IAF's MiG-29 crashes in Arabian Sea, pilot bails out
Agencies
Jamnagar, September 01: A MiG-29 jet fighter of the Indian Air Force crashed in the Arabian Sea off Jamnagar coast during a training mission around noon on Monday but the pilot ejected safely.
Flight Lieutenant Dheer, was rescued after he bailed out of the aircraft which crashed at 1153 hours, an IAF spokesman said in New Delhi.
The IAF's all-weather air superiority aircraft was on a one-on-one training sortie when the pilot lost control of the MiG-29 which crashed in the sea about 50 km off Jamnagar, he said.
Naval divers from the INS Valsura base are being pressed into service to fish out the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder (black-box), the spokesman said.
The MiG-29 belonged to the IAF's 28 Squadron and it had taken off from Jamnagar for the training exercise.
This is the sixth aircrash being suffered by the IAF this year and the fifth MiG-29 to crash since June 2006.
The earlier five crashes involved a MiG-27, two MiG-21s, a Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer and a Kiran trainer this year. A pilot was killed in one of the crashes.
In January this year, a MiG-27 crashed near Hashimara in North Bengal, followed by a MiG-21 crash near Bhuj in Gujarat in February.
In April, a Hawk trainer crashed at Bidar, Karnataka and in May, a Kiran trainer crashed at Dindigul near Hyderabad killing a lady trainee pilot.
In the fifth incident, also in May, a MiG-21 from Bagdogra air base crashed.
Memories of Another day
While my Parents Pulin babu and Basanti devi were living
Monday, September 1, 2008
‘Political parties should rethink before calling hartals'
‘Political parties should rethink before calling hartals'
Agencies
Kozhikode, September 01: Political parties should do a rethink before calling hartals or other forms of protests as they severely affect people's lives, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said on Monday.
"Protests can be made but all political parties should ensure that hartals are not called for anything and everything," he said, participating in a function organised by Calicut Press Club to present media awards in Kozhikode.
Noting that such protests not only paralysed normal life but also affected welfare of society to a great extent, he said that the public had started protesting against such ‘unwarranted’ protests.
Earlier, taking part in another function at Vatakara near here, Ravi said that the government would bring in stringent measures to check the activities of illegal job racketeers, who swindled money from people aspiring for jobs abroad.
"It has come to the government's notice that several illegal agents are cheating job-seekers of huge sums after assuring them jobs in the Gulf," he said, adding that stern action was being proposed against them.
Agencies
Kozhikode, September 01: Political parties should do a rethink before calling hartals or other forms of protests as they severely affect people's lives, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said on Monday.
"Protests can be made but all political parties should ensure that hartals are not called for anything and everything," he said, participating in a function organised by Calicut Press Club to present media awards in Kozhikode.
Noting that such protests not only paralysed normal life but also affected welfare of society to a great extent, he said that the public had started protesting against such ‘unwarranted’ protests.
Earlier, taking part in another function at Vatakara near here, Ravi said that the government would bring in stringent measures to check the activities of illegal job racketeers, who swindled money from people aspiring for jobs abroad.
"It has come to the government's notice that several illegal agents are cheating job-seekers of huge sums after assuring them jobs in the Gulf," he said, adding that stern action was being proposed against them.
12 lakh Bangladeshis missing after entering India: BSF
12 lakh Bangladeshis missing after entering India: BSF
Agencies
Shillong, September 1: There are over 12 lakh Bangladeshis who have entered India with valid documents but have gone missing and there are no records of their return, the BSF said on Monday.
Quoting a report of West Bengal Intelligence, BSF DG A Mitra said these Bangladeshis had mostly entered via the West Bengal border between 1972 and 2005 and it was not easy to identify them.
Admitting that influx from Bangladesh and Pakistan was a continuing menace, Mitra said the BSF had apprehended 3,381 infiltrators this year so far. "Infiltration is a phenomenon that has been going on since years. It has not started recently," he said.
Mitra said the Karimganj and Dhubri sectors of the North East are particularly vulnerable to infiltration.
When told that the proposed floating border outpost on the Brahmaputra in Dhubri has been a non-starter, IG (Assam-Meghalaya frontier) PK Mishra said each outpost in the riverine area of Dhubri has four speedboats. "It is much easier to conduct patrolling in speedboats than go for surveillance on floating border outposts."
Mishra said the perennial floods in the Brahmaputra are also a reason that has prompted the BSF not to set up floating border outposts in the region.
In another development, the BSF and Bangladesh Rifles has started conducting joint patrolling along the Indo-Bangla border to enhance surveillance, he said.
Agencies
Shillong, September 1: There are over 12 lakh Bangladeshis who have entered India with valid documents but have gone missing and there are no records of their return, the BSF said on Monday.
Quoting a report of West Bengal Intelligence, BSF DG A Mitra said these Bangladeshis had mostly entered via the West Bengal border between 1972 and 2005 and it was not easy to identify them.
Admitting that influx from Bangladesh and Pakistan was a continuing menace, Mitra said the BSF had apprehended 3,381 infiltrators this year so far. "Infiltration is a phenomenon that has been going on since years. It has not started recently," he said.
Mitra said the Karimganj and Dhubri sectors of the North East are particularly vulnerable to infiltration.
When told that the proposed floating border outpost on the Brahmaputra in Dhubri has been a non-starter, IG (Assam-Meghalaya frontier) PK Mishra said each outpost in the riverine area of Dhubri has four speedboats. "It is much easier to conduct patrolling in speedboats than go for surveillance on floating border outposts."
Mishra said the perennial floods in the Brahmaputra are also a reason that has prompted the BSF not to set up floating border outposts in the region.
In another development, the BSF and Bangladesh Rifles has started conducting joint patrolling along the Indo-Bangla border to enhance surveillance, he said.
N-Deal: Govt to brief Left on IAEA talks on Mon
N-Deal: Govt to brief Left on IAEA talks on Mon
Agencies
New Delhi, March 16: The crucial meeting of the UPA-Left committee on the Indo-US nuclear deal will be held in New Delhi on Monday where the Government is expected to hand over the Left leaders copies of the draft India-specific safeguards agreement it has reached with the IAEA.
Government is also likely to brief them on the over three-month long negotiations it held with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the safeguards agreement.
The meeting comes in the backdrop of major Left parties asserting that they would withdraw support to the Congress-led government if it went ahead with the nuclear deal with the US.
However, the Left parties have been saying that they would not be responsible if the government falls.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who heads the committee, exuded confidence that the Government would be able to convince the Left parties.
"I am hopeful of sorting out the issue (with the Left)," Mukherjee had said.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said that the Left parties were totally opposed to the deal as it was ‘anchored in the Hyde Act’ which had conditions that were against the interests of India.
"The Government will have to move forward only on the basis of the findings of this committee. If the committee says that the deal is wrong, then it should be dropped," he told PTI.
Agencies
New Delhi, March 16: The crucial meeting of the UPA-Left committee on the Indo-US nuclear deal will be held in New Delhi on Monday where the Government is expected to hand over the Left leaders copies of the draft India-specific safeguards agreement it has reached with the IAEA.
Government is also likely to brief them on the over three-month long negotiations it held with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the safeguards agreement.
The meeting comes in the backdrop of major Left parties asserting that they would withdraw support to the Congress-led government if it went ahead with the nuclear deal with the US.
However, the Left parties have been saying that they would not be responsible if the government falls.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who heads the committee, exuded confidence that the Government would be able to convince the Left parties.
"I am hopeful of sorting out the issue (with the Left)," Mukherjee had said.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said that the Left parties were totally opposed to the deal as it was ‘anchored in the Hyde Act’ which had conditions that were against the interests of India.
"The Government will have to move forward only on the basis of the findings of this committee. If the committee says that the deal is wrong, then it should be dropped," he told PTI.
Govt, Left seek to buy more time on N-deal
Govt, Left seek to buy more time on N-deal
Agencies
New Delhi, March 17: Apparently not in a mood to confront each other, Government and the Left parties on Monday decided to hold discussions next month on the draft India- specific safeguards agreement with the IAEA after the allies were briefed on the outcome of the negotiations in Vienna.
Meeting after a gap of three months, during which India held negotiations with the international nuclear watchdog, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee “presented” the “outcome” of the talks on the draft agreement to top Left leaders.
Left leaders said after the meeting that the government told them that the draft safeguards agreement addressed Indian concerns like safeguards and assurances of fuel supplies in perpetuity and the issue of strategic reserves.
They were also told by Mukherjee that the IAEA was also working on how to accommodate India, which is outside the Non-Proliferation Treaty regime but has a nuclear capability.
“The members of the Committee felt that further discussion was needed. It was decided to hold the next meeting in April, 2008,” Mukherjee, with CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury by his side, told reporters after the 90-minute meeting.
But a senior Left leader wondered how IAEA could guarantee fuel supplies because they are not fuel suppliers.
Left leaders said the impression they got was that the government did not seem to be in any tearing hurry to push ahead on the deal with the US.
At the last meeting on November 17, the Left parties had allowed the Government to hold negotiations with the IAEA on the safeguards agreement, but in between had been issuing threats of dire consequences if the Government went ahead with the deal.
Agencies
New Delhi, March 17: Apparently not in a mood to confront each other, Government and the Left parties on Monday decided to hold discussions next month on the draft India- specific safeguards agreement with the IAEA after the allies were briefed on the outcome of the negotiations in Vienna.
Meeting after a gap of three months, during which India held negotiations with the international nuclear watchdog, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee “presented” the “outcome” of the talks on the draft agreement to top Left leaders.
Left leaders said after the meeting that the government told them that the draft safeguards agreement addressed Indian concerns like safeguards and assurances of fuel supplies in perpetuity and the issue of strategic reserves.
They were also told by Mukherjee that the IAEA was also working on how to accommodate India, which is outside the Non-Proliferation Treaty regime but has a nuclear capability.
“The members of the Committee felt that further discussion was needed. It was decided to hold the next meeting in April, 2008,” Mukherjee, with CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury by his side, told reporters after the 90-minute meeting.
But a senior Left leader wondered how IAEA could guarantee fuel supplies because they are not fuel suppliers.
Left leaders said the impression they got was that the government did not seem to be in any tearing hurry to push ahead on the deal with the US.
At the last meeting on November 17, the Left parties had allowed the Government to hold negotiations with the IAEA on the safeguards agreement, but in between had been issuing threats of dire consequences if the Government went ahead with the deal.
US vows to push through NSG process 'expeditiously'
US vows to push through NSG process 'expeditiously'
Agencies
Posted online: Sunday , August 03, 2008 at 02:36:39
Colombo, August 3: Buoyed by the IAEA's approval of the India-specific safeguards pact, the US vowed to push through ‘expeditiously’ the NSG process but said New Delhi would have to answer ‘a lot of questions’ to secure a waiver from the 45-nation bloc when it meets later this month.
Describing the IAEA decision as a ‘major step’, US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher told reporters here that "now the next step is the NSG."
The 35-member IAEA Board of Governors gave its nod to the India-specific safeguards agreement, a key step to operationalise the Indo-US nuclear deal, on Friday while the NSG members are expected to meet in Vienna on August 21 to discuss the matter.
"If we could do that (NSG process) expeditiously we can deliver the package to the US Congress in September. We have a lot to to in short term. We hope we can bring it to fruition," Boucher said.
"Well by the time we get to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, we hope no country will object. It is simply a process we have been working on with countries who had questions and are getting those questions answered," said Boucher, who is in the Sri Lankan capital as an observer to the regional SAARC summit.
Agencies
Posted online: Sunday , August 03, 2008 at 02:36:39
Colombo, August 3: Buoyed by the IAEA's approval of the India-specific safeguards pact, the US vowed to push through ‘expeditiously’ the NSG process but said New Delhi would have to answer ‘a lot of questions’ to secure a waiver from the 45-nation bloc when it meets later this month.
Describing the IAEA decision as a ‘major step’, US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher told reporters here that "now the next step is the NSG."
The 35-member IAEA Board of Governors gave its nod to the India-specific safeguards agreement, a key step to operationalise the Indo-US nuclear deal, on Friday while the NSG members are expected to meet in Vienna on August 21 to discuss the matter.
"If we could do that (NSG process) expeditiously we can deliver the package to the US Congress in September. We have a lot to to in short term. We hope we can bring it to fruition," Boucher said.
"Well by the time we get to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, we hope no country will object. It is simply a process we have been working on with countries who had questions and are getting those questions answered," said Boucher, who is in the Sri Lankan capital as an observer to the regional SAARC summit.
Indo-US N-deal a blow to non-proliferation: China
Indo-US N-deal a blow to non-proliferation: China
Agencies
Beijing, September 1: People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party of China, described Indo-US nuclear deal a ‘major blow’ to non-proliferation, apparently reflecting the Chinese Government's thinking on the issue.
The article criticised the ‘multiple standards’ followed by the US on the issue of nuclear non-proliferation when it agreed to sign the deal with India, a view that could be worrying to New Delhi, which is trying to get the deal approved by the Nuclear Suppliers' Group at its meeting in early September.
"Irrespective of the fate of the US-India nuclear agreement, the United States' multiple standards on non-proliferation issues have met with a skeptical world," the article written by a scholar of a state-run think-tank, said.
New Delhi needs NSG approval urgently because it will need to be further ratified by the US Congress before it adjourns in September end to prepare for the Presidential elections.
"Whether it is motivated by geopolitical considerations or commercial interests, the US-India nuclear agreement has constituted a major blow to the international non-proliferation regime," the paper said in the opinion pages of its Monday edition, ahead of the September 4 meeting of the 45-member NSG.
China so far had not taken a negative position either in the meetings of the International Atomic Energy Agency or the NSG but it is also not clear if Beijing will openly oppose the deal at the NSG meeting or merely refuse to back it actively.
Agencies
Beijing, September 1: People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party of China, described Indo-US nuclear deal a ‘major blow’ to non-proliferation, apparently reflecting the Chinese Government's thinking on the issue.
The article criticised the ‘multiple standards’ followed by the US on the issue of nuclear non-proliferation when it agreed to sign the deal with India, a view that could be worrying to New Delhi, which is trying to get the deal approved by the Nuclear Suppliers' Group at its meeting in early September.
"Irrespective of the fate of the US-India nuclear agreement, the United States' multiple standards on non-proliferation issues have met with a skeptical world," the article written by a scholar of a state-run think-tank, said.
New Delhi needs NSG approval urgently because it will need to be further ratified by the US Congress before it adjourns in September end to prepare for the Presidential elections.
"Whether it is motivated by geopolitical considerations or commercial interests, the US-India nuclear agreement has constituted a major blow to the international non-proliferation regime," the paper said in the opinion pages of its Monday edition, ahead of the September 4 meeting of the 45-member NSG.
China so far had not taken a negative position either in the meetings of the International Atomic Energy Agency or the NSG but it is also not clear if Beijing will openly oppose the deal at the NSG meeting or merely refuse to back it actively.
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