News Analysis - February 2006 @ whatisindia.com

BJP Criticizes Sachar Charter (February 28, 2006)
The controversial Sachar Committee sent out a fax to all district collectors asking them to provide information on Muslims, scheduled class, and scheduled tribe populations within their jurisdiction.< More>

Epidemiological Study Required to Understand India Outbreak (February 28, 2006)
At the end of a two-day meeting of the Asia Pacific Advisory Committee on Influenza (APACI), AIIMS Department of Medicine representative Randeep Guleria speculated that the H5N1 virus will die as the summer peaks.< More>

Larger Investments in Agri, Energy and Infrastructure? (February 28, 2006)
On the eve of the much anticipated budget, the Government economic survey called for large investments in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure and called for fiscal discipline and economic and labor reforms. <More>

Salman Poaching Charges Filed (February 28, 2006)
Another set of charges were filed against actor Salman Khan and 4 other actors in a Jodhpur court for poaching a black buck in 1998.<More>

SC Declines Stay on Jessica Judge Promotion (February 28, 2006)
The controversial judgment that involved the acquittal of Manu Sharma and 8 others in the public murder of Jessica Lal several years ago turned into a national campaign to reopen the case.<More>

33 Vulture, 10 Kites Dead in Sikkim (February 27, 2006)
In a first ever incident, Sikkim reported the mysterious death of 33 vultures and 10 kites at heights of 10-20,000 feet.<More>
Amar Singh & Maulayam Manipulate Democracy (February 27, 2006)
The Uttar Pradesh Congress Party has asked for the arrest of senior member of Samajwadi Party Amar Singh.<More>
Bird Flu Virus Spreads to Gujarat (February 27, 2006)
The district bordering Maharashtra’s Navapur in Gujarat has reported incidents of chickens being infected with the dreaded H5N1 bird flu virus.<More>
BSNL Plans 60m GSM Lines (February 27, 2006)
Government owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is planning to invite bids for 60 million GSM lines valued at USD 4.5 billion.<More>
Indo-UK Council on Science (February 27, 2006)
UK Minister for Science and Innovation Lord Sainsbury announced the formation of India-UK Science and Innovation Council to forge industry-oriented commercial research.<More>
Philippines Announces Emergency (February 27, 2006)
Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced the arrest of heads of two elite security forces groups and other right and left leaders to crush a coup attempt.<More>
PM Convenes Round-table Meeting on J&K (February 27, 2006)
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh convened a round-table meeting on Jammu & Kashmir. With the exception of the Hurriyat Conference (an umbrella group of separatist groups) most political parties and interest groups participated in the discussions.<More>
Wildlife Trust in Wild Buffalo Protection MoU (February 27, 2006)
Delhi-based NGO Wildlife Trust of India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chhattisgarh Forest Department to initiate a 3-year program to revive and conserve the wild buffalo population.< More>
9 Get Life in “Best Bakery Case” (February 25, 2006)
Mumbai session’s court accorded 9 accused in the "Best Bakery case" with life sentences and acquitted 8 others for lack of evidence.<More>
Passenger and Freight Fares Untouched (February 25, 2006)
The Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav presented the Railway budget for 2006 with no phenomenal changes but without negative or glittery changes.<More>
Poultry Manufacturers Campaign to Boost Sales (February 25, 2006)
With the story of bird flu off the front pages of newspapers, eclipsed by budget information, large poultry manufacturers are planning to initiate a campaign that will revive their business.<More>
Russia-Iran Joint Venture Promising (February. 25. 2006)
Russian Rosatom Atomic Energy Agency chief Sergei Kiriyenko left for Iran to further the discussions in Moscow just a few days ago to negotiate a peaceful end to the Iran nuclear program standoff. <More>
Saudi Forces Foil Terrorist Attempt (February 25, 2006)
Saudi Arabian security forces seemed to have foiled an attempt by terrorists to disrupt oil supply by bombing the world's largest processing facility at Abqaiq in the Shia majority eastern province.<More>
55 Oil Exploration Blocks Offered (February 24, 2006)
In the largest ever effort to attract investments in oil and natural gas exploration, the Government is offering 55 oil exploration blocks and 10 coal bed methane blocks for bidding.<More>
Army Spends More on Surveillance (February 24, 2006)
Scientific Advisor to Defense minister M. Natarajan said an Airborne Early Warning System (AEWS) was in advanced stages of design.<More>
India-France JV to Compete in Launch Business (February 24, 2006)
The Indian Space Research Organization has teamed up with France's Eads/Astrium to challenge the US predominance in the 4 kilowatts satellite payloads with a launch mass of 2-3 tons.<More>
ISRO to Launch G-SAT4 (February 24, 2006)
The Sri Lankan Government (SLG) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) concluded Norway facilitated direct talks in Geneva agreeing to 4 action items and promised to meet again in April.<More>
Lanka and LTTE Agrees for Ceasefire (February 24, 2006)
The Sri Lankan Government (SLG) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) concluded Norway facilitated direct talks in Geneva agreeing to 4 action items and promised to meet again in April.<More>
Most Samples Test H5N1 Negative (February 24, 2006)
The Health Ministry said that 94 of 95 samples tested negative of bird flu virus. The Ministry said that barring one case, the National Institute of Virology (NIV) at Pune and National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Delhi confirmed the rest negative.<More>
SC Regrets AP's Environmental Damage (February 24, 2006)
Addressing public interest litigation by Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Intellectuals' Forum, the Supreme Court (SC) said that it couldn’t reverse environmental damage due to "development."< More>
18 Killed in Nigeria over Cartoons (February 23, 2006)
Reprisal killings in Nigeria saw a Christian mob brutally murdering 18 Muslim youth from the Hausas tribe.<More>
Chief Justice Emphasizes Rule of Law (February 23, 2006)
There was widespread ire among the intelligentsia over the acquittal of the alleged killers of Jessica Lal, a smalltime model, in a public space.<More>
Egypt Continues Support to PA (February 23, 2006)
The terrorist group Hamas was asked to form the government in the Palestinian Territories (PT) by its President Mahmoud Abbas.<More>
India Will Show its 32 FBR to IAEA (February 23, 2006)
The Indo-US civilian nuclear program negotiations thought dead got a boost with the visit of US Undersecretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns.<More>
FBT to Track Corporate Malpractice (February 23, 2006)
Experts are questioning the Constitutional validity of the controversial Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT), which may force the Government to either withdraw it or amend the Income Tax Act of 1961.<More>
Govt Reluctantly Accepts Bird Flu Outbreak (February 23, 2006)
After consistently denying human infections, the Health Ministry said that there is "distinct possibility" of humans being infected by the virus and that those suspected of infection have been quarantined.<More>
Lanka-LTTE Start Rocky Peace Talks (February 23, 2006)
The peace talks between the Sri Lankan Government (SLG) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) got off to a rocky start as the LTTE objected to the truce accord is changed.<More>
28 Dead in Nigeria Cartoon Protests (February 22, 2006)
Protests, threats, and rioting continued around the world on the Danish cartoons that showed Prophet Mohammed in uncharitable ways.<More>
Govt Claims Bird Flu “Localized” (February 22, 2006)
The Government claimed that the outbreak of bird flu virus is localized to an area of 3 to 10 kilometers and that all precautionary measures have been taken.< More>
India-France to Double in 5 Years (February 22, 2006)
The visiting French President Jacques Chirac said that an audacious plan is in motion to double Indo-French trade in 5 years.<More>
Severe Criticism for Sachar Charter (February 22, 2006)
A retired General who served 44 years in the Army has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court against the controversial survey of Muslims in secular Government organizations.<More>
SPA Rejects Gnanendra Call (February 22, 2006)
A major rally of a 7-party alliance rejected Nepal King Gnanendra's call to come together to restart the stalled democracy.<More>
US Asks West Asia not to Fund Hamas (February 22, 2006)
Israel imposed a series of sanctions on Palestinian Government as Hamas formed the Government with Ismail Haniya as the new Prime Minister.<More>
France Offers Fossil Fuels Help (February 21, 2006)
US President George Bush defended the civilian nuclear deal with India saying that the use of clean energy will reduce the demand for non-renewable fossil fuels.<More>
Australian Company Claims Bird Flu Vaccine (February 21, 2006)
CSL Ltd of Australia reported that it has produced the smallest vaccine does that can protect humans against the bird flu virus.<More>
Cartoon Rage Burns Benghazi Italian Consulate (February 21, 2006)
Angry Libyan protestors incensed by an Italian Minister's threat to wear T-shirts with the distasteful Danish cartoons and called Muslims "Ali Babas" overran security forces and burnt a consulate building at Benghazi.<More>
ED tightens investigation (February 21, 2006)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned disgraced former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh for a second day in the Iraqi oil-for-food scam.<More>
H5N1 Bird Flu Virus in India Confirmed (February 21, 2006)
Over 27,000 chickens have died in the last 15-day in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra and 70% of them are from the H5N1 bird flu virus strain.<More>
Hamas Rejects Abbas's Call (February 21, 2006)
A new Palestinian Parliament dominated by the terrorist group Hamas was sworn in even as its relationship with its President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel remained uncertain.<More>
India-France Signs 9 Pacts (February 21, 2006)
India and France signed 9 pacts including one on civil nuclear co-operation.<More>
Navy Starts using BrahMos (February 21, 2006)
Ten countries including South Africa and many from the Far East have showed keen interest to buy the Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic missile.<More>
Pak Seeks Chinese Assistance in 2 Reactors (February 21, 2006)
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is visiting China for a five-day visit seeking China's help in nuclear energy, textiles, energy, and communications.<More>
Bird Flu Affects Indian Poultry Business (February 20, 2006)
The dreaded H5N1 bird flu reached India in the tribal Nandurbar district of Maharashtra and about 50,000 poultry are suspected to have been infected.<More>
Cartoon Protests in India (February 20, 2006)
About 50,000 Pakistanis marched to protest the cartoons that depict Prophet Mohammed distastefully in Karachi.<More>
ED questions Natwar (February 20, 2006)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) reportedly questioned the disgraced former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh over the oil-for-food scam published through the Volker report.<More>
SC Asks Govt to Regulate Ship Breaking Business (February 20, 2006)
The Supreme Court said that it has taken note of the French Government's position to recall Le Clemenceau, the condemned aircraft carrier, back to France for dismantling.<More>
Speaker Defends Supension (February 20, 2006)
Striking a defiant note, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said that the expulsion of the 10 Members of Parliament in the "cash-for-query" scam is "non-justiciable."<More>
UNHCR Asks US to Close Guantanomo (February 20, 2006)
Five independent investigators of the United Nations Commission of Human Rights (UNHCR) asked the United States to shut down the detention center at Guantanomo Bay.<More>
US Admits Kashmiri Terror Camps in Pak (February 20, 2006)
The US admitted that Kashmir-oriented terrorist camps exist in Pakistan and little is being done to dismantle them.<More>
France Offers Rafale Aircraft (February 18, 2006)
India and France will sign several declarations and agreements during the visit of the French President Jacques Chirac early next week.<More>
China Says Nuke Deal Will Help India (February 18, 2006)
The Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Yuxi said that his country "fully understood" India's energy needs as a "rising country in the developing world." <More>
Hamas under Pressure (February 18, 2006)
Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said that his country will severe all relations with Palestinian territories if they elect a Hamas leader to be their Prime Minister of Speaker.<More>
Maharashtra Govt. Denies Bird Flu Outbreak (February 18, 2006)
The Maharashtra Government said that the death of 1000 chicken on its border with Gujarat is due the Ranikhet or Newcastle disease and not due to the dreaded H5N1 avian flu virus.< More>
UNICEF Accuses LTTE (February 18, 2006)
In response to a call from the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF), the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) announced that it release 28 child soldiers.<More>
Whisky Maker Uses Durga Image in US (February 18, 2006)
In the heels of Danish cartoons that depicted Prophet Mohammed in distasteful manner, a whisky maker used the image of Durga to brand his Southern Comfort brand.<More>
Chirac Recalls Clemenceau (February 17, 2006)
French President Jacques Chirac ordered the condemned aircraft carrier Le Clemenceau to return to France after the highest court ordered a recall.<More>
EU Bans Import of Meat (February 17, 2006)
The scare of the dreaded H5N1 bird flu virus spread in Europe with Germany reporting its first outbreak.<More>
IT to Track Down Bank Depositors (February 17, 2006)
The Finance Ministry has worked out modalities where banks will report a list names and permanent account numbers (PAN) of customers who earn less than Rs. 5000 interest.<More>
Maharashtra Bill to Curb Child Labor (February 17, 2006)
A high-power Committee in Maharashtra recommended that the state make child labor a non-bailable (NB) crime.<More>
Maoists Kidnap 9 Govt Employees (February 17, 2006)
Maoist terrorists in Nepal ambushed an army patrol killing three soldiers and abducted 9 people including 5 Government employees.<More>
Natwar Implicated in Oil for Food Scam (Febru