Aga
Khan meets P Chidambaram
New
Delhi: The spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims,
His Highness, the Aga Khan, today called on Union Finance
Minister P. Chidambaram in the capital. The Aga Khan is
meeting the Indian leadership to discuss the broadening
framework of activities being undertaken by the Aga Khan
Development Network in the country. Khan met President A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam and the External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh,
yesterday. Founded in 1967, the Aga Khan Foundation is the
principal grant- making agency for social development within
the Shia Ismaili Imamat. Aga Khan is its founder and chairman.
With a small staff, a host of co-operating agencies and
thousands of volunteers, the Aga Khan Foundation reaches
out to vulnerable populations on four continents, irrespective
of their race, religion, political persuasion or gender.
In 1999, it funded 120 projects in 13 countries and spent
88.9 million dollars. Khan would also be inviting Prime
Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to preside over the award presentation
ceremony of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture to be held
in New Delhi on November 27. The award was created in 1977
to recognise outstanding examples of contemporary design,
promote the conservation of Islamic architecture's urban
heritage and highlight the vital role it can play in the
life of communities. The award, which carries a prize money
of 500,000 dollars, is the largest architectural award in
the world and is presented every three years.
Putin
to arrive on Dec 3 (Go
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New
Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India
on a three-day official visit starting December 3. The two
sides are expected to sign several accords on defence and
other issues during the Russian President's visit to the
country. Putin's visit will be preceded by Russian Defence
Minister Sergei Ivanov's visit to India on November 30,
during which the two countries are likely to hold crucial
talks on military and technical cooperation, including working
out on agreements to safeguard military technology being
jointly developed by India and Russia. Ivanov who will stay
on for Putin's visit will also hold talks with Defence Minister
Pranab Mukherjee on various aspects of mutual interest and
benefits to the two nations like, future possibilities of
Russian army officers undergoing training at high altitude
warfare school and undertaking high altitude exercises with
Indian army personnel. India and Russia are also likely
to sign an agreement preventing the transfer of technology
for futuristic weapons systems like Brahmos supersonic cruise
missile to third nations. The 300 kms multi-faceted Brahmos
missile, which is capable of being launched from surface,
undersea and air is being jointly developed by India and
Russia with both New Delhi and Moscow having a fifty-fifty
stake.
In addition, the agreements are also likely to cover mutual
protection of intellectual property rights on joint weapons
projects, which Moscow has offered to India for the development
of fifth generation fighters. Apart from issues involving
defence matters, India and Russia will also hold talks on
matters related to business and commerce. According to sources,
Russia is keen to solve the Rupee-Rouble issue in a mutually-beneficial
manner for re-investing the pending rupees worth three billion
dollars on concrete projects either on Indian soil or in
Russia. Moscow is also reportedly looking forward to New
Delhi extending its support to Russia joining the WTO. The
two countries are also likely to sign a document in this
regard during Putin's visit. Sources further added that
India and Russia are also likely to hold talks over co-operation
in the energy sector.
Abducted
NHPC engineer freed (Go
To Top)
Patna:
One of the two abducted NHPC engineers in Bihar was
freed today in Gorakhpur in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh,
official sources said. Sources said, K K Singh, chief engineer
of National Hydel Power Corporation, was freed unharmed
by a team of Special Task Force of Uttar Pradesh police
following a raid on a hideout in Gorakhpur district at around
1630 hours, Director General of Police Narayan Mishra said.
There was, however, no word on the fate of the other abductee
NHPC General Manager (Projects) T Mandal, Mishra added.
Singh and Mandal were kidnapped by a gang of suspected extortionists
on November 19 from a place in Vaishali district, when they
were travelling to Bettiah to attend a meeting.
Taj
Mahal fortified ahead of night viewing bonanza (Go
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Agra:
Security has been beefed up at Taj Mahal after the the
Supreme Court opened the world's most famous monument of
love to night viewing, allowing visitors to gaze at the
dazzling marble monument by moonlight for the first time
in two decades, except for one night in 2000. . Setting
aside a ban put in place on security grounds, the Supreme
Court ruled on Thursday that the 17th-century symbol of
love could open for five nights a month during the full
moon for the next three months. The moonlight viewing will
be part of celebrations to mark the white marble mausoleum's
350th anniversary, which are expected to draw millions of
visitors. The ban on night visits was imposed in 1984 following
reports militants had targeted the monument, built by Emperor
Shahjahan as a testament to his love for his wife, Mumtaz
Mahal. Authorities in Uttar Pradesh, where the Taj is located,
have assured foolproof security on the guidelines laid down
by the court, which include special X-ray screening of all
baggage being carried by visitors and an extra task force.
The locals, who have for long rallied for the night quota,
are meanwhile jubilant with the directive and already looking
forward to a tourist boom. "We are very happy with this
decision that the Supreme Court has given for the permission
of night viewing. Tourism will be given a new dimension.
This willl have a good effect on tourism and on the industry
like hotels and tour operators," Sunil Gupta, director of
the Indian Association of Tour Operators said in Agra. Night
viewing was allowed for a few days in 2000, but stopped
again over concern about preserving the site.
Goa
IFFI 2004 to showcase new theatres and beach cinema (Go
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Panaji:
Cinema halls for the screening of pictures during the
International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2004 at Goa
are ready. Goa also gets its first multilpex built by a
private company for the state government on build-operate-transfer
basis, which has four huge screens with state-of-the-art
sound and lighting systems. Built by INOX Private Limited,
the multiplex has four huge screens with state-of-the-art
sound and lighting systems. Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parikkar
inaugurated the multiplex recently. The state government
has shelled 24.92 crore rupees for it. "We have multiplex
with four screens. Multiplex would be the main venue for
screening the films. The combined capacity would be 1, 250
seats. Apart from this, we have one festival theatre with
950 seats, where opening and closing ceremonies would be
held. We are also looking for private auditorium in and
around Goa, which would do screening for the public," said
Sanjit Rodrigues, CEO, Entertainment Society of Goa.
The
IFFI has given attention to the common people too. Hollywood
and bollywood blockbusters like Mission Impossible, Dil
To Pagal Hai, Shrek, Hum Tum, E.T. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le
Jayenge and Gladiator will be screened on the Miramar beach
at Panaji. Entry to this beach-cinema would be absolutely
free. "It's a new concept. It has never happened in India.
We are erecting a huge screen of 70X35 feet on Miramar beach.
It is for the common people and tourists at large. It would
give an ambience, a Goa-feel. Beach screening are held around
the world," said Rodrigues. The locals are happy. "It is
very beneficial for the public. The people who serve tourists
would have an edge as it is sure to encourage tourism. The
entry is free too. We can watch movies whenever we want,"
says Sebastian, a local. The landmark cultural building
of Panaji, "Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir" has been renovated
too. It has a huge auditorim having most modern cinema projection
facilities. Meanwhile, the film reels of films to be screened
at the festival have started arriving at the administrative
office that are being checked for their quality and condition.
Akash
test-fired successfully (Go
To Top)
Balasore:
Akash, the indigenously developed surface-to-air missile,
was test-fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-On-Sea,
about 14 km from here today. The sophisticated multi-target
missile was test fired from a mobile launcher at about 12.30
pm. Earlier, Lakshya, the Pilotless Target Aircraft, was
test flown from the ITR at 12.10 pm and Akash was fired
at an object attached to the PTA as its target. The missile
has a range of 27 kilometre with an effective ceiling of
15 kilometre. It uses an Integral Ramjet Rocket Propulsion
System and has a low reaction time. The sleek missile, with
a 700 kg launch weight, could carry a warhead of 60 kg.
Akash operates in conjunction with Rajendra Surveillance
and Engagement Radar being developed by Electronic Research
and Development Establishment. The radar is capable of tracking
64 targets and guide upto 12 missiles simultaneously. The
missile, part of India's Guided Missile Development Programme,
is being developed by the DRDO and had undergone a number
of trials. The current thrust of the test was on its guidance
system, the sources said adding that the development was
also aimed at increasing its speed, maximum altitude and
extend the range up to 60 km. Six more rounds of similar
trials of the missile could take place shortly, they said.
