Port of Spain, Nov 28 (PTI) Sharing India's views, French President Nicolas Sarkozy today said the upcoming Copenhagen meet on climate change should not miss the opportunity to tackle the problem as it would be a "historic failure" and asserted that New Delhi will not be a deal-breaker.
Sarkozy, who held a luncheon meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here and discussed climate change, said he was "fully confident" that the latter would attend the Copenhagen Summit being held on December 18.
As of now, Singh, who is here for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), is not going to Copenhagen where Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh will be representing India at the meet.
"India has nothing to lose and everything to gain by being in Copenhagen. If India is to be heard, it needs to be present," Sarkozy said addressing a press conference here.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
NSG to have permanent structures at new hubs
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) NSG commandos deployed at their new hubs in four cities and currently housed in temporary locations will have permanent structures at their earmarked lands by next year.
The permanent structures and multi-storey buildings will come up by next year at these places, National Security Guard (NSG) Director General N P S Aulakh said.
Till the permanent structures come up, the commandos will be housed in pre-fabricated structures by mid-December this year at their designated lands, he said.
"The National Building Constructions Corporation (NBCC) had given us the deadline of November 30 for completion of pre-fabricated structures and roads etc. At the most, we will move into all the four hubs by second week of December," he said.
The regional hub at Mumbai was operationalised on June 30 while Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata hubs were inaugurated on July 1 by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram this year.
The permanent structures and multi-storey buildings will come up by next year at these places, National Security Guard (NSG) Director General N P S Aulakh said.
Till the permanent structures come up, the commandos will be housed in pre-fabricated structures by mid-December this year at their designated lands, he said.
"The National Building Constructions Corporation (NBCC) had given us the deadline of November 30 for completion of pre-fabricated structures and roads etc. At the most, we will move into all the four hubs by second week of December," he said.
The regional hub at Mumbai was operationalised on June 30 while Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata hubs were inaugurated on July 1 by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram this year.
Mumbai police holds parade
File photo of children paying tribute to the victims of 26/11 in Bhopal. PTI Photo
- 26/11 anniversary: Mumbai police holds parade
- STAFF WRITER 9:26 HRS IST
UK: NATO to offer 5,000 troops for Afghanistan Britain: NATO nations are ready to offer 5,000 more troops for Afghanistan conflict
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday that NATO nations are ready to offer about 5,000 more troops for the war in Afghanistan.
Brown's spokesman, Simon Lewis, said the British leader is optimistic about the pledges of additional personnel following talks with about 10 NATO nations in recent weeks.
Lewis said Brown has written to NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to update him.
Britain has not named the countries it claims will provide the extra troops, though Slovakia last week offered 250 more soldiers following London talks. Georgia has pledged between 700 and 1,000 soldiers, and South Korea has said it would send "several hundred" to protect its reconstruction teams.
Brown plans to send 500 more British troops — not included in the 5,000 figure — soon after President Barack Obama announces his plans for reinforcements. The U.K. currently has 9,000 troops in Afghanistan.
In Brussels, NATO spokesman James Appathurai said some allies plan to delay their decisions on further troop pledges until after an international conference on the future of Afghanistan, tentatively scheduled for January.
"Nobody should expect that the day after President Obama makes his announcement that there will be a total troop figure added up ... by the other allies," Appathurai said.
"A number of countries ... are looking to that conference," he said. "They want to see any further contributions in the context of the overall political environment in which they will be deploying their forces."
Committing additional troops for Afghanistan will be a tough sell for many allied governments at a time of economic crisis and shrinking defense budgets. Polls show that most Europeans oppose sending more soldiers into what many see as an unwinnable conflict.
The Canadians and the Dutch are both scheduled to begin pulling troops, even as Obama considers pouring them in.
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
India-US sign six MoUs on counter-terrorism
India and the US have signed an MoU on counter-terrorism and five other agreements as they agreed to chart their ties as "one of the defining relations" in the 21st century in which New Delhi will have a leadership role in the region and the world.
Besides the Memorandum of Understanding on 'Advancing Global Security and Countering Terrorism', the two countries signed pacts covering education and development, health cooperation, economic trade and agriculture, and green partnerships.
The pacts were signed after Prime Minister and US President Barack Obama held talks in Washington at the White House.
PM Manmohan Singh is the first foreign leader to be hosted as the State Guest under the 10-month-old Obama Administration.
Socialist Unity Centre of India
Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) is a revolutionary party based on Marxism-Leninism, which emerged as the only communist party of the Indian soil. It was founded on the 24thApril, 1948, under the leadership of a foremost Marxist thinker of this era, Comrade Shibdas Ghosh. He was the first General Secretary of the party who passed away on the 5th of August, 1976. After his demise, Comrade Nihar Mukherjee, his comrade-in-arms and a founder member of the party, became the General Secretary.
Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) is a revolutionary party based on Marxism-Leninism, which emerged as the only communist party of the Indian soil. It was founded on the 24thApril, 1948, under the leadership of a foremost Marxist thinker of this era, Comrade Shibdas Ghosh. He was the first General Secretary of the party who passed away on the 5th of August, 1976. After his demise, Comrade Nihar Mukherjee, his comrade-in-arms and a founder member of the party, became the General Secretary.
Latest in news----The much-hyped 12-hour bandh called by the SUCI today turned into a damp squib with normalcy prevailing throughout the day.The bandh was not supported bySUCI’s election partner, Trinamool Congress, which once again showed that political might remained with the latter. The administration and police, meanwhile, maintained tight security throughout the day.“There were no major untoward incidents during the bandh. Throughout the state 250 people were arrested as they tried to impose the bandh. Buses, taxis and other vehicles plied normally,” said Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti.Provash Ghosh, state secretary of SUCI, however, claimed: “There was a normal response to the bandh and a majority of the people supported us. Shops and business establishments at a number of places were closed and many people stayed indoors. Our protest against price rise and the government’s failure to control it will continue.”
Australian assistance to Magic Bus Mumbai
The Australian High Commissioner, Mr Peter Varghese, today presented a cheque for Rs 10,00,000 to Magic Bus for the provision of sport and personal development training to 240 underprivileged children in Mumbai. The cheque was received by Magic Bus' Senior Sustainability Manager, Meena Sriramane.
Mr Varghese said Australia is pleased to be able to assist these children reach their full potential by providing opportunities through sport. Australia and India share many sporting links at the elite level, and we are glad to be able to give something back at the grassroots level.
The funding was provided under the Direct Aid Program (DAP), administered by the Australian High Commission in New Delhi. The DAP funds grassroots development programs in a range of areas, including education, health, income generation and the environment.
Australia had previously funded Magic Bus in 2007-08 to run sporting camps for underprivileged children under the Australian Sports Outreach Program.
During his recent visit to India, the Australian Prime Minister announced the Australian Sports Outreach Program would be expanded to deliver more grass-roots sports-based activities to India's youth, women and people with a disability, in collaboration with Indian partners.
Funding for DAP was also increased in 2009-10 to A$250,000 (approx. 1 crore rupees). Since 2001, when the program was launched in its current form, DAP has distributed more than A$1 million (approx. 4 crore rupees) to small-scale development activities.
India signs historic clean energy deal with US
WASHINGTON (Commodity Online) : In a significant development on Tuesday, India and the US signed an energy deal to promote and develop technology to produce cleaner forms of energy.
The deal agreed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the US was signed by External affairs minister SM Krishna and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
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Krishna said the accord "will go a long way in helping India to overcome its energy crisis and this will also lay the foundation for the expanding of areas of interaction between our two countries."
Clinton said only that India and the United States would establish a research and development institute for clean energy, which will have facilities in both countries.
The deal will "enhance cooperation on energy security, energy efficiency, clean energy and climate change," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters.
"Both countries will work jointly to accelerate development and deployment of clean energy technologies and to strengthen cooperation on adaptation to climate change, climate science and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from forests and land use," he added.
Clinton noted that the deal was signed in the run-up to the UN conference on climate change, which is scheduled to take place in Copenhagen from December 7-18.
The United States, the European Union and Japan are trying to convince India and China to pledge cuts in the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. China is the largest emitter of such gases, while India is the fourth largest.
The deal agreed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the US was signed by External affairs minister SM Krishna and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
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Krishna said the accord "will go a long way in helping India to overcome its energy crisis and this will also lay the foundation for the expanding of areas of interaction between our two countries."
Clinton said only that India and the United States would establish a research and development institute for clean energy, which will have facilities in both countries.
The deal will "enhance cooperation on energy security, energy efficiency, clean energy and climate change," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters.
"Both countries will work jointly to accelerate development and deployment of clean energy technologies and to strengthen cooperation on adaptation to climate change, climate science and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from forests and land use," he added.
Clinton noted that the deal was signed in the run-up to the UN conference on climate change, which is scheduled to take place in Copenhagen from December 7-18.
The United States, the European Union and Japan are trying to convince India and China to pledge cuts in the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. China is the largest emitter of such gases, while India is the fourth largest.
Lok Sabha passes rubber amendment bill
The Lok Sabha today(24/11) passed by voice vote the Rubber(Amendment)Bill, 2009, envisaging exemption of over Rs 16.68 crore cess on natural rubber produced and procured in the country for export in 42 years between April 1961 to August 2003, providing relief to both producers and exporters.
The bill will now go to the Standing Committee of Rajya Sabha for consideration before the House of elders pass it to make it a law, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia said while replying to a three-hour debate. He clarified the bill is not with the Rajya Sabha panel as claimed by a member during the debate.
The Bill, moved for consideration and passage by Mr Scindia, empowers the Central government to levy zero paise per kg of excise duty on natural rubber produced and procured for export between April 1, 1961 to August 31, 2003. This, the financial memorandum said, would result in exemption of cess amounting to Rs 16,68,59,000 on the rubber produced and procured for export.
Addressing members concerns over India's free trade agreement with the ten-nation bloc of south east Asian countries, ASEAN, Mr Scinida pointed out rubber has been included in the negative list of 489 items where no reduction in import tariff has been made by the country. He said domestic price of rubber is higher than the prices in the international market.
This fourth amendment of The Rubber Act, 1947 when legislated will provide relief to rubber industry by removing cumbersome restrictions of registration of rubber estates and licence for planting and re-planting.
Instead of the time-consuming and complex procedure for assessment and collection of cess, the Bill provides for self-assessment and compounding of offences to check illegal transaction and evasion of excise duty.
By removing obsolete and redundant features of the previous Act, the Bill is aimed at bringing the rubber industry in sync with the liberalised economic scenario in the country.
Indian diamonds shine in UAE
SURAT (Commodity Online): Till last year, US was India’s biggest destination to export diamonds. With the recession setting in, demand for diamonds in US markets climbed down drastically.
This forced diamond polishing units in Surat to look for other destinations. This has resulted in Surat exporting more diamonds to United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2008-09 than to the US.
Again, the demand for Made-in-India merchandise in the world’s largest economy continued to shrink — exports from India to the US dropped by 18.7% in the first six months of this financial year to $10.44 billion, compared with $12.84 billion in the same period last year.
Though Surat diamond units are trying to tap new markets like Latin America to keep export registers ringing, gaining a meaningful foothold is expected to take at least two years.
While the US was India’s biggest export destination until 2007-08, the emergence of oil-rich UAE as the biggest buyer of Indian goods is primarily because of a paradigm shift in the gems & jewellery business.
While the US withdrew benefits for Indian gems exporters under the Generalised System of Preferences regime last year, Dubai has emerged a major trading hub for diamonds polished in India. So, gems exports to the UAE more than doubled to over $10 billion in 2008-09, while exports to the US declined marginally to about $5 billion. Traditionally, the sector has had the highest share in India’s export basket to these two countries.
This forced diamond polishing units in Surat to look for other destinations. This has resulted in Surat exporting more diamonds to United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2008-09 than to the US.
Again, the demand for Made-in-India merchandise in the world’s largest economy continued to shrink — exports from India to the US dropped by 18.7% in the first six months of this financial year to $10.44 billion, compared with $12.84 billion in the same period last year.
Though Surat diamond units are trying to tap new markets like Latin America to keep export registers ringing, gaining a meaningful foothold is expected to take at least two years.
While the US was India’s biggest export destination until 2007-08, the emergence of oil-rich UAE as the biggest buyer of Indian goods is primarily because of a paradigm shift in the gems & jewellery business.
While the US withdrew benefits for Indian gems exporters under the Generalised System of Preferences regime last year, Dubai has emerged a major trading hub for diamonds polished in India. So, gems exports to the UAE more than doubled to over $10 billion in 2008-09, while exports to the US declined marginally to about $5 billion. Traditionally, the sector has had the highest share in India’s export basket to these two countries.
Liberhan Commission
A file photo of senior BJP leader L K Advani at a party meeting in New Delhi. PTI Photo
- Vajpayee, Advani severely indicted by the Liberhan Commission
- STAFF REPORTER 17:37 HRS IST
Opening ceremony theme for Commonwealth Games finalised
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Obama recognises India as 'nuclear power' for the first time
PM Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama in the East Room of the White House. PTI Photo
- Obama recognises India as 'nuclear power' for the first time
- STAFF REPORTER 22:27 HRS IST
Monday, November 23, 2009
Film Bazaar
National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) will organize a Film Bazaar at Marriott Resort in Goa from November 26-29, on the sidelines of IFFI-2008.
Bigger and better than the previous years, this year the Bazaar offers much more to the delegates and the participants. Among others, the Film Bazaar will provide an interactive platform to promote co-production market by facilitating collaboration among potential domestic and international partners. Fifteen pre-selected film projects and ten documentary projects, a new feature to be introduced this year will be presented at Bazaar.
The Film Bazaar aims at creating opportunities for networking and business for producers, filmmakers and distributors from across the world.
Bigger and better than the previous years, this year the Bazaar offers much more to the delegates and the participants. Among others, the Film Bazaar will provide an interactive platform to promote co-production market by facilitating collaboration among potential domestic and international partners. Fifteen pre-selected film projects and ten documentary projects, a new feature to be introduced this year will be presented at Bazaar.
40th International Film Festival of India
Monday, November 23, 2009
 The 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) - 2009 was inaugurated today in a star studded function held at Kala Academy, Panaji, Goa. The legendary Film Actress Waheeda Rehman inaugurated the Festival with the symbolic lighting of the lamp helped by actress Asin and Nana Patekar as special guests in the august presence of the Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Digambar V. Kamat and the Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Smt. Ambika Soni. The International Jury headed by Brazilian Director Joao Batista de Andrade along with other members of the jury - Vic Sarin (Canada), Kenichi Okubu (Tokyo), Sarika (India) and Jean-Michel Frodon (France) were felicitated at the opening ceremony. Noted Film makers Gurinder Chadha, Nonzee Nimibutr and Roland Reber attended the inaugural function. Among the Indian film fraternity notable among those who attended the function included Shri Muzaffar Ali, Chairman, Feature Film Jury, Indian Panorama. The Secretary, Ministry of I&B, Government of India, Shri Raghu Menon, Chief Secretary, Government of Goa, Shri Sanjay Srivastava and Vice-Chairman, Entertainment Society of Goa, Shri Filipe Neri Rodrigues were also present on the occasion. The Chinese historical drama “Wheat” (MAI TIAN) directed by He Ping was screened at the opening ceremony. The well choreographed colourful rendition of the ensemble of classical dance forms from Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Kerala and Gujarat presented by the Kalashetra Troupe directed by Leela Samson entertained the audience. The IFFI-2009 in its various sections would be screening nearly 300 films across 10 Auditoria and three preview rooms in the cities of Panaji and Margao in Goa. The interesting poster exhibition, workshops, seminars as also the Film Bazaar would be held on the sidelines of the Festival. |
US universities welcomed for joint ventures: PM
Washington, Nov 24 (PTI) Noting that human resource development was critical to India's development,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the dearth of quantity and quality of teachers is the main obstacle and invited US universities to forge partnerships with their Indian counterparts.
Singh said his government was working on a major plan to expand education system for which 40 universities, including IITs and IIMs, would be set up.
"It goes without saying that human resource development is probably the most critical component of our development aspirations," he said during an interaction at the US-India Business Council (USIBC) after his address there.
"Our biggest problem in expanding our educations system particularly at the higher education level is the deficiency in the quantity and quality of qualified teachers," he said in response to a question.
Singh said his government was working on a major plan to expand education system for which 40 universities, including IITs and IIMs, would be set up.
"It goes without saying that human resource development is probably the most critical component of our development aspirations," he said during an interaction at the US-India Business Council (USIBC) after his address there.
"Our biggest problem in expanding our educations system particularly at the higher education level is the deficiency in the quantity and quality of qualified teachers," he said in response to a question.
FIH to trial umpire review system in CT
New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) After cricket, the umpire review system is set to make its debut in hockey as the International Hockey Federation has decided to put it on trial in the forthcoming Men's Champions Trophy to be held in Melbourne from November 28 to December 5.
As per the system, the teams will be allowed one referral per match if they feel the umpire's decision on goals, penalty corners and penalty strokes has gone against them. The captain would be authorised to request for a review.
If the referral goes in favour of the team asking for it, then they are allowed to request for another referral for the rest of the match.
Under the current system, match umpires can already refer decisions to the video umpire if they are not convinced about awarding or disallowing goals.
As per the system, the teams will be allowed one referral per match if they feel the umpire's decision on goals, penalty corners and penalty strokes has gone against them. The captain would be authorised to request for a review.
If the referral goes in favour of the team asking for it, then they are allowed to request for another referral for the rest of the match.
Under the current system, match umpires can already refer decisions to the video umpire if they are not convinced about awarding or disallowing goals.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Alok Bharadwaj conferred the CMO of the Yr 2009 award
New Delhi: The US based Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council, having a presence across 100 countries and over 20,000 global executives today conferred the important Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of the Year award to Alok Bharadwaj, Senior Vice President, Canon India in the Office Automation Category. The conference on marketing held in Indore is the first by the CMO India Council, under the guidance of its US partners.
Author Akash Verma’s “It Happened That Night” launched
New Delhi: Akash Verma, a management graduate with over 14 years of professional experience and currently working as the business head of a media company, has launched his first extensive piece of fictional writing in form of a novel called “It Happened That Night” in the Indian market.
N-deal, Pak, terror on agenda during PM-Obama meet
Implementation of the landmark civil nuclear deal, the situation in Pakistan and terrorism emanating from there would be high on the agenda as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama meet in Washington on Tuesday for talks during which they are expected to give a major push to the Indo-US strategic ties.
The two countries will sign a number of pacts, including an MoU on Counter-Terrorism to provide a legal framework for stepped up cooperation against the menace, and discuss the problem of climate change ahead of the Copenhagen Summit.
Singh, the first foreign leader to be hosted by the 10-month-old Obama Administration as the State Guest, arrived in Washington on Sunday on a four-day visit during which he will address the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Joint Business Forum besides meeting Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, Speaker of House of Representatives Nancy Pellosi and a host of other senior leaders.
Dual use technology key to ending chronic poverty: PM
Washington, Nov 23 (PTI) Ahead of his talks with US President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India needs a growth rate of eight to nine per cent to industrialise and get rid of chronic poverty and pitched for transfer of dual use technology to achieve that goal.
"We are a nuclear weapons state, but we are a responsible nuclear power. We have an impeccable record of not having contributed to unauthorised proliferation of these weapons of mass destruction," he said in an interview to CNN, aired minutes before he landed at the Andrews Air Force Base in the US on the first state visit of Obama Administration.
"I think, India does require greater consideration of the international community," he said when asked about the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal and its implementation.
India needs to industrialise and operate on the frontiers of modern science and technology, Singh said.
"We are a nuclear weapons state, but we are a responsible nuclear power. We have an impeccable record of not having contributed to unauthorised proliferation of these weapons of mass destruction," he said in an interview to CNN, aired minutes before he landed at the Andrews Air Force Base in the US on the first state visit of Obama Administration.
"I think, India does require greater consideration of the international community," he said when asked about the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal and its implementation.
India needs to industrialise and operate on the frontiers of modern science and technology, Singh said.
No replacement for US dollar: PM
Washington, Nov 23 (PTI) Praising the entrepreneurial spirit of the American enterprise, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that there can be no substitution for the US dollar.
"As far as I can see right now there is no substitute for the dollar," the Prime Minister said in an interview to CNN.
Responding to questions about the economic crisis in the United States, the Prime Minister said: "There is a temporary setback and temporary questioning, about relevance of the American model, but I have seen these things much before."
Singh said even the Chinese, who holds 2.5 trillion dollars in reserve assets, have not disposed off even a fraction of them.
"That is a measure of the confidence that the world has in the dollar. There are problems. There is the confidence problem, which can be very destabilizing," he said.
"As far as I can see right now there is no substitute for the dollar," the Prime Minister said in an interview to CNN.
Responding to questions about the economic crisis in the United States, the Prime Minister said: "There is a temporary setback and temporary questioning, about relevance of the American model, but I have seen these things much before."
Singh said even the Chinese, who holds 2.5 trillion dollars in reserve assets, have not disposed off even a fraction of them.
"That is a measure of the confidence that the world has in the dollar. There are problems. There is the confidence problem, which can be very destabilizing," he said.
Usain Bolt, Sanya Richards
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| Usain Bolt, Sanya Richards | |
| NOVEMBER 22, 2009 - MONACO : Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt and US track and field sprinter Sanya Richards hold their Athlete of the Year Awards Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, in Monaco, awarded by the International Athletic Foundation.AP/PTI |
Gaurav-Musa win Coffee Day Rally
Chikmaglur, Nov 22 (PTI) Gaurav Gill and co-driver Musa Sherif of Team MRF won the Coffee Day Rally of Chikmagalur to clinch the Indian National Rally Championship title here today.
Team MRF won the top three places.
Gaurav Gill kept his poise to pocket his second national championship title. Though the official declaration is expected on November 28 on the pending protests, Gill is unlikely to be affected as he has the cushion of 46 points.
Team MRF won the top three places.
Gaurav Gill kept his poise to pocket his second national championship title. Though the official declaration is expected on November 28 on the pending protests, Gill is unlikely to be affected as he has the cushion of 46 points.
Japan to admit secret nuclear pact: Reports
A Japanese government team has found documents on an alleged secret pact with the United States to transport nuclear weapons through its territory, after decades of official denial, reports revealed on Sunday.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's centre-left government launched a probe into the alleged nuclear pact and other secret agreements with the United States days after it took office in September.
Hershey may launch $17 bn bid for Cadbury: Report
Hershey Co. may make a $17 billion bid for UK candy company Cadbury PLC, topping the recent $16.5 billion hostile offer by Kraft Foods Inc., the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
The bid wouldn’t be ready for two weeks and the terms are in flux, the newspaper says people close to the matter have said.
The bid wouldn’t be ready for two weeks and the terms are in flux, the newspaper says people close to the matter have said.
Spain go top of world rankings
BERNE (Reuters) - Spain climbed to the top of the FIFA world rankings on Friday, displacing Brazil who had led since July.
Spain, who had been in second position, beat Argentina and Austria in friendlies in the last week to take their tally of successive wins to eight.
Brazil's 1-0 victory over England and 2-0 triumph against Oman carried less weight under the complex points system.
Netherlands and Italy remained unchanged in third and fourth respectively while Portugal jumped five spots to fifth.
Africa's highest-ranked team are 11th-placed Cameroon and United States (14th) are the top side from the CONCACAF region. Australia (21st) lead the way among the Asian confederation.
Spain, who had been in second position, beat Argentina and Austria in friendlies in the last week to take their tally of successive wins to eight.
Brazil's 1-0 victory over England and 2-0 triumph against Oman carried less weight under the complex points system.
Netherlands and Italy remained unchanged in third and fourth respectively while Portugal jumped five spots to fifth.
Africa's highest-ranked team are 11th-placed Cameroon and United States (14th) are the top side from the CONCACAF region. Australia (21st) lead the way among the Asian confederation.
Peace Run in Mumbai to demand zero tolerance against terror
Demanding zero tolerance against terrorism, thousands of people including renowned WWF wrestler Khali and Kashmiri girl Rukhsana, who killed a Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist in J-K, on Sunday participated in a 'Peace Run' organised in Mumbai.
40,000 cr sanctioned for rural development: FM
Baharampore(WB): Union Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said the Centre has sanctioned an amount of Rs 40,000 crore for rural development in the country.
"I would request every state to utilise the fund on rural development properly. The fund is mainly meant for the development of health, electricity, road and other infrastructure in the villages," Mukherjee said while inaugurating a arsenic-free drinking water scheme at Lalgola in Murshidabad district.
The Union Finance minister said only six lakh people have been provided arsenic free water. More people should be benefited, he said.
Mukherjee also inaugurated a Congress workers camp at Jangipur, his constituency.
He urged Congress workers to tell the people about the different welfare schemes initiated by the Centre for the development of common people.
"I would request every state to utilise the fund on rural development properly. The fund is mainly meant for the development of health, electricity, road and other infrastructure in the villages," Mukherjee said while inaugurating a arsenic-free drinking water scheme at Lalgola in Murshidabad district.
The Union Finance minister said only six lakh people have been provided arsenic free water. More people should be benefited, he said.
Mukherjee also inaugurated a Congress workers camp at Jangipur, his constituency.
He urged Congress workers to tell the people about the different welfare schemes initiated by the Centre for the development of common people.
India not worried about US honouring N-deal: PM
Ahead of his meeting with President Barack Obama [ Images ], Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [ Images ] has said India [ Images ] has no worries about US honouring the Indo-US nuclear deal, but would like to get a "positive reaffirmation" of the present administration to carry forward the process.
Singh, who is on his way to Washington from Geneva, said India would like to operationalise the "watershed" agreement and ensure that the objectives for the nuclear deal are realised in full merit.
"We have no worries, but we would like a positive reaffirmation of this administration to carry forward the process," Singh said in an interview to Newsweek magazine, full transcript of which was released by the Ministry of External Affairs on its website.
Singh, who is on his way to Washington from Geneva, said India would like to operationalise the "watershed" agreement and ensure that the objectives for the nuclear deal are realised in full merit.
"We have no worries, but we would like a positive reaffirmation of this administration to carry forward the process," Singh said in an interview to Newsweek magazine, full transcript of which was released by the Ministry of External Affairs on its website.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
India to host 4th Environment Friendly Vehicles Conference 2009
| India will host the 4th Environmentally Friendly Vehicle (EFV) Conference in New Delhi from November 23-24th this year. This is for the first time that such a prestigious and international event on automobile sector is being organized in a developing country. The EFV conference aims at promotion of environmental friendly vehicles to ensure sustainable road transport. Reduction of greenhouse gases, improvement of air quality, reduction in traffic noise, protection of resources and prevention of the release of harmful substances are the main objectives of the Conference. It will also pave the way in achieving the ambitious targets on human health at a cost effective and sustainable manner. The Conference offers a platform for senior government officials, industry leaders, academicians and key decision makers, to discuss environment friendly mode of public transport and development. As a part of WP-29 initiative, Environmentally Friendly Vehicle (EFV) Conferences are being organized biennially. The first such Conference was held in Tokyo, Japan in 2003, second in Birmingham, UK in 2005 and the third conference in Dresden, Germany in 2007. The 2009 Delhi Conference will deal with issues such as – • Mobility and Environment - Role of EFVs • Future of EFVs & electric vehicles, • Gaseous Fuels Technology, Alternative fuels and Drives – Technology of Future • Regulatory and Legislative Framework for EFVs. The Conference is being jointly hosted by Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises and other stakeholders viz. Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas as well as Industry association i.e. Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Auto Components Manufacturers Association (ACMA). |
Friday, November 20, 2009
MNP
Mobile number portability (MNP) enables mobile telephone users to retain their mobile telephone numbers when changing from one mobile network operator to another.
The TRAI today issued draft Regulations to facilitate Mobile Number Portability (MNP) implementation in the country. The draft regulations lay down the business process for implementing mobile number portability. The important points covered in the draft include Subscriber’s eligibility conditions for porting, Rights, obligations and duties of service providers; Rights, obligations and duties of Donor operator where the subscriber exists before porting; Rights, obligations and duties of recipient operator where the subscriber moves after porting; Rights, obligations and duties of Mobile Number Portability Service Provider (MNPSP) who facilitates the mobile number portability through its clearing house and Number portability Database centre and Porting Process guidelines which describe the entire porting process right from the time subscriber requests for porting his mobile number till the porting takes place.
In March 2006, the Authority had recommended implementation of MNP in the whole country in a phased manner, starting from Metros and A category service areas followed by B and C category service areas. DoT accepted the recommendations of the Authority including formation of a Steering Committee under the aegis of TRAI, to deliberate upon various issues involved in the implementation of MNP in the country. A Steering Committee was constituted consisting of representatives from TEC, Service Providers and their Associations that submitted its report to DoT for initiating the process for selection of MNP operator.
Subsequently, the DOT issued guidelines for MNP service license on 1st August 2008. The DoT guidelines envisaged geographical division of the country into two Number Portability Zones (zone 1 & zone 2), each consisting of 11 licensed service areas. Subsequently, one operator in each zone was selected (M/s Syniverse Technologies(I) Pvt. Ltd was granted licence for operating in Zone 1 (Northern and Western India) and M/s MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions(I) Pvt. Ltd was granted licence for MNP Service Zone 2(Eastern and Southern India)), based on the selection parameters set in the guidelines for MNP service license.
The DoT has granted license to these MNP service providers on 20th March, 2009 and TRAI is formulating business process for implementation of MNP in the country. TRAI will bring a consultation paper on Per port transaction charges and dipping charges shortly. TRAI solicits comments from the stakeholders on these draft regulations by 14th July 2009. The draft regulations are available on TRAI’s website www.trai.gov.in
In March 2006, the Authority had recommended implementation of MNP in the whole country in a phased manner, starting from Metros and A category service areas followed by B and C category service areas. DoT accepted the recommendations of the Authority including formation of a Steering Committee under the aegis of TRAI, to deliberate upon various issues involved in the implementation of MNP in the country. A Steering Committee was constituted consisting of representatives from TEC, Service Providers and their Associations that submitted its report to DoT for initiating the process for selection of MNP operator.
Subsequently, the DOT issued guidelines for MNP service license on 1st August 2008. The DoT guidelines envisaged geographical division of the country into two Number Portability Zones (zone 1 & zone 2), each consisting of 11 licensed service areas. Subsequently, one operator in each zone was selected (M/s Syniverse Technologies(I) Pvt. Ltd was granted licence for operating in Zone 1 (Northern and Western India) and M/s MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions(I) Pvt. Ltd was granted licence for MNP Service Zone 2(Eastern and Southern India)), based on the selection parameters set in the guidelines for MNP service license.
The DoT has granted license to these MNP service providers on 20th March, 2009 and TRAI is formulating business process for implementation of MNP in the country. TRAI will bring a consultation paper on Per port transaction charges and dipping charges shortly. TRAI solicits comments from the stakeholders on these draft regulations by 14th July 2009. The draft regulations are available on TRAI’s website www.trai.gov.in
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As Obama welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the White House in the first State Visit of his Administration, the N-word featured in the introductory remarks of both the leaders.
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