S.Korea c.bank head mum on rates before meeting

June 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 8 (Reuters) – South Korea’s central bank chief did not comment on interest rate policy in the text of a speech on Tuesday, just two days before its policy meeting.

Bank of Korea Governor Kim Choong-soo emphasised that improving the quality of employment at small and medium-sized enterprises was important for sustained growth in Asia’s fourth-largest economy, according to the text of remarks prepared for delivery at a forum and distributed to journalists in advance.

The speech made no references to monetary policy. The Bank of Korea holds its rate review on Thursday and a survey by a local financial industry association showed on Monday almost all bond traders expect rates to stay on hold at a record low 2 percent. for a 16th consecutive month. [ID:nTOE656013] (Reporting by Yoo Choonsik; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)

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Loss to Australia in T20 WC semi-final still hard to believe: Mohammed Hafeez

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 20 (ANI): Pakistan all rounder Mohammed Hafeez and his other teammates are still shocked at their stunning defeat against Australia in the semi-final of the just concluded ICC T20 World Championship in Caribbean.

Hafeez told PakPassion.net that his fellow cricketers are still finding it hard to come to terms with having snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

“We played so well, we gave absolutely everything and it was hard to believe at the end of the day that we actually lost. We were upset with the defeat and I believe that we should have won the match against Australia,” he said.

Hafeez denied there being any complacency on part of the players during the all important match, and stressed that the whole team was absolutely focussed on its job even after posting a challenging total of 192 for Australia to chase.

“The captain and coach told us to give our all till the very last ball of the match. There was absolutely no chance of us taking things easy or thinking we had already won the match. Against Australia you can never let your guard slip and that”s what the captain and coach emphasised to all of us,” he said.

Hafeez, however, did not take away any credit from Michael Hussey for producing a breathtaking innings of 60 off 24 balls, which saw the Kangaroos seal their berth in the final of the tournament.

“Hussey did not make any mistakes. To come in that late in the batting order and play an innings like that was just simply brilliant. It was a magical innings by Hussey, he played really well and he planned his strokes to perfection,” he said.

Hafeez, who has played 15 T20 internationals for Pakistan, also expressed the hope that he would be recalled in the one-day team for the upcoming Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

“The defeat to Australia is hard to take, but we all need to look ahead and to look forward to the Asia Cup. I hope I am given a chance in Sri Lanka and given the opportunity once again in the 50 over format of the game,” said Hafeez, who last played a 50-over match in October 2007 against South Africa in Lahore. (ANI)

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Pakistan realises there is a cancer in their midst: Obama

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 13 (IANS) President Barack Obama believes that after years of looking at their main rival India as their only concern, Pakistan has finally come to realise that the cancer of terrorism threatens Pakistan’s sovereignty.

‘I think there has been in the past a view on the part of Pakistan that their primary rival, India, was their only concern,’ he said Wednesday at a joint press appearance with the visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai in response to a question by an Afghan journalist about Pakistan’s unhelpful attitude towards Afghanistan.

‘I think what you’ve seen over the last several months is a growing recognition that they have a cancer in their midst; that the extremist organizations that have been allowed to congregate and use as a base the frontier areas to then go into Afghanistan, that that now threatens Pakistan ‘s sovereignty.’

Obama said he and Karzai had in the past, met with Pakistan President Asif Ali ‘Zardari, as well as their intelligence officers, their military, their teams, and emphasised to Pakistan the fact that our security is intertwined.’

‘Our goal is to break down some of the old suspicions and the old bad habits and continue to work with the Pakistani government to see their interest in a stable Afghanistan which is free from foreign meddling,’ he said.

‘Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States, the international community, should all be working to reduce the influence of extremists in those regions, Obama said. ‘And I am actually encouraged by what I’ve seen from the Pakistani government over the last several months.’

‘But just as it’s going to take some time for Afghanistan’s economy, for example, to fully recover from 30 years of war, it’s going to take some time for Pakistan, even where there is a will, to find a way in order to effectively deal with these extremists in areas that are fairly loosely governed from Islamabad,’ Obama said.

Praising recent steps taken by Pakistan to take on militants, he said: ‘Part of what I’ve been encouraged by is Pakistan’s willingness to start asserting more control over some of these areas.

‘But it’s not going to happen overnight,’ he acknowledged. ‘And they have been taking enormous casualties; the Pakistani military has been going in fairly aggressively. But this will be a ongoing project.’

During a 45 minute meeting in the Oval Office, Obama said he and Karzai ‘both discussed the fact that the only way, ultimately, that Pakistan is secure is if Afghanistan is secure.

‘And the only way that Afghanistan is secure is if the sovereignty, the territorial integrity, the Afghan constitution,

the Afghan people are respected by their neighbours.

‘We think that that message is starting to get through, but it’s one that we have to continue to promote,’ Obama said.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)

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Committee suggest formation of an agency to tackle fake currency notes

April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Apr 1 (ANI): A committee constituted to review the acquisition procedure of the security features for currency notes has suggested that the Union Government set-up a single national-level coordinating agency for intelligence, law enforcement and investigation to tackle the menace of fake currency notes.

The Union Finance Ministry had constituted a committee to review matters related to the acquisition procedure of the security features for currency notes, review the relevant procurement manuals and suggest a roadmap for progressive indigenization of various inputs, including high-end machinery and security features.

Former secretary Shilabhadra Banerjee chaired the committee.

The committee, which submitted its report to Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday, suggested creating a directorate of currency under the Union Finance Ministry to coordinate and oversee acquisition as well as research and development (Rand D) efforts of security features for currency notes and other security products.

This Directorate is to be headed by a Special Secretary to the Government of India.

In its report, the committee has also recommended the setting up of a national level research and development (R and D) centre under the proposed Directorate of Currency to carry out R and D activities in the field of raw materials, security features and machinery required for the production of Indian bank notes and other security sensitive items.

The Committee has suggested a new acquisition procedure for the security features of currency notes for increased levels of transparency and accountability.

In its report, the committee emphasised on the indigenisation of manufacture of bank note paper, security inks, security features, related equipments and coin plating.

The report said the security paper manufactured in India is to be exempted from excise duty.

It asked the government to provide financial incentives like a waiver of customs duty on imported machinery for the production of bank note paper and printing materials.

Mukherjee appreciated the work done by the Committee and emphasized the early implementation of the recommendations made by the Finance Ministry. (ANI)

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Storm bracing for biggest test yet

March 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Storm captain Cameron Smith says his team needs less talk and more action on the field and has to lift to beat the Dragons in an early season blockbuster at Docklands on Good Friday.

Both teams are unbeaten after three rounds and boast the two best defensive records in the competition.

Defending premier Melbourne maintained its perfect record by grinding out a 16-10 win over Penrith at CUA Stadium on Saturday.

The holiday fixture will be the Storm’s first in Melbourne following their World Club Challenge match in England and three away assignments in the NRL.

Smith and coach Craig Bellamy emphasised Melbourne had plenty of room for improvement after “ugly” wins in the first three rounds.

Smith recognised Melbourne will have to lift significantly to meet the challenge of a Dragons outfit that Bellamy agreed was the benchmark side so far this season.

“They play a good style of football, they really starve opposition of the ball and that’s what makes it really hard,” Smith said.

“We’ve had some tough wins so we are prepared for a tough match next week, it’s just that we need to play a lot better than we have been doing.

“The good thing for us, although we haven’t been playing good footy, is we definitely know we are better as a team than what we have been playing in the first three matches, that’s a good sign for us.

“It’s about less talk and more action on the field.”

Returning home

Smith was happy to revert back to his normal position of hooker after a spell in the halves following the successful return of half-back Cooper Cronk in Saturday’s match.

Full-back Billy Slater said the Storm were looking forward to finally playing again in Melbourne, even if it is at Docklands and not at their soon-to-be-opened new home of AAMI Park.

“Our strike rate at Etihad (Docklands) isn’t that bad, we enjoy playing there, hopefully we have a huge crowd on Friday afternoon,” Slater said.

“St George are playing great and they were really impressive on Friday night, so it’s going to be our biggest test so far.”

Adam Blair is likely to be the only player available for Friday’s game, who did not play the Panthers.

Saturday’s win ensured the Storm could celebrate the 100th first grade game of superstar back Greg Inglis and the 50th senior appearance of unheralded forward Ryan Hinchcliffe.

“I appreciate playing with a guy like Greg, they don’t come along too often and to be able to play your career this far with a guy like that is our pleasure,” Slater said.

“Ryan Hinchcliffe, who was playing his 50th, he’s a different sort of player to GI but very similar to (former Melbourne forward) Dallas Johnson, in the sense that everyone loves playing with him.

“He’s just a hard worker, he’s always going to give his all and he’s not going to let you down.”

-AAP

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Mineral Exploration Corporation enters drilling agreement

March 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 22 (ANI): Country’s premier exploration agency the Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. (MECL), on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Mines Ministry for the financial year 2010-11.

Mines Ministry secretary Santha Sheela Nair and MECL chairman A.K. Lomas signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

Continuing with the improvement in physico-financial performance of the company, MECL has committed to carry out 275000 meter of exploratory drilling and 7500 meter of exploratory/developmental mining along with associated activities, in the MoU.

Apart from this, due care has also been proposed in maintaining the sustainability under which MECL shall optimize the power consumption particularly utilization of Petrol Oil Lubricants (POL).

The MECL has also proposed an ambitious programme for modernization and expansion in the forthcoming year.

In addition to above, it has also proposed to adopt the parameters related to corporate social responsibility and emphasised on customer satisfaction by maintaining quality, quantity and time schedule.(ANI)

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Expanding BJP’s base will be priority, says Nadda

March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Shimla, March 16 (IANS) Expanding the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) support base to bring it back to power is the main priority, said Himachal Pradesh Forest Minister J.P. Nadda said, after being named a party general secretary.

Talking to reporters here, Nadda said: ‘We will try to strengthen the party by expanding its cadre, their ideological grooming and making it fit to rule the country and give the best possible governance.

‘Our president (Nitin Gadkari) has laid down the roadmap and we will try to implement it across the country. Our main priority would be to form the next government at the centre,’ he said.

Nadda, who started his political career as a student leader in 1978, said the new list of office bearers has people from across the country.

‘It is a balanced list where all sections have been given due representation. Special emphasis has been given to the youth to infuse new spirit in the party. On the whole, it’s a mixture of young and the old and experienced people,’ he said.

Nadda emphasised that the BJP was not a party controlled by a family or dynasty.

‘In the Congress, now Rahul Gandhi is a young leader, so everybody is talking about the need to induct young leaders. Our party has taken care of the youth since its inception.’

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India needs to liberalise, change policies to attract more FDI: World Bank

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep 17(ANI): World Bank consultant Premila Nazareth on Thursday emphasised that India needs to liberalise and change its policies to attract more foreign direct investments.

During the release of the annual study of worldwide investment trends by the United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD) in the national capital, Nazareth also blamed the bureaucracy in India as the main reason for less inflow of foreign investments.

“FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) policies do not need much changes to increase FDI inflows. Policies are fine. The rest of the policies, bureaucracies and regulations are creating problems for people and these are the reasons behind less inflow of FDI. The policies are liberal, but we need to change and liberalise the sectoral policies of various sectors for private investments,” Nazareth said.

Nazareth further said that India and China are being seen as strong contenders for the Global Direct Investment (GDI) due to their emerging economy status.

“India’s position as a recipient country in the global FDI picture is only going to strengthen over the next few years because global investors are now looking more and more the emerging world as a whole. China and India are seen as very strong players, markets with guaranteed growth in a way and this is only going to grow,” Nazareth added. (ANI)

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Moily says more than 2.6 crore cases pending in subordinate courts

July 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 13(ANI): Union Minister of Law and Justice, Veerappa Moily, on Monday said that more than 2.6 crore cases were pending in the subordinate courts and over 39 lakh cases were pending in high courts across the country.

“As per the reports received from the Registries of the High Courts, 39,10,858 cases were pending in the High Courts and 2,66,50,467 cases were pending in the Subordinate Courts as on December 31, 2008,” Moily said.

Moily also said that according to information received from the Registry of the Supreme Court, 50,659 matters (31,363 admission matters and 19,296 regular hearing matters) were pending in the Supreme Court as on 1st June 2009.

He further added that government has taken several measures to smooth the progress of cases in courts.

Earlier, government had introduced ‘Fast Track Courts’ to speed up trials in various courts. About 25.07 lakh cases have been disposed of by these courts out of 31.01 lakh cases transferred to them, Moily said.

The minister also informed that the government periodically monitors the strength of judges in high courts and ensures timely filing up of vacancies so that courts does not undergo scarcity of judges.

Moily emphasised that on the basis of reviews, the strength of judges in the Supreme Court has been increased from 26 to 31 and 163 posts of judges have been created in various high courts. (ANI)

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Zardari’s confession of nurturing terrorists justifies India’s stand

July 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 9(ANI): External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Thursday said that the confession by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on nurturing of terrorists in his country has justified India’s stand about terrorists originating form the neighbouring country.

Krishna said that India has repeatedly maintained that Pakistan’s soil was being used for terrorist attacks on India.

The minister added that terrorism cannot be fought selectively and it has to be fought across the board and hoped that after the admission by the Pakistan President, Islamabad would make a determined effort to dismantle terrorism.

In his statement to both Houses of Parliament, Krishna said that Pakistan must expose and take action against conspirators of terror attacks launched in India from across the border as future of dialogue is premised on an atmosphere free of threat of violence.

Krishna emphasised that India has been repeatedly and severely hit by a series of terrorist attacks originating from Pakistan despite promise by Islamabad that its territory will not be used for such attacks.

The External Affairs Minister also said that it is the responsibility of Pakistan to take essential steps to deal with this concern and punish terrorists associated with Mumbai terror and other attacks. (ANI)

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Commando battalions and women RPF squads for passenger security

July 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 3 (ANI): The Indian Railways will raise Commando Battalions and will increase the number of women commandos. This has been envisaged in the Railway Budget 2009-10 presented in the Lok Sabha today.

Presenting the Budget, Mamata Banerjee said that women RPF squads would be deployed for security of women passengers, particularly in sections where a large number of women travel alone regularly.

She said that though law and order is a State subject, the Railways would work together with all the agencies concerned to ensure safe journey for the passengers.

Regarding the safety related matters, she said that the present mechanism of cost sharing for the construction of road over bridges and road under bridges between the Railways and the State Governments needed to be reviewed as such bridges are extremely important from safety point of view.

The Minister emphasised that a new approach in this regard would be developed with assured funding to ensure turnkey execution of these projects and sought Planning Commission’s support in this regard.

“Anti-Collision device will be put in place in 1700 km in two years. This device prevents train collision and is operational in 1736 track so far,” she said. (ANI)

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TERI, SPIB host Fifth International Conference on Biopesticides

May 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

p
New Delhi, Apr 27 (ANI/Business Wire India): The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Society for Promotion and Innovation of Biopesticides (SPIB) organised the Fifth International Conference on Biopesticides. /pp
More than 600 delegates from around the globe participated to discuss the advancement and promotion of biopesticides from the stakeholders’ perspectives. /pp
Present on the occasion were, Dr A R Kidwai, Governor of Haryana, Dr R K Pachauri, Director General, TERI, Dr Mangala Rai, Secretary, DARE, and DG, ICAR Government of India, Dr Ramasami, Secretary, DST, Government of India, Prof S K Brahmachari, Secretary, DSIR, and DG, CSIR, Government of India, Gavin Lindsay Wall, FAO Representative in India, Dr Seema Wahab, Organizing Secretary, ICOB-V, Prof Mir Mulla, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of California, USA, Dr S N Puri, President, SPIB, Dr M K Bhan, Secretary, DBT, Government of India, among others./pp
While welcoming the distinguished audience, Dr. Seema Wahab emphasised on the need of pest management to increase the agricultural productivity. She further said that alternate means of pest management like using Biopesticides are extremely effective and does not harm the environment. /pp
The conference addressed the issues of sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, eco-restoration and climate change. BioFair 2009– a special exhibition featured organizations and industrial companies involved in the field of biopesticides and related topics./pp
In his inaugural address, Dr A R Kidwai, Governor of Haryana, said, It is important to look into biopesticides to reduce the damage of crops. India is blessed with conditions suitable for agriculture and saving crops will enrich the farmers and the country. I congratulate the organizers for holding such an important deliberation. India has a great opportunity to conduct R andD in areas of biotechnology, agriculture etc to innovate and develop new products and emerge as a leader in this field./pp
The conference provided a platform for its stakeholders from various parts of the world-researchers, scientists from public and private sectors, planners, industrialists and end-users to share their knowledge, experiences and learning related to the development, production and application of biopesticides. /pp
They elaborated their constraints, to help find solutions collectively and to evolve a sustainable perspective plan to increase the use of biopesticides./pp
Elaborating on the TERI’s role in the sector, Dr R K Pachauri, Director General, TERI said, The use of pesticides is part of a larger problem of human race that is moving on in unsustainable path. We have ignored the impact our process of development has on our natural resources. If we continue to use chemical pesticides, our future will hardly be able to meet its basic needs. Climate change will adversely impact the agriculture that will affect the yields and give rise to the problem of food security. Hence, innovations are extremely important and biopesticides will help in sustainable agriculture./pp
This conference is a part of the series of international conferences held previously in Thailand (1996), China (1998), Malaysia (2002), and Thailand (2005), promoted by the University of California, Riverside, USA, and Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. /pp
It brought the fundamental and applied research on various aspects of biopesticides in pest and disease management in agriculture, forestry, public health, and the urban landscape to the forefront. (ANI)/p

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US envoy meets Palestinian leader in peace bid

April 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

US special envoy George Mitchell met Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on Thursday amid warnings that peace talks will remain stagnant unless Israel’s new government commits to a two-state solution.

“Until the (Benjamin) Netanyahu government unequivocally affirms its support for the two-state solution, implements Israel’s roadmap obligations and abides by previous agreements, Palestinians have no partner for peace,” top negotiator Saeb Erakat said after the meeting in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Mitchell emerged from the talks reiterating “the two-state solution is the only solution” and that “a comprehensive peace in the region is in the US national interest.”

The largely right-wing cabinet of Israel’s hawkish prime minister has distanced itself from past governments’ support for the US-backed concept of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, and has called previous agreements into question.

Mitchell and Abbas both “emphasised the shared commitment of the (President Barack) Obama administration and the Palestinian leadership to the two-state solution,” Erakat said in a statement.

The Abbas-Mitchell talks came after meetings in Jerusalem yesterday that highlighted the rift between the United States and Israel over the Middle East peace process.

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Longer pause in war not possible: Lanka

April 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Sri Lanka has rejected Britain’s plea for a “longer pause” in the fighting against the LTTE to enable the civilians to escape to safer areas, saying it is not possible due to the “attitude” of the rebels.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, in a telephonic conversation, that a “longer pause” with LTTE was not possible due to the attitude of the rebels.

“Bogollagama emphasised that a longer pause was not possible because the LTTE has so far failed to demonstrate any genuine goodwill on its part in allowing the civilians to have free movement,” a foreign ministry statement said.

Miliband had on Sunday said the two-day pause announced by the Sri Lankan Government “must be long enough for all those who want to leave the conflict zone to do so safely.”

The minister also told the British Foreign Secretary that there was concern that the LTTE would continue to consolidate its fortification of the No-Fire Zone.

Bogollagama urged the United Kingdom and the international community to bring adequate pressure on the LTTE to free the civilians, the statement said.

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Musharraf says Obama’s AFPAK policy incomplete without India

April 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Beijing, Apr.12 (ANI): Former Pakistan President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf has said that the US President Barack Obama’s revamped AFPAK policy is incomplete without India, and a solution to the Kashmir issue.

Replying to queries following his lecture at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies here, Musharrraf said nothing was new in Obama’s policy, and it was a continuation of US’s older strategies for the region.

Some heavy lobbying from the Indian-American community forced Obama to exclude India from the policy, Musharraf said.

Musharraf emphasised on the need for closer global cooperation to defeat extremism. He also urged the Chinese leadership to play a more proactive role in the issue, The Nation reported.

Musharraf is on a visit to China to deliver a series of lectures in major cities of the country focusing on the relationship between Pakistan-China. (ANI)

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Give diplomatic recognition to Tibet: US senate

April 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON: An American state Senate
has adopted a resolution asking the Obama Administration and the US Congress to give “diplomatic
recognition” to Tibet and take “forceful” action to end “repression” of human rights by China in the Himalayan region.

Passed by the Vermont state Senate, the resolution called on the US Congress and the international community to treat the plight of the Tibetan people as an “urgent matter of highest priority.”

The resolution adopted last week sought recognition of the Tibetan political autonomy and also urged the US Congress and the Obama Administration to ask China to sincerely negotiate with the representatives of the Dalai Lama to solve the Tibet Problem.

Condemning the continuing “repression” of the Tibetan people, the Vermont state Senate expressed its solidarity with the individuals who participated in the anti-China protests that occurred around the world on March 10.

The resolution emphasised that the people of Tibet “lived in peace and harmony for centuries” and that the “army of the People’s Republic of China illegally invaded” the peaceful Himalayan region.

Alleging the Tibetans have been deprived of any right to self-determination, the resolution said “it is now nearly impossible” for the people of Tibet to continue their “distinctive cultural practices and religious observances.”

The resolution also highlighted those Tibetans who were killed, and those who remained missing or were in prison in the aftermath of China’s crackdown on Tibetans in March 2008.

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Give diplomatic recognition to Tibet: US senate

April 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON: An American state Senate
has adopted a resolution asking the Obama Administration and the US Congress to give “diplomatic
recognition” to Tibet and take “forceful” action to end “repression” of human rights by China in the Himalayan region.

Passed by the Vermont state Senate, the resolution called on the US Congress and the international community to treat the plight of the Tibetan people as an “urgent matter of highest priority.”

The resolution adopted last week sought recognition of the Tibetan political autonomy and also urged the US Congress and the Obama Administration to ask China to sincerely negotiate with the representatives of the Dalai Lama to solve the Tibet Problem.

Condemning the continuing “repression” of the Tibetan people, the Vermont state Senate expressed its solidarity with the individuals who participated in the anti-China protests that occurred around the world on March 10.

The resolution emphasised that the people of Tibet “lived in peace and harmony for centuries” and that the “army of the People’s Republic of China illegally invaded” the peaceful Himalayan region.

Alleging the Tibetans have been deprived of any right to self-determination, the resolution said “it is now nearly impossible” for the people of Tibet to continue their “distinctive cultural practices and religious observances.”

The resolution also highlighted those Tibetans who were killed, and those who remained missing or were in prison in the aftermath of China’s crackdown on Tibetans in March 2008.

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India, US agree to counter terror together

April 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Apr. 3 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama have agreed to fight terrorism together.

Both leaders discussed developments in Pakistan and Afghanistan and emphasised on strengthening strategic bilateral ties.

“Well, we did discuss the development in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We both agreed that our two countries must work together to counter the forces of terror,” Dr. Singh told reporters on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in London.

He also expressed satisfaction over his meeting with Obama.

“So I go back home very satisfied with the outcome both with the summit and my meetings with world leaders and especially with President Barack Obama,” Dr. Singh said.

The new US anti-terror strategy calls for involvement of more South Asian countries like Iran as well as India, China and Russia.

India, on its part, had asserted that it was ready to play a role in a new US war strategy for Afghanistan, welcoming what it said was a comprehensive plan to stamp out extremism that had roots in Pakistan.

However, the Prime Minister reiterated that discussions between India and Pakistan cannot proceed until Pakistan sincerely fulfils its commitments to bring to book the culprits of the Mumbai attack.

“It has to convince us that it is absolutely sincere in bringing to book the culprits of attack on Mumbai. As far as Kashmir is concerned we have always said that we are willing to discuss bilaterally all outstanding issues, which bedeviled the relation of our two countries. But let me say that these relations or these discussions cannot proceed if hundreds of people as happened in Mumbai are being killed,” Dr. Singh said.

On the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, he exuded confidence of Congress retaining power.

“I can give the guarantee that the elections will be free and fair and I am also sure that in the coming elections Congress party will come up as number one party,” Dr. Singh said. By:- Smita Prakash (ANI)

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India, US agree to counter terror together

April 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Apr. 3 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama have agreed to fight terrorism together.

Both leaders discussed developments in Pakistan and Afghanistan and emphasised on strengthening strategic bilateral ties.

“Well, we did discuss the development in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We both agreed that our two countries must work together to counter the forces of terror,” Dr. Singh told reporters on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in London.

He also expressed satisfaction over his meeting with Obama.

“So I go back home very satisfied with the outcome both with the summit and my meetings with world leaders and especially with President Barack Obama,” Dr. Singh said.

The new US anti-terror strategy calls for involvement of more South Asian countries like Iran as well as India, China and Russia.

India, on its part, had asserted that it was ready to play a role in a new US war strategy for Afghanistan, welcoming what it said was a comprehensive plan to stamp out extremism that had roots in Pakistan.

However, the Prime Minister reiterated that discussions between India and Pakistan cannot proceed until Pakistan sincerely fulfils its commitments to bring to book the culprits of the Mumbai attack.

“It has to convince us that it is absolutely sincere in bringing to book the culprits of attack on Mumbai.

As far as Kashmir is concerned we have always said that we are willing to discuss bilaterally all outstanding issues, which bedeviled the relation of our two countries. But let me say that these relations or these discussions cannot proceed if hundreds of people as happened in Mumbai are being killed,” Dr. Singh said.

On the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, he exuded confidence of Congress retaining power.

“I can give the guarantee that the elections will be free and fair and I am also sure that in the coming elections Congress party will come up as number one party,” Dr. Singh said.(ANI)

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Nobel prize winner Yunas calls for strengthening micro economic system

April 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 31 (ANI): Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunas urged the government on Tuesday to strengthen the micro economic system for speeding up the growth process in rural India and take measures for the betterment of women.

Addressing a two-day conference on women of South Asia, Partners in development, Yunas, a Bangladeshi banker and economist who founded the Grameen bank, emphasised on economic concerns of women and other deprived sections of society.

Yunas, in his inaugural remarks on Monday had said the impact of economic slow down on the South Asian region is huge, adding that issues like energy, poverty and education are also equal challenges for the developing economies.

Author of ‘Banker of the Poor’, Yunas is also the founding board member of Grameen America and Grameen foundation.

He also serves on the Board of Directors of the United Nations Foundation.

The conference, organised by Jamia Millia Islamia University in collaboration with the South Asia foundation, witnessed the participation of women representatives from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India.

The issue of setting a women’s network in South East Asia to learn new models of improving their living standards and preserving their culture was discussed at length in the conference. (ANI)

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