PTI - The Press Trust of India Ltd. articles from July 2004

PTI - The Press Trust of India Ltd. archives from July 2004

Israeli company to supply VSATs to India.
July 1, 2004... Jerusalem, Jul 1 (PTI) Nasdaq listed Israeli company, Gilat Satellite Networks, has won a USD 10 million contract to supply VSATs to an undisclosed Indian company, media reports has said. In one of the major contracts for the company, it...

US circulating resolution for sanctions on Sudan.
July 1, 2004... TV Parasuram Washington, Jul 1 (PTI) The United States has begun to circulate among Security Council members a resolution for imposing sanctions on Sudan if the African country does not curb the violent Arab militias in Darfur province....

WB disturbed by lack of "urgency" in India over battling AIDS.
July 1, 2004... TV Parasuram Washington, Jul 1 (PTI) The World Bank (WB) has been deeply disturbed by the apparent lack of a "sense of urgency" in battling AIDS at the highest levels in India even as it has allocated USD 380 million dollars for national...

Preeta Bansal elected to serve as Chair of USCIRF.
July 1, 2004... Washington, Jul 1 (PTI) The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has elected Preeta D Bansal to serve as 'Chair' replacing the outgoing Dean of the George Washington University Law School, Michael K Young. The election...

Federal Reserve raises key interest rate.
July 1, 2004... Washington, Jul 1 (PTI) With a view to keeping the US economy and the inflation on an even keel, the Federal Reserve System has raised a key interest rate for the first time in four years, marking the end of an era of the lowest borrowing costs...

India ready to provide security in Malacca Strait: Natwar.
July 1, 2004... Jakarta, Jul 1 (PTI) India has said it is ready to provide security in the Malacca Strait, one of the world's busiest sea lanes and a victim of rising high seas piracy. External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, who is here to attend the...

Major narcotics, gold haul in Bihar.
July 1, 2004... Sasaram (Bihar), July 1 (PTI) In a major narcotics and gold haul, police seized heroin worth Rs 500 million and gold biscuits valued at Rs 2.7 million in the international market during raids in Mochi Tola locality of Bihar's Rohtas district...

Singh meets Megawati; holds talks with counterparts.
July 1, 2004... Jakarta, July 1 (PTI) India's External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh called on the Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri at the presidential palace here Thursday morning. During the day Singh will meet his counterparts from New Zealand...

New Govt to work towards making India prosperous, powerful.
July 1, 2004... Jaishree Balasubramanian Jakarta, July 1 (PTI) The rapid progress being witnessed in India will be carried forward by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to make the country prosperous, powerful and internationally respected, India's External...

Thiruvananthapuram, July 1 (PTI) A `high alert' has been.
July 1, 2004... sounded at the international airport here following a threat by Al-Qaeda to hijack any direct flight of an Indian carrier operating to West Asia from any of the airports in the country. The Aviation Security Group (ASG) personnel of the...

First batch of Amarnath pilgrims flagged off from Jammu.
July 1, 2004... Jammu, July 1 (PTI) The Amarnath Yatra Action Committee (AYAC) flaged off the first batch of pilgrims for Pahalgam from here Thursday morning. About 85 people, including 77 sadhus (monks) left in three vehicles from Ranbishwar temple at...

J-K High Court disposes off petition on Amarnath Yatra.
July 1, 2004... Jammu, July 1 (PTI) With the government of Jammu and Kashmir state in northern India having granted extension of 15 days to the annual Amarnath Yatra, the state High Court on Thursday disposed off the petition filed against curtailment of this...

Top Infosys executive in Europe joins iGATE Global Solutions.
July 1, 2004... Bangalore, July 1 (PTI) Head of Infosys' European arm, Srinjay Sengupta, has joined technology and operations firm iGATE Global Solutions as its Chief Sales Officer, iGATE announced on Thursday. Sengupta, who was Infosys Technologies Ltd's...

No question of privatising profit-making PSUs: Kunhalikutty.
July 1, 2004... Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 1 (PTI) The UDF government in Kerala had never sought to privatise profit-making PSUs and its policy in this regard was the same as that laid down in the Common Minimum Programme of the UPA government at the Centre,...

India-based Achor forges JV with British co; to boost exports.
July 1, 2004... Bangalore, Jul 1 (PTI) India-based electrical accessories major Anchor has forged a joint venture with UK's British General targeting the high-end segment in an attempt to boost exports and garner 25 per cent of its turnover from international...

No proposal to hike KSRTC fares: Transport Minister.
July 1, 2004... Thiruvananthapuram, July 1 (PTI) Kerala's Transport Minister R Balakrishna Pillai on Thursday ruled out a hike in fares of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) services. Pillai informed the Assembly in a written reply that there...

Manmohan meets kin of farmers who had committed suicide.
July 1, 2004... Somayajulapalle (AP), July 1 (PTI) On a day-long visit to get a first-hand understanding of the sufferings of farmers in the backdrop of a spate of suicides on account of heavy debts, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday met women and...

Another senior Infosys executive joins iGate.
July 1, 2004... New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) Head of Infosys Technologies' Europe operations Srinjay Sengupta on Thursday joined Phaneesh Murthy-run iGate Global Solutions as Chief Sales Officer. Sengupta, who is the fourth senior Infosys executive to join...

Assocham seeks import duty cut on petroleum products.
July 1, 2004... New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) Indian industry body Assocham on Thursday asked the government to halve the customs duty on crude oil and other petroleum products to ease the burden of domestic industry on account of rising international crude prices....

Army spends Rs 500 million on 'Operation Sadhbhavana' in J-K.
July 1, 2004... Jammu, July 1 (PTI) As part of its 'Operation Sadbhavana' to provide a "healing touch" to the rural poor and develop remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir, the army has constructed 50 schools in the militancy-hit state in northern India and will...

Continuous Computing opens Indian operations, sets up centre.
July 1, 2004... Bangalore, Jul 1 (PTI) US-based Continuous Computing, solutions provider for telecom equipment, on Thursday announced setting up of its wholly-owned subsidiary and development centre here. The company plans to invest USD three million to...

ASEAN signs declaration to eliminate violence against women.
July 1, 2004... Jakarta, July 1 (PTI) In a bid to eliminate violence against women in the region, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has decided to take eight bold measures to strengthen regional cooperation on the issue. These include...

Megawati asks ASEAN members to quicken plans for economic bloc.
July 1, 2004... Jakarta, July 1 (PTI) Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputri has urged Southeast Asia to quicken plans to set up a EU style bloc to ward off a "surge in unilateralism" and international disputes such as the Iraq war. Terrorism,...

Dhirendra Singh takes over as India's Home Secretary.
July 1, 2004... New Delhi, July 1 (PTI) Senior Indian Administrative Service officer Dhirendra Singh on Thursday took over as the country's new Home Secretary succeeding Anil Baijal who has been shifted to the Urban Development Ministry as Secretary. ...

Rickshaw driver's daughter on way to becoming a doctor.
July 1, 2004... Nagpur, Jul 1 (PTI) She had nurtured the dream of becoming a doctor and her family's impoverished condition and lack of opportunities did not deter city girl Vaishali Wankhede from passing the nation-wide Pre-Medical test with flying colours....

CRPF personnel killed, two injured in attack on patrol party.
July 1, 2004... Imphal, July 1 (PTI) A Central Reserve Police Force personnel was killed and two others were seriously injured in an attack by armed insurgents on a patrol party at Leiram Veng area of Manipur's Churachandpur district Thursday morning. The...

Antony promise all help to farmers.
July 1, 2004... Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 1 (PTI) Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony on assured members in the assembly that government would take all necessary steps to help the farmers who were reeling under financial distress due to various reasons in the...

People's committee to monitor law and order situation.
July 1, 2004... Thiruvananthapuram, July 1 (PTI) Kerala government plans to set up People's committees in various places to monitor the law and order situation and face the challenges posed by goons in the state, Kerala Chief Minister, A K Antony on Thursday...

Pak to join ARF on Friday.
July 1, 2004... Jaishree Balasubramanian Jakarta, July 1 (PTI) Pakistan, whose entry into the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was approved after it gave an assurance that it would not raise Kashmir and other Indo-Pak bilateral issues at the 23-member bloc,...

Qatar-Russia ties under strain after court verdict.
July 1, 2004... Dubai, July 1 (PTI) Diplomatic relations between Qatar and Russia have come under strain after a Doha court handed down life sentences to two Russians convicted of assassinating Chechen rebel leader Zelimkhan Yanderbiyev, living in exile in the...

Singapore to train its armed forces in India.
July 1, 2004... Singapore, July 1 (PTI) Singapore will train its air force and army units in India for the first time later this year as part of a defence cooperation deal signed between the two countries, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said on Thursday. ...

China's disease control chief resigns for SARS "mismanagement".
July 1, 2004... Beijing, July 1 (PTI) China's top epidemiologist and chief of the centre for disease control resigned on Thursday and four of his senior colleagues disciplined by the government for their "mismanagement" of the deadly SARS virus at a government...

ASEAN grouping, Australia sign anti-terrorism declaration.
July 1, 2004... Jakarta, July 1 (PTI) The ten-member ASEAN grouping and Australia Thursday signed a joint declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism. Australia will provide extensive assistance to boost counter-terror measures in areas...

Bhupathi in mixed doubles' quarterfinal.
July 1, 2004... London, Jul 1 (PTI Top-seeded pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Elena Likhovtseva has moved to the quarterfinals of mixed doubles event in the Wimbledon Grand Slam Tennis Championshionship. The Indo-Russian pair defeated 15th seeded Daniel Nestor...

Dixit holds talks with Ivanov.
July 1, 2004... Vinay Shukla Moscow, July 1 (PTI) On his first visit to Russia as India's National Security Advisor, J N Dixit Thursday discussed ways and means of strengthening Indo-Russian strategic partnership and assessed developments in Afghanistan,...

Singh mesets farmers' families, promises to look into problems.
July 1, 2004... Somayajulapalle (AP) July 1 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday paid a visit to the families of farmers who committed suicide in drought-stricken Andhra Pradesh in southern India to personally convey his sympathy and announced...

Fencing work along 280-km long border in Jammu region over.
July 1, 2004... Bhimbergali (LoC), Jul 1 (PTI) Barring some snow-bound patches along the 650 km-long Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, India has completed fencing along the 280 km-long border with Pakistan in Jammu region, top army officials said...

Indian scientists should make breakthrough in nano technology.
July 1, 2004... New Delhi, July 1 (PTI) Observing that nanotechnology would revolutionise total concepts of future warfare, India's President APJ Abdul Kalam Thursday asked the country's scientists to make a breakthrough in this cutting-edge microscopic...

First round of meeting went off well: Musharraf.
July 1, 2004... K J M Varma Islamabad, July 1 (PTI) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said the recent Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan "went off well" and he was hopeful but progress on Kashmir and other issues could be...

India favourites for Asia Cup: Waqar.
July 1, 2004... Hyderabad, Jul 1 (PTI) Pakistani fast bowling great Waqar Younis Thursday tagged India as favourites to win the Asia Cup cricket tournament while saying his team would have to "struggle hard" to wriggle out of poor form. Waqar, here on a...

Family of detained Indians seek repatriation to India.
July 1, 2004... Chennai, Jul 1 (PTI) Eighteen Indians, including one from the city and another from Tiruchirapalli, who had quit their jobs a few months ago, are facing untold mental agony, because they have been detained in a camp at Fallujah in Iraq,...

Topalov in top form enroute to semis.
July 1, 2004... From Our Chess Correspondent Tripoli (Libya), Jul 1 (PTI) Top seed Grandmaster Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria starts as top favourite against Uzbekistan GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov in the four-game semifinal of the World Chess Championship that...

India firmly committed to ties with South East Asian Nations.
July 1, 2004... Jaishree Balasubramanian Jakarta, July 1 (PTI) Keeping up its 'Look East' policy, India has said it is firmly committed to further strengthening the ties with the 10 ASEAN nations. External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, who is here to...

Musharraf refers to Singh while defending his choice for PM.
July 1, 2004... K J M Varma Islamabad, Jul 1 (PTI) Building neighbourliness found a delightfully reassuring expression when Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf drew a parallel to India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a stout defence of his Prime...

Musharraf refers tos Singh while defending his choice for PM.
July 1, 2004... K J M Varma Islamabad, Jul 1 (PTI) Building neighbourliness found a delightfully reassuring expression when Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf drew a parallel to India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a stout defence of his Prime...

Norway envoy returns empty handed, again.
July 1, 2004... Colombo, July 1 (PTI) Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim Thursday failed to clinch an agreement between Sri Lanka's warring parties despite his second attempt in a month to revive stalled peace talks. Solheim met with President Chandrika...

Sri Lanka's new army chief seeks peace with Tigers.
July 1, 2004... Colombo, July 1 (PTI) Sri Lanka's new army chief Thursday sought to resume talks with Tamil Tiger rebels amid fears that alleged military support to a renegade rebel leader could trigger another war. Lt Gen Shantha Kottegoda said he will...

Bush denies US petition against PET Resin imports from India.
July 1, 2004... Washington, July 1 (PTI) President George W Bush has rejected a U.S industry petition to impose an additional duty on PET resin imported from India. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) resin is an important industrial material used in the...

Team will be focussed for Asia Cup, says Tendulkar.
July 1, 2004... Chennai, July 1 (PTI) Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar Thursday said it is important for the team to remain focussed and start the Asia Cup cricket tournament "with a bang" in order to extend their good form into the new season. "India...

ISS malfunction repaired in risky spacewalk.
July 1, 2004... MOSCOW, July 1 (PTI) A malfunction in the International Space Station (ISS) was corrected Thursday by two astronauts in a risky spacewalk lasting about six-hours. Russian Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA Science Officer Mike Fincke...

Natwar Singh likely to meet Kasuri.
July 1, 2004... Jakarta, Jul 1 (PTI) India's External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh is likely to meet his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri here Friday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) ministerial meeting. The two leaders...

China hails Pak's imminent membership to ARF.
July 1, 2004... Anil K Joseph Beijing, July 1 (PTI) Hailing close ally Pakistan's imminent membership to the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), China Thursday said that Islamabad's participation in the grouping would play a "very positive" role in promoting...

Dalmiya takes over as ACC president.
July 1, 2004... London, July 1 (PTI) Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, has taken over the top post of the Asian Cricket Council at its Annual General Body meeting here. Dalmiya took over the president's post from...

Maoists willing to initiate peace talks in UN presence.
July 1, 2004... Kathmandu, Jul 1 (PTI) Maoist rebels in Nepal have expressed readiness to initiate peace talks in cooperation and presence of the United Nations, but warned that any government formed as the continuation of "conspiracies" can never lead to a...

China, S American countries discuss forging free trade area.
July 1, 2004... Beijing, July 1 (PTI) China and the South American Common Market (SACM) have initiated talks to forge a free trade area, the state media reported Thursday. In the fifth China-SACM dialogue held here during a SACM delegations's two-day...

Indian mango festival opens in Dubai.
July 1, 2004... Dubai, Jul 1 (PTI) A festival of Indian mangoes opened here Thursday to promote its well-known varieties such as Chausa, Langra and Dusheri in the UAE. Organised by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development...

We'll strive to bring back Asia Cup: Ganguly.
July 1, 2004... Chennai, July 1 (PTI) Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly Thursday said the players would give their best to bring back the Asia Cup to be played in Sri Lanka from July 16. "We will strive our best to bring back the Cup and this is...

Russian Communist party splits.
July 1, 2004... MOSCOW, July 1 (PTI) Russia's main opposition Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) Thursday split ahead of its forthcoming congress as rebels ousted Gennady Zyuganov from the party leadership and picked a new interim leader. ...

No Tests till end of the year for Zimbabwe.
July 1, 2004... H S Rao London, Jul 1 (PTI) The International Cricket Council Thursday stuck to its decision to debar Zimbabwe from playing Test matches till the end of the year while allowing it to continue playing one-dayers. The ICC decision would...

Laboratory pinpointed as source of China's SARS outbreak.
July 1, 2004... Anil K Joseph Beijing, July 1 (PTI) On the heels of the resignation by China's top epidemiologist, the government Thursday said that "poor" laboratory management and "irregular" operations caused the renewed outbreak of the deadly SARS...

Amarnath Yatra registration from July 5.
July 1, 2004... Srinagar, July 1 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir government Thursday said the registration of Amarnath pilgrims would start from July 5 and the administration has geared up its machinery to ensure a smooth and secure 45 day-long pilgrimage to the...

Veteran Customs Official admits smuggling Indians to US.
July 1, 2004... Washington, July 1 (PTI) A veteran customs official at a US international airport has admitted to have smuggled scores of undocumented immigrants, mostly from India, into the country even in the weeks after the terrorist hijackings of September...

Terrorists targetting female US soldier for kidnapping.
July 1, 2004... Washington, July 1 (PTI) Terrorists in the Abu Musab Zarqawi network in Iraq are specifically trying to kidnap an American female service member to further horrify the US public, senior defence officials were today quoted as saying. The...

Bush increasingly unpopular due to Iraq.
July 1, 2004... Washington, July 1 (PTI) US President George W Bush is becoming increasingly unpopular because of his Iraq policy, the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC poll shows. To the question whether "removing Saddam Hussein from power was worth it,"...

LET COMMANDER KILLED, COLONEL INJURED IN POONCH GUNBATTLE.
July 1, 2004... JAMMU, JULY 1 (PTI) A TOP SECTOR COMMANDER OF LASHKER-E-TOIBA WAS KILLED AND A SENIOR ARMY OFFICER WAS AMONG TWO PERSONS CRITICALLY INJURED IN A FIERCE GUNBATTLE THAT BROKE OUT BETWEEN TRAPPED MILITANTS AND SECURITY FORCES NEAR LINE OF CONTROL...

India to host three international chess events in 2004.
July 1, 2004... Kozhikode, Jul 1 (PTI) India will play host to three world chess championships this year to "promote young talent spread across the world," FIDE Vice-President P T Ummer Koya said Thursday. "Having successfully organised a few world events...

Talks with Hurriyat at any level that helps dialogue: Patil.
July 1, 2004... New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) Noting that ground was being prepared for the next round of talks with separatist Kashmiri amalgam Hurriyat, Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil Thursday said the Federal government, which was earlier represented by then...

India for higher level of intl coop to tackle terrorism.
July 1, 2004... New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) Describing terrorism as a "major global threat" to which no region or religion is immune, India Thursday said no ground can justify it and favoured a higher priority for international cooperation to counter the menace,...

US airports on alert for Pakistanis with rope burns.
July 1, 2004... Washington, July 1 (PTI) Airports in the United States are on alert for Pakistanis with "rope burns, unusual bruises or scars" that could have been received at terrorist camps run by Islamic extremists. Inspectors at six of the nation's...

Germany trounce India 4-0.
July 1, 2004... Amsterdam, July 1 (PTI) Germany's Bjorn Michel scored a hat-trick as India crashed to their third successive defeat in the four-nation Rabobank hockey tournament on Thursday. Michel's goals in a 10-minute blitzkreig helped his side emerge...

Deemed university status to Amrita Institutes of Technology.
July 1, 2004... New Delhi, July 1 (PTI) The Federal government has given deemed university status to the Amrita Institute of Technology and Science, Amritpuri in Kerala and Amrita Institue of Technology and Science, Bangalore. On exercise of the powers...

Magistrate, cop killed in attack by Naga settlers in Assam.
July 1, 2004... Diphu (Assam), July 1 (PTI) A magistrate and a cop were Thursday killed and ten people injured in a gun battle between police and Naga settlers in a dense forest of north-eastern Indian state of Assam's Karbi Anglong district bordering...

China opposes foreign intervention in Hong Kong affairs.
July 1, 2004... Beijing, July 1 (PTI) Even as demonstrations marred China's celebrations to mark Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Beijing Thursday rejected any role for foreign countries in determining the former British colony's development, including...

India-Pakistan cricket made incredible impact on relations.
July 1, 2004... London, July 1 (PTI) The resumption of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan had an incredible impact on the relations between the two neighbours which demonstrated the ability of international sport to transcend politics and build...

Rawdon Cultural Complex to come up in two years.
July 1, 2004... Kolkata, Jul 1 (PTI) Chief Minister of eastern Indian state of West Bengal, Buddhadev Bhattacharjee Thursday said the much-awaited Rawdon Square Cultural Complex in the metropolis would come up in two years after the clearance of its plan by...

Mental ills among soldiers returning from Iraq, Afghanistan.
July 1, 2004... Washington, July 1 (PTI) In a first major study of psychiatric trauma in soldiers, about 17 per cent of 3,671 soldiers surveyed by the Army, who saw heavy combat in Iraq, have returned home suffering from at least one major mental health...

US urges India, Pakistan to take steps to prevent arms race.
July 2, 2004... TV Parasuram Washington, Jul 2 (PTI) Taking a serious note of the statement by Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf that he will continue the nuclear programme and test a large missile within two months, US has urged both...

Israeli company develops radar system to see through walls.
July 2, 2004... Jerusalem, Jul 2 (PTI) An Israeli company has developed a revolutionary technology that allows the user to see through walls and can be effectively used for both military and rescue services. Herzliya-based company, Camero, has devised...

Sahara Group, Israeli company, to produce a tribute to India.
July 2, 2004... Jerusalem, Jul 2 (PTI) Sahara India Group has reached an agreement with an Israeli production company to produce a USD five million tribute to India titled "Bharat Maa". "The tribute will be a collage of music, dance, martial arts and...

US marks 40th anniversary of Civil Rights Act.
July 2, 2004... Washington, Jul 2 (PTI) The United States paid glowing tributes to Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the landmark Civil Rights Act which ended segregation of the black community. In a reception...

United Nations has an important role to play: Bush.
July 2, 2004... Washington, Jul 2 (PTI) Even though the US had waged war against Iraq "without" the United Nations santion, President George W Bush has stressed the importance of the world body and the role played by it. "The UN must fulfil its...

General Casey takes charge of US forces in Iraq.
July 2, 2004... Washington, Jul 2 (PTI) The American forces stationed in Iraq are now under the command of US army General David Casey, a senior army official has said. Casey assumed command on July one from Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez and...

Those responsible for atrocities must be held accountable: US.
July 2, 2004... Washington, Jul 2 (PTI) Condemning the human rights violations in Sudan, US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice has said that those responsible for atrocities in African nation "must be held accountable." She was participating...

Nepal on the verge of becoming a "failed state".
July 2, 2004... Washington, Jul 2 (PTI) Despite assistance received from various countries including India, Nepal could be next in line to join the ranks of "failed States" if compounding economic problems and violence continue unabated in the Himalayan...