| Manmohan
seeks cooperation at global level to tackle issues Yekatarinburg
(Russia): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Tuesday focused on the
global economic crisis and several regional issues in India, and demanded cooperation
at the global level to tackle these concerns during the plenary session of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at Yekatarinburg, Russia. "The economic
gains that we have made in the past are today threatened by the global financial
and economic crisis. We should convert this crisis into an opportunity for much
greater economic cooperation between the Members of the SCO and India. Between
us we have a vast market, a large industrial base, a talented human resource base
and above all, the political will. We should also work together to reform the
institutions of global governance, including financial institutions, to bring
them in tune with present and emerging economic realities," Singh said while addressing
the meet. Singh further said there is a lot to be gained through strengthening
connectivity between the SCO and India. "We would like to cooperate in finding
innovative means to strengthen people-to-people contacts, exchanges of businesspersons
and scholars, and trade, investment and technology flows. We would welcome closer
cooperation in the fields of energy and food security, and infrastructure development,"
he added. Singh also highlighted the spectre of terrorism, extremist ideologies
and illicit drug trafficking which haunts India and projected how crucial it is
to have cooperation with one another on a global scale to resolutely defeat these
issues. "The threats we face to our security are global in nature, and require
a global response. The prevalence of poverty and under-development in large parts
of the world continues to threaten global stability. We believe that with the
resources available with us, the SCO and India can mutually reinforce each other's
efforts towards the economic emancipation of our region. We would be happy to
share with our friends in the SCO the experiences we have gained over the years
in various sectors of nation-building," he added. Singh stuck to his concept of
sustainable development and focused on how the developing world needs access to
financial resources and environment friendly technologies, especially in energy,
transportation, manufacturing and agriculture. "We need technology innovations
for reduction of energy use by industry and other sectors. We need massive action
for afforestation, drought proofing and flood protection. We need action to protect
the glaciers that feed our river systems," he said.
Four NSG hubs to be operational by June
30 Top New
Delhi: NSG director general N P S Aulakh on Tuesday said the four NSG hubs
announced in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror strikes last year will be operational
by June 30. The decision was taken after the NSG commander had a meeting with
Union Home Minister P Chidamabarm, following demands from various state governments
for tackling major terror-related activities. "We have got land at all the four
places- Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai. The four hubs for both anti-terror
and anti-hijack operations will be operational by June 30," Aulakh said. In the
aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks in November last year, the government had
decided to set up NSG hubs in the four cities followed by more in the state capitals.
The NSG, which gets its men on deputation from the Army and paramilitary forces,
is now facing an enormous assignment of setting up the hubs as the 8,000-strong
force is drawing men from its existing ranks. Four
cops killed in encounter with Naxalites in Jharkhand Top Ranchi:
Four police jawans were killed and another five injured in an encounter between
the police and the naxalite that took place at Manatu police station area of Palamu
district of Jharkhand on Tuesday. The police were returning after a long range
patrolling when the naxalite opened firing on them. In this encounter that lasted
for four hours, police also fired 1000 rounds of bullets. The injured has been
sent to Ranchi for treatment. Maoists
blow up school building in Bihar Top Gaya:
In a fresh case of Maoist violence in Bihar, rebels triggered dynamite blasts
in a government school building at Chakarbandha village in Gaya district on Monday.
Two more buildings in the vicinity of the school, housing the village community
hall and the village administration office were also damaged in the blast. The
Maoists also attacked policemen who were returning after taking stock of the situation
from the spot. However, no casualty has been reported so far from both the sides.
The police believe that the continuous Maoists attack on government establishments
is a result of their frustration. "They (Maoists) are frustrated and demoralised.
They are opposing the villagers due to which the children are not getting proper
education. They are basically exhibiting their frustration," said Ranjan Prasad,
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Gaya. " The combing operation was on and that
adequate measures will be taken to beef up security," he added. The Maoists claim
that they are fighting for the rights of the landless labourers and the poor and
marginal farmers. I
won't quit Congress: Meira Kumar Top Sasaram
(Bihar): Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has said that she won't quit the Congress
party as suggested by her predecessor Somnath Chatterjee. Talking to reporters
here on Monday during her maiden visit to her constituency after assuming office,
she said, "There is no convention that the Speaker should resign from the primary
membership of his or her party. I will function with the same impartiality towards
the Congress and the other parties in the Lok Sabha." Chatterjee had made the
suggestion during an interview to a private TV channel on Monday, saying political
affiliation should not lead to conflict of interest. "It is better if a person
occupying the Speaker's post resigns from his or her party post during the tenure,"
he said. However, Chatterjee had clarified that he had not given any advice to
Kumar. He had only spoken of the need for convention to avoid any unhappy experience.
Earlier, Kumar hoped that the Women's Reservation Bill would be unanimously passed
in the 15th Lok Sabha as all political parties are serious about it. "That a woman
has been elected as Speaker is an indication that the Women''s Bill could be passed
in the 15th Lok Sabha," she said. The Bill, which was first tabled in 1997, seeks
to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures.
It has been included in the UPA Government's agenda for its first 100 days. Deora
hints at fuel price hike Top New
Delhi: Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora has expressed his concern over
the rise in international crude oil prices and said that the government is looking
at solutions to tackle the widening revenue deficit, hinting at a rise in petrol
and diesel prices. "We are seriously concerned about the rise in crude oil prices.
We have to look for solutions," Deora told reporters after meeting Finance Minister
Pranab Mukherjee with his budget wishlist. "The alternatives before us are raising
petrol and diesel prices, asking the government to make up for revenue loss through
issuing oil bonds and upstream firms chipping in," Deora added. Earlier, there
were reports of a possible cut-down in petrol and diesel prices since the crude
oil prices came down by $100 from the historic high of 147 dollars a barrel. However,
with the rates climbing again, there are doubts about prices being slashed. Currently,
international crude oil prices are ruling at 71-72 dollars a barrel, which is
a seven-month high. 'Taliban
buying kids for Rs 5 lakh to act as suicide bomber' Top
Islamabad:
The Taliban is buying children for 500,000 to 2.5 million rupees to convert
them into suicide bombers, and execute barbarous terrorist activities, Pakistan's
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has revealed. Speaking at an award distribution
ceremony, Malik said Pakistan is determined to continue the war against terrorism
till the Taliban are flushed out of the country. "We had two options either to
surrender before the terrorists or fight with them and now terrorists were bound
to run from Swat, Dir and Buner," The News quoted Malik, as saying. He claimed
that insurgents based in Afghanistan were supplying weapons and ammunition to
the Pak-Taliban, and the Pakistan government had taken up this matter with Afghan
President Hamid Karzai. Lashing out at the terrorists, Malik said they are responsible
for tarnishing the image of Islam and Pakistan, and now citizen having Pakistani
passports were being considered as terrorists in the world. Malik said the Federal
Government has decided to increase the Islamabad police strength by 20,000 to
overcome the shortage in the force. |
