'Pakistani federal officers unwilling to serve in Balochistan'

Islamabad, Sep 1 (IANS) Shortage of federal government officials willing to serve in Balochistan may become more acute in the aftermath of the killing of Baloch leader Akbar Khan Bugti and the volatile situation it has created in the province.

The new developments in the aftermath of the killing of Akbar Bugti will further discourage federal police and the District Management Group (DMG) officers agreeing to serve in the province, The News International reported.

Forced transfers of officials have not worked. Eighteen police officials posted to the province last month managed to stay on at their old postings using their "influence".

The newspaper had some weeks ago carried an expose on the working of the federal government wherein officials posted to Balochistan had sought to pull strings to get the postings cancelled by using political channels.

After a minister made support to the government conditional on the cancellation of the posting order of a kin, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz discussed the matter at the cabinet meeting and issued clear instructions that such pressures and requests would not be entertained.

The federal government has enhanced allowances and perks of officers in the last one year, but continues to face serious shortage as officials either stay on in their earlier postings, report sick or go on leave.

A government source told the newspaper that the authorities now even apprehend that some federal officers already posted there might now try to get themselves transferred outside the province.

Balochistan government sources, when contacted, also foresaw some management problems that might crop up due to the post-Bugti violence targeting non-Baloch, non-Pakhtoon settlers, particularly Punjabis, in different parts of the province.

Even though the provincial authorities denied that houses of settlers in Quetta were attacked by rioters, it accepted that few businesses and shops were damaged by them. The situation, however, is said to be normal since Thursday.

In view of possible threats to officers from outside the province, particularly those from Punjab, the authorities say this situation could be tackled by posting them to safer districts of Balochistan and in the provincial headquarters.

The Establishment Division (ED), which was "already helpless" while implementing its past transfer orders, is unsure about the future unless the top leadership personally intervenes and ensure that the writ of the government is followed by its officers.

So far, transfer orders of police and DMG officers to the troubled Balochistan province has resulted in non-compliance by the government officers. Barring few exceptions, the officers either get their transfer orders cancelled or remain defiant unwilling to take up new postings for months.

12 Indian states do not have human rights commissions

New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) Thirteen years after a law providing for states to set up their own human rights commissions, 12 Indian states do not have one.

Of the 16 that do, five states including Punjab, Karnataka and Maharashtra, do not have chairpersons.

"This is very discouraging to find that in a democracy like India 12 Indian states are yet to have their human right commissions," said Justice A.S. Anand, chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), here Friday.

The Human Rights Act, 1993, provides for states to have their own human rights commissions. Gujarat and Haryana do not have their human rights commissions.

"Lack of a state human rights commission is certainly a hurdle towards ensuring peoples' rights. The concerned state governments should act fast on this direction," Anand told IANS.

The NHRC faces no infrastructural and financial problems, but the state commissions are lagging behind, he said speaking on the sideline of a NHRC and state human rights commission meeting here.

"They do not have financial stability, adequate manpower or even proper buildings. Five states including Punjab, Karnataka and Maharashtra have no full time chairpersons in state commissions," he revealed.

Currently, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Manipur, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar have their respective human rights commissions.

Anand, also a former Supreme Court chief justice, said that he had written to the concerned state governments on setting up their own commissions and to the ones that do have, to upgrade the infrastructure.

"I have, as a last ditch attempt, written to all the state governments to provide the necessary arrangements to their existing human rights commissions, and for setting up commissions," said Anand, who is to retire in November.

He expressed satisfaction on the response of the central government to NHRC. "NHRC is neither a judicial or quasi-judicial body, but the government is accepting 90 percent of our recommendations."

The NHRC and state rights commissions met Friday to discuss on how to improve the functioning of the commissions and for better protection of human rights.

178 complexes sealed, reprieve for essential service providers

New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) In their quest to seal 45,000 commercial establishments in residential areas, Delhi's civic authorities Friday sealed 178 complexes in 12 zones even as traders stepped up protest.

According to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) a maximum of 57 complexes were sealed in the Shahdara (North) zone, followed by 31 properties in Sadar Paharganj zone.

Resuming the sealing drive after a gap of three months, authorities Friday targeted mainly hazardous and polluting units, amid protests from traders.

The process to re-seal the illegal commercial establishments began following an Aug 10 directive from the Supreme Court, which stayed the May 20 notification of the central government allowing one-year moratorium on all such activities.

"Acting upon the court directive, the drive will continue," said a MCD official adding that top civic officials including commissioner A.K. Nigam Friday met K.J. Rao, member of the apex court's monitoring committee.

Though the upmarket neighbourhoods in the national capital were spared today, all the areas will be targeted Saturday. However there were some protests from the traders in Sant Nagar and Zamrudpur in south zone.

The likely areas to be targeted Saturday include Greater Kailash I and II, Chittaranjan Park, Lajpat Nagar, Kalkaji, Defence Colony and Vasant Vihar.

The MCD has from Friday set up 24 special cells to receive complaints by residents giving information about such commercial premises in their areas. Mobile inspection teams will verify such complaints and initiate action against offenders.

However, the monitoring committee has given a reprieve to nearly 15 varieties of essential service providers like salons, kirana shops, and cyber cafes operating from residential areas. In addition professionals like lawyers, doctors and even astrologers, entire houses can now be used for these services.

The central government had on May 20 passed the Delhi Laws (Special Provision) Act that put a moratorium on the court-mandated demolition of illegal structures and sealing of commercial complexes in residential areas in the capital for a year.

However, on Aug 10 the Supreme Court, hearing a public interest litigation against the order, reprimanded the government for its legislation.

On Wednesday, the MCD submitted an action plan report to Delhi High Court informing about the setting up of a taskforce for each of the 12 zones to ensure that there is no delay in carrying out the demolitions and sealing. The civic body is to recruit junior engineers on contract basis to get over its staff shortage, an official said.

80 killed as Iranian plane catches fire

Tehran, Sep 1 (Xinhua) At least 80 passengers were killed as an Iranian airliner caught fire Friday while landing in the northeastern city of Mashhad, state television reported.

There were 147 passengers on board the plane on a flight from the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, the TV said.

A tyre of the Russian-made Tupolev burst and caught fire when the plane was landing, according to the report.

90 feared dead in Iranian plane crash

Tehran, Sep 1 (DPA) At least 90 people were killed Friday when an Iranian passenger jet crashed and broke into flames while landing in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

The Fars news agency said about 90 burnt corpses were recovered from the plane, while there were a further 40 badly injured survivors.

The Iranian news agency ISNA said the Tupolev-154 plane operated by the Iran Air Tours company was setting down for a landing when a tyre burst, and the plane caught fire.

Television images from the scene showed the plane's main fuselage broken at several places, with a gaping fire-blackened hole in one section as fire fighters and rescuers carried out their recovery operations.

Mashhad, in northeastern Iran, is about 750 km east of capital Tehran.

Academic vows to bring Bali, India closer

By M.R. Narayan Swamy,

New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) An Indian professor living in Bali is spearheading efforts to bring the overwhelmingly Hindu Indonesian island and India closer with a string of events covering everything from religion to Bollywood.

Somvir, 35, has brought together a team of eminent Indonesians and Indians to form the Bali-India Foundation, which will promote academic and student exchanges besides spiritual tourism, teach yoga, Hindi, Sanskrit and Balinese languages, and help the people of Bali to know India better.

It also plans to satisfy the growing appetite in Bali for Bollywood's pulsating dance numbers. In the process, the Foundation hopes to supplement the work of the Indian Cultural Centre in Bali.

"What the centre does is to essentially promote Bali-India ties at government-to-government level," Somvir told IANS here during a brief visit.

"What we wish to do is to promote people-to-people ties. It is necessary to promote and sustain the indigenous culture and art in Bali and India."

"Our mission is to introduce the richness of the two ancient cultures and bring the people of Bali and India closer," he said.

Somvir, who is originally from Haryana, teaches at the departments of cultural studies and tourism at Bali's Udayana University. He has lived in Bali since 1993. Three years ago, he helped the family of then Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to explore Bali.

Somvir, who was earlier associated with the Indian Cultural Centre, said the Bali-India Foundation came up two months ago with Hindu religious rituals as is customary in Bali. It would see a formal inaugural soon.

The Foundation has plans to go for 15-day exchange programmes for Balinese and Indian students involving field study, a similar but self-financed exchange programme of one month to two months duration, encourage Balinese to visit India as religious tourists, and publish a dictionary of Indian companies in Indonesia and vice-versa that would also pack handy information about Bali.

It will teach Hindi and Sanskrit to Balinese who think knowledge of the two languages will help in a better understanding of India as well as Hinduism, the religion of over 90 percent of Bali's 3.5 million people.

Bali, which has had deep and historic ties with India, is one of 27 provinces of Indonesia. At the ancient core of Balinese Hinduism is animism, bound with threads of tantrik Buddhism and ancestor veneration.

Temples are a way of life in Bali, a picturesque region whose reputation as a major tourist hub has not been shaken by recent horrific terror attacks. People of Bali have tremendous yearning for India.

But Somvir thinks that much more needs to be and can be done.

"Many Balinese priests recite Sanskrit prayers without knowing the language," he explained. "We need to rectify the gap by teaching Sanskrit. I taught Sanskrit on Bali TV for two months free, and the response was terrific.

"The demand for yoga is rising all over Bali, and virtually every second (Western) tourist to Bali wants to learn yoga. It is taught in almost all hotels but the teachers have no formal training. We will offer yoga courses.

"Spiritual tourism is a major attraction, and Bali is the place to promote India. Balinese think of the river Ganga with reverence. We can promote tourism to India with the sacred river in mind.

"As for Bollywood, it is the latest fashion statement in Bali. Bollywood is one reason why so many people are interested in Hindi. We will teach a mixture of Bollywood and ancient Indian dancing. There is a lot we can do, and we hope to do a lot!"

Somvir, who did his BA and MA in Sanskrit from New Delhi before making his way to Indonesia, called India and Bali "separated families". "We were one once upon a time. We want to help restore our old ties."

Akbar Bugti laid to rest in Dera Bugti

Islamabad, Sep 1(IANS) Baloch leader Akbar Khan Bugti was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard at Dera Bugti in Balochistan, a local private TV channel reported.

Confirming it, Major General Shaukat Sultan, chief military spokesperson, told the media that the body was "in advanced stage of decay".

The news became public even as the government braced to meet nationwide protests spearheaded by major opposition parties and alliances which alleged that the killing was deliberate.

The body of the slain leader, who was 79, killed in a military operation last Saturday, was retrieved Thursday evening from the rubbles of the cave where he was supposed to be hiding in Balochistan's hilly interior.

On being retrieved, the body had been immediately examined by doctors, Sultan said. The body was flown in a sealed coffin to the area.

According to the report, newsmen were not allowed to see the slain Baloch leader's body or face. Available reports indicated that it was a private ceremony under strict government control, although family members had demanded that they be given custody of the body.

His sons had raised doubts whether the body belonged to Bugti.

However, the cleric who led the funeral prayers claimed that he had seen the body. None of the relatives of the slain tribal leader were present at the funeral, the TV channel added.

Australia terror suspects to stand trial

Melbourne, Sept 1 (ZEENEWS.COM) Eleven Muslim men accused of belonging to a terror cell that was plotting a major attack in Australia were ordered Friday to stand trial under the country's tough security laws.

The decision came during a court hearing in the southern city of Melbourne. Magistrate Paul Smith said he was satisfied prosecutors had enough evidence to warrant a trial.

The 11 suspects pleaded innocent to charges that they were members of a terrorist organization. Some face additional charges of funding a terror outfit, and they denied those charges as well.

Smith ordered the men to remain in custody.

The men were among 18 suspects arrested in November in Melbourne and Sydney. Police said the arrests headed off a catastrophic terror attack in Australia, possibly targeting a nuclear reactor in southern Sydney.

Authorities have released few details of the alleged plot but have said some of the suspects trained in Afghanistan and Pakistan and met al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

Prosecutor Mark Dean told the court during the hearing that the group was inspired and influenced strongly by al-Qaida and the teachings of bin Laden.

The men sat calmly behind glass barriers in the dock as the decision to send them to trial was announced, Australian Associated Press reported.

Seven of the 11 refused to stand when directed to do so by Smith.

Algerian-born Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 46, the alleged spiritual leader of the group, was among those committed on Friday to stand trial. The others were Fadal Sayadi, 26, Majed Raad, 22, Amer Haddara, 26, Ahmed Raad, 23, Abdullah Merhi, 21, Hany Taha, 31, Shoue Hammoud, 26, Izzydeen Atik, 26, Bassam Raad, 24, and Ezzit Raad, 24.

Smith put off a decision on two other suspects, Shane Kent, 29, and Aimen Joud, 21, until Sept. 18.

"I am satisfied in relation to all defendants except Mr. Joud and Mr. Kent that there is sufficient evidence upon which a jury could convict," Smith said.

Ban speculative trading in essential commodities: CPI-M

Shimla, September 1 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Thursday urged the central government to ban speculative trading in essential commodities, saying their futures trading was fuelling a rise in their prices.

"We demand that the essential commodities be kept out of the futures commodities act as it was leading to the price rise and hoarding," Brinda Karat, senior CPM leader and politburo member, told reporters here in this Himachal Pradesh capital Thursday.

The CPI-M leads the Left Front that supports the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from outside.

"One example is wheat as its prices have shot up by Rs.200 a tonne this year," she said.

"The government has only procured 900,000 tonnes of wheat this year instead of the target of 1.6 million tonnes. Clearly the government is shirking its responsibility and has led to an agrarian crisis," Karat said.

"Isn't it strange that at one time India exported wheat to the Australia wheat board but is now importing it from the same company," she said.

Bangladeshi court endorses death sentences on militants

Dhaka, Sep 1 (DPA) A high court in Bangladesh has confirmed the death sentences passed by a trial court on top leaders of the banned Islamist militant group Jamiatul Mujahideen (JM), officials said.

A two-member high court bench scrutinising the lower court verdict upheld the death sentences overnight, clearing a legal hurdle to early executions.

Shaekh Abdur Rahman, the founder of the Islamic outfit, and his deputy Bangla Bhai were among the seven militants who were given death sentences for their role in carrying out a suicide bomb attack against two district judges in Bangladesh on Nov 14, 2005.

Two junior judges, Sohail Ahmad and Jagannath Pandey, were fatally wounded in the blast, which occurred as they were traveling to office in a car in Jhalokathi town.

Both Mujahideen leaders admitted to masterminding the assassinations, which inflamed public opinion in favour of tough actions against the militants.

"The prosecution proved the case without reasonable doubt," said Mohammad Ali Asgar Khan, one of the high court justices sitting on the bench on Thursday.

The five other Mujahideen militants sent to the gallows by the lower court after their arrest three months ago were Ataur Rahman Sunny, Abdul Awal, Khalid Saifullah, Asadul Islam Arif and Iftekhar Hassan Mamun, court officers said.

Only Mamun filed an appeal against the trial court judgment, which was also dismissed by the high court. The other convicted man said only Islamic courts set up under the holy Koran were competent to try them.

Bangladeshi laws, however, do not permit the implementation of death sentences handed down by lower courts without a review of the judgment by the High Court.

The Jamiatul Mujahideen group emerged as part of a terror network which orchestrated bomb attacks by militants at over 400 locations across the country on Aug 17 this year leaving six people dead and scores injured.

The Mujahideens have vowed to establish an Islamist state in Bangladesh, which has a population of 130 million with an overwhelming majority of Muslims.

BCCI launches official cricket ratings

Mumbai, September 1 (IANS) The Indian cricket board Thursday launched its own players' ratings for Test matches, one-day internationals (ODIs), women's cricket as well as juniors.

The ratings will be capped by an annual awards ceremony that will be held at the end of every domestic season, Lalit Modi, marketing sub-committee chief and vice president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), announced here.

The ratings, launched in partnership with Percept Holdings, will honour top performances by batsmen, bowlers, fielders and all-rounders.

Awrads will be presented in the following categories: Best Test and ODI batsman, bowler, fielder and all-rounder; best Test and ODI opening batsman, most consistent/reliable ODI and Test player; Best Test and ODI innings of the year.

Prizes will also be presented to the Test and ODI Player of the Year; My Favourite Player, Most Stylish Player and Master Blaster of the Year, said Modi.

Cricket fans will also get a chance to vote for their favourite stars. These categories will include Player of the Week and My Favourite Player.

Modi, however, did not disclose the procedure for picking winners and the prize money.

Bharrat Jagdeo becomes Guyana president 3rd time

Georgetown, Sep 1 (IANS) Bharrat Jagdeo, of Indian descent, has won a third consecutive term as president of Guyana following the Caribbean nation's general elections held last Monday.

Announcing this late Thursday, Guyana's chief election officer Gocool Boodoo said Jagdeo garnered 64.6 percent of the vote, while his party, the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), won 36 seats in the 65-member National Assembly, up by two seats from the previous term.

"This is an endorsement of our track record," reports quoted Jagdeo as saying.

Born in 1964, Jagdeo earned his master's in economics in Moscow in 1990. He the returned to Guyana and worked as an economist in the State Planning Secretariat When the PPP/C came to power here in 1992, he worked as an advisor to the Minister of Finance.

Jagdeo had become the president of Guyana for the first time in 1999 when Janet Jagan, wife of Cheddi Jagan, resigned from that post. He was then re-elected in the elections that were held in 2001.

Meanwhile, Robert Corbin, leader of the main opposition People's National Congress Reform - One Guyana (PNCR-1G), was quoted as saying that the elections have shown that "ethnic voting patterns remain deep-seated".

PNCR-1G lost six seats and has been left with only 21 seats in the parliament.

According to a report in the Stabroek News, he made the call for a national unity government, stating that the party leaders could not "bury their heads in the sand to the fact that there is a hardened perception among a substantial section of the Afro-Guyanese community and that they could not survive five more years of the PPP/C rule".

Indo-Guyanese, most of whom are descendants of Indians who had come to work as indentured labour in the country's sugarcane plantations in the 18th and late 19th centuries, today comprise 50 percent of the Guyana's population of over 750,000.

This year's elections in Guyana have come in for special praise for the relatively peaceful atmosphere in which these were held.

Representatives pf the country's Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB) and the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) acted as observers in the elections.

Britain's High Commissioner to Guyana, Fraser Wheeler, read a statement on behalf of his country, the United States, Canada, and the European Union congratulating all Guyanese in general and the country's election commission in particular for the peaceful elections.

Bhutia back in Indian team

New Delhi, September 1 (IANS) Bhaichung Bhutia, who recently expressed his desire to quit big time football, was Thursday named captain of a 20-member Indian squad for a qualifying round match of the Asian Cup 2007.

An All India Football Federation (AIFF) statement said the match would be played against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh Sep 6.

Bhutia, who has lately been busy with television commentary, said in July he wanted to quit top class football. But AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi apparently persuaded him to rethink about his decision.

Bhutia, 29, played for India with distinction, and also represented East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Bury FC in England.

Lately, the Sikkim player has been appearing regularly on television as an expert commentator. His decision to quit the game could have been influenced by his increasing television work.

Dasmunshi wants Bhutia to play on till the Asian Games in Doha this December.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Sandip Nandy (Mahindra United), Subrata Paul (Mohun Bagan) and Subhasis Roy Chaudhary (Mahindra United)

Defenders: Surukumar Singh (Mahindra United), N.S. Manju (Mahindra United), Deepak Mondal (Mohun Bagan), Samir Naik (Dempo Sports Club), Anupam Sarkar (East Bengal), Narinder Singh (Jagatjit Cotton Textile Mills), N.P. Pradeep (Mahindra United) and Sanjiv Maria (Mohun Bagan)

Midfielders: Steven Dias (Mahindra United), Mehrajuddin Wadoo (Mohun Bagan), Manjit Singh (Bengal), P. Renedy Singh (JCT) and Micky Fernandes (Salgaocar SC)

Forwards: S. Rahim Nabi (East Bengal), Fredy Mascarnhas (East Bengal), Sunil Chhetri (JCT) and Bhaichung Bhutia (captain, Mohun Bagan)

Support staff: Bob Houghton (chief coach), Alfonso Maricio Milagres (assistant coach), Antonio Marcos Pacheco (goal-keepers' coach), Manbendra Bhattacharya (team doctor), Tapan Bhattacharya (physiotherapist) and Pradeep Choudhury (manager)

BJP flip-flop on Vande Mataram continues

New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continued to change its tune on the issue of making the singing of "Vande Mataram" compulsory in schools, even as its senior leader L.K. Advani Friday said there should not be any compromise on the national song.

Speaking at a book release function at the party headquarters here, the former BJP chief said: "There should be no compromising attitude on the national song and showing respect to national symbols cannot be made optional."

In the light of the separatist tendencies existing in the country, one could not afford to compromise on the issue of singing of the national song, Advani said.

"Vande Mataram" has become a major political issue after a section of Muslims objected to its singing on Sep 7 in schools to mark the centenary of the song's recitation at the Indian National Congress' Calcutta Session, where it was adapted as the national song.

The BJP at first called for making the singing at educational institutions compulsory but soon changed its stance.

Advani's comments are in contrast to what BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad had said two days ago.

"The question is not of making the singing mandatory but that of showing respect to Vande Mataram as a vibrant national symbol," Prasad had said.

A senior party leader said: "This (Prasad's statement) had indicated softening of the party's stand on this issue. The strategy was not to let the issue snowball into a controversy which had arisen out of party chief Rajnath Singh's strong stance," a senior BJP leader said.

Prasad had refused to make any commitment whether the governments in the BJP-ruled states would make singing of the national song compulsory.

The party has cancelled the programme announced earlier in which its minority cell members were to sing "Vande Mataram".

Bush assassination drama criticised

London, Sep 1 (IANS) A British drama about the fictional assassination of US President George Bush has been criticised as being "irresponsible".

According to contactmusic.com, the drama, "Death Of a President", shows Bush shot in Chicago in 2007. The movie then follows an investigation into the murder, which is carried out by a Syrian gunman.

A spokesperson for the White House said: "We won't dignify this with a response."

A spokesperson for the Republican Party said: "I can't support a video that dramatises the assassination of our president whether real or imagined."

But Gabriel Range, the director of the movie, said: "People haven't seen the film yet. It's not gratuitous or sensationalist. The film uses the horrific scenario of the president's assassination to provoke a legitimate debate."

Chhattisgarh aims to enter Limca book with jatropha

Raipur, Sep 1 (IANS) It is planned as a novel two-pronged strategy. On Sep 4 thousands of volunteers, including children, in Chhattisgarh would plant more than two million jatropha saplings in just 11 hours to find a place in the Limca Book of Records - a move that would also motivate people towards the plant, a rich source of bio-fuel.

"We have arranged a grand show on Sep 4 in Kawardha district when thousands of volunteers including from the Red Cross, school children, village heads, women self-help groups and teachers will plant 2-3 million saplings of jatropha in the presence of the media and chief minister," district collector Sonmoni Bora told IANS Friday.

Kawardha is the home district of Chief Minister Raman Singh.

The whole exercise is aimed to create a revolution in jatropha plantations in Chhattisgarh and also to find a place in the Limca Book of Records for the highest-ever jatropha plantations in a single day.

The state government has announced plans to plant 1.6 million jatropha and karanj saplings in the 2006-07 fiscal in all its 16 districts. The plantations are aimed to make India an energy secure country by 2015.

Raman Singh in May last year became the first state chief in the country to use jatropha fuel in his official vehicle. He said recently that his government planned to replace imported diesel with jatropha fuel by year 2007 for all state-owned vehicles running on diesel and petrol.

Chhattisgarh is pushing the central government for an early unveiling of a national bio-fuel policy. It claims the bio-fuel rich plants have the potential to help India get over its annual requirement of 124 million metric tonnes of petroleum products, of which around 72 percent is met through imports at a cost of over Rs.1.5 trillion.

China to host central Asian economic cooperation meet

Beijing, Sep 1 (Xinhua) Finance ministers from China and seven other countries in Central Asia are expected to agree on a framework for medium-term strategic cooperation at a meeting in northwest China next month.

Ju Kuilin, deputy-director of the international department of the Chinese finance ministry, said ministers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Tajikistan were expected to pass a comprehensive action plan on regional economic cooperation.

The meet is also expected to launch cooperation in research and capacity building for AIDS and avian flu prevention.

Ju told reporters that the cooperation plan, the first of its kind in Central Asia, would serve as a guideline for cooperation.

The meeting is scheduled Oct 18-20 in Urumqi, which borders Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries.

The Asian Development Bank initiated a regional cooperation mechanism for central Asian region, which was launched in 2002 focusing on communications, energy, trade facilitation and trade.

Regional highway corridor projects linking China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan were under construction, and plans for other highway and railway projects linking some of the central Asian countries had been proposed.

Clouds of uncertainty over Congress-PDP alliance

By F. Ahmed,

Srinagar, Sep 1 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's political acumen is being tested as clouds of uncertainty loom large over his Congress party's alliance with the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

The tension between the alliance partners came to the fore this week when the chief minister expanded and reshuffled the cabinet.

The PDP urged Azad to divest Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig, known to be closer to the chief minister then the party leadership, of his high-profile portfolios of finance, planning and development, but the request was ignored.

The regional party was then left with little option but to recall Baig from the cabinet.

"In the normal course of events, the chief minister should have gone by our advice. Instead, he decided to ignore us totally by keeping Baig's previous portfolios intact," said a senior PDP legislator here.

"In order to maintain the party discipline, we asked Baig to resign from the council of ministers which he refused to do. We were left with no option, but to recall Baig Sahib," the PDP leader said.

Some PDP leaders, who do not want to be named, go the extent of accusing Azad of deliberately rocking the alliance boat so that the PDP is forced to withdraw from of the present arrangement.

In the last state elections in 2002, the National Conference (NC) won only 27 seats in the 87-member assembly, as the Congress (20) and the PDP (16) joined hands to form government. Under their arrangement, PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed was chief minister till November 2005 after which Azad took over.

"Let us not ignore the fact that Azad Sahib has very close relations with the NC patron Dr. Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah. At times, he has been treating the PDP as the opposition and the NC as his true ally," said another senior PDP leader.

Congress leaders in the state were tight-lipped while Azad, on a daylong visit of Ladakh region, was yet to react on the PDP legislature party's resolution of Thursday evening, demanding that Baig be replaced by Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar.

NC president Omar Abdullah, however, refused to divulge his party's strategy.

"We are at the moment watching the situation very closely. I cannot make any comment at present as to what course my party would adopt if the present ruling alliance were to collapse," he said.

However, political observers here say that if the Congress-DPD alliance reaches a point of no return, the NC would be more than willing to support Azad's government from outside.

"It is clear that Azad can comfortably continue as chief minister with the outside support from the NC. But, can the Congress afford to change horses midway? What signal would they be sending out by aligning with the PDP today and with the NC tomorrow? I don't think it is going to be that simple," said a political analyst here.

The chief minister would have to make up his mind quickly on whether supporting Baig's continuance in the ministry is worth risking the future of the present political arrangement.

"After all, Azad was sent here to strengthen the mainstream forces and not to poach on the flock of his allies," said another PDP leader here.

Cluster bomb experts face tough task in Lebanon

Beirut, Sep 1 (DPA) The number of people killed by cluster bombs in Lebanon dropped by Israel has climbed to 13 and nearly 50 have been seriously injured, putting added pressure on bomb clearance teams.

Chris Clark, head of the UN Mine Action Service in southern Lebanon, said the explosives had gone off since the end of hostilities Aug 14.

So far the UN team have located 390 separate Israeli strike sites where the munitions were used, he said.

About 2,000 of the potentially deadly bomblets, which litter the areas, have been destroyed, he added.

The UN has asked Israel to provide a list of sites targeted during its month-long offensive in Lebanon as crucial for the clean up.

Cluster bombs contain sub-munitions, or smaller bombs, that are often no bigger than a torch battery, many of which fail to detonate immediately on impact.

Israel and other countries, which have used the weapons, notably the US in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo, often face criticism because the weapons can kill indiscriminately.

"The situation is much more severe than what the UN encountered in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo," said Dyala Farran, media officer in Tyre for the Mine Action Coordination Centre, a partnership between the UN and Lebanon's National Demining Office.

The Israeli military is believed to have fired around 2,000-3,000 rounds of heavy ammunition - not only cluster bombs but also artillery shells and more conventional bombs - each day in the early days of its offensive against the Hezbollah. That figure rose to 5,000-6,000 rounds in the final days of the fighting.

Farran said an estimated 10 percent of all munitions failed to explode.

Franck Masche, 38, a former German soldier and his team from the British charity MAG have been destroying cluster munitions. The Aug 14 ceasefire halted a 33-day war between Israel and Hezbollah fighters.

Doctors treating cluster bomb victims in a hospital in Tyre said most victims of such bombs usually loses their limbs because "the shrapnel, when you step on one of them or touch it with your hands, explodes, creating dozen of small (pieces of) shrapnel.

"Most of our victims are children who touch the bomblets or villagers who stepped on them by mistake," Hussein Alam said.

In addition to the problem posed by cluster bombs, southern Lebanon has also had to deal with around 400,000 landmines, many of which were left by the Israeli military when it occupied the region from 1985 to 2000.

Dalai Lama to attend women's meet in California

Dharamsala, Sep 1 (IANS) Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, will attend a women's' meet in California, US, in September, said the Tibetan government in exile here.

"His holiness (the Dalai Lama) will fly to California at the invitation of Maria Shriver, wife of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger," said Tenzing Takla, personal secretary of the Dalai Lama.

Schwarzenegger will also attend the meet at the Long Beach Convention Centre Sep 26 that will boast of 60 renowned speakers and panellists including Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York Maureen Dowd, Tim Russert, Tyra Banks and Anna Quindlen among others.

Shriver, who is also a well-known television personality, had visited Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, the seat of the Dalai Lama, to invite him for the conference.

The Dalai Lama has a huge following in Hollywood and the western world.

The Tibetan spiritual leader fled Tibet in 1959 along with thousands of his followers after a failed coup against the communist regime.

Delhi court appreciates anti-encroachment stand

New Delhi, September 1 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Thursday appreciated the stand taken by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on action against encroachers on public land and unauthorised buildings here in the capital.

After going through the affidavit filed by MCD Commissioner A.K. Nigam giving details of the plan the civic body had chalked out to deal with the culprits, a division bench comprising judges Vijender Jain and Rekha Sharma concluded the hearing of the matter for the day with the hope that the local body would take effective action against unauthorised constructions.

"We appreciate the stand taken by MCD on action against unauthorised constructions in Delhi and hope that the local body would take effective action against unauthorised constructions so that a message goes to the public that nobody is above law," the Bench observed.

This was one hearing on the matter when the local body received no rebuke from the court.

Barring some minor complaints, the court also appreciated the action taken by MCD and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) against unauthorised builders and encroachers.

Epic AIDS film may be shown on Doordarshan

By Arun Kumar,

Washington, Sep 1 (IANS) Academy Award nominee Robert Bilheimer's film about the global AIDS epidemic, "A Closer Walk", may be screened on India's Doordarshan and China's CCTV on World AIDS Day Dec 1.

Filmed on four continents over a period of three years, "A Closer Walk" depicts the realities of global AIDS and explores the relationship between health, dignity and human rights.

"This is a story about the way the world is," says narrator Glenn Close as the film looks at the world through the prism of AIDS, taking the viewer to locations in the US, Ukraine, Uganda, South Africa, India, and Haiti, and offers personal stories of children, women and men around the world who are affected by the disease.

Those caring or advocating for people living with AIDS are featured prominently in the film as well. They include Paul Farmer of Partners In Health, India's Suniti Solomon and Jeffrey Sachs of the Earth Institute at Columbia University.

Narrated by Close and Will Smith, "A Closer Walk" features cinematography by Richard D. Young, interviews with the Dalai Lama, Bono, and Kofi Annan, and musical contributions by Annie Lennox, the Neville Brothers, Eric Clapton and Sade.

The United Nations and other agencies have sponsored premieres and distribution programmes in Ukraine, India, South Africa, Cambodia, and Thailand of the 80-minute documentary that made its US television debut Thursday.

Describing his approach to the film, director Robert Bilheimer said: "When I interviewed [UNAIDS Executive Director] Peter Piot early on, I was struck by his insight that 'AIDS is part of the human condition', and that 'AIDS exists because we exist'.

"When Peter said that, I knew that 'A Closer Walk' should indeed be a film about the way the world is, and that my colleagues and I would need to be in and of the world for a period of time to truly understand what AIDS is doing to us all."

Conceived in 1996 with the late Jonathan Mann - widely regarded as the architect of the international response to global AIDS - "A Closer Walk" took three years to develop, three years to make, and in 2007 will enter its fourth year of a steadily expanding distribution campaign.

"The whole point", says Bilheimer, "was to level the playing field in terms of what we all - as a human family - understand about AIDS. Making a film that would somehow engage people around the world on this issue was obviously a challenge on the creative side. But the equal challenge, on the distribution side, was to put the movie in front of, literally, hundreds of millions of people. We are going to achieve that this year."

The film has been shown at hundreds of school and college campuses around the world, and been used as a primary education and awareness tool by advocacy groups, corporations, the United Nations, the US State Department and prominent AIDS organisations.

"A Closer Walk" has received international critical acclaim. Writing for the Gannett News Service, Chief Film Critic Jack Garner gave the film his highest rating, calling it a "beautifully told story of suffering that inspires hope and action".

Reviewing the film prior to its national airing on South African television, Claire Keaton of the Sunday Times described the film as "unforgettable".

Ex-AMU girl student begins hunger strike

Aligarh, September 1 (ZEENEWS.COM) A former girl student of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) began an indefinite hunger strike here on Thursday to protest the "indifferent" response of authorities to her allegation that a senior teacher had sexually harassed her.

Asma Javed, who failed to get admission to the PhD course this year, filed a complaint at the Civil Lines police station yesterday against Mohammad Shareef, a teacher in the Sanskrit department whom she has accused of harassing her. Shareef has already been suspended.

Javed, who began her protest in front of the Vice- Chancellor`s residence, is being supported by several student leaders.

Members of AMU`s women`s grievance cell, however, denied Javed`s accusation that the panel was trying to "whitewash" the matter and give a clean chit to Shareef.

Accusing Javed of falling prey to misguided elements "who are more interested in trying to exploit the situation and defame the institute", Amna Kishore, a member of the women`s cell, said, "we are determined to mete out justice in this matter but our task is now being complicated by the deliberate whipping up of public sentiments."

The women`s cell is currently probing Asma`s charges of alleged sexual harassment against Shareef as well as a foreign student`s complaint that a senior teacher of the law department had made "indecent sexual advances" against her.

Members of the cell have said they are not under "any sort of pressure" from AMU`s administration in conducting the probe. They said the cell was scheduled to hold "the final session" of its inquiry.

Addressing a press conference, three members of the women`s cell -- chairperson Shamim Jahan, Amna Kishore and Zakia Siddiquie -- expressed their displeasure at the aspersions cast on their inquiry into Javed`s allegations.

In a separate press conference, the AMU teachers association said an impartial inquiry is being conducted into the charges made by Javed and that the concerned teacher had been suspended.

"To pre-judge the matter before the inquiry is completed is absolutely unfair," said AMU Teachers Association Rizwan Ahmed.

Javed`s allegations have embroiled AMU in a fresh controversy barely six months after a 21-year-old student, Farah Khanum, alleged that she was threatened on the campus for wearing T-shirts and jeans.

Elections to the AMU Students Union are round the corner and several student leaders have pledged support for Javed`s protest.

Flood fury: army help in Uttar Pradesh, Orissa affected

Lucknow/Bhubaneswar, September 1 (IANS) As floods continue to ravage many parts of India, troops were Thursday called out for relief work in parts of Uttar Pradesh where 42 people died even as the Mahanadi inundated large areas in Orissa affecting more than 300,000 people.

In Uttar Pradesh, rivers were flowing well above the danger mark, enveloping over 100,000 people in at least seven districts.

"The Rapti, Ghaghra and Saryu rivers, which originate in Nepal, have swollen on account of release of water from dams in Nepal and there is little we can do about it," said a home department official.

In the worst affected Balrampur district, along the India-Nepal border, around 45 villages have been marooned, affecting at least 48,000 people.

Other districts hit are Bahraich, Lakhimpur-Kheri, Shravasti, Lakhimpur Kheri (all adjoining the Nepal border), Gonda and Barabanki.

"Army help was sought in Barabanki and Bahraich districts to evacuate people from 15 completely marooned villages," Uttar Pradesh relief commissioner Renuka Kumar told IANS.

Soldiers were also assisting the civil authorities in repairing breaches along the embankments of some rivers.

In other places, the Provincial Armed Constabulary was pressed into service.

"The Ghagra, which has been in spate for several days, has breached the embankments at some places and overflowed into villages, causing loss of human lives, cattle and property," said Kumar.

"Relief measures are in full swing and sufficient funds are being forwarded to the affected districts to ensure timely relief to people."

The Nepal authorities are continuing to release water on account of heavy rains in the upper reaches. The rising rivers downstream in Uttar Pradesh threaten to engulf more villages.

Orissa, hit by torrential rains earlier, was now facing the flood fury.

The heavy rains since Sunday in the upper catchments of the Mahanadi caused breaches Thursday at two places along the banks at Bhagipur in Cuttack district, some 60 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, inundating large swathes of farmland and villages.

The water level at Dalai Ghai along the banks of the Devi river, a tributary of the Mahanadi, in Jagatsinghpur district has crossed the danger mark.

The situation was likely to aggravate in the coming days with the Mahanadi, the state's biggest river, and its tributaries continuing to swell, Orissa special relief commissioner Jagadananda Panda told IANS.

"We have evacuated more than 10,000 people from various districts," he said.

The fresh floods come even as the state is yet to recover from earlier flooding which claimed over 85 lives and caused massive devastation.

"As per our estimate, the number of people likely to be affected by the latest floods may be near three million in next two days," Panda said.

On Wednesday night, the government alerted the administrations of Jagatsinghpur, Angul, Boudh, Cuttack, Khurda, Nayagada, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Puri districts.

Stocks of food, medicines and other relief material have been kept ready at all village blocks and district headquarters, officials said.

At least 100 Indian soldiers are camping at Ranchi in neighbouring Jharkhand on standby to move in for flood relief in any emergency.

Floodwaters begin to recede in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Sep 1 (IANS) Floods triggered by heavy rains continued to ravage Orissa Friday though the waters in the state's rivers had started receding.

The floods in the Mahanadi, the state's biggest river, and its tributaries had hit more than 700,000 people and marooned at least 170 villages in 10 of the state's 30 districts, Orissa's Special Relief Commissioner Jagadananda Panda told IANS.

The fresh floods come even as Orissa is yet to recover from the four rounds of floods that ravaged most parts of the state over past two months killing over 85 people.

The situation was likely to improve in next 24 hours as the floodwaters had started receding, the official said.

At the Munduli point of the Mahanai in Cuttack district, 1.24 million cusecs water was flowing at 9.00 a.m. Friday against 1.28 million cusec Thursday midnight, he said.

"We hope the water in tributaries will also recede," Panda said.

The state government had earlier alerted the administration of the districts of Jagatsinghpur, Angul, Boudh, Cuttack, Khurda, Nayagada, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Puri, he said.

Goa to host vegetarian congress

New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) India will host the 37th edition of the International Vegetarian Congress in Goa from Sep 10.

The six-day congress, organised by International Vegetarian Union, will discuss the challenges vegetarians face across the globe.

Jashu C. Shah, president of the Asian Vegetarian Union, said in a statement that the congress would help participants understand India as a country where vegetarianism is a way of life.

The conference would also discuss issues like ecology, genetic engineering, environment, spiritualism and alternate therapies, Shah said.

HAL, EADS ink pact for joint marketing strategies

Bangalore, Sept 1 (IANS) Indian aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and European aerospace leader EADS (European Aeronautics Defence and Space) Friday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for long-term co-operation and joint marketing strategies.

The MoU, signed by HAL chairman Ashok K. Baweja and EADS CEO Tom Enders here, envisages expanding co-operation in new market segments and joint analysis of the aerospace business in the sub-continent.

"In the coming months, we will conduct a joint analysis of mid-term and long-term strategies in the key segments of aerospace business to determine how both the partners can team up and benefit from each other's expertise," Baweja said on the occasion.

Enders said as long-term partners, HAL and EADS have been involved in manufacturing helicopters and passenger jets. The design skills and technological capabilities of HAL make it a valuable partner for global co-operation in aerospace and defence.

HAL managing director (Bangalore complex) A.K. Saxena said the MoU would define the products to be jointly developed for domestic and export markets.

"HAL will benefit from teaming up with a global player like EADS to develop technologies and products for global players through joint marketing strategies," Saxena said.

In the helicopter space, Eurocopter, owned by EADS, has recently sub-contracted the production of airframes for its Ecureuil type versions to HAL. The first airframe is scheduled for delivery by this year-end.

Incidentally, India is the first country with which Eurocopter had signed a licence for technology transfer. The Indian defence ministry has shortlisted Fennec, the military version of the Ecureuil series, to replace the Cheetah/Chetak fleet of the army in the near future.

"Since Eurocopter collaborated with HAL in the development of its flagship product - the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) - christened Dhruv, it has expressed willingness to develop 10T helicopter HAL plans to co-develop with a foreign partner for the Indian armed forces and market it for global customers," Saxena pointed out.

In the civil aviation segment, HAL has been making doors for A320 of Airbus Industries, in which EADS has 80 percent equity stake, over the last 15 years. Of the total contract to supply 600 sets of doors, HAL has delivered 300 so far.

"Airbus has placed an order recently with HAL for a new batch of A320 doors. HAL has also produced parts for the A320 nose undercarriage. The production of A340 emergency doors is due to start soon," Saxena added.

As a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services, EADS generated euro 34.2 billion in 2005. With a workforce of 113,000, the European firm is a major partner in the Eurofighter consortium and is a prime contractor for the Ariane space launcher.

Haryana to introduce super luxury buses

Chandigarh, September 1 (IANS) The Haryana government Thursday announced it would soon launch a super luxury bus service to cater to the needs of high-end customers.

Buoyed by the success of the Volvo luxury buses introduced a few months ago, Chief Secretary Prem Prashant said here the new buses would be more comfortable and hi-tech than the Volvo buses.

The seats would be bigger and have spacious surroundings. Each passenger would have a small personal TV screen, Internet connection and other facilities.

There would also be built-in toilets, telephone facilities and fax machines, the chief secretary said.

The trial service would be introduced within a month and the fare on the Chandigarh-Delhi-Chandigarh route will be up to Rs.850 on each side.

Heroin worth Rs.13 million seized in Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) Delhi Police Friday seized 1.3 kg of heroin worth Rs.13 million in south Delhi and arrested one person as part of the continuing crackdown on organised drug trafficking in the capital.

Abu Tahir was arrested from Greater Kailash-II, a posh colony in south Delhi. Police said he is a resident of Jharkhand and had come to the capital to meet his contact to sell the consignment.

Officials said that though Tahir had confessed of being from Jharkhand, they suspect that he is from Bangladesh.

"He is part of an organised drug trade that is working in the capital. We suspect that he is a Bangladeshi national," said a senior official. Police said a few more arrests could be possible on the basis of the information provided by Tahir.

"We had received prior information about the deal and we had laid a trap to nab Tahir," said the official.

Officials added that the 1.3 kg of heroin was kept in small packets.

Recently, police had recovered mandrax worth Rs.1 billion in the capital and the consignment was being smuggled to South Africa. In another recent haul in Delhi, police had seized ephedrine worth Rs.2 billion.

Hingis, Sania top seeded for Kolkata Open tennis

Kolkata, September 1 (IANS) Former world No. 1 Martina Hingis and current No. 54 Sania Mirza will be the star attraction at the $175,000 Sunfeast Open tennis tournament starting here Sep 18, it was announced here Thursday.

A Tier III tournament, Sunfeast Open will have as many as nine of the top 100 ranked players of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), the organisers said here.

Besides Switzerland's Hingis, who has been top seeded for the tournament, Croatian Karolina Sprem, runner-up in the first edition of the event in 2005, Yuliana Fedak from Ukraine and Hungarian Melinda Czink are the other well-known names that will compete at the Netaji Indoor Stadium Sep 18-24.

Some of the other better known players taking part are Galina Voskoboeva of Russia, Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai and Yulia Beygelzimer of Ukraine.

"In its second edition itself the Sunfeast Open has grown in stature and this year too we have an array of top players who will provide some scintillating action on the courts," said Mahesh Bhupathi, whose company Globosport India is organising the tournament.

Bhupathi, who is Golobosport's managing director, said each of the promising youngster is capable of winning their first WTA title, adding excitement to the challenge.

"The leading players have beaten the best in the field and this fact holds promise for some dazzling display for tennis lovers of our country. I am pleased to say that the Sunfeast Open has lived up to its objective of attracting the finest talent and providing Indian fans a chance to watch great tennis."

Apart from three wild cards that will be announced soon, four players will make it from the qualifying round to be held Sep 16 and 17.

Seedings: 1 Martina Hingis (Switzerland), 2. Sania Mirza (India), 3. Karolina Sprem (Croatia), 4. Yuliana Fedak (Ukraine), 5. Melinda Czink (Hungary), 6. Galina Voskoboeva (Russia), 7. Kaia Kanepi (Estonia), 8. Aravane Rezai (France), 9. Yulia Beygelzimer (Ukraine), 10. Hana Sromova (Czechoslovakia), 11. Anastassia Rodionova (Russia), 12. Nicole Pratt (Australia), 13. Olga Poutchkova (Russia), 14. Tamarine Tanasugarn (Thailand), 15. Angelique Widjaja (Indonesia), 16. Antonella Serra Zanetti (Italy), 17. Sandra Kloesel (Germany), 18. Lioudmila Skavronskaia (Russia), 19. Tatiana Poutchek (Belarus), 20. Yung-jan Chan (Taipei), 21. Anda Perianu (Romania), 22. Tzipora Obziler (Israel), 23. Arantxa Parra Santonja (Spain) and 24. Anne Keothavong (Britain)

Huawei expands India operations

Bangalore, Sep 1 (IANS) Huawei Technologies India, the largest overseas software R&D subsidiary of the $8.2 billion Chinese telecom major, has expanded its operations here to develop optical network products and wireless LAN (local area network) solutions for its global customers.

The new R&D facility will focus on new generation Optix series of intelligent optical network products, based on cutting-edge technologies. Huawei's optical solutions are deployed by leading operators telecos providing IPTV (internet protocol television) services, triple play (high-speed Internet, television and voice) services, mobile services and leased line services to their customers, worldwide.

"The optical network products will be initially designed and developed here for our leading customers such as Fibernet and Viatel in the UK, NEUF in France, DFN in Germany and Telemar in Brazil," a company official told IANS.

About 200 lateral techies will be working on optical networks and wireless LAN solutions. Going forward, the subsidiary plans to deploy an additional 300 engineers to broaden its portfolio in new domains such as wireless switch and wireless access points products.

According to Ovum-RHK, a global telecom consulting and marketing research firm, Huawei's optical network has been ranked second in the global optical network market in 2005, and number one in the Asia-Pacific optical network market over the last five years.

As the first and the only major Chinese software development facility in India, Huawei has been engaged in developing next generation network, data communication, telecom middleware, intelligent network, mobile handset, server and security network over the last six years.

"Since we have entered India in 1999, we have made a cumulative investment of $100 million in setting up three operational facilities in Bangalore for software development and R&D activities, besides a marketing division for selling our products to leading Indian telecos in mobile as well as landline space," said Huawei India COO George Huang.

In 2005, the Indian subsidiary generated $127 million from its marketing operations.

On the hiring front, with a high retention level, the company has ramped its headcount to 1,200 people this year and plans to hire another 300 techies by December. Interestingly, about 40-50 Chinese engineers from its four R&D centres in China are on deputation to India for training and project development.

"We provide our engineers an opportunity to work on cutting edge technologies and engage in the development of products/components in wireless LAN domain and optical domain," George pointed out.

Huawei India vice president and head of embedded solutions Virendra Gupta said the R&D and SDC (software development centre) activities cover end-to-end ownership of products ranging from front-end process line and system conceptualisation to software development, testing and delivery.

The subsidiary is in the process of setting up a dedicated campus in a 20-acre land at Whitefield on the outskirts of Bangalore by 2008.

"Our parent company has applied to the Indian government for FIPB (foreign investment promotion board) clearance to set up a production facility in India's silicon hub at an estimated cost of $100 million for manufacturing products and equipment for telecom infrastructure of service providers in the subcontinent, spanning broadband, 3G, CDMA and backbone networks," George hinted.

With presence in 100 countries across North and South Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific, Huawei manufactures products and solutions for about 300 telecos, including 28 of the top 50 operators, serving over one billion users worldwide.

About 60 percent of Huawei's revenues are generated from outside China. Besides four R&D centres in China and one in India, the company has two R&D facilities in the US and one each in Sweden and Russia. About 50 percent of its total employees (44,000) are involved in software development, chip design, embedded software and R&D projects.

India gets New Zealand X-rays

Wellington, Sep 1 (DPA) New Zealand health authorities are sending X-rays of patients over the Internet to India and other countries including war-hit Beirut for diagnosis due to shortages of radiologists, it was reported Friday.

The Hawke's Bay District Health Board said the X-rays and scans were sent overnight to northern hemisphere countries, including Lebanon, Pakistan, India and the US where they were read by dayshift doctors.

Board acting chief executive Win Bennett told Radio New Zealand the credentials of the radiologists were thoroughly investigated and their work was double-checked the next day by local staff.

But New Zealand Medical Association chairman Ross Boswell said the practice was very risky for New Zealand patients.

"The radiologists involved are not registered to work in New Zealand, are unfamiliar with New Zealand conditions and are not covered by New Zealand's disciplinary system," he said.

"If a mistake is made, does the radiologist have any accountability in New Zealand? We think this is very unlikely."

India shoots down double bid by Nepal to get arms

By Sudeshna Sarkar,

Kathmandu, Sept 1 (IANS) In a covert manoeuvre that is bound to affect the ongoing peace talks with the Maoist guerrillas, Nepal's new government tried to get arms and ammunition from Europe but both bids were shot down by the Indian government.

A huge shipment of 12.7 mm machineguns, ammunition, missiles and probably other weapons bought from Emco Ltd in Sofia, Bulgaria, was scheduled to reach Kathmandu last month.

Along with a cargo of aircraft equipment from Sue Orsha Aircraft of Belarus, that could include pods to carry and shoot rockets, the arms cache was shipped to the Master General of Ordnance of the Nepal Army through Russian transporter Kosmos Air Company.

Kosmos had shipped the cargo in two AN-12 aircraft. However, neither the senders nor the intended recipients had taken into account that the aircraft would have to pass through Indian air space.

The first one, while trying to reach Kathmandu via western Indian Gujarat state three days ago, was blocked by the Indian authorities and forced to land at the Ahmedabad Airport.

While it is not confirmed, local reports here said the crew had tried to dupe the Indian authorities into thinking the cargo did not include arms but the latter became suspicious, given the flight route of the aircraft, and forced it to land at the Ahmedabad Airport.

Shortly after the debacle, a second aircraft sought permission to land at Mumbai airport for refuelling before heading for Kathmandu but was denied permission.

The double whammy leaves the Girija Prasad Koirala government of Nepal red-faced since it had been feigning ignorance when the media broke the news of one aircraft being apprehended by the Indian authorities.

"We do not know anything about that consignment," Koirala's adviser on foreign affairs, Suresh Chalise, told a local daily. "An inquiry is on to find out who had struck the deal."

The deal is believed to have been struck during King Gyanendra's absolute rule last year when his foreign minister Ramesh Nath Pandey visited Russia between October 23-26. What is surprising is the new democratic government's covert move to keep the agreement quiet and take possession of the arms at a time it is holding peace negotiations with the Maoists.

The double disclosure would fuel deep resentment among the guerrillas, who have already condemned the first bid to transport arms.

"We have taken serious note of the incident,' senior Maoist leader and member of the rebels' dialogues team, Dinanath Sharma, said referring to the failed attempt by the Nepal Army to obtain missiles from Bulgaria and Belarus.

"It is a matter of serious concern that the government is trying to procure arms at a time it is holding peace talks with us. It is a gross violation of the code of conduct they signed with us to observe during the ongoing ceasefire."

"If the government is really in the dark about the incident, then it smacks of a conspiracy by the palace and foreign powers to stage another coup," Sharma said.

India to host UN meet on aquaculture

New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) India, the second largest aquaculture producer, will host a major UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) meet on fish farming here from Monday attended by representatives from 50 nations.

The third meeting of the FAO Sub-Committee on Aquaculture will discuss a wide range of issues, including aquaculture's contribution to fighting hunger and poverty, ways to minimise environmental impact of fish farming and options for expanding production in the developing world.

India's Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar and Director of FAO's Fishery Resources Division, Serge Garcia, will inaugurate the five-day meet, where the results of a major new FAO report 'The State of World Aquaculture 2006' would be released.

Currently, world aquaculture production is valued at $63 billion a year. Statistics from the UN food agency show that China is the world's largest aquaculture producer followed by India.

FAO established the Sub-Committee on Aquaculture in 2001 to promote international discussions on the future development of aquaculture.

It brings countries together every two years to share information, discuss policy issues related to aquaculture and make recommendations to FAO regarding the agency's work on fish farming.

International trade in fish products (both captured and farmed) is worth over $71 billion annually, with some 77 percent of fish consumed worldwide being supplied by developing countries.

Indeed, the annual net income of developing countries from this trade runs in more than $20 billion, more than their earnings from any other food commodity, including coffee and tea, states FAO.

India to import tea to meet domestic demand

By Syed Zarir Hussain,

Guwahati, Sep 1 (IANS) India will be importing an estimated 25 million kg of tea by the year-end to meet growing domestic demand and production shortfall due to scanty rains.

"The domestic consumption of tea is increasing at a compounded rate of 3.3 percent, while crop production has been hit due to inadequate rainfall leading to a gap in demand and supply of the beverage by about 25 million kg," Dhiraj Kakati, secretary of the Assam chapter of the Indian Tea Association (ITA), told IANS.

In 2005, Indian imported 16 million kg of tea with the country's domestic consumption pegged at 805 million kg.

India produced a record high of 928 million kg of tea last year compared to 820 million kg in 2004. India is the world's largest tea producer followed by China.

In 2005, India exported 192 million kg of tea. "Adverse weather conditions have hit production with estimates showing deficit of about 10 million kg so far this year compared to 2005," the official said.

The northeastern state of Assam that accounts for about 55 percent of India's total annual tea production is reeling under a severe heat wave forcing the local government here to declare the state as witnessing a "drought-like" situation. There has been a shortfall of monsoon rains by about 33 percent this year.

"Our export target is about 195 million kg this year although we might not be able to meet the demand due to falling supplies," Kakati said.

India had earlier estimated that tea production by the end of 2006 would touch a record high of 930 million kg.

"Bush mortality is more this year and we might be forced to close down operations for the season a little early due to scattered rains," the ITA official said.

India's $1.5 billion tea industry was facing a crisis with prices dropping in the weekly auctions since 1998 and exports plummeting as well. But, of late, prices are beginning to firm up.

A kilogram of good quality Assam tea sold at Rs.74 in the auctions last week. Last year, the average price in the auctions was Rs.62 a kg. Prior to 1998, good quality Assam tea sold at about Rs.90 a kg.

The slump in prices was largely attributed to cheap and inferior quality teas produced by many new tea-growing countries, thereby pushing premium quality Indian teas to face stiffer competition in the global market.

The Indian government recently announced a Rs.47 billion package to revive its tea industry blighted by plummeting prices and a downturn in exports. At least 60 percent of the package has been earmarked for Assam, considered the heart of India's tea industry.

India trade pact with Mercosur, SACU on cards

New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) An agreement aimed at boosting trade between India, Brazil and South Africa is expected to be inked during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Brazil this month.

"The agreement will figure on the agenda during the prime minister's visit to Brazil this month," according to Jayant Dasgupta, joint secretary in the commerce ministry.

He was speaking at a meet on the economic cooperation between India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and think tank Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) here Friday evening.

The IBSA, formed after the Cancun talks of the World Trade Organisation in 2003, aims to foster closer political, economic and cultural ties among the three countries.

A free trade agreement among the three may not be possible because Brazil is a signatory to Latin American free trade agreement (FTA) Mercosur and South Africa to the SACU.

The customs union known as Mercosur includes Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela, apart from Brazil. SACU, the oldest customs union in the world, also includes Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland.

Yet efforts are on to help realise the trade potential among the three developing countries, Dasgupta said.

An action plan by the three countries on standardisation that takes into account their own imperatives is required to reduce non-tariff barriers.

India can negotiate a preferential trade agreement with South Africa, as it already has one with Brazil in place. Another agreement between Mercosur and SACU was being worked out, Dasgupta said.

"Much work has to be done in order to realise the potential of IBSA. The customs authorities of the three countries have to align their procedures in order to reduce barriers to trade and business," the official said.

With the common economic goals of liberalising trade in agriculture without trade-distorting subsidies, "IBSA has worked to change the minds of those want status quo in multilateral negotiations," said R. Vishwanathan, joint secretary in the ministry of external affairs.

RIS Director-General Nagesh Kumar said IBSA was a trade facilitation framework aimed at liberalising trade in services, investments and technology transfers. It would foster sectoral cooperation as well as coordination at multilateral forums.

Brazil's Ambassador to India Jose Vicente De Sa Pimental said ties among Brazil, India and South Africa were relatively new and still tenuous.

"Brazil has identified the challenges in improving the ties and will work on them," the ambassador said.

"The three countries need more inter-personal exchange and more people-to-people
contact. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit will go a long way to foster such ties," he added.

Manmohan Singh is scheduled to visit Brazil Sep 13-14, followed by a visit to Cuba to attend the 14th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit.

Iran in defiance of UN ban on enrichment: IAEA

New York/Vienna, September 1 (DPA) Iran has not halted its uranium enrichment activities and was in defiance of the deadline set by the UN Security Council, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told the council Thursday.

"Iran has not suspended its enrichment-related activities, nor has Iran acted in accordance with the provisions of the Additional Protocol," the Vienna-based IAEA said in a copy of the report obtained by DPA.

"Iran has not addressed the long-outstanding verification issues, or provided necessary transparency to remove uncertainties associated with some of its activities."

The report was being circulated to the UN Security Council members in New York and the IAEA's own member states.

Under the deadline laid down in the July 31 UN Security Council Resolution 1696, a finding that Tehran has failed to halt uranium enrichment operations could pave the way for international sanctions against Iran.

The US State Department said Wednesday that it would move quickly to push for Security Council sanctions on Iran if it does not comply with the resolution. The five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany are tentatively scheduled to meet next week in Berlin.

The so-called additional protocol to the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) gave the IAEA greater powers to conduct snap inspections of nuclear facilities they suspect are being used to produce materials for nuclear weapons.

"The Agency remains unable to make further progress in its efforts to verify the correctness and completeness of Iran's declarations with a view to confirming the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme," the report said.

Earlier Thursday, as the UN deadline neared, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated that Iran would not bow to pressure over its nuclear rights.

"The world should know that Iran will not bow to any pressure from any side and not retreat from its internationally acknowledged nuclear rights," Ahmadinejad said in a speech in the northwestern city of Oroumieh, carried on state television.

In the US on Thursday, President George W. Bush accused Iran of "defiance and delay" as the deadline expired.

"It is time for Iran to make a choice," Bush said in an address in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Bush called a set of incentives offered by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the US - plus Germany aimed at persuading Iran to come clean on its nuclear activities a "reasonable proposal".

"We must not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons," Bush said, adding that Iran was in "open defiance of its international obligations".

Bush also accused Iran of supporting Hezbollah, a group considered by the US to be a terrorist organisation that provoked a month-long conflict with Israel that began July 12 and devastated many parts of Lebanon.

The US believes that Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons while Iran insists its nuclear programme is purely for producing energy.

Kashmir portfolios announced amid coalition crisis

Srinagar, Sep 1 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced the portfolios of his council of ministers following its expansion earlier this week.

However, the distribution of portfolios late Thursday has led to a serious crisis in the four-year-old coalition government.

While the major coalition partner Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wanted former deputy chief minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig to be stripped of the key portfolios of finance, planning and development, law and parliamentary affairs, the chief minister allowed Baig to retain the key departments he was holding.

As the portfolios were announced, the PDP called an emergency meeting of its legislature party. It decided to recall Baig from the cabinet and elevate Abdul Aziz Zargar in his place.

In the portfolio distribution, Baig retains finance, planning and development, law and parliamentary affairs.

Senior congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma gets health and medical education while Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed gets education, Haj and Auqaf.

The newly inducted Muhammad Dilawar Mir of PDP gets public health engineering, irrigation, flood control and horticulture.

Qazi Muhammad Afzal, who held these departments, has been allotted the forest portfolio.

Taj Mohi-ud-Din has been given public distribution, animal and sheep husbandry and the chief minister has retained home and general administration.

Kerala parties urge PM to review decision on port project

New Delhi, September 1 (IANS) An all-party delegation from Kerala led by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Thursday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to review the government's decision to deny security clearance to the Vizhinjam container terminal.

The parties, including constituents of both Left Democratic Front and United Democratic Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party, also sought the prime minister's intervention to solve an inter-state dispute over heightening of Mullaperiyar dam with the neighbouring Tamil Nadu government.

The delegation, which met Manmohan Singh here, asked him to intercede in the matter and issue necessary directions to reconsider the central government's decision to deny security clearance to the development of Rs.43.40 billion deepwater international container transhipment terminal in Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram.

Although tenders were called and companies - Kaidi Electric Power Company Ltd, Wuhan, China, Zoom Developers (Pvt) Ltd Mumbai and China Harbour Engineering Company group, Wuhan, China - were selected, the central government had earlier this month informed the state that the project could not be given security clearance.

"The proposed project aims to fulfil the need of international transhipment in a port in
India itself. Once completed, the port can cater to container carrier vessel sizes of 8,000 TEU in phase 1 and 10,000 and 12,000 TEUs subsequently," Achuthanandan said.

"We understand the security concerns of the government. But we want the prime minister to discuss it with the concerned members and find a way to take the project ahead," the chief minister told reporters here.

The Kerala leaders pointed out that the prime minister himself had agreed to lay the foundation stone for the coveted project. "The project and its huge investment in the state would trigger substantial infrastructure and socio-economic developments," the leaders pointed out in a memorandum to the prime minister.

An all-party meeting held in state earlier this month had adopted a resolution pointing out that the "denial of security clearance to the Chinese company-led consortium is discriminative as per international trade laws/agreements and it is a great setback to the long-standing efforts of Kerala state to develop Viszhinjam as transhipment hub port".

The state leaders also told Manmohan Singh that Tamil Nadu's move to go ahead with its decision to raise the height of Mullaperiyar dam at the border would put five districts in Kerala in danger.

"The condition on a recurrent earth tremor (in the dam area) will be hazardous, which will have serious repercussions on the safety of life and property of the people in five districts of Kerala - Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam,Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta."

"If Tamil Nadu is concerned about the water scarcity, we are worried about the lives of three million people. It is more a matter of security to the life and property than a legal issue," Achuthanandan said.

The Supreme Court had allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the height of the dam from 136 to 142 feet, based on a report submitted by a central-appointed committee, which Kerala had disputed. "It was a dam meant for 60 years and now it has already covered 130 years," Kerala opposition leader Oommen Chandy, who was a part of delegation, said.

Kerala wears a festive look for Onam

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 1 (IANS) Festivities are already in full swing in Kerala as people across the state, irrespective of caste and religion, are preparing to celebrate the state's harvest festival.

The Onam season began Aug 17 with the start of Chingam - the first month of the Malayalam calendar and the three key festive days start Sep 4.

Students are the first to partake in Onam joy as all educational institutions are set to close for almost a week from Saturday.

The festival, known for it sumptuous 27-course sadhya (feast), is no longer limited to reunions at one's ancestral homes owing to the growing number of nuclear families.

"Everything in the state has changed and Onam too. In my younger days, it was more of a family reunion at the ancestral house and grandparents used to put up swings in the courtyard," said 75-year-old Savithiri Devi, a retired college professor.

She said grandparents now rarely get a chance to be in their ancestral home and instead move between the houses of their children who live in cities.

Onam has also become more commercial now with companies offering festival schemes and rebates. Huge advertisement hoardings add colour to the already festive atmosphere.

The state government has elaborate plans for the season and has sanctioned Rs.3.6 million to be spent for Onam celebrations.

"Nearly 10,000 artistes are to take part in various cultural events being held across the state during the coming week," said legislator V. Sivan Kutty, organiser of the Onam celebrations.

The Kerala State Beverages Corporation, the wholesalers of liquor, has stacked their godowns with 30 percent more stocks than their regular monthly quota to meet the demand of tipplers during the season.

"We expect to sell Rs.700 million worth liquor during the next week and it would be an all time high," said a KSBC official.

Many hotels have come up with the innovative idea of selling Onam sadhya in carry-home packets - a welcome news for many housewives who want to avoid toiling in the kitchen.

"For Rs.300, hotels are giving an Onam sadhya for a family of five. I have already booked one packet. This is going to be really good because cooking all the items for a sadhya is going to be a tough deal," said S. Jacob, a bank manager.

The film industry too has targeted the holiday period for releasing their films. Movies of leading cine-stars like Mammootty, Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Jayaram, Dileep and Prithviraj have either released or are ready for release.

"'Mahasamudram' released last week and is on its way to become an all time hit. This is the first time that Mohanlal has played the role of a fisherman and I have got reports from across the state that it is being received well by audiences," said Suresh Kumar, producer of the film.

Further, Onam has become the launch pad for the Kerala tourism season as well.

Said Koshy John, a tourist guide: "Till recently, the Kerala tourist season began from November but now it is the Onam week that heralds the beginning of the new season. I am fully booked for the Onam week and this time I feel the season will be better than the previous years."

Another visible trend in the state is that a large number of patients are eager to be discharged from hospitals to be with their families during the festival.

"Many patients who are convalescing in the hospital want to be discharged to celebrate Onam at their homes," said a doctor at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.

Despite several changes in the way Onam is celebrated, a tradition still followed is the preparation of the Onam pookalam (floral designs) in the courtyard of most homes.

However, one can now see pookalams in front of government and private offices as well.

Khushwant Singh unhappy with today's writers

New Delhi, September 1 (IANS) Khushwant Singh, one of the pioneers of the Indian writing in English, feels writers today lack simplicity and the common man is turning his back to them.

"Today I feel sad to see that writers and authors fail to establish a relationship with the masses. Writings have become ambiguous with which common man fails to relate," said the grand old man of Indian letters.

He was addressing the gathering after being conferred the Punjab Rattan award by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here Thursday evening.

"I have never written in Punjabi and still I got this honour. I feel privileged," said Khushwant Singh, 91, at the glittering ceremony attended by who's who of the literary fraternity from India as well as from Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Minister of Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs and Sports Mani Shankar Aiyar said: "I was a kid when I first read Khushwant Singh's 'Train to Pakistan', so I did not understand the depth of the book. I am re-reading it in order to understand the essence of each and every word.

"He truly understands the relationship between India and Pakistan. He is a master of secularism," Aiyar told IANS, referring to the masterpiece published 50 years ago.

L&T bags Rs.11.5 bn power plant contract from IOC

Mumbai, Sep 1 (IANS) India's top engineering and construction firm Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) won a Rs.11.5 billion contract from Indian Oil Corp. for setting up a captive cogeneration power plant in Panipat, Haryana.

The company will manage the project and also build engineering and other facilities of the naphtha cracker plant being built by the state-owned refinery at Panipat, 100 km north of New Delhi.

With the contract IOC's share in the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) rose nearly 1 percent to Rs.2,424 Thursday.

"The power plant comprising five gas turbines, five heat recovery steam generators, three steam turbines, two utility boilers and sophisticated control systems to ensure uninterrupted supply of power and steam to the naphtha cracker complex will be built by the end of 2009," the company said in a statement Thursday.

"It will process 2-2.3 million tonnes of naphtha to produce ethylene, propylene, benzene and pyrolysis gasoline."

This is the second major contract won by L&T for IOC's Panipat naphtha cracker project. L&T and the Toyo consortium had earlier bagged the turnkey contract for naphtha cracker and associated units.

IOC on Thursday also awarded a Rs.3.49 billion ($75.3 million) contract to Punj Lloyd Ltd, sending the engineering and construction firm's shares 2.5 percent higher. Its share climbed to Rs.757.75.

Punj Lloyd will build storage tanks and other facilities at the refinery's naphtha cracker plant at Panipat.

"The group is now the second largest engineering and construction major in the country in terms of the order book. Over 60 percent of Punj Lloyd's order backlog is now represented by projects based outside India," the company said.

Lady muftis breach male bastion: The Telegraph

Hyderabad, September 1 (ZEENEWS.COM) Sania Mirza’s short skirts may have hogged global headlines, but city teenager Amina Batool perhaps better represents the rise of woman power in India’s Muslim society.

The 17-year-old is one of several young women practising as “muftias� � women muftis � in the city, delivering the Friday sermon in all-women mosques, resolving family and marital disputes, confirming divorces and issuing fatwas on current issues such as terrorism.

Amina and nine other women graduated last week from the city’s Jamiat-ul-Mominath, a deemed university of Islamic theology that has been training women as muftias skilled in interpreting the Shariat for men and women in their personal matters.

It was the Jamiat-ul-Mominath, Lucknow, that first began training muftias, but few of its graduates are practising clerics. The Hyderabad Jamiat, too, came out with its first batch in 2003.

The real change came when many of the 100-odd women’s mosques in Hyderabad opened their doors to muftias about a year ago.

Jamiat director Mufti Mohammed Mastan Ali insists that the muftias � the face of a changing Muslim society � are not rebels. “They don’t revolt against established religious practices and beliefs. We just felt that sermons from women muftis would attract more women, and a fatwa from a muftia on a women’s issue would find greater compliance.�

The 10 new graduates gave their first sermon last Friday, with a packed all-woman mosque at Asifnagar listening to Amina in rapt attention.

“Our muftias have been practising for almost a year. They have rendered critical and useful fatwas for youngsters,� Mastan Ali said.

The muftias have come out with edicts against terrorists after the Mumbai train blasts; they have ruled that Sania’s short dresses are unbecoming of a Muslim woman.

As they go on practising, the muftias are expected to continue with their theological studies for another 12 years. “They must live like ascetics in mosques and also travel around, preaching. They need at least five years to understand and recite the Quran. They must also learn Arabic literature,� Mastan Ali said. After completing the course, the muftias can marry.

By the age of 30, the women would be in a position to teach at national institutes and head all-women mosques, the mufti said.

Muftias, however, cannot practise at male congregations. Other than women’s mosques, they can preach at all-women congregations, held at specified times in general mosques.

Not a single verse in the Quran, nor a single Hadith (sayings of the Prophet) forbids women from becoming muftis. Aisha, the Prophet’s favourite wife, became a religious authority after his death and served the community.

Lockheed wins contract for new US spacecraft

Washington, Sep 1 (DPA) Lockheed Martin won the first major contract for a new era of US space exploration, kicking off an ambitious effort to return humans to the moon and one day launch them to Mars.

NASA, the US space agency, chose the US aerospace giant over a rival team of Boeing and Northrop Grumman Corp to build the crew capsule for the next generation of spaceships, which will replace the space shuttle fleet slated to be retired in 2010.

The contract is worth up to $8.1 billion over the next 13 years -- a small fraction of the $230 billion NASA is seeking for new initiatives.

"Today we begin a new journey of discovery," Scott Horowitz, a senior NASA space exploration official, told reporters here.

The design of the Orion capsule is the first step in a vision outlined in January 2004 by US President George Bush to send four astronauts to the moon by 2020 - five decades after the first moon walk on July 20, 1969.

Orion's first flight is due by 2014, but NASA chief Michael Griffin has said he would like to launch the new spacecraft several years earlier.

With Russia, China and Japan now competing in the space race, NASA wants to avoid a lengthy gap in launch capability between the shuttle's retirement and Orion's debut.

In Bush's effort to revive the Cold War era fascination with human space exploration, the moon would eventually be a launching pad for Mars missions.

But much of Bush's high-flying plan depends on whether the US Congress will approve the huge sums required to make it work, estimated at $230 billion dollars over 20 years.

Mercedes upgrades R-Class

Stuttgart (Germany), Sep 1 (DPA) Mercedes-Benz has upgraded its R-Class SUVs with the introduction of the new R 280 CDI 4MATIC and R 63 AMG 4MATIC models.

The range has been expanded to five engine variants with an output from 140 kw/190 hp to 375 kw/510 hp.

Additional driver-support systems include a radar-based proximity control system and a rear-view camera for safe and easy parking.

Starting late this year, the diesel engine range available for the R-Class will be extended by a further six-cylinder engine, also equipped with third-generation common-rail direct injection.

Besides the R 320 CDI 4MATIC (165 kw/224 hp), Mercedes-Benz will also be offering the new R 280 CDI 4MATIC, which has an output of 140 kw/190 hp. As a result, the R-Class can achieve a top speed of 210 km/h and accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 9.8 seconds due to its powerful torque of 440 Nm (from 1,400 to 2,800 rpm).

Combined fuel consumption is 9.3 litres per 100 km, so that the new R 280 CDI 4MATIC has a range of 850 km, according to the car maker.

Standard equipment in the R 280 CDI 4MATIC includes two oxidation-type catalytic converters and a maintenance-free particulate filter.

The six-cylinder unit is teamed up with the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission, which the driver operates electronically by means of the DIRECT SELECT lever on the steering column. The R 280 CDI 4MATIC is available exclusively with a 2,980 mm wheelbase.

At the upper end of the R-Class engine range will be the new R 63 AMG 4MATIC, a 6.3-litre eight-cylinder engine with an output of 375 kW/510 hp. Standard equipment for the R 63 AMG 4MATIC includes high-grade extras such as electronically adjustable AMG sports seats in front with multi-contour function, nappa leather and seat heating at the front plus light-alloy wheels with size 265/45 R 20 wide tyres, an AMG sports chassis and blue-tinted glass.

Optional features of the touring SUV are the actively ventilated luxury seats for the driver and front passenger. These seats are equipped with five fans which take in cool air from the floor level and distribute it evenly over the seat cushion and the backrest.

Mizoram to get central aid to boost exports

Aizawl, Sep 1 (IANS) The commerce ministry Friday said it would extend all possible assistance to boost exports from Mizoram.

Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh gave this assurance while meeting Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga here, on the first day of his two-day visit to the state.

On the economic significance of the Sittwe/Kaladan port to be launched by India in Myanmar, Ramesh said $103 million would be invested in the project that would enable the opening of another route for trade between the northeast and the rest of India with southern Mizoram as the hub.

The project, to be executed by RITES, is expected to be commissioned by 2009.

Ramesh said the commerce ministry would extend all financial and technical support through its Export Development Fund for the northeastern states.

He said his ministry had already sanctioned over Rs.40 million to fully develop the land customs station at Zokhawtar in Mizoram to facilitate border trade with Myanmar.

Ramesh also called on Governor Lt. Gen (retd) M.M. Lakhera.

Modi spares madrassas from singing of Vande Mataram

Ahmedabad, Sep 1 (IANS) Shying away from controversy, the Gujarat government here Friday decided not to make the singing of the national song, Vande Mataram, compulsory for madrassas.

An official directive issued here Friday said all students of the government-run and government-aided educational institutions and government departments should "collectively and without fail" participate in singing the national song Sep 7.

The directive, however, does not make a mention of self-aided institutions, including madrassas.

The order of the Narendra Modi government comes in response to the Union Human Resource Development Ministry's order last month making the recitation of Vande Mataram mandatory on Sep 7 to mark the centenary of its adoption as national song.

The central ministry, however, had later made the singing voluntary following opposition from a section of Muslims.

Mukherjee to visit France, Germany

New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee leaves Saturday for a five-day visit of France and Germany during which he is likely to sign a pact with Berlin to improve military cooperation and boost defence ties with Paris.

Senior officials of the ministries of defence and external affairs, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the armed forces will accompany the minister, it was announced here Friday.

The delegation includes S. Banerjee, director general (acquisition) in the defence ministry, Lt. Gen. H.S. Lidder, chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Air Marshal F.H. Major, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command, Prahlada (one name), DRDO's chief controller (R&D), Sujata Singh, joint secretary in the external affairs ministry, and Gautam Chatterjee, joint secretary in the defence ministry.

"Mukherjee is visiting Germany with the aim of enhancing defence cooperation between the two countries which at present is not so wide," a defence ministry spokesman said Friday.

While India wants to enhance military cooperation with Germany in technology and training, both countries are keen to stage joint naval exercises and increase interaction between their armed forces, the spokesman added.

During his stay in Grmany Sep 5-7, Mukherjee will hold talks with his counterpart Franz Josef Jung and Minister for Economics and Technology Michael Gloss. He will also meet captains of the German defence industry.

The minister will pay homage at the Zehrensdorf Indian Cemetery where lie the graves of 206 Indian soldiers who died as prisoners during the First World War. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has rebuilt the cemetery.

Mukherjee's visit to France is "highly significant as India is likely to achieve better results in the field of defence cooperation", the spokesman said.

"The defence relationship between India and France has been fairly robust in supply and production. The India-France Defence MOU (memorandum of understanding) of 1982 and the Indo-French High Committee of 1998 are the landmarks in (their) cooperation, which has also increased in the field of joint exercises, security dialogue and training," the spokesman added.

During his visit to France Sep 3-5, Mukherjee will meet his counterpart Michele Aliotte-Marie and visit the Centre for Planning and Operations Management (CPCO) and the Command of Air Defence and Air Operations (CDAOA) at Taverny.

CPCO is the joint staff operations centre of the French defence forces. It deals with international operations, plans and execution at the Joint Staff level. The delegation will be given an overview of all types of operations being undertaken by the French defence forces worldwide.

Mukherjee will take part in an interactive roundtable with CEOs of French defence industries.

After his arrival in Paris Sunday, Mukherjee will go to Neuve Chapelle to pay homage at the Indian Soldiers' Memorial. This was built to honour the Indian Army that fought in France and Belgium during the First and Second World Wars and in remembrance of those servicemen who have no known graves.

Muslim youth deported from Britain granted bail

Hyderabad, September 1 (IANS) A Hyderabad Muslim youth deported from Britain on suspected terror links and held here on grounds of "reasonable suspicion" was granted bail Thursday.

The executive magistrate of a city court granted bail to Mohammed Shafiq Ahmed, 23, who was arrested soon after he arrived here from London via Mumbai.

Shafiq, a resident of Akbar Bagh neighbourhood in the city, has denied any terror links and said that his arrest was a case of racial profiling.

Earlier, he was arrested by the authorities at London's Heathrow airport as he was about to board a flight to New York. He was interrogated for three days in London and was also grilled by Indian intelligence agencies at the Mumbai airport Tuesday.

Shafiq, who was working in a trading company in Dubai and staying with his brother, had flown from Dubai to London and was to go to New York for higher studies.

Police here interrogated him about his reasons to go to the US. Though Shafiq said he was going to pursue an MBA programme at the Johnson and Wales University at Rhodes Island, police doubt his academic certificates. However, both his passport and visa were found in order.

According to officials, a case had been booked against Shafiq in 2004 at Malakpet police station for allegedly threatening local legislator Malreddy Ranga Reddy. He had been charged with criminal intimidation.

He had threatened the legislator after a youth was killed in firing by a visiting Gujarat police team while he was trying to free one Moulana Naseeruddin, who had been arrested in connection with the murder of former Gujarat home minister Haren Pandya.

Shafiq told newsmen while in police custody that his arrest was a case of racial profiling. "They are looking at every Asian and every Muslim with suspicion," he said.

He claimed he was mentally tortured by the British police when they asked him about the 9/11 terror attack and the recent conspiracy to blow up trans-Atlantic flights.

"I told them that I knew nothing about this as it is all international politics," he said.

Fed up with the grilling, the youth had even threatened to commit suicide.

He said just as he thought that his ordeal would end, he was held on arrival in Hyderabad.

Shafiq, son of a retired government employee, said he had gone to Dubai a year ago and had a valid Indian passport. He obtained a student visa for the US and had all valid travel documents to reach New York via London.

Muslims demand reservation in education

By Pervez Bari

V.P. Singh, the former Prime Minister of India, has said that the backward classes are being discriminated in education as well as employment in the name of merit by those people who have least concern for merit.

Singh was inaugurating the National Convention on Reservation in Education jointly organized by the All India Milli Council, (AIMC), and South India Council, (SIC), at FICCI Auditorium in New Delhi recently. Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam, general secretary AIMC, presided over the function.

Singh stressed that in order to remove the imbalance in development and ensure adequate representation, the remaining recommendations of the Mandal Commission has to be implemented. The move to pass a bill providing reservation in higher education is a welcome step which is long overdue, he added.

He demanded that Muslims, who have become backward due to historical reason, must be given the right for reservation. It is high time that reservation should be concentrated on Muslims, he opined.

Ex-MP Syed Shahabuddin, president Muslim Majilis-e-Mushawarat, speaking on the occasion at length demanded that the Article 341 of the Constitution of India must be amended for the third time to include Muslims also under its provision. In the past this Article had been amended twice to include Sikhs and Buddhists religious minorities, he pointed out.

Shahabuddin lamented that by a Presidential order in 1950 the word Hindu was introduced in Article 341 saying only those Scheduled Castes who were Hindus can take benefits of reservations under it. This order was anti-secular, he opined.

He recalled that in 1948 when draft of the Constitution was passed minorities were included in it but later on in 1950 they were excluded by the Order of the President of India. It is a story of deceit and betrayal, he moaned.

He demanded Muslims should be given 11 per cent reservation as per their population percentage. "We want equality. We want power sharing and power in governance", he asserted.

Oscar Fernandez, Federal Minister in his key-note address reiterated the commitment of UPA Government to see that reservation for OBC is in higher education centers gets implemented. He urged upon the Muslims to concentrate on education which is a key to success and decent life.

Dr. Manzoor Alam in his presidential address said education is important for success. Education gives a sense to understand what is going around and how to plan ourselves to become strong within the parameters of the Indian Constitution.

He lamented the negative role of media on the reservation issue confronting the country nowadays. He pointed out that media is a powerful instrument which if used honestly can make India shine. If it is not used properly then the clashes of communities and different groups cannot be ruled out, he added.

He cautioned the Muslims saying: “if we understand the signals of time then we can change the situation to our advantage�.

Dr.Udit Raj, chairman All India SC/ST Confederation, while exhorting Muslims to fight for their rights chided them saying: "Do you think Bharartiya Janata Party, (BJP), and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, (RSS), will take up your cause and agitate for your rightful claims".

"Whenever times come for Muslims to fight out for their rights they are entangled emotionally on non-issues and hood-winked from the main-issues affecting their lives. Until and unless they assert themselves electorally in a matured manner they would remain a deprived lot", Dr. Raj opined. "Political parties have very well realized that Muslims vote on emotional issues so the problems afflicting the community is always side-tracked", he said.

Dr. Raj appealing to the Muslims said:"Dalit-Muslim Andolan chala dijye sab milega", (Start a Dalit-Muslim movement, every thing due will be attained).

He questioned "Muslim party kyon nahin hona chahiye", (Why can't be there a Muslim party). This is the ripe time. Take a decision not on many programmes but focus on your priorities. The harm Mulayam Singh government in Uttar Pradesh has done to Muslims in its regime was not done even during the BJP rule in the state, he remarked.

Prof. Mohammed Sulaiman, president, Indian National League, asked Muslims to assert their franchise in a way to become a political threat to the political parties. "Equality and justice can only be achieved by yourselves", he told the audience.

Meanwhile, about thousand delegates drawn from different parts of India attended the convention. The convention passed a resolution which demanded enactment of the bill providing reservation in all educational institutions without any exclusion and that too in a single stretch. It also urged the authorities and political parties to have a positive approach in giving reservation to Muslims who are more backward than any other sections of the Indian society. E.M. Abdurahman, general secretary SIC, presented the resolution,

Earlier, E. Abubacker, Chairman SIC, made introductory speech. Abdul Hannan Chandna welcomed the gathering and O.M.A. Abdul Salam, secretary SIC, proposed vote of thanks.

The highlight of the convention was that the four-and-half hour long single session went on without any break with delegates remaining glued to their seats listening to various speakers in pin drop silence with rapt attention.

Dr Senthil, MP, Gurdeep Singh, general secretary Akali Dal, Dr. Kumar Rajeev, Dr. S. Q. R. Ilyas, Editor, Afkar-e-Milli, Dr. Ejaz Ali, president, All India United Muslim Morcha, Iqbal Ansari, president All India Muslim OBC Organization, A. Saeed, chairman, National Development Front Keralam, K. M. Shareef, president, Karnataka Forum for Dignity, Dr. Shakeel Samadani, Faculty of Law, AMU Aligarh, Dr. Arshi Khan, Centre for Federal Studies, Jamia Hamdard, Abdul Hafiz Gandhi, president AMU Students Union, Novaid Hamid, general secretary MOEMIN, M. A. Salam, member Kerala Backward Classes Commission, Prof. Hayat Ghori (Bhopal), Dalit M. A. Salim, Hyderabad, Tauheed-ul-Islam (Murshidabad), Mohd. Shafeeq (Kota), Moji Khan, Treasurer AIMC, A.M. Shafi (Bangalore), PA Inamdar, president Maharashtra Cosmopolitan Education Society, Jameel-ur-Rahman (Punjab) spoke on the occasion.

Muslims in Jharkhand protest singing of 'Vande Mataram'

Ranchi, Sep 1 (IANS) A section of Muslims in Jharkhand has opposed the state government's directive to make singing of the national song "Vande Mataram" mandatory in all schools on Sep 7.

The Jharkhand Monin Adhikar Manch, a Muslim organisation, has threatened to observe Sep 7, the day marking completion of centenary celebrations of "Vande Mataram", as black day.

"Such songs have no place in Islam. If we are forced to sing the song then we will observe Sep 7 as black day," said Md Nausad Khan, president of the Manch.

Some other Muslim organisations have also threatened to follow suit if the state government does not take back the order.

The Jharkhand government decided to make singing of "Vande Mataram" - penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1876 - mandatory in government schools in reversal of its earlier plan to make it optional.

"Singing the national song has been made mandatory in all the government schools on Sep 7. Singing the national song is not a crime or shame in the country. Politics should not come on the way of its singing," Chief Minister Arjun Munda said.

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh had said a few days ago that BJP-ruled states would be directed to make singing of "Vande Mataram" mandatory on that day. BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Gujarat have already made the song mandatory in their respective state schools on Sep 7.

"Vande Mataram" was adopted as the national song at the Varanasi session of the All India Congress Committee on Sep 7, 1905. A section of Muslims consider the song un-Islamic.

Nepal government caught 'lying' about arms cargo

By Sudeshna Sarkar,

Kathmandu, Sep 1 (IANS) As news of Nepal trying to ferry anti-aircraft missiles over Indian air space hit the media and the multi-party government began denying having any knowledge of it, records showed both the government and the army were very much aware of what was going on.

Last month, a Moscow-based airline operator, Kosmos Air Company, had sought India's permission to land at the Mumbai airport for refuelling before heading for Kathmandu Thursday.

However, the Indian authorities denied permission when they learnt the AN-12 Russian aircraft was carrying missiles, including rockets.

When the news that India had refused permission to the aircraft to land in Mumbai broke out, Nepal's government immediately began denying having any knowledge about the deal.

The Himalayan Times quoted a high-ranking government official Friday as saying the government had no knowledge about the cargo.

"We do not know anything about that consignment," Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's adviser on foreign affairs Suresh Chalise told the Himalayan Times. "An inquiry is on to find out who had struck the deal."

However, the Civil Aviation Authority in Nepal knew about the aircraft and its cargo since they too had been asked for permission for landing in Kathmandu on Aug 31.

Kosmos' transporting plane was scheduled to fly from Minsk in Belarus through Burgas in Bulgaria, Baku in Azerbaijan, India and then land at Kathmandu from where it was scheduled to depart for Rastovna-donn in the former USSR.

The air traffic authorities at the Tribhuvan International Airport had received the same message from Kosmos, mentioning the nature of its cargo.

The consignment was intended for the Master General of Ordnance of the Nepal Army, signifying the army too was well aware of the situation.

However, the army too feigned ignorance with the spokesperson of Nepal Army, Brigadier General Nepal Bhushan Chand, telling the media he was "unaware of any such consignment meant for the army".

Former foreign minister Ramesh Nath Pandey had visited Russia during King Gyanendra's direct rule in October 2005. Interestingly, the manufacturers of the consignment are a Belarus company, Sue Orsha, and a Bulgarian firm, Emco Ltd.

Apparently, Nepal's government decided to refurbish its arsenal despite holding peace talks with the Maoists and finance minister Ram Sharan Mahat's assertion that the government would slash military expenses.

Nepal observes 'Black Day' over Iraq killings

By Sudeshna Sarkar,

Kathmandu, Sep 1 (IANS) Nepal's overseas job industry, the mainstay of the economy, came to a standstill Friday, as it observed a 'Black Day' in memory of the brutal killing of 12 workers by Islamist militants in Iraq two years ago.

Nepal Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs' Association, a private umbrella organisation of recruitment agencies, called the protest to pressure the government into paying compensation to the agencies, whose offices were ransacked by angry mobs in Nepal on this day two years ago.

Scores of recruitment agencies nationwide affiliated to the association stopped work as part of the protests. Foreign employment entrepreneurs waving black flags and placards marched towards the Birendra International Convention Centre in the capital for a protest meeting.

The protests were a sequel to the abduction and subsequent beheading of 12 Nepali workers in Iraq by a little known terrorist group calling itself the Ansar-al-Sunna.

When the news of the killings reached Nepal, followed by the posting of a video of the executions on the Internet, Nepal went berserk, attacking recruitment agencies, whom they blamed for duping the hapless men into going to Iraq, a destination banned by the government.

Nearly 300 employment agencies in Kathmandu alone had their offices vandalised with militant crowds setting furniture and documents on fire and smashing windowpanes. Besides the agencies, the mob also attacked the offices of Middle East airlines as well as mosques and two people were killed.

The recruitment agencies say they suffered a loss of about NRS 750 million. Two years later, the victims are yet to be compensated by the government.

Every year, thousands of Nepalis go abroad seeking jobs in the Gulf countries, Malaysia and neighbouring India and the money they send home has been keeping Nepal's economy afloat during the decade-old Maoist insurgency and political instability.

According to Nepal's central bank, Nepal Rastra Bank, the remittances amount to over $1 billion. However, that's just the tip of the iceberg since a substantial chunk of money is routed through private operators with no official records.

The government has also not been able to keep account of the exact number of citizens working overseas since many of them go illegally via India to countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, which are banned by the government. There could be over 4.5 million Nepalis working abroad.

According to the World Bank, Nepal recently recorded a 10 percentage point drop in poverty despite the ruinous effects of King Gyanendra's coup last year and the decline is attributed to remittances.

Nine arrested in Gujarat for 2002 violence

Ahmedabad, Sep 1 (IANS) Nine people were arrested Friday from a north Gujarat village on charges of loot and arson during the communal violence of 2002, police said here.

The nine from Kishangarh village of Bhiloda block in Sabarkantha district, 120 km from here, were arrested following the reopening of the case this year.

The police had closed 2,020 cases related to the sectarian strife including that of Kishangarh after preliminary investigations.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) challenged the move in the Supreme Court, which in 2004 ordered the state government to set up a cell to review the cases and decide which cases needed to be reopened.

The review committee, headed by then director general of police A.K. Bhargava, reviewed 1,965 cases between Sep 1, 2004 and Jan 1, 2006 and found 1,594 cases needed to be investigated again.

At least 1,000 people died in the communal violence in the state.

No petrol, diesel price hike for now

New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) With the Indian basket of crude oil imported in August averaging $70.84 per barrel, petroleum ministry officials Friday ruled out any plans for raising the prices of petrol and diesel as was expected.

In a decision taken in June, the government had indicated that if the monthly average of the Indian basket of crude breached $70 per barrel the state-run oil marketing companies would be free to raise the prices.

The review of the situation was expected Friday.

"But currently there does not seem to be such a pressure as the price of the Indian crude basket has come down from the level of $75.30 per barrel on Aug 8 to $66.61 per barrel on Aug 31," a ministry official said.

Petroleum Minister Murli Deora has been maintaining that despite the under-recoveries and losses of the oil marketing firms there is no immediate plan to hike the retail prices of petroleum products.

Nooyi is world's fourth most powerful woman, Gandhi is 13th

New York, Sep 1 (IANS) India's ruling Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has been listed as the 13th most powerful woman in the world in the annual Forbes listing, headed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which also has PepsiCo designated chief India-born Indra Nooyi in the fourth position.

Three other Indians also find place in the list of 100 - Joint Managing Directors of the Mumbai-based ICICI Bank Lalita Gupte and Kalpana Morparia in the 93rd position and Vidya Chhabria, the 58-year-old India-born Dubai-based chairperson of the $2 billion Jumbo Group, who gets the 95th ranking.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and China's Vice Premier Wu Yi follow Merkel in the second and third position.

Monarchs Queen Elizabeth II and Jordanian Queen Rania have found 46th and 81st rank respectively. US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is listed in the 18th position, US First Lady Laura Bush 43rd and Bangladeshi premier Khaleda Zia is 33rd, states the Forbes' website.

Nobel peace laureate and jailed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is the 47th most powerful woman in the world, while Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission chairperson Sima Samar is listed 28th.

CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour finds herself in the 79th position.

The enigmatic Gandhi had earlier figured in the list in 2004 in the third position, immediately after she refused the post of prime minister of India and appointed Manmohan Singh.

In its profile on Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA), the magazine said: "Though critics used the move to call into question her power, Gandhi is still widely revered, especially among the country's poor millions."

"Gandhi heads the left-leaning party of Jawaharlal Nehru, where she acts as opposition leader to Singh, the pro-business prime minister. Gandhi frequently expresses concern that India's astounding economic growth is leaving the poor behind, and that her country is not doing enough to help its farmers."

Gandhi, who could not find herself in the magazine's 2005 listing, is now placed immediately after Melinda Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Nooyi, a US citizen who was born in the south Indian town of Chennai and graduated from the Madras Christian College and the Indian Institute of Management-Kolkata, is the first businesswoman in the list.

Praising Nooyi's management skills, the magazine said: "Few people could handle either the presidential or the chief financial officer job at a company worth $100 billion."

Nooyi, who has held both offices since 2001, will take over as Pepsi's new chief executive from Oct 1.

The Forbes' listing is based on a "power ranking that is the composite of visibility (measured by press citations) and economic impact," says the website.

Out of singles, Sania enters doubles round 2

New York, Sep 1 (IANS) Though India's Sania Mirza crashed out of the women's singles of the US Open after giving Italian 14th seed Francesca Schiavone a tough battle, she made it to the second round of the doubles event.

A gritty and determined Sania, 19, lost 7-5, 1-6, 2-6 in the singles second round Thursday as the more experienced Italian mounted pressure unleashing half a dozen aces to a solitary one from her at Flushing Meadows on a cool and breezy day four of the tournament.

Later partnering Liezel Huber of South Africa, Sania easily overcame the all American team of Angela Haynes and Neha Uberoi 6- 4, 6-0 to enter the second round of the doubles event.

In the singles, it took Schiavone two hours and 18 minutes to overcome Sania's challenge after surviving an error-laden second round match. She meets Israel's Shahar Peer in the third round.

In terms of speed and accuracy too, Sania could not match the Italian who clocked 113 mph on her fastest serve as against the Hyderabadi girl's 107 mph. Her first serve at an average of 95 mph was also slower than Schiavone's 99.

Only on her second serve was Sania a notch faster with an average speed of 82 mph to the Italian's 81 mph.

In all Schiavone won a total of 105 points committing 33 unforced errors compared to Sania's 89 with 45 such errors.

Both players struggled to hold serve and there were 11 breaks in the match. Sani