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Nepalese premier resigns

          Kathmandu, May 30: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand quit on Friday and King Gyanendra accepted his resignation. The monarch has reportedly started consultations for the formation of a new Council of Ministers. The major political parties of Nepal have been agitating against a royal takeover and demanding formation of an all-party government. Chand has been asked to continue as the caretaker premier till a new government is formed. He was appointed Prime Minister on October 11 last year.

Acid attacks on women rampant in Pakistan's Punjab (REPORT)
President Bush to compliment Vajpayee on Kashmir peace process (REPORT)
Two faces of Musharraf and his enormous powers (REPORT)

World leaders descend on St. Petersburg for tricentenary
-by N Bhadran Nair

          St. Petersburg (Russia), May 30: Several world leaders, including Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, are descending on St. Petersburg to take part in the three-day gala celebrations of the city beginning Friday (May 30). Vajpayee, who reached St. Petersburg on Thursday evening on the second leg of his three-nation tour, is among the 41 heads of states and governments specially invited by Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the celebrations of Russia's former imperial capital St. Petersburg - earlier known as Petrograd and Leningrad in the 20th century.

          After receiving blessings of Patriarch of Russian Orthodox Church, the heads of states and governments would see a concert at world famous Mariinsky Theatre (Kirov Ballet of Soviet times) before a dinner on board Europe's most luxurious liner `Silver Whisper', specially chartered to accommodate the leaders. Though billed as a multilateral visit, Vajpayee is scheduled to hold informal summit meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao, French President Jacques Chirac and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Russian President Vladimir Putin's hometown St. Petersburg. Vajpayee, who is expected to travel to Beijing during next month- end, would expectedly take the opportunity to prepare ground for his bilateral visit. He is also scheduled to meet Putin for an informal session where Indo-Russian relations and issues relating to Iraq and Afghanistan are likely to come up.

Pakistan okays resumption of Delhi-Lahore bus service (Go To Top)
-by N Bhadran Nair

          St. Petersburg (Russia), May 30: Pakistan has okayed the India's proposal for resumption of the Delhi-Lahore bus service. Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal said Islamabad has sought 10 to 15 days' time for a meeting of the technical committee to work out the modalities. The decision to resume the bus service was taken by the Indian Cabinet Committee on Security on May 26, as part of the initiative of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Talking to reporters on board the special flight of the Prime Minister from Munich to St. Petersburg, Sibal, however, said there is no progress on resumption of air services as announced by New Delhi.

          He added that Vajpayee, during his bilateral meetings with Chinese President Ho Jianto, President Chirac of France, British Premier Tony Blair and the Russian President Vladimir Putin, would urge them to use their influence over Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism and dismantle all terror factories. Vajapyee is expected to request these leaders to prevail upon General Pervez Musharraf to respond positively to his recent initiatives so that a conducive atmosphere for talks is created. The Prime Minister had suggested to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Wednesday that he should "tell Musharraf to end cross-border terrorism," during a joint press briefing in Berlin. Musharraf is expected to be there in July this year.

          Besides, Vajpayee is also expected to convey New Delhi's concerns about the statements emanating from Washington on Iran. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is reported to be spearheading a "regime change" in Teheran. A reassessment of US policy towards Iran coincides with fresh attempts in the Islamic republic to resolve relations with Washington and thereby facilitate the return of the clerical regime in Teheran. After bulldozing its way in dismantling the Saddam regime in Bagdad, the Bush Administration has positioned its radar on Teheran accusing it of harbouring Al- Qaeda elements and interfering in Iraq by supporting Shia resurgent groups. India, which has excellent strategic and political relations with Iran, wants the US to enter into a dialogue, rather than flexing its muscles. New Delhi is also worried about the impact of the Iraq situation on Islamic sentiments and whether terrorism would be aggravated in the post-war period. Vajpayee may seize the opportunity to tell these leaders that the Iraq model does not apply to Iran, which has a democratically elected government. New Delhi deplored the unilateral US action in Iraq through a resolution of the Parliament but is now in favour of part- taking in the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country under the UN platform.

Proof of Iraqi WMDs will emerge ultimately: Blair (Go To Top)

          London, May 30: Weapons of mass destruction will be eventually found in Iraq and it is absurd to claim that Western intelligence agencies invented evidence of WMDs to justify the Gulf war, said British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Warsaw at a press conference. But with Saddam Hussein gone, he emphasised, reconstruction of the country was of utmost priority, reports the News. But Blair warned his critics that they might have to wait for long for evidence of illegal weapons to come to light.

Maruti's IPO to open on June 12 (Go To Top)

          Mumbai, May 30: Maruti Udyog Ltd has fixed a floor price of Rs 115 per share for its initial public offering to divest the government's 45 per cent equity stake in it. The IPO is slated to open on June 12 and close on June 19, the company said in a release here on Friday. The offer is for sale of 7,22,43,300 equity shares of face value Rs 5 each. This offer would constitute 25 per cent of fully diluted post offer paid-up capital of the company.

India presents bid to host 2010 C'wealth games (Go To Top)

          London, May 30: Buoyed by support from Pakistan and Bangladesh, India on Friday presented its bid to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. The bid was handed over to Prince Edward, who is president of the Commonwealth Games Federation. India faces stiff competition from Hamilton, Canada. The result will be announced in Jamaica this Novermber.

Congress to work for peace in J-K, says Sonia (Go To Top)

          Srinagar, May 30: Adopting a strong stand on promoting a healing touch to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday said that all efforts would be taken to resume peace in the region. "Congress is committed to bringing Jammu and Kashmir back on the path of tranquillity, amity and development. We believe strongly in the need to engage with all sections of the society here," she said while addressing a Congress chief ministers' conclave in Srinagar. Congress party is the junior partner in the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led government in Jammu and Kashmir. Since coming to power last November, Sayeed has pursued a conciliatory policy in the rebellion-torn region after decades of hardline approach by the National Conference party.

          Ms Gandhi also extended support to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's recent peace initiatives with Pakistan. "The interaction, this dialogue must be conducted with sincerity, transparency and with a sense of purpose. It must be seen to address the legitimate grievances of all, sympathetically and expeditiously. The substance this side, of this dialogue, should inspire confidence that the process of negotiations has begun in right earnest," she said. She also said her party had all along believed that the doors of diplomacy and windows of dialogue with Pakistan should always be kept open and active.

          Ms Gandhi is in Srinagar for the two-day conclave of Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states to discuss the party's strategy for the forthcoming elections in four states. She is also scheduled to hold a public rally along with Sayeed. The grand finale of the conference will be a public rally at Baramulla on Sunday. This is the first time in recent years a national-level political party or any outside political party has held a political conclave in the troubled state.

Two Dawood aides in police net after deportation (Go To Top)

          Mumbai, May 30: Two close associates of Pakistan-based underworld don Dawood Ibrahim were arrested at the Mumbai international airport late on Thursday night after their deportation from Dubai. Riaz Siddiqui and Rajiv Sharma, wanted in many cases of murder and extortion and believed to be amongst the top rung of the Dawood gang, were deported from Dubai following a request from the Indian government. Siddiqui is the brother-in-law of Dawood's younger brother Mustakeen. Sharma alias Raju Chikna was a member of rival Chhota Rajan gang before he switched sides to join Dawood. So far UAE authorities have deported seven wanted gangsters to India. Dawood's younger brother Iqbal Kaskar and 1993 Mumbai bomb blast accused Ejaz Pathan are already in police custody. Police say that these deportations are a major blow to the activities of the organised crime syndicates.

Mayawati regime faces no threat, says BJP (Go To Top)

          Lucknow, May 30: The UP government would not fall though an ally had withdrawn support to the Bahujan Samaj Party-led regime, according to BJP. The 13-member Rashtriya Lok Dal, led by former Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh snapped ties last week, apparently miffed over a Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. "The ruling BJP-BSP coalition has absolutely no threat with the withdrawal of support from the Lok Dal. The arithmetic of the legislative assembly is very clear. Even with the RLD withdrawing support the government will have a clear-cut majority in the House," state BJP spokesman Hridya Narayan Dixit said on Thursday. However, opposition Congress party spokesman Akhilesh Singh said a move was on to topple the BJP-BSP coalition government.

Gwalior joins queue for water (Go To Top)

          Gwalior, May 30: Over a million people in Gwalior and its neighbouring villages are reeling under acute water shortage as the region's sole water reservoir faces a 70 percent deficit. Not surprisingly, the authorities are rationing the water. While tap supply has been restricted to alternate days, even tankers visit localities turn by turn. Even then only a few can get water. The not-so-lucky ones have to trek miles under a scorching sun to waterholes and small streams. Named after the city's erstwhile Maharaja and a popular political leader, the Madhav Rao Scindia reservoir is the region's sole water source. Apart from supplying drinking water, it also caters to the irrigation needs of small farmers in neighbouring villages. But the water level in the reservoir has dipped by 70 percent owing to the last year's drought and an intense heatwave sweeping the region.

          The reservoir has just 730 million gallon feet of water left, just enough to meet the city's needs for two more months. The authorities are banking on a forecast of good monsoon rains this year to help them tide through. With temperatures soaring has high as 47 degrees Celsius, 2003 is being billed as the country's hottest year in a century. At least 519 people have been killed due to the intense heat in southern Andhra Pradesh. The entire country is eagerly awaiting the monsoons to get respite from the soaring temperatures. But weather officials say this year the southwest monsoon will arrive several days late but added the delay should not affect the amount of rain that falls.