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Volvo Ocean Race at Kochi

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:49:00 +0530

Thousands of people attended the inaugural function of Volvo Ocean Race here on Wednesday evening and welcomed the participating teams of the race.

Volvo Ocean Race is the most prestigious and spectacular round the world marathon ocean yacht racing competition. It is seen as the ultimate in extreme adventure sporting.

It was a delightful moment for the Kochities and various foreign tourists as they witnessed an unheard of event of this magnitude coming for the first time to India.

Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, inaugurated the Volvo Ocean Race Kochi stopover celebrations at the newly build race village in Willingdon island.

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Kerala’ Home and Tourism minister while presiding the function announced that the State tourism department had plans to construct a ''Marina'' with state of the art facilities for anchoring 50 foreign yachts on the backwaters of Kochi at Bolgatty Island.

With the arrival of the last yacht Team from Russia, all the eight participating yachts in the race have arrived in Kochi.

Meanwhile, Ericsson 4 maintained the first position in completing the second leg with 26 points followed by Telefonica Blue, Puma, Ericsson, Green Dragon, Delta Lloyd, Telefonica Black and Team Russia.

The Volvo Ocean Race commenced its round-the-world marathon sailing in October 2008 and in due course it will cover more than 39,000 nautical miles, visiting 11 ports across the world.

Starting from Alicante in Spain, it wills have stopover at Cape Town, Cochin, Qingdao, Rio de Janeiro, Boston, Galway, Goteborg and Stockholm, before reaching the finishing line at St.Petersburg.

The race’s next destination is scheduled to be Singapore. All the teams will be leaving Kochi on December 13. (ANI)

Mumbai terror attack mars Punjab International Trade Expo

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:48:00 +0530

The recent Mumbai terror attack has marred the much expected enthusiasm at the Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX) 08 which began here to promote trade and industry links between Indian and Pakistani Punjabs.

The PHD chamber of Commerce and Industry opened the PITEX 08 in collaboration with Punjab Government as the host State.

The five-day international fair is intended to provide an international exposure to businessmen from both side of the border between India and Pakistan.

There are nearly 225 stalls put up in the pavilion exhibiting various products.

Nearly 20 stalls from Pakistan are already exhibiting their products. But following the recent terrorist incidents in the Mumbai, the financial capital of India, the participation from Pakistan has been less enthusiastic.

Business community of both the countries here maintained that an increased and strengthened business relation could actually lead to an improved regional cooperation and economic interdependence.

The participating businessmen said that good trade relations would make all South Asian countries more competitive in an increasingly globalized economic scenario, even in the testing times of the global economic meltdown.

Dalip Sharma, Regional Director, PHD Chambers of Commerce and Industry, informed that due to Mumbai terror attack most of the exporters from Pakistan didn’t arrive despite the government of India having granted over 500 visas to Pakistani businessmen.

He, however, said that the business community on both sides of the border acknowledge the fact that the two countries couldn’t live in isolation as far as bilateral trade is concerned.

Anudeep Singh, one Indian exporter, said that it was trade that could help to reduce the political conflict between the two. He claimed that he was in touch with the Pakistani businessmen.

The Government of India has already granted status of Most Favored Nation (MFN) to Pakistan in 1999. But Pakistan did not respond with same gesture and allowed only a few items directly to be imported from India.

Muhammd Afzal, one Pakistani exporter, said there were lots of items Pakistan can trade directly with India, which the consumers in Pakistan have been getting through third countries at higher rates due to high freight and taxes.

Another exporter from Pakistan Mohammed Tahir said that trade between India and Pakistan will help in avoiding conflicts. (ANI)

Just dial 108 for a mobile medical service in Assam

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:48:00 +0530

People in Assam can now hope to get a fast medical help during emergency since a special toll-free mobile medical emergency service has been made available to them here.

Besides having a trained Pilot and a skilled EMT the special medical service, is equipped with the various latest equipments like Cardiac Monitor, cardiac defibrillator, Nebulizer, Ventilator, portable X-ray machine and all emergency drugs, that are not even available in various hospitals of the region.

‘Mrityunjoy mobile emergency response service’, will help the needy during emergency, was launched recently in Assam

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi flagged off the first of its kind service in the north-east region in Jorhat recently. The medical service has made Assam the eighth State of the country offering such a facility.

''Mrityunjoy'', the free mobile medical service in emergency will be available round-the-clock.

Accessible on a toll free number ''108'', the special medical service will provide a big solace to local residents during medical emergency.

Bhabha Goswami, one resident, said: “It will be benefit Assamese, especially the poor and the downtrodden during emergency. We do hope that it is a great step taken by the Assam government to benefit the general and poor people.”

Sudeepta Goswami, one local resident, said: “It is nice to learn that if we dial 108, we''ll get the facility at hand. It is a sophisticated ambulance equipped with all the required medical facilities along with one pilot and a technician who is also skilled.”

The service would be fully active across the 27 districts of Assam when all its 280 ambulances function from March 2009. (ANI)

India''s second largest fast breeder reactor to be commissioned by 2011

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:58:00 +0530

Chairman of India''s Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Anil Kakodkar today said that India''s second largest fast breeder reactor will be commissioned by year 2011.

Addressing the media on the sidelines of the 11th India Energy Forum Conference in here, Kakodkar expressed satisfaction over the development of thorium technology for generating nuclear power.

"When the 500 mega watt Prototech Fast Breeder Reactor gets commissioned by year 2010 or 2011, it would be the second largest. Same goes with thorium. Thorium deployment on large scale will take a while but that''s our ultimate objective. So as far as the research and development converting to technology is taking it to commercial deployment, I think we have done quite well," he added.

India possesses almost one-fourth of the world''s high-quality thorium deposits--the basis for a proposed alternative nuclear fuel cycle.

"We have limitations in terms of delivering on large scale power requirements through nucleus simply because of the fact that we have technology but not uranium. If we would have plenty of uranium we could set up more power stations and deliver the required power in a short span," he said.

Meanwhile, Power Secretary Anil Razdan said that the availability of cheaper uranium would boost India''s nuclear power generation.

"We add about 32 Giga Watts of nuclear power every year on the nuclear front not just in India but across the world. As far as India is concerned, I will be very happy if the rest of the countries slow down in developing their nuclear power. Then we can continue to import uranium in large quantities and if global demand does not pick up. It will be in our benefit as uranium would be cheaper then," he added.

The United States and India signed a potentially lucrative civil nuclear agreement in October this year, which would provide India with access to U.S. nuclear fuel, reactors and technology and allow India to indulge in global nuclear commerce. (ANI)

Government to set up Federal Investigating Agency, says Sibal

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:58:00 +0530

Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal today said that the Central Government is committed to setting up of a Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) to ensure country''s security.

Briefing the media after the cabinet meeting here, Sibal said, "It will be done. This is our commitment. Security is a matter of national concern. It is something that the government wants to convey to the people of this country that we will do all that we can to ensure that future safety is not jeopardized."

According to reports, the government is considering a legislation to set up a Federal Investigating Agency to probe cases of terror and other "federal crimes" following Mumbai terror attacks.

The Bill could be introduced in the coming session of Parliament beginning on December 10.

Official sources said that while BJP wants the government to bring back Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) as a condition to support FIA, left parties and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) want the states to be on board.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had on November 30 announced that a Federal Investigation Agency will be set up and the legal frame work of the country will be strengthened further in the country.

"We will pursue the setting up of a Federal Investigating Agency within a time-frame," he said. (ANI)

Group of Ministers to monitor Commonwealth Games preparations

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:57:00 +0530

The Central Government has constituted a Group of Ministers (GOM) to ensure that preparations for Commonwealth Games progresses as per schedule.

“The Group of Ministers will report back to the Cabinet about the status ofpreparation of the Commonwealth Games within two weeks,” Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal said here on Thursday.

The Commonwealth Games will be held in Delhi from October 3-14, 2010. Seventy one countries are expected to take part in the mega event.

“Adequate security measures are being taken for the smooth conduct of the event,” Sibal said.

However, Sibal admitted that there is a huge shortage of hotel facilities and accommodations. Steps are being taken to meet the target, he added.

Total of 30,000 rooms will be needed to cater to the needs of the games.

It was also decided by the Cabinet that amendments would be made in the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to promote free legal aid to the senior citizens, dependents of Defence, Para Military Forces and Police Personnel who died in action and victims of terrorists/ extremist’s violence and riots.

The amendment bill will be introduced in the upcoming session of Parliament.

The Government also gave its nod to restructure Konkan Railways in a bid to make it financially self sufficient. (ANI)

Inflation down to 8.4 percent

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:56:00 +0530

The inflation rate in the country dropped further to 8.4 percent for the week ended on November 22.

The annual rate of inflation dropped to 8.4 percent from 8.84 percent the week before due to a fall in prices of petroleum fuels, according to fresh data released on Thursday.

The annual inflation rate was however 3.11 percent during the corresponding week the previous financial year.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for all commodities during the week which ended on November 22 declined by 0.6 percent. It now stands at 233.7

The Union Commerce and Industry Ministry released a data on wholesale prices on Thursday, which shows that the index for primary articles, which includes food products, rose by 0.1 percent during the week under review.

The index for fuels also witnessed a downfall by 2.3 percent which is due to a 23-percent decline in the prices of furnace oil, 14 percent downfall in aviation fuel and 11 percent in light diesel oil. (ANI)

Tamil leaders meet Manmohan Singh on Sri Lankan Tamil issue

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:56:00 +0530

An all-party delegation from Tamil Nadu led by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh here today to seek the intervention of Central Government to resolve Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

The delegation comprising lawmakers from Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK), Congress, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) urged Dr. Singh to ask Colombo to stop the military actions against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and settle the ethnic issue in a peaceful manner.

They also demanded that the government should prevail upon the Sri Lankan Government to announce an immediate ceasefire in fighting between the Sri Lankan forces and the LTTE.

Speaking to the media after the meeting KV. Thangabalu, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee Chief, said, "We appealed to Dr. Singh that an immediate ceasefire has to take place in Sri Lanka to solve the ethnic issue."

"The Prime Minister assured us that he will take all possible measure and steps to see that a political solution is met and achieved," he added.

Sri Lanakan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 13 during his visit to New Delhi ruled out possibility of ceasefire till the rebels laid down Arms. (ANI)

Uproar in Kerala Assembly over CM Achuthanandan’s remarks

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:53:00 +0530

The Congress - led UDF stalled proceedings in the Kerala Assembly on Thursday, demanding a discussion over the contrasting statements made by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan.

Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Oommen Chandy alleged that Achuthanandan had committed a breach of privilege by claiming that he had already expressed regret in the Assembly about his comments on the family of slain NSG commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan.

Chandy said Achuthanandan had not expressed regret in the Assembly for the pain caused to the Unnikrishnan family.

He asked the Speaker of the Assembly, K. Radhakrishnan, to examine the Assembly voice recordings and permit a detail discussion under Rule 50.

Agitated opposition members rushed to the well of the House insisting on a detailed discussion on the topic

The Speaker, however, ruled out any such discussion, but the Opposition refused to relent and raised a point of order.

The speaker then adjourned the House for a day, amid opposition sloganeering by the .

On Wednesday too, the proceedings in the Assembly were brought to a standstill when Achuthanandan refused to retract his words or apologise to the Unnikrishnan family.

The controversy arose after Chief Minister Achuthanandan, commented that ''''''''''''''''not even a dog would have visited the house had it not belonged to a martyr”. Chief Minister had to face the ire of Sandeep’s father when he visited the slain commando’s house last week to offer his condolence.

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan died while fighting with terrorists in last week’s attack in Mumbai. (ANI)

Security beefed up at airports across India

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:53:00 +0530

India declared a security alert at three major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore on Thursday following warnings from intelligence agencies.

The security alert comes in the wake of intelligence inputs that militants of Pakistan or Afghanistan origin may strike these installations by this weekend ahead of the anniversary of Babri mosque demolition.

Passengers at the Indira Gandhi International Airport did not mind the security checks and said that it was necessary in the wake of the recent terror attacks

"The security is good. I do not feel that there will be a problem this time.," said Paras Shah, a passenger.

Strict security measures were in place at ''Chatrapati Shivaji Airport'' in Mumbai also. The security forces have been deployed in and around the airport to take care of any unforeseen event.

The passengers at the airport appeared at ease with the tightened security measures.

"I am feeling fine. Actually I don''t know what the feeling is like on the streets. The security at the airports seem to be very good," said Suizen, a passenger from Australia.

Meanwhile, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major assured the nation that India is well prepared to counter any air strike.

"This is based on a warning, and we are prepared to tackle any such possibilities as usual," he added.

Anti-sabotage teams have already been deployed at these airports. (ANI)