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Assam braces for floods

          Guwahati: Authorities have sounded alert in Assam after major rivers started rising following heavy rains for the last few days. At least 80 people were killed and more than 400,000 people rendered homeless last year due the floods. The chief of the state's meteorological department said that the situation was under close watch as the water level in the main river Brahmapurtra had reached danger levels at several places. "We are closely monitoring rainfall activity of the region. We are issuing bulletins twice a day. The bulletin consists of realised rainfall and expected rainfall. The forecasts are issued twice a day, which are valid for next 48 and 36 hours respectively," said N. Mahapatra, Director of Assam Meteorological Department.

Truce likely between Nagas, Kukis (Go To Top)

          Imphal: The Kuki National Organization (KNO) demanded an autonomous state within Myanmar while a similar group, the Kuki National Front (KNF) demanded a "Kukiland" comprising parts of Myanmar and Manipur. Since then Manipur has been marred by violence and armed confrontation between the Nagas and Kukis. But now, the recent surrender of KNF militants is being seen as a step towards a political settlement. On May 16, as many as three hardcore activists of banned underground outfit, KNF Military Council (KNF-MC), including a self-styled Sergeant Major and a Captain, surrendered to the 14 Assam Rifles unit at Leirouching - a hill station located 76 km north of Imphal. The KNF members laid down their arms before Brigadier R.K Sharma, Commander of 59 mountain brigade in the surrender ceremony that was conducted here....the militants, it seems are realising the futility of armed resistance and are willing to live by the law of the land . One of the surrendered militant said: "That was not my opinion my friends forced me to join, so I joined and now I want to live peacefully."

         The KNF was formed under the leadership of Ranco Thangboi Kuki on May 18, 1988 and is now divided into two factions - KNF (MC) and KNF (P). The groups aim to unite the Kuki tribe, which is scattered in different states and bring them under one state. It is a secessionist organization, which believes in achieving its goal with the help of the gun. The former KNF members laid down one 9-mm pistol, one 303 rifle, one bolt action rifle, one hand grenade and a few assorted ammunition at the ceremony, a step that was duly appreciated by the authorities who promised to rehabilitate them. Brigadier R.K. Sharma, Commander, 59 Mountain Brigade said: "From our side what we have been doing is that we have been trying to help them find another job. This could be with the Assam Rifles that is provided they meet the basic political requirement otherwise it will be some other form of employment, but we will definitely help them."

         Unemployment seems to be a major reason why young men and women pick up the gun here. Once they are assured of jobs or at least avenues of employment they are quick to give up arms. Clearly there is no deep-seated commitment to an ideology. Rejoining the social mainstream and leading peaceful lives is the immediate aim of those who have chosen to lay down their arms. These former militants are role models for their other comrades.

Dharam Singh is Karnataka CM (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: N. Dharam Singh was on Friday sworn in as Karnataka's new Chief Minister, ending days of uncertainty over government formation in the state. JD (S) Karnataka unit president and backward class leader Siddarmaiah was sworn-in as Deputy Chief Minister. State Governor T.N. Chaturvedi administered the oath of office to the duo. A low-profile leader with penchant for avoiding controversies, Singh emerged as the Congress choice on Monday last when the legislature party unanimously elected him. His name also found favour with JD (S) led by former Prime Minister and party president H D Deve Gowda. Dharam Singh has played a prominent role in the previous Congress governments in Karnataka. He has served as the state's Home Minister, Urban Development Minister and was PWD Minister in the S M Krishna cabinet.

Girls outshine boys again in Class X results (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: The results of the Class X board examinations were declared on Friday and once again girls outshone boys in terms of percentage marks secured. This year, girls all across India, as well as in Delhi have outperformed the boys, recording an overall pass percentage of of 73.2, while the figure is 71.46 for boys. Chennai yet again bagged the first position with a whopping 89.56 percent of Class 10 students passing this year while Delhi limped to fifth position, with 59.7 percent. The Central Board of Secondary Examinations (CBSE) put out the results on the Internet, SMS and pasted print outs on school notice boards. In all, 1,91,000 students appeared for the exam. The results were posted at midnight to ensure that students did not have to spend the whole night at cyber cafes. However, there was no stopping the mad rush for access to the CBSE website by parents and students alike. "I am very excited because it is good. I have scored 77 percent which is good for taking science," said Radhika, a student. "I was quite amazed when I saw the result and I credit it all to my parents and my tutors who really helped me a lot," said Rashmi, another student. "I am really happy, I have got the highest, I am the topper in CJM (a school, Convent of Jesus and Mary). I was expecting (percentage) in 80s, but it is pretty good, it is 95.8 (percent)," said Mallika. Meanwhile, helplines across the city are bracing up to help students cope with stress and depression-related problems.

Brit Colonel who tortured Iraqis gets promotion (Go To Top)

          London: Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Mendonca, 40, of the Queen's Lancashires is being promoted for his and his colleagues "excellent" work in Iraq. His regiment was accused of torturing Iraqi prisoners after the publication of "abuse" pictures which however later proved to be a hoax. According to the Sun, he will be made full colonel and also get an Army staff appointment approved by General Sir Mike Jackson, Britain's top soldier. His salary alos rises from 57,000 pounds to 63,000. A senior military source said: "We hope the promotion will go some way to removing the terrible stain cast on the regiment's reputation by the fake pictures."

Pak-India FS talks in June first week: Khokar (Go To Top)

         Islamabad: Foreign Secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India will take place in the first week of June, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Riaz Ahmed Khokar said on Thursday. Briefing the Senate's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs here, Khokar said that the new Indian government had reacted positively to Islamabad's overtures for continuing the dialogue process initiated by the previous government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He, however, said that the past track record of India's Congress party, which was heading the present political dispensation in New Delhi, needed to be kept in mind as and when the talks resumed. "Let's see what kind of approach new Indian government adopts during the talks particularly in reference with Simla agreement, Lahore Declaration, Agra summit and Islamabad declaration," Online News quoted Khokar as saying. He informed the Senate committee that the secretary-level talks between the two countries would take place just two days before foreign ministers level talks, to finalize the agenda and schedules of next meetings. "We should keep in mind our own objectives and should resume dialogue process with open heart and mind on the basis of peace," Khokar said. "We intend to hold talks with India to normalize relations for resolving all outstanding issues including Kashmir. Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and Kashmir will be on top of agenda in the talks with India," he added. Mushahid Hussain Syed, the Chairman of the Senate Committee, presided over the meeting.

SAIL wipes out loss, declares highest profit of Rs 2512 cr (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: The public-sector steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) has wiped out accumulated losses of Rs. 2,765 crore from its record books and registered a record net profit of Rs. 2,512 crore. The audited financial results of the company for fiscal 2003-4, was taken on record by the SAIL Board of Directors here today. The company achieved a bottomline improvement of Rs. 2,816 crore over the loss of Rs. 304 crore suffered in 2002-03. Turnover also vaulted to an all-time high of Rs. 24,178 crore, a growth of 26 per cent over the Rs. 19,207 crore achieved in 2002-03, company release said. Noteworthy among the many high points of this substantial improvement in financial performance was the re-emergence of Durgapur Steel Plant as a profit making enterprise after decades. Rourkela Steel Plant also emerged from a period of losses to earn cash profit during the year.

Sensex tumbles by 223 pts as CMP disappoints market (Go To Top)

         Mumbai: The sensex crashed by 223 points on Friday after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) released its Common Minimum Programme (CMP). The crash wiped out over Rs 51,000 crore of investors wealth on across-the-board sell-off by investors. The BSE Benchmark 30-share Index opened sharply lower at 5026.92 and later plunged to the intra-day low of 4821.59 before ending at 4835.39, a steep fall of 223.16 points or 4.41 per cent. Extremely disappointed over the CMP that put disinvestment, labour reforms and privatisation of power utilities on the backburner, Foreign Institutional Investors (FII) pressed heavy sales across the spectrum, brokers said. Power as well as PSU and Banking sectors bore the brunt of the sell-off and registered huge losses. There was nothing for the market as well as for foreign investments in the CMP, which has done little to allay investors fears over the pace and extent of economic reforms. Commenting on the privatisation issue, brokers said though the government is open to disinvestment of upto 49 per cent in PSUs including profitable ones, it has scrapped the disinvestment ministry indicating that majority stake and management control would remain with the government. This will automatically discourage foreign investments in the country.