (Indianmuslims.info) That the division of Muslim votes strengthens communal Hindutva forces came true once again with the results of Assembly elections in Uttarakhand. There are more than a dozen constituencies in the plains region of the State where owing to the division of Muslim votes the Congress candidates were defeated and the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the direct beneficiary of this political game plan.
In bringing defeat to the Congress, which had been in absolute power in the State for the last five years, Maulana Masood Madani’s Maidani Kranti Dal (MKD, whose candidates fought as Independents) and the Bahujan Kranti Party of Asim Singh – who had defected from Bahujan Samaj Party – played an important role. Though these newly-formed parties failed to make their debut in the Assembly, their participation in the electoral fray ultimately paved the way for the BJP.
In some cases more than one Muslim candidate fighting on the tickets of different political parties cost the Muslims very dear.
For instance, in Iqbalpur constituency of Haridwar district three political parties – Indian National Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Kranti Party – fielded Muslim candidates. Although these three Muslim candidates were defeated, the total votes cast for these three candidates proved to be more than those bagged by the winning candidate (in this case a Bahujan Samaj Party candidate, Choudhary Yashveer Singh).
It is widely believed in the political circles here that Maulana Masood Madani’s MKD had the defeat of Congress as its primary goal, and this ‘short-sighted’ policy went in favour of the BJP.
Abu Dhabi, March 1 (Xinhua) A series of hacker attacks launched by an extremist group in Turkey on Dubai eGovernment hosted websites have been foiled by web security team within two hours, the Gulf News reported Thursday.
"We believe the hackers belonged to an extremist group in Turkey as they also pasted a message in Turkish apparently referring to the killing of Hrant Dink and approving it," Said Salem Al Shair, eServices Director of Dubai eGovernment.
Hrant Dink, a 53-year-old Turkish journalist of Armenian descent, was shot dead outside his office on Jan 19 in Istanbul, which stirred a public outcry.
He was well known for writing controversial articles about the alleged Armenian genocide by Ottoman Turks during the World War I and had received a six-month suspended sentence.
London, March 1(IRNA) The pro-British Democratic Unionists (DUP) and their Irish republican adversaries, Sinn Fein, are set to retain their position as Northern Ireland's two leading parties after next week's elections to Belfast's assembly, according to a poll.
The poll, the only one to be published so far during the Northern Ireland election campaign, shows the DUP on 25 per cent and Sinn Fein on 22 per cent, compared to 25.6 per cent and 23.5 per cent at the last assembly elections in 2004.
The Irish nationalist SDLP was shown to be up to 20 per cent, compared to 17 per cent four years ago, while support for the Ulster Unionists, the province's previous largest party, was put on only 16 per cent, down from 22.7 per cent in 2004.
Predictions have suggested that the UUP may gain a handful of seats to boost their current 30 members of the 108 seat devolved assembly and that Sinn Fein's number of 24 could be added to and overtake the UUP's 27, which is expected to fall heavily.
The elections are set to pave the way to the revival of the assembly suspended four years ago following the agreement by the UUP, previously opposed to the Good Friday peace deal, to share power with Sinn Fein.
Just half of those polled in the survey, published in the Belfast Telegraph Thursday, said they believed there was a likelihood of a working executive after the election.
But only a quarter felt that DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness could work well together in their designated positions as First and Deputy First Minister in a new power-sharing administration.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Cultures and cuisines will mix, giving India a taste of Europe when EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel comes here with the leaders of top food and liquor companies March 6.
"Boel will be accompanied by a 28-member delegation representing the agricultural and food processing industries of Europe," said Francisco da Camara Gomes, head of the delegation of the European Commission in India.
Boel, the EU commissioner for agriculture and rural development, will start her visit to India March 6. She will meet Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Subodh Kant Sahay and leaders of the Indian business community.
She goes to Mumbai March 9 where she will meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and top business leaders.
"The key objective of the commissioner's visit is to reinforce and highlight common areas of partnership and growth in the field of agriculture and food processing technology," said Gomes.
Indians will get a chance to taste multicultural food at the International Ahaar Food Fair to be held at Pragati Maidan here March 8.
Top EU food companies like Arla Foods of Denmark, Danone and Lactalis of France, Gancia (Italy) and renowned liquor brands like Gonzalez Byass of Spain, Hilltop of Hungary, Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) of France and Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) of Britain will be pitching their tent at the festival in the hope of getting a slice of the burgeoning Indian pie.
Singapore, March 1 (DPA) India's third-party logistics market is forecast to experience explosive growth, reaching a market size of $125 billion in 2010, market analyst Datamonitor said in a report published Thursday.
The prediction comes on the back of India's gross domestic product (GDP) growing at more than 9 percent a year and the manufacturing sector enjoying double-digit growth rates.
Third-party logistics, or 3PL, is the outsourcing of a company's logistics operations to a specialized firm that provides multiple services for customers as opposed to having the respective company having an in-house unit to oversee its supply chain and transportation of goods.
"With increased geographical distribution of incomes in India, the consumer markets are extending beyond the five metros of Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad," said Datamonitor's report published in The Business Times.
"Strong foreign direct investment in automotive, capital goods, electronics, retail and telecom will lead to increased market opportunities for providers of 3PL in India," it noted.
Outsourced logistics, at one-quarter of the $90 billion Indian market, is set to increase at a compound annual growth rate of more than 16 percent from 2007 to 2010, said Datamonitor.
Recognising the potential in the contract logistics market, 3PL service providers are expanding as companies looking for more than just transportation of their products and raw materials, the report added.
Jaipur, March 1 (IANS) The Rajasthan government has lined up a series of events, festivals and competitions to celebrate Rajasthan Day during March 24-30.
The events will include performances by celebrities such as actor Hema Malini and singer Kailash Kher and plays by the Prithvi Theatre Group from Mumbai. Folk artistes have been also been roped in.
Rajasthan tourism department officials say that efforts are on to invite singing legend Asha Bhosle and musician A.R. Rahman.
The inaugural celebrations for 'Dhora Ri Dharti' (Land of the Desert), organised by the tourism department, will take place at the Sawai Mann Singh stadium here, Usha Punia, Rajasthan's minister of state for tourism, told IANS.
The ceremony will be followed by a dance performance by Hema Malini.
A variety of cultural programmes will be held against the backdrop of the Albert Hall Museum here over the week. These will include a concert by ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali at the Albert Hall. Prithvi Theatre Group will perform March 27.
The other events include a tattoo show, puppet shows, adventure sports, a golf tournament, a `Run for Rajasthan' and a maha aarti (prayers). Rural sports like kabbadi, kho-kho and tug-of-war will take place at the SMS Stadium.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Jubilant faces came out of the gates, fanning a wave of relief to the anxious parents waiting for their wards to finish their first paper of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) class 12 exams Thursday.
The board exams kick-started with Physics, a subject not everyone was very comfortable with. But students, who were seemingly tense in the morning, were quite satisfied with their paper after all.
"It was an easy paper!" said an excited Ritika. "The derivatives were easy and there were very few numericals. That's all that I wanted," she said as her father beamed.
While most of the students heaved a sigh of relief that the exams had started on a good note and that most of the questions were as expected, there were some who said that the paper was a little lengthy.
"I had to leave a couple of questions worth seven marks because I didn't have the time to attempt them," said Sneha. "Nevertheless, the Physics question paper this year is easier than last year's," her friend added.
Each exam is of three-hour duration with an extra 15 minutes as cool-off time. The Physics question paper this year had less numerical questions and simple ones on derivatives.
This year 502,688 students from 4,789 schools are taking the Class 12 examinations both in India and abroad - an increase of 9.59 percent from 2006. The students will take their exams in the 2,276 examination centres, of which 33 are in foreign countries.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) An estimated 4.43 million people from abroad toured India in 2006, an increase of 13 percent over the previous year, Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni informed parliament Thursday.
Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Soni said: "The foreign tourist arrival to India during 2006 is provisionally estimated to be 4.43 million, showing an increase of 13 percent over the corresponding figure of 3.92 million during 2005."
The minister said Britain tops the list of countries from where India gets the maximum number of tourists. During last year, 651,083 tourists were from Britain followed by 611,165 from the US.
Among others, Canada, France, Sri Lanka, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Australia and Italy are the countries from where India saw a good flow of tourists during 2006.
To woo foreign tourists to India, the government was taking several steps like improving road, rail and air connectivity, participating in international tourism fairs and exhibitions, and using web marketing for better publicity and reach.
The minister said the government was according greater focus in the emerging markets, particularly China, Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia.
By Sudeshna Sarkar,
Kathmandu, March 1 (IANS) Twenty-one years ago Amulya Nath Sharma spent Easter in a Kathmandu police station for preaching before a gathering that also included Hindu relatives of churchgoers. Now, with the world's only Hindu kingdom becoming a secular state, he will lead Nepal's growing Christian community as the country's first bishop.
Earlier this month, Pope Benedict XVI elevated Nepal from a prefecture to vicariate and named Father Anthony Francis Sharma as the kingdom's first bishop.
Sharma, 69, embraced Christianity at the age of four when his mother, a widow, converted in India's Assam state. He will be ordained at an official ceremony in Kathmandu on May 5 when he will be sworn in by the Pope's representative, Papal nuncio papal Pedro Lopez Quintana, in a ceremony to be also attended by the archbishops of Patna and Bagdogra from India.
It is a moment of exultation for Nepal's Christian community who till the 1990s faced prison or other punishment for proselytising.
Conversions were a punishable offence in Nepal till last April, when a public revolt forced King Gyanendra to step down as head of government and the newly restored parliament declared the world's only Hindu kingdom a secular state.
Father Sharma remembers the earlier days when anyone found to own even a copy of the Bible faced imprisonment or deportation.
He joined the Jesuits in 1956 and spent his childhood in Kurseong in eastern India. Father Sharma was sent to the Philippines for higher education in counselling and psychology and returned to India again for several teaching assignments.
The most prominent was as principal and rector of Darjeeling's famed North Point School, where traditionally, Nepal's royal family used to send its sons for education.
Prince Dhirendra, the present king's younger brother who died in the palace massacre in 2001, was a student of father Sharma.
"I also admitted Crown Prince Paras to the school," the future bishop of Nepal told IANS.
Father Sharma returned to Nepal in 1984 when he was appointed superior of Nepal.
Now eight months away from his 70th birthday, the priest thinks the appointment should have gone to a Nepali Jesuit from the ethnic communities.
"My days are numbered," he said. "In any case, I will have to retire after six years.
"I want to spend that time preparing someone from the ethnic communities."
Though the first Jesuit missionaries arrived in Nepal as early as the 18th century at the invitation of the then Malla kings about 238 years ago, when the present king Gyanendra's ancestor King Prithvi Narayan Shah overran the smaller principalities and consolidated his kingdom, they were expelled on the suspicion they were spying for the British government.
However, after a pro-democracy movement in 1950 ended the tyrannical regime of the all-powerful Rana prime ministers, the Jesuit fathers were invited back, though only to run schools and hospitals.
New York, March 1 (IANS) Garlic supplements may not help reduce cholesterol or other blood fats, irrespective of the type of garlic consumed, says a new study.
Several earlier studies had shown that garlic could effectively lower cholesterol. However, researchers at Stanford University tested raw garlic and two different garlic supplements on nearly 200 adults with moderately high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol.
After six months, the patients showed no improvements in their average cholesterol or other blood fats (lipids), no matter what kind of garlic they had consumed, reported the online edition of health magazine WebMD.
"Garlic supplements or dietary garlic in reasonable doses are unlikely to produce lipid benefits" in people with moderately high LDL cholesterol levels" the study said.
Researcher Christopher Gardner said the study was large enough and long enough to have detected any cholesterol changes.
"We even looked separately at the participants with the highest versus the lowest LDL cholesterol levels at the start of the study, and the results were identical," Gardner observed.
However, the researchers don't rule out the possibility that garlic has health benefits for other groups of people (such as those with higher LDL cholesterol levels) or those who require higher doses.
Mumbai, March 1 (IANS) The Gateway of India, Mumbai's most prized landmark is all set for a makeover after getting the nod from the city's civic body, which has cleared a Rs.460 million phase one revamp plan.
The Gateway of India precinct, a Grade 1 heritage monument, got the go ahead for a revamp at a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Standing Committee meeting Wednesday. While the monument itself would remain untouched, the precincts would be made into a "no-parking" zone.
"The revamp plan would include expanding the pedestrian space in the area as well as relocating all public amenities at a facility centre," said P.K. Das architect for Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the appointed consultant for the makeover project.
The facility centre, to be located behind the Shivaji statue, will house all existing ticket counters for ferries that currently clutter the pathway to the monument. It will have a water fountain, kiosks, toilets, a Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation stall.
"The plan is to create more public movement. In a nutshell, the phase 1 of the project will look at enhancing pedestrian movement over vehicular movement and at augmenting public facilities," Das told IANS Thursday.
But residents of thee nearby Colaba area have voiced opposition to the new plan. The Colaba Residents Welfare Association stressed that the 'no parking' clause would create traffic and congestion problems for them.
"By eliminating the existing space and not providing an alternative will only worsen our condition," said Lucior Gurung, a Colaba resident.
"We are opposed to such revamp plans that do not take the concerns of the local residents into account. We fear severe traffic congestion in the area with visitors parking their vehicles in the residential areas," Gurung said.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ravindra Pawar, who is also a member of the BMC standing committee, was also opposed to the revamp plans.
He said: "The plan makes no provision for parking based on the argument that most people who come to the Gateway use tourist vehicles and public transport. The cars belong to those who come to the nearby Taj Mahal Hotel.
How can they go ahead with the plan without permission from the traffic department?"
Satish Mathur, the city's joint commissioner of police (traffic) said he was yet to get a copy of the revamp plan.
Das, however, defended the plan. "Parking space for tourist buses and cars will be taken care of in phase 2.
"Tell me, where in the world is parking allowed in the precincts of a heritage monument? Moreover, the Taj hotel has its own provision for underground parking, which has for some reason been closed down.
"The BMC is proposing to build an underground parking lot near Regal Cinema close by," Das said.
Geneva, March 1 (DPA) If it's spring in Europe, it must be Geneva. This year, the lakeside motor show at the Palexpo congress centre in the Swiss city can be relied on to present a tempting array of previously unseen cars.
The 77th Geneva Salon event runs for 10 days - from March 8 to 18 - and 250 exhibitors from more than 30 countries are lined up to attend. Most cars on show will be entering the showrooms in time for the start of the car-buying season, but Geneva also gives a taste of what is further down the pipeline.
Among the wraps coming off here are those on the revamped version of Ford's family favourite, the Mondeo, glimpsed in the latest James Bond movie "Casino Royale".
The US maker has high hopes for the new car, which weighs in at Geneva in saloon, hatchback and estate form. Based on the platform of the successful S-Max van, the Mondeo boasts dramatic lines and a remarkably refined ride thanks to new suspension.
"People should be so impressed by what they see that they simply want to own one," said Ford's chief designer Martin Smith, who used to work for General Motor's subsidiary Opel.
Over at the DaimlerChrysler stand, the new third-generation C-class marks a bid by Mercedes-Benz to reposition the model as a genuine sports saloon rather than just the little brother of the executive E-class.
Leaked pictures of Audi's new A5 can be found on motoring blogs all over the Internet, but Ingolstadt's glorious new coupe will not be officially unveiled until Geneva.
The car takes its styling cues from the smaller TT, but sports much more flowing lines than motorists have been used to from this manufacturer. Under-bonnet and interior details will be revealed during the event.
Among the other new cars making their debuts in Switzerland will be Fiat's Stilo-successor, the Bravo, the face-lifted BMW 5 and 1 series saloons and two sporting Honda Civic variants. Renault is due to showcase the second-generation Twingo.
Japanese maker Mazda has turned the angular hatchback 2 on its head and come up with a much sleeker version of the city car on its Geneva stand. The platform will be shared with the new Ford Fiesta. Production of the new Mazda is being switched from the company's European plant in Valencia, Spain to Mazda's main factory in Hiroshima.
Mouth-watering super-cars this year include a new Bentley, a revamped, high-performance BMW M3 and a svelte Maserati Coupé powered by Ferrari's 4.3 litre engine from the F430.
KTM is best known for making motorbikes, but it will be bringing along the X-Bow roadster, a door-less, Audi-engine kit car. Dutch tuner Donkervoort returns to the fray after an absence of some years with a closed top sports car, the D8 GT. Abarth, famous for its breathed-on Fiats, is back too with a cooking version of the Punto hatchback.
Of course, Geneva would not be the same without a host of concepts challenging the way motorists look at cars. Switzerland has no auto industry of its own, but the country is home to numerous custom producers, including Rinspeed.
The Exasis is the latest weird and wonderful creation from the stable that has given us the "Splash", the "Senso" and the "zaZen" - a show stealer last year. It also marks the company's 30th birthday.
Visionary designer Frank Rinderknecht says the Exasis is supposed to look like a cross between an off-roader and Auto Union's classic cigar-shaped racing cars of yore.
The two-seater is made of electrically coated transparent plastic that comes from Germany's Bayer Materialscience company. The car weighs next to nothing around 750 kg in fact with acceleration in the Porsche-class. The lightweight two-cylinder motor turns out 150 hp, but the Exasis can be driven hard with a clear conscience the engine runs on bioethanol fuel, which boasts low CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions.
Bangkok/Berlin, March 1 (DPA) Thailand is a top tourist destination, and no force seems able to stop that - not even the 2004 tsunami, nor the bomb blasts in Bangkok around the turn of 2006.
But some tourists themselves, whether through incapability, carelessness or stupidity, make their Thai holiday a disaster and wind up in hospital, in prison or even dead.
The list of pitfalls is long. It includes overindulgence in alcohol and sex, and inadequate insurance coverage for accidents or illness. In addition, many tourists are unaware that smoking marijuana on the beach or in their hotel room is just as illegal as overstaying their visa.
Visitors who break the law and fail to pay the ensuing fine will end up in jail faster than they think. And those lacking funds cannot expect a gift of money from their country's diplomatic mission in Thailand.
Bangkok-based foreign diplomats and physicians in tourist centres such as Bangkok, Phuket, Ko Samui, Chang Mai and Pattaya are often astounded by tourists' carelessness.
"A lot of people are less inhibited while on holiday than they are at home," noted Olivier Meyer, a Swiss physician who practices in Pattaya.
Older men with fragile health are particularly at risk.
"Someone with heart problems who thoughtlessly plunges into Thailand's pleasures is endangering his life," Meyer said,
His colleagues agree - the heat on the beach, several shots of hard liquor, a Viagra and then vigorous sex with a bar girl is "a life-threatening cocktail".
Heart and circulatory failure, and diseases common in old age generally, are the most frequent causes of death among German tourists, according to the German embassy in Bangkok. Traffic accidents, often involving motorcycles, come next.
Some 160 Germans died in Thailand last year, many of them because of careless behaviour. The figure was about 120 in 2000 when fewer Germans travelled to the Asian country of palm-fringed beaches, Buddhist temples and elephant parks.
The German foreign ministry in Berlin said its embassy in Bangkok registered about 120 arrests of German tourists every year, usually because they committed fraud or remained in the country longer than permitted.
Visitors spending more than four weeks in Thailand require a visa. Missing deadlines and failing to pay fines can result in arrest and deportation.
Safety tips put out by Germany are constantly updated, as they were for Thailand in early January following a series of deadly bomb blasts in Bangkok.
Overall, however, tour operators regard Thailand a safe destination, especially its traditional resorts. Attacks on tourists are seldom.
Motorcycle rentals are probably cheaper at Thailand's popular tourist spots than anywhere else.
Motorcycles with engine sizes of 700 cubic centimetres and more can be had for less than 20 euros (27 dollars0 per day. Mopeds cost as little as 5 euros per day.
Rental firms often do not ask to see a driving licence, and the vehicles are rarely insured, so tourists carry the full risk, often without knowing it. And sometimes they have no health insurance that covers them while abroad.
Helmetless holidaymakers wearing T-shirts and shorts, their hair blowing in the wind, can be seen zipping along the shore on motorcycles, particularly in Pattaya, sometimes even with a bottle of beer in their hand.
Motorcycle rental firms also do good business in lesser-known places such as Hua Hin and on the island of Koh Tao.
The Bangkok-based Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) wants all tourists to obey the country's laws and customs.
"Fortunately, only a fraction of our guests get into trouble," said Satit Nillwongse, executive director of TAT's Europe department.
London, March 1 (IANS) A Lebanese businessman has been charged with the murder of his British Indian police officer wife.
Fadi Nasri, 33, along with another man, 37-year-old Roger Lesley, were charged Thursday with the murder of special constable Nisha Patel Nasri, who was stabbed to death outside her home in Wembley May 11 last year, according to Daily Mail newspaper.
Nasri, who runs a limousine business, was held on suspicion of murder in north London Tuesday.
Nisha, who grew up in London, had been working as a special constable for three-and-a-half years.
The 29-year-old constable and her husband were celebrating their wedding anniversary on the night of the attack.
Two other men Tony Emmanuel, 41 and Jason Jones, 35, are already under police custody and have been charged with the murder.
The motive for the attack on Nisha is still not clear. She was killed with a cook's knife, which was missing from her kitchen after the attack. Later, police was able to recover the knife and it was found to carry not only Nisha's DNA, but also that of her suspected attacker.
By Qaiser Mohammad Ali,
Mumbai, March 1 (IANS) Admitting that his shot selection has been poor, ace batsman Virender Sehwag hopes that luck will "smile" during the World Cup so he can give India flying starts again.
"Luck has not been with me for sometime now. I hope the bad times are over and luck will smile on me during the World Cup," Sehwag told IANS in an exclusive interview here.
"My shot selection has also not been good in the recent past and it contributed to my poor form," he said in his hotel room before catching the early morning flight to West Indies Thursday with the entire Indian team.
The 16-nation World Cup begins March 11, and India plays its first match against Bangladesh March 17 in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Sehwag, who showed signs of regaining his touch with a strokeful 46 against Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam in the last one-dayer before the World Cup, is aiming to score consistently in India's two warm-up matches in the West Indies to cement his place in the XI.
"My goal is to put up consistent performance. I have worked hard in the off time in Delhi and hope it will bear fruit. Hope good times are just around the corner," he said of his long practice sessions under his childhood coach Amar Nath Sharma.
"I will take it match by match in the West Indies," said the 28-year-old, the lone Indian to have scored a triple Test century.
Sehwag's hopes emanate especially from his 46-run knock in which he looked in complete control of shot selection. In that series, he returned to the Indian team after being rested for the preceding series against the West Indies owing to poor form.
He was, however, quite bizarrely run out when looking set to notch his 25th half-century, and possibly his eighth century. The run out drew a lot of criticism for his casual approach, but Sehwag emphasised that his mind was very much on the game.
"I was not distracted; I was not thinking anything else except cricket. I just thought I was in the crease," he commented on his dismissal for the first time in the media.
After he completed the run, wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara broke the wickets at the bowler's end to take Sehwag completely by surprise.
"The only thing that I was thinking was that I had missed a boundary; that had I played the shot well it could have crossed the boundary."
Sehwag, who has aggregated 4,833 runs in 167 one-dayers, also clarified that removal from vice-captaincy has not affected him or his batting.
"After all, when I started playing cricket I never expected that one day I would become the Indian team's vice-captain, so when I was removed it did not affect me," he said.
"You have to bat responsibly at all times, whether you are vice-captain or not."
Sehwag said the last two international innings have given him a lot of confidence.
"When you are not scoring runs your confidence is low. During the break (he was rested against the West Indies series) I cleared my mind. I came back with a fresh mind against Sri Lanka," he said.
Sehwag had extended practice sessions, ironing out flaws in his technique with Sharma's help. "I had uninterrupted batting sessions of up to two hours during the break. It helped me improve my concentration level."
"Usually, 30-35 overs are bowled in two hours in one-day internationals. And if you bat for that period, you can carry that concentration to the rest of the (50-over) innings," he explained.
Now Sehwag is looking to score some more runs in the warm-up matches against the Netherlands and the West Indies March 6 and 9 at Trelawny Stadium in Jamaica to enhance his confidence.
"Scoring well in those matches will help a great deal," said the cricketer who was the top scorer with 82 in the 2003 World Cup final against Australia in Johannesburg.
Cape Town, March 1 (IANS) The International Cricket Council (ICC) Thursday decided to "target test" players for banned substances during the forthcoming World Cup, in the wake of Pakistani players Shoaib Ahktar and Mohammed Asif testing positive during the Champions Trophy in India last year.
The target tests will be in addition to ICC's commitment to randomly test four players - two from each side - in 17 of the 51 matches in the 16-nation meet starting March 11 in the West Indies.
The tests may take place at any time from Friday onwards, when the tournament's support period starts ahead of the warm-up matches.
"Both Shoaib and Asif have played for Pakistan over the past few months despite testing positive for prohibited substances last year. That is a fact neither player has disputed and it is also a fact that has caused the game a high level of embarrassment as a result," said Malcolm Speed, chief executive officer of the ICC, during a board meeting here.
He added that the ICC wants to make sure that all the players who take part in the World Cup are free from banned substances.
"From an ICC perspective, having the option to target-test as well as the already-scheduled tests in place means that if a player does have anything in his system then there is a very strong possibility he will be caught out," said Speed.
Speed went on to add that the ICC is committed to maintain zero tolerance of drugs in the game and are loyal to the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) Code, to which they signed in July last year.
"Since signing the WADA Code we have produced a DVD on the ICC's anti-doping policy that was distributed to all teams at the Champions Trophy," revealed Speed.
"The DVD has also been sent to the six other teams taking part in the World Cup and it has been translated into Hindi and Urdu."
Speed said that the ICC has embarked on a mission to help all its members to educate the players and officials and empower them to introduce a WADA-compliant policy.
Shoaib and Asif tested positive of banned substance Nandrolone during an internal test conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in October during the Champions Trophy. Shoaib was handed a two-year ban and Asif for one year but the PCB dramatically reinstated both the players, much against the wishes of the ICC.
The ICC then moved the Court of Arbitration in Sports against the PCB's decision to re-impose the ban and the case is still going on.
The ghost of dope test again returned Thursday as the duo was withdrawn from the World Cup squad on grounds of fitness. It seems that the PCB is not willing to face further humiliation as the chances are that the duo will again test positive in the target tests conducted by the ICC.
Phulwari Sharif, March 1 (Indianmuslims.info) Imarat Shariah Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand has expressed grave concern over the spitting of communal venom by Vishwa Hindu Parishad general secretary Praveen Togadia in Bihar, saying that his (Togadia’s) inflammable statements can poison the atmosphere of brotherhood and communal harmony in the State if stern action is not taken against him.
Imarat Shariah Nazim Maulana Aneesur Rahman Qasmi said here Wednesday, “It seems the State government has given him free hand (to do/say whatsoever he likes) that he is making venomous statements against a particular community in Bihar and polluting the atmosphere of the State.�
The Imarat Shariah leader added that Togadia has made such inflammable statements in Hajipur and Siwan that the government should take stern action against him forthwith. “The government should arrest him,� he said without mincing any words.
He further informed the presspersons that Imarat Shariah had taken serious notice of such statements made by Bajrang Dal and RSS activists in Kishunganj and Darbhanga the other day when it addressed a letter, along with newspaper clippings of their diatribe, to Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah, urging the government to ban making inflammatory speeches and take action against those who are hell bent upon doing so.
New Delhi, March 1(IRNA) India's Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath Thursday invited Australian companies to tap the growing opportunities in India's mining, farm and education sectors.
"The mining sector should be of great interest to you. The economies of India's traditionally backward states, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa, have the potential to grow from USD 30 billion in 2003 to USD 75 billion by 2015 if they tap their mineral wealth, and in the coming years I expect Australian companies with their state-of-the-art clean coal and mining technologies to play a huge role in developing the wealth of these states," said Kamal Nath while addressing the 16th meeting of the India-Australia Joint Business Council organized by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here Thursday.
The farm sector stakeholders may have a lot to offer to India in latest farming methods and cropping patterns, he said.
India, Kamal Nath said, was in the process of revitalizing its farm sector massive investments in processing capabilities and cold chains. It was also looking to diversify its crop mix.
"I believe that Australian food processing companies can play a big role in developing boutique crops in India such as canola, Chinese vegetables, grapes, organic wheat and berries," he pointed out.
Kamal Nath said the education sector had a vast scope for Australian firms and institutions. This was already becoming evident from the fact that last year Australia edged out the UK to become the second most sought after destination for Indian students, attracting 15,000 students in 2006, he added.
Responding to the concerns expressed by Habil Khorakiwala, president of FICCI, on availability of visas for business travel, Australian Minister for Trade Warren Truss said the two governments had agreed to resolve the issue so that multiple entry visas could be made easily available to business visitors.
Truss, who is leading the largest-ever business delegation to India, alluded to the synergies that existed between the two countries that now needed to be translated into concrete business ties. For instance, he said, Australia has huge mineral and energy resources and India has a huge demand in these sectors.
He said food processing in India offered big opportunities for Australian companies. He said he would initiate a major study in Australia on India's food processing industries in order to assess how Australian companies could assist Indian companies in this sector.
The meeting was also addressed by Brian Hayes, chairman of the Australia-India JBC, Vikram Kapur, chairman of the India-Australia JBC, and Habil Khorakiwala, FICCI president.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Riding a 15 percent annual growth in arrivals over the last four years, India will be the partner country at ITB Berlin, the world's largest travel and trade show March 6-11 where it will showcase its rich cultural and scenic diversity that is a huge draw globally.
"As a partner state, ITB Berlin will provide the ideal platform for showcasing India's unique tourism products and promoting India as a preferred destination," a tourism ministry official said.
"Significantly, it gives an opportunity (for the) Incredible India (promotion campaign) to be the focus of five-six million people for one week and reach out to the largest audience of travel industry representatives, decision makers, the media and potential travellers," the official added.
"The world is turning towards India and India is open for business like never before. In such an environment, Incredible India is boldly and surely taking on the world," the official maintained.
As the partner state, India will host the opening ceremony, during which a cultural programme will feature a unique fashion and audio visual presentation - 'The Tree of Life' - portraying the country's rich textile craft heritage in contemporary terms, while retaining its cultural ethos.
The show will be a spectacular visual journey across some of the most craft rich areas of India and will tell the historic story of its 16 million crafts persons who, till today, practise their art much as their ancestors did.
Presented by Ritu Kumar, one of India's foremost fashion designers, the presentation will highlight the influence of Indian design motifs on the world.
The dance extravaganza thereafter will include the Kathak and Mohiniattam dance forms, musicians from Rajasthan, folk dancers from Gujarat and Orissa, drummers from Manipur, exuberant and rhythmic dancers from Punjab, martial dance forms, acrobatic acts and a lot more.
Tourism Minister Ambika Soni will inaugurate the India pavilion on March 7.
Set up in an area of 870 square metres, it will see the participation of 20 state tourism departments, organisations like Air India, the Confederation of Indian Industry, and the India Tourism Development Corp, as also some 45 travel agents, tour operators, hotels and resorts.
The daily activities at the pavilion that will have "Colours of India" as its theme will comprise cultural performances, live demonstration of Ayurveda and art and craft skills, application of henna, and distribution of brochures, posters, bindis, bangles and other promotional material.
A 100-strong cultural group from India will give a feel of Indian folk and traditional dance forms to the visitors.
This apart, graffiti splattered on the shuttle buses plying within the fair ground will further enhance the India ambience.
A host of seminars on subjects like business opportunities in India, trekking in the Himalayas, medical and wellness tourism, and scuba diving and river rafting will also be held on the occasion.
For 40 years, ITB Berlin has been a driving force in the worldwide travel industry, attracting high-ranking professionals with decision-making powers, and has shown a steady increase in the number of exhibitors and visitors year-on-year.
"As a principal destination for business travellers and tourists, India has established a firm place in world tourism. Due to the country's political stability, its strong economy and an increasingly favourable business and investment climate, the growth prospects for the country in tourism are substantial," the tourism ministry official pointed out.
Proof of this is found in the fact that Conde Nast Traveller, the world's leading travel and tourism journal, has ranked India amongst the top four preferred holiday destinations of the world.
The website Lonely Planet has placed India amongst the top five destinations in a survey of 167 countries.
By Manish Chand,
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team will submit a formal request Thursday afternoon to the Argentine authorities to extradite Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi wanted for his role in the Bofors bribery scandal in India, India's envoy Pramathesh Rath said.
"The CBI team has arrived in Buenos Aires and will submit an extradition request along with necessary documents translated into Spanish at 4 p.m. (12.30 am IST) Thursday," Rath told IANS over the phone from Buenos Aires.
"We are well within the deadline," he said when asked whether New Delhi has been late in making a formal extradition request for Quattrocchi, who has been accused by the CBI of receiving $7 million in commissions for helping to fix the $2.1 billion gun deal.
According to Argrnine law, the Indian authorities have to submit an extradition request along with relevant documentation within 30 days of the arrest of a person who is sought to be extradited, Rath explained.
Quattrocchi, the sole surviving accused in the Bofors gun deal scam that rocked India in the eighties, was detained near the picturesque Iguazu Falls in Argentina's Misiones province where he was holidaying with his wife on Feb 6 and was released on bail on Feb 23.
"We have lined up a panel of Argentine lawyers to argue for the extradition of Quattrocchi. It's for the CBI to decide which one to choose," Rath said.
"The foreign office in Argentina will have to determine how to go about it," the envoy said when asked how long the legal process to extradite Quattrocchi will take.
"The Argentine foreign office has assured us that the issue will be dealt in an absolutely legal terms," Rath said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured that the CBI will be given full freedom to facilitate the extradition of Quattrocchi, known once for his proximity to the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and his Italian-born wife Sonia Gandhi who currently heads the ruling coalition.
As parliament erupted in furore over the Quattrocchi affair Thursday, Manmohan Singh assured that the government was ready for any discussion on the issue.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) India's merchandise exports rose 14.08 percent in January to result in a 32-percent growth in the first 10 months of 2006-07, valued at $99.13 billion, official data showed Thursday.
The exports were valued at $74.98 billion in the like period of last fiscal.
Statistics released by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics of the commerce ministry said merchandise exports in January this year topped $9.65 billion against $8.46 billion in the like month of 2006.
The cumulative value of imports during the first 10 months was $149.73 billion, which was higher by 37.61 percent over $108.80 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.
In January, imports amounted to $15.43 billion, against $11.37 billion in the like month of last year, to register a growth of 35.74 percent.
As a result, the trade deficit for the first 10 months jumped to $505.89 billion over $338.25 billion during the like period of last fiscal, April-January 2006.
The main reason for the high growth in trade deficit has been the 36.40 percent increase in crude imports, which were valued at $48.61 billion in the first 10 months of this fiscal against $35.64 billion in the in like period last year.
Non-oil imports, on the other hand, rose 23.31 percent and were valued at $10.11 billion in the first 10 months compared with $82.01 billion in the corresponding period of last fiscal.
New Delhi, March(IRNA) An Indian MiG-21 aircraft crashed at Shibkhola near Kurseong in West Bengal's Darjeeling district Thursday afternoon.
It was not immediately known if the pilot was safe or not, PTI reported here quoting state IGP (law and order) Raj Kanojia.
The aircraft took off from Bagdogra at about 1:00 pm (local time).
A search operation has been launched in the area.
Port of Spain, March 1 (IANS) Tickets for the preliminary group match between India and Sri Lanka in the ICC World Cup 2007 to be played at the Queen's Park Oval here March 23 have been sold out.
However, 50 percent of the tickets are still available for India's first group match against Bangladesh March 17, tickets supervisor Mark Santana told Newsday.
India is placed in Group B along with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bermuda. All matches in this group will be played at the Queen's Park Oval.
Tickets for the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh match of March 21 are also available, Santana was quoted as saying.
Also sold out are tickets for a warm-up match between world No. 1 South Africa and Pakistan to be played at the University of West Indies ground in St Augustine.
New York, March 1 (IANS) An Indian American professor has received a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for his research in computer sciences.
Piyush Kumar, an assistant professor in the department of computer science of the University in Tallahassee, Florida, will receive the grant over a period of five years, according to the University website.
Kumar is pursuing research on the design, analysis and implementation of algorithms for geometric problems, particularly problems with applications in areas such as pattern recognition, machine learning, optimisation and computer graphics.
NSF is an independent federal agency created by US Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science, to advance national health, prosperity, welfare and to secure national defence.
With an annual budget of about $5.58 billion, NSF is the funding source for approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by US colleges and universities.
NSF offers the award "in support of the early career-development activities of those teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education within the context of the mission of their organisation".
"This is just another indication of the momentum for academic excellence that is building on our campus," said Kirby W. Kemper, University of Florida's vice president for research.
New Delhi, March 1(IRNA)The Indian government has reduced its financial aid to Nepal but increased it for other neighboring and African countries in its 2007-2008 budget estimates, which also has raised the allocation for the External Affairs Ministry to USD 986 million (Rs 4433.60 crore) from last year's USD 910 million (Rs 4095.05 crore).
Budget estimates for 2007-2008 for the External Affairs Ministry presented by Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the Lok Sabha (lower house of Indian Parliament) Wednesday allocate USD 393 million (Rs 1768.55 crore) for assistance to other developing countries. These include USD 171 million (Rs 770.91 crore) to Bhutan, up from USD 134 million (Rs 599.51 crore) last year, and USD 31 million (Rs 138 crore) to Nepal, which is less than last year's USD 47 million (210 crore), said a UNI report here.
Allocations for Bangladesh and Sri Lanka remain the same at USD 3 million (Rs 15 crore) and USD 6 million (28 crore), respectively.
Maldives will have a more than double allocation of USD 3 million (Rs 15 crore), up from last year's USD 1 million (Rs 6 crore), Myanmar USD 18 million (Rs 80.41 crore), up from last year's USD 10 million (44.57 crore), other developing countries USD 145 million (Rs 651.23 crore), up from USD 132 million (591.63 crore) in 2006-2007, Central Asia USD 5 million (Rs 20 crore), up from last year's USD 4 million (17 crore), and African countries USD 12 million (Rs 50 crore), up from last year's USD 5 million (20 crore).
The External Ministry will get USD 502 million (Rs 2258.86 crore) for embassies and missions abroad, passport and emigration, training, special diplomatic expenditure, international conferences and meetings, entertainment charges and other expenditure.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) India's national media Thursday mostly lauded the national budget for 2007-08 unveiled a day earlier by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram with a focus on rejuvenating the sagging farm sector.
While pointing out that India Inc was not wholly happy with the proposals, many newspapers conceded that the minister had done an apt tight rope walking amid the conflicting demands of the market and the mass of people steeped in poverty.
"It's not a bad budget after all," decreed The Economic Times, India's best-known business daily.
Calling the budget a "theme for a dream", it said that Chaidambaram had done the right thing by focusing on issues such as inflation and all-round growth.
"Palaniyappan Chidambaram needs to be commended for resisting the temptation to do a populist course correction," added the Hindustan Times
Lauding the budget for "Including the excluded", it hailed the minister's emphasis on agriculture and his determination to tame the inflation, measures it believes should now be effectively implemented by the government.
Another daily, the Business Standard, however despaired that the budget had disappointed Indian industry.
"India Inc wanted more, much more," it said, reflecting an opinion widely held in the business sector, listing some of the weaknesses of the annual exercise as seen by the Indian industry.
"PC Piggybanks on Jumbo" yelled The Times of India, one of the leading newspapers that ran a popular campaign called "India Poised" days ahead of the budget.
It said Chidambaram had played the Santa to rural banks as he allocated funds to uplift the regional rural banks (RRBs).
The Indian Express remarked: "Chidambaram could have listened to many of his political colleagues and 'taxed the rich' and discovered new avatars of populism."
The Hindu thought differently: "Overall, the budget is somewhat of a disappointment, with an incremental rather than an imaginative or innovative approach."
New Delhi, March 1(IRNA) Calling the proposed India-Pakistan-Iran (IPI) gas pipeline a "viable" alternative to meet the country's energy needs, India's Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar Thursday said many countries were "against" it due to certain "vested interests." "Many countries are not in favor of this pipeline because of their vested interests. But this would soon be a reality," Aiyar said while releasing a book by Dilip Hiro here titled "Blood of the Earth - The Battle for the World's Vanishing Oil Resources," PTI reported.
Aiyar said all oil producing countries in Asia should unite and form an organization on the likes of the European Union to fight "some" countries which "dictate" the price of petroleum products.
With petroleum resources fast depleting, the future would be hydrogen and not petroleum, he said.
"We in India and China have started using energy from solar power and wind power. The country has also started using CNG as a fuel. But that is not sufficient," he said.
"We need to tap energy produced by hydrogen," he said.
He maintained that there was no alternative to launching a search for alternatives to petroleum for fuel under the emerging situation.
Mumbai, March 1 (IANS) Buoyed by software stocks, Indian shares rose by 1.71 percent Thursday, recovering from Wednesday's 4 percent fall following central budget jitters and a global sell-off triggered by the Chinese stock market.
The 30-issue Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) index (Sensex) rose 221.45 points to 13,159.55 and the broad-based National Stock Exchange (NSE) index Nifty went up 1.76 percent to 3,811.20 points.
The recovery was led by technology stocks after leading software services exporters said they would not be greatly affected by the budget move to apply the minimum alternate tax (MAT) to them.
Index heavyweights IT shares led the bounce back with India's leading software exporter Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., leading the pack, up 5.7 percent at Rs. 1,255.60, followed by fourth-ranked Satyam Computer Services Ltd, up 5.47 percent at Rs. 435.05 and India's third ranked software exporter Wipro Ltd., up 5.09 percent at Rs. 589.40, gaining Rs 28.55 over the last traded stock.
Infosys Technologies Ltd., rose 3.6 percent at Rs. 2,153.45 recouping most of Wednesday's 5 percent drop.
Market analysts said the pullback was expected after the uncertainty surrounding the budget was overcome.
"A pull back was excepted after the market saw a sharp fall in the past few days leading to the budget Wednesday. It was a relief today for the market after overcoming the jitters of uncertainty surrounding the budget," said an analyst.
Bajaj Auto Ltd., India's second-biggest motorcycle maker, led the major losers of the day, down 3.93 percent at Rs. 2,514.10 shedding Rs.102.85, after it said that its sales in February fell 2 percent form a year earlier because of production constraints and limited sales of its high-end bikes.
Top cement makers Grasim Industries Ltd., ACC Ltd. and Gujarat Ambuja were also among the top losers following a rise in cement prices in terms of the budget measures.
Gujarat Ambuja cement Ltd., was down 3.62 percent at Rs.111.75, followed by ACC Ltd., down 2.61 percent at Rs.876.55, and Grasim Industries Ltd., was down 0.57 percent at Rs. 2,200.00.
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., Hero Honda Motors and consumer goods maker Hindustan Levers Ltd, were the other major losers.
By Arun Kumar,
Washington, March 1 (IANS) An Indian graduate student has been charged with making terrorist threats after he caused a bomb and anthrax scare leading to a shutdown at the University of Missouri-Rolla.
The student, Sujithkumar Venkatramolla, 22, was arrested on campus early Tuesday after walking into a civil engineering building armed with a knife, holding a paper bag and saying he had a bomb and anthrax, media reports citing local authorities said Wednesday.
Police eventually subdued him with a stun gun after he refused to drop the knife. The bomb and anthrax threats were determined to be phoney.
Extensive searches of the campus building Tuesday found no trace of explosives, and preliminary tests showed that a white, powdery substance found on the man was nothing more than powdered sugar, police said.
Venkatramolla, a civil engineering student from Nizamabad, India, was depressed and apparently distraught over grades.
He was charged with armed criminal action, resisting arrest, false report of a bomb threat, making terrorist threats, and first-degree assault of a law enforcement officer. He was later sent to jail with bond set at $250,000.
The investigation will take some time to finish, because of the heightened concerns about terrorism and the fact the student was from overseas, police said. The FBI is among the investigating agencies.
A university spokesperson said she was not aware of any previous disciplinary issues relating to the student who lived in an off-campus apartment.
The 5,850-student technological research and engineering campus was shut down for the day by the scare. Twenty-three people, including eight students and a faculty member, were quarantined for several hours but showed no signs of illness and were allowed to go home Tuesday afternoon.
The school has students drawn from 48 US states and 55 foreign countries.
Mumbai, March 1 (IANS) The Indian cricket team left here early Thursday morning to take part in the World Cup beginning March 11 in the West Indies.
The 15-member side, led by Rahul Dravid, left at around 3 a.m. by a British Airways flight for London.
The team, which is placed in Group B, will play two practice matches before clashing with Bangladesh at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Sri Lanka and Bermuda are the other teams in the pool.
The opening ceremony will be held in Montego Bay, Jamaica, March 11.
New Delhi, March 1(IRNA)The Indo-US joint working group (JWG) on counter-terrorism met here to discuss cooperative strategies to fight the global menace of terrorism.
The US delegation, led by Acting Coordinator for Counter- Terrorism Frank Urbancic, met over a full day Wednesday with Additional Secretary for International Organizations of India's Ministry of External Affairs KC Singh, who hosted the delegation, an official release said here.
The two discussed, inter alia, regional counter-terrorism efforts, threat assessments in South Asia and the Middle East, bio-terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and the ongoing Anti-Terrorism Assistance Training Program.
They also discussed terrorist finance and money laundering, the ideological dimensions of terrorism, information sharing and widened cooperation for preventing terrorist acts.
They also agreed to find new ways to forge institutional linkages to foster closer interaction and cooperation.
They concurred that no country today is safe from terrorism and that cooperation between India and the United States not only strengthens the fight against the scourge of terrorism but is also a symbol of the way in which like-minded democracies can work together as partners in countering the global menace of terrorism.
The next meeting of the counter-terrorism JWG will take place in Washington.
Gaza, March 1 (NNN-KUNA) About 6,000 Palestinians were indicted in 2006 due to charges of committing so called "violent acts" against Israel, revealed a study by the Israeli military prosecution in the West Bank.
According to the study, published by Yediot Ahronot, the current numbers indicated an increase in these procedures taken against Palestinians, mostly living in the West Bank.
The study said "3,523 indictments were filed against Palestinians in West Bank military courts. The indictments ranged from charges of stone throwing organised by terror groups, to attempted murder and murder."
Further more, "67 indictments were for murder, and 330 for attempted murder." Meanwhile, the study had revealed that in 2000, a total of 560 Palestinians were indicted, while in 2002, 2,135 indictments were filed.
The numbers continued to climb, reaching 3,000 by 2004 and although a decline in indictments against Palestinians was seen in 2005, the numbers shot up again in 2006 and broke all records, said the study.
These numbers, it said, indicated an increase in administrative injunctions against Palestinians, which were considered an alternative to arrests and legal procedures when a possibility of revealing intelligence sources was at risk.
GAZA, March 1 (NNN-KUNA) -- About 6,000 Palestinians were indicted in 2006 due to charges of committing so called "violent acts" against Israel, revealed a study by the Israeli military prosecution in the West Bank.
According to the study, published by Yediot Ahronot, the current numbers indicated an increase in these procedures taken against Palestinians, mostly living in the West Bank.
The study said "3,523 indictments were filed against Palestinians in West Bank military courts. The indictments ranged from charges of stone throwing organised by terror groups, to attempted murder and murder."
Further more, "67 indictments were for murder, and 330 for attempted murder." Meanwhile, the study had revealed that in 2000, a total of 560 Palestinians were indicted, while in 2002, 2,135 indictments were filed.
The numbers continued to climb, reaching 3,000 by 2004 and although a decline in indictments against Palestinians was seen in 2005, the numbers shot up again in 2006 and broke all records, said the study.
These numbers, it said, indicated an increase in administrative injunctions against Palestinians, which were considered an alternative to arrests and legal procedures when a possibility of revealing intelligence sources was at risk.
Khartoum, March 1(IRNA) Iran President said here Wednesday the Zionist regime is offspring of the British, nurtured by the US, and committing crimes in region relying on their support.
According to IRNA's reporter to Khartoum, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made the comment on the first day of his state visit of Sudan during a meeting with this country's religious Alims.
President Ahmadinejad referring to a number of Zionist regime's endless list of crimes, highlighted the massacre of defenseless Palestinian and Lebanese nations, emphasizing, "The Zionists are the true manifestation of Satan."
Referring to the strong support of a number of warmonger powers for the racist Zionist regime, Ahmadinejad reiterated, "Many Western governments that claim to be pioneers of democracy and standard bearers of human rights close their eyes over crimes committed by the Zionists and by remaining silent support the Zionists due to their hedonist and materialist tendencies."
The President added, "Today the Zionist regime is a symbol of hedonism and the manifestation of the ugly soul of some usurper powers that support it."
President Ahmadinejad whose comments were confirmed by "Allah-o-Akbar" (God is the Greatest) shouts of Sudanese Alims, added, "The grave problem with which the mankind is entangled today is that some tyrants have deviated a lot from the prophets' path, that is the Right Path."
He said, "We notice today that some powerful leaders consider the entire world as their own property and interpret all rules and regulations in their own favor."
Ahmadinejad considered return to the Divine Prophets' Path as the only way left for saving the mankind from the quagmire they are caught in due to deficiencies of the man made schools of thought, such as Liberalism and Communism that have failed in meeting the dire needs of the mankind.
The president added, "Today the nations have waken up and they voice their disgust for the usurper powers, denouncing their conduct and this has provided an appropriate path for the expansion of monotheism throughout the world."
He said, "The world nations ask for justice and the restoration of man's dignity and prestige."
Ahmadinejad referred to the prevailing conditions in Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine, and the crimes committed by tyrant powers in those countries, reiterating, "The foot steps of those tyrant powers can be traced in all world crises and disputes."
The IRI President added, "These colonialist powers are opposed to the scientific and technological advancement of the Muslim countries and do not permit the free world nations to move towards development and advancement."
Ahmadinejad added, "Even in the West, too, the nations are under the reign of some tyrant regimes, their social freedoms are ignored in those countries, and their broad minded intellectuals are imprisoned." The president emphasized the unity and solidarity among world Muslims, and the need for their refraining from discord as the secret of Muslims' victory against their enemies, adding, "It is due to significance of Muslims' unity that enemies of Islam feel committed to disturb and uproot Islamic solidarity."
Ahmadinejad referred to the enemies' efforts aimed at sowing seeds of discord among Shi'a and Sunni Muslims in different Islamic countries, adding, "The entire world Muslims believe in fundamentals of the need to observe solidarity, which is why the Muslims should unanimously dismantle the enemies plots in that respect."
The president referred to Sudan as "A great stronghold for authentic pure Islam", arguing, "In Islamic country of Sudan, thanks to the presence of great and pious Alims and thinkers the light of the Glorious Qur'an flows in the veins of people's lives, and piety waves in the hearts of this land's people."
Ahmadinejad added, "Iran and Sudan have rich natural and human resources, and can pave the path towards advancement and development relying on cooperation constantly."
President Ahmadinejad is scheduled to attend his Sudanese counterpart's dinner party in his honor.
Ramallah, March 1 (NNN-KUNA) Five Palestinians were wounded and seven were arrested when the Israeli Army raided Thursday the Al-Fara'ah refugee camp near Nablus, north of the West Bank, and imposed a curfew.
According to Palestinian sources, clashes erupted in the camp between the Israeli Army and locals, resulting in the injury of five Palestinians.
The sources added Israelis surrounded several buildings there, arresting seven Palestinians in the process.
Israeli forces' re-occupation of Nablus came only 24 hours after their withdrawal. The imposed curfew prevented the transport of injured people to local hospitals.
Rome, March 1 (DPA) Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi narrowly survived a make-or-break vote of confidence after his centre-left government received 162 votes in parliament's upper house, just two ballots more than the required majority.
Prodi was backed by 158 elected senators and only mastered the quorum thanks to the support of four life-appointed senators. A total of 157 opposition lawmakers voted against the government Wednesday.
While the outcome of the vote represented a political victory for Italy's embattled centre-left leader, analysts noted that the government faced an uncertain future due to the wafer-thin nature of his support in the Senate.
"The government is like the Tower of Pisa: It leans, but it doesn't fall," said Justice Minister Clemente Mastella.
The government now faces a similar vote of confidence Friday in the lower Chamber of Deputies, where it enjoys a much more comfortable majority.
"I am very satisfied, now let's go to the Chambers," Prodi was quoted as saying immediately after the result of the vote.
The premier had been asked to verify his parliamentary majority by President Giorgio Napolitano, who rejected Prodi's resignation at the end of two days of crisis talks with party leaders Saturday.
Prodi also won Wednesday's knife-edged vote because Luigi Pallaro, an independent elected in the South American constituency, and Marco Follini, a lawmaker who recently split from the opposition UDC party, both agreed to back him.
Had he lost the vote, he would have been constitutionally obliged to step down.
Addressing lawmakers earlier in the day, Prodi defended his government's efforts to cut the country's ballooning budget deficit and Italy's peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan, saying his government was working for "a political solution" to the crisis affecting the Asian country.
Italy's premier had tendered his resignation last week after losing a key foreign policy vote in the Senate, where two far-left dissident lawmakers refused to back him in opposition at the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan, where Italy has nearly 2,000 soldiers.
Both rebel lawmakers agreed to back the government on Wednesday despite their reservations over the mission.
Italy has a long history of revolving-door governments and Prodi's is the country's 59th since the post-World War II constitution was adopted.
The former European Union Commission chief formally assumed power on May 17, 2006 at the helm of a broad nine-party coalition ranging from communists to Christian Democrats after defeating Silvio Berlusconi in the closest general election in modern Italian history.
Melbourne , March 1 (NNN-BERNAMA) Indonesia is expected to decide tomorrow whether to accept a group of Sri Lankan asylum seekers from Australia for UN processing.
Australia ’s Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Canberra wanted the 83 men, who are being held on Christmas Island , to be returned to Indonesia to have their claims to refugee status determined by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), news agency, the Australian Associated Press said in a report Thursday.
The Sri Lankans, along with two Indonesians, were intercepted by the Australian navy aboard a fishing vessel in international waters last week.
Australia has been in talks with Jakarta to try to secure a guarantee that Indonesia would not deport the 83 men to Sri Lanka if they were returned to Indonesia .
Sri Lanka has demanded the men's return and branded them economic migrants whose claims to asylum are "baseless", the news agency said.
With Indonesia seemingly resisting Australia 's requests, it looks increasingly likely the Sri Lankans could have their claims processed on Christmas Island or be transferred to Nauru .
Downer today confirmed there had been no deal reached, and said Australia would be willing to pay for the cost of processing the men through the UNHCR in Indonesia .
He anticipated a final decision from Jakarta "in the next day or so".
"We haven't got a final response yet from the Indonesians. We're simply awaiting that and I don't know what their response is going to be," he said.
"They don't want to end up with them permanently in Indonesia - that's their perspective so we'll have to wait and see what their final decision is."
Downer met in Canberra with Sri Lanka 's Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, who has demanded the men be sent back to their homeland -- where a civil war is raging between the Sri Lankan Government and secessionist Tamil Tiger rebels.
The Sri Lankan High Commission said de Silva had urged Downer to consider Sri Lanka 's stance on the asylum seekers.
"The Sri Lankan minister told Mr Downer that in our belief, they are not refugees, they are economic migrants," a commission spokesman told AAP.
"Mr Downer listened and noted what he had to say."
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Thursday conferred Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for 2006 on eminent artistes and called upon them to use performing arts to promote developments in sectors like agriculture, agro-processing, education, healthcare and culture.
Kalam honoured five eminent personalities as Akademi Fellows - Gursharan Singh, theatre personality from Punjab; Kishan Maharaj, tabla maestro from Varanasi; Rohini Bhate, eminent Kathak guru from Pune; T.N. Krishnan, master violinist and carnatic music scholar from Chennai; and N. Khelchandra Singh, eminent scholar of Manipuri art and culture.
He also honoured 33 artistes with Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards. The Akademi Fellowships and Akademi Awards carry a purse money of Rs.50,000, a 'tamrapatra' (brass plaque) and an 'angavastram'.
Kalam said folk dancers in Chhattisgarh are using their art to create awareness about jatropha plantation. He added that he had witnessed a dance drama performance at Ahmedabad, depicting the social evils against women.
Kalam said this would also be another method by which our ancient performing arts could be preserved, as preservation requires continuous practice and application. He said art-promoting groups in the government and music lovers of corporates have to encourage such missions.
Ram Niwas Mirdha, chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and Badal K. Das, secretary, Union Ministry of Culture, were also present on the occasion.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 1 (IANS) The budget session of the Kerala Assembly begins Friday with Governor R.L.Bhatia delivering his address. State Finance Minister Thomas Isaac will present his second budget on March 9. The session concludes March 29.
Interestingly, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opposition is all set to nail the V.S.Achuthanandan government for having cleared the Asian Development Bank loan, which they opposed steadfastly for nearly five years when the UDF ruled the state between 2001 and 2006.
The opposition is also agitated over the recent incident involving Pinnarayi Vijayan, the ruling Communist Party of India (CPI-M) state secretary, who was caught with five bullets at the Chennai airport last month, while on his way to Delhi.
Achuthanandan government's failure to go ahead with the road development work, which has come to a standstill for the past three months, is yet another issue that the opposition will use to hammer the government.
The chief minister's trump card will be the proposed Smart City project, which is on the brink of being signed with Dubai Internet City.
Achuthanandan had announced early this week that the project would be cleared before the assembly session begins.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Surendra Koli, one of the main accused in the killing and sexual assault of at least 20 people, mostly children, in Nithari village near here Thursday gave a confessional statement to a New Delhi court.
Metropolitian Magistrate Chandrashekhar was ordered to record the statement of Koli, who along with his businessman employer Moninder Singh Pandher is alleged to have kidnapped, murdered and assaulted at least 20 people in a Noida bungalow on the outskirts of Delhi.
Chandrashekhar was appointed by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kamini Lau after Koli expressed his willingness to have his confessional statement recorded.
After the court's order, Koli taken to a video conferencing room where his statement was recorded in camera.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Surendra Koli, whose reported killings of at least 20 people, mostly children, in Nithari village of Uttar Pradesh, shook conscience across the country, Thursday gave a confessional statement to a Delhi court.
Following an order of Metropolitian Magistrate Chandrashekhar for recording Koli's statement, the alleged serial killer was taken to a video conferencing room where his statement was recorded.
Koli, along with his businessman employer Moninder Singh Pandher is alleged to have kidnapped, murdered and assaulted at least 20 people in the Nithari village of Noida district just across the borders of this national capital.
Chandrashekhar was appointed by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kamini Lau after Koli expressed his willingness to have his confessional statement recorded.
Kochi, March 1 (IANS) Kuwait-based K.G.A group of companies, founded by Kerala- born K.G. Abraham, Thursday announced a massive investment of Rs.6 billion ($ 136 million) for setting up three luxury hotels in the state.
"In the first phase of investment, we plan to set up a Rs.2.2 billion five star hotel project in Kochi in collaboration with international hotel chain Crowne Plaza of the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG)," Abraham said at the project's foundation stone laying ceremony here.
"It would have 210 rooms and amenities like conference facility for 600 people, three restaurants and meeting rooms," he added.
Abraham said his group has identified two more hotel projects, one at Kovalam and the other one in Thiruvananthapuram itself.
Michael Herrmann, IHG's director of operations (Southwest Asia), said the partnership was a reflection of their commitment towards further portfolio expansion in India. He added that the project was in line with the group's focus on developing strong hotel brands.
"Crowne Plaza Cochin will showcase and support the brand's development in the country and assist in the establishment of a brand compliant Crowne Plaza in southwest Asia," Herrmann stated.
The KGA group, which takes on construction contracts, has its presence in Kuwait's oil industry as well.
"Work on the two projects would begin in two years," Abraham said.
The KGA group has also been involved in social projects in Kerala. They were reportedly the first company to complete construction of 26 houses in Ernakulam district when a tsunami struck the Kerala coast in December 2004.
The Crowne Plaza Cochin will be IHG's 23rd hotel in India and the 4th Crowne Plaza hotel in India.
London, March 1(IRNA) Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said Thursday that his party's MPs will join backbench Labour rebels in opposing Prime Minister Tony Blair's plans to replace the country's nuclear weapons.
"If the government puts a motion embodying the proposals Tony Blair has announced, I will lead the Lib Dems into the no lobby," Campbell said about his party's 63 MPs.
In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, he criticized Blair for demanding a vote this month on replacing the country's Trident nuclear weapons, saying it was "clearly yet another effort by the prime minister to establish his legacy" before resigning.
Labour deputy leadership contender John Cruddas suggested that the backbench revolt against a new generation of nuclear weapons was likely to include moderate MPs as well as left-wingers.
Cruddas told the Financial Times that Blair could face a substantial rebellion over his decision to replace Trident by putting forward a motion seeking to delay any decision.
The Lib Dems are also due to debate a resolution at its spring conference in Harrogate, northern England, calling for a delay until 2014 and proposing an immediate 50 per cent cut in Britain's nuclear arsenal.
Campbell said the proposals would justifiably allow Britain to claim it was fulfilling its non-proliferation treaty obligations in contrast to accusations that the government will breach its commitment.
"We could challenge other countries to do the same and [it] would put us in pole position on the issue of nuclear disarmament without in any way prejudicing our security," he said.
Cruddas, who is one of several candidates seeking to replace deputy leader John Prescott, when he stands down at the same time as Blair later this year, suggested a rebel amendment for a delay could be tabled before the government's vote expected on March 14.
A House of Commons Early Day motion calling on the government to extend an "insufficient" consultation period of three months has already been signed by 142 MPs from seven political parties, including 78 Labour backbenchers out of the party's total of 352.
Despite the sizeable opposition, Blair is still expected to comfortable win the vote to replace Trident because of support of the main opposition Conservative Party, which has 196 MPs.
But like the vote for the Iraq war and the opposition from trade unionists, academics, peace campaigners and church leaders, it is expected to lead to questions whether Blair has the country behind him let alone his ruling party.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Not to be outdone by millions of cricket lovers in the country, the Lok Sabha Thursday sent its best wishes to the 15-member Indian cricket team that left Thursday morning for the West Indies for the World Cup beginning March 11.
"I am sure the house will join me in sending our best wishes to the Indian Cricket team," Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said.
When Republican Party of India MP Ramdas Athawale said the house wanted the team to win the World Cup, Chatterjee quipped: "It needs some discipline. Let the players not follow the parliamentarians."
He was referring to repeated disruptions seen in both houses of parliament this week as the opposition demanded a statement on the government's moves to extradite Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrrocchi, the accused in the Bofors pay-off scandal, who was arrested in Argentina Feb 6.
The speaker also congratulated Congress MP Naveen Jindal, who won a gold medal in the fifth Sardar Sajjan Singh Sethi Memorial Masters Shooting Championship in Jaipur and a silver at the National Games in Guwahati last month.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Joining millions of cricket fans in the country, the Lok Sabha Thursday sent its best wishes to the Indian cricket team that have left for the West Indies for the World Cup beginning March 11.
"I am sure the house will join me in sending our best wishes to the Indian Cricket team," Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said.
The 15-member Squad left for the Caribbean from Mumbai early Thursday morning.
When Republican Party of India MP Ramdas Athawale said the house wanted the team to win the World Cup, Chatterjee quipped: "It needs some discipline. Let the players not follow the parliamentarians."
He was referring to repeated disruptions seen in both houses of parliament this week as the opposition demanded a statement on the government's moves to extradite Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrrocchi, the accused in the Bofors pay-off scandal, who was arrested in Argentina Feb 6.
The speaker also congratulated Congress MP Naveen Jindal, who won a gold medal in the fifth Sardar Sajjan Singh Sethi Memorial Masters Shooting Championship in Jaipur and a silver at the National Games in Guwahati last month.
Raipur, March 1 (IANS) Maoist guerrillas triggered a landmine in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district Thursday killing eight people including four Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) and two special police officers.
Four NAP personnel were also seriously injured in the blast near Injeram in the southern tip of Bastar, 470 km south of capital Raipur, police said.
The NAP has been deployed in Chhatisgarh to take on Maoists who run their own administration in defiance of the government in parts of the state, mostly in tribal areas.
Raipur, March 1 (IANS) Eight people, including six security personnel, were killed in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district Thursday when Maoist guerrillas triggered a powerful landmine blast, police said.
Four Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) soldiers, two special police officers (SPOs) and the driver and cleaner of the truck they were travelling in were killed in the blast near Injeram in Bastar region's Dantewada district, 470 km from here. Four NAP soldiers were critically injured in the attack.
"Militants blew up a police patrolling team in a thickly forested stretch and then started indiscriminate firing. We have at least eight dead and four injuries," said Girdhari Nayak, inspector general the state's Maoist operations division.
Chhattisgarh is one of the worst hit amongst India's 13 states where Maoist guerrillas hold sway.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Mehbooba Mufti, president of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), a partner in the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here Thursday and demanded demilitarisation in the militancy-hit state and revocation of special powers to the security forces.
"I met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today and discussed the issues of troop reduction, revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and vacation of agricultural and orchard land and private and government buildings occupied by the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir," Mufti told IANS.
Mufti said her demands were aimed at strengthening the emerging public faith in the state's political and democratic institutions.
"The systematic and time-bound reduction of troops and revocation of the AFSPA would be the appropriate and fitting response to the fast-changing ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir," she added.
Mufti said the reconciliatory process initiated by the coalition government, with the active support of the central government, has to a large extent alleviated public alienation and enhanced people's sense of freedom and their faith in democratic means.
"There is, however, a compelling need to reinforce the political initiatives with adequate administrative measures to completely transform the scenario," she said in a statement.
She added that for sustaining peace in the state through public involvement, the country and its leadership must trust the people of Jammu and Kashmir and reduce troops and revoke AFSPA at the earliest.
"The cost of not doing so, I am afraid, would be much higher for the state and the nation," she pointed out.
Mufti made it clear that the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir called for such confidence building measures earnestly and the country's leadership must grab the opportunity and respond appropriately to the public mood to bring a turn-around in the situation.
Appreciating the role played by the armed forces during difficult times, she added: "But this cannot be an endless arrangement as it is unfair for the security forces as well as the people of the state."
During the last two days, Mufti has held similar meetings with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to put across her party's viewpoint on demilitarisation of the state.
Jaipur, March 1 (IANS) Rajasthan state assembly's budget session started on a stormy note Thursday with four opposition legislators suspended for the entire budget session for shouting anti-government slogans in the house.
No sooner Governor Pratibha Patil accompanied by Speaker Sumitra Singh and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje entered the house to deliver the address, than members of opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) started to raise slogans, describing the governor's address unconstitutional.
Repeated requests by the speaker failed to persuade the members thus forcing her to adjourn the house till Friday.
Both Amra Ram and Ranvir Singh, who were later joined by BSP's Morari Lal Meena and Suresh Meena, continued shouting slogans amid protests by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members.
The speaker then suspended CPI-M's Amra Ram, Lok Janshakti Party's Ranvir Singh Gudha, BSP's Suresh Meena and Morari Lal Meena for the remaining budget session.
Ram insisted that he should be allowed to speak as he wanted to raise the issue of the suffering of farmers in the state. He has been leading farmers' protest in Sri Ganganagar district over the past couple of years demanding more water for irrigation in the area.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Mobile telephony will now be available within 10 km of India's international borders, except in Jammu and Kashmir, it was announced Thursday.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) amended the Cellular Mobile Telephone Service License Agreement to facilitate the move.
"The Licensee shall create a 'Buffer Zone' of 10 kms width along the Line of Control (LOC), Line of Actual Control (LAC), Akhnoor and Pathankot areas in Jammu and Kashmir, as applicable, wherein they shall not deploy their cell site(s)/ radio transmitter(s)," said an official statement.
The mobile telephone service providers will be able to extend their services in other border areas.
According to industry experts, the telecommunications sector had been pushing for this move, as it will help expand rural connectivity.
Shimla, March 1 (IANS) Snow fell for the third consecutive day across Himachal Pradesh including the popular resort of Shimla, which wore a white mantle early Thursday.
"Shimla received snowfall in March after five years," Manmohan Singh, head of the regional weather office here, told IANS.
Traffic was disrupted at many places in the town due to skidding of vehicles on slippery snow.
The mercury dropped to freezing point (0 centigrade) in the night. The Hindustan-Tibet road continued to be blocked beyond Shimla at the popular resorts of Kufri and Narkanda, which witnessed snowfall again Thursday.
Chail and surrounding woods were also covered under a thick blanket of snow.
Manali, already under deep snow, saw more of it Thursday even as it remained cut off from the rest of the country since Tuesday. Some 75 cm of snow has piled up at Manali forcing people to remain huddled indoors.
Snow was being cleared on the Kullu-Manali highway near Pathlikul some 250 km from here. Heavy snowfall had eluded Manali during much of the winter and has been welcomed by the tourism industry.
Snowfall was heavier at the Solang ski slopes overlooking Manali. It was several feet deep at the 13,050 feet high Rohtang Pass the gateway to the Lahaul Valley, which received yet another spell of heavy snowfall.
Temperatures in the snow-covered Spiti Valley have plummeted to minus 15 degree centigrade.
Pangi, the isolated valley in Chamba district, was well under 120 cm of snow. The administration has warned the locals not to move out of their homes due to the risk of avalanches in Pangi.
New Delhi/Lucknow, March 1 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav suffered a major blow Thursday when the Supreme Court ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into corruption charges against him, putting the wrestler-turned-politician under a cloud ahead of crucial assembly elections.
The Samajwadi Party reacted with anger and some disdain, suggesting that the apex court was biased against the Uttar Pradesh chief minister and rejecting the opposition demands that he should resign on moral grounds.
Acting on a writ petition filed by Congress activist Vishwanath Chaturvedi, alleging the chief minister and his family had used corrupt methods to amass wealth, Justices A.R. Lakshmanan and Altamas Kabir held that the allegations could not be decided in a court of law.
But the judges directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into charges that the assets of the chief minister and his family members far exceeded their known sources of income by examining the documents related to their wealth.
The bench also directed the CBI "to ascertain if a corruption case is made out and if yes, submit their report to the central government, which might take further steps depending upon the outcome of the probe."
It said that a probe into the allegations would only be in the interest of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.
"Mulayam Singh Yadav is a senior politician and holding a very high public post of chief minister in a very big state in India and the allegations made by the petitioner against him have cast a cloud on his integrity. Therefore, in his own interest, it is of utmost importance that the truth of these allegations is determined by a competent forum," the bench said.
The judges said "such a course would also subserve public interest and public morality because the chief minister of a state should not function under a cloud and that it would also be in the interest of the chief minister and the members of his family to have their honour vindicated by establishing that the allegations are not true."
While ordering the probe, the judges pointed out that, "in this case, voluminous documents, including several sale deeds, income tax returns and assessment orders and several photographs of the properties allegedly acquired by Mulayam Singh Yadav and his family members have been filed."
"In our opinion, the minuteness of the details furnished by all the parties have to be carefully looked into and analysed only by an independent agency with the assistance of chartered accountants and other accredited engineers and valuers of the property," the judges said.
The judges said the chief minister of a large state like Uttar Pradesh, which will elect a new legislature in April-May, could not function under a cloud when his integrity had been questioned.
Although any CBI enquiry is sure to drag on, the Supreme Court fiat could not have come at a worse time for Mulayam Singh Yadav, who faces a strong challenge from an opposition divided but determined to unseat him in the staggered elections. A section of the opposition predictably pounced on the judicial order to target the chief minister, already beleaguered by charges of poor governance.
As news of the damaging ruling came in, the chief minister stayed holed up inside his house leaving his brother Ram Gopal Yadav, a Rajya Sabha MP, to tell the media that he would file a review petition in court.
"The chief minister will file a revision petition as we have no faith in the CBI to which the probe has been assigned by the apex court. We have no objection to the probe but let it be done by a sitting or retired judge of a high court or Supreme Court," Ram Gopal Yadav said.
Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh, Mulayam Singh Yadav's trusted aide, told reporters in New Delhi: "We have nothing to hide. We don't dispute the Supreme Court's observations. But the same judge, A.R. Lakshamanan, earlier dismissed a plea against (Railways Minister) Lalu Prasad in a similar case."
Added Jaya Bachhan, wife of Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan: "We welcome the order. It is good that things are settled once and for all."
The Congress, which failed to garner support to impose the president's rule in Uttar Pradesh last month, went on the offensive.
Party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said: "The chief minister should have resigned. We hope he will at least cooperate with the CBI probe and he will not try to sabotage the investigation with his usual gimmicks."
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vowed to make the judicial order a campaign issue. But Mulayam Singh Yadav's bitter foe Mayawati made no mention of the development as she addressed tens of thousands of people at a major rally in Lucknow Thursday where she poured scorn on everyone: Mualaym Singh Yadav, the BJP and Congress.
In the Supreme Court, the petitioner had enclosed copies of the sale deeds of the properties acquired by Mulayam Singh Yadav, his two sons and daughters-in-law over the years and alleged that the value of these properties was worth more than Rs.1 billion.
The petitioner alleged that Mulayam Singh Yadav had in 1979 declared a taxable income of just Rs.79,000. But within three decades, particularly during the period when he was chief minister, he had acquired all these assets through corrupt means.
The petitioner sought a direction to the CBI to prosecute Mulayam Singh Yadav and his family members under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code.
Thursday's ruling comes just a few days after the Supreme Court disqualified 13 Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislators who had helped in the formation of the Mulayam Singh Yadav government.
It also comes at a time when anger over the policy apathy over the killing and sexual abuse of a large number of children in Nithari village in Uttar Pradesh's Noida area, bordering New Delhi, has not abated.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) The grey skies complemented the mood outside most schools in the capital Thursday as Class 12 students began their Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exams. Jittery students flipping through thick textbooks last minute while parents tried to calm them were a common sight.
This year the examination began with Physics, a subject not everyone is very comfortable with. "I just hope I don't forget the formulae. They are very important...," trailed off Vaishali, biting her nails and poring through her Physics textbook in the metro as her father stood by.
But if students are nervous, so are parents. Most parents could be seen waiting near the gates of the schools where their wards are taking their paper.
"Physics is not an easy subject. But Animesh, my son, was not as nervous as I was. I tried my best to conceal my feelings!" said Anjana Bandopadhyay, standing near the gates of the Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, where her son is taking his paper. He is a student of Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan.
"Nipun, my son, was not very tense. The only thing that he was upset about is that he will not be able to concentrate on the World Cup!" said another mother. "In fact I am a little nervous. I will wait here till he's done."
Beginning at 10.30 a.m., the exam lasts for three hours, with 15 minutes cool-off time which helps students collect themselves and read the questions properly before getting down to the task of answering the paper.
Ginny Ghuman, a teacher and mother of a son taking his Class 12 exams this year, however, looked more relaxed. "I think girls are more sensitive than boys are. Or maybe boys don't want to show their true feelings.
"In any case, my son Guriyog put in six to seven hours of study everyday and is not nervous," she said. Her son is a student of Delhi Public School, Dhaula Kuan.
This year 502,688 students from 4,789 schools will take the Class 12 examinations both in India and abroad - an increase of 9.59 percent from 2006. The students will take their exams in the 2,276 examination centres, of which 33 are in foreign countries.
Tel Aviv, March 1 (DPA) An Israeli television channel exposed a document, allegedly showing that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert granted favours to dozens of members of his former Likud party when he served as trade and industry minister two years ago.
The exposure late Wednesday is the latest in a series of corruption scandals plaguing Israel's leadership.
Only last month, Israel's state prosecutor ordered a police investigation into suspicions that Olmert committed breach of trust during the privatisation of a leading Israeli bank when he served as finance minister in late 2005.
The document exposed by Israel's Channel 10 television listed 115 Likud delegates and described how each was granted various favours by Olmert's trade and industry ministry.
According to the investigation, Olmert allegedly used his influence as trade and industry minister in bodies like the Small Businesses Authority - the department that grants permits to foreign workers - and the national telephone company Bezeq to "help out" party members.
Many of the recipients were members of the Likud Central Committee, the party's main institution, or other activists.
The assistance ranged from pushing for the promotion of a Likud delegate's wife, to getting another delegate's son a job in a phone company, to helping a third with hiring foreign workers, and obtaining an internship at a desired position for the relative of yet another.
In a first reaction, Olmert told reporters in Jerusalem that he received many requests from citizens, some of whom were Likud members, for help with solving bureaucratic problems, but said that any assistance given had been done legally.
"We always acted according to the instructions of the government's legal advisor," he said. He added he was unfamiliar with the document.
The premier's office earlier issued an official reaction, saying the list must have been compiled by a former political advisor, who aimed to highlight Olmert's achievements on behalf of the Likud Central Committee as a minister, but without his knowledge.
It also accused the Likud Central Committee of corruption, charging that the behaviour of its members during the party's term in power under former premier Ariel Sharon had "polluted Israeli politics".
Washington/Wellington, March 1 (DPA) New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is to meet with US President George W. Bush on March 21 in Washington for discussions including the war on terrorism.
New Zealand has participated in the NATO effort to stabilise and rebuild Afghanistan, where the Taliban has re-emerged as a force in the southern part of the country. NATO expects the Taliban to launch a major offensive in the coming months as the weather improves.
The US formally withdrew New Zealand's ally status and cut military and top-level political ties in the mid-1980s when a former Labour government passed an anti-nuclear law that barred nuclear-armed and -powered vessels from visiting the country's ports.
Clark, who belongs to the Labour Party, has endeavoured to restore relations since becoming prime minister in 1999 and in 2002 became the first Labour leader to visit the White House since the anti-nuclear row broke out.
She has maintained an independent foreign policy, refusing to join Bush's coalition to invade Iraq while supporting international peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.
"New Zealand and the United States enjoy a strong and mature friendship built on common values and a long history of working together in many areas," said Clark, in her announcement of the Washington visit.
"I look forward to emphasising the breadth and depth of that relationship," she said Wednesday.
Clark will also visit Chicago and Seattle, apart from Washington.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Surendra Koli, the man accused of sexually assaulting and killing over 20 people, mostly children, in Nithari near this capital appeared before a Delhi court Thursday and confessed to his role in the macabre crime that had shaken the nation.
Koli began his in-camera confession in the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Chandrashekhar, who was appointed by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kamini Lau to record it under the provisions of Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
The court began recording the confession late Thursday evening after several legal procedures were complied with and arrangements were made for audio and video recordings.
The recording of the confession, which Koli said he was doing to unburden his conscience, was expected to continue till late into the night, said court officials.
Koli, a domestic help, along with his employer businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, are the main accused in the crime that came to light with the discovery of human remains from a drain near Pandher's bungalow in Noida Dec 29.
Earlier Thursday, Koli had expressed his desire to confess when he was produced before the additional chief metropolitan magistrate's court after a day of solitary confinement at Tihar jail here.
The court then asked Delhi Legal Aid Cell lawyer Sangeeta Bhayana to represent the accused and explain to him the possible ramifications of his proposed confession to the court.
The lawyer stunned the court by refusing to obey the order. "I will prefer quitting the Legal Aid Cell panel to representing such a heinous criminal," said Bhayana.
Three other lawyers, Aman Sarin, Gurinder Pal Singh and Neeraj Agarwal, who were present in the courtroom then, said they were willing to represent Koli if he and the court allowed them to do so.
As the accused expressed his willingness to have the counsel of the three layers, magistrate Lau asked them to explain to him the consequences of confessing before a court. The magistrate also asked other people including media persons to leave the courtroom to allow the lawyers to advise Koli in solitude.
Explaining the matter, the lawyers told Koli that he should think twice before making the confession as he would not be able to retract his statement and on its basis he could even be convicted to a life term.
"But Koli, despite our counsel, insisted that he wanted to make the confession," Sarin told reporters later.
With Koli insisting on confession, Magistrate Lau appointed fellow Magistrate Chandrashekhar to record his confession. She also directed for video and audio recordings of his confession and asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to arrange for necessary equipment.
For the video recording of his statement, she said, the video camera and other equipment of the Patiala House court premises' video conferencing facilities would be utilised.
Koli was subsequently taken to the video conferencing room where magistrate Chandrashekkar, according to the mandatory requirement, once again explained to him the legal consequences of the confession.
After Koli earlier told the CBI that he wanted to confess to his demonic crime to unburden his conscience, the agency Wednesday approached the court of additional chief metropolitan magistrate that had remanded the accused to judicial custody for a day to provide him complete solitude and reach an independent, uninfluenced decision to make the confession.
Though the case related to the Nithari serial killings falls under the jurisdiction of the Ghaziabad court in Uttar Pradesh, the CBI chose a Delhi court for Koli's confessions as the law permits the investigating agency to have it recorded before any magistrate.
Lucknow, March 1 (IANS) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has ruled out alliance with any political party ahead of the April 7-May 8 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, expressing confidence that her party would form the next government in the state on its own.
Addressing an election rally at the Amkedkar Maidan here Thursday, she said: "We will contest the elections alone and I am confident of forming a government entirely on our own this time."
In a bid to boost the morale of her party members, she said: "Remember BSP was the only party that has the potential to beat Mulayam at the hustings."
Mayawati said: "Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have joined hands to damage BSP's poll prospects, but I can assure you that they would not be able to cause any harm to us."
"Congress was focused on the mission of sending me to jail, besides hatching conspiracies against me," the BSP leader said.
She also charged the Congress with "clandestinely floating smaller parties like the Jan Morcha and the United Democratic Front with the sole objective of denting BSP's rich prospects."
Sporting the party's blue badges and carrying the matching banner and flags, BSP workers virtually took over all roads leading to the venue, that was nearly painted blue with banners, buntings and posters of Mayawati, their party president.
Replying to BJP leader Kalyan Singh's oft-repeated charge that she took money to give party tickets, Mayawati said: "Yes, I do take money for awarding the party ticket, but everyone knows that I have no family and all that money is used for taking our party ahead.
She, however, refused to comment on the order given by the Supreme Court Thursday for a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into the assets of Mulayam Singh Yadav.
As if pre-empting a tirade during the elections about her own material acquisitions including huge properties, Mayawati told the gathering: "Our political adversaries may try to raise the question of the two bungalows owned by me in Lucknow and New Delhi. But it is you supporters who have gifted me these."
As many as 17 trains were hired by the BSP to ferry its volunteers from various places across the state. "They have paid several hundred thousand rupees for each train", Lucknow divisional railway manager R.K. Gupta told the media.
The rally, said to be the largest ever by any political outfit in Lucknow, was estimated to have drawn nearly one million people. City life was thrown out of gear for several hours as thousands of vehicles carrying BSP supporters poured in from different corners of the state.
"More than 1 million people have attended today's rally", said BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Misra, who was credited with the success of attracting even Brahmins to the party that was primarily known as a Dalit outfit.
WASHINGTON, March 1 (NNN-KUNA) -- Backing away from reports of a shift in US policy in its dealings with Iran and Syria, White House spokesman Tony Snow said Wednesday there will be no bilateral talks between the United States and Iran or the United States and Syria in the context of a regional conference in Baghdad on March 10.
During a White House briefing, Snow noted that the Iraqi government has extended official invitations to regional neighbouring countries, Egypt, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the Arab League for the Baghdad conference.
"If, in fact, topics like EFPs (explosively formed penetrators) and such come up in that conference, obviously we will address them," Snow said, referring to the sophisticated armour-penetrating roadside bombs which US officials have said are being sent into Iraq from Iran and used to attack US troops.
"But there will not be bilateral talks between the United States and Iran or the United States and Syria within the context of these meetings. These are organised by the Iraqis, and these are on issues that are pertinent to Iraq".
As for whether the United States has changed its policy dramatically, "it has not," Snow said, noting that there have been a number of occasions in recent years in which US and Iranian government officials have been seated at the same table in multilateral negotiations.
There were many contacts with the Iranians with regard to Afghanistan throughout 2002 and 2003 through the Bonn six-plus-two process as they were setting up the government in Afghanistan, he noted, and there was also an offer by the United States to work diplomatically with the Iranians on border issues.
The Iranians were at the Iraqi compact meeting at the United Nations last September, Snow said.
Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell was in a meeting with neighbours at Sharm el-Sheikh in November 2004; US and Iranian representatives participated in meetings subsequent to the Madrid Donors Conference in October 2003; and there were subsequent meetings in the International Reconstruction Facilities Fund for Iraq, including February 2004 in Abu Dhabi, May 2004 in Doha, October 2004 in Tokyo and July 2005 at the Dead Sea, Snow said.
It is important that people understand that the Bush administration is serious when it comes to the Iranians about a precondition for bilateral negotiations and also for diplomatic relations, "which is they cannot be working toward a nuclear weapon," Snow said.
The Permanent five members of the UN Security Council plus Germany have made this clear in conversations with the Iranians, Snow said.
"We want to make sure those waters do not get muddied, and that the Iranian people also understand that we look favourably upon the Iranian people, but we take a dim view of the Iranian government's activities when it comes to terrorist activities," he added.
Asked why US officials would not want to discuss the explosive devices in Iraq that are allegedly coming from Iran, since those devices are killing so many Americans, Snow said the topic may well come up at the Baghdad conference.
"I am certainly not going to rule it out," he said. "But again, the Iraqis are the ones who are convening the conference, and they are the ones who are going to have control of the agenda".
New York, March 1 (IANS) Indian American corporate executive Indra Nooyi, slated to become Pepsico Inc chairperson in May, is stepping down from the board of Motorola, the world's second-biggest mobile phone maker.
Nooyi, 51, chief financial officer at Pepsi until last year, was named chief executive officer in October and elected chairperson of the $32 billion soft drink and snack food company in February.
A Motorola director since 2002, Nooyi cited the additional responsibilities of her new posts as the reason for her decision.
She and H. Laurance Fuller, 69, a former co-chairman at BP Amoco plc, have opted not to stand for re-election at the Schaumburg communications-equipment maker's annual meeting on May 7, Motorola Inc. said in a regulatory filing.
Their departure in May will reduce the size of Motorola's board from 13 to 11, Motorola said.
The decision comes after billionaire investor Carl Icahn said in late January that he had taken a stake in Motorola and intended to seek a board seat with the aim of persuading the company to accelerate share buybacks.
New York, March 1(IRNA)Iran's permanent UN representative here Wednesday reiterated Iran is not breaching any of its international commitments by producing nuclear fuel.
In IRI representative's written answer to an article published in Wednesday edition of Wall Street Journal, it is pointed out, "We are merely moving based on our stated right in the text of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty that allows us to produce the fuel we need." The reply added, "Contrary to the claim made in Wall Street Journal, Iran has both in the past, and today been constantly cooperating with the IAEA and its nuclear facilities have been functioning fully under direct supervision of that agency in accordance with NPT regulations."
The IRI Permanent UN Representative further reiterates, "Relying on more than 2,000 personnel/day inspections, the UN nuclear watchdog has repeatedly announced in its comprehensive reports that there is no evidence about Iran's deviation from non-peaceful objectives in its nuclear program."
In its reply to the intriguing US daily article, the Iranian UN representative has posed the question, "With all these points in mind, the question is on what basis is the UN after imposing sanctions against Iran, while proliferation threats have been repeatedly posed by Israel, and the UN has taken no step aimed at disarming its nuclear arsenal."
It adds, "That is further astonishing keeping in mind that Israel has so far refrained from permitting the agency's inspectors to visit its huge nuclear arsenal."
The official IRI reply advises the international community to adopt an urgent decision to abandon adopting such double standards against Iran's rights, that cannot be justified based on any logic.
Iran's Permanent UN Representative has at the end expressed regret that Iran's rights are so easily ignored even by the US journalists, just as they always ignore our country's constructive role in promotion of regional stability, in a bid to present a distorted image of the Islamic Republic of Iran's humane identity.
By Zakaria Abdul Wahab
RIYADH, March 1 (NNN-BERNAMA) -- The waning International Islamic News Agency (IINA), set up by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), will be given a new breath of life by the end of the year under a plan drawn up to revive it.
A study to draw up a fresh plan of action for the 35-year-old body will be conducted soon, financed by the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB).
The decision to carry out the study was made here Wednesday at the inaugural meeting of the new Board of Directors of IINA which was established at the seventh meeting of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers in Jeddah last September.
The IINA board members comprise nine news agencies -- three each from the Middle East, Africa and Asia with Saudi Arabia as the secretariat. Asia is represented by Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkey.
At the meeting, Malaysia was represented by Zakaria Abdul Wahab, deputy editor-in-chief of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama). Zakaria also attended as an observer for the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) whose presidency is held by Bernama.
Malaysia, Turkey and Senegal were assigned by the meeting to draw up the terms of reference for the study to be done by a private entity to be decided by the IDB later.
OIC Secretary-General Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, in his remarks at the IINA board meeting, said this might be "the last opportunity for the OIC to do something concrete and useful for IINA in light of the current international situation affecting Islamic countries and the Muslim peoples who can no longer tolerate that their official information and media apparatus and instrument of joint Islamic action can remain so crippled and ineffective".
He said the new plan to revive IINA should be carved out with a clear vision and inspired by a rational mindset, challenges and demands of this new millennium.
"That is, a vision focused on revitalizing and remoulding IINA in the shape that the founding forefathers of the OIC had in mind, more than 30 years ago," he added.
He said IINA should be in the vanguard of Islamic information and media as both the instrument and beacon that could rally Muslims, defend their vital causes and protect their higher interests on the international stage, and convey their views and perspective to those outside the Islamic world.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Culture and Information of Saudi Arabia, Iyad Amin Madani. -- NNN-BERNAMA
GAZA, March 1 (NNN-KUNA) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will, in two weeks time, hold their third meeting to concentrate on ways of "furthering the dialogue", said the Haaretz Thursday.
The newspaper quoted a senior political source in Jerusalem as saying the meeting came "in view of the difficulties in forging a Palestinian unity government." Earlier this week, aides for the two leaders met to prepare for the Olmert-Abbas summit.
In Cairo on Tuesday, Abbas said he would meet Olmert in "a week or two." Olmert reiterated Wednesday during his meeting with the visiting EU commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner the preconditions for proceeding further with diplomatic talks with the Palestinians.
"My talks with the Palestinian President will deal with issues relating to containing terrorism and the quality of life of the Palestinians," he said.
He said he was unwilling to discuss the issue of a final settlement or the implementation of the second stage of the road map.
As an example of the improvements in the quality of life of the Palestinians, Olmert told the visiting EU official of his decision last week to extend the daily operating hours for the Karni crossing for goods in and out of the Gaza Strip
Kabul, March 1 (DPA) The leader of the Al Qaeda terrorist network and the world's number one fugitive, Osama bin Laden, is still alive, a top Taliban commander claimed in a rare interview.
"We know he is still alive," Mullah Dadullah, chief of the resurgent movement's military operations, told Britain's Channel 4 television in comments broadcast Wednesday.
"He is not yet martyred," Dadullah said at a secret location in Afghanistan.
Speaking in Pashtu, he added that he had not personally seen bin Laden since the Taliban was ousted from power by US-led forces just over five years ago.
"Our comrades stand shoulder to shoulder with us," he said of current relations between the Taliban and Al Qaeda. "They keep us informed."
The US is offering a reward of $25 million for information leading to the capture of bin Laden, whom Washington holds responsible for the terrorist attacks against New York and Washington on Sept 11, 2001.
He is widely believed to have escaped from eastern Afghanistan into Pakistan's mountainous tribal region at the end of that year when a US-led invasion ousted the Taliban.
Contrary to US intelligence agency claims, Pakistan says there is no evidence to suggest that leaders of the Taliban or Al Qaeda are hiding on its territory.
LARKANA, March 1. (NNN-APP): Foreign terrorists hiding in Pakistan's mountainous tribal belt have been warned to leave the country or risk stiff military action.
Issuing the warning, President General Pervez Musharraf, declared before a large public gathering:
"People have come there from outside - they are living in our mountains and spreading terrorism not just in Pakistan but in the entire world."
He said Pakistan was facing threat of terrorism and extremism and although things were better in Sindh as compared to the NWFP, the impact was being felt in the entire country.
“These people are putting Pakistan in danger and they should; otherwise we will have to deal with them," he said, adding that Islam is a religion of peace and had no place for extremist and terrorist tendencies.
He dismissed the use of the concept of 'jihad' by these elements, saying it was the prerogative of the government and not individuals.
He urged the people to help the government fight such extremists and terrorists by informing the police.
"Identify and point out those who have such tendencies and inform the law enforcement agencies," he said.
Earlier, Musharraf who was here for the ground breaking of Larkana-Khairpur bridge, said it would halve the distance between the two towns and help bring progress to under-developed areas.
He also directed construction of additional 15 km road to link it with the Indus Highway, besides announcing Rs 100 million each for District Larkana and Khairpur, dualisation of Sehwan-Ratodero, improvement of N-5 at a cost of Rs 5 billion.
He said Karachi-Hyderabad Super Highway was being converted into a six- lane motorway.
He also urged the people of Sindh to consider the possibility of having large water reservoirs aimed at preserving precious water resources and for its judicious use.
"We are striving to provide water resources for all, particularly those living at the tail-end," he said, adding that in the next two years 30,000 water courses will be brick-lined so that water is not wasted.
Lucknow, March 1 (IANS) All polling booths in Uttar Pradesh will remain under the direct supervision of central paramilitary force, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N. Gopalswamy declared here Thursday.
He also said no one would be allowed to vote without a photo identity card, which, he said, would be issued to at least 95 percent of the voters before the polling dates.
Addressing a press conference at the end of an overall review of the arrangements ahead of the April 7-May 8 state assembly poll, Gopalswamy said: "Each one of the 109,721 polling booths across the state would have central paramilitary force personnel to overcome any confusion about categorisation of booths as sensitive or hyper-sensitive."
"This time, all booths would be treated at par and receive equal attention of the commission," he added.
"The same pattern had been followed during the last election in Bihar that helped to ensure a free and fair poll in the state; we are confident of ensuring a similar free and fair election in Uttar Pradesh as well."
In addition to this, electronic voting machines across the state will be equipped with a device that would keep its memory intact for five years. "That would prevent any kind of fudging," the CEC added.
To facilitate voting by the visually challenged, the Election Commission has also provided Braille on the electronic voting machines. According to the CEC, this was also being done for the first time.
The seven-phased elections to the 403-member state assembly would commence April 7 and conclude May 8. The new assembly would be constituted before May 14, when the term of the current assembly expires.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Kenya, the surprise semi-finalists of the 2003 World Cup, are in fine form these days and have won 11 of the last 13 one-day internationals as they go into the World Cup this month.
Although all their victories have come against minnows Scotland, Bermuda, the Netherlands, Ireland and Canada, who all have also qualified for the tournament starting March 11, they seem to be ready for the big challenge.
Kenya have picked six players without World Cup experience, and one -- pacer Rajesh Bhudia -- has not even played a one-day international. Two of the players are born in India.
Placed in Group C along with England, New Zealand and Canada, Kenya will have to play really well to advance to the second round as only two teams each will progress from each of the four groups.
Following are the pen-sketches of the 15 players (statistics include their last ODI against Scotland in Nairobi Feb 7):
Steve Ogonji Tikolo (captain)
Born: June 25, 1971, Nairobi
Style: Right-handed batsman and pacer
ODI record: Matches: 87, Runs: 2,362, Average: 30.28, Highest score: 111, 100s: 2, 50s: 17, Overs: 413.1, Wickets: 63, Average: 30.59, Best bowling: 4/41, Catches: 45
World Cup record: Matches: 18, Runs: 492, Highest score: 96, Average: 28.94, 50s: 5, Overs: 46.3, Wickets: 10, Average: 23.60, Best bowling: 3/14, Catches: 5
Thomas Odoyo (vice-captain)
Born: May 12, 1978, Nairobi
Style: Right-handed batsman and medium-fast bowler
ODI record: Matches: 90, Runs: 1,677, Average: 24.30, Highest score: 84, 50s: 6, Overs: 644.2, Wickets: 97, Average: 31.08, Best bowling: 4/25, Catches: 23
World Cup record: Matches: 17, Runs: 315, Highest score: 43 not out, Average: 26.25, Overs: 120, Wickets: 16, Average: 35.56, Best bowling: 4/28, Catch: 1
Rajesh Bhudia
Born: November 22, 1984, Bhuj (India)
Style: Right-handed batsman and medium pacer
ODI record: None
James Kabatha 'Jimmy' Kamande
Born: December 12, 1978, Muranga
Style: Right-hand bat and fast-medium bowler
ODI record: Matches: 39, Runs: 352, Average: 14.08, Highest score: 68, 50s: 1, Overs: 166.4, Wickets: 17, Average: 47.35, Best bowling: 3/32, Catches: 8
World Cup record: Matches: 2, Overs: 18, Wicket: 1, Average: 89.00, Best bowling: 1/51
Tanmay Mishra
Born: December 22, 1986, Mumbai
Style: Right-handed batsman and fast-medium bowler
ODI record: Matches: 25, Runs: 661, Average: 33.05, Highest score: 66, Overs: 0.3, Catches: 11
World Cup record: None
Collins Omondi Obuya
Born: July 27, 1981, Nairobi
Style: Right-handed batsman and leg-spinner
ODI record: Matches: 49, Runs: 567, Average: 17.18, Highest score: 68 not out, Overs: 230.1, Wickets: 26, Average: 46.27, Best bowling: 5/24, Catches: 18
World Cup record: Matches: 9, Runs: 88, Highest score: 29, Average: 14.67, Overs: 77.5, Wickets: 13, Average: 28.77, Best bowling: 5/24, Catches: 4
David Oluoch Obuya
Born: August 14, 1979, Nairobi
Style: Right-handed and wicket-keeper
ODI record: Matches: 41, Runs: 777, Average: 20.45, Highest score: 93, 50s: 4, Catches: 27 (includes 12 as fielder), Stumpings: 4
World Cup record: Matches: 4, Runs: 11, Average: 3.67, Highest score: 4 not out, Catches: 8
Nehemiah Odhiambo
Born: August 7, 1983, Nairobi
Style: Right-handed batsman and medium-fast bowler
ODI record: Matches: 16, Runs: 142, Average: 17.75, Highest score: 66, Overs: 93.4, Wickets: 10, Average: 49.10, Best bowling: 3/25
World Cup record: None
Peter Jimmy Carter Ongondo
Born: February 10, 1977, Nairobi
Style: Right-handed batsman and fast-medium bowler
ODI record: Matches: 47, Runs: 292, Average: 10.43, Highest score: 36, Overs: 299.5, Wickets: 50, Average: 26.32, Best bowling: 5/51, Catches: 8
World Cup record: Matches: 9, Runs: 84, Average: 12.00, Highest score: 24, Overs: 55.2, Wickets: 4, Average: 56.50, Best bowling: 2/44
Lameck Onyango
Born: September 22, 1973, Nairobi
Style: Right-hand batsman and medium pacer
ODI record: Matches: 9, Runs: 44, Average: 11.00, Highest score: 23, Overs: 38.5, Wickets: 9, Average: 25.33, Best bowling: 3/37, Catch: 1
World Cup record: Match: 1, Runs: 23, Average: 23.00, Highest score: 23, Overs: 4, Catch: 1
Maurice Akumu Ouma
Born: November 8, 1982, Kiambli
Style: Right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper
ODI record: Matches: 23, Runs: 384, Average: 17.45, Highest score: 57 not out, Catches: 9 (includes 3 as fielder), Stumping: 1
World Cup record: None
Malhar Patel
Born: November 27, 1983, Kenya
Style: Right-handed batsman
ODI record: Matches: 3, Runs: 40, Average: 13.33, Highest score: 25
World Cup record: None
Ravindu Shah
Born: August 28, 1972, Nairobi
Style: Right-handed batsman and medium-fast bowler
ODI record: Matches: 53, Runs: 1,425, Average: 27.94, Highest score: 113, 100s: 1, 50s: 11, Overs: 10, Catches: 16
World Cup record: Matches: 14, Runs: 419, Average: 29.93, Highest score: 61, 50s: 3, Catches: 5
Otieno 'Tony' Suji
Born: February 5, 1976, Nairobi
Style: Right-handed batsman and medium pacer
ODI record: Matches: 53, Runs: 472, Average: 13.49, Highest score: 67, 50s: 1, Overs: 200.5, Wickets: 19, Average: 58.63, Best bowling: 2/16, Catches: 15
World Cup record: Matches: 8, Runs: 14, Highest score: 6, Average: 4.67, Overs: 29, Wicket: 1, Average: 155.00, Best bowling: 1/45, Catches: 5
Hiren Ashok Varaiya
Born: April 9, 1984, Kenya
Style: Right-handed batsman and left-arm spinner
ODI record: Matches: 15, Runs: 23, Average: 23.00, Highest score: 10 not out, Overs: 128.2, Wickets: 24, Average: 18.13, Best bowling: 4/25, Catches: 5
World Cup record: None
Roger Harper (coach)
Born: March 17, 1963, Georgetown, Demerara (British Guiana)
Style: Right-handed batsman and off-spinner
ODI record: Matches: 105, Runs: 85, Average: 16.13, Highest score: 45 not out, Overs: 862.3, Wickets: 100, Average: 34.31, Best bowling: 4/40, Catches: 55
World Cup record: Matches: 14, Runs: 118, Average: 10.73, Highest score: 24, Overs: 132, Wickets: 18, Average: 27.11, Best bowling: 4/47, Catches: 6
Ranchi, March 1 (IANS) A Holi without revellers chasing passers-by with 'pichkaris'? Unthinkable till a few years back. But the new trend in Jharkhand suggests the water sprayer is no longer the most sought-after plaything among children for celebrating the festival of colours.
The reason: It's considered unhealthy.
"Health experts say children should avoid playing with plastic articles and most sprayers are made of plastic," said Pyali Banerjee, a housewife.
"On Holi we often get complaints about children pumping harmful liquids in the eyes of other children with pichkaris, so we discourage them from buying pichkaris now," added Sushila Devi, another housewife from Ranchi.
Colours used for spraying water are also said to be harmful for the skin and this is adding to the decrease in their sale.
"Till few years back we were earning good money selling pichkaris during Holi. The sale has declined by 20 per cent now," said Vikas Kumar, a shopkeeper from Lalpur in Ranchi.
Another shopkeeper, Indu Bhushan echoed: "During Holi we would set up makeshift stalls outside the shop. Over the years, traditional pichkaris were replaced with other forms such as guns or airplanes but the sale was good. In the last few years its been steadily going down."
The price of sprayers varies from Rs. 5 to Rs. 90 depending on the shape, make and size.
He admitted that health conscious people now prefer not to play with colours. People like only 'abirs' (coloured powder) and avoid liquid colours.
"There was a time when one child would insist on buying two to three pichkaris and parents would buy them without a second thought. Now parents discourage children from buying them on health grounds," said Munna Bhagat, who has set up two stalls of sprayers near Sahid Chawk in Ranchi.
However, not everyone is averse to sprinklers.
"During Holi I buy at least five pichkaris. We enjoy playing with colours for at least two to three days," said Sumit Kumar, a student of DAV School here.
Siliguri (West Bengal), March 1 (IANS) An MiG-21 fighter aircraft pilot of the Indian Air Force was killed after the aircraft crashed near Kurseong in Darjeeling district Thursday afternoon.
Defence sources said Squadron Leader S. Pandey was killed in the crash after the aircraft broke up mid-air soon after take-off around 1240 p.m. The crash occurred near Norbong tea estate in Kurseong sub-division.
The hilly area is forested and difficult to access.
The body of Pandey is yet to be retrieved.
Siliguri (West Bengal), March 1 (IANS) An MiG-21 fighter aircraft pilot of the Indian Air Force was killed after the aircraft crashed near Kurseong in Darjeeling district Thursday afternoon.
Defence sources said Squadron Leader S. Pandey was killed in the crash after the aircraft broke up mid-air soon after take-off around 1240 p.m. The crash occurred near Norbong tea estate in Kurseong sub-division.
The hilly area is forested and difficult to access.
The body of Pandey is yet to be retrieved.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) A four-day impasse in parliament over Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi ended Thursday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assuring the opposition that his government had done "no wrong" and wanted to net him for his role in the Bofors payoff scandal.
Making an intervention in both houses of parliament, Manmohan Singh said his statement to the media about the government's moves on Quattrocchi, charged with bribery and fraud in the Bofors scam, was not "was not aimed at hurting the sentiments of any members".
The leaders of opposition in both houses - L.K. Advani in the Lok Sabha and Jaswant Singh in the Rajya Sabha - criticised Manmohan Singh for his statements to the media Tuesday about the Quattrocchi issue.
Manmohan Singh had told the media that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had been given the full freedom to take all steps to extradite the Italian businessman, who was detained in Argentina Feb 6.
The government was also believed to have agreed to the opposition's demand for a thorough discussion over the issue.
Said Manmohan Singh, who came under criticism from the opposition over his government's alleged delay in extraditing Quattrocchi from Argentina: "It has been our consistent stand that we do not shy away from any discussion... We are ready for any discussion as decided by the floor managers and the speaker."
Responding to Advani's allegation in the Lok Sabha that it was improper for the prime minister to talk to the media about Quattrocchi instead of inside the house, he said: "It was not my intention to hurt the sentiments of the opposition or any member. It was not a press conference. I was asked to comment on election results and somebody asked me about the Quattrocchi issue.
"As far as the facts of the matter are concerned, my colleague (Minister of State for Personnel and Grievances) Suresh Pachouri has laid statements in both the houses.
"I repeat that that this government has done nothing wrong. We will allow the CBI full freedom to pursue the case," he said.
The opposition had stalled parliament's functioning since Monday, accusing the government of acting tardily in extraditing Quattrocchi.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) disrupted the Lok Sabha proceedings Thursday morning too, leading to two abrupt adjournments, saying the prime minister was protecting the culprits and was not ready to inform the house about the government's moves.
In the Rajya Sabha, breaking the stalemate was more difficult as the Samajwadi Party, AIADMK and Left members stood up to speak. Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat allowed one MP from each party to speak.
Earlier, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned thrice after the opposition stalled the proceedings attacking the government.
Pachauri made a statement in parliament Tuesday seeking to dispel doubts that Quattrocchi's bail from an Argentine court would have a bearing on proceedings to extradite him. Quattrocchi has been released on bail but not permitted to leave Argentina.
A two-member CBI team has left for Buenos Aires and is expected to arrive there Friday to present their case before the authorities.
New Delhi, Mar 1(IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said his government was ready for any discussion in parliament and reiterated it had done "no wrong" in handling the extradition demand for Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, who has been linked to the Bofors payoff scandal.
Manmohan Singh, who came under harsh criticism from the opposition over his government's seeming failure to extradite Quattrocchi from Argentina, said: "It has been our consistent stand that we do not shy away from any discussion... We are ready for any discussion as decided by the floor managers and speaker."
Responding to opposition leader L.K. Advani's allegation that it was improper for the prime minister to talk to the media about Quattrocchi instead of inside the house, Manmohan Singh said: "It was not my intention to hurt the sentiments of the opposition or any member. It was not a press conference. I was asked to comment on election results and somebody asked me about the Quattrocchi issue."
Manmohan Singh had told the media that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had been given the fullest freedom to take all steps to extradite the Italian businessman, who was detained in Argentina Feb 6.
"As far as the facts of the matter are concerned, my colleague (Minister of state for Personnel and Grievances) Suresh Pachouri has laid statements in both the houses."
"I repeat that that this government has done nothing wrong. We will allow the CBI full freedom to pursue the case."
The opposition stalled parliament's functioning since Monday, accusing the government of acting tardily in extraditing Quattrocchi. The Bharatiya Janata Party disrupted the proceedings Thursday morning too, leading two abrupt adjournments, saying the prime minister was protecting the culprits and was not ready to inform the house about the government's moves.
Pachauri made a statement in parliament Tuesday seeking to dispel doubts that Quattrocchi's bail from an Argentine court would have a bearing on proceedings to extradite him.
Quattrocchi has been released on bail but not allowed to leave Argentina.
A two-member CBI team has left for Buenos Aires and is expected to arrive there Friday to present their case before the authorities.
New Delhi, Mar 1(IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday again reiterated that the "government had done nothing wrong" in its handling of the extradition demand against fugitive Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, charged with bribery and fraud in the Bofors gun payoff scandal, and said the CBI had been given "full freedom" to pursue him.
"As far as I am concerned I can affirm that this government has done nothing wrong. We will allow the CBI full freedom to pursue the case," Singh told the Lok Sabha after the opposition stalled parliament proceedings demanding the government come clean on its approach to Quattrocchi, who is on bail after his arrest in Argentina.
He also sough to clarify his statement to reporters two days earlier outside parliament house after the opposition accused him of showing disrespect to the house by making a statement outside it when it was in session.
"It was not my intention to hurt the sentiments of members or the opposition. I was asked to comment on the election results and a question on the extradition demand came up," Singh told the house.
The opposition stalled parliament's functioning for the last two days, accusing the government of acting tardily in extraditing Quattrocchi.
Minister of State for Personnel and Grievances Suresh Pachauri had made a statement in parliament Tuesday seeking to dispel doubts that Quattrocchi's bail from an Argentine court would have a bearing on proceedings to extradite him.
Quattrocchi, arrested Feb 6, has been released on bail but not allowed to leave Argentina.
A two-member CBI team has left for Buenos Aires and is expected to arrive there Friday to present their case before the authorities.
by Vladimir Simonov
A person of mixed race with a name that reminds Americans of their main enemies would need a lot of luck to be nominated as a candidate for president of the United States.
This is what comes to mind when you think of Barack Hussein Obama, 45, a Democrat representing Illinois in the Senate.
Obama, who joined the presidential race on February 10, 2007, talks about his name quite openly, in a manner than wins thousands of supporters.
He said he used to be called Alabama or Osama, and his middle name really is Hussein, which in Arabic means “small and beautiful.� But then, Americans seldom use middle names anyway, and, as Shakespeare put it, “what’s in a name?�
The main thing is that he, the son of an economist from Kenya and an American from Kansas, now draws bigger crowds than the Rolling Stones.
“The fact that someone like me can attract a crowd like this shows that this country yearns for something new and different,� he said on one occasion.
According to some pollsters, 62% of Americans say they are ready for an African-American in the White House.
The Senator from Illinois became the talk of the nation when he made a brilliant speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, where he said America was a much more complicated country than the one portrayed by “the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes.�
It appeared that the country was ready to step over the imaginary fence dividing the Republican elephant from the Democratic donkey and unite to turn its hopes into reality.
One of the biggest of these hopes is an honorable withdrawal from Iraq that lives up to America’s responsibility to the future of the Middle East.
Obama later incorporated that idea in his Iraq War Deescalation Act of 2007.
“Our troops have performed brilliantly in Iraq, but no amount of American soldiers can solve the political differences at the heart of somebody else's civil war,� Obama said.
He proposed that the Bush administration should commence redeployment of U.S. forces no later than May 1, 2007 with the goal of removing all combat brigades from Iraq by March 31, 2008.
However, the plan is not as black-and-white as it may seem at first glance.
It allows for a limited number of U.S. troops to remain as basic force protection, to engage in counter-terrorism, and to continue the training of Iraqi security forces.
It also allows for the temporary suspension of the redeployment, provided Congress agrees that the benchmarks have been met and that the suspension is in the national security interest of the United States.
In other words, Obama retains the right to follow any possible scenario.
He has not proposed anything new. His plan is consistent with the ideas of the Iraq Study Group (ISG), also known as the Baker-Hamilton Commission, and with those of many war critics.
Why has his proposal so outraged his opponents then, and why has the other side praised the idea now that it has been expressed by an African-American newcomer in the Senate?
The first salvo was delivered in Australia, whose prime minister, John Howard, said:“If I was running al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008, and pray, as many times as possible, for a victory not only for Obama, but also for the Democrats.�
Time magazine called the Illinois Senator “America's hottest political phenomenon,� and TV hosts rushed to invite him to their talk shows.
Obama accepts criticism and praise equally coolly, which means that he knows his worth.
He said about Howard: “If he is ... [so enthusiastic] to fight the good fight in Iraq, I would suggest that he calls up another 20,000 Australians and sends them to Iraq� to complement the 1,400 troops Australia already has there.
As to his sudden popularity, Obama said he was flattered by the amount of attention he is receiving, though also concerned, and that it speaks more about America than about himself.
He probably meant that the country is ready for a radical change, including the most unusual presidential election in its history.
It is difficult to say exactly which of Obama’s qualities attract American voters most.
Some say he looks like a young John Kennedy and has the same charisma. Like JFK, the Illinois Senator is both glamorous and modest.
Others like him because he does not pretend to speak for Black America.
He seldom quotes Martin Luther King, and never speculates about his contribution to King’s struggle for civil rights.
Like Condoleezza Rice, and Colin Powell before her, Obama wants to detach his policies from his skin color.
Judging by the growth in public sympathy, he has chosen the right path.
A Gallup poll conducted this month estimates his support at 21% as opposed to 40% who would vote for Hillary Clinton, Obama’s main rival for the Democratic nomination.
But Hillary should know from her husband’s experience that taking the lead at the beginning of the race can be treacherous.
Bill Clinton finished the primaries in New Hampshire third, yet spent two terms in the White House.
Hillary is running ahead of Obama on all counts so far.
She has the best spin doctors at her disposal, a talent for convincing donors to cough up big money, and a name. Taken together, this could all be described as a political brand.
But the Clinton brand also carries the burden of Gennifer Flowers, Monica Lewinsky, the failure of the health insurance proposal, and the high-profile Whitewater scandal, concerning the real estate dealings of Bill and Hillary Clinton and their associates, James and Susan McDougal, in the Whitewater Development Corporation.
Barack Obama is free from the burden of the past, maybe too free.
His weakest point is his lack of political experience.
He will have served less than four years in the Senate by 2008, which has encouraged Vice President Dick Cheney, a political veteran, to say about Obama: “I think people might want a little more experience than that, given the nature of the times we live in.�
However, astute Americans may retort that the current political experience in Washington has pushed America into the Iraqi deadlock and the attempt to globalize democracy, and that they do not need this kind of experience.
In fact, experience is a drawback rather than an advantage, “given the nature of the times we live in.�
Obama will most likely try to play on that paradox by offering Americans “the audacity of hope� (the title of his second book recently published) instead of experience.
I tend to think that the suspense surrounding the 2008 presidential campaign in the U.S. will come to an end next summer, when the Democratic National Convention will have to make the choice between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, unless Hillary offers Barack the chance to be her running mate.
-- NNN-RIA Novosti
By Jaideep Sarin,
Chandigarh, March 1 (IANS) The full-scale presidential fleet review of the Indian Air Force (IAF) - the first in 31 years - is to be held here March 7.
Even though clouds and rain in the last two days threatened to disrupt preparations for the biggest IAF event - also coinciding with the platinum jubilee of the force, IAF officials hope the sky will clear out in time.
A full dress rehearsal of the review and air show is scheduled here for March 5, air force officials said.
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the supreme commander of the Indian armed forces, will become the fourth head of state to do the full fleet review of IAF.
The last review was also held at Chandigarh Jan 19, 1976 when the president was Fakruddin Ali Ahmed.
The fleet review is seen as an exercise by IAF to honor the supreme commander and demonstrate its stature and strength.
In the review, the static and air display of IAF's entire fleet takes place, including an impressive parade by the air warriors. A unique feature would be that all 41 Presidential colours that have been awarded by the presidents of India would be displayed.
The aircraft and systems that would be on static display will comprise fighter jets MIG-21, MiG-23, MiG-29, Jaguar, Mirage-2000 and Sukhois, transport aircraft Dornier, Avro, AN-32, IL-76 and Embraer and helicopters Chetak, Cheetah, MI-8, MI-17, ALH, MI-25 and MI-26.
For the first time, the static display will include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) - Heron - used in surveillance.
The flying display will comprise fly pasts by MI-17, MI-26, advanced light helicopters (ALH), Chetak, Cheetah, M-35, HPT-32, mixed formation of Avro, AN-32 and Dorniers, Bisons, Mig-29, Mirage-2000s, Jaguars.
The IL-78 refuellers will fly past with two Mirage-2000 plugged in. Once overhead, the fighters will unplug and carry out a steep climb.
A unique feature of the fly past would be the Jaguar formation in which 17 aircraft will fly in close proximity making a figure of '75' - signifying 75 years of IAF's existence.
IAF SU-30 aircraft would perform the Trishul manouvre.
The Sarang (helicopters) and Suryakiran (jets) aerobatic teams will entertain viewers at the end of the review.
The first presidential fleet review took place in 1954 (President Rajendra Prasad) and the second in 1972 (President V.V. Giri). Both were held at Palam airport in Delhi. The third one was in 1976 in Chandigarh.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Budget over, the Quattrocchi issue was back Thursday with both houses of parliament being adjourned as opposition MPs attacked the government on the extradition of the Italian businessman, arrested and released on bail in Argentina for his role in the Bofors bribery scandal.
Proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were stalled, leading to repeated adjournments till 2 p.m.
As the lower house met, BJP deputy leader V.K. Malhotra stood up seeking a statement from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding Quattrocchi's extradition.
Other opposition members then joined him in creating a ruckus in the house, forcing speaker Somnath Chatterjee to adjourn the house for half an hour at 11.05 a.m. and then again till 2 p.m.
The Rajya Sabha failed to conduct any business till lunch following two adjournments when the BJP, actively supported by the Samajwadi Party, raised slogans against the prime minister and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
The opposition was up on its feet as soon as the house met at 11 a.m., the appointed time to take up the question hour.
After several unsuccessful attempts to restore order, the house was adjourned till 12 noon and then till 2 p.m. Opposition leaders refused to spell out their strategy for the post-lunch session and whether they would allow the house to run even after 2 p.m.
Ottavio Quattrocchi, the only surviving accused in the Bofors gun payoff scandal that has haunted the politics of this country for two decades, was arrested in Argentina Feb 6 and was subsequently let off on bail.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said Tuesday that the "government had done nothing wrong" in its handling of the arrest in Argentina of the fugitive businessman.
"This government has done nothing wrong. The law of the land, the rule of law will prevail," the prime minister said.
"The CBI will be given full freedom (to secure Quattrocchi's extradition from Argentina)," he added.
A junior Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team has left for Argentina Wednesday to seek his extradition.
Bhubaneswar, March 1 (IANS) An Orissa director general of police (DGP) has been interrogated in connection with his missing son Bity Mohanty, who was convicted of raping a German tourist in Jaipur and jumped parole on Nov 20, media reports here said.
Bidya Bhusan Mohanty, who is DGP home guard and fire services, was questioned for over half-an-hour in Cuttack, 26 km from here, Wednesday by a Rajasthan inspector handling the case, said a report from local channel OTV.
The Rajasthan police had earlier tried to arrest Mohanty but could not after the Orissa High Court granted him interim protection.
Mohanty's son Bitihotra, held guilty for raping a 26-year-old German woman in March 2006, was serving a seven-year sentence in a Jaipur jail. The 23-year-old management student had been let off on a 15-day parole Nov 20, but failed to return after its expiry.
Rajasthan police lodged a complaint against Mohanty in Jaipur for aiding and abetting his son's escape from custody.
Rajasthan's Inspector Virendra Jhakkar has been camping in Cuttack for the last few days.
Jaipur, March 1 (IANS) Rajasthan is getting ready to grow olives. The state government has joined hands with an Israel-based company to cultivate olive and dates in the desert state.
"We have tied up with an Israel-based company by forming Rajasthan Olive Cultivation Ltd (ROCL) for growing olives and dates in 40,000 hectares of land the state," Agriculture Minister Prabhulal Saini told IANS here Thursday, without naming the Israeli firm.
He said that the company during the first year would start to use Israeli technique in government-run agriculture farms at seven different places in the state.
"We have identified 30 hectares of land each in Baror and Anoopgarh in Sri Ganganagar district, Lunkaransar in Bikaner, Tinkaradi at Alwar, Kishanpura in Jaipur and Sandhu in Jalore for growing oilve and dates," Saini added.
Initially an investment of Rs.60 million is likely to be made on the project.
Saini said that agriculture marketing board and Israeli company would contribute Rs.15 million each in the project and rest Rs.30 million would be taken from the banks in the form of loans.
He said that saplings of olive and dates would be imported from Israel and added that it takes three years for a tree to yield fruits after sowing.
Port of Spain, March 1 (IANS) Renovation at the Queen's Park Oval cricket stadium, where India will play its preliminary group matches in the ICC World Cup, is nearing completion and the venue will be ready for use by March 8.
ICC venue development director Don Lockerbie has expressed satisfaction over the work done in the two weeks after he voiced concern about the facilities at the stadium here.
"I am very pleased with what I saw today. Tremendous work has been done on the Oval and I can say that this makes me feel good," Lockerbie told the Trinidad Guardian, while congratulating the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and venue development manager Martin Snaggs.
He said he wanted to see the remaining work done quickly so that the place "is brand new to open the batting at the World Cup".
India, placed in Group B along with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bermuda, will play its first group match March 17 against Bangladesh.
The Guardian quoted Snaggs as saying that work was done overtime at the Oval during the past few weeks.
"A lot of work has been done to the Pavilion and the Trini Posse Stand and by early next week the work would be completed. From that point we will just be fine-tuning everything for the start of the tournament," he told the newspaper.
Generally thought of as one of the most picturesque among all the old grounds in the West Indies, the Queen's Park Oval is the largest of the all stadiums in the West Indies, accommodating 25,000 spectators.
It was here that India, under Bishen Singh Bedi, successfully chased 403 runs in the third Test of the 1976 series to beat Clive Lloyd's men by six wickets.
By Sudeshna Sarkar,
Kathmandu, March 1 (IANS) Though the meeting of SAARC commerce ministers this month failed to reach a breakthrough in trade ties, the business community in the region is hoping wheels will achieve what deals failed to when the first SAARC car rally kicks off from Bangladesh on March 15.
Business chambers in the region are hoping the 30-day marathon journey covering the seven member countries - Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives - will boost connectivity, people to people relations and investors' confidence.
Floated by Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at the 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka last year, the SAARC car rally is being implemented by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in partnership with corresponding business groups in the six other member countries as a public-private partnership programme.
What started off as a sports and social event is now being shaped as a boost to regional business as well with each member organising a mini business summit on the days the rally passes through it.
In Bangladesh, as the rally with 14 cars flags off from Cox's Bazar, the business meets will start with a conference on the promotion of trade and commerce cooperation.
While Bhutan is hosting a meet on information and communication technology (ICT), Nepal hopes to bring together energy experts from the seven nations for a seminar on energy efficiency, including hydropower. India is hosting a conference on the CEOs of South Asia while Pakistan is focusing on SME (small and medium enterprises) development.
"The rally will be a showcase for SAARC trade and tourism," says Chandiraj Dhakal, chief of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry that is organising the Nepal lap of the rally together with Nepal Tourism Board and the ministry of tourism, culture and civil aviation.
"The motorcade will pass through the cities that are popular tourist destinations to highlight their potential."
In Nepal, besides the capital, the rally will cover the sunny city of Pokhara, a popular tourist destination, and Lumbini in southern Nepal, where the Buddha was born.
However, it remains to be seen how effective the rally will be in promoting business or even good relations in the region.
Two of the member states, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, are currently passing through fresh turmoil. Bhutan has been locked with Nepal for nearly two decades in a dispute over the repatriation of more than 100,000 Bhutanese refugees languishing in Nepal.
This month, the much-awaited meeting between the commerce ministers of the region to boost the South Asian Free Trade Area agreement ran into a wall again due to the continuing feud between India and Pakistan, with New Delhi tacitly warning it could revoke the benefits extended to Islamabad if they were not reciprocated.
In addition, Nepal is currently racked by a series transport strikes, blockades and nationwide shutdowns.
On Wednesday, the kingdom was paralysed after an ethnic group, the Nepal Adivasi Janajati Mahasangh, called for a Nepal shutdown to press its demand for autonomous states.
Since last Monday a group from the Terai plains in the south has called a transport strike in the plains as well as blockade of the trading points on the Indo-Nepal border.
And from coming Monday, the two protesting groups have agreed to join forces and enforce an indefinite Nepal strike.
However, Dhakal feels the protests will subside by March 23, when the rally enters Nepal from India.
"We are also requesting the different political parties as well as organisations to suspend all protests for the four days and three nights that the rally will pass through Nepal," he says.
"Because this is an event that goes beyond Nepal, it is for the benefit of the entire region."
Lucknow, March 1 (IANS) The Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh police is probing whether those behind last month's blast in the Samjhauta Express had any connection with this state, an official said Thursday.
Investigating teams have confirmed that the suitcases containing the explosives that blew up two coaches of the train were purchased from Meerut - a lead STF is pursuing.
STF teams have also fanned out to Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Deoband and other parts of Uttar Pradesh in search of leads, a senior state police official told IANS here.
At least 64 passengers of the Samjhauta Express were killed in the explosions near Panipat in Haryana Feb 18.
By Prasun Sonwalkar,
London, March 1 (IANS) Dismayed that India's budget announced Wednesday did not include reduction of duties on imported spirits, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has urged the European Union to initiate dispute settlement proceedings against India at the WTO.
The SWA, which for some time has been campaigning for a reform of India's alleged discriminatory tax treatment, wants the proceedings to be started at the "earliest opportunity".
Complaints by SWA and EU's spirits and wine industries had led to a EU investigation in 2006 that found that the Indian fiscal regime for imported spirits and wines was in "blatant violation" of WTO rules. It had also urged for early reform of the system - by Wednesday's budget.
According to SWA, Scotch whisky continued to be subject to a high and discriminatory tariff and tax burden of up to 550 percent in India.
Gavin Hewitt, SWA chief executive, said: "Regrettably, India has failed its WTO challenge and continues to deny consumers' choice and fair market access for Scotch Whisky and other imported spirits.
"Today's budget was a last opportunity for India to reform the system. That opportunity has been missed and we are now urging the EU to take the matter to a WTO panel at the earliest opportunity.
"India's discriminatory tariff and tax regime for imported spirits must be reformed in line with international trade rules."
SWA sources say that access to India for EU spirits and wines is unfairly restricted by a discriminatory fiscal regime, with Scotch whisky and other imported spirits subject to a tariff and tax burden of up to 550 percent. In contrast, Indian spirit drinks can be imported into the EU tariff free.
The EU referred the issue to the WTO for consultations in November 2006. With no steps taken by India to reform the system, the sources say that a WTO dispute settlement panel - a body of trade experts - can be established to rule on the merits of the case. Its ruling is binding on the parties to the case.
The EU spirits industry has been successful on each of the three occasions on which discriminatory spirits taxation has been considered by a WTO panel - in relation to Japan, Chile and South Korea.
Raipur, March 1 (IANS) Police patrolling was stepped up in 10 villages of Chhattisgarh's Bastar region where angry protesters injured six policemen late Wednesday in an attack when police asked locals to call off a meeting convened to intensify protests against the Tata's upcoming steel plant, police said Thursday.
"Some local politicians are fuelling anti-Tata protests in the 10 villages of Lohandiguda and we have strengthened police presence there Thursday as the situation is very tense," Bastar range inspector general R.K. Vij told IANS over the telephone.
He said the protesters attacked the state police team in the area Wednesday and injured five police personnel including an assistant platoon commandant of the Chhattisgarh Armed Police when the forces visited the area to "maintain law and order".
Lohandiguda is located some 32 km from Jagdalpur town, the Bastar district headquarters.
The Chhattisgarh government has assured the Tatas that it would provide 5,157 hectares -- a mix of private and government land -- in the Lohandiguda area to set up the plant and develop the township.
"The tribals are determined to cross any limits to save their ancestral farm land from going into Tata's hands. The police have ordered the locals to not convene any protest meetings and agree to a smooth land handover, which is not acceptable to them," Chitranjan Bakchhi, a local Communist Party of India (CPI) leader, told IANS Thursday.
Tata Steel, India's largest private sector steel maker, is setting up a 5 million tonne per annum integrated greenfield steel plant in Bastar district with an investment of Rs 100 billion for which a written agreement was signed between the company and the state government on June 4, 2005.
The Chhattisgarh government has sent a recommendation to the Indian government for granting a prospecting license to Tata Steel for carrying out a survey in the 2,500-hectare area in Dantewada district's Bailadila hills in Bastar region.
Bailadila has huge world-class iron ore stocks that have been divided into 14 deposits. The public sector National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) has been excavating mines in three bigger deposits.
Patna, March 1 (IANS) A special court in Bihar Thursday convicted Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Mohammad Shahabuddin for abducting a political activist in Siwan in 1998.
The special court in Siwan, about 150 km from here, convicted Shahabuddin on the basis of circumstantial evidence against him, public prosecutor Ravilas Mahto told newspersons.
The hearing in the case was concluded Feb 26 and the court will pronounce the sentence against Shahabuddin Friday, he said.
According to a police complaint lodged by Communist Party of India - Marxist-Leninist (CPI-ML) secretary Keshav Baitha, Shahabuddin along with his 20 unidentified supporters attacked the party's office in Siwan and ransacked it.
The complainant said Shahabuddin had beaten and abducted him for several hours.
A Lok Sabha member from Siwan since 1996, Shahabuddin faces charges in over 40 criminal cases, including those of murder, abduction and possession of illegal arms and stolen vehicles.
He is currently lodged in Siwan jail. He was arrested in New Delhi over a year ago in a case related to the seizure of arms from his ancestral house in Siwan district.
Last month, the Patna High Court had directed that all pending cases against him would be tried by a special court constituted by the state government in Siwan Jail itself.
Patna, March 1 (IANS) A Bihar court Thursday convicted Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, who faces charges in over 40 criminal cases, for abducting a political activist in Siwan in 1998.
The special court in Siwan, about 150 km from here, convicted the parliamentarian on the basis of circumstantial evidence, public prosecutor Ravilas Mahto told newspersons.
The hearing in the case was concluded Feb 26 and the court will pronounce the sentence against Shahabuddin Friday, he said.
According to a police complaint lodged on Oct 7, 1998 by Communist Party of India - Marxist-Leninist (CPI-ML) secretary Keshav Baitha, Shahabuddin along with his 20 unidentified supporters attacked the party's office in Siwan and ransacked it.
The complainant said Shahabuddin had beaten and abducted him for several hours.
In the complaint, he was charged under various sections of Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act for voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint, wrongful confinement and house trespass.
A Lok Sabha member from Siwan since 1996, Shahabuddin faces charges in over 40 criminal cases, including those of murder, abduction and possession of illegal arms and stolen vehicles.
He is currently lodged in Siwan jail. He was arrested in New Delhi over a year ago in a case related to the seizure of arms from his ancestral house in Siwan district.
Last month, the Patna High Court had directed that a special court constituted by the state government in Siwan Jail would try all pending cases against him.
Following the verdict, the CPI-ML demanded the cancellation of Shahabuddin's Lok Sabha membership. The party also challenged RJD chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad to take action against Shahabuddin.
"We demand that the Lok Sabha speaker cancel Shahabuddin's membership on the ground of conviction in a criminal case," the CPI-ML state secretary Ramjatan Sharma told newspersons here.
"We demand Lalu Prasad oust Shahabuddin from the RJD," he added.
Welcoming the judgment, Sharma said it was a big day for his party that had been fighting against Shahabuddin's "muscle power" in Siwan. "It is the first time he has been convicted by the court," Sharma said.
By Subhash K. Jha,
Mumbai, March 1 (IANS) Barely a week after stories of his illness broke out and swamped the print and electronic media, Saif Ali Khan is back on his feet and promises to quit smoking for ever.
"I'll have to take it easy for a while. Nothing strenuous and certainly no smoking any more... In fact, my doctors told me my condition was brought on entirely by smoking. It causes deposits in the artery, which caused that clot. I've decided to quit smoking completely," Saif told IANS.
Saif was rushed to hospital when he complained of chest pain while practising for his performance at Stardust awards. The actor was discharged recently.
He is out of danger, but Saif is bewildered by and yet resilient to the knocks of life.
"There's bad news and good news. The bad news is that it was a blood clot in my heart. The good news is that it's been fully cured."
Today Saif and his heart have become best friends.
"Yeah, you can say that again. It's been a time of revelation for me. Though I came out unscathed, this hospital experience served up a healthy warning for me. I need to correct a few things in my life, mainly the smoking.
"There I was, with genuinely ill people, people who were suffering from cancer and chronic heart ailments. It just made me so conscious of my own life and my responsibilities."
The ceaseless surge of concern has moved Saif.
"I was so glad to see my family and so many of my friends from the film industry visiting me in hospital. I now intend to use my rest period, writing each of them a personal thank you note."
So has the experience made Saif more compassionate?
"I guess so. I never visited anyone in hospital. Now, I've decided to change that. It matters so much to have people who care for you when you're down."
Saif has one immediate regret. "I couldn't host the Filmfare awards. In fact, it would take me a couple of weeks to get back to normal."
Johannesburg, March 1 (IANS) South Africa received a perfect send-off to the World Cup, as captain Graeme Smith was presented with the International Cricket Council (ICC) One Day International (ODI) Championship Shield here for occupying the top spot in the team rankings list.
Smith's side assumed the top spot in the ODI rankings from Australia earlier this month following an outstanding run of results over the past year, which has seen the team win 15 of its past 21 matches, including seven of the last eight.
It is the first time a side has overtaken Australia in the ICC ODI Championship table since the listings began in October 2002. If South Africa continues to hold the top spot till April 1 they will win $175,000 for being there. The side placed second will win $75,000.
The shield was presented to Smith Wednesday by a representative of the Championship's sponsor, LG Electronics, as the Proteas prepared to fly to the Caribbean for a go at the World Cup -- starting March 11 -- a prize that has eluded them since their return to international cricket 15 years ago.
"This a great honour and a deserved reward for all the hard work the team has put in over the past 18 months. However, heading the log at this stage will not change our focus on the job at hand over the next two months in the Caribbean," said Smith.
Gerald Majola, the chief executive officer of the South African cricket board said that it was an outstanding achievement by the Proteas under Smith's captaincy.
"They have had an extraordinary run of form over the past 12 months. This includes a 3-2 series win over Australia, sealed by scoring a then world-record 438/9 as well as seven wins from their last eight completed matches," said Majola.
"Now all eyes are on the World Cup and the players are quite confident that their teamwork will stand them in good stead throughout the tournament."
South Africa is in Group A with Australia, Scotland and the Netherlands. The Proteas will open their campaign in the 16-nation meet against the Dutch, March 16 in St Kitts and Nevis.
Johannesburg, March 1 (DPA) South Africa Thursday took over the month-long rotating presidency of the UN Security Council at a time when the world body is mulling fresh sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.
The presidency of the council is a largely ceremonial role, but the holder does have the power to table and influence resolutions.
The five permanent, veto-wielding members of the council - the US, Britain, France, China and Russia - plus Germany are seeking a new UN resolution that would impose further sanctions on Iran over its failure to suspend uranium enrichment.
South Africa has said it supports the right of countries to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and is thought likely to oppose further sanctions.
President Thabo Mbeki met with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, in Pretoria last weekend, but the outcome of their talks was not revealed.
Observers said South Africa would likely use the council presidency to put pressure on the UN to pick up the tab for African Union peacekeeping missions. Union troops are currently serving in Darfur and Burundi and are preparing to go into Somalia.
South Africa became a non-permanent member of the Security Council in January.
Colombo, March 1 (DPA) The Sri Lankan Air Force bombed a Tamil rebel training camp in the north of the country Thursday, amid reports of a recent rebel military build up in the area involving intensified training, amassing of arms and ammunition and conscription of local teenagers.
An aircraft bombed the training base at Kunukkal close to Mankulam, 300 km northeast of the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, a military statement said.
There have been reports of a heavy military build up in the rebel strong holds of Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts, it said.
There were no details of the damage although pilots had observed, "scores of Tiger terrorists (rebels) training," the statement added without giving details.
Independent reports confirmed that civilians have been trying to move away from rebel camps in the area fearing that the air force will launch a full-scale attack.
The air force has been playing an important role in destroying Tamil rebel positions in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka in recent months.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Enrolment of tribal children in schools in four districts of Andhra Pradesh has gone up to 92.8 percent thanks to a project that can be emulated by other states as well.
After studying the many problems that led to a huge dropout rate among tribal children, a project jointly launched by two NGOs with the backing of the state government developed an integrated bilingual teaching methodology with the aid of linguists and educationists.
As language was also a major constraint, the state government introduced textbooks in seven tribal dialects. This, however, added to the burden of the teachers who didn't understand the local dialects.
They then developed training modules for teachers in order to bridge the language gap between the teachers, who were primarily from the plains, and the tribal children. This has now been adopted in 200 primary schools in East Godavari, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts.
The outcome of this seven-year-old project called Sustainable Tribal Empowerment Project (STEP) has brought down the dropout rate to 40 percent, from the initial 70 percent in 2001 when it was launched.
According to an earlier survey, 78 percent of tribal population and 56 percent tribal habitations have primary schools in their vicinity. Another 11 percent tribal population and 20 percent of their habitations have schools within a one-kilometre radius.
Among the problems educationists encountered were the difficult terrain, geographical barriers and small children having to walk a distance of more than half a kilometre to attend school.
Add to that, a high number of teachers don't come to school at all and the medium of teaching was not student friendly. Rigid formal schooling and a uniform code of conduct also drove the kids away from school.
The biggest challenge was to convince families to send their children, especially girls, to school and not push them to work.
"The entire process of convincing a family to pull out their kid from his work or from a child marriage means there is bound to be a conflict. A conflict, a debate and then a decision that it's the right of a child to go to school," Shanta Sinha, child rights activist and Magsaysay award winner, said during the release of STEP's report Tuesday.
Added Amrendra, a STEP official: "Age difference and irregular schooling process in the tribal areas led to the high drop out rate. We introduced residential bridge courses (RBC) on a pilot basis to mainstream never-enrolled and drop out children in the age group of 9-14 years."
The children in this age group are withdrawn from workplaces and enrolled in the RBC, which prepares them for enrolment into formal schools.
STEP is an initiative by international NGO CARE and its partner organisation Nature. The Andhra Pradesh department of tribal development backs the project.
Jammu, March 1 (IANS) Ghulam Mohammad Khan got hold of his three-year-old son Majid and sprinted towards the bus that would take him to the aircraft flying him home Thursday, after a week of being stranded here after snow blocked the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
Khan and his six-member family, who had been staying at the bus terminus here, were among the lucky 65 airlifted to their homes in the Kashmir Valley. Thousands of passengers have been stranded here since last week.
The Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) started rescue operations Wednesday and were working on a war footing to reopen the highway, which has remained closed for seven days.
Incessant rain and snowfall triggered landslides at Panthal on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded at Jammu and Srinagar without aid and support. The highway is the only road link connecting the valley with rest of country.
The over 2,000 people who had to stay put at the bus stand had exhausted all their money on food. They were a joyous lot when Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced that they would be airlifted soon.
While the IAF provided the aircraft, the army deployed its teams at the Jammu bus stand, airport and tourist centres along with civil administration to assist the stranded travellers.
On Wednesday, 200 bus passengers were airlifted in four IAF AN-32 aircraft from Jammu to Srinagar while another 452 were moved to Udhampur by army buses to be airlifted in larger aircraft, a defence ministry statement said.
Shabeena, in her 20s, said she was happy that she would be reunited with her family. "I will never travel outside the valley again. I have experienced a nightmare in the past seven days," she said.
"Around 250 trucks and 25 light motor vehicles are still stranded in Ramban district alone," said Basant Rath, the superintendent of police of Ramban.
Sources in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which maintains the 294-km highway, said laying the damaged 400-metre road stretch would take a longer time due to the inclement weather.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) The Supreme Court Thursday dealt a legal blow to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav by ordering a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into his assets that have been alleged to be disproportionate to known sources of income.
Lucknow/New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) The Supreme Court Thursday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the assets of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, a verdict that could be damaging to his party that faces a crucial popularity test in assembly elections in April-May.
Acting on a writ petition filed by Congress party activist Vishwanath Chaturvedi, alleging that Mulayam Singh and his family members had amassed millions of rupees through corrupt means, the apex court held these allegations could not be decided in a court of law.
It directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into charges that the wealth the chief minister possessed were disproportionate to his known sources of income.
If the CBI finds there are justifications for registering a FIR (first information report) after the preliminary enquiry, it could be so in accordance with law, the judges said. The bench said such an enquiry was essential in his interest.
As news of the damaging ruling came in, the chief minister stayed holed up inside his house leaving his brother Ram Gopal Yadav, a Rajya Sabha MP as well as general secretary of the ruling Samajwadi Party, to tell the media that he would file a review petition in court.
"The chief minister will file a revision petition as we have no faith in the CBI to which the probe has been assigned by the apex court.
"We have no objection to the probe but let it be done by a sitting or retired judge of a high court or Supreme Court," Ram Gopal Yadav said.
Ordering the CBI probe, the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices A.R. Lakshmanan and Altamas Kabir said the chief minister of a large state like Uttar Pradesh could not function under a cloud when his integrity had been questioned.
The petitioner had enclosed copies of the sale deeds of the properties acquired by Mulayam Singh, his two sons and daughter-in-law over the years and alleged the value of these properties was worth more than Rs.1 billion (Rs 10,000 crores).
The petitioner alleged that Mulayam Singh had in 1979 declared a taxable income of just Rs.79,000. But within three decades, particularly during the period when he was chief minister, he had acquired all these assets through corrupt means.
The petitioner sought a direction to CBI to prosecute Mulayam Singh and his family members under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code.
The court ruling has given an impetus to the opposition demand that Mulayam Yadav be ousted from office. "He has no moral ground to continue in office and he must step down," demanded state Congress Legislature Party leader Pramod Tiwari.
Added state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Keshrinath Tripathi: "We are going to raise this as an issue in the state assembly elections (in March-April)."
Surprisingly, however, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati did not even make a passing reference to the apex court order against her sworn political foe during her mammoth poll rally here Thursday afternoon.
The ruling comes just a few days after the Supreme Court disqualified 13 Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislators who had helped in the formation of the Mulayam Singh Yadav government
Jammu, March 1 (IANS) A former militant of the Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami (HUJI), who had surrendered last year, and his father were found killed in their home in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district Thursday.
Police here said that Mohammad Amin, 27, had come to stay with his father Ahmad Baksh in Kishtwar after laying down arms before the army.
Neighbours found their bodies lying inside the house.
"We have started investigating the matter. It appears that militants targeted them for surrendering," said a senior police officer.
Geneva, March 1 (DPA) Switzerland has the world's most conducive business climate for tourism, followed by Austria, Germany and Iceland, according to a latest study by Geneva based World Economic Forum published Thursday.
The US, Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore, Luxembourg and Britain completed the top 10 of the 124 countries included in the study.
WEF senior economist Jennifer Blanke said the report was no "beauty contest" or a reflection of the attractiveness of a country.
The study also looked at government policy and regulation, safety, hygiene, price competitiveness and natural resources.
"On the contrary, we aim to measure the factors that make it attractive to develop the travel and tourism industry of individual countries," she said.
"The top rankings demonstrate the importance of supportive business and regulatory frameworks, coupled with world-class transport and tourism infrastructure." She added.
It was the first time the WEF put together an index on travel and tourism, which has become a major part of the global economy. India and China ranked 65th and 71st respectively. Russia was placed just ahead of China in 68th place.
International tourism revenue was $6.23 trillion in 2004.
By 2006, travel and tourism accounted for 10.3 percent of the global economy and was responsible for 8.2 percent of total employment in the same year.
Bangalore, March 1 (IANS) Tata Teleservices Ltd, a leading wireless service provider in the CDMA space, Thursday launched a single-chip mobile handset with multiple features and a host of functions.
Claimed to be the first single-chip cellular product in operation worldwide, Motorola's Motofone F3c handset with Qualcomm's chipset measures 9.1mm and weighs 75 grams.
"The debut of Motofone with Qualcomm reaffirms our commitment to offer the latest in global innovation and technology on the CDMA (code division multiple access) platform to meet the diverse needs and tastes of our customers in India," Tata Teleservices CEO Darryl Green said here at a preview of the product.
The ultra slim handset has been specially designed to suit the Indian consumers, with voice prompts in six languages - English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. More languages will be added later.
"Combined with the benefits of the Go Xtra Pack, the first of its kind offer will enable subscribers to avail double talk time for the first six months with bonus talk time valid for one year on activation. The scheme also offers free incoming calls for the first six months without re-charge," Green told reporters.
Qualcomm president for India and SAARC market Kanwalinder Singh said Tata Indicom, the mobile brand of the Tatas, became the first operator in the subcontinent to introduce the single-chip handset in place of the four-chip handsets prevailing in the market, especially in the rival GSM space.
"In our pursuit of bringing wireless connectivity to emerging markets, we have collaborated with Tata Indicom and Motorola to introduce the world's first single-chip handset in India. We look forward to working with the industry to make connectivity accessible to more people in the country," Singh pointed out.
With Rs.200 billion investment in 20 circles covering 3,100 cities and towns across the country, Tata Indicom has a customer base of about 15.5 million, including 3.8 million in the fixed wireless telephony segment.
"We are targeting to achieve over 100 million subscribers by 2011. In Delhi, we have already crossed the two million mark and one million mark in Karnataka.
"With the latest single-chip handset at an affordable price, we hope to rope in about three million subscribers in the next three months," Green said.
Islamabad, March 1 (DPA) Suspected militants beheaded a teacher of a madrassa in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province after accusing him of working for US security agencies, media reports said Thursday.
The teacher's body and severed head were found Tuesday by a roadside near Jandola in the tribal Tank district, about 250 km south-west of the provincial capital, Peshawar, the Dawn newspaper reported.
The body was reportedly stuffed into a sack while the head lay in the open and an attached Urdu-language note identified the victim as an Afghan teacher of a madrassa in the restive North Waziristan region.
The killers also wrote "hypocrite" on the forehead of the man, whose death was "a result of spying for Americans", the note said.
Militants in Pakistan's tribal areas have beheaded a number of people in recent months for allegedly providing intelligence to US forces fighting Taliban insurgents in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Hyderabad, March 1 (IANS) An official team will visit Medak district of Andhra Pradesh on March 11 to identify the location to establish an eighth Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the state.
The district authorities have short-listed three villages for the institute in Sangareddy, about 70 km from Hyderabad. Out of the three, government land is available only near Lakadram village. Officials here said if the central team selects any other location, the government might have to acquire private land.
The team comprising officials of the human resource development ministry is visiting the district amid rival demands over the location of the institute.
The opposition parties as well as leaders of the ruling Congress from some districts have demanded that the IIT be set up in the temple town of Basara in Adilabad district as was originally proposed.
The previous Telugu Desam Party government had lobbied for setting up an IIT at Basara and the state assembly had also passed a resolution in this regard.
In December last year when the central government sanctioned the institute for the state, the Congress government decided it would be located in Medak district because of its proximity to Hyderabad and thus to various infrastructure facilities.
The move evoked strong protests from the opposition parties, ruling party leaders in Adilabad, Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts and even leaders from Nanded in neighbouring Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has constituted a panel to look into the issue but ruled out shifting the location from Medak district.
There are already seven IITs, globally acknowledged as centres of excellence, in the country.
Bangkok, March 1 (NNN-TNA) Combined Royal Thai Army and Malaysian Police patrols will begin soon in order to ensure security along the common border between the two neighbouring countries.
The mission was revealed by Col. Virat Kamolsilp, commander of Thai Army's 5th Infantry, after leading a Thai delegation from Thailand's Fourth Army Region Command to confer with the Northern Malaysia General Operations Unit Police Brigade in Malaysia. Leading the Malaysian delegation was Sach Dato, Asman Bin Yosof.
The agenda was to plan a joint patrol in Thailand's southernmost province of Satun and Perlis State of Malaysia. The operation begins March 13 and is comprised of Thai infantry and Malaysian police which will initially operate for three months, March 14 to June 16.
Both governments believe that joint patrols will contribute to improved border security.
The Thai prime minister and his Malaysian counterpart agreed in bilateral talks in Bangkok last month to jointly develop Thailand's far south and northern Malaysia in an attempt to end the continuing violence in Thailand's insurgency-torn region which claimed some 2,000 lives in the past three years.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Failed to get tickets for the ICC Cricket World Cup final? Take heart. Tickets are still available.
Over 2,200 tickets for the World Cup final to be held at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, April 28 will go on sale Friday online and in the official ticket centres at the nine host venues in the West Indies, according to an ICC Cricket World Cup press release.
As in the case of additional semifinal tickets, which were recently made available after a number of them were returned from various contractual obligations to the event's commercial partners, these are being made available to the general public through the same avenue.
"Once again, some of our sponsors have not exercised their full option on tickets for the final and CWC (Cricket World Cup) has received returns for the final in various categories," CWC commercial director, Stephen Price, stated in the release, while pointing out that at some world games, sponsors were not thoughtful enough to return unused tickets for possible sale, thereby resulting in large blocks of empty seats on various occasions.
"This will not be the case at this Cricket World Cup as we have been working closely with our commercial partners to ensure that these seats - some the best in the tournament - reach the public," he said.
"There was excessive demand for the final and we are sure that cricket fans will appreciate this golden opportunity to get their hands on these much sought after tickets for the biggest tournament match," Price added.
In all, 600 tickets in Category 1, 1,600 in Category 2 and a small number in Category 3 will be available for sale, according to the release.
These will go on sale simultaneously at the ticket centres as well as online (www.cricketworldcup.com) at 10.30 am Eastern Caribbean time Friday (8 pm India time).
While persons who have not previously bought any CWC tickets will now be eligible to buy tickets for the final, there will still be a maximum limit of four per person, the release stated, adding that these tickets will be sold strictly on a 'first-come-first-serve' basis.
Tokyo, March 1 (Xinhua) Tokyo experienced its first winter without any snowfall since 1876, the Japan Meteorological Agency said Thursday.
The weather service's observatory point in Otemachi, central Tokyo, did not record any snowfall from December to February, the period defined as winter in Japan.
According to the agency, the Japanese capital usually has heavy snowfall in early spring rather than in midwinter. However, as the temperatures are expected to remain higher than usual, snowfalls seem even more unlikely this month.
Last winter was extremely cold in Japan. However, this year's was warmer than expected, with average temperatures in January 1.44 degrees Celsius higher than usual.
Sales of winter clothing and kerosene suffered, resulting in a 0.8 percent year-on-year fall in the country's retail sales in January, according to government statistics.
Colombo, March 1 (Xinhua) Two people were killed when a trainer aircraft crashed Thursday in Sri Lanka's north central district of Anuradhapura, said the military.
"A PT-6 trainer aircraft of the Sri Lanka Air Force crashed within minutes of taking off inside the Anuradhapura air base around 12.15 pm (0645 GMT)," said the Media Centre for National Security in a statement.
Both the trainer and the instructor died, said the statement.
The air force said engine failure was the cause of the crash.
London, March 1(IRNA) Trading standards officers Thursday started to investigate claims that petrol stations have been selling contaminated fuel after reports of thousands of cars breaking down.
The Society of Motoring Manufacturers (SMM) stressed the urgency of finding the source of the potential contamination, saying it could not recall vehicles being affected on such a scale.
"It appears there is a rogue load of petrol in the United Kingdom at the present moment," SSM Chief Executive Christopher MacGowan said.
Increasing numbers of motorists were reported to have been affected with their cars juddering, misfiring and losing power after filling up with petrol.
The suspected fuel was allegedly sold by some service stations, including supermarket chains Tescos and Morrisons, mainly in the southeast of England.
Independent oil company Greenenergy, which supplies "greener" fuels to supermarkets, said its "extensive" tests showed that it met industry standards, but was continuing its investigation.
But according to the Guardian newspaper, the problem could be associated with petrol being contaminated with ethanol without motorists being advised.
Ian Hillier, petroleum spokesman for the Trading Standards Institute, said including ethanol in petrol does not really contaminate it, but added that there does need to be a clear warning to people who buy petrol.
"Ethanol is actually seen as a green measure but if sold without any warning then offenders are in breach of bio-fuel labeling regulations," Hillier said.
United Nations, Mar 1 (NNN-APP) The UN agency caring for Palestinian refugees has appealed for $26 million to improve the living conditions of some 18,000 Palestinians living in Neirab camp near Aleppo, Syria, as part of a new project emphasizing community participation.
"This is a bottom-up project, where the refugee community prioritized the development of their neighbourhood," UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Director in Syria Panos Moumtzis said Wednesday.
The top priority for refugees is improvement of education and health facilities, according to a UNRWA press release. They also would like to have open public spaces, leisure facilities and neighbourhood nurseries. In addition, the project will create opportunities for skills training and employment coaching activities.
Neirab camp originally housed World War II troops, the press release said. Six decades later, Palestine refugees still live in the original barracks and no renovations or re-building has been done to accommodate the expanding population over the years.This has led to overcrowding and unsafe building structures that pose health and safety hazards.
In 2003, the release said, UNRWA started a project to relocate 300 families to new houses on land made available by the Syrian Government in the nearby camp of Ein Al-Tal. This represented Phase I of the project, but the need remains to improve conditions in Neirab camp itself. Phase II will utilize the newly available space in Neirab to reconstruct the camp and to develop housing units and community facilities.
"The Neirab project represents a prototype that will empower Palestinians to secure their livelihoods, meet their needs and address their concerns", UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen Koning AbuZayd said.
The project reflects the co-operation between the Syrian Arab Republic, UNRWA and donor countries to provide better services to Palestinian refugees. So far, the Syrian Government has been the strongest supporter to the project, contributing $6.5 million.
Established in 1949 after the first Israeli-Arab war, UNRWA is the main provider of basic services -education, health, relief and social services - to over 4.3 million registered Palestine refugees throughout the Middle East.
United Nations, Mar 1 (NNN-APP) Unregulated sales in places such as street markets and the Internet of both internationally controlled and counterfeit drugs endanger the lives of people worldwide, according to a UN-backed report of an independent drug control body.
"It is important for consumers to realise that what they think is a cut-price medication bought on an unregulated market may have potentially lethal effects whenever the consumed drugs are not the genuine product or are taken without medical advice," Dr. Philip Emafo, President of the Vienna-based International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), said Wednesday.
"Instead of healing, (these drugs) can take lives," he added.
The 2006 INCB report warns that unofficial drug sales, due to a lack of standards, result in substandard and even lethal medications going to unsuspecting customers. The drugs sold on the black market are often stolen from legitimate healthcare centres or retailers, illicitly manufactured or sold illegally on the Internet.
To combat this problem, the Board urges States Parties to at least one of the three main drug control treaties the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (as amended by the 1972 Protocol), the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances to strengthen their law enforcement mechanisms, as well as implement effective policies to combat the production and sale of counterfeit drugs.
The INCB urges UN agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC), to assist Member States with better understanding the ramifications of illicit drug sales on the unregulated market as well as preventing the trafficking of these drugs.
The report also highlights developments in specific regions of the world. For example, the Board points out that the cultivation and production of cannabis and the trafficking of cocaine is on the rise in Africa, suggesting that African countries continue efforts to enhance their respective drug control policies.
Although an independent body, the Board was established by the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 Convention against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
The Board's 13 members are nominated by their countries, but serve in their personal or expert capacities, providing information to the general public and experts around the world on matters of drug control, both from the standpoint of illegal drugs and also the standpoint of ensuring the availability of drugs that are controlled, but also legal and medically useful.
UNITED NATIONS, Mar 1 (NNN-APP) - The UN agency caring for Palestinian refugees has appealed for $26 million to improve the living conditions of some 18,000 Palestinians living in Neirab camp near Aleppo, Syria, as part of a new project emphasizing community participation.
"This is a bottom-up project, where the refugee community prioritized the development of their neighbourhood," UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Director in Syria Panos Moumtzis said Wednesday.
The top priority for refugees is improvement of education and health facilities, according to a UNRWA press release. They also would like to have open public spaces, leisure facilities and neighbourhood nurseries. In addition, the project will create opportunities for skills training and employment coaching activities.
Neirab camp originally housed World War II troops, the press release said. Six decades later, Palestine refugees still live in the original barracks and no renovations or re-building has been done to accommodate the expanding population over the years.This has led to overcrowding and unsafe building structures that pose health and safety hazards.
In 2003, the release said, UNRWA started a project to relocate 300 families to new houses on land made available by the Syrian Government in the nearby camp of Ein Al-Tal. This represented Phase I of the project, but the need remains to improve conditions in Neirab camp itself. Phase II will utilize the newly available space in Neirab to reconstruct the camp and to develop housing units and community facilities.
"The Neirab project represents a prototype that will empower Palestinians to secure their livelihoods, meet their needs and address their concerns", UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen Koning AbuZayd said.
The project reflects the co-operation between the Syrian Arab Republic, UNRWA and donor countries to provide better services to Palestinian refugees. So far, the Syrian Government has been the strongest supporter to the project, contributing $6.5 million.
Established in 1949 after the first Israeli-Arab war, UNRWA is the main provider of basic services -education, health, relief and social services - to over 4.3 million registered Palestine refugees throughout the Middle East.
UNITED NATIONS, March 1 (NNN-KUNA) -- Kuwait's UN Representative, Ambassador Abdullah Al-Murad, in his capacity as chairman of the Arab Group, expressed concern and discomfort late Wednesday at Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's hint last December that his country possessed nuclear weapons.
This came in identical letters he addressed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa, and Security Council President Peter Burian.
The letter said Olmert, in an interview with German television on Dec 11, 2006 said his country was "not the first" country in the Middle East to produce nuclear weapons, in a clear indication that it possessed such weapons.
The Israeli prime minister claimed in the same interview that his country did not pose a threat to neighbouring countries, as he said Iran did.
The Kuwaiti ambassador said the "declaration is of no surprise" as the Arab and international community had strong suspicion that Israel possessed a nuclear programme, but noted this instance was important in that it was the first statement to be made by a high-ranking Israeli official on the issue.
This, he said, reaffirms Arab and international doubts on Israel's nuclear capabilities.
Al-Murad also said this came in stark violation of the will of the international community as stipulated by UN Security Council resolution on dangers of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.
He noted that resolution 487 passed in 1981 called on Israel to immediately place its nuclear facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The representative called on the UN General Assembly, Security Council, and the IAEA to bear their responsibilities and act seriously and effectively without delay to implement related resolutions in order to counter threats to regional and international security.
He said Olmert's statement reiterate regional concerns and those of the international community over threatened international peace, at a time when the international community failed to push Israel to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The ambassador said double standards were employed in the region in this regard, which reflected on the draft resolution presented by the Arab group to the IAEA's 50th General Assembly.
Arab countries retain their right to take all necessary measures to face threats posed by Israel's nuclear capabilities through UN decision-making channels, he said.
Cuba, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, sent similar letters to the three UN officials.
Bhubaneswar, March 1 (IANS) An American devotee Thursday was fined by priests for entering into the famous 12th-century Jagannath temple in Orissa's holy city of Puri, where entry of foreigners are prohibited, police said.
Paulf Rodgier, 55, reportedly entered into the temple along with two Indians, Dhirendra Kumar Sukla, 47, and Asis Saxena, 23, at about 2 p.m. Thursday, inspector in charge of town police station Alekh Pahi told IANS.
When they were roaming inside the temple the temple priests caught them near the temple's north gate. The priests fined Rodgier Rs.209 when he pleaded that he was not aware of such restriction, Pahi said.
"We immediately brought Rodgier, Sukla and Saxena to the police station for their safety," Pahi said.
Police will not register any case against them because the priests have already fined them as per temple rules, he said.
The trio had reportedly come to government-run National Thermal Power Corp, located at Kaniha in Angul district, on official work a few days ago.
By Arun Kumar,
Washington, March 1 (IANS) The US House of Representatives has passed a bill making review of foreign investment in the homeland-security sector and critical infrastructure such as power plants, ports and toll roads, more stringent.
The measure approved unanimously Wednesday would give Congress more oversight over the review process by making such deals subject to review by the interagency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
It would require a 45-day investigation to follow the initial 30-day review of any deal by companies controlled by foreign governments. It also would oblige the director of national intelligence to analyse any potential threats to national security posed by a foreign investment.
"This bill contains very tough provisions to protect national security, including the ability for CFIUS to reopen reviews when companies don't comply with mitigation agreements designed to reduce security risks," said Democrat Carolyn Maloney, who sponsored the measure.
However, lawmakers from both parties were quick to emphasise that the legislation was crafted carefully to avoid discouraging foreign investment in the United States. "The welcome mat for foreign investment must be out," Spencer Bachus, ranking Republican member of the Financial Services Committee, said.
The legislation would ensure that Congress is notified when investigations are completed and receives regular reports on agreements or conditions imposed by CFIUS.
For the bill to become law, it must be passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by the president.
The White House has expressed support for the House bill with some reservations. The Office of Management and Budget said in a statement that one of the provisions it opposes would allow extension of the 45-day investigation for transactions involving foreign governments.
Major US business groups, including the Organisation for International Investment, an association of US subsidiaries of foreign companies, welcomed the bill. They said it "strikes a critical balance between protecting national security and encouraging beneficial foreign investment."
In 2005, foreign companies invested more than $110 billion in the United States, according to the US Chamber of Commerce, the largest US business federation.
US lawmakers have complained that the current law leaves them out of the review process. They attempted to revamp CFIUS in 2006 when the CFIUS approval of a management deal concerning six US ports by a state-owned Dubai company caused an uproar.
The House and Senate, however, failed to agree on a compromise measure after each chamber had passed a different version of the legislation. The adjournment of the 109th Congress ended work on those bills; the 110th Congress, which convened in January, had to introduce new bills to restart work on CFIUS legislation.
Taipei, March 1 (DPA) The US is considering selling some 443 missiles, worth $421 million, to Taiwan to boost the island's defences against China, Taiwan press reports said Thursday.
At Taiwan's request, the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), a branch of the US Department of Defence, has notified the US Congress of the possible sales to Taiwan, the Central News Agency (CNA) reported.
Taiwan's representative office in the US has requested a possible sale of 218 AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), 235 AGM-65G2 Maverick Missiles, along with associated equipment, support and technical assistance.
The US is committed to providing military assistance under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act. This sale is consistent with US law, the prime contractor in this deal will be Raytheon Missile Systems Corporation the DSCA said in a statement, the DSCA said.
The Taiwan parliament is still debating if it should pass the arms purchase budget, citing the high cost and late delivery.
Meanwhile, Taiwan is also seeking to buy 66 F16C/D warplanes to fill the gap in air defence until Taiwan has introduced its third generation warplanes.
By Alfred de Tavares,
Stockholm, March 1 (IANS) A Swedish whistle-blower on corruption says it is highly unlikely that Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi will be extradited to India but feels his alleged involvement with the Bofors payoff scam may impact the "nearly matured" sale of new Bofors howitzers to New Delhi.
"I do not think Quattrocchi will either be extradited to India or that Sweden has any interest in him," Swedish weapons export observer Henrik Westander told IANS. "However, it is very interesting to see what detrimental effect it may have on the ongoing, nearly matured, sale of new Bofors howitzers to India."
Westander is the reputed whistle-blower of the 319 million SEK bribes scandal surrounding the 1987 Bofors AB 155mm howitzer sale to India and author of the awesome book "The Story of Bribes and the Fall of Two Governments".
Quattrocchi, who was said to be the conduit for the Rs.640 million in bribes allegedly paid for securing the order, was arrested in Argentina Feb 6 and is now out on bail but is still in the country. New Delhi says it will seek his extradition from Argentina.
"Bofors is at the most critical stage in their arduous year long campaign to win the Indian mega order for their up-dated 400 SH77BO5 howitzers (worth $1.5 billion-Rs.60 billion). That also translates vitally into 1,000 new Swedish jobs", Westander said.
"This has been the scenario since (their South African competitor) Denel was thrown out of the race, early last year, leaving only the (Israeli) Soltan to challenge Bofors. Now a resurrected Quattrocchi may just rattle the precarious apple cart."
But Christer Heneback, director of information at the BAE Systems Bofors, thought differently.
Heneback told IANS of the Indian Army's trials of the howitzer: "We have fulfilled all the Indian demands to a 100 percent. That is why we are confident of our good chances. We saw how the Israeli pieces foundered during earlier tests.
"We have no reason at all to worry about Quattrocchi or anything connected with the Indo-Bofors AB deal in the past. BAE Systems Bofors is a completely new company with no connection whatsoever with Bofors AB," Heneback maintained.
Said Heneback: "BAE Systems Bofors has submitted offers for 100, 200, 300 and 400 artillery pieces to the Indian defence authorities. However, 400 howitzers is reportedly the current need of the Indian armed forces.
"But in the final run," he explained, "the Indian requirement is far higher. The final stage is estimated at another 1,100 howitzers, which will, most probably, be manufactured, under license in India.
"The final tests, with only Soltan as the other participant, were carried out between Oct 24 and Nov 7, 2006 at a height of over 5,000 metres, in the Kashmir Himalayas," he said. "As far as we have been given to understand, the Indian Army observers considered the performance par excellence and are very keen on the gun.
"Subsequent to these tests," said Heneback, "the (Indian Army) director general of artillery has submitted his appraisal and recommendations to the army chief, who will take the final decision in concert with the defence ministry and the government of India. This procedure is purportedly expected to take around six months and is expected to be transparent.
"We should, hopefully, receive the order by the beginning of the forthcoming spring," Heneback said.
That is if Quattrocchi does not blow those hopes to smithereens.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Women groups in the country have lauded the general budget for 2007-08 for its "gender-sensitive" allocations though they said the funds were not sufficient.
Reacting to the budget presented by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in parliament Wednesday, WomenPowerConnect, a Delhi-based women association, welcomed the various tax concessions given to working women.
Women received special mention in the "gender sensitive" budget that increased the outlay for women specific programmes and 50 ministries setting up special gender budgeting cells.
"There is growing awareness of gender sensitivities of budgetary allocations," Chidambaram said in his budget speech.
However, the group was disappointed over the allocation of Rs.87.95 billion for women-specific programmes which it believed was not sufficient.
The government had not focused on the girl child under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) or universal education programme, it added.
"Even after putting so much emphasis on SSA in the subsequent budgets, there has not been much progress in terms of the girl child's education. There was a need to have a special allocation for girls," Ranjana Kumari, director, Centre for Social Research, and president, WomenPowerConnect, said in a statement.
"The plan to insure the heads of the household is ambiguous and women are likely to be left out in rural areas as they are neither considered as heads of the household nor as earning members even when they are engaged in gainful economic activities," she said.
"There is a need to protect provisions earmarked for women in the composite programmes under health, education and rural development by placing restrictions on their re-appropriation for other purposes," the association said.
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Australia became the second team after the West Indies to lift the World Cup twice when they defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the final in 1999 at Lord's June 20.
Australian bowlers made the most of Wasim Akram's surprising decision to bat first and ran through the Pakistani batting line-up to dismiss them for a paltry 132 in 39 overs. It was also the lowest total ever recorded in a World Cup final.
In reply, the Australians lost just two wickets as they rattled off the runs in double quick time in 20.1 overs with a splendid batting effort spearheaded by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist's brisk businesslike cameo of 54.
Glenn McGrath and Man of the Match Shane Warne were the chief tormentors for the Pakistani batsmen.
Chasing a target of just 133, Australia needed to get off to a solid start as openers Mark Waugh and Gilchrist faced the fearsome new ball prospect of Akram and Shoaib Akhtar in tandem.
Akhtar induced a top edge from Gilchrist which fell inches short of the in rushing fine leg, but thereafter he produced a fine drive through mid off to post Australia's first boundary of the day.
Akhtar was working up a mighty pace in his opening spell but it was of no use as Gilchrist used the raw pace to get the boundaries.
SCOREBOARD
Australia vs. Pakistan, Final, World Cup, Lord's, London, June 20, 1999
Pakistan:
Saeed Anwar b Fleming 15
Wajahatullah Wasti c Mark b McGrath 1
Abdul Razzaq c Steve b Moody 17
Ijaz Ahmed b Warne 22
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Gilchrist b Reiffel 15
Moin Khan c Gilchrist b Warne 6
Shahid Afridi lbw Warne 13
Azhar Mahmood c & b Moody 8
Wasim Akram c Steve b Warne 8
Saqlain Mushtaq c Ponting b McGrath 0
Shoaib Akhtar not out 2
Extras: (lb 10, w 13, nb 2) 25
Total: (all out in 39 overs) 132
Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Wajahatullah, 4.4 overs), 2-21 (Anwar, 5.1), 3-68 (Razzaq, 19.4), 4-77 (Ahmed, 23.4), 5-91 (Khan, 27.1), 6-104 (Inzamam, 30.1), 7-113 (Afridi, 31.6), 8-129 (Azhar, 36.6), 9-129 (Akram, 37.2)
Bowling:
Glenn McGrath 9-3-13-2
Damien Fleming 6-0-30-1 (2nb, 4w)
Paul Reiffel 10-1-29-1 (2w)
Tom Moody 5-0-17-2 (1w)
Shane Warne 9-1-33-4 (2w)
Australia:
Mark Waugh not out 37
Adam Gilchrist c Inzamam b Mushtaq 54
Ricky Ponting c Khan b Akram 24
Darren Lehmann not out 13
Extras: (lb 1, w 1, nb 3) 5
Total: (for two wickets in 20.1 overs) 133
Fall of wickets: 1-75 (Gilchrist, 10.1 overs), 2-112 (Ponting, 17.4)
Bowling:
Wasim Akram 8-1-41-1 (2nb, 1w)
Shoaib Akhtar 4-0-37-0 (1nb)
Abdul Razzaq 2-0-13-0
Azhar Mahmood 2-0-20-0
Saqlain Mushtaq 4.1-0-21-1
Result: Australia won by eight wickets
Toss: Pakistan
Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies) and David Shepherd (England)
Third umpire: Srinivasraghavan Venkataraghavan (India)
Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)
Man of the Match: Shane Warne (Australia)
Player of the Tournament: Lance Klusener (South Africa)
Mumbai, March 1 (IANS) A 15-member Indian cricket team left early Thursday to participate in the World Cup in the West Indies carrying with them the hopes and aspirations of millions of Indians, not just in the country but around the world.
For a nation where cricket is not just a sport but a way of life, the fortunes of the Indian team as it takes on 15 other nations in the March 11-April 28 Cup will be followed, dissected, praised and criticised with normal activity taking backseat to the all-consuming passion for the game.
With millions playing cheerleaders for the team and chanting the slogan made popular by a television commercial "Ooh, aah India. Aaya India", captain Rahul Dravid's team of cricket gladiators would have the huge responsibility of shouldering a rising India's pride and global standing on their young shoulders.
They would have their first halt in Jamaica where they would play a series of warm-up matches in Trelawny Stadium prior to their first Pool B match against Bangladesh on March 17 at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Sri Lanka and Bermuda are the others teams in this group.
The 51-match 49-day tournament begins with the opening ceremony in Montego Bay, Jamaica March 11 while the first match, between hosts West Indies and Pakistan, will be played March 13 at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.
There are huge expectations from the Indian team, which reached the final of the 2003 World Cup in South Africa before the Sourav Ganguly-led side lost to Australia in Johannesburg.
This time, India is expected to progress to the second round called Super Eight easily as two teams each will be advancing from the four pools. The eight teams will then play a round robin league amongst them, but not against teams from their own group.
To the relief of the fans - including hundreds who are expected to troop to the Caribbean to watch the matches from North America - the Indian team has started to hit peak form as was evident from their back to back home series wins over the West Indies and Sri Lanka.
Most of the players have either regained form or are showing signs of getting it back.
Both Dravid and chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar looked satisfied and sounded optimistic on the eve of the team's departure.
"This is an excellent team. Man to man, our team is far superior to the other teams, but they have to put that into practice," said the former India captain who was himself part of the 1983 World Cup-winning team.
"There's no need to tell the players what to do in the West Indies, they all are fit and in form."
His confidence in the team, which has six players -- Robin Uthappa, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel and Sreesanth - with no World Cup experience, is a reflection of the increasing expectations from this talented side.
With stalwarts like Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, India has one of the bets batting line-ups in the world.
Although the bowling seem comparatively week, leg-spinner Anil Kumble provides the much-needed experience to this important department of the team.
"I am happy with the pacers, and I don't think we are taking any unfit player to the World Cup," said Dravid at the final press before departure.
"We are going to have a lot of close games. Australia still start as the favourites and we can't dismiss their past records -- can't write them off on the basis of a week's performance."
The Indian side has a combined experience of 2,225 one-day internationals -- and this does not include coach Greg Chappell's 74 matches.
Further, the advantage of having toured the West Indies for a Test and one-day series less than a year ago will come in handy for most of the players in the squad.
Virender Sehwag, who has not been great form but has recently shown signs of hitting the peak again, will draw a lot of inspiration and motivation from the previous tour.
He was the most successful Indian batsman in the one-day series and was also in fine form in the Test series, which India won after 35 years in the Caribbean.
Almost all the other players are already in form as they showed in matches against the West Indies and Sri Lanka. It is now a matter of carrying it to the Caribbean and maintaining top fitness levels.
The team left by a British Airways flight for London on way to the West Indies.
Board secretary Niranjan Shah and chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty were among the officials who saw the team off at the airport early Thursday morning.
SQUAD: Rahul Dravid (captain), Sachin Tendulkar (vice-captain), Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik (wicket keepers), Ajit Agarakar, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan and Munaf Patel
Support staff: Greg Chappell (coach), John Gloster (physiotherapist), Gregory King (trainer), Ian Frazer (bio-mechanist), Sanjay Jagdale (manager).
02 March 2007
Moscow, March 2 (RIA Novosti) Deployment of a US anti-missile radar system in the Caucasus would not affect Russia's defence capabilities, but the country could respond to the move nevertheless, the Russian Air Force commander Vladimir Mikhailov said Friday.
"Let them deploy (a radar)," he said. "It is their decision. Unfortunately, we have also heard of plans to place US missile shield elements in countries like Ukraine and other states, including former Soviet republics." Mikhailov said Russia was capable of offering an adequate response to the deployment.
Washington said the defences would be designed to counter possible strikes from North Korea and Iran, which are involved in long-running disputes with the international community over their nuclear programs.
Russia, which has been anxious about NATO bases that have appeared in erstwhile communist-bloc countries and areas that had formed the now dismembered Soviet republic, has blasted the plans to deploy anti-missile systems in Central Europe as a national security threat and a destabilising factor for Europe.
Baghdad, March 2 (Xinhua) An extremist Sunni militant group, linked to the Al Qaida group in Iraq, said Friday it had kidnapped 18 employees of the Shiite-led interior ministry and threatened to kill them to avenge the alleged rape of an Iraqi woman.
"Lions from the Islamic state in Iraq succeeded in arresting 18 members of the interior ministry in Diyala in response to what these apostates have done in fighting the Sunnis, and one of their recent act is the rape of our sister in religion," the group said in an internet statement.
The statement demanded the government to hand over the accused officers to the militants and release all the women detained in the governmental prisons.
However, the authenticity of the statement has not been independently verified.
Last month, a 20-year-old woman from western Baghdad accused three Iraqi policemen of sexually assaulting her, but the Iraqi government denied the accusation.
On Feb 22, four Iraqi soldiers have been arrested for raping an ethnic Turkoman woman in the town of Tal Afar, some 400 km north of Baghdad.
Rape victims in the conservative Iraqi society rarely go public because they fear public scorn and humiliation.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) An unpardonable miscalculation by the team management cost South Africa dear as the hosts were knocked out in the first round of the 2003 World Cup, losing to Sri Lanka in Durban.
Sri Lanka scored an imposing 268 - Marvan Atapattu a superb 124 - and then restricted the Proteas to 229 for six in 45 overs before the soaked players were forced from the field by sheets of rain. After that, came the bizarre miscalculation March 3.
The teams' scores were tied when the umpires called for the covers with South Africa needing 40 runs from the last 30 balls.
With rain falling, Mark Boucher smashed the fifth ball of the 45th over for six and blocked the last ball presuming that he had won the match.
Soon he, and the rest of his team, realised that they had miscalculated the reset target as per the Duckowrth and Lewis method, used for truncated matches. South Africa still needed one run to win.
The match ended in a tie but, as per rules, Sri Lanka won and South Africa crashed out, and skipper Shaun Pollock lost his captaincy.
Earlier, Atapattu (124, 129 balls, 18x4s), who scored his maiden World Cup century, and Aravinda de Silva (78 balls,6x4s, 2x6s) put up 152 for the fourth wicket.
SCOREBOARD
South Africa vs. Sri Lanka, Pool B match, World Cup, Kingsmead, Durban, March 3, 2003
Sri Lanka:
Marvan Atapattu c sub b Hall 124
Sanath Jayasuriya run out (Kirsten) 16
Hashan Tillakaratne c Boucher b Kallis 14
Mahela Jayawardene c Boucher b Hall 1
Aravinda de Silva c Smith b Ntini 73
Russel Arnold b Pollock 8
Kumar Sangakkara c Pollock b Kallis 6
Chaminda Vaas run out (Boucher) 3
Muttiah Muralitharan b Kallis 4
Dilhara Fernando not out 1
Extras: (lb 2, w 11, nb 5) 18
Total: (for nine wickets in 50 overs) 268
Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Jayasuriya, 8.6 overs), 2-77 (Tillakaratne, 17.4), 3-90 (Jayawardene, 22.1), 4-242 (Atapattu, 44.5), 5-243 (de Silva, 45.1), 6-258 (Sangakkara, 47.5), 7-261 (Arnold, 48.4), 8-266 (Muralitharan, 49.2), 9-268 (Vaas, 49.6)
Bowling:
Shaun Pollock 10-1-48-1 (1nb, 2w)
Makhaya Ntini 10-0-49-1 (2nb, 3w)
Monde Zondeki 6-0-35-0 (3w)
Jacques Kallis 10-0-41-3 (1w)
Andrew Hall 10-0-62-2 (1nb, 1w)
Lance Klusener 4-0-31-0 (1nb, 1w)
South Africa:
Grame Smith c Gunaratne b de Silva 35
Herschelle Gibbs b Muralitharan 73
Gary Kirsten b de Silva 8
Jacques Kallis b Jayasuriya 16
Boeta Dippenaar lbw Jayasuriya 8
Mark Boucher not out 45
Shaun Pollock run out (Sangakkara/Muralitharan) 25
Lance Klusener not out 1
Extras: (lb 4, w 12, nb 2) 18
Total: (for six wickets in 45 overs) 229
Fall of wickets: 1-65 (Smith, 11.1 overs), 2-91 (Kirsten, 17.2), 3-124 (Kallis, 23.1), 4-149 (Gibbs, 28.6), 5-149 (Dippenaar, 29.1), 6-212 (Pollock, 42.3)
Bowling:
Chaminda Vaas 7-1-33-0 (1nb)
Pulasthi Gunaratne 6-0-26-0
Dilhara Fernando 1-0-14-0 (1nb)
Aravinda de Silva 8-0-36-2 (1w)
Russel Arnold 4-0-16-0 (1w)
Muttiah Muralitharan 9-0-51-1 (1w)
Sanath Jayasuriya 10-0-49-2 (3w)
Result: Match tied (Duckworth Lewis method)
Toss: Sri Lanka
Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies) and Srinivasraghavan Venkataraghavan (India)
Third umpire: Peter Willey (England)
Match referee: Clive Lloyd (West Indies)
Man of the Match: Maravan Atapattu (Sri Lanka)
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) The merger of the two state-run carriers Air India and Indian Airlines would be executed in phases over the next two years and result in a net benefit of Rs.6 billion, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said Friday.
"Technical and procedural formalities for merging the two airlines would begin immediately and one company with one name, one brand, one logo, one code and single financials is expected to be in place in the coming 16 weeks," he said.
"The merger of the two airlines would be completed in a phased manner over next two years," Patel told parliament, a day after the union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, gave a go ahead to the proposal.
In a statement, the minister said the two state-run carriers shared a proud legacy. "But in the past decade, their market position has been adversely affected due to intense competition and their inability to induct new fleet," he added.
"Further, there has been a growing tendency of consolidation and mergers in the civil aviation that enables airlines to achieve synergies and reduce costs," Patel said, explaining the rationale for the merger.
He said the government had already approved the induction of 68 new aircraft by Air-India and 43 new aircraft by Indian Airlines and the merger would further strengthen their operations.
"It is estimated this decision would result in net benefit of Rs.600 crore (Rs. 6 billion) at the end of the third year of merger," Patel said, even as he sought to assure employees that their interests would be foremost in the government's mind.
"The government is committed to ensure that all legitimate employee interests, including their current compensation, status etc. are protected. There will be no retrenchment and all employees will continue in the merged company."
He said the integration of manpower would be completed in a phased manner, on the basis of transparent and objective criteria and a well-defined grievance redressal machinery will be put in place.
"It is our objective to create a world-class airline in the public sector in close cooperation with all its employees."
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Ignoring requests to stand alone for better protection, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam offered midday prayers Friday at the historic Fatehpuri mosque here, standing among thousands of believers.
The president spent 20 minutes at the mosque, located near the Red Fort monument in the city's old quarters, during which he accepted the greetings of many with a polite "walekum as salam" (May Allah bless you too).
Kalam entered the sprawling mosque shortly after 1.30 p.m. and joined the prayer, led by Naib Shahi Imam Maulana Moulvi Mohammed Mouazzam, a 49-year-old who along with his brother received the president with a bouquet.
Kalam stood in the second row of a larger gathering 5,000-6,000 strong and prayed, like everyone else, with his head bowed and while facing the Mecca. He wore socks, having taken off his shoes in his car.
The prayers over, the devout secular Muslim left, after thanking the mosque officials and shaking hands with some of the more enthusiastic visitors.
The Fatehpuri mosque is not as well known as the nearby Jama Masjid although Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built both. Among Muslims, however, the Fatehpuri mosque commands greater respect owing to what the Imam said was its "spiritual loftiness".
Asked why Kalam had chosen the Fatehpuri mosque to pray, the Imam said: "The president is deeply into spiritual affairs. He is devoted to Sufiism. He has discussed with us religion and Sufi thoughts many times. So he chose to come."
The Fatehpuri mosque also houses one of the biggest Islamic seminaries in the Indian capital. It is ringed on all sides by narrow lanes chock a block with shops including those of Khari Boli, one of the biggest wholesale markets of Delhi.
Some of the locals had wanted to meet Kalam and submit memorandum related to Muslim affairs but the Imam said he dissuaded them from doing so "since the president is coming for a religious affair".
"He is the president of India and it is a honour for us to receive him," the Imam said. "He should not be troubled on this occasion by purely Muslim issues."
Hindu-majority India is home to the world's second largest Muslim population after Indonesia.
Linares (Spain), March 2 (IANS) Joint leader world No.2 Viswanathan Anand plays world No.1 Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria in the eighth round of the Morelia-Linares chess tournament.
As the Linares leg begins, Indian Grandmaster (GM) Anand, who will play with white pieces, is in joint lead with GM Magnus Carlsen of Norway at 4.5 points after seven rounds.
Carlsen will have black pieces against GM Alexander Morozevich of Russia.
In the other pairings, Hungarian GM Peter Leko plays GM Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine while GM Lev Aronian of Armenia meets GM Peter Svidler of Russia.
Anand and Topalov drew their clash in Morelia and in the Corus GMs tournament, also this year, Anand lost to Topalov. Overall, Anand has 20 wins to Topalov's 13 and there have 39 draws.
This eight-player tournament is split into two legs. The first seven rounds were played in Morelia, Mexico, and the next seven will be played here.
In the seventh and last round at Morelia, the NIIT-sponsored Anand beat Leko with black pieces to get into shares lead.
Standings after Round 7: 1. Anand and Carlsen 4.5 points; 3. Ivanchuk 4.0; 4. Aronian and Svidler 3.5; 6. Leko and Topalov 3.0; 8. Morozevich 2.0
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Australia routed India by 125 runs to win the World Cup for a historic third time at the Wanderers in Johannesburg March 23, 2003.
The mischievous smile rarely left Ricky Ponting's face as he led from the front, playing the innings of his life. He scored an unbeaten 140 to power Australia to 359 for two in 50 overs, the highest-ever score in a World Cup final.
In the face of great pressure while chasing, India were given fleeting glimpses of hope by Virender Sehwag (82) and then the rain, but they eventually succumbed to the far superior Australia. India managed 234 in 39.2 overs.
For the Indians, the much-cherished dream came crashing as pacer Zaheer Khan delivered a 15-run over to start with. The other bowlers followed suit.
Showing the stomach for a big fight, Adam Gilchrist tore the Indian bowling apart. Javagal Srinath, in particular, was treated severely as he was walloped for five fours and a six before he was taken off the attack.
Drawing deep into the resources of a well of optimism and hope, Sachin Tendulkar and Sehwag walked out to chase against all odds, but the team failed to do so.
When play resumed with the threat of rain gone, Ponting went back to his strike bowlers and they delivered the goods.
SCOREBOARD
Australia vs. India, Final, World Cup, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, March 23, 2003
Australia:
Adam Gilchrist c Sehwag b Harbhajan 57
ML Hayden c Dravid b Harbhajan 37 93 54 5 0
Ricky Ponting not out 140
Damien Martyn not out 88
Extras: (b 2, lb 12, w 16, nb 7) 37
Total: (for two wickets in 50 overs) 359
Fall of wickets: 1-105 (Gilchrist, 13.6 overs), 2-125 (Hayden, 19.5)
Bowling:
Zaheer Khan 7-0-67-0 (2nb, 6w)
Javagal Srinath 10-0-87-0 (3nb, 2w)
Ashish Nehra 10-0-57-0 (3w)
Harbhajan Singh 8-0-49-2
Virender Sehwag 3-0-14-0
Sachin Tendulkar 3-0-20-0 (1w)
Dinesh Mongia 7-0-39-0 (2nb)
Yuvraj Singh 2-0-12-0
India:
Sachin Tendulkar c & b McGrath 4
Virender Sehwag run out (Lehmann) 82
Sourav Ganguly c Lehmann b Lee 24
Mohammed Kaif c Gilchrist b McGrath 0
Rahul Dravid b Bichel 47
Yuvraj Singh c Lee b Hogg 24
Dinesh Mongia c Martyn b Symonds 12
Harbhajan Singh c McGrath b Symonds 7
Zaheer Khan c Lehmann b McGrath 4
Javagal Srinath b Lee 1
Ashish Nehra not out 8
Extras: (b 4, lb 4, w 9, nb 4) 21
Total: (all out in 39.2 overs) 234
Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Tendulkar, 0.5 overs), 2-58 (Ganguly, 9.5), 3-59 (Kaif, 10.3), 4-147 (Sehwag, 23.5), 5-187 (Dravid, 31.5), 6-208 (Yuvraj, 34.5), 7-209 (Mongia, 35.2), 8-223 (Harbhajan, 37.1), 9-226 (Srinath, 38.2)
Bowling:
Glenn McGrath 8.2-0-52-3
Brett Lee 7-1-31-2 (4nb, 2w)
Bradd Hogg 10-0-61-1 (2w)
Darren Lehmann 2-0-18-0
Andy Bichel 10-0-57-1 (4w)
Andrew Symonds 2-0-7-2 (1w)
Result: Australia won by 125 runs
Toss: India
Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies) and David Shepherd (England)
Third umpire: Rudi Koertzen (South Africa)
Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)
Man of the Match: Ricky Ponting (Australia)
Player of the Series: Sachin Tendulkar (India)
Chandigarh, March 2 (IANS) Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal was Friday sworn in as Punjab's chief minister for the fourth time.
About 20,000 Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers crammed into the Punjab Cricket Stadium in Mohali near here to watch Governor S.F. Rodrigues administer the oath of office to the 80-year-old Badal and his ministers.
There was chaos in the stadium and the ceremony, which marks the return of the Akali Dal-BJP to power after trouncing the Congress government of Amarinder Singh in assembly elections, began over an hour late.
Dhaka, March 2 (IANS) Police raided a stronghold of Islamist militants at Bagmara in the western district of Rajshahi district and nabbed ten militants belonging to a proscribed Islamist body, the Jama'atul Mujahideen (JMB).
One of them is Abdus Sattar, a close associate of Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, who is awaiting the gallows for murdering two judges. Sattar, also a teacher of Jatragachhi Fazil Madrasa, was allegedly reorganising absconding JMB militants.
His arrest is part of the ongoing drive against militancy being conducted by the caretaker government of Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed.
Sattar is widely believed to have helped Bangla Bhai in his so-called anti-outlaw operations of Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh (JMJB) in Bagmara in 2004, The Daily Star newspaper said on Friday.
Bagmara was for long Bangla Bhai's stronghold from where he undertook his campaign, spreading terror among the religious minorities and political opponents.
The then government of Begum Khaleda Zia denied the existence of the campaign.
It acted only after 500-plus explosions across the country on Aug 17, 2005.
Lagos, March 2 (Xinhua) At least 50 people drowned when a boat capsized on a waterway in Nigeria's southeastern Bayelsa State, local newspaper the Punch reported Friday.
The wooden passenger boat lost balance after running into turbulent waves. Some passengers who survived were receiving treatment in hospitals in the state, the daily said.
Sylvanus Egele, chairman of the Bayelsa State Marine Workers Union, has confirmed the incident, saying a rescue team had been sent to the area to search for more survivors or locate the corpses.
Boat mishap is common on the waterways of southern Nigeria, which borders the Atlantic Ocean. Overloading and poor maintenance of the vessels are usually the cause.
By Syed Ali Mujtaba
The union budget 2007-8 made provisions for the minority community of the country. First, it has increased the monetary allocation to the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) and second, it has allocated Rs 210.60 crore for the three scholarship programmes for them.
"Last year, I made a modest contribution of Rs.16.47 crore to the equity of the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC). Following the Sachar Committee report, NMDFC would be required to expand its reach and intensify its efforts. Hence, I propose to provide a further sum of Rs.63 crore to the share capital of NMDFC," Finance Minister P. Chidambaram made this announcement during his budget speech presentation in Parliament on Wednesday.
"There are a number of districts with a concentration of minorities. I propose to make a provision of Rs.108 crore for a multi-sector development programme in these districts," he said.
On the issue of minority education Chidambaram said, three scholarship programmes are being implemented for students belonging to minority communities and Rs 210.60 crore is allocated for this purpose.
"I propose to make the following allocations for three scholarship programme for the minorities", he said and went on to elaborate, "Pre-matric scholarships Rs.72 crore, Post-matric scholarships Rs.90 crore and Merit-cum-Means scholarships at graduate and post-graduate levels Rs.48.60 crore."
The union budget 2007 has announced Rs 750 crore for national scholarship scheme. It has allocated one lakh scholarship for class 9-12 students to check the dropouts in the school. Muslim students who normally discontinue their studies due financial constrains or family pressures are likely to be benefited by such provisions.
Just two days ago, on Monday, the Minority Affairs Minister A R Antulay had informed the Rajya Sabha, that districts, blocks and towns with population more than 50,000 have been identified for schemes aimed at welfare of minorities.
The exercise, carried out in zones with substantial population of minorities, was held in consultation with the Registrar General of India, Antulay said in a reply.
"The ministries, departments concerned with schemes included in the Prime Minister's new 15-point programme for the welfare of minorities have been advised of the details for appropriate action," he told the House.
"Also, it has been decided to set up an inter-ministerial task force under the chairmanship of a member of the Planning Commission to go into issues arising out of the geographical distribution of minorities in the country," he said.
On the issue of education of minorities, Antulay said, a merit-cum-means scholarship scheme for students from minority communities is awaiting approval from the competent authorities.
"The government plans to encourage students from the minority community to opt for technical and professional courses and undergraduate and postgraduate students would be offered scholarships to purse them," he said.
New Delhi, March 2 (indianmuslims.info) The All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) has expressed its ‘deep sense of disappointment’ at the Union Budget proposed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram on February 28 for the financial year 2007-2008. In a statement released here Friday, AIMMM president Syed Shahabuddin laments that the budget is disappointing for Muslims and ‘belies’ Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s repeated promises.
“The budget speech makes only one reference to the Sachar Report for raising equity contribution to the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation from 16.47 crores last year to 63 crores this year,� said the Mushawarat leader.
His statement laments that the total allocation for minorities is far below that for SC/ST.
For minorities there are allocations of Rs 108 crores for multi-sector development programme (in ‘some’ and not ‘all’ districts of minority concentration), and Rs. 200.60 crores for on-going pre-matric, post-matric, graduate and graduate scholarships for students belonging to minorities. Their grand total comes to about Rs 310 crores while the allocation for schemes of benefit only to SC/ST has been increased to Rs. 327 crores. They have been also guaranteed a share of 20% in schemes of total allocation of Rs. 17,691 crores. Their scholarship programme comes to Rs. 699 crores. The grand total in their case comes to Rs. 7.528 crores.
“Undoubtedly, the Muslim community will also benefit to some extent from all general development and welfare schemes. However, it is doubtful that eligible Muslims shall receive due consideration at the level of distribution of benefits because there is no Central directive for proportionalisation among eligible backward groups at the operational level,� the statement pointed out.
Commenting on the prevailing condition of Indian Muslims, the Mushawarat leader said, “Muslim backwardness is largely due to the fact that the community has received very little benefit from the on-going development and welfare programme at various levels. The sad story is likely to continue.�
The Mushawarat has appealed to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Minority Affairs to consider the situation, and to the concerned Members of Parliament to raise the question of giving a better deal to the backward Muslim community, when the budget is considered by the Standing Parliamentary Committees and by the two Houses of Parliament.
New Delhi, March 2 (Indianmuslims.info) In a bid to contain communal riots effectively, bring the rioters to the book and provide the victims with adequate aid and means to rehabilitate, the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the enactment of the Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill 2005. This bill envisages several benefits, including prevention of communal violence/offences and speedy investigation and dispensation of justice.
Following the Cabinet meeting, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs as well as Information and Broadcasting Priyaranjan Das Munshi told the presspersons the bill “aims at creating institutional arrangement� for speedy investigation, disposal of cases, providing relief and rehabilitation for victims and empowering the states/Central authorities to discharge their duties in assisting victims in the matter.
“The new law, which makes it mandatory for the police to establish centres to record FIRs in riot-hit localities and at relief camps, also seeks to provide special procedures of investigation, the establishment of special courts with powers of summary trials and day-to-day hearings as a means to deal sternly with perpetrators of sectarian violence,� he added.
The Minister said imposition of enhanced punishment on the persons involved in communal violence/offences and providing relief and rehabilitation facilities for the victims were other features of the bill.
He also informed the presspersons that Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had held meetings with concerned citizens and social activists at different places in the country to discuss the proposals for amendments to the Act.
Originally drafted by the Home Ministry in fulfilment of the promise made in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Common Minimum Programme to prevent another Gujarat-like anti-minority pogrom by enacting a law, the Act was first tabled in 2005.
Various NGOs (non-governmental organisations)like Movement for Peace and Justice and Islami Relief Committee Gujarat had spearheaded the move to review the first draft of the Bill and advance proposals before the government authorities to give more teeth to the law in the making.
Managua (Nicaragua), March 2 (Xinhua) Cuban leader Fidel Castro could return to work soon, said the country's Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, according to reports reaching here.
"We are optimistic" because Fidel has won the fight against his illness and "could return to work soon", Perez Roque told reporters in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpaon Thursday.
But the minister did not give an exact date when Castro would return to work. Roque, who earlier worked as Castro's personal secretary for seven years, is reported to be in frequent contact with the Cuban leader.
Roque and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a close friend of Castro, have repeatedly said Castro is recovering well after a complicated intestinal surgery on July 27, 2006.
Fidel Castro, 80, handed over power temporarily to his younger brother, Defence Minister Raul Castro, after his surgery. The leader has not been seen in public since.
The foreign minister's comments followed a surprise call by Castro to Chavez's radio talk show to make his first live comments since his surgery. The call Tuesday night fuelled expectations that Castro could soon reappear in public.
Beijing, March 2 (Xinhua) China Friday voiced its opposition to the US arms sales to Taiwan, which it regarded as wanton interference in its internal affairs.
US should stop arms sales, end its military links with Taiwan and not encourage pro-independence forces so as to avoid jeopardising peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits as well as Sino-US relations, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.
The US Department of Defence has announced that it plans to sell Taiwan more than 400 missiles worth $421 million, which would include Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air missiles, Maverick missiles, as well as spare parts and maintenance equipment.
"Our position is consistent and clear." Qin said.
The US would violate commitments made in the three Sino-US joint communiqués, in particular the joint communiqué signed between the two countries Aug 17, 1982, if it offers arms to Taiwan, he said.
Qin urged the US to adhere to the one-China policy, honour the commitments it had made in the Sino-US joint communiqués and oppose "Taiwan independence".
Beijing, March 2 (Xinhua) China will encourage private companies to invest in the national defence industry, according to the Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defence.
The policy will help the country's national defence industry make better use of funds and technologies owned by private companies, boost its innovative capabilities and improve weaponry research and production, said an official with the commission Thursday.
"As the defence sector concerns national safety, private companies must enter the industry gradually in a safe and regulated way," said the official on conditions of anonymity.
Last year, the commission issued licenses for private companies to branch into China's weaponry industry, breaching the long-standing state monopoly on the sector for the first time.
Private enterprises must enhance the awareness of secrecy, accept government supervision and fulfill military research and production tasks, the commission said in the guidelines.
News Delhi, March 2 (IANS) It was D-day finally for thousands of Class 10 students Friday as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examination began amid the usual bouts of nervousness affecting both students and parents.
The first paper they will be taking is Social Studies. Constituting questions from five subjects - History, Civics, Geography, Economics and Disaster Management - Social Studies is termed by most as the "most challenging of all the papers".
"I am scared of the history portion because I tend to mix up important dates," said a nervous Sakshi Giri, who was poring over her textbook while travelling in the metro to her examination centre at Khalsa School, Chandni Chowk.
Her sister, who was accompanying her, admitted that she was equally nervous. "I am a little scared as well," she said.
The fact that this is the first board exam they will be taking also caused trepidation.
"This is not the usual annual exam that we will be taking. Although the pre-board exams conducted in our school prepared us mentally for this day, we are still a little scared," said Sashank and his friend Navneet, students of the Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan.
The anxiety rubbed off on parents too.
"I woke up earlier than usual this morning because I simply couldn't sleep! I felt as if I was taking an exam all over again," said Sashank's mother Neena Verma.
"Moreover, these kids have an extra subject to deal with - Disaster Management - which was introduced last year. I hope the time is enough for them to finish the paper. Social Studies is a lengthy paper," another mother expressed her concern.
A total of 705,152 candidates from 7,658 schools are appearing for the Class 10 examination both in India and aboard - an increase of 8.11 percent over last year. CBSE has set up 2,490 examination centres, including 49 for foreign schools, for the smooth conduct of the examination.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Easy questions and ample time helped students of Class 10 answer their first paper on Social Studies of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exams Friday as most of them came out triumphant.
"It was an easy paper. I was really scared because we had to do the maximum amount of learning for this paper," said an excited Pavitra Bawa, a student of the Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan.
Comprising questions from five different topics - History, Geography, Economics, Civics and Disaster Management - this paper was termed as the "most challenging" by most students.
"In fact our pre-board examination paper was more difficult than this one. Even last year's paper was tough. But this one was simple," remarked Barkha Jhingan, another student.
Suman Bawa, teacher in the Army Public School, said all the questions were within the NCERT syllabus and though there were a couple of questions that were tricky, the students shouldn't have had any problem solving them.
Many students, who were initially nervous as it was their first board exam, completed the paper before the stipulated time of three hours.
"I finished my paper in two and a half hours. The time was more than enough. Moreover, the 15 minutes reading time at the beginning of the exam was really helpful," said Sharmishtha, whose examination centre was the Delhi Public School in south Delhi's R.K. Puram.
Abhishek Sharma added: "We are just thrilled that we are done with social studies. I am more relaxed now to prepare for my next paper which is mathematics on March 8."
Parents, who were equally anxious, were a relieved lot after seeing the smiles on their wards' faces.
"I am glad her paper went off well. Being their first board exam, it's a good start," said Ananya Verma, whose daughter Shikha took the exam.
A total of 705,152 candidates from 7,658 schools are appearing for the Class 10 examination both in India and aboard - an increase of 8.11 percent over last year. CBSE has set up 2,490 examination centres, including 49 for foreign schools, for the smooth conduct of the examination.
Ranchi, March 2 (IANS) Computers given to police stations in the Jharkhand capital are mainly gathering dust - neither the cops have been trained to use them nor have the machines been installed.
Under the Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA) programme, 30 police stations in Ranchi got four computers each in January. While some police stations have installed one computer, the rest lie packed and unused.
"Where is the space to set up the computers? For four computers you need at least one room. How will we install four computers in our two-room police stations," asked a frustrated sub-inspector of the Chutia police station.
The poor response of the police seems to be working against the proposed project. More than 100 police stations were to be included in the second phase of CIPA.
The project was planned to help keep the police updated with the crime graph and investigations into cases. Police stations were to be connected with their headquarters so that information could be available at the click of a mouse.
The police headquarters also failed to prepare the list of police officials who would be given training on the use of computers. According to the plan, at least two police officials from each station were to be trained.
"Initially we asked for names of officials interested in getting trained. As the response was poor, we have now asked district police chiefs to prepare a list and submit the names," said one official.
"We have also directed the persons concerned to arrange power connections for installing the computers," the official added.
Kolkata, March 2 (IANS) In an unprecedented order, the Calcutta High Court Friday sentenced the West Bengal Director General of Police, a legislator and two top district administration officers of Jalpaiguri to six months' in jail for contempt of court.
Anup Bhushan Bhora, the state's Director General of Police (DGP), Jalpaiguri district magistrate (DM) and the district's police superintendent (SP) were sentenced to imprisonment for contempt of court.
Congress representative in the West Bengal Assembly from Jalpaiguri, Debaprasad Roy, and 14 others, were also sentenced to the same term.
The court gave a 21-day stay order on the implementation of the sentence to enable the guilty to appeal the verdict in the supreme court.
In its ruling, the bench cited the "unprecedented breakdown of constitutional machinery" in the district for one month from Dec 15, 2006, to Jan 15, 2007 when no court was able to function.
Court in the district was totally paralysed for a month in the wake of an agitation by local people and lawyers who boycotted the court and stopped its functioning to press their demand for a circuit bench of the high court in Jalpaiguri.
The court said in its suo motu ruling, "In the past 57 years since the country has a constitution, nowhere has it been violated like this", lawyer Kalyan Bandhopadhyaya quoted it as saying.
The division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice K.K. Parasad gave the verdict against the DGP and other officials for their responsibility in the "constitutional breakdown" in Jalpaiguri.
The court also imposed a penalty of Rs.2,000 each on the DGP, DM, SP and another police officer or another month in jail in case of default.
"We will appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court," said West Bengal Law Minister Robilal Moitra.
Following the verdict, an emergency meeting was held in West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's room at state secretariat Writers' Building with Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb, Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Roy and Law Minister Rabilal Moitra, besides the convicted DGP.
Karachi, March 2 (IANS) Indian medicos at a medical conference here urged Pakistani doctors to "cross the border" to sharpen their skills, saying it is cheaper than going to the US or the UK.
They also made a pitch for greater people-to-people interaction without being deterred by problems like terrorism. "For one Samjhauta Express there are 10 cross-border conferences," said Prof V K Kapoor, head of the department of surgical gastroenterology at the Sanjay Gandhi Post-graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.
He was referring to the terror attack on the Lahore-New Delhi train at Panipat, India last month in which close 70 passengers died and over 100 injured.
While media on both sides of the Indo-Pak border highlighted security issues and terror attacks, not enough was said or written about artistic and academic interactions, said Kapoor.
Inviting Pakistani surgeons to study in India, Dr Parveen Bhatia, laparoscopic surgeon and medical director of the Bhatia Global Hospital and Endosurgery Institute, New Delhi, called for a change in approach.
"We curse the darkness but we don't light a candle. We need to unlearn, learn and then relearn," he said.
"We don't need British or American solutions to our problems. Pakistani solutions can apply to Indian problems and Indian solutions can apply to Pakistani problems because our circumstances are the same," Bhatia said.
Dr Adarsh Chaudhary of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, backed Kapoor's assertion that local doctors should train locally. In fact, he is proud that he went to school in India. Doctors in India work in more volume, he argued, "which is why there is better training."
The trio is attending the 23rd annual congress of the Pakistan Society of Gastroenterology and GI Endoscopy.
Elaborating on Bhatia's point, Kapoor said that in his area of specialty (abdominal tuberculosis), about one-third of the people of the Indian subcontinent have had a tubercular infection. Doctors from the West don't have as much practice in dealing with tuberculosis as it is not a widespread disease in their part of the world. This is why local doctors should train at home instead of going abroad, Kapoor stressed. The living conditions in the subcontinent, proximity and poverty, for example, mean that TB spreads easily here.
Kapoor said that Indian surgeons were attracting more and more patients from Western countries. The NHS waiting lists are long for surgery in the UK, he said, citing one example of why British patients were coming to India. He has also treated people from Nigeria and Romania.
Chaudhary has been involved in live donor liver transplants. When it was pointed out to him that Pakistan was looking at new cadaver organ transplant laws, he said that this was encouraging. Even in India there is reluctance to harvest organs from brain dead people due to cultural and religious beliefs, he said.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Thousands of air travellers were stranded for hours at the Delhi airport Friday morning as dense fog disrupted over 40 flight schedules.
The runway visibility went below the 100-metre mark at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport early morning, forcing all Delhi bound domestic flights to divert to nearby destinations.
"For nearly three hours there were no domestic arrivals at the airport. Four domestic and 16 international flights were diverted to other cities," said an official of the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).
The India Meteorological Department said the capital would witness light fog on Saturday as well. On Friday, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 14.9 degrees Celsius.
Poor visibility also delayed the schedule of at least 20 domestic and international outgoing flights, the officer told IANS.
However, one runway that facilitates flights to take off and land during dense fog was operational.
"There were 11 domestic departures, 12 international departures and nine international arrivals on the runway till 9 a.m.," the official added.
But a large number of passengers were kept waiting inside a Kolkata bound Indigo flight for hours.
"The scheduled time of my flight was 5.45 a.m. but due to fog we boarded the flight one hour late. Then we were stranded on board the plane for nearly two hours," said Abhishek Roy, a passenger.
"All my fellow passengers were pacing up and down inside the flight. It was completely frustrating!" Roy remarked.
By Arun Kumar,
Washington, March 2 (IANS) The US has praised India's good record on counter-narcotics, but is worried that an alarming increase in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan is helping Taliban terrorists fund attacks on US and NATO forces.
"The Indian government has a good record on this, but it's also a huge country with a very large industry, so to prevent diversion from the legitimate pharmaceutical industry is a challenge," a senior US official said Thursday.
"India, of course, is the only legal producer of opium and we've worked closely with the Indian government. India has a good record, frankly, on counter-narcotics," said assistant secretary of state for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs Anne W. Patterson.
India, she noted, has a very large, legitimate pharmaceutical industry. "We work very closely with them to prevent diversion from that. The Indian government is very committed to that," she said while the US government's 2007 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report.
Of particular worry in Afghanistan is the Taliban's involvement in the drug trade, Patterson said noting that cultivation of the opium poppy there increased by an "alarming" 59 percent, making the 2006 crop the largest on record.
Taliban leaders have publicly linked themselves to poppy cultivation, and drug profits now support elements of the Taliban and fund attacks on US and international troops in Afghanistan. The opium poppy is used to manufacture heroin, she said.
Patterson attributed much of the poppy problem in Afghanistan to the fact that the Afghan government "doesn't have control of [its] territory". Cultivation of opium poppies soared in 2006 in two Afghan provinces, Helmand and Kandahar, "because there is basically a lack of law enforcement and control", she said.
The resurgence of Afghan opium cultivation has increased the flow of heroin to Europe, Russia and the Near East, which "undermines those societies and the consolidation of democracy and security in Afghanistan", the report stated.
Patterson praised neighbouring Iran's role in combating drug trafficking, despite a State Department report characterising the country as a "major transit route for opiates smuggled from Afghanistan", which eventually reach Western markets.
"They are playing a very positive role" in fighting the Afghan opium trade, Patterson said of Iran. "They have been very active along the border" with Afghanistan.
The Iranians view the opium trade as a "major social and law enforcement problem" and have been the "most aggressive" by far of Afghanistan's neighbours in interdicting the Afghan opium crop, said Patterson.
Apart from Afghanistan, the report cited Bolivia and Venezuela as being particular problems in the drug trade.
Turning to terrorist financing, the US official said money laundering had long been "intertwined" with the drug trade. But the global community had become more aware since the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States of "terrorists using underground systems to move money and transfer assets".
Focusing on money laundering "is one of the most valuable tools law enforcement has to combat international crime", the report said.
A focus on money laundering "can accomplish what many other law enforcement tools cannot" in attacking such threats as narcotics trafficking, alien smuggling, intellectual property theft, corruption and terrorism, it said.
Brussels, March 2(IRNA) The European Union (EU) is planning to launch a police mission in Afghanistan in June to reform the police in the Muslim country.
It will consist of 160 police officers deployed in Kabul, the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told an informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Wiesbaden, Germany, on Thursday.
According to a statement released by Solana's office in Brussels, a key element of the mission is in ensuring the extension of the power of the State to a number of Afghanistan's provinces.
The EU mission would work in close cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which has around 33,000 troops under its International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan.
"We are also working hand in hand with the US who are engaged with their own programme for reform of the police in Afghanistan," Solana said.
He added that many non-EU states that were actively contributing to the reform of police in Afghanistan had already indicated that they would be willing to work within the EU police mission.
New Delhi, Mar 2 (IANS) An excess of counter-terrorism laws often rebound, which can prove to be counter-productive and lead to discontent and alienation of communities especially in the South Asian context, a jurists' panel said.
"Instead of isolating terrorist suspects, it (such laws) exacerbates rather than reduces tensions and violence," said Justice Arthur Chaskalson, at the end of a two-day public hearing on the South Asian experience of terrorism and counter-terrorism here Friday.
Chaskalson, the chairperson of the Eminent Jurists Panel, an independent group of eight jurists appointed by the International Commission of Jurists, is currently in India and conducting a global inquiry on the impact of terrorism and counter-terrorism measures on the rule of law and human rights.
In their interaction with civil society, the judiciary and rights activists here, one recurring theme that stood out was that counter-terrorism measures had been misused and abused by the state in what had come to called "state terrorism".
"We are not here to pronounce judgment on how terror laws are being applied on the ground but to understand if there are checks and balances and if they can be tested against international standards," says Chaskalson, who is from South Africa.
"What was also debated was whether there was a need to frame new security laws to combat terrorism and if existing legislation could be strengthened. Some of the participants also felt that adequate intelligence was the key to better security."
While there was consensus that an effective legal framework was required to successfully address the threat of terrorism, it was also felt that this framework had to respect international human rights and humanitarian law.
Despite important safeguards in India's terror laws, participants drew attention to the fact that counter-terrorism laws, such as the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and later the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) had led to serious human rights violations.
The panel members were told that these laws had been applied excessively also in states not affected by terrorism and used in a discriminatory manner primarily against minority communities and members of the lower castes.
"But the Home Minister Shivraj Patil assured us that it was not being unfairly targeted against the minority community," said Chaskalson.
Concerns were also raised about human rights violations committed under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and its far-reaching authority to use force, including the authority to kill, wide arrest powers and impediments to holding military personnel to account for human rights violations.
There was broad consensus among the participants that the recent recommendation of the Review Committee to repeal the legislation should be given effect.
Among those who met up with the panel included Colin Gonsalves of the Human Rights Law Network, Rajinder Sachar former chief justice of the Delhi High Court, senior advocate, Rajeev Dhavan, representatives of the Peoples Union of Civil Liberties and the Uttar Pradesh Human Rights Commission.
The panel heads off for Pakistan Saturday for its next round of hearing and is expected to publish its report by the end of the year.
New Delhi, March 3 (indianmuslims.info) Naib Imam Fatehpuri Mosque Maulana Muazzam Ahmad has welcomed the United Progressive Government’s bid to table in the current budget session of Parliament the Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005, which envisages prevention of communal violence and offences, speedy investigation and dispensation of justice. He called it “a commendable move�.
“Manmohan Singh administration’s decision to present a bill to prevent sectarian strife proves that the UPA government is sincere about the safety and security of minorities, particularly Muslims,� said the deputy imam of the mosque in a statement here Friday.
He added that there had been a pressing need of such a law as could deal with communal elements sternly, punish them, and ensure rehabilitation of the victims. “The said bill, if enacted, will fulfil this need,� he hoped.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) proposes to start feeder buses on 36 routes to provide better connectivity with 27 metro stations across the city.
Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha Friday that CNG (compressed natural gas)-operated mini buses would be introduced to begin with.
The proposal is likely to be finalised in six months.
The minister denied that DMRC is struggling with poor passenger traffic due to inadequate feeder bus services.
Islamabad, March 2 (IANS) Feud persists, despite court orders, over the control of the Mughal-era Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens and other ancient monuments in Punjab, requiring interventions of officials in the culture ministry.
The Federal Archaeology Department (FAD) wants to create an 'independent' body to oversee the upkeep of the monuments, despite a Supreme Court directive in January that control of the monuments be passed on to Punjab Archaeology Department (PAD).
Among the ancient sites is the Katasraj temple complex in Chakwal district that was repaired in time for the Maha Shivratri Hindu festival last month, facilitating the worship of Lord Shiva for the first time since Pakistan's creation 59 years ago.
PAD had carried out the task in consultations with Indian archaeologists after paying a visit to Indian sites and monuments, collecting material for conservation and idols of Hindu deities.
However, Federal Culture Minister G.G. Jamal alleged that PAD has damaged some of the monuments. He wants the entire thing to be probed whether repairs and conservation being carried out is as per Unesco guidelines.
The PAD has retaliated saying the damage was caused when the former was in control and some of it is irreparable.
The Daily Times did not give details of the damage, if any, to the monuments and sites, over 150 of which are to be transferred to the PAD as per a directive issued in June 2001 by President Pervez Musharraf.
Musharraf had said that the control of historical sites would be restored to the provincial governments. The Supreme Court of Pakistan endorsed this. A Transfer of Ownership, Administration and Management notification was also issued on February 23.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Fiji Foreign Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau arrives here Saturday on a four-day visit - the first after a military coup three months back in the South Pacific island that is home to nearly half-a-million strong Indian diaspora.
"It's a courtesy call to renew friendly ties with India. Nailatikau will be coming to thank India for not imposing regulations on trade and travel with Fiji (after the regime change in early December)," a Fiji high commission official said.
Nailatikau, who is interim minister for foreign affairs in Fiji's military regime, is likely to meet External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Monday and discuss a host of bilateral issues, including steps taken by the military dispensation to restore democracy and improve the economic situation of his country.
Nailatikau's visit comes at a time when Fiji is teetering on the verge of an economic disaster and the military-led government is under international pressure to restore democracy.
Neighbouring countries like Australia and New Zealand that host large expatriate Fijian populations have imposed military and limited civilian sanctions against Fiji.
Fiji's multi-party government headed by coup leader Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, popularly known as Frank, also includes Fiji Labour Party (FLP) led by former Indo-Fijian prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry, who is now finance minister in the new dispensation.
In a cautious message following the coup, India had expressed concern saying that it hoped for an early restoration of power to the people.
Indo-Fijians, most of them descendants of people who had come from India in the 19th and early 20th centuries, comprise around 44 percent of the country's total population of around 900,000.
Fiji's military regime has announced its own "roadmap" to hold parliamentary elections in 2010. It proposes to "kick- start" the national economy by restructuring the sugar industry.
London, March 2 (DPA) An indirect attack caused a "large fire" at a British military base in Basra, southern Iraq, the BBC reported Friday.
Quoting a military spokesman at British headquarters in Basra, the report said petrol had been set ablaze after indirect fire hit the base near the Shatt al-Arab Hotel in the centre of the city.
There were no casualties and "no impact whatsoever on operations" during the incident late Thursday, the spokesman said.
Aligarh, March 2 (IANS) Two months ago Aligarh received what can be called a jolt when an FM radio station opened. Now the whole town is on a song -- thanks to an FM mania.
In a town known for its sedate and slow paced life, everyone - roadside tea vendors, small hotels, tempos and almost all homes and students of Aligarh Muslim University -- are hooked on to FM music, the chirpy chats of the RJs who keep tickling listeners' funny bones.
Just when most people thought radio was dead, the medium sprung to life in its new avatar, one that is friendly, intimate and interesting.
Big FM and FM Rainbow are now the toast of the town.
In a highly conservative society like Aligarh's, FM has come as a fresh ray of hope -- and some sort of liberation from the straight jacket.
It is being heard in the rural hinterland with as much passion as in the towns around Aligarh like Sikandra Rau, Atrauli, Iglas, Sadabad, Hathras, Khurja, Bulandshahr, Anoop Nagar, Dibai and Soron.
At railway stations, bus stands, show rooms, dhabas, just everywhere, FM radios blare away programmes by celebrities like Swheta Tiwari, Prerna, Sunil Pal, says producer and programming head of Big FM Yashir Khan.
The day starts with Seher, giving a wake up call with bhajans, Sufi songs or Gurubani. Big Chai gives a kick-start to the day with witty inputs from Yashir Khan while RJ Zainab love packages life with Garam Masala.
A whole lot of interesting programmes keep the audience hooked on to FM round-the-clock. Some programmes of interactive nature involve the locals to express their views, like in "Kehta hai dil".
Electronic goods sale has registered an all time boom, say shopkeepers. After all radio is an affordable and convenient medium of communication. No wonder Aligarhians can be heard chanting punch lines of the FM radio stations: "Suno Sunao, Life Banao".
New Delhi, Feb 2 (IANS) Former cabinet secretary and Indian ambassador to the US Pratap Kishan Kaul was cremated here Friday. He was 77.
Scores of diplomats and bureaucrats, including former ambassador to the US K.S. Bajpai and former Reserve Bank of India governor Bimal Jalan, were at the Lodi Road crematorium here.
Kaul passed away Wednesday evening after a long illness. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
A 1951 batch IAS officer, Kaul had the unique distinction of serving as commerce secretary, defence secretary and finance secretary before taking over as cabinet secretary in his 38-year-long career.
He also served as India's ambassador to the US for three years between 1986 and 1989.
A postgraduate in Economics from Allahabad University, Kaul later obtained masters in public administration from Harvard University.
Following his retirement, Kaul advised several industrial and financial firms on matters relating to corporate planning. In 2005, the government made him head of a high-powered committee to review the functioning of Central Government Health Service (CGHS) and make it more user friendly. He recommended that that the CGHS create specialist posts for augmenting the existing services.
By Azera Rahman,
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) The festival of colours is here. But before you go painting the town red, make sure that your skin and hair don't bear the brunt of the harsh chemicals that abound in those colourful packets and pichkaris.
Rishi Parashar, dermatologist at the Ganga Ram Hospital here, says that colours other than those that are herbal in nature can do more than just harm the skin and hair.
"Different dyes have different oxidized metals which can be very harmful. Black colour for instance has lead oxide that can harm the kidneys and cause renal failure. It can also harm the reproductive system. Pregnant women, especially, must be very careful about it," Parashar told IANS.
Red colour has mercuric sulphide which can cause skin cancer, green has copper sulphate which can cause puffiness of the eyes and can even lead to temporary blindness, purple has chromium oxide which can aggravate asthma and blue has Prussian blue which can cause contact dermatitis.
"It's very important that people know the harmful effects of the artificial colours which they use to celebrate a joyous festival such as Holi. Only then will they take enough precautions," said Aman Verma, another dermatologist.
For protection, simple precautions can be taken.
Beauty expert Blossom Kochhar said that dabbing cold cream or mineral oil, like Baby oil, on all the exposed parts of the body followed by generous application of sunscreen, prior to playing holi, should help the skin.
"If not cold cream, one can also apply foundation on the face and the neck, since it ensures that the colours stick to the coat of foundation and after a good wash, the colours would come off with ease," Kochhar tells IANS.
Alternatively, one can also apply coconut oil on the exposed parts before going out to play. "Coconut oil will form a gentle coat on the skin and will ensure that the colours are not in direct contact with the skin," said Parashar.
For the hair, Kochhar suggests that one should oil one's hair with a mineral oil and then either braid it or clip it up. One can also wear a hat, although that's not always feasible.
Post the colour-riot a good head wash with a shampoo and a conditioner should do the trick of taking off the colour from the hair and the scalp. But for a more effective wash, Kochhar suggests a different concoction.
"Add half a tea spoon of glycerine and half a tea spoon of vinegar to your conditioner for the last rinse after you shampoo. This would ensure that your hair is clean but the bounce and the softness of the hair is not robbed.
"For colour hair, which is more porous that normal hair, I suggest that half a tea spoon of coffee is added to the conditioner for the rinse after shampooing," she said.
And just in case simple soap and water is not enough to wash off the colour from your skin, here's another tip.
"Take some milk powder, a mashed papaya and squeeze half a lemon and make a paste out of it. After applying it all over your face and other parts of your body, wash it off with water. The colour would go," Kochhar says.
"In case of any irritation of the skin, wash the area with plain water and apply calamine lotion. That should soothe the irritation," advises Parashar.
Brussels, march 1(IRNA) Former UN weapons inspector in Iraq, Hans Blix, said Thursday that the US military buildup in the Persian Gulf was to district the attention of the international community from the debacle in Iraq and stressed that the Security Council will not give the green signal for use of force against the Islamic Republic.
"The US buildup is a psychological warfare seeking distraction from the debacle in Iraq," Blix told a conference in Brussels.
Noting that the UNSC will not authorize use of force against the Islamic Republic, Blix said any military action will be a unilateral US act, a violation of the UN charter and lead to horrible consequences.
Blix, chairman of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission, said a dangerous diplomatic game was being played by the EU, the US and the UNSC by demanding that Iran should suspend its program as a condition for talks.
He argued that if nuclear negotiations with North Korea could be held without pre-conditions why not with Iran and urged the US to give security assurances to Iran.
The conference on "the establishment of a nuclear weapon free zone in the Middle East and the role of Belgium in this process," was organized by three peace organizations and held in the Belgian parliament.
Ambassador Werner Bauwens, special envoy for disarmament and non-proliferation in the Belgian foreign ministry , said his country is very actively involved in the debate over Iran's nuclear issue.
Belgium is currently a non-permanent member of the UNSC and also chairs the SC sanctions committee on Iran.
"The solution that we believe is one of negotiations and dialogue and not military action," said Bauwens and urged Iran to accept the offer made on behalf of the 5+1 by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana last year to find a negotiated solution.
Ambassador Friedrich Groening, Commissioner of the German government's arms control and disarmament, stressed that the door for negotiations with Iran remain open and the aim is a diplomatic negotiated resolution.
But he also urged Iran to comply with the UNSC resolution.
Egypt's ambassador to Belgium, Mahmoud Karem Mahmoud, reminded the audience that it was Egypt and Iran which had launched the initiative of a Middle East free of nuclear weapons back in 1974.
He said the Israeli policy of nuclear ambiguity has filled the region with mistrust and said "Israel's nuclear capability has not solved it security predicament."
"It simply serves as a major catalyst for an arms race in the Middle East," said the Egyptian ambassador and noted that the recent US-India nuclear agreement "rewards those states which stay out of NPT."
He called for diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear issue and cited the example of the negotiations with North Korea.
The conference was organized by three peace groups, Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament, Mayors for Peace and Abolition 2000 Belgium.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) He's Islamic by birth, brought up as a Hindu for most of his life and was fascinated by the Ram Lila. But seeing what's happening to Islam around the world, Bollywood's reigning star Shah Rukh Khan says categorically that he "needs to be standing for the goodness of Islam".
Unabashedly stating that he is "truly" an ambassador for Islam, Shah Rukh says his fascination with the Ram Lila hasn't changed. "But as I've grown older, and I see what's happening to Islam around the world, I think it's important that even without full knowledge of Islam, I need to be very clearly standing for the goodness of Islam."
In an interview with the weekly newsmagazine Tehelka, the star who is married to a Hindu and whose children are being brought up by both religions, says he stands for what a modern Muslim should be.
"I'd like people to know that Islam is not only about being a fanatic, or radically different, angered person, or one who only does jehad. I'd like people to know that the actual meaning of jehad is to overcome one's own violence and weakness. If need be, overcome it violently," says Shah Rukh.
In a deeply personal interview that gives a rare insight not only into his identity as a Muslim but also a husband, father, son and brother, Shah Rukh says of his elder sister: "My sister reminds me everyday that I cannot have a life like my father's."
The superstar, who has often spoken of his anguish at his parent's early death - his father when he was 15 and his mother when he was just 25 - speaks at length about his sister who "suffered a lot from their death".
"And I had a sister who was not well at all. Lala. She's much better now, but she'll never be fully well. Beautiful girl - physically and mentally, again an MA, LLB (like his father). But no good. After my father died, she got very shocked. Psychiatry wasn't so big then, it took us about four or five years to find help. Then it took five - six years for her to get very close to her mom, and then her mom died, so she was really shattered.
"Medically termed, she had a potassium imbalance. Physically, she started going very wrong."
By the time she came to Mumbai, she was really unwell, says Shah Rukh. "It took time for me to earn enough - during 'Dilwale Dulhaniya...' I took her to a doctor in London. Now, she's all right. Matlab, she'll never be fully all right, but she's better than what she was. She lives with me."
When he prays, the actor says, the closest he comes to a face are his mother and father - and his dogs! "I love my dog - Chewbacca. Is that blasphemous?"
And for those who have often wondered why Shah Rukh Khan talks so much about his son Aryan and so little of his daughter Suhana, here's the answer: "It's not that I'm not proud of her. In fact, I'm more proud of her in a certain way than even my son perhaps. But I'm shy of women.
"It's very shocking, but even with her friends, I can't play for too long. I think girls should be left on their own. And I've got this thing - I've never seen the inside of my wife's cupboard, or her handbag, or her drawers, or whatever. I've been married since '91, and I can't do it. I think a woman should have a lot of privacy. I'm like that even with my daughter."
He admits that most of his closest friends are women - Farah Khan, Juhi Chawla and Kajol - and most his male friends like Karan Johar are not very macho either.
About his much discussed "asexuality": "Its not asexuality. I'm just shy of women. I wouldn't know how to pick up a lover. If that's the right word to use."
"Sometimes girls say they like me. I don't know what to say, so before she thinks I'm foolish or asexual, I just say something funny. The best way to kill romance is to joke. And, again it's that conservative thing - I can't make the first move..."
Often castigated for dancing in marriages for money, Shah Rukh answers why and how: "I do perform at weddings. But it is very difficult to afford what I demand. You have to do it like a show, it has to be in an area where nobody drinks and eats, it will start at 9 p.m. and end at 11.30 p.m., the stage will be 30 by 40 feet, we will make our entries, we will not chat with anyone, we will not eat your food, we will not take pictures with your daughter or daughter-in-law, unless we personally want to. We will come, perform, and we will go away."
Discussing films, he says he simply that he doesn't watch them. "I get corrupted. When I see a good film and it doesn't do well, or I see a bad film, and it does well, it confuses me. I saw 'Rang De Basanti'. It was very well done. I was supposed to do a part in it. It was lying with me for about a year. I was shocked by the fact that I couldn't read into the script. I just didn't see any of it."
Shah Rukh also admits that he didn't like close friend Aditya Chopra's hit film "Dhoom 2" because it lacked sensibility.
Imphal, March 2 (IANS) Okram Idobi Singh was sworn in as chief minister of Manipur for a second consecutive term Friday.
Governor S.S. Sidhu administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 59-year-old Singh at the Raj Bhavan in capital Imphal. The council of ministers of the Congress government would be named in a couple of days.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which have won four and three seats respectively, are supporting the government and may join it later.
"Accelerating the pace of development and making progress in sectors like agriculture and infrastructure would be the main priorities of our government," the chief minister told journalists after being sworn in.
He termed the electoral verdict a vote for stability and good governance.
Singh is the only chief minister to have given any party a full five-year term in Manipur, a state traditionally known for its political instability. He won two assembly seats - Thoubal and Khangabok.
The Congress party pulled off an emphatic victory winning 30 seats in the 60-member legislature for which results were announced Tuesday.
The Manipur People's Party, the main challenger, received an unexpected drubbing, winning just five seats.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) bagged five seats, independents won 10 and the National People's Party three seats.
The NCP and CPI were allies of the Congress in the last assembly. The Congress on its own had won 20 seats in the 2002 elections although its strength later rose to 35 with the NCP and candidates of a few smaller parties merging with the ruling party.
Port of Spain, March 2 (IANS) South African coach Mickey Arthur has named India as one of the six teams that can go on to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.
"There are six teams in my opinion that can win and they are, of course, South Africa, Australia, West Indies, New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka," reports here quoted Arthur as saying soon after his arrival, along with the South African squad, at the Piarco International Airport here early Thursday.
He said this World Cup is very open and the team that plays better on the day can win the World Cup.
South Africa was the first side to arrive in Trinidad & Tobago for the World Cup. The team will play two warm-up matches against Ireland and Pakistan at the Frank Worrell Oval at the University of West Indies near here.
Once the tournament starts, it will play its preliminary group matches in St. Kitts & Nevis. South Africa is placed in Group A along with Australia, Scotland and the Netherlands.
"It is all about peaking at the right time and I think, for us, things have been going nicely this season," Arthur said "We have shown an upward curve so hopefully our planning is coming to fruition."
Meanwhile, South African captain Graeme Smith said that he does not read much into the fact that his team is now rated number one in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) ratings.
"I don't really read much into these things, of course it is nice to be rated the number one team, but I concentrate more on delivering on the field of play," the Guardian report quoted him as saying.
"I am hoping to have a good World Cup and together with the other senior players, I will be looking to do my part in order to make my team successful," he said.
Smith described his side as having a good bowling attack.
"...We have got a lot of variation so I think we back ourselves pretty well and I think this will be the key with the wickets not being tested and the team that adapts best will be able to get the most of it," he said.
By Manish Chand,
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) India has made a formal request to the Argentine authorities for extradition of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, wanted for his alleged involvement in the Bofors bribery scandal, and agreed to help Buenos Aires on a "reciprocal basis" in a similar situation.
"It was a very simple, formal affair. We have made a formal request for extraditing Quattrocchi and given relevant documents," India's ambassador to Argentina P. Rath told IANS over the phone Friday.
Rath filed the extradition request with the Argentine foreign office in Buenos Aires Thursday and handed over the documents, translated into Spanish, which were given to him by a two-member team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) now camping in Argentina.
"We will check again with the Argentine authorities next week whether the documents are in order or not," the envoy said.
Quattrocchi, who has been accused by the CBI of receiving millions of dollars in commissions for helping to fix the $2.1 billion gun deal, was detained on Feb 6 near the picturesque Iguazu Falls in Argentina's Misiones province where he was holidaying with his wife.
He was later released on bail on Feb 23, but his passport was impounded to prevent him from leaving Argentina.
Rath said the absence of an extradition treaty between India and Argentina should not come in the way of Quattrocchi's extradition as there are provisions in the Argentine law to take care of such situations.
"There are some provisions in the Argentine law which allow for the extradition of a person wanted in another country if that country agrees to help Argentina on a reciprocal manner in a similar situation," he said.
"We have told them we will help Argentina if a man wanted by that country is arrested in India," Rath said.
"We have taken the first step. Let's see how it goes," the envoy replied when asked whether he was confident about Quattrocchi's extradition to India. The Argentine law will take its own course, he added.
"The Argentine foreign office has assured us that the case will be dealt with in a strictly legal manner," Rath added.
According to Argentine law, the Indian authorities have to submit an extradition request along with relevant documentation within 30 days of the arrest of a person sought to be extradited. India has submitted its request a few days before the March 5 deadline.
The CBI will choose an Argentine lawyer among a panel of legal eagles lined up by the Indian mission in Buenos Aires to argue for Quattrocchi's extradition.
Under attack by a strident opposition, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured parliament that the CBI will be given full freedom to facilitate extradition of Quattrocchi, known once for his proximity to then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and his Italian-born wife Sonia Gandhi who currently heads the ruling coalition.
Kingston, Feb 2 (IANS) The Indian cricket team for this month's World Cup arrived here early Friday morning.
The 15-member squad, led by Rahul Dravid, had left Mumbai by a British Airways flight early Wednesday.
The team will play two warm-up matches, against the Netherlands and the West Indies, at the Greenfields Stadium in Montego Bay, Jamaica, March 6 and 9, before the opening ceremony at the same venue March 11.
India, winners of the 1983 World Cup, start their World Cup campaign with a Group B match against Bangladesh at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, March 17.
The other teams in this group are 1996 champions Sri Lanka and first timers Bermuda.
In all, 16 nations, divided into four pools, are taking part. The final match will be played April 28 at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Two top teams each from the four pools advance to Super Six, or quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and the final.
New Delhi, March 2 (Indianmuslims.info) Islamic Fiqh Academy is all set to hold an international fiqh seminar at Azamgarh from March 30 to April 2. The seminar will commence in the night of March 30 and conclude with public address in the night of April 2.
Making an announcement to this effect here Thursday, the Academy’s general secretary Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani said over 200 ulema, muftis and Islamic jurisprudents from home and abroad are expected to participate in the seminar.
One of the most representative fiqh institutions in the Indian subcontinent, Islamic Fiqh Academy has discussed and presented amicable solutions to more than 70 issues confronting the Muslims in the modern day since its inception in 1989.
Some of the issues the Academy has settled are about Islamic precepts and Shariah while some others are about social life, economics, medical ethics, organ transplantation, Aids, cloning, use of gelatine and alcohol, etc. The Academy has also rendered its services to introduce interest-free banking.
Srinagar, March 2 (IANS) With the weather improving in Kashmir, authorities here are confident that the strategic Jammu-Srinagar highway would be thrown open for traffic tomorrow.
"Even yesterday 40 trucks carrying supplies crossed the Panthal road stretch and they have reached the Kashmir Valley. Today too we expect another convoy of trucks carrying essential supplies to reach here," Basharat Ahmad Dhar, Kashmir divisional commissioner told IANS here.
"I have been assured by the chief engineer of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) if the weather behaves, as it is doing right now, the road would be formally opened for traffic tomorrow," Dhar added.
Due to a stretch of the road slipping away at Panthal near Ramban in the Jammu region, the highway has remained closed for nine days.
Though there is no immediate shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG in the Valley, mutton, poultry products and vegetables have completely disappeared from the markets here.
"Mutton sellers are charging anything between Rs. 230 and Rs. 250 per kilogram and poultry is available only in the black market," said Abdul Salam, 49, a resident of Srinagar city.
Reports from all other major cities and towns said that mutton, poultry and vegetable shops remained closed for the third consecutive day Friday.
The Valley is totally dependent for its supplies on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force (IAF) continued its sorties to airlift stranded passengers between Jammu and Srinagar for the third day today.
The IAF aircraft are transporting passengers free of cost. They were pressed into service after state Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Ranchi, March 2 (IANS) The Jharkhand assembly Friday witnessed uproarious scenes over the seating of two Forward Bloc legislators - one was given a seat in the treasury benches and the other in the opposition.
The Forward Bloc had in February withdrawn support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government headed by Madhu Koda, but one of its two legislators, Bhanu Pratap Sahi, continues as minister in the government against the wishes of his party.
On Thursday, the party had written to Speaker Aalamgir Aalam and Governor Syed Sibte Razi to allot their two legislators seats only in the opposition benches.
Bhanu Pratap Sahi claimed himself as an Independent legislator but the Election Commission issued him a certificate as a Forward Bloc MLA after he won the assembly election in 2005.
When the house assembled Friday after the governor's speech, the Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist (CPI-ML) legislator Vinod Kumar Singh raised the sitting arrangement issue.
Former chief minister and leader of opposition Arjun Munda said: "You (speaker) should allot seats to both the Forward Bloc legislators on the opposition side."
Replying to a question of an NDA member, the speaker said: "There is a system in a democratic set up. Since Bhanu Pratap is a minister, he has been allotted a seat in the treasury benches while the second legislator of the party has been allocated a seat with the opposition."
He went on: "As far as the membership and other issues are concerned, my court will take it up. Such issues cannot be discussed in the house."
The Koda government has a razor-thin majority in the 82-member house. The UPA government enjoys the support of 42 legislators, including the speaker and disputed legislator Bhanu Pratap Sahi.
The NDA is seeking to use the issue to topple the government on the floor of the house. The budget session of the Jharkhand assembly began Friday.
Patna, March 2 (Indianmuslims.info) Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Bihar Qamarul Huda has severely criticised the provocative speeches made by Praveen Togadia, Mahendra Sharan Das and Vinod Yadav in a public meeting organised on February 26 by Vishwa Hindu Parishad at Town Hall, Hajipur.
In a statement released here Thursday, Mr Huda said the VHP leaders were trying to create an atmosphere of hatred among Hindus and Muslims in Bihar.
“Their provocations have hurt the sentiments of Muslims,� he added.
Citing Togadia’s diatribe: ‘As only Christians (Angrez) live in England and Germany, similarly only Hindus will live in India,’ Mr Huda said, “Such statements are a blot on the face of democracy that we are. They are a great challenge to the champions of democracy in the country.�
On Togadia’s invective about the madrasas in North India that ‘visits of Jehadi people there are increasing; and if they are not stopped, Bihar too will become a Pakistan,’ Mr Huda said it is mere allegation which has no leg to stand.
Reacting to such inflammatory statements made by VHP leaders, the Jamaat leader said, “Such citizens of the country create Hindu-Muslim communal violence in the country. There is urgent need to bridle them with due course of law.�
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Corporate India's overseas foray for setting up large units in the steel space has added another feather with Jindal Steel and Power signing a pact with Bolivia for a $2.1-billion steel unit in the country.
The unit has been proposed in El Multan, which the company says, has one of the world's largest iron ore reserves estimated at 40 billion tonnes of medium-grade quality. The location is in the country's southeast near the Brazilian border.
"A definitive contract would be signed with the Bolivian government within 45 days," Jindal Steel, a part of the Rs.20 billion ($435 million) organisation, said in a statement Friday.
"Bolivia, a major natural gas producer, has agred to sell Jindal natural gas at $3.91 per million British thermal unit for steel making, which represents 70 percent of the project's power needs," the statement added.
In addition, Jindals will only pay $1.955 per million British thermal unit for the gas for power generation, which will represent 30 percent of the need.
The Indian steel major had set its eyes on the proposed project in June 2006 and had then emerged as the sole company that met the qualifying criteria set by the Bolivian government to exploit 50 percent of El Multan reserves, officials said.
Jindals will be investing the amount over eight years in creating the integrated steel unit that will have a capacity to manufacture 1.7 million tonnes of long products and 6 million tonnes of reduced, sponge iron.
The unit will also have a capacity to produce 10 million tonnes of pellets. A supporting infrastructure for producing 450 megawatt of electricity would also be created, officials said.
"The project will allow Bolivia to develop a steel-making industry for the first time and is the biggest investment in a single project in Bolivian history," the company statement said.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will offer midday prayers Friday at the historic Fatehpuri mosque, one of the country's biggest and located opposite the Red Fort monument in the city's old quarter.
The president will reach the mosque at 1.30 p.m. for the 'Jumme ki namaz' that will begin five minutes later, Naib Shahi Imam Maulana Moulvi Mohammed Mouazzam, who will preside over the prayer meeting, told IANS.
Also in attendance will be an estimated 5,000 Muslims, the normal gathering at midday Fridays in the sprawling mosque built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan but which is not as well known as the nearby Jama Masjid. Among Muslims, however, the Fatehpuri mosque commands great respect owing to what the Imam said was its "spiritual loftiness".
President Kalam, a devout secular Muslim, will take part in the namaz that will last about 15 minutes and leave the mosque around 2 p.m. "after probably having a cup of tea with us", the Imam said.
Some of the locals had wanted to meet Kalam and submit memorandum related to Muslim affairs, but the Imam said he dissuaded them from doing so "since the president is coming for a religious affair".
"He is the president of India and it is a honour for us to receive him," the mam said. "He should not be troubled on this occasion by purely Muslim issues."
Asked why Kalam had chosen the Fatehpuri mosque to pray, the Imam said: "The president is deeply into spiritual affairs. He is devoted to Sufiism. He has discussed with us religion and Sufi thoughts many times. So he chose to come."
The Fatehpuri mosque also houses one of the biggest Islamic seminaries in the Indian capital. Besides facing the mammoth Red Fort monument, it is ringed on all sides by narrow lanes chock a block with shops including those of Khari Boli, one of the biggest wholesale markets of Delhi.
Although built with great care, the Fatehpuri mosque is not as popular in tourist circles as the nearby and more imposing Jama Masjid, which too was built by Shah Jahan.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 2 (IANS) Reading out V.S.Achuthanandan government's policies for the year, Kerala Governor R. L. Bhatia said the state would focus on sectors like agriculture, tourism and information technology (IT) and encourage investments by non-resident Keralites (NRKs) in the state.
"The year 2007-08 will be declared as 'Harithavarsham', the year of agriculture and farmers," said Bhatia in his address to the Kerala Assembly, Friday.
"A programme to produce 15 lakh (1.5 million) tonnes of vegetables will be launched to make the state self-sufficient. Organic farming will be encouraged and the technical know-how for this will be transferred. Some 100 bio-villages will be started, with emphasis on organic farming," added Bhatia.
Bhatia also said the government would begin activities to take IT to greater heights: "A Technocity will be developed on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram. This will be a self-contained IT township. IT parks will be established in all district headquarters and in select locations. The government will create two lakh new jobs in the next five years in this sector," said Bhatia.
He also said the government would begin steps to promote investment opportunities for NRK's through proper planning.
"Wayanad district will be made a major centre of milk production and milk products by establishing a joint venture project with NRI participation," said Bhatia.
The government has also decided to promote responsible tourism in a big way. "A year-long road map will be prepared to see that all stakeholders are brought into the framework of responsibility and the benefits of tourism shared by the local community," said Bhatia.
However, the opposition dismissed the address as a dull and dreary one, which had addressed no real issues.
"The governor's address ends with him saying that the first Kerala government (1957) of E.M.S. Namboothiripad would be the model for them. If that is to happen, it will do the state no good," said leader of opposition Oommen Chandy to reporters here.
Seoul, March 2 (DPA) North and South Korea agreed to resume reunion of separated families and the construction of a family reunion centre during high-level ministerial talks in Pyongyang Friday.
Initially, video reunions will start this month for families separated by the border and by early May face-to-face reunions will take place.
The reunions were put on hold in July, when North Korea conducted missile tests.
The agreements were to be released in a joint statement at the conclusion of the four-day ministerial meeting between North and South Korea Friday - the first in last seven months.
Still to be discussed, according to the Unification Ministry in Seoul, is the resumption of rice and fertilizer aid, which was also suspended since the July missile tests.
The new round of the inter-Korean ministerial discussions was initiated after North Korea agreed in Beijing Feb 15 to take steps towards dismantling its nuclear weapons programme in exchange for energy and other economic aid from South Korea, the US, China, Japan and Russia.
London, March 1(IRNA) A cross-party parliament committee Thursday called on the British government to put more money into defense research.
Britain's future defense capabilities could suffer if investment in defense research is not increased, the House of Commons Defence Select Committee warned in a report examining the work of the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).
Although operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, which so far have cost nearly Pnds 6 billion (Dlrs 11.5 bn) took priority, the Defense Ministry should not cut long-term research funding, the report said.
It urged ministers to use the government's comprehensive spending review this summer to bring Britain up to international competitors' levels or risk losing the "fighting edge" of its armed forces.
The MPs pointed out that the UK's Pnds 2.64 billion (Dlrs 5 bn) annual defense research budget was just a fraction of the US's Pnds 23 bn spent by the US and warned that the gap is widening.
Britain spends only 9 per cent of the defense budget on research, equivalent to just 0.18 per cent of country's GDP, in contrast to 16 per cent and 0.46 per cent of GDP spent by the US.
"The government's own analysis has shown that military advantage depends on the research and development investment made over the previous 25 years," committee chairman James Arbuthnot said.
Arbuthnot maintained that the UK's defense research, including the independent scientific and technological services provided by DSTL, is currently amongst the best in the world, but warned that this was at risk.
"If the UK continues to fall behind other countries in defense research spending, our armed forces will lose their capability advantage and fighting edge," he said.
Patna, March 2 (IANS) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, euphoric over his record-surplus budget, will celebrate his trademark 'kapdaphad' (cloth-tearing) Holi, dancing to drum beats and Bhojpuri songs, in the state capital.
"After presenting my dream Railway Budget, which has shown up a profit of Rs. 200 billion, I'm now in a mood to celebrate Holi in my very own style. It's going to be kapdaphad Holi for me once more," said Lalu while speaking to IANS here Friday.
Beaming with pleasure, Lalu said that as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and millions of people had praised his Railway Budget across India, he was ready to celebrate the festival of colours in a big way like earlier times.
Holi had been a low-key affair for Lalu in the last few years.
The railway minister planned to stay on at 10 Circular Road, the official residence of his wife Rabri Devi, former Bihar chief minister and leader of the opposition in the state assembly, till Holi.
Sources at Rabri Devi's official residence said Lalu had given instructions for a grand party. "There will be different herbal colours, thandai, bhang and sweets."
Lalu is known for tearing off clothes of his party leaders including ministers, officials and people who visit him on Holi day.
During their 15 years rule in Bihar, Lalu-Rabri would host a big Holi party every year except the year Lalu was in jail on charges of his involvement in the multi-million rupees fodder scam in the late 90s.
Alternately, the present Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will celebrate Holi in a simple and low-key fashion.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) The Lok Sabha was adjourned for half an hour Friday after Samajwadi Party members disrupted proceedings protesting the Supreme Court order initiating a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.
After the house met, Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav sought to suspend the question hour and discuss the "political conspiracy" against Mulayam Singh.
"There has been a political conspiracy to falsely implicate Mulayam Singh Yadav," he said.
The apex court had Thursday directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry into the allegations of assets the chief minister had disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Although Speaker Somnath Chatterjee asked him to raise the matter at 12 noon, his party colleagues gathered near the speaker's podium raising slogans like "Congress ki jhooti saazish nahi chalegi (The conspiracy by the Congress will not work)".
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said the issue had nothing to do with the government and that the Supreme Court order was on the basis of a public interest litigation (PIL).
As Samajwadi Party members paid no heed to the speaker's request, Chatterjee adjourned the house for half an hour at 11.05 a.m.
LONDON, March 2 (NNN-KUNA) -- A major British children's charity has pulled out of Iraq, blaming the deteriorating security situation, it was announced here Thursday.
"Save the Children UK" closed its offices in Erbil, in northern Iraq, Wednesday, after operating in the country for 15 years.
The charity said in a statement the ongoing insurgency had made its work increasingly difficult and the decision to leave was taken "with great regret."
It will continue to support Iraqi groups that help the country's children, 8 per cent of whom are believed to suffer from acute malnutrition.
Save the Children said: "The decision is linked to the deteriorating security situation in significant areas of the country including the capital Baghdad, which makes it increasingly difficult for our work to make a significant impact on the lives of children."
"Save the Children UK made the decision to withdraw from Iraq after much deliberation and with great regret.
"We are however confident that after 15 years we are leaving behind a strong legacy that will continue to benefit Iraqi children and their families, " the statement added.
The charity said it always kept its options open to work anywhere in the world where it could help poor and marginalised children, but had no current plans to return to Iraq.
Another major British charity "Christian Aid" said it was sorry to see Save the Children leave.
Oliver Burch, Christian Aid's Iraq programme manager, said: "The security situation is not good with considerable risks for Iraqis and even more for internationals trying to implement projects.
"The failure of international forces to respect the neutrality of aid work has done much to increase the risk.
"Christian Aid staff do not now travel to Iraq but continue to work through and fund Iraqi organisations, as we do all over the world, and we are tremendously impressed with the achievements of our Iraqi colleagues," Burch added.
Imphal, March 2 (IANS) A Congress party led coalition in Manipur, headed by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, is to be sworn-in for the second straight term Friday, officials said.
A government spokesperson said Manipur Governor S.S. Sidhu would administer the oath of office and secrecy to the 59-year-old chief minister at a simple function around 1 p.m. at the Raj Bhavan here.
"Only the chief minister would probably be sworn in. The council of ministers would take oath on a later date," a senior Congress leader said.
The Congress party pulled off an emphatic victory for the second successive term, winning 30 seats in the 60-member legislature for which results were announced Tuesday.
The Manipur People's Party that emerged as the main challenger received a shocking drubbing, winning just five seats.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) bagged five seats, independents won 10, Communist Party of India (CPI) got four and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the National People's Party won three seats each.
The RJD and the CPI have given written commitments to the governor to support the Congress party. "Technically speaking, we have now 37 legislatures with us and many others like the NCP and independents willing to support us," the Congress leader said.
The NCP and CPI were allies of the Congress in the last assembly. The Congress on its own had won 20 seats in the 2002 elections although its strength later rose to 35 with the NCP and candidates of a few smaller parties merging with the ruling party.
NEW DELHI, March 2 (NNN-APP) -- A meeting of anti-terror mechanism will be held in Islamabad on March 6, to discuss sharing of information on terrorist acts and other related matters between Pakistan and India.
Talking to APP, Afrasiab, Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan here on Thursday said the High Commission is in constant touch with Indian Ministry of External Affairs in this connection.
When questioned about sharing of information with Pakistan by India on firebombing of Samjhauta Express, he said Indian External Affairs Minister Parnab Mukherjee and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have promised to share information on the tragic terrorist attack in which 68 persons were killed.
According to sources, another meeting on composite dialogue will be held in Islamabad on March 13-14, where eight subjects on composite dialogue will be discussed. -- NNN-APP
New Delhi, March 2 (Indianmuslims.info) Shia Akademy of India, in a meeting of its management committee held here Thursday with Syed Mahmood Naqvi in the chair, announced the names of Professor Nayyar Masood, Professor Gopi Chand Narang and Dr Taqi Abdi as winners of Anees-o-Dabeer Award for 2003, 2005 and 2007 respectively for their invaluable services to Rathai Adab.
Besides, the Akademy also announced the names of Khaja Hasan Thani Nizami, Dr Dharmendra Nath, Qamar Ahmad (Joint Commissioner, Delhi) and famous drama artist and director Aamir Raza Hussain as recipients of Nishan-e-Azmat for their distinguished services to literature and society.
The Akademy decided to confer such awards and honours every two years.
These awards and honours will be conferred in a programme at Imamia Hall here at 6 p.m. on March 6.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) The Indian parliament was closed Friday for a three-day holiday after a week in session in which both the railway and the union budgets for 2007-2008 were presented, but little other business could be conducted due to acrimonious exchanges and stalling of house proceedings.
Both the Lok Sabha (lower house) and the Rajya Sabha (upper house) could not take up a single issue for debate.
While announcing a break for Holi, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee expressed his displeasure over the functioning of parliament. The MPs wanted Monday off too, to celebrate the festival of colours, which falls on Sunday.
"How can I say (Holi) mubarak (greetings) without doing any work. The greetings are worth it only if work is done here," he told the MPs, who wished him a happy Holi.
Both houses of parliament were stalled Friday too after Samajwadi Party members disrupted proceedings protesting the Supreme Court order initiating a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.
While the Samajwadi Party MPs were shouting "Congress ki jhooti saazish nahi chalegi (The conspiracy by the Congress will not work)", the ruling Congress MPs reacted with "Remove Mulayam and save Uttar Pradesh".
The slogan shouting forced Chatterjee to adjourn the house thrice, third time till Tuesday.
Both houses have been witnessing similar scenes since Monday, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led opposition created an unprecedented pandemonium during the budget speech of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad.
The opposition was upset over the delay in seeking extradition of Ottavio Quattrocchi, the Italian businessman accused in the Bofors payoff scandal. The chaos over the Quattrocchi issue continued the entire week, except on the day the union budget was presented.
Although Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's assurance that his government had done "no wrong" and wanted the law of the land to go its way on Quattrocchi for his alleged role in the Bofors payoff scandal ended the impasse Thursday for some time, the Samajwadi Party members did not allow any business to be transacted Friday.
As he was adjourning the house for the day, Chatterjee said: "Let me express my great agony. The house is not functioning day after day. People are criticising us.... I again appeal to all sides to extend their cooperation."
The country loses nearly Rs. 20,000 per minute when politicians stall proceedings in parliament.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Days after the government announced a duty cut on transport fuels in the union budget 2007-08, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora Friday clarified that there were no plans to cut retail prices of petrol and diesel.
"There is no such proposal before the ministry at the moment," Deora said on the sidelines of an event to sign production-sharing contracts for 52 hydrocarbon blocks awarded under the last round of exploration licensing policy.
The contracts were signed between the government and the consortiums, including those led by Oil and Natural Gas Corp, the Essars, Reliance Industries, British Gas, Cairn Energy, Geoglobal of Barbados and Oil India Ltd., which won the bids.
"The sixth round under the new exploration licensing policy will lead India into joining the league of nations which will have one of the most extensive deep water exploration programmes," Deora said.
He said under the sixth round, bids were received for 21 deepwater blocks and for all the 12 land blocks - the highest ever. Between 2000 and 2006, under the previous five rounds, a total of 110 contracts had been signed.
This had resulted in 32 discoveries of oil and gas and 400 million tonnes of oil and equivalent of gas. "Today the contribution of private, joint venture firms to India's oil and gas is a healthy 18 percent," the minister said.
India imports close to 70 percent of its crude oil need and the government is keen on encouraging new discoveries to ensure energy security.
Dubai, Feb 2 (IANS) No Indian umpire will officiate in the first round matches of the World Cup, and most probably in the entire tournament beginning March 11, as per the appointments announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) here Friday.
India has three umpires - Amish Saheba, Suresh Shastri, G.A. Pratapkumar - on the International Panel (IP), the second-rung of the three tiers, they have not been considered to officiate in any of the 24 first round matches that start March 13.
The closest an Indian has come to being appointed is Shastri, who has been named one of the three reserves for the first-round matches. The others are Nigel Short of England and Russell Tiffin of Zimbabwe.
ICC also announced that seven of its match referees will officiate, the only man missing out is former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, who is now host's team manager.
Former Test fast bowler Javagal Srinath is the only Indian in this panel.
The others are: Chris Broad (England), Jeff Crowe (New Zealand), Alan Hurst (Australia), Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka), Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka) and Mike Procter (South Africa).
In all, 16 umpires, including nine officials from the ICC Elite Panel, the apex tier, and seven members of the International Panel have been picked to officiate.
Australia's Simon Taufel, named three successive times as the best umpire, leads those umpires who will officiate. The other are: Mark Benson (England), Brent 'Billy' Bowden (New Zealand), Steve Bucknor (West Indies), Aleem Dar (Pakistan), Steve Davis (IP/Australia), Billy Doctrove (West Indies), Ian Gould (IP/England), Daryl Harper (Australia), Tony Hill (New Zealand), Ian Howell (South Africa), Brian Jerling (IP/South Africa), Rudi Koertzen (South Africa), Peter Parker (IP/Australia), Asad Rauf (Pakistan) and Asoka de Silva (IP/Sri Lanka).
The umpiring team is vastly experienced and it includes five men - Koertzen, Bucknor, Harper, Taufel and Bowden - who have each stood in more than 100 one-day internationals.
The three group matches Koertzen is due to stand in will take him to 166 matches, just six short of David Shepherd's mark for most umpired. Shepherd and Bucknor have stood together in the 1996, 1999 and 2003 World Cup finals.
Bucknor, who will be standing in his fifth World Cup, will read the officials' oath on behalf of all umpires and match referees at the opening ceremony in his native Jamaica March 11, said ICC.
Each umpire will also stand in two warm-up matches, starting Monday. The warm-up matches do not have ODI status and will not have match referees.
After the warm-up matches, the umpires and referees will attend the opening ceremony in Montego Bay March 11. But before that they will take part in a two-day training and preparation workshop on March 10 and 11.
Appointments for the Super Eight, the second round, and semi-finals and final will be announced later.
The umpires and referees will be divided into four teams for the group matches. They are:
Team A for Group A (in St Kitts and Nevis, involving Australia, the Netherlands, Scotland and South Africa): referees Madugalle and Srinath; umpires Bucknor, Benson, Hill and de Silva.
Team B for Group B (in Trinidad and Tobago involving Bangladesh, Bermuda, India and Sri Lanka): referees Crowe and Hurst; umpires Dar, Harper, Howell and Davis.
Team C for Group C (in Saint Lucia, involving Canada, England, Kenya and New Zealand): referee Procter; and umpires Doctrove, Koertzen, Parker and Rauf. Crowe will share the duties with Procter in Group C due to Lloyd's absence.
Team D for Group D (in Jamaica, that includes Ireland, Pakistan, West Indies and Zimbabwe): referees Broad and Mahanama; umpires Bowden, Jerling, Gould and Taufel.
Appointments for the group matches are:
* 13 March, West Indies v Pakistan, Sabina Park, Jamaica - referee Broad, on-field umpires Bowden and Taufel, third umpire Jerling, fourth umpire Gould
* 14 March, Australia v Scotland, St Kitts and Nevis - referee Srinath, on-field umpires Bucknor and de Silva, third umpire Hill, fourth umpire Benson
* 14 March, Kenya v Canada, St Lucia - referee Procter, on-field umpires Rauf and Parker, third umpire Doctrove, fourth umpire Koertzen
* 15 March, Sri Lanka v Bermuda, Queen's Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, - referee Crowe, on-field umpires Harper and Howell, third umpire Dar, fourth umpire Davis
* 15 March, Zimbabwe v Ireland, Sabina Park - referee Mahanama, on-field umpires Gould and Jerling, third umpire Bowden, fourth umpire Taufel
* 16 March, South Africa v the Netherlands, St Kitts and Nevis - referee Madugalle, on-field umpires Benson and Hill, third umpire Bucknor, fourth umpire De Silva
* 16 March, England v New Zealand, St Lucia - referee Procter, on-field umpires Koertzen and Rauf, third umpire Parker, fourth umpire Doctrove
* 17 March, India v Bangladesh, Queen's Park Oval - referee Hurst, on-field umpires Dar and Davis, third umpire Howell, fourth umpire Harper
* 17 March, Pakistan v Ireland, Sabina Park - referee Broad, on-field umpires Jerling and Bowden, third umpire Taufel, fourth umpire Gould
* 18 March, Australia v the Netherlands - referee Srinath, on-field umpires Bucknor and Hill, third umpire de Silva, fourth umpire Benson
* 18 March, England v Canada, St Lucia - referee Crowe, on-field umpires Parker and Doctrove, third umpire Rauf, fourth umpire Koertzen
* 19 March, India v Bermuda, Queen's Park Oval - referee Hurst, on-field umpires Dar and Howell, third umpire Harper, fourth umpire Davis
* 19 March, West Indies v Zimbabwe, Sabina Park - referee Mahanama, on-field umpires Taufel and Gould, third umpire Bowden, fourth umpire Jerling
* 20 March, South Africa v Scotland, St Kitts and Nevis - referee Madugalle, on-field umpires de Silva and Benson, third umpire Bucknor, fourth umpire Hill
* 20 March, New Zealand v Kenya, St Lucia - referee Procter, on-field umpires Doctrove and Koertzen, third umpire Parker, fourth umpire Rauf
* 21 March, Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, Queen's Park Oval - referee Crowe, on-field umpires Davis and Harper, third umpire Howell, fourth umpire Dar
* 21 March, Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Sabina Park - referee Broad, on-field umpires Jerling and Taufel, third umpire Gould, fourth umpire Bowden
* 22 March, Scotland v the Netherlands, St Kitts and Nevis - referee Srinath, on-field umpires Hill and de Silva, third umpire Benson, fourth umpire Bucknor
* 22 March, New Zealand v Canada, St Lucia - referee Procter, on-field umpires Doctrove and Rauf, third umpire Koertzen, fourth umpire Parker
* 23 March, India v Sri Lanka, Queen's Park Oval - referee Crowe, on-field umpires Dar and Harper, third umpire Davis, fourth umpire Howell
* 23 March, West Indies v Ireland, Sabina Park - referee Mahanama, on-field umpires Bowden and Gould, third umpire Jerling, fourth umpire Taufel
* 24 March, Australia v South Africa, St Kitts and Nevis - referee Madugalle, on-field umpires Bucknor and Benson, third umpire Hill, fourth umpire De Silva
* 24 March, England v Kenya, St Lucia - referee Procter, on-field umpires Koertzen and Parker, third umpire Doctrove, fourth umpire Rauf
* 25 March, Bermuda v Bangladesh, Queen's Park Oval - referee Hurst, on-field umpires Davis and Howell, third umpire Dar, fourth umpire Harper
Warm-up matches:
* March 5: West Indies v Kenya, Greenfields Stadium, Trelawny - Bowden and Jerling; England v Bermuda, Arnos Vale, St Vincent - Koertzen and Hill; South Africa v Ireland, Frank Worrell Ground, St Augustine, Trinidad - Dar and Parker; Sri Lanka v Scotland, Three Ws Oval, Barbados - Simon Taufel and Ian Howell
* March 6: India v Netherlands, Trelawny - Bucknor and De Silva; Australia v Zimbabwe, St Vincent - Rauf and Doctrove; Pakistan v Canada, Frank Worrell Ground - Harper and Gould; New Zealand v Bangladesh, Three Ws Oval, Barbados - Benson and Davis
* 8 March: Kenya v Netherlands, Trelawny - Bucknor and Bowden; Zimbabwe v Bermuda, Arnos Vale - Koertzen and Rauf; Ireland v Canada, Frank Worrell Ground, St Augustine - Dar and Harper; Scotland v Bangladesh, Three Ws Oval - Taufel and Benson
* 9 March: India v West Indies, Trelawny - Jerling and de Silva; Australia v England, Arnos Vale - Hill and Norman Malcolm (West Indies); Pakistan v South Africa, Frank Worrell Ground - Parker and Gould; New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Three Ws Oval - Davis and Howell
Syed Ali Mujtaba
Chennai, March 2 (IndianMuslims.info) "There is no relief for the Muslims in the Union budget 2007." These were the words of President of All India Muslim Education society, Bashiruddin Babu Khan, when IndianMuslims.info approched him to get his reactions.
"Even after the findings of the Sachar Commitee that has put the status of the Muslim community on par with the schedule caste, Mr Chidambram did not care how the concerns of the Muslim community could be met," Khan said.
Given the magnitude of the developmental work for the upliftment of the community as outlined in the 15 point programme of the Sachar Committe, the allocation of the Rs.63 crore for the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation, in the Union budget is pittence, the AIMES president said.
Drwaing parallel with Andhra Pradesh, Mr Khan observe that the YSR government in AP has increased the budgetry allocation for Muslim minorities from Rs 69 crore last year to 123 crore for 2007-8 for self employment, poverty alleviation and scholarship schemes.
If we compare the hike with Mr Chidambram's hike from Rs.16.47 to Rs.63 crore for the wealfare of India's largest mibority community the double standards come out in the open, Khan said.
"I am not saying this, make the comparision yourself and draw out your own conclusions," he said very emotionally.
The AIMES president said, he had submitted a list of demands to the Tamil Nadu government's Backward Classes department seeking more budgetry allowances for the Muslims.
He alleged that sucessive governments in Tamil Nadu have ignored the Muslim community and the government schemes have remained inaccessible to them.
"We have demanded that the Tamil Nadu government consitute a seperate department for the welfare of the Muslims to ensure that education and employment opportunities reach them," Khan said.
The AIMES is planning to hold a symposium in Chennai on PM's 15 point programme and Sachar Committe's recomendations for the welfare of the minorities on March 11, he concluded.
Port of Spain, March 2 (IANS) A team from India's National Security Guards (NSG) is here to help the Caricom Operational Planning and Co-ordination Staff (COPACS) in providing security for the Indian cricket team at the World Cup starting this month.
The NSG team will be stationed at World Cup venues where India will be playing, according to reports here.
Speaking to the Trinidad Express, NSG's Col. Harjeet S. Pathania said that all cricket venues would be inspected before the start of matches and declared safe for patrons.
India will play all its preliminary group matches at the Queen's Park Oval here. Prior to that it will also play a couple of warm-up matches at the Trelawny Stadium in Jamaica.
In the interview to the Express, Pathania said that Trinidad & Tobago was ready for the World Cup and promised that just in case anyone plans to bring trouble, "we will resolve it".
If explosives are found during the event, NSG has the equipment to diffuse them from a distance, he said.
Describing local lawmen as professionals who would do their jobs in a wonderful way, he said that the current series of meetings with COPACS is to go into specifics, such as a plan of action detailing who will do what in case there is an incident.
The area around the Queen's Park Oval would be blocked off during the duration of the matches.
The World Cup is being seen as a potential target for terrorists, and India, England, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka are key security risks.
According to the newspaper, 29 potential troublemakers have been identified and prevented from entering the region.
Pathania said that he would ensure that no stone is left unturned as far as security for the Indian team is concerned before he leaves for India Thursday.
Islamabad, March 2 (DPA) Pakistani authorities have arrested a deputy to Taliban insurgent chief Mullah Mohammad Omar in the southwest city of Quetta, news reports said Friday.
Mullah Obaidullah Akhund, who is thought to be number three on the Taliban's 10-member leadership council, was picked up by agents in an operation this week, according to Pakistan's Geo news channel and CNN.
There was no official confirmation of the arrest, although Geo said nine suspects were arrested from a hotel in Quetta together with the owner.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper cited security sources saying that Akhund was detained Monday.
This coincided with an unannounced visit to Pakistan by US Vice President Dick Cheney to call for greater state efforts against the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
The source said the arrest was planned in advance using good intelligence and that there was no link to the US official's consultations.
Akhund was the former defence minister of the Taliban before the radical Islamist militia was ousted from power in Afghanistan by US-led forces in 2001. He carries a US bounty of $1 million.
Two others taken into custody in the same operation may include a militant commander in Afghanistan's Zabul province and the former Taliban governor of Helmand province, which has seen heavy fighting in recent months, the source said.
While a number of Taliban commanders have died in operations in Afghanistan, Akhund's reported capture is the first among the Taliban's top circle.
But there was no lead in Quetta to Mullah Omar himself, the unnamed official told the newspaper.
Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province and is located 60 km from the border with Afghanistan. Taliban elements near the border are thought to recruit many fighters from local camps for Afghan refugees.
As international forces in Afghanistan prepare for an anticipated Taliban offensive this spring, Pakistan has come under mounting pressure from the US to seal off the border to insurgents operating on its territory.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Both houses of parliament were adjourned several times Friday as Samajwadi Party members repeatedly stalled the proceedings protesting a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe ordered against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.
The Lok Sabha was finally adjourned for the day after it was disrupted thrice over. When the house met, Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav sought to suspend the question hour and discuss the "political conspiracy" against Mulayam Singh.
"There has been a political conspiracy to falsely implicate Mulayam Singh Yadav," he said.
The Supreme Court had Thursday directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry into charges that the chief minister had amassed fortune through corrupt means.
Although Speaker Somnath Chatterjee asked Ramgopal Yadav to raise the matter at 12 noon, his party colleagues gathered near the speaker's podium raising slogans like "Congress ki jhooti saazish nahi chalegi (The conspiracy by the Congress will not work)".
As Samajwadi Party members paid no heed to the speaker's request, Chatterjee adjourned the house for half an hour at 11.05 a.m. It was adjourned for a second time as soon as the house met with the party leaders continuing to create a pandemonium.
When the parliamentarians assembled for the third time, members of the Congress and Samajwadi Party raised slogans against each other, forcing the adjournment of the house for the day. The speaker, however, managed to allow the ministers to table the papers listed in the business.
The Lok Sabha will now meet Tuesday as parliament will observe a holiday Monday on account of Holi.
The Rajya Sabha too witnessed utter chaos as Samajwadi Party members termed the move against Mulayam Singh the "misuse" of the CBI to settle political scores.
Party leaders were on their feet, shouting slogans, as soon as the house assembled. Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat adjourned the house till 12 noon after his pleas to restore order fell on deaf ears.
The pandemonium continued when the house reassembled with Samajwadi leaders led by Amar Singh advancing to the speaker's podium, while continuing their sloganeering.
In the midst of din, Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan called in the government to lay the papers on the table of the house. He then adjourned the Rajya Sabha till 2.30 p.m.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Pakistan are the worst affected of the 16 teams in this month's World Cup as their three automatic choices - fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq - have been ruled out due to various reasons.
Also, dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi will miss the first two Group D league matches of Pakistan, against the West Indies and Ireland, as he is under an International Cricket Council (ICC) ban for breaching its code on the South African tour recently.
Mohammad Sami, Yasir Arafat and Azhar Mahmood have replaced Akhtar, Sami and Razzaq, but they are unlikely to be as effective as their seniors.
Pakistan's other Group D opponent are Zimbabwe.
Following are the pen sketches of the 15 players (statistics include their last one-day international against South Africa in Johannesburg Feb 14):
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Born: March 3, 1970, Multan
Style: Right-handed batsman and occasional left-arm spinner
ODI record: Matches: 375, Runs: 11,665, Average: 39.68, Highest score: 137 no out, 100s: 10, 50s: 83, Overs: 9.4, Wickets: 3, Average: 21.33, Best bowling: 1/0, Catches: 109
World Cup record: Matches: 32, Runs: 643, Average: 23.81, Highest score: 81, 50s: 4, Catches: 12
Younis Khan
Born: November 29, 1977, Mardan, North-West Frontier Province
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm leg-spinner
ODI record: Matches: 148, Runs: 3,951, Average: 31.61, Highest score: 144, 100s: 2, 50s: 26, Overs: 15.1, Wicket: 1, Average: 101.00, Best bowling: 1/24, Catches: 77 (includes 5 as wicket-keeper)
World Cup record: Matches: 5, Runs: 84, Average: 21.00, Highest score: 32, Overs: 6, Catches: 4
Mohammad Yousuf
Born: August 27, 1974, Lahore
Style: Right-handed batsman
ODI record: Matches: 233, Runs: 7,853, Average: 41.77, Highest score: 141 not out, 100s: 12, 50s: 52, Over: 0.1, Catches: 58
World Cup record: Matches: 10, Runs: 331, Average: 36.78, Highest score: 81 not out, 50s: 2, Catches: 2
Danish Kaneria
Born: December 16, 1980, Karachi
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm leg-spinner
ODI record: Matches: 16, Runs: 6, Average: 3.00, Highest score: 3 not out, Overs: 129.2, Wickets: 12, Average: 49.17, Best bowling: 3/31, Catches: 2
World Cup record: None
Azhar Mahmood
Born: February 28, 1975, Rawalpindi
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler
ODI record: Matches: 142, Runs: 1,519, Average: 18.30, Highest score: 67, 50s: 3, Overs: 1,032.4, Wickets: 123, Average: 38.93, Best bowling: 6/18, Catches: 37
World Cup record: Matches: 11, Runs: 116, Average: 16.57, Highest score: 37, Overs: 84, Wickets: 13, Average: 26.85, Best bowling: 3/24, Catch: 1
Rao Iftikhar Anjum
Born: December 1, 1980, Khanewal, Punjab
Style: Right-handed batsman and fast-medium bowler
ODI record: Matches: 26, Runs: 89, Average: 44.50, Highest score: 19 not out, Overs: 200.5, Wickets: 19, Average: 48.68, Best bowling: 2/13, Catches: 8
World Cup record: None
Imran Nazir
Born: Dec 16, 1981, Gujranwala
Style: Right-handed batsman and leg-spinner
ODI record: Matches: 65, Runs: 1,484, Average: 23.56, Highest score: 105 not out, 100s: 1, 50s: 9, Overs: 8.1, Wicket: 1, Average: 48.00, Best bowling: 1/3, Catches: 19
World Cup record: None
Kamran Akmal
Born: January 13, 1982, Lahore
Style: Right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper
ODI record: Matches: 62, Runs: 1,120, Average: 24.89, Highest score: 124, 100s: 3, 50s: 1, Catches: 54, Stumpings: 9
World Cup record: None
Mohammad Hafeez
Born: October 17, 1980, Sargodha, Punjab
Style: Right-handed batsman and off-spinner
ODI record: Matches: 44, Runs: 819, Average: 19.05, Highest score: 92, 50s: 4, Overs: 253.5, Wickets: 33, Average: 34.09, Best bowling: 3/17, Catches: 17
World Cup record: None
Mohammad Sami
Born: February 24, 1981, Karachi
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler
ODI record: Matches: 79, Runs: 275, Average: 11.46, Highest score: 46, Overs: 651.2, Wickets: 111, Average: 29.16, Best bowling: 5/10, Catches: 18
World Cup record: Match: 1
Naved-ul-Hasan Rana
Born: February 28, 1978, Sheikhupura, Punjab
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler
ODI record: Matches: 61, Runs: 348, Average: 13.38, Highest score: 29, Overs: 466.4, Wickets: 95, Average: 27.17, Best bowling: 6/27, Catches: 12
World Cup record: None
Shahid Afridi
Born: March 1, 1980, Khyber Agency (Pakistan)
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm leg-spinner
ODI record: Matches: 237, Runs: 4,982, Average: 23.17, Highest score: 109, 100s: 4, 50s: 27, Overs: 1,538.3, Wickets: 198, Average: 35.82, Best bowling: 5/11, Catches: 83
World Cup record: Matches: 11, Runs: 109, Average: 10.90, Highest score: 37, Overs: 48.3, Wickets: 4, Average: 64.75, Best bowling: 2/36, Catches: 5
Shoaib Malik
Born: February 1, 1982, Sialkot
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm off-spinner
ODI record: Matches: 134, Runs: 3,432, Average: 33.65, Highest score: 143, 100s: 5, 50s: 20, Overs: 794.4, Wickets: 103, Average: 34.48, Best bowling: 4/19, Catches: 47
World Cup record: No appearances
Umar Gul
Born: October 15, 1982, Peshawar
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler
ODI record: Matches: 25, Runs: 34, Average: 11.33, Highest score: 17 not out, Overs: 192.1, Wickets: 30, Average: 29.43, Best bowling: 5/17, Catches: 2
World Cup record: None
Yasir Arafat
Born: March 12, 1982, Rawalpindi
Style: Right-handed batsman and medium pacer
ODI record: Matches: 7, Runs: 48, Average: 12.00, Highest score: 27, Overs: 39, Wickets: 4, Average: 58.25, Best bowling: 1/28, Catch: 1
World Cup record: None
Bob Woolmer (coach)
Born: May 14, 1948, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (India)
Style: Right-handed batsman and medium pacer
ODI record: Matches: 6, Runs: 21, Average: 5.25, Highest score: 9, Overs: 53.3, Wickets: 9, Average: 28.89, Best bowling: 3/33, Catches: 3
World Cup record: None
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Pakistan are the worst affected of the 16 teams in this month's World Cup as their three automatic choices - fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq - have been ruled out due to various reasons.
Also, dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi will miss the first two Group D league matches of Pakistan, against the West Indies and Ireland, as he is under an International Cricket Council (ICC) ban for breaching its code on the South African tour recently.
Mohammad Sami, Yasir Arafat and Azhar Mahmood have replaced Akhtar, Sami and Razzaq, but they are unlikely to be as effective as their seniors.
Pakistan's other Group D opponent are Zimbabwe.
Following are the pen sketches of the 15 players (statistics include their last one-day international against South Africa in Johannesburg Feb 14):
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Born: March 3, 1970, Multan
Style: Right-handed batsman and occasional left-arm spinner
ODI record: Matches: 375, Runs: 11,665, Average: 39.68, Highest score: 137 no out, 100s: 10, 50s: 83, Overs: 9.4, Wickets: 3, Average: 21.33, Best bowling: 1/0, Catches: 109
World Cup record: Matches: 32, Runs: 643, Average: 23.81, Highest score: 81, 50s: 4, Catches: 12
Younis Khan
Born: November 29, 1977, Mardan, North-West Frontier Province
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm leg-spinner
ODI record: Matches: 148, Runs: 3,951, Average: 31.61, Highest score: 144, 100s: 2, 50s: 26, Overs: 15.1, Wicket: 1, Average: 101.00, Best bowling: 1/24, Catches: 77 (includes 5 as wicket-keeper)
World Cup record: Matches: 5, Runs: 84, Average: 21.00, Highest score: 32, Overs: 6, Catches: 4
Mohammad Yousuf
Born: August 27, 1974, Lahore
Style: Right-handed batsman
ODI record: Matches: 233, Runs: 7,853, Average: 41.77, Highest score: 141 not out, 100s: 12, 50s: 52, Over: 0.1, Catches: 58
World Cup record: Matches: 10, Runs: 331, Average: 36.78, Highest score: 81 not out, 50s: 2, Catches: 2
Danish Kaneria
Born: December 16, 1980, Karachi
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm leg-spinner
ODI record: Matches: 16, Runs: 6, Average: 3.00, Highest score: 3 not out, Overs: 129.2, Wickets: 12, Average: 49.17, Best bowling: 3/31, Catches: 2
World Cup record: None
Azhar Mahmood
Born: February 28, 1975, Rawalpindi
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler
ODI record: Matches: 142, Runs: 1,519, Average: 18.30, Highest score: 67, 50s: 3, Overs: 1,032.4, Wickets: 123, Average: 38.93, Best bowling: 6/18, Catches: 37
World Cup record: Matches: 11, Runs: 116, Average: 16.57, Highest score: 37, Overs: 84, Wickets: 13, Average: 26.85, Best bowling: 3/24, Catch: 1
Rao Iftikhar Anjum
Born: December 1, 1980, Khanewal, Punjab
Style: Right-handed batsman and fast-medium bowler
ODI record: Matches: 26, Runs: 89, Average: 44.50, Highest score: 19 not out, Overs: 200.5, Wickets: 19, Average: 48.68, Best bowling: 2/13, Catches: 8
World Cup record: None
Imran Nazir
Born: Dec 16, 1981, Gujranwala
Style: Right-handed batsman and leg-spinner
ODI record: Matches: 65, Runs: 1,484, Average: 23.56, Highest score: 105 not out, 100s: 1, 50s: 9, Overs: 8.1, Wicket: 1, Average: 48.00, Best bowling: 1/3, Catches: 19
World Cup record: None
Kamran Akmal
Born: January 13, 1982, Lahore
Style: Right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper
ODI record: Matches: 62, Runs: 1,120, Average: 24.89, Highest score: 124, 100s: 3, 50s: 1, Catches: 54, Stumpings: 9
World Cup record: None
Mohammad Hafeez
Born: October 17, 1980, Sargodha, Punjab
Style: Right-handed batsman and off-spinner
ODI record: Matches: 44, Runs: 819, Average: 19.05, Highest score: 92, 50s: 4, Overs: 253.5, Wickets: 33, Average: 34.09, Best bowling: 3/17, Catches: 17
World Cup record: None
Mohammad Sami
Born: February 24, 1981, Karachi
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler
ODI record: Matches: 79, Runs: 275, Average: 11.46, Highest score: 46, Overs: 651.2, Wickets: 111, Average: 29.16, Best bowling: 5/10, Catches: 18
World Cup record: Match: 1
Naved-ul-Hasan Rana
Born: February 28, 1978, Sheikhupura, Punjab
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler
ODI record: Matches: 61, Runs: 348, Average: 13.38, Highest score: 29, Overs: 466.4, Wickets: 95, Average: 27.17, Best bowling: 6/27, Catches: 12
World Cup record: None
Shahid Afridi
Born: March 1, 1980, Khyber Agency (Pakistan)
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm leg-spinner
ODI record: Matches: 237, Runs: 4,982, Average: 23.17, Highest score: 109, 100s: 4, 50s: 27, Overs: 1,538.3, Wickets: 198, Average: 35.82, Best bowling: 5/11, Catches: 83
World Cup record: Matches: 11, Runs: 109, Average: 10.90, Highest score: 37, Overs: 48.3, Wickets: 4, Average: 64.75, Best bowling: 2/36, Catches: 5
Shoaib Malik
Born: February 1, 1982, Sialkot
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm off-spinner
ODI record: Matches: 134, Runs: 3,432, Average: 33.65, Highest score: 143, 100s: 5, 50s: 20, Overs: 794.4, Wickets: 103, Average: 34.48, Best bowling: 4/19, Catches: 47
World Cup record: No appearances
Umar Gul
Born: October 15, 1982, Peshawar
Style: Right-handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler
ODI record: Matches: 25, Runs: 34, Average: 11.33, Highest score: 17 not out, Overs: 192.1, Wickets: 30, Average: 29.43, Best bowling: 5/17, Catches: 2
World Cup record: None
Yasir Arafat
Born: March 12, 1982, Rawalpindi
Style: Right-handed batsman and medium pacer
ODI record: Matches: 7, Runs: 48, Average: 12.00, Highest score: 27, Overs: 39, Wickets: 4, Average: 58.25, Best bowling: 1/28, Catch: 1
World Cup record: None
Bob Woolmer (coach)
Born: May 14, 1948, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (India)
Style: Right-handed batsman and medium pacer
ODI record: Matches: 6, Runs: 21, Average: 5.25, Highest score: 9, Overs: 53.3, Wickets: 9, Average: 28.89, Best bowling: 3/33, Catches: 3
World Cup record: None
Mumbai, March 2 (IANS) Pune police commissioner Dhananjay Jadhav will take over as police chief of Mumbai next week.
The appointment was cleared by Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh late Thursday at a meeting with Home Minister R.R. Patil.
Jadhav, a 1973 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, is likely to take charge on March 7, replacing A.N. Roy, who will be shifted on promotion as director general of police (civil defence and home guards).
In the third change in the top echelons of the state police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Jayant Umranikar will take over as Pune police commissioner.
"Though the proposal has been cleared by the home minister, the government has sought permission of the state election commissioner Nand Lal to announce the transfers since the model code of conduct is in force in the state in view of the local self government elections in the rural belts," said an official.
Sources in the state home department added that Jadhav would have a short tenure of nine months as he is sue to retire in November this year
By Manish Chand,
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) A former Indian ambassador to Sweden says that if Ottavio Quattrocchi is extradited to India to face trial, his revelations may "create a storm" as he was brought into the multi billion dollar Bofors gun deal at the behest of then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
"Quattrocchi was brought into the picture by Rajiv Gandhi. Rajiv Gandhi discussed the Bofors gun deal with the then Swedish prime minister Olof Palme on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Oct 24, 1985," B.M. Oza, India's ambassador to Sweden between 1984 and 1988 when the Bofors controversy erupted, told IANS in a telephone interview.
"When Rajiv Gandhi met Palme, he said India would give the gun deal to Bofors provided they agreed to four conditions," Oza said.
"These were: first, it should match the French offer in terms of price. Second, it should offer export credit, and third it should sign a memorandum of understanding with India that it will continue to supply ammunitions and spare parts even during the event of a war.
"The fourth condition was that Bofors should change its India agent, who was Win Chadha at that time.
"Subsequently, Palme invited me for a meeting to his office. He referred to his meeting with Rajiv Gandhi in New York and told me about the new conditions," said Oza, who has detailed what he calls "incontrovertible evidence" about the complicity of Rajiv Gandhi in the Bofors scam in his book "Bofors: The Ambassador's Evidence".
"Palme asked me to help Sweden's vice minister of foreign trade with his programme as he was going to India. Accompanied by the chief of Nobel Industries Anders Carlberg and Bofors chief Martin Ardbo, he came to meet me," he said.
Later on, Bofors terminated its contract with Chadha and appointed in his place AE Services, a Britain-based company with a nominal capital of 100 pounds, which was later found by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to be a front for Quattrocchi.
Bofors and AE Services signed a six-month contract with Bofors, part of the Nobel group of companies, for the period November 1985-March 1986 with the stipulation that it will get around 1.5 percent of the $2.1 billion gun deal as commission.
"Quattrocchi had no experience or background in armament business. Yet he was paid money for pushing the gun deal. Why?" asked the former envoy, who had also served as ambassador to South Korea and Singapore.
"His calling card was his free access to top ministers and bureaucrats owing to his proximity to Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi," Oza said.
"It's a deliberate cover-up. They don't want any investigation into this matter for obvious reasons," Oza said while referring to the attempts by the Indian government to extradite Quattrocchi from Argentina where he was detained as a fugitive following an Interpol red corner notice.
"Besides, what is he going to be tried for in India? He is required to depose in an Indian court and say whether he paid bribes out of huge commission money he was paid to important people to fix the gun deal," he said.
"If he does reveal names, it's going to create a storm in India," he stressed.
Although then defence secretary S.K. Bhatnagar had told representatives of the bidders of the gun deal tender that no Indian agent will be allowed, the contract signed with Bofors had no such stipulation about the role of middleman in the deal.
Finally, the contract for the supply of 410 Bofors 155 mm gun was signed March 24, 1986 - a date that was very close to the expiry of AE Services' contract with Bofors.
When the tender for buying the howitzer guns was opened and evaluated, nearly a week before Indira Gandhi was assassinated Oct 31, 1984, the French Sofma gun's offer was found to be the best. It had the lowest price and also had some extra incentives which none else was willing to offer.
"What was scandalous and unethical was that Bofors was later allowed to change its bid without re-tendering the contract," said Oza.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Global software solutions provider Zensar Technologies Ltd. Friday said India's leading industrial conglomerate RPG Group will buy Japanese firm Fujitsu's stake in it.
The RPG Group has signed an agreement with the Japanese company and the deal will soon come into effect. The amount of the deal, however, had not been disclosed.
"We expect to achieve and exceed our performance guidance this year and are targeting a 50 percent plus growth for the coming fiscal," Ganesh Natarajan, vice chairman and managing director, said in a statement.
RPG Group's Jubilee Investment and Industries Ltd. will buy the shares of Fujitsu.
Moscow, March 2 (RIA Novosti) Russia wants Israel, which has never admitted its nuclear status but is believed to possess nuclear weapons, to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to establish a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East, the Russian foreign minister has said.
"We believe that the practical implementation of a nuclear-free zone will become possible only when all countries in the region, including Israel, join the NPT and subject their activities to the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Syrian Arab News Agency, published Friday by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The issue of nuclear arms has became topical in the Middle East ever since the US began accusing Iran of pursuing a covert nuclear arms programme and demanding that it cease its uranium enrichment activities.
Unlike Iran, Israel, a traditional ally of the US in the region, has not signed the NPT.
"Russia's principled position that Israel should join the NPT and all Arab countries should join the Chemical Weapons Convention remains unchanged," the Russian minister said.
Siwan (Bihar), March 2 (IANS) A special Bihar court Friday sentenced Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Mohammed Shahabuddin to two years' imprisonment a day after he was convicted in a case related to assaulting and abducting a political activist in Siwan in 1988.
Shahabuddin had abducted Communist Party of India - Marxist-Leninist (CPI-ML) secretary Keshav Baitha in Siwan, about 150 km from state capital Patna, in 1998.
The court also pronounced a fine of Rs.1,000 on him.
It is for the first time that Shahabuddin, who faces charges in over 40 criminal cases of murder, abduction and possession of illegal arms and stolen vehicles, has been convicted.
A Lok Sabha member from Siwan since 1996, he is currently lodged in Siwan jail.
The special court convicted him on the basis of circumstantial evidence, public prosecutor Ravilas Mahto told newspersons here. The hearing in the case was concluded Feb 26.
According to a police complaint lodged on Oct 7, 1998 by Baitha, Shahabuddin along with his 20 unidentified supporters attacked the party's office in Siwan and ransacked it.
The complainant said Shahabuddin had beaten and abducted him for several hours.
Shahabuddin was charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act for voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint, wrongful confinement and house trespass.
He was arrested in New Delhi over a year ago in a case related to the seizure of arms from his ancestral house in Siwan district.
Last month, the Patna High Court had directed that a special court constituted by the state government in Siwan Jail would try all pending cases against him.
Following the verdict, the CPI-ML demanded the cancellation of Shahabuddin's Lok Sabha membership. The party also challenged RJD chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad to take action against Shahabuddin.
"We demand that the Lok Sabha speaker cancel Shahabuddin's membership on the ground of conviction in a criminal case," the CPI-ML state secretary Ramjatan Sharma told newspersons here.
"We will demand Lalu Prasad to oust Shahabuddin from the RJD," he added.
Welcoming the judgment, Sharma said it was a big day for his party that had been fighting against Shahabuddin's "muscle power" in Siwan. "It is for the first time he has been convicted by a court," Sharma said.
San Francisco, March 2 (IANS) Silicon Valley is seeing a dramatic rise in the number of home-based Indian cooks - to serve the numerous IT professionals from India the cuisine they crave for.
About 10 percent of Silicon Valley's population is Asian Indian, and the hunger for Indian food in insatiable.
Not surprisingly, e-mail lists of Indian women advertising home cooked regional specialties such as idli, dhokla and paratha circulate among Indian engineers at companies such as Oracle and Cisco.
Similar lists can also be found at the desks of Indians working with Microsoft, according to insidebayarea.com.
New cooks crop up daily, posting their contact numbers and specialties on South Asian web portals or at Indian grocery stores around the Bay Area. The cooks include new arrivals from the sub-continent or wives of taxi drivers who need that extra dollar.
The kitchens are mostly unlicensed as they operate from homes. In California, licensed catering kitchens must meet stringent food safety requirements including one that they be independent and separate from daily use kitchens.
Nonetheless, Indians freely advertise within the South Asian community.
"The rise of Indian cooks came with the influx of Indian software engineers in the 1990s," said Jaya Iyer, a longtime Bay Area resident originally from South India.
Kokila Kanakia, a pioneer in the homemade Indian food business, now runs her own restaurant and has been making and selling Indian food to the community for 18 long years.
"We make 3,000 chapatis a day, and most are sold before they are made," said Kokila's husband Prakash.
"The chapatis are picked up by Indians coming from as far as San Francisco and are shipped to customers in San Diego, Seattle and even Alaska," he said.
Despite an abundance of Indian cooks around Silicon Valley, the demand is still rising.
"The demand for homemade Indian food is clearly unmet," said Padma Subbaraya, a Microsoft consultant.
New York, March 2 (IANS) Deprivation of sleep could affect your judgment, suggests a new study.
Earlier studies have shown that it can adversely affect brain function. Now William Killgore and colleagues at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Maryland, US, studied 26 healthy adults, all of whom were active-duty military personnel.
The researchers found that sleep deprivation has a particularly debilitating effect on decision-making processes that depend heavily on emotion, said the online edition of New Scientist
"When people go for more than 24 hours without sleep there are dramatic decreases in brain activity in the prefrontal cortex [the area of the brain involved in processing emotions and decision-making]," says Killgore. "It basically goes to sleep."
Sleep deprived participants also showed slight shifts in what they deemed appropriate actions compared to when they were well rested. The changes were more pronounced in individuals who scored lower in "emotional intelligence" tests.
Killgore believes that those with a lower emotional capacity to begin with may have less resistance to the affects of sleep deprivation.
The findings could have implications for people in positions of responsibility, whose decisions often have life or death consequences, such as overworked medical professionals and sleep-deprived soldiers.
"We don't want tired irritable soldiers making bad decisions that endanger themselves or others that are not a threat to them. Nor do we want health care providers who are unable to make quick medical decisions on behalf of their patients," the researchers say.
Researchers, however, note that further research, including brain imaging, should be conducted as laboratory results do not always translate to real world situations.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) In what could be one of the fastest verdicts in a murder trial, an army court has sentenced a soldier to death for killing his commanding officer in cold blood - the verdict coming within four months of the incident.
On Feb 26, a summary general court martial (SGCM) found gunner operator S.C. Behara guilty of "pre-mediated" murder of Lt. Col. Saket Saxena, commanding officer of the 28 Rashtriya Rifles counter insurgency force in Jammu and Kashmir, on Oct 31 last year. The incident had occurred at 11.30 a.m.
In delivering the verdict, the three-member SGCM noted that Behara had fired a full magazine of 22 rounds from his 5.56 service weapon at Saxena a few moments after the officer had reprimanded him for "hobnobbing" with civilians while on sentry duty at Harwan on the outskirts of Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar.
The SGCM, which is distinct from a general court martial (GCM), also kept in mind a Supreme Court directive that the death sentence should only be awarded in the "rarest of rare cases".
SGCMs are ordered if the "exigencies of the situation" so demand and all three members have to deliver a unanimous verdict. In the case of the five-member GCMs, the verdict has to be delivered with at least a two-thirds majority.
The verdict, the fifth such in two decades, will now travel up the chain to the Udhampur-based Northern Command and thence to the Army Headquarters here and finally to the Defence Ministry.
This process will take up to six months and if the ministry confirms the sentence, Behra will be handed over to the civil police of his home state Orissa. The soldier will then have the option of appealing to the Orissa High Court, the Supreme Court, and finally to the president of India if the sentence is upheld.
"The verdict can be overturned at any stage of the process even before it reaches the defence ministry, but its word would be final from the services' point of view," the official pointed out.
Behara's trial, which began Jan 31, was held under Article 69 of the Army Act that relates to "acts prejudicial to good order and military discipline", the official explained.
"The court was of the view that using force against colleagues is just not acceptable. It said the reprimand Behara earned would not have entailed too great a penalty. But he chose to exacerbate matters by taking the law into his own hands and shooting dead his commanding officer," the official elaborated.
The verdict comes in the wake of a staggering 23 cases of fratricidal killings that were reported in the Indian Army during 2006. None of the previous sentences have, however, been executed as the appeals in them are pending at various states in civil courts, officials here said.
The killings had prompted Defence Minister A.K. Antony to task a high-powered panel that included representation from the Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR) to examine the malaise and suggest remedial measures. This report is believed to have been received and is being examined by the defence ministry.
Simultaneously, Antony has taken two other steps.
He has urged the armed forces to re-look leave rules and other benefits for soldier to make them more humane and to enable them spend more time with their families.
Antony has also written to all the state chief ministers and union territory administrators to ensure that land-related and other problems that soldiers face back home are speedily addressed so that the men in uniform can focus on the job at hand.
Among the other death sentences handed down, a havildar of the 75 Armoured Regiment, whose name was not immediately available, was held guilty of killing two of his officers in 1984-85.
In 1990, Sepoy D.N. Roy of the Corps of Signals was held guilty of murder, while in 2000, Havildar Surendra Singh of the Regiment of Artillery was sentenced on a similar charge.
In 2005, havildar Jagtar Singh, also from the artillery, was awarded the extreme punishment for killing two of his colleagues.
Seoul, March 2 (Xinhua) South Korea's first domestically made amphibious tank, featuring an auto loaded 120 mm cannon, rolled off the assembly line in the south-eastern city of Changwonon Friday, the South Korean Defence Ministry said.
According to the South Korean Yonhap News Agency, the new model, code named "XK2" and nicknamed "Black Panther", can reach speeds of up to 70 km per hour and can move across rivers as deep as 4.1 meters using a snorkel.
The Defence Ministry said "XK2" will replace the older K1 and American M47/48 tanks from 2011. South Korea plans to commission the tank after preparations for
mass production and aims to export the tanks with the price tag of $8.5 million per unit, Yonhap said.
New Delhi, March 2 (Indianmuslims.info) Senior Police officer Syed Iftikhar Sultan Ahmad took over as Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Thursday. He succeeds GK Sahnai, who had retired from his services three months ago, and in whose place JK Dutt had been working as stopgap arrangement.
Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Mr Ahmad, 59, told the presspersons here that he will take up on priority basis modernisation of 250000-strong central reserve force and minimising mental strain of troops.
Mr Ahmad, IPS officer of 1970 batch of West Bengal cadre, had been rendering his services as Director General of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) since May 2005.
Earlier, he worked as Additional Director General of Border Security Forces (BSF), and was leading the BSF command at India-Bangladesh border strip from 2003 to 2005. He had also been in-charge of anti-insurgency missions in Asansol, Meghalya, Manipur and Tripura.
Mr Ahmad is also the recipient of Police Medal and President’s Police Medal for his distinguished services to the nation.
Pune, March 2 (IANS) Abdul Karim Telgi, the prime accused in the multibillion rupee stamp paper scam, has repeated his offer to disclose all information he has provided he is pardoned.
Telgi's lawyers Harshad Nimbalkar and Milind Pawar submitted an application in the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court here Thursday along with his letter seeking to turn approver in the case.
The special court magistrate Chitra Bhedi has posted the matter for hearing April 4 and asked the special prosecutor to submit his say on the application.
Known to have enjoyed proximity with several politicians in the state, Telgi has created a sensation several times in the last two years by dropping names of a few political bigwigs and then retracting his statements.
Reacting to Telgi's application, leading lawyer Ujjwal Nikam said it would be dangerous to grant pardon to Telgi in exchange for the promised disclosures as he is likely to settle scores against other accused and suspects in the case.
According to unofficial estimates, Telgi is suspected to have amassed anything between Rs.170 billion and Rs.220 billion by printing and selling fake stamp papers - used to file legal affidavits - through the 1990s.
The racket apparent spread across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. A lot of the money was allegedly used to bribe police officials and politicians and obtain favours from political parties.
Karnataka Police arrested Telgi at Ajmer in Rajasthan in 2000 in a surprise raid at one of his hideouts.
Brussels, March 1(IRNA) A Palestinian national unity government provides the international community with an important opportunity for a much-needed change in policy towards the Palestinians, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG).
Failure to do so risks provoking greater internal Palestinian strife as well as Israeli-Palestinian conflict, warns the Brussels- based think tank.
In its latest report after Mecca: Engaging Hamas, the ICG examines the Saudi-brokered Mecca Agreement between rival Palestinian organizations Hamas and Fatah.
The report concludes that there are significant challenges but also the chance of a fresh start: for the Palestinians to restore law and order and negotiate genuine power-sharing arrangements; for Israelis and Palestinians to establish a comprehensive cessation of hostilities; and for the international community to focus on a credible peace process.
"A year of pressure and sanctions has extracted little from Hamas," said Mouin Rabbani, ICG Analyst. "The Quartet - the U.S., EU, Russia and UN - needs to adopt a pragmatic approach that judges a new government by its conduct and seeks to influence its deeds, not its members' ideology. The alternatives are either illusory or worse".
Without a Hamas-Fatah power-sharing arrangement and as long as the Islamists remain marginalized and unable to govern, there can be no sustainable diplomacy, underlined the Report.
Madrid, March 2 (DPA) Spanish authorities have arrested three additional suspects of the Al Qaeda-linked terrorist attacks in Madrid three years ago.
The two Morrocans and a Spaniard, detained Thursday, are accused of helping the bombers flee, the interior ministry here said.
Two of the men were arrested in the Spanish capital and the third in Algeciras in southern Spain.
The attacks on four commuter trains in 2004 killed 191 people and injured over 1,800. A trial against 29 people accused in the case is currently underway.
Jammu, March 2 (IANS) A top militant and his associate were killed in a joint operation by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the mountainous Rajouri district late Thursday night, authorities said.
The two guerrillas, who belonged to the Hizbul Mujahedeen Pir Panjal Range (HMPPR) outfit, have been identified as Mohammad Yasin, divisional commander of HMPPR and his associate Shafaat.
The security forces had received intelligence reports about the presence of the militants in Morha Daraj area of Rajouri, 190 km from here. The troops of 48 Rashtriya Rifles and the state police then cordoned the area.
"Contact with the hiding militants was established Thursday evening, leading to a fierce gun fight," said Farooq Khan, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajouri. The two ultras were killed in the late night operation.
Khan said that Yasin had been a special police officer (SPO) - an adhoc employee helping the police - who had deserted over two years ago and joined the militant outfit.
He added that Yasin was one of the 'most wanted' rebels in Rajouri and was involved in over 35 killings, including that of 16 Hindus in two massacres.
He was carrying a reward of Rs.500,000.
Arms and ammunition, incriminating documents, and a list of members and financiers of the militant outfit were recovered from them, Khan said.
The killing of Mohammad Yasin is a "crippling blow to HMPPR in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri", Khan remarked.
Abu Talla, a top commander of the Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT), was killed by police forces earlier this week in Kathua district. Talla had planned and executed of two massacres in which 35 Hindus were killed in Doda and Udhampur districts last year.
Washington, March 2 (DPA) A powerful tornado hit the US state of Alabama, killing at least 18 people as severe storms crossed the country's southeast. A high school was one of the worst hit.
The tornado Thursday caused a roof to collapse at Enterprise High School in Alabama, leaving several students trapped inside, the Enterprise Ledger newspaper reported on its website.
Yasamine Richardson, a spokesperson for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, said there were at least 18 deaths and another 35 people were hospitalised statewide. The death toll included 15 at the high school, two others in Enterprise and one from a nearby county.
The high school was still being searched for more possible victims, Richardson said.
Power companies reported at least 20,000 customers with outages.
Storms spawned apparent funnel clouds across the region. The same storm system was blamed for at least one death from a tornado earlier Thursday in southern Missouri, a midwestern state on the Mississippi River.
The National Weather Service said that conditions were ideal for the dangerous funnel clouds, especially in the southern US states of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Residents of the region were advised to listen for storm warnings and take shelter if necessary.
The storms were part of a huge storm front crossing the eastern half of the US in a line stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border. The front was causing heavy snow in the Great Lakes states of the Upper Midwest.
Agartala, March 2 (IANS) A group of tribal refugees in Tripura have gone on an indefinite hunger strike Friday demanding repatriation to their homeland in adjoining Mizoram.
"We have started a fast unto death programme," said Elvis Chorkhy, president of the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF).
The 300 tribal refugees had earlier resorted to a weeklong sit-in demonstration near the Raj Bhavan here.
Over 33,000 Reang (locally called 'Bru') tribal refugees have been living in six north Tripura camps since October 1997 after they fled Mizoram following ethnic clashes with the majority Mizos.
"We have sent a series of letters to union Home Minister Shivraj Patil during the past week explaining our miserable life at the camp and requested him to take immediate steps for early repatriation. We haven't received any response yet," Chorkhy told newsmen.
Groups of other Reang refugees also began a sit-in demonstration Friday in each of the six relief camps in north Tripura over the same demand.
"The government of India and the Mizoram state government would be responsible for any future consequences if they deprived the Reangs of their legitimate rights," the tribal leader said.
Meanwhile, following a meeting with four major non-government organisations (NGOs) the Mizoram government has decided to undertake the verification of the refugees to ascertain if they are all from Mizoram.
"The state government has requested these NGOs, including the powerful Young Mizo Association (YMA), to verify whether all the refugees were bona fide residents of Mizoram," state home secretary Ropianga told IANS over phone from Aizawl.
In April 2005, the Mizoram government and the militant Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) signed an agreement after 13 rounds of talks to solve the decade-old ethnic crisis, leading to the surrender of about 1,040 rebels belonging to BNLF and Bru Liberation Front of Mizoram (BLFM).
Both the rebel outfits have been fighting for setting up an autonomous council for the refugees. The memorandum presented to the home ministry team demands, among other things, immediate four-corner talks between the Centre, the Mizoram and Tripura governments and the MBDPF.
"The Mizoram government had earlier insisted that the repatriation of Reang tribal refugees would not begin until Bru militancy was wiped out completely," Chorkhy said, adding that the state government was yet to fulfill the assurances given to the surrendered Bru militants.
Reacting to Mizoram's assertion that it would take back only "genuine citizens" of that state, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said: "Let the repatriation first start, then we would see how it can be solved."
"Due to the long stay of the tribal refugees (since October 1997), Tripura is facing serious socio-economic problems," Sarkar said. The central government has so far spent around Rs.900 million for their upkeep.
Islamabad, March 2 (DPA) A judge of an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan's central city of Multan was injured and two escorts died Friday when an apparent suicide bomber targeted the official's car, news reports said.
Judge Bashir Ahmed was among five people injured when a man on a bicycle reportedly detonated explosives near his vehicle as police were escorting the judge to work, the Geo news channel reported. A driver and a bodyguard later died in hospital.
Over 45 people have been killed in a spate of suicide bombings across Pakistan so far this year. Some attacks have been linked to revenge threats from militants in Pakistan's tribal region after a government operation killed at least 10 people.
DPA
London, March 1(IRNA) The British government confirmed Thursday that most of the UK's remaining troops in Bosnia-Herzegovina are to be withdrawn as part of a larger reduction of international forces from 6,000 to 2,500.
But the announcement made in the House of Commons by Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram raised concern that the decision was linked with freeing troops to be deployed in Afghanistan and follows plans to also reduce forces in Iraq.
Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox also said that Bosnia "is indeed a different place today, and the Balkans are calmer although not calm" and that neighbouring Serbia was still unstable.
"If Bosnians are incapable of taking more control of their own affairs at a political level, how confident are you that they can do it at a military level?" Fox asked.
In his statement, announcing the freeing more than 600 troops, Ingram admitted there were still high levels of small arms and light weapons in the country.
But he insisted it is "clear that the Bosnia-Herzegovina is becoming increasingly safe." In recent years, he said, there have been "increasing indications of a security situation approaching normality."
The minister said that a small number of staff officers will remain in Sarajevo, and Britain will contribute to the pan-Balkans Operational Reserve Force.
The announcement comes after the EU said the Eufor deployment, responsible for safeguarding peace in Bosnia, would be reduced but a "robust military presence" would remain and troop levels would be increased "if needed" over the next six months.
At its peak, there were some 60,000 soldiers based in the country, including 12,000 from the UK. Initially British troops served with the United Nations, and then under Nato command until Eufor took over.
It is estimated that around 250,000 people died in the inter- ethnic war of 1992-95 until the eventual signing of the Dayton Peace Accords.
Jaipur, March 3 (indianmuslims.info) Rajasthan zone of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind hosted a discussion on the Union Budget 2007-08 at its office here Friday with JIH Rajasthan president Er. Mohammad Salim in the chair. The consensus emerged in the meeting was that the budget was highly disappointing for the Muslim community.
The meeting, attended by dignitaries of the city from various walks of life , dubbed the budget ‘highly disappointing’ when seen in the light of the recommendations of Justice Sachar Committee Report
“Only 63 crore rupees aid was increased for the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation, which is so meagre that it amounts to around Rs 4 per head. It seems to be ridiculous when compared to the Muslim population,� it said.
“The total allocation for scholarships for Muslim students and development in the Muslim concentration districts is Rs 381 crores. This amount is so small as compared to the demand of Rs. 10,500 crores. This scanty amount of allocation shows that the government is not serious about the betterment of the Muslims,� rue the Muslims attending the meeting.
The meeting expressed surprise on not mentioning of any increase of amount for the corpus fund of Maulana Azad Foundation, established by the government for the educational uplift of the Muslim community. “A demand has been continuously put before the government to increase this corpus fund at least to Rs. 1000 crores,� it noted.
It however welcomed the overall increase in the budget for education and health, but said the budget is ‘quite disappointing for urban educated youth’.
Washington, March 2 (IANS) The United States says it takes Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf at his word that disgraced Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan sold nuclear secrets without the knowledge of Islamabad.
"President Musharraf has said that he (Khan) was acting without the knowledge of the highest levels of the Pakistani Government, and we take him at his word," State department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters here Thursday.
He said this in response to a question that did US still believe that A.Q. Khan, who is known to have sold nuclear material to a number of countries, including Iran and North Korea, really acted on his own without the knowledge of the government as it still has no access to him.
Turning to Sri Lanka, McCormack said Washington wanted to see the Tamil Tigers and the government get back to a ceasefire and then engage in a real dialogue where they can resolve their differences across the negotiating table, as opposed to resort to the use of force.
Describing it as "a tough issue," he noted that, "there have been efforts in place led by the Norwegian Government to try to bring the two sides together. And there have been various agreements at ceasefires and a peace process that have stopped and started over the years."
"A lot of other people are concerned about this issue. And we're going to do what we can to participate in this group, this international effort to try and bring the two sides together," McCormack added.
Asked if he thought the situation has come to the point where US wanted UN to send international forces there, he said, "I can't speak to that."
By Arun Kumar,
Washington, March 2 (IANS) Faced with a shortage of highly skilled workers, US Commerce Secretary Carlos Guttierrez wants the cap on H1B visas raised to let more students from India and China stay and add to America's competitiveness.
"We have students come over from the world: India, China, primarily. They get the best education money can buy, and then they have to go back home; they can't stay here and apply their skills," he told a Senate panel Thursday.
"We believe that we should be able to do better than that in order to serve our competitiveness needs as a nation," he said, appearing before the Judiciary Committee discussing Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
Endorsing a suggestion by Republican Orin Hatch to raise the current cap on H1B visas, Guttierrez noted that businesses in high-tech and other fields "cannot fill their high-skilled engineering, science-based jobs as quickly or as readily as they would like".
"The Chinese are educating 300,000 engineers a year. We educate 60,000, half of whom are foreigners, and many of whom then go home to their countries and educate their people in competition with us where they'd love to stay here and work as maybe not citizens, but at least as people who have the credentials to work," Hatch observed.
Raising H1B visa caps formed part of the Senate package on immigration reform that fell through in the last Congress with the House of Representatives and Senate failing to reconcile their widely varying Immigration bills.
A new comprehensive immigration reforms package is still elusive, but the Senate version in the last Congress had called for nearly doubling the cap on H1B visas from the current level of 65,000 with additional annual increases.
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) In the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the Election Commission has banned people with state security cover from becoming polling or counting agents of candidates.
The order issued by the poll panel seeks to indirectly curb the tendency of ministers and legislators - with security personnel in tow - from throwing their weight around at polling booths or counting centres, said commission sources Friday.
The poll panel, in a letter to the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary, said: "It has often been observed that some candidates appoint a sitting minister or a member of the legislative agency or parliament as their polling and counting agent, while these persons generally have security cover provided by the state government or security agencies."
In the letter, the poll panel pointed out that the Representation of the People Act, 1951, bars security personnel from moving around polling stations or counting stations.
This, in turn, also restricts the movement of dignitaries like ministers and legislators (as they would have to leave behind their security) and also defeats the very purpose of their appointment as polling or counting agents by candidates, the commission said in its letter. It asked returning officers to refrain from approving their appointment as polling or counting agents.
Pointing out that many a times VIPs having state security cover even request returning officers to allow them to double up as polling or counting agents of their party candidates, the commission said this cannot be allowed as it jeopardizes the security of the dignitaries.
"The commission cannot allow ministers, legislators and other persons to surrender their security, which was provided to them by the state or security agency after duly assessing the need of such security cover," the poll panel said.
By Brij Khandelwal,
Agra, March 2 (IANS) The continuing wet spell in many areas of Uttar Pradesh has dampened the spirits of Holi revellers. The chill has forced people to pull out their woollens once again.
This time of the year, it usually gets warm in Mathura, Agra and adjoining areas that see nature smiling in a riot of colours. But sudden showers Tuesday and overcast skies Wednesday have cast a spell of doom on Holi celebrations Sunday.
"In Vrindavan we have been waiting so long for Holi but the weather gods seem to be in a bad mood. Let's hope the clouds clear off in a day or two," says a worried Pandit Mahesh Chand Shukla.
In Barsana, the Lathmar Holi, when women (gopis) of the village use lathis to beat up the colour throwing men, luckily got over on Ekadashi two days ago when the sun was still smiling.
"This year the celebrations had many more visitors and pilgrims from all parts of India, some foreigners too," said a Barsana pandit.
Holi in the area known as Braj mandal comprising six districts of Agra division is time for celebrations and fun.
This festival is more socio-cultural than religious as all communities join the festivities, sing, dance and throw colours and occasionally let out excess steam through violence.
Agra and the surrounding rural hinterland will be soaked in colours.
In the Braj area, because of the Sri Krshna-Radha folklore, Holi is indeed a fascinating, colourful cultural exposition.
The festival of Holi continues for almost a fortnight from Ekadashi. In the rural areas it is a free for all with men and women joining in the throwing of mud, dancing -- and naughty tricks too.
In Agra, Holi has moved away from streets to clubs and banquet halls, as society gets more urbanised and perhaps more civil.
This year a special programme involving residents of two colonies, one representing Sri Krishna's gang and the other Radha's group, will have a real showdown in Kamla Nagar, a posh colony of Agra.
"Earlier it used to be impossible to move out of the house. We have gradually become urbane. But rural areas continue to engage in full-throated singing and dancing to the beat of dholaks and nagadas," says old-timer Surendra Sharma.
Agra being a quintessential Mughal city, one cannot overlook the rich tradition of Holi celebrations set by Akbar and Jahangir. Both indulged in the merriment and showered gulab and colours on the revellers. Musical mehfils were held all night and community bhang drinking was the order of the day.
Urdu poets Nazir Akbarabadi, emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar and so many others have penned special Holi songs including "phags" to be sung during celebrations. Sufi saints Amir Khusrau and Nizammuddin Aulia also sang Holi songs in pure Persian.
Contemporary paintings show Jahangir playing Holi with his wife Noorjahan. The Holi carnival lasted several days even during the time of Bahadur Shah Zafar who had special arrangements made for the celebrations.
Bangalore, March 2 (IANS) IT bellwether Wipro Technologies has tied up with the US-based Apriso Corporation to jointly execute projects for global manufacturing firms seeking operational excellence.
According to a company statement here Friday, the clients will benefit from its system integration and implementation expertise to manage their manufacturing operations in multi-site locations efficiently.
"Discussions are underway with multiple customers in the two verticals of mill products and automotive industry for implementing their projects. With plants located over dispersed geographies, our global footprint will ensure their entire lifecycle of operations are supported fully," Wipro Technologies vice-president N.S. Bala said.
Wipro will deploy consultants focused on manufacturing in major markets. Its applied knowledge of supply chain, plant floor operations, enterprise technologies and business processes will enable productive deployment of Apriso's software (FlexNet). With consultants across automotive, aerospace, industrial manufacturing and pharmaceutical practices, the deployments will be represented across industrial verticals.
"Instead of an MES (manufacturing execution systems) application, manufacturers are looking for integrated suites of applications that can be deployed for logistics, maintenance, quality, tracking, reporting, and visibility needs in all operations and across multiple plants," Apriso vice-president Greg Gorbach said.
As a leading provider of adaptive software platforms for global operations execution, Apriso will implement and support manufacturing plants in multi-locations with Wipro as its system integrator.
"We will leverage Wipro's enterprise relationships to expand our sphere of influence and meet customer demand for roll-outs where operations are integrated across several locations," Apriso's CEO Jim Henderson said.
Apriso serves over 150 customers in 40 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia, powering about 550 installations worldwide. Its customers include General Motors, Lear, Honeywell, Microsoft, L'Oreal, Lockheed Martin, Becton Dickinson, Rubbermaid, Saint-Gobain, Novelis and Essilor.
Berlin, March 2(IRNA) At least 220 people were detained during Thursday night's riots in Copenhagen which also spilled over to two German cities, Hamburg and Hannover, media reports said Friday.
Danish protestors set several cars and garbage cans on fire and errected street barricades in Copenhagen after riot police and anti-terror units moved in to evict a popular youth center in the Danish capital.
At least five people were injured in the melee including a police officer.
The youth center was occupied by mainly radical leftist and anarchist teenagers in 1981 and has meanwhile been sold to a church.
Police had to use tear gas to disperse the rioting crowd who hurled stones, chairs and firecrakers at the security
forces.
Copenhagen had already been last December the scene of intense street clashes between police and demonstrators over the issue of the youth center.
Meanwhile street protests in Hamburg and Hannover, voicing solidarity with the Copenhagen demonstrators, turned also violent.
In Hamburg, police prevented 800 protestors from moving towards the Danish consulate based in the north German port city.
At least 14 people were arrested following scuffles with security forces.
Demonstatrators lobbed bottles and stones at police, slightly injuring an officer.
In Hannover, some 20 masked protestors smashed the windows of a police car and private vehicle.
Several other peaceful demonstrations in support of the Danish youth center occupiers took place in German cities among them Braunschweig, Goettingen, Flensburg, Karlsruhe, Mainz und Frankfurt on the Main River.
03 March 2007
New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday dismissed as "speculative" Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq's claim that India and Pakistan have agreed to cut down on the deployment of troops in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
"These are all speculations," the prime minister told reporters when asked to comment on Mirwaiz's statement in Srinagar Thursday that the two countries have agreed to withdrawal of troops from either side of the Line of Control in Kashmir.
Singh made it clear that security forces had been deployed only to protect citizens and the government would reduce their levels only after cessation of terrorism.
"We will be happy to reduce troops if terrorism ceases as our army is not an army of occupation. They are there to protect the lives and liberties of law-abiding people," Singh said on the sidelines of a book release function here.
His statement came close on the heels of Jammu and Kashmir's ruling coalition partner People's Democratic Party making a strong pitch for demilitarisation by citing an improvement in the security situation.
Moscow, March 2 (RIA Novosti) Deployment of a US anti-missile radar system in the Caucasus would not affect Russia's defence capabilities, but the country could respond to the move nevertheless, the Russian Air Force commander Vladimir Mikhailov said Friday.
"Let them deploy (a radar)," he said. "It is their decision. Unfortunately, we have also heard of plans to place US missile shield elements in countries like Ukraine and other states, including former Soviet republics." Mikhailov said Russia was capable of offering an adequate response to the deployment.
Washington said the defences would be designed to counter possible strikes from North Korea and Iran, which are involved in long-running disputes with the international community over their nuclear programs.
Russia, which has been anxious about NATO bases that have appeared in erstwhile communist-bloc countries and areas that had formed the now dismembered Soviet republic, has blasted the plans to deploy anti-missile systems in Central Europe as a nationa