www.whatisindia.com

What Is India News Service
Friday, September 29, 2006


India Intelligence Report


 I want News  I'm a Researcher I'm a Policy Maker I'm a Traveler |  I'm an Investor  | I'm an Activist | I'm a Student
 

   News Analysis - September 2006


 
  • TRAI Releases 3G Roadmap (September 29, 2006)
    Breaking the suspense, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) announced a roadmap for third generation (3G) mobile services to start next June, but Minister for Telecommunication Dayanidhi Maran said that he will formalize a report in 3 months.<More>

  • Reliance Opposes Open Bidding for Gas (September 29, 2006)
    Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has petitioned the Government not to institute competitive bidding for the valuation or sale of gas to avoid “inherent problems” and has instead asked for a crude-oil linked pricing along the lines that Iran had proposed to India.<More>

  • An Ultra Mega Power Project in Jharkhand (September 29, 2006)
    A 4000 megawatt (MW) ultra mega project will be set up in Jharkhand making it the 9th of a series of such projects throughout the nation rising from the original 5—
    Orissa, Andhra Pradesh (AP), and Tamil Nadu (TN) wanted one each and got it.<More>

  • Tiger Skin Trade Flourishing in China (September 29, 2006)
    Two non-Governmental organizations asserted that despite international condemnation and demands, trade in tiger and derivative products continue unabated and overtly in China for costumes and medicines and suppliers are mostly Indian poachers.<More>

  • LTTE Agrees to Talks (September 28, 2006)
    Responding to calls from many parties and despite afterthought caveats introduced by the Sri Lankan Government (SLG), the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said that his organization is ready to resume stalled talks on a peaceful future in the island.<More>

  • Maldives Opposition Wants India to Facilitate (September 28, 2006)
    Maldives opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) wants India to stop arming the island Government as the threat perceptions and rationale for spending 8% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defense is unclear.<More>

  • SC Allows Haj Subsidy for This Year (September 28, 2006)
    While allowing the Government to continue with its Haj plans for lakhs of Muslim pilgrims this year, the Supreme Court (SC) questioned the Government’s continued “largesse” to one community while denying others of similar facilities.
    <More>

  • NHPC to Start Inter-State Power Trading (September 28, 2006)
    With plans to become a 10,000 megawatt (MW) company by 2010 from current 3750 MW, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) plans to start coal-fired units, inter-state trading of electricity, and revive proposals for units in Nepal and Bhutan.<More>

  • Commies Blocking Labor Reforms (September 27, 2006)
    Often portrayed as a capitalist communist of the modern Chinese variety, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee conceded that “globalization is inescapable” but told Industry representatives that major labor reforms are unnecessary.<More>

  • Poultry Broiler Set to Grow (September 27, 2006)
    The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicted that India’s poultry broiler meat productions is likely to grow by 10% to 2.2 million tons (mt) in 2007 because of strong domestic demand and the nation is free from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).<More>

  • SC Halts Genetic Foods (September 27, 2006)
    The Supreme Court (SC) asked the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) to halt approvals to genetically modified products till it can determine that these foods have been sufficiently tested and safe for human consumption. <More>

  • China ’s Aging Population Plan (September 27, 2006)
    Thanks to its disastrous and draconian one-child policy, China is set to have an “irreversible” ageing society in the 21st Century but the country seems to have devised a broad-based plan to address economic and social pressures from the ageing population.<More>

  • Russia-US Relations Set to Worsen (September 27, 2006)
    A Russian Parliamentary report alerted policy makers that the US will continue to pursue a hostile policy towards Moscow regardless of political affiliations or incumbent in the White House as they struggle for influence over world energy, power, and politics.<More>

  • Torture, Censorship, and Repression in ‘Azad’ Kashmir  (September 26, 2006)
    Human Rights groups say that in so-called ‘Azad’ (free) Kashmir , largely closed to international and independent scrutiny, the Pakistani Government represses democratic freedom, stymies the press and media, and uses torture as instrument of administration.<More>

  • Army Restarts War on ULFA (September 26, 2006)
    India called off its truce with the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) moving several Army columns to re-launch anti-militant operations in Tinsukia and Jorhat districts in upper Assam and in Nagaon, Barpeta, and Darrang districts in lower Assam.<More>

  • Iraq War “Spawned new Terror”  (September 26, 2006)
    A classified report by US Intelligence found that the war in Iraq has “spawned new terror” activity and a new generation of Islamic radicalism and that the overall terror threat has grown significantly since September 11, 2001.<More>

  • Pak Delays F-16 Deal  (September 26, 2006)
    Accusing the US of stripping down the F-16s to less than effective and imposing unacceptable conditions for usage, Pakistan has delayed signing the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) for the USD 3 billion deal till December 31, 2006.<More>

  • Indian ‘No’ to TNA Team, ‘Yes’ to Others (September 26, 2006)
    Affirming its policy of separating the rights of the Sri Lankan Tamils from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), India refused to entertain members of the Sri Lankan Tamil National Alliance (TNA) but has invited other parties for consultations.<More>

  • Hezbollah Refuses to Disarm (September 26, 2006)
    In his first public appearance Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed before a massive 500,000-rally that his cadre will not disarm and claimed a “divine, historic and strategic victory” even as Israeli troops withdrew and UN peacekeepers deployment was on track.<More>

  • New Polio Campaign in UP (September 23, 2006)
    Facing sharp criticisms from all quarters on failure to curb spread of polio in Uttar Pradesh (UP), the Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss now says that it “will launch a massive campaign” to “win the battle with the virus.<More>

  • Military Coup in Thailand (September 22, 2006)
    The Thai Army took over administration from to break deadlock and stop “rampant corruption” in the 74 year old democracy but promised to return “power to the people” as soon as possible but after cleaning the political system.<More>

  • Diplomatic Pressure on LTTE (September 22, 2006)
    The new US Ambassador to Sri Lanka espoused the Sri Lankan Government (SLG) line claiming that there is intense diplomatic pressure on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to offer “credible guarantees” not to rearm while negotiating. <More>

  • Maoists Force Children to March for Peace (September 22, 2006)
    Maoist guerrillas and their once-banned ultra-leftist student union forced children, some as young as 10, to attend a 5-hour rally under scorching sun listening to diatribe against US imperialism and Indian expansionism. <More>

  • India Claims to be Yaws-Free (September 22, 2006)
    India ’s Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss claimed that Yaws, a common chronic infectious disease occurring mostly in the warm humid topical regions, has now been eliminated from India but eradication will take another two years.<More>

  • Child Labor Targets Missed, Enforcement Tightened (September 22, 2006)
    Karnataka, home to India’s Silicon Valley, has said that it will most likely miss child labor targets but has promised that the new federal law aiming to curtail this inhuman practice will be enforced strictly and more vigor
    <More>

  • ONGC’s Mangalore SEZ (September 22, 2006)
    The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will invest Rs. 35,000 crore (USD 7.6 billion) in the Special Economic Zone at Mangalore to house a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant, a 15 million ton (mt) refinery, petrochemical plant, and power plant.<More>

  • UN Treaty Seeks to Curb Arms Trade (September 20, 2006)
    A draft resolution for an international arms trade treaty is being floated by Britain, Finland, Japan, Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, and Kenya in the UN seeking to reduce human rights, limit the spread of terrorism, and reduce unintended suffering of millions.<More>

  • Satyam Looking for Japanese Acquisitions (September 20, 2006)
    Satyam Computers Services Limited revealed that it was actively seeking to acquire many Japanese companies and that it has already short-listed four to five companies and will close the deals soon.<More>

  • New Life to IPI Project? (September 20, 2006)
    After meeting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Havana summit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he is willing to rework the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline once the feasibility study is complete.<More>

  • US to Convince China (September 20, 2006)
    After the passage of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal through the Senate, the US will work on China to obtain its support to the deal in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) where it is bound to raise many questions about the deal and link it to Pakistan.<More>

  • OECD Asks India to Overhaul Regulations (September 20, 2006)
    An influential international body advised India to overhaul its outdated business regulations such as reservations for small firms, tariff structures, and labor laws for large companies to derive benefits from global economy such as investments and technology.<More>

  • India Disagrees with IMF Quotas  (September 19, 2006)
    India, Brazil, Argentina, and Egypt vociferously objected to International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) “quota calculation formula” as it “is opaque and flawed” and “reforms are possible only if” the “final outcome” is defined “followed by genuine consultations.”.<More>

  • India , China Asian Economic Growth Engines  (September 19, 2006)
    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected India ’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth at 8.3% this year and 7.3% in 2007 but but cautioned financial managers on inflation due to oil prices and strong domestic demand and budget deficit.<More>

  • Iran Complains of US Negative Role  (September 19, 2006)
    Signaling its willingness to temporarily suspend its controversial nuclear enrichment program, Iran complained of US’s negative role through its “unfounded accusations” even as UN bodies protested parts of a Congressional report as “outrageous and dishonest.”<More>

  • IBSA Sets Goals (September 19, 2006)
    With the end of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) first summit in Brazil , the world’s largest democracies in developing countries set common goals in the world’s political, economic, and social forums and promised better calibration of policy making..<More>

  • Lanka Says Willing to Talk Peace (September 18, 2006)
    At sharp variance with international mediators, Sri Lanka denied agreeing to hold unconditional talks with Tamil rebels but said it was committed to peace and negotiated settlement provided there is “a comprehensive and verifiable cessation of hostilities.”<More>

  • Women CRPF for Liberian Peacekeeping (September 18, 2006)
    An all women Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) contingent with 125 officers are being deployed as part of the UN Formed Police Unit (FPU) to train Liberian National Police, participate in joint patrolling, and perform riot control duties. This is the first time, an all woman continent is being sent as part of a UN mission.<More>

  • 18 Nuclear Emergency Response Centers (September 18, 2006)
    India has set up 18 emergency response centers that will augment existing emergency preparedness capacities to deal with nuclear-related emergencies that could be triggered by terrorism, nuclear attacks, transportation, or accidents.<More>

  • Industrial Growth Fastest in Decade (September 18, 2006)
    The Central Statistical Organization announced that the index of industrial production (IIP) showed that industrial production grew the fastest in a decade at 12.4% in July, output in all sectors including manufacturing showed impressive growth.<More>

  • US Says Reforms Stalled, Growth Up (September 15, 2006)
    The US Ambassador to India David Mulford voiced concerns of the investment community that the coalition politics has caused a “a pause in the reform process” and warned of “serious economic costs to any loss of momentum on the reform front.”<More>

  • SAIL Top Dog in Steel (September 15, 2006)
    Well executed capacity expansion plans and good earnings growth has propelled public sector utility company Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) to outpace its rivals including private players such as Tata Steel and Hindustan Zinc.<More>

  • Fastest Mobile Growth as Margins Drop (September 15, 2006)
    India raced past the capture the fastest growing mobile market in the world but operators say that the average revenue per user (ARPU) has steadily fallen correlating to steep declines in tariffs because of intense competition and cheaper short-message service.<More>

  • Forests Threatened by Elephant Training Camps (September 15, 2006)
    Environmentalists say that while elephant training camps brings eco-tourism, they also increase population around these camps, create a shortage of fodder, and compromised the well being of elephants who are now unemployed because of mechanization.<More>

  • Polio Back Again (September 15, 2006)
    The number of polio cases reported in the first 8 months of this year was 283 compared to 66 for 2005 with most from Uttar Pradesh and 69% of the victims being Muslims even as UN Secretary General warned that India is inadvertently exporting the virus.<More>

  • Complaints about AP Uranium Hearing (September 15, 2006)
    The Movement Against Uranium Project (MAUP) has faulted Andhra Pradesh (AP) Pollution Board (APPB) hearing on uranium mining in the state as a “mockery” through a “private rather than a public meaning.”<More>

  • Russia Tests sub-ice Missile (September 15, 2006)
    After a space of 11 years, Russia successfully tested an intercontinental missile from a K-84 nuclear submarine from below the ice in the North Pole and hit targets at a testing range in Arkhangesk while another fired at the same target from the Pacific Ocean.<More>

  • Nepali Maoist Protest Indian ‘Arms’ (September 15, 2006)
    An unsubstantiated report in a local paper claiming a convoy of trucks carrying arms for the Nepal Army provoked the Nepali Maoists to call for a strike, block main arteries, burn tires, and disrupt transportation.<More>

  • “Mercury Thunder” Operational (September 14, 2006)
    The Phase - III of Army Static Switched Communication Network (ASCON) named “Mercury Thunder” became operational to cover the whole nation where units and formations will have access to ‘triple play’ services including voice, video and data.<More>

  • IAEA Complains About Iran ’s Cooperation (September 14, 2006)
    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohamed El Baradei expressed “serious concern” that lack of cooperation was hampering his organization’s efforts to determine the nature of Iranian nuclear program.<More>

  • India Ups CFTC Contribution (September 14, 2006)
    Pledging support to “develop institutional capacity among the developing member countries” of the Commonwealth, India promised to increase its contribution to the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation by £50,000 to £850,000.<More>

  • Energy Usage Patterns and Social Progress (September 14, 2006)
    India estimates that it will consume 70% more energy by 2030 and although it seeks to generate energy through other sources such as nuclear, coal, and renewable sources, about 60% of this will be from oil and natural gas.<More>

  • Four Ships with Wheat in South (September 14, 2006)
    A Ministry of Food note said that four ships are offloading .155 million metric tons (mmt) of wheat at Chennai, Cochin, and Vizag ports out of which 78,380 mt has already been distributed. An additional 6 ships have arrived with .325 mmt of wheat and are being fumigated, quality checked, and berthed.<More>

  • Indo-US Trade Set to Exceed 2005 Level (September 14, 2006)
    Indo-US bilateral trade during January-May 2006 has grown substantially with 23.3% increase in imports and 19% increase in exports totaling USD 12 billion and set to pass last year’s level of USD 26.8 billion (previous year’s level was USD 21.6 billion).<More>

  • Manmohan-Mush Peace Dialogue in Havana (September 13, 2006)
    Rejecting domestic opposition, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh revealed that he will discuss terror with Pakistan on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Havana and sources say that stalled talks may be resumed soon.<More>

  • India , Brazil Take “Gigantic Step” (September 13, 2006)
    Visiting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a set of agreements on trade, technology, and agriculture and agreed to develop their bilateral relations into a strategic partnership.<More>

  • Govt Reduces SGRY Grain Allotment (September 13, 2006)
    The Ministry of Rural Development announced that it will allocate lesser amount of food grain for Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY), a food-for-work program, to laborers from 5 kilograms to 3 kilograms because of “limited availability.”<More>

  • IBSA Trade Rises Dramatically (September 12, 2006)
    Calling the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) grouping an “emerging trinity in the new geography of international trade,” United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) values the intra and inter regional trade close to USD 10 billion for 2007.<More>

  • Increase in Import of “Sensitive” Items (September 12, 2006)
    Ministry of Commerce and Trade says that the total import of “sensitive” items during April-May 2006 has been Rs.2792 crores (USD 606 million) compared to Rs.2524 crore (USD 548 million) last year or an increase of 10.6%.<More>

  • SC Fines Coal Unit for Environment Damage (September 12, 2006)
    The Supreme Court fined India’s largest coal producing company for using forest land in and ruled that all companies using forest land are required to pay a Penal Compensatory Afforestation cost and amount of Net Present Value to continue operations.<More>

  • Integrated Forest Management Planned (September 12, 2006)
    In the next 5 year plan, India plans an Integrated Protection Scheme to increase interfaces with communities, communication, and surveillance of forests and wildlife to facilitate their conservation and protection.<More>

  • New Dangerous TB Strain (September 12, 2006)
    The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a new drug-resistant Tuberculosis (TB) spreading in several countries and continents including the United States , Eastern Europe , and Africa that could greatly compromise AIDS treatment programs.<More>

  • India Worried About Taliban Resurgence (September 12, 2006)
    India is increasingly worried about conventional offensive well-orchestrated operations of a resurgent Taliban and their hold on the fight till broken with air raids and analysts say that these tactics bring back memories of their ascendance in early 1990s.<More>

  • IMF Asks for Financial Reform (September 08, 2006)
    Visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato said that “There is a need to make the financial system more efficient” and the “structural reforms” is required for India “more capable of benefiting from world economy.”<More>

  • Fiscal, Revenue Deficit Up Dangerously (September 08, 2006)
    The Controller General of Accounts (CAG) revealed that India ’s revenue and fiscal deficit within the 1st four months amounted to 92.3% and 58.1% of the budget estimate for the entire fiscal raising questions on the nation’s ability to meet deficit targets.<More>

  • Special Education through Satellite (September 08, 2006)
    The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) have signed separate agreements with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to set-up boost distance education oriented at the disabled, parents, and trainers.<More>

  • Study Says Human Gut Hosts HIV (September 08, 2006)
    A new study by researchers from the University of California revealed that the human gut hosts twice the amount of HIV virus as a person’s blood stream confirming medical suspicion that current anti-retroviral therapy alone is insufficient to cure an individual.<More>

  • Pak-Taliban Peace Pact (September 08, 2006)
    Pakistan announced that it had arranged a peace pact with the Taliban is seen by many as an admission by the Pakistan Army of its inability to control the region by brute force methods it employs against opponents and having lost hundreds of soldiers
    .<More>

  • Syria Promises Embargo on Hezbollah (September 08, 2006)
    UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that Syria has promised to adhere to the UNSC Resolution 1701 demanding an arms embargo on the Hezbollah but objected “to the presence of foreign forces along the Syrian-Lebanese border.”
    <More>

  • Indo-French Missile Pact Stalled (September, 07 2006)
    The much hyped Indo-French pact to allow India to produce French cruise missiles under transfer of technology from European Missile Consortium MBDA to Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) appeared to have stalled.
    <More>

  • India Not Working to Contain China (September, 07 2006)
    Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran asserted that India does not believe that a conflict between the US and China is inevitable and that India was not part of any design to contain China as the economic stake between the two was large
    .<More>

  • Bush Strategy to Combat Terrorism (September, 07 2006)
    Days before the 5th anniversary of 9/11 terrorism attack on the US , President George Bush released a document called “National Strategy for Combating Terrorism” portrayed as “unclassified version” of US approach to dealing with terrorism.<More>

  • Naxalism, Micro-Terrorism Major Security Threats (September, 07 2006)
    A security review by Chief Ministers with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh found leaders worrying about increasing activities of Pakistan-sponsored and directed terrorist outfits organized into “sleeper cells” who are motivated to perform suicide attacks.<More>

  • Congress Expels Natwar’s Son (September, 07 2006)
    In a major blow to Natwar Singh’s hopes of rescue by the Gandhi family, the Congress Party expelled Natwar’s son Jagat Singh even as Jagat’s friend’s petition in the Supreme Court (SC) for absolution from Justice RS Pathak Inquiry commission’s indictment.<More>

  • S&P Says Asian Banks Have Staying Power (September, 07 2006)
    A recent report from Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Ratings Services said that a financial crisis similar to the one that affected several Asian countries’ currency values and stock markets in 1997 is unlikely and that the banking system is “in a better position.<More>

  • Record Tea Output but Shortage Predicted (September, 06 2006)
    The India Tea Association (ITA) estimated that India will continue to be the largest tea producer with 930 million kilograms (mkgs) (2 mkgs more than last year) but predicted a shortage of 27 mkgs in India due to growing domestic and international demand.<More>

  • Govt Proposes MNC Audit (September, 06 2006)
    A senior Finance Ministry official said that India is thinking of starting joint audits for multi-nationals (MNCs) operating in India and the ASEAN region to ensure that the balance sheets match those of their annual statements.<More>

  • Disappearances on Rise in South Asia (September, 06 2006)
    As nations of South Asia fight terrorism, Amnesty International (AI) says that “enforced disappearances” of people is growing and while “new patterns” are emerging from Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.<More>

  • Three Uranium Mines in Jharkhand (September, 06 2006)
    The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is setting up 3 small uranium mines and 1 processing plant in Jharkhand near the sole uranium mine Jadugoda and is expected to become operational between 2006 and 2008.<More>

  • Special Anti-Naxal Force (September, 06 2006)
    India has created special force body of 14000 personnel raised from 13 states, which would include 9000 from Central paramilitary and State police and rest ex-servicemen, to fight naxal violence and perform other internal security duties.<More>

  • BDR Denies ULFA Presence (September, 06 2006)
    At the end of a 3 day face to face between the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) where India demanded imprisoned terrorists be repatriated, Bangladesh denied the presence of leaders of the terrorist movement.<More>

  • Economic Growth Promising, SEZ Model Questioned (September, 05 2006)
    In a positive sign, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that “growth momentum of recent years is likely to continue during the year” but cautioned on the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) as a model for developing industries and generating jobs.<More>

  • Israeli Drip Irrigation Technology (September, 05 2006)
    Karnataka’s horticulture department is planning to adopt Israeli drip irrigation technology (DIS) to service 124 drought-prone areas in the state and is commissioning a pilot project in 10 taluks spanning 8 districts at a cost of Rs.5 crore (USD 1.08 million).<More>

  • New Defense Procurement Policy (September, 05 2006)
    In a radical move to limit number of scandals surrounding defense policy and increase transparency, the Federal Government announced several changes to procurement policy that is expected to reduce delays and eliminate corruption during vendor selection.<More>

  • Private Nuclear Power Generation Considered (September, 05 2006)
    As the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal is becoming more of a reality, there is increasing signs that the Federal Government may be considering private nuclear power operators as a viable alternative to
    double nuclear power capacities by 2030.<More>

  • Confusion on Iran as Deadline Passes (September, 05 2006)
    EU Foreign Ministers have cautioned against hasty decisions, including sanctions, on Iran even as the US said
    military action against Tehran “is not off the table” and some say that India ’s relations with Iran may arrest the development of Indo-US relations.<More>

  • EU Not Considering Hamas Dialogue (September, 05 2006)
    Backtracking from earlier reports that the EU may consider direct contact with Hamas, a Foreign Ministers’ meeting distanced the 25 nation body from Hamas and labeled it a terror organization removing all possibilities of interaction.
    <More>

Home Page

 

Archives | Links | Search
About Us | Feedback | Guestbook

© 2006 Copyright What Is India Publishers (P) Ltd. All Rights Reserved.