News Analysis - July 2006 @ whatisindia.com

India Corporate Says No to Quota (July 31, 2006)
Senior members of the Indian industry met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and conveyed their opposition to legislated cased-based quota regime but promised that will fund training programs, introduce ethical hiring codes, and adopt alternative solutions.<More>

US Congress Passes Nuke Deal (July 31, 2006)
After several hours of debate, the US House of Representatives approved the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal with an overwhelming majority but has unfortunately raked partisan politicking in India even though the Government looks resolute in defending the deal. <More>

BSF Says “Indian Smugglers” Helping BDR (July 31, 2006)
The Border Security Force (BSF) accused “Indian smugglers” of “using “SIM cards of Bangladesh mobile service providers to pass on strategic information” to the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) but said have not arrested the “moles” citing “communal implications.”<More>

ASEAN Suspends FTA (July 28, 2006)
Malaysia’s Trade Minister was quoted saying that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has suspended free-trade talks with India because New Delhi is demanding that 850 goods it imports from South East Asia to be excluded from the list.<More>

Growth Pace to Continue (July 28, 2006)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reaffirmed growth forecast of 7.5%-8% citing strong corporate sector growth, continued investment inflow, strong orders, high capacity utilization, good export growth, stabilized inflation, and sufficient liquidity of banks.<More>

India to Raise Pak Trade Curbs at SAARC (July 28, 2006)
Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath told the Parliament that he will raise the issue of import restrictions by Pakistan at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit early next month in Dhaka.<More>

Govt Withdraws Dismissal Move against Venugopal (July 28, 2006)
A highly embarrassed Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss withdrew the controversial order to dismiss All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director Dr. P. Venugopal but counsel said that the Government would file fresh charges later.<More>

Digital Record of Bio-Resources (July 28, 2006)
Department of Biotechnology under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology has produced a set of CD based information called “Jeeva Sampada” which is the first digital documentation of India's vast bio-resources covering over 39,000 species. <More>

Political Failure in War on Terror (July 28, 2006)
The continued politicking dealt a serious blow to India’s ability to fight terror as Opposition sought to embarrass the Government more than solving the issue while the senior Ministers sought to divide the country further on the basis of religion. <More>

India Signs Nuclear Terrorism Convention (July 28, 2006)
Sharing the objective of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism to deny terrorists access to nuclear materials and enhance international cooperation to prevent nuclear terrorism, India announced its acceptance of this measure. <More>

Bangladesh Joins ARF (July 28, 2006)
The 13^th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting in Kuala Lumpur will see Bangladesh included as its 26^th member led by Foreign Minister Morshed Khan to strengthen participation in the group.<More>

Punitive Action Sanctioned on Bangla Border (July 28, 2006)
Increased infiltration of illegal economic migrants, terrorists, lack of adequate response from Bangladesh, and suspected official complicity has changed India’s attitude ordering the infusion of another 40 battalions on the border and authority to deliver retaliatory fire.<More>

WTO Stalled, Will Take Months to Revive (July 27, 2006)
Global talks on trade under the World Trade Organization (WTO) collapsed with developing nations led by India blaming the developed nations led by the US for intransigence in cutting back farm-subsidies in violation of the Honk Kong Agreement.<More>

OoP Pitches Parliament against President, SC (July 27, 2006)
The Federal Government and its communist allies, usually at odds on many issues, joined ranks to assert that the Parliament is “supreme” and some even went to the extent of suggesting that the President has only rights to advice and not over-rule the Parliament. <More>

Pak Warns of Nuclear War over Hot Pursuit (July 27, 2006)
Briefing journalists on a recent article in the Washington Post on the expansion of nuclear facilities, Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said trivialized its contents and warned nuclear war if India pursues terrorists into Kashmir that it has occupied. <More>

Nepal Cuts King’s Last Link with Army (July 27, 2006)
The interim Government in Nepal abolished the Military Secretariat, seen as the King’s last link with the Army, and also set up a Security Coordination Office (SCO) at the Defense Ministry replacing the King Gnanendra as the Supreme Commander.<More>

No Implementation of Groundwater Bill (July 26, 2006)
Federal Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz announced a convention of Chief Ministers to coax adoption of a measures including making rainwater harvesting mandatory and stronger regulation of this dwindling resource.<More>

Iran Gas Deal is “Difficult” (July 26, 2006)
India’s grand plans to source gas from Iran to meet its energy needs has been shattered with Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki saying there were “difficulties” in honoring the USD 22 billion contract to see Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).<More>

Vexed EU’s UNSC Resolution on Iran (July 26, 2006)
The EU-3, introduced a draft resolution in the UNSC calling on Iran to “suspend all enrichment-related activities, including research and development, to be verified by the IAEA, and suspend the construction of a reactor moderated by heavy water.”<More>

Israel Supports UN Peacekeepers Idea (July 26, 2006)
Incessant bombing of blocks of apartments and mass migration of people following radio announcements and pamphlets thrown down from planes is best described by a visiting UN official as a “horrific” and “violation of humanitarian law.” < More >

China: Defense Modernization to Guard Development (July 26, 2006)
A senior Chinese military official visiting the US said that his country’s defense modernization is part of a defensive policy and not aimed at seeking regional or global hegemony but to safeguard the rapid development his country has gone through.<More>

Wheat Import Shows Falling Agri Self-Sufficiency (July 25, 2006)
The import of wheat after 6 years has raised serious doubts about the processes in place to achieve the key goal of food self-sufficiency and a preeminent think tank has called for a revamp of agriculture products procurement, storing, and public distribution processes. <More>

SC Says Women Cannot be charged with Rape(July 25, 2006)
Hearing the case of a woman whose crises of help was deliberately spurned by the wife of a man raping her, the Supreme Court (SC) surprisingly concluded that the wife and any woman cannot be accused or charged for rape or gang rape. <More>

Collateral Damage of HIV - AIDS (July 25, 2006)
A recent study by three premier institutions predicted that a continued unchecked spread of HIV/AIDS epidemic can adversely impact macro-economic parameters including growth rate, educational levels, and labor shortages. <More>

Some Successes against Naxals (July 25, 2006)
Finally, there seems to be some forward movement on some policies from the Federal Home Ministry and some successes against Naxals in Andhra Pradesh with the topmost terrorist in that state killed in an encounter by the elite Greyhound Force. <More>

Pak Says Baloach Unrest Crushed (July 25, 2006)
Several newspapers in Pakistan ran reports quoting unnamed officials claiming that the insurrection in Baloachistan has been crushed and blaming India for arming, funding, and helping that movement—Baloach rebels have dismissed the report as wishful thinking. <More>

Panel Recommends Revamp of Venture Fund Regulations (July 24, 2006)
A Planning Commission sub-Committee has suggested a slew of fiscal incentives to encourage more domestic venture capital funds (VCF) and has included a proposal to set up an Early Stage Venture Fund (ESVF) through public-private partnership. <More>

Increased Food grain Output Likely (July 24, 2006)
The Federal Agriculture Ministry (AM) said that food grain production is expected to be 5.01% higher at 208.3 million tons (mt) in 2005-2006 versus 198.36 mt a year ago because of better output from rice and oilseeds but wheat production is only marginally higher. <More>

Inadequate Response to NMCC Recommendations (July 24, 2006)
National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) has recommended that a new National Manufacturing Initiative to further 20 key labor-intensive sectors that net USD 10 billion from domestic markets alone to facilitate a quantum jump in the near future. <More>

BHC Asks Railways to Revamp Disaster Management (July 24, 2006)
The Bombay High Court (BHC) has directed the Central and Western Railways to upgrade their disaster management system and submit a comprehensive process for review by August 16. <More>

Sachar Commission Targets Judiciary (July 24, 2006)
The controversial Sachar Panel created by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and criticized by many for its divisive charter of counting the presence of Muslims in different arms of the Government, has apparently started targeting the Judiciary. <More>

Government to Respond to Reservation Lawsuit (July 24, 2006)
The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry is to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court (SC) justifying the Government’s decision to reserve seats for the so-called Other Backward Classes (OBC) in higher educational institutions under the 93^rd Amendment. <More>

Nepal Talks Deferred Briefly (July 24, 2006)
Talks between the interim Government and Nepalese terrorist group was deferred but to meet in the near future and focus on the interim constitution content, constituent assembly formation process, constituencies redraw plan, and arms management. <More>

LTTE Insists on Change in Monitors (July 24, 2006)
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has reiterated to the visiting Ambassador-at-Large of Swedish Foreign Ministry that there is no change in its demand for withdrawal of EU monitors from the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) by September 1. <More>

Civilian Crisis in Lebanon (July 22, 2006)
Of the 4 Indian Navy ships re-routed to Lebanon in a bid to evacuate 12,000 Indians living in that country, diplomatic negotiating secured a berth one ship to evacuate 700 odd people to Larnaca, Cyprus where Air India jets will fly them out. Sri Lanka and Nepal have appealed to India for help with their citizens too which the Navy will undertake on a best effort basis. <More>

Maldives Nationals Attacked (July 22, 2006)
Following unconfirmed reports of 2 Keralities being allegedly harassed by Maldives locals, 3 unidentified gangs attacked 6 houses in Thiruvanathapuram around midnight, occupied by Maldivian nations who are students and patients. <More>

“Tigers Forever” Initiative (July 22, 2006)
US-based Wildlife Conservation Society announced a “Tigers Forever” initiative as a venture capital investment funded by nature-loving businessmen that expects biologists to provide a guaranteed return of 50% increase in tiger population in key area. <More>

Identification of a Creamy Layer within OBC (July 22, 2006)
In a refreshing twist to the Reservation debate, the Government issued a note specifying that children of Government functionaries, judiciary, media, tax paying citizens, and employees of bank, insurance, and universities will be considered to be “Creamy. <More>

Pawar Says There is No Wheat Problem (July 20, 2006)
Sending more confusing signals to the people, vendors, and analysts, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said that there was no possibility of a steep price in wheat as prices “are now stable” and that there is “no problem of stock availability.” <More>

Broader Naxal Agenda (July 20, 2006)
The recent daring attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) protect camp is causing Home Ministry officials to finally pay attention to a politically-discredited Naxal blueprint document that describes their plan to further their evil agenda. <More>

Home Ministry Wants Direct Talks with ULFA (July 20, 2006)
As suspected insurgents of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) attacked an Assam Rifles post in Assam on the border with Manipur, Home Secretary V.K. Duggal wanted the group to talk to the Government directly and not through a panel of intermediaries.<More>

SC Asks HC Not to Intervene on Policy (July 20, 2006)
The Supreme Court (SC) has directed all High Courts (HC) not to interfere with policy making or administrative action as the Constitution “does not permit” the court to be become the “appellate authority” to “direct or advise the Executive” on policy. <More>

TN Politician Says No Aid to Lanka (July 20, 2006)
Extreme right wing {Tamil Nadu} local politician Vaiko urged the Federal Government not to provide military, material, or financial assistance to Sri Lanka that would enable “the Sri Lankan Air Force to strafe and bomb the Tamil areas, killing innocent Tamils.” <More>

India Flexible on Industry not Agriculture at WTO (July 18, 2006)
Iran rejected India’s demand for international long-term contracts gas price parity insisting that it will sell for at least USD 7.2 per British thermal unit (mbtu) price while the international long-term gas price is USD 4.2 mbtu for the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline.<More>

India will see Iron Ore Shortage in Near Future (July 18, 2006)
A high level committee set up by the Planning Commission has warned that at “the current rate of growth of 20% of iron ore production, India’s Hematite reserves will last for only 25 years” which will cause India’s steel industry its competitive advantage.<More>

Russia, US, to Expand India Nuclear Ties (July 18, 2006)
Russia and the United States praised India’s “important non-proliferation commitments” and revealed their desire to expand “civil nuclear cooperation to address its energy requirements, and on further enhancing global non-proliferating regime.” <More>

Naxals Attack Relief Camp, Brutally Kill 25 (July 18, 2006)
A 800 person Naxal horde attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and civilian relief camp in Errabore in Chhattisgarh and “hacked” 25 civilians “with sharp weapons” to send a message that colluding with the Government will bring them gory death. <More>

Report Says Pak Generals are Barons (July 18, 2006)
A Newsline report said that Pakistan continues the British tradition of rewarding armed forces with land allotments making Pakistani Army generals new "land barons" controlling 12 million acres of prime agricultural land worth over Rs 700 billion.<More>

UN Resolution Condemns Blasts (July 18, 2006)
The UN Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution “Reaffirming that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constituted one of the most serious threats to international peace and security” but did not name Pakistan or its terror infrastructure.<More>
Iran Rejects Indian Price Offer for Gas (July 17, 2006)
Iran rejected India’s demand for international long-term contracts gas price parity insisting that it will sell for at least USD 7.2 per British thermal unit (mbtu) price while the international long-term gas price is USD 4.2 mbtu for the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline.<More>
Population Issues in China, India (July 17, 2006)
Beijing Student Federation announced that over two hundred students from over 20 universities in Beijing have volunteered to work in rural areas to advocate the message “a girl is as good as a boy” and work for respect for and protection of women's legal rights.<More>
Cabinet Wants Farm Loan Waiver (July 17, 2006)
A Cabinet Subcommittee has recommended that the Government waive loans of farmers and individuals who had borrowed money from the Punjab Backward Classes Finance Corporation and the Punjab Scheduled Castes Finance Corporation.<More>
Thailand Tamil-Brahmi Inscription (July 17, 2006)
A team of Thai and French archaeologists found a shred of pottery dating back to the 2nd Century Christian era (CE) with three letters including the characteristic Tamil-Brahmi letter ‘Ra’ attesting the prevalence of Tamil civilization and extent of maritime contacts. <More>
Global Anti-Terror Initiative (July 17, 2006)
Ahead of the G8 summit, US President George Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a global initiative to combat nuclear terrorism to jointly detect, track, and capture terrorists trying to obtain nuclear and radioactive materials.<More>
India Not “Opposing” Iran (July 17, 2006)
Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran cautioned journalists that India's relationship with Iran cannot be reduced to the two votes New Delhi cast against Teheran at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in September 2005 and February 2006.<More>
High Expectations for Trilateral Meet (July 17, 2006)
Chinese diplomats and experts visiting the G8 summit for the “outreach program” were upbeat about the first trilateral meet between Russia, China, and India hoping that it will develop stuttering bilateral and strategic ties with India and maintaining global peace. <More>
India Says Nothing Beyond July 18 Commitments (July 17, 2006)
Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said that India will has fulfilled all July 18, 2005 commitments and will not go beyond them but warned that any departure from those promises will involve a large price as faced in after the 1998 nuclear tests.<More>
Israel & Hezbollah Attack Each Other (July 17, 2006)
As the world watched in horror, Israeli planes and Hezbollah militants attacked vulnerable sites in either territory killing scores of innocent civilians, injuring hundreds more, and displacing thousands in Lebanon.<More>
UN Resolution Chides North Korea (July 17, 2006)
A Japan-sponsored United Nations resolution condemned North Korea for its recent missile tests compromising regional security and heightened international concerns on the intentions of the economically bankrupt nation running on defunct communist ideology.<More>
Putin Proposes India, China & Brazil in G8 (July 17, 2006)
Piggybacking on Britain Prime Minister Tony Blair’s comments on including India and China in G8, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would back such an expansion but also include Brazil.<More>
RTAs to be More Transparent (July 14, 2006)
Countries like India that have been excluded from Regional Trading Agreements (RTAs) for political reasons will benefit from new Negotiating Group on Rules that require transparency mechanisms of World Trade Organization (WTO) be implemented in RTAs.<More>
Govt Clarifications on Farm Sector FDI (July 14, 2006)
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry clarified that it will allow 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) under the automatic route for certain activities in the agriculture and plantation sector.<More>
Arjun Kills Education Bill, Moots Muslim Reservation (July 14, 2006)
Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh scuttled an important Right to Education Bill to make way for his reservation schemes that violate Constitutional norms for different pockets of population that is to now include “backward” Muslims.<More>
Rural Employment Scheme in Shambles (July 14, 2006)
The Government’s National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) seems to be in shambles with states either not implementing them or not reporting what they are doing with the money. <More>
ADB Fund for Bird Flu (July 14, 2006)
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has disbursed more than USD 11 million to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).<More>
PLOTE Leader Killed (July 14, 2006)
A senior member of the People’s Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) Bolder Rajan was shot dead in Jaffna by unidentified gunmen.<More>
EU’s one-China policy (July 14, 2006)
Seeking to generate goodwill, visiting European Parliament President Josep Borrell Fontelles reiterated the European Union (EU) one-China policy and appreciated China's rapid growth and increasingly important role in international affairs. <More>
Pak Wants Bilateral Fissile Material Moratorium (July 14, 2006)
Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri said that his country would agree to a verifiable bilateral fissile material moratorium as its nuclear weapons program was “driven by the threat perception of India.”<More>
India, Russia, and China for Trilateral Ties (July 14, 2006)
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Hu Jintao will meet on the sidelines of the ‘outreach’ summit of G-8 in St Petersburg to discuss “positive” roles their countries can play to safeguard global peace.<More>
US to review dumping duty on Indian shrimps (July 13, 2006)
Trying to stem growing differences in trade, the US Department of Commerce chose three Indian shrimp exporting companies to review their export statistic and performance to formulate a anti-dumping duty structure for Indian shrimp.<More>

Manufacturing Boosts Industrial Growth to 9.8% (July 13, 2006)
The Central Statistical Organization (CSO) reported that industrial output grew to 9.8% from 9.5% in April-May due to a strong 10.9% growth (from 10.3% last year) in the manufacturing sector but no reasons were provided for the growth. <More>

Need for greater Indo-Japanese economic ties (July 13, 2006)
Speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) seminar, Leader of a delegation of Member of the House of Representatives of Japan Hideaki Ohmura said there was an urgent need to for India and Japan to negotiate and bring trade levels to its full potential. <More>

Mumbai Restarts, Terrorist Hunt Continues (July 13, 2006)
In true defiance of terrorism, Mumbai restarted life in just 12 hours after 8 blasts ripped through suburban trains causing scores of death and mayhem even as authorities are on heels of Islamic terrorists from Pakistan outsourced terror to local disenfranchised youth.<More>

Muslim Conference wins PoK ‘Elections’ (July 13, 2006)
In an election that was widely considered a complete sham, the Muslim Conference (MC) won half the seats in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) Assembly elections and is set to form the next Government in the region. <More>

Nepal Cuts Palace Purse (July 13, 2006)
In a further public humiliation for the vastly unpopular King Gnanendra, Nepali Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat proposed a $1.9 billion budget for fiscal year 2006-2007 that included a massive cut for the royal palace expenditure and purse.<More>

Israeli Incursions in Lebanon (July 13, 2006)
In a serious escalation of violence in West Asia, Hezbollah terrorists abducted two Israeli soldiers and demanded the release of Palestinian women and children allegedly held prisoners Israel responded swiftly launching large-scale incursions into Lebanon.<More>

Indian Companies Make Large Global Buys (July 12, 2006)
The unprecedented growth of Indian economy is spurring Indian companies to scale their operations to inorganic overseas acquisitions with some of them larger than the Indian operation.<More>

Lanka Allots Oil Blocks for India, China (July 12, 2006)
For the first time ever, the Sri Lankan Government has invited India and China to explore for oil in two of the seven blocks identified for exploration along its sea belt on a “nomination” basis which means that the two nations will not have to bid on tenders.<More>

Terrorists Target Mumbai Again (July 12, 2006)
Terrorists struck Mumbai, the Indian financial nerve center, by blasting a string of 7 powerful bombs within 11 minutes on commuter trains and stations packed to the brim at commute hour killing 150 people and injuring 439 others.<More>

No US Support for India as Nuke Weapon State (July 12, 2006)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that while the US will “not support India joining the Non Proliferation Treaty as a nuclear weapon state” it will strive to “include India” in the “global nonproliferation regime” through the civilian nuclear deal. <More>

Coalition Forces Kill 70 militants (July 12, 2006)
Coalition forces in Afghanistan followed an air-raid on a terrorist hideout which killed 40 Taliban terrorists with a land raid on a different hideout killing another 30 terrorists in the volatile Halmand province in Southern Afghanistan but the claim is unverifiable.<More>

Lanka Promises Large Aid for Tamil Areas (July 12, 2006)
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse asked his advisors to study the Indian devolution model to share power with Tamils of the North and North East and promised a USD 1.25 billion tranche as means to bring the bloody ethnic feud to an end.<More>

Gaza Strikes Continue, Israel Invades Lebanon (July 12, 2006)
Israeli jets targeted militants transporting and setting up rockets killing a militant and injuring several gunmen and civilians in Gaza and its army invaded Lebanon to rescue two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah based out of Lebanon.<More>

Commies Want Halt in Mineral Exports (July 11, 2006)
Communist allies of the Federal Government demanded an immediate stop to indiscriminate export of minerals, particularly iron ore as mineral deposits were exhaustible and wanted a halt in moves to liberalize export of minerals.<More>

PM Says Narmada Should Not Stop (July 11, 2006)
Through a signed statement, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the Supreme Court (SC) that there is no real case for stopping the Narmada Dam virtually debunking a politically motivated report by his Cabinet members.<More>

Focus on Children with AIDS (July 11, 2006)
National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) Director-General Sujatha Rao said that her organization has “finalized the treatment protocol for pediatric AIDS” and “awaiting Government clearance” to “train doctors to start the program in medical colleges.” <More>

GSLV Fails, INSAT 4-C Lost (July 11, 2006)
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) failed to place the most sophisticated satellite it has created as the rocket carrying the INSAT-4C veered off its trajectory due to a strap-on motor failure forcing controllers to abort the mission and destruct the rocket.<More>

India, IAEA Discuss Nuclear Safeguards (July 11, 2006)
India and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) met a 2nd time to discuss nuclear safeguards as a step to fulfilling the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal and reports suggest that the talks went well and focused on broad India-specific safeguard issues. <More>

Indigenous AWACS Prototype by 2007 (July 11, 2006)
The Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) revealed that an indigenous Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) is being developed and a prototype will be ready next year and will be inducted 2010.<More>

Hamas Calls for Prisoner Swap (July 11, 2006)
In his first public appearance since the capture of an Israeli soldier, Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled Mashaal claimed in Damascus that Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip was futile and the only way out is through a prisoner exchange deal.<More>

India to be Major Textile Supply Hub (July 10, 2006)
A US Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service report said that there will be increased foreign investment in Indian cotton and textile industries that could propel the nation as a major global clothing supplier.<More>

Agni-III Test Fails (July 10, 2006)
India tested the intermediate ballistic, 2-stage, solid propellant, nuclear weapons capable, 3500 kilometer Agni-III missile but reports suggest that a design flaw caused a snag and scientists say they have identified the error and will to retest the missile soon.<More>

Kashmir Blast Targets Political Rally (July 10, 2006)
Terrorists targeted a political rally by moderate National Conference party in Anantnag district of Jammu & Kashmir by hurling a grenade killing 5 people, including a former legislator, and injuring 60 others.<More>

Khan Operated Autonomous Nuclear Network (July 10, 2006)
At the first-ever briefing to Pakistan parliamentarians about the country's nuclear program, an official of the Pakistan's Strategic Plans Division (SPD) said that disgraced nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan ran a private network selling nuclear weapons technology.<More>

US-Russia Civilian N-Deal (July 10, 2006)
US President George Bush is reportedly wanting to reverse decades of nuclear policy isolating Russia to permit extensive civilian nuclear cooperation with that country which could result in large monetary gains for Moscow but may face opposition in the Congress. <More>

US Sends Missile Destroyer to Korea (July 10, 2006)
As tensions surrounding the failed missile tests of North Korea reached panic proportions, the US Navy has sent USS Mustin, it’s most advanced combat weapon system that can track, engage, and destroy missiles, with a crew of 300 to Japan.<More>

India is 3rd Largest Investor in UK (July 07, 2006)
British High Commissioner to India Michael Arthur said “With Indian businesses investing £1.02 billion into the UK, India now ranks as the third largest foreign investor in the UK globally, and the second largest from the Asia-Pacific region.”<More>

Dictatorship at AIIMS (July 07, 2006)
In the most brazen transgression of Constitutional norms, Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss humiliated All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director and preeminent cardiologist Dr. Venugopal with a dismissal on fictitious charges.<More>

SC Rebukes Government (July 07, 2006)
Listening to a complaint from resident doctors, the Supreme Court (SC) rebuked the Federal Government for breaking its promise during the anti-reservation strike of not initiating “punitive” action against doctors if they stopped their strike.<More>

SC Refuses Religion & Blanket Quota (July 07, 2006)
The Supreme Court refused to stay a High Court verdict disallowing Andhra Pradesh (AP) to create a 5% quota for Muslims colleges and Government jobs and restrained Kerala from reserving seats in private unaided colleges and minority institutions.<More>

Informal UNSC Vote on Top Post (July 07, 2006)
While the final formal vote for the position of Secretary General (SG) will be in late September or early October, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is expected to organize a “straw poll” to gauge support for different candidates. <More>

China & India pip Japan on Property Value (July 06, 2006)
Booming economies in China and India are not only “most exciting” markets but also built infrastructure can fetch up to 20% internal rate of return and investment bankers say that those not in these markets will “miss some of the best opportunities.”<More>

Indian Thoughts on Spurring Manufacturing (July 06, 2006)
After receiving detailed recommendations from business organizations, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram promised to draw up a fresh agenda to step up the manufacturing sector growth rate from the current 9% to12%.<More>

Musharraf Moved Warheads during Kargil (July 06, 2006)
Exiled former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has claimed in his official biography claims that General Pervez Musharraf moved nuclear warheads during the Kargil war so that they could be used against India without his knowledge.<More>

Nepal Terrorists Accuse US of Interference (July 06, 2006)
Nepalese terrorists accused the US of undermining the peace process underway in the landlocked mountain nation citing examples of American threats to cut aid guerrillas join the interim government without giving up their weapons first.<More>

North Korean Missiles Shakes Up the World (July 06, 2006)
Disregarding threats, advice, and calls for restraint North Korea test-fired a barrage of long-range missiles capable of reaching Alaska but the world remained confused on how do deal with this crisis. <More>

Israel Tightens Noose on Gaza (July 06, 2006)
Supported by tanks and armored bulldozers, Israeli forces moved further into northern Gaza tightening the siege, set up sniper and observer positions on rooftops, and jets rained bombs on the Interior Ministry building and a school run by the ruling Hamas. <More>

Farm Sector Disagreements Stall WTO (July 05, 2006)
In further hardening of stance, India has rejected heavy concessions from developing nations while only few concessions are forthcoming from developed nations especially in access to markets for agricultural and industrial products.<More>

Gail Consortium Signs Oman Deal (July 05, 2006)
A Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) led consortium signed the Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) with The Government of the Sultanate of Oman for Block 56 last week for exploration and production of hydrocarbons.
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Naga Talks Breakthrough (July 05, 2006)
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Principal Interlocutor with the Nagas K. Padmanabiah announced that the Naga peace settlement will resemble a special Kashmir-type status within the Indian Union.<More>

SC Stops Banerjee Report (July 05, 2006)
In a rebuke to hasty politicization of sensitive issues, the Supreme Court (SC) refused to allow the Government to table the controversial Justice UC Banerjee Commission report on the Godhra carnage in Parliament supporting a restraining verdict by the Gujarat High Court.<More>

Top Security Meet to Review J&K (July 05, 2006)
Senior members of the security apparatus met recently to review the increase in infiltration from Pakistan, the continued existence of terror infrastructure in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, and use the bait of human rights violations to distract attention.<More>

Pakistan Promises More Troops for Terror (July 05, 2006)
Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri said that President Musharraf promised visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice 10,000 more troops on its border with Afghanistan.<More>

Pak Permission for Indian Aid for Afghanistan (July 05, 2006)
Reports say that Pakistan has granted a one-time land transit rights for Indian trucks carrying humanitarian aid for Afghanistan to cross Pakistan territory although skepticism is high among Indian officials who say seeing is believing.<More>

European secret services colluded in CIA terror transfers (July 04, 2006)
Human Rights watchdog Council of Europe again accused intelligence agencies of several European nations to have colluded with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the illegal detention and transfer of terror suspects in or across the continent.<More>

Pak SC Orders Girl Trade Probe (July 04, 2006)
Pakistan Supreme Court ordered an inquiry into a decision by a council of elders, or jirga, in a village in southern Sindh province to give away five minor girls in marriage as compensation for a double murder case.<More>

Govt Rejects Israeli Arms Request (July 04, 2006)
The Federal Government said that security of diplomats in India is its responsibility and has rejected a request from the Israeli embassy to import 20 pistols for its security staff and asked it to return another 4 dozen imported earlier.<More>

India, U.K. Scientific Research Ties (July 04, 2006)
Minister for Science and Technology and Ocean Development Kapil Sibal announced that scientists from institutions in India and Britain will collaborate in several high-end research projects under a new multi-million program.<More>

Pak Wants Ravi Inspection (July 04, 2006)
In addition to Wullar Barrage, Baglihar and Krishenganga projects, Pakistan now objects to the 240 megawatt (MW) Uri-II power project in Jammu & Kashmir and has demanded to “inspect” the new embankments along the Ravi River, a tributary of Jhelum.<More>

India Rejects LTTE “Regret” (July 04, 2006)
A day after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) regretted the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi the Indian Government strongly rejected these statements as that would be “tantamount to endorsing the philosophy of terror, violence and political assassinations.”<More>

Putin Criticizes US (July 04, 2006)
Ahead of the Russia-US summit next month, Russian President Vladimir Putin trashed American and EU accusations of Russia’s “neo-imperial ambitions” and “energy blackmail” and warned of American diktat in international relations. <More>

Ore Export Cut to Japan, Korea (July 03, 2006)
Ministry of Commerce Additional Secretary Christy Fernandez announced fresh agreements where export of iron ore to Japan and Korea will be cut by 50% to a maximum of 6.78 million tons (mts) this fiscal year.< More>

Nuclear Plant Site Searches (July 03, 2006)
As two panels have passed their own versions of the Indo-US civilian nuclear treaty for broader consideration, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is on a strong search for nuclear plant sites.< More>

Rice on Facilitation Mission (July 03, 2006)
US Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice visited Islamabad last week to urge, coerce, and pacify Pakistan and Afghanistan to stop their bickering and work together to fight Taliban and al Qaeda forces but created a lot of flutter over democracy in Pakistan.<More>

Indo-Bangla Spat Worsens (July 03, 2006)
In widening disagreements along multiple-spheres, India and Bangladesh exchanged heavy fire across the border and this time over a plot of land along the Surama River bank which Bangladesh claims as its own following a change in the river's course.< More>

Senate Panel Passes Nuke Deal (July 03, 2006)
In a major boost to the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) also passed the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal with an overwhelming majority but with riders that may not be palatable to Indian strategists.< More>

Israel Abducts Hamas Cabinet Members (July 03, 2006)
Escalating violence by major orders of magnitude, Israel made limited military incursions into Gaza, bombed a Hamas office, and abducted 1/3 of the Hamas Cabinet of Palestinian Authority as collateral for the safe return of a soldier captured by terrorists.< More>

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