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Some World News as at 2006-03-05Bush
visit a 'watershed' for Indian diplomacy, chorus Indian experts
By Manish Chand, New Delhi: US President George W. Bush has in 48 hours in India won over many a hardened sceptic by pulling off a historic new deal that experts hail for giving India a strategic weight and potential and removing two 'Ps' from the relationship. "There is now no reason for the US and India not to trust each other," Lalit Mansingh, a former ambassador to the US, told IANS, capturing the new comfort level between the hitherto 'estranged democracies'. Mansingh, who was foreign secretary when the India-US rapprochement started and bilateral ties took a turn for the better during Bill Clinton's visit six years ago, said the Bush visit has removed what he called the two 'Ps'- proliferation and Pakistan - from the India-US relationship. "With the nuclear deal, proliferation is out of the way. And for a change, the US is playing fair in its dealings with both India and Pakistan," said Mansingh, while alluding to a perceived pro-Pakistan tilt of the US till now. The Bush visit is also a trailblazer in another crucial respect in so far as it has de-hyphenated the US' ties with India and Pakistan and pitched India in the centre-stage for promoting South Asian stability. "Americans are accepting objective realities on the ground. The message has gone to Islamabad loud and clear: stop behaving like a spoilt child," G. Parthasarathy, a former envoy to Pakistan, told IANS. K. Subrahmanyam, a consistent supporter of an India-US entente, was ready to give the civilian nuclear cooperation pact "nine out of 10" and said that despite all kinds of doubts India got a deal in which all its demands were met. "It's a deal which we wanted. Each of our demands made by our nuclear scientists has been met. There is no cause for complaint," said Subrahmanyam. Pointing to the launch of the $100 million agricultural knowledge initiative that would bind Indian and American research networks in a closer embrace, Subrahmanyam said the move aimed at starting "a second green revolution" in the country was huge in its scope but did not get adequate play in the media. Said Bharat Karnad, strategic thinker and author of numerous books on India's nuclear theory and who was all along extremely sceptical of American intentions on the deal, said: "It was a very successful visit. The US negotiators conceded most of India's demands on the nuclear deal." "The US is beginning to recognize the strategic weight and potential of having India on its side," said Karnad, pointing to the larger American global agenda of the war against terror, balance of power in Asia and making the world safe from any proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. "The partnership between our two nations has the power to transform the world," Bush stressed. "It was a watershed for Indian diplomacy and showed the maturity and confidence with which we negotiated with the world's only superpower," Mansingh said. "It will mark the transition from India being a regional power to a global leader," said Mansingh, while lauding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the "finesse" with which he handled difficult nuclear negotiations. Indian Prime Minister discusses with Putin India’s stand on Iran nuclear issue New Delhi: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had a 20-minute conversation over the telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday evening during which they discussed the areas of co-operation between the two countries, including the ongoing co-operation in the field of civilian nuclear energy. During the conversation, which was initiated by Dr Singh, the two leaders discussed implementation of areas of co-operation identified during their last Summit meeting in Moscow in December 2005. Dr Singh welcomed Russia’s efforts to address the issue related to Iran’s nuclear programme through dialogue and consultation. The leaders exchanged views in context of the forthcoming meeting of the Board of Governors of the IAEA on Monday. The conversation assumes significance in context of the forthcoming visit of the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov later this month. President Putin briefed Dr. Singh about the G-8 Summit being hosted by Russia in St. Petersburg in July 2006. The Prime Minister conveyed his acceptance of President Putin’s invitation to participate in a broader dialogue with G-8 at the forthcoming Summit. The discussion between President Putin and Dr. Singh also covered India-Russia bilateral economic and commercial relations. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that the bilateral agreement on Russia’s accession to the WTO, which has been signed recently in accordance with his commitment to President Putin during their last meeting. 30pc
mothers in Pakistan die of iron deficiency
Islamabad : According to an estimate, over 40 per cent of the women in
reproductive age in Pakistan suffer from iron deficiency anaemia (IDA),
and this results in the death of nearly 30 per cent mothers in the
country.Over a third of reproductive age women suffer from severe iodine deficiency while alarming levels of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among all population groups is rampant, the Dawn reported while quoting official figures. To check this alarming situation, a National Plan of Action (NPA) for the control of Micro-Nutrient Malnutrition was recently launched in the country. The Plan of Action describes the micronutrient malnutrition - often referred to as “hidden hunger” as a problem of major magnitude and enormous developmental consequences in Pakistan. Emerged from an elaborate process of inter-department discussion and workshops, the Plan seeks to build upon existing government initiatives while taking advantage of new technical and scientific advances emerging internationally. It also provides concrete objectives and specific actions, identifies responsible agencies and specifies timetables and culminates in a comprehensive three-year plan to address the country’s micronutrient malnutrition problems systematically and efficiently. Wind
energy playing significant role in Indian renewable energy sector
By Jehovah G, Coimbatore: At a time when there is growing concern over
country’s energy security, the windmills are making significant
contributions. The demand to develop renewable energy has gained
momentum. It is hoped that it will help in reducing pollution and find
an alternative for the exhaustive fossil fuels. Windmill towers have been constructed in many parts of the country. A small generator will generate power up to 50kw (kilowatt) with 750 rpm (revolutions per minute) and big generator with 1000 rpm will generate above 50kw wind energy,” said Danial Raj, in charge of a windmill. “We ought to develop renewable energy for two reasons—for reducing pollution and to find an alternative for the fossil fuels that are getting exhausted. Fortunately, India along with other developed countries has started developing renewable energy mainly in the form of windmills,” said Kasturi Rangan, Vice President, India Wind Mill Power Association. With an installed capacity of 3500 MW (Mega Watt), India has become the fourth largest country to Germany, Spain and the US generating wind power wind superpower. The windmills receive almost 80 per cent of the energy from the South West Monsoon winds and the rest from the North- East Monsoon winds. The cost of production for one unit of wind energy is 10 per cent more than the cost of generating coal energy. In the recent times, the cost of wind energy is coming down due to the advent of higher capacity machines and higher tower. About 1,150 wind monitoring and mapping stations were set up in 25 States and Union Territories. Of these stations, 50 wind monitoring stations are still operational at present. The remaining stations were closed after collection and analysis of data. China
promises help for rural poor
China says it wants to reduce the gap between its new rich cities and
its many poor rural areas. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao made the
announcement at the opening of the annual session of the National
People's Congress in the capital Beijing. He said the government will
spend 42 billion dollars this year to modernise its agriculture and
billions more to improve rural social services, including free schools
and better health care. He also announced an increase in subsidies for
farmers and the scrapping of centuries-old farm taxes.The annual congress, which was opened in the presence of both Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and President Hu Jintao, will last ten days and is being attended by 3,000 representatives. Indonesia
begins massive anti-bird flu vaccination drive
The Indonesian government has ordered a massive vaccination drive of
poultry against bird flu. The campaign will be carried out in all of
the country's 27 provinces hit by the disease and is to be completed
within a single month. Bird flu is so far known to have killed at least
20 people in Indonesia. In an effort to prevent any further deaths, the
government also plans to distribute 12 million tablets of the anti-flu
drug Tamiflu. Meanwhile, in Europe, the potentially lethal H5N1 strain
of bird flu continues spreading. "Olmert
plans to dismantle more West Bank settlements"
Israeli media say Israel's acting prime minister Ehud Olmert plans to
dismantle some settlements on the West Bank if his Kadima Party wins
the 28 March general election. The reports, based on government
sources, say Israel would not withdraw its military forces from the
occupied territories, as it did last year in the Gaza Strip. Political
parties on the right and the left oppose the prime minister's plans. Iran
threatens oil cuts ahead of UN nuclear meeting
Iran's top nuclear negotiator says his country could reduce its oil
exports if the crisis over Tehran's nuclear programme were to worsen.
The official, Ali Larijani, added that Iran will not bow to
international pressure to halt what he described as Iran's "nuclear
research". Western countries accuse Iran of secretly developing a
nuclear bomb, a charge Tehran denies, saying it wants to use nuclear
energy for peaceful ends. Mr Larijani was speaking on the eve of a
meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, which is expected to
refer Iran to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.Asked about Iran during a visit to Saudi Arabia, French President Jacques Chirac reiterated that Europe remains eager to reach a diplomatic solution. Food
convoy attacked in Afghanistan's Uruzgan province
In the Afghan province of Uruzgan, unidentified attackers set fire to
two trucks loaded with food aid. The consignment, almost 30 tonnes of
wheat, was destined for the province's poorest inhabitants and was
completely destroyed. The food, worth around 8,000 euros, was paid for
by the United Nations World Food Programme. Afghanistan
launches polio immunisation drive
Afghanistan is launching a three-day immunisation campaign against
polio, which is expected to reach more than seven million children
under the age of five. Afghanistan is one of only four countries where
the disease is still endemic, though last year there were just seven
cases in two provinces, down from 137 in 1997, when the immunisation
drives started. Health authorities say that the disease has not yet
been completely eradicated because Afghanistan's ongoing violence has
hampered the immunisation programmes. US
to probe "friendly fire death" of football star
The Pentagon has ordered a criminal investigation into allegations that
the death of US soldier and former football star Pat Tillman in
Afghanistan in 2004 was not caused by friendly fire as previously
thought but was in fact a homicide. The football player was widely
praised when he gave up a multimillion-dollar contract to join the army
in the wake of the September 11 attacks. His father says the army has
tried to cover up the case. Feminists
demonstrate in Warsaw
In Poland, around 2,000 feminists have taken part in a demonstration in
the capital Warsaw in support of women's rights. They chanted slogans
demanding work rather than social benefits, and freedom for women. The
organisers claim that since the fall of communism no Polish government
has really been concerned about the plight of women. The protestors
were also demonstrating their support for sexual and religious
minorities in the predominantly Catholic country. Bolivia
moves towards new constitution
Bolivia's Congress has approved the establishment of a national assembly which will draft a new constitution within a year. Elections for the assembly's 255 members will be held in July. All groups in society must be represented in the assembly, and at least 50 percent of candidates must be women. President Evo Morales, who took office in January as the country's first indigenous president, wants to rewrite Bolivia's constitution and give more power to the poor, indigenous majority. The provinces will also be given greater autonomy. It is possible too that the country's name and national symbols will be changed. President Morales said Congress's approval marked the "start of a cultural and social revolution" and the "second liberation" of the former Spanish colony. Al-Qaeda
deputy urges Palestinians to resist
Al-Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri is urging the Palestinian
militant group Hamas to continue its armed struggle against Israel. In
a video message broadcast by the Arab TV network al-Jazeera, he also
called on Hamas not to recognize any existing agreements between the
Palestinians and Israel. Mr al-Zawahri denounced the publication of
cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, which he said were part of a crusade
against Muslims led by the United States. He asked people to boycott
countries where they had been published.In the video, he also called for fresh attacks on the economic infrastructure of the West, citing New York, Washington, Madrid and London as examples. Presidential
elections held in Benin
Presidential elections have been held today in the West African state
of Benin. President Mathieu Kerekou, who has been in power for most of
the past 34 years, is barred from standing because he is over 70 years
old, as is his main rival, Nicephore Soglo. Twenty-six candidates are
bidding to replace them, three of whom - Adrien Houngbedji, Bruno
Amoussou and Yayi Boni - are leading the race. One of them has called
for the resignation of the chairman of the electoral commission saying
there have irregularities. It is expected it will take several days
before official results become known. Suspect
in Jewish killing indicted in Paris
The suspected leader of a French gang that last month tortured and
murdered a Jewish man near Paris has been charged in the French capital
hours after being extradited by Ivory Coast. Youssouf Fofana, a
25-year-old French national of Ivorian origin, had fled there after the
crime sparked public outrage in France, prompting allegations of
anti-Semitism. He has since admitted being involved in the case but
denies any anti-Semitic motive, saying the kidnapping was carried out
for financial reasons. British
boy charged with murdering 11 year old
A 14-year-old boy in the British city of Manchester has been charged
with murdering another boy aged 11. Joe Geeling's body was found in a
park on Thursday, one day after he was last seen alive as he walked
home from school. He died of multiple stab wounds. Europe's
winter holiday traffic back to normal
Traffic on routes to and from Europe's winter holiday destinations is
now back to normal, following several chaotic days. In the south of
Germany, which was hit by heavy snow throughout the weekend, the number
of traffic jams rapidly easing during the day. In France, problems
continue to be reported in the northeast. But in the Alps, all roads
are now passable with the exception of those to the ski resorts of Val
d'Isère and Tigne, which are still cut off from the outside
world. In Switzerland and Austria too, the traffic situation has
greatly improved.The severe winter weather led to chaotic scenes for most of the weekend, with many motorists left stranded. Railway services were also disrupted. In Singen in southern Germany, 80 passengers were forced to spend the night in a train at the railway station. Campbell
outlines tax plans in maiden LibDem speech
New Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell told his party on Sunday not to become fixated with its controversial policy of introducing a top tax rate of 50 pence in the pound. In his debut speech as leader at the party's spring conference in Harrogate, Campbell said too much attention had been given to the policy at the last election. "We should avoid being fixated on one tax rate," he said. "You cannot create a valid tax policy based on a single tax rate any more than you can have a valid defence policy based on a single weapons system." The party went into last year's general election promising a top rate of income tax of 50 percent on all incomes over 100,000 pounds, up from the current highest rate of 40 percent. The Liberal Democrats say the policy is necessary to redistribute wealth but critics say it will stifle business and entrepreneurism. Campbell, 64, made three proposals to create what he said would be a fairer fiscal system. "First, the tax burden must be lighter for those on lowest incomes," he said. "Second, the tax system must provide incentives to companies and individuals to behave in a way that sustains our environment. "Third, the system must be simple -- it must support enterprise and must not stifle it ... We are not going to spend more when we can spend more wisely." Campbell, the LibDems' experienced former foreign affairs spokesman, renewed his attack on the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay and suggested Prime Minister Tony Blair did not take the issue seriously enough. "A principled Liberal Democratic alternative has never been more needed than when there are people being abused and held without trial at Guantanamo Bay," said Campbell, best known for his vocal opposition to the Iraq war. "The prime minister calls it an anomaly. This is not an anomaly. This is an outrage." See also Profile: Menzies Campbell |
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