PTI - The Press Trust of India Ltd. articles from July 2005

PTI - The Press Trust of India Ltd. archives from July 2005

FICCI and SIBC sign MOU.
July 1, 2005... London, Jul 1 (PTI) The Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) and the Sweden Indian Business Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote bilateral trade and investment. The MOU was signed in...

Bush recalls Indira Gandhi's statement on pollution.
July 1, 2005... Washington, Jul 1 (PTI) US President George W Bush has recalled former Indian Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi's words on the link between poverty and pollution. "Indira Gandhi spoke of poverty and need as the greatest polluters. The...

Israeli IT firm opens India office.
July 1, 2005... Jerusalem, Jul 1 (PTI) Israeli firm, RADWIN, a provider of carrier class broadband wireless connectivity of TDM and Ethernet services, has announced the opening of a regional sales office in India to enhance its operations there. The...

Gay pride parade in Jerusalem temporarily halted.
July 1, 2005... Jerusalem, July 1 (PTI) A gay pride parade in Jerusalem went awry when it had to be temporarily halted after a religious Jew stabbed three participants and dozens of ultra-orthodox Jews clashed with the participants. Barging into the crowd...

'India's electronic market growing at a promising rate'.
July 1, 2005... New York, Jul 1 (PTI) Driven by low input costs, India's electronic market will be the fastest growing in the world over the next several years, a high-tech market research firm says. The United States based firm, In-Stat, estimates that...

Senate agrees to name PO after late Congressman Saund.
July 1, 2005... Washington, July 1 (PTI) The US Senate has unanimously voted to honour former Riverside and Imperial County Congressman Dalip Singh Saund, the first Indian-American to serve in the House of Representatives, by naming the post office at 30777...

Thiruvananthapuram, July 1 (PTI) Counselling for admission.
July 1, 2005... to the medical courses begining tomorrow would not be a smooth affair with confusion prevailing over the number of seats and pro-Left students organisations threatening to disrupt the counselling. According to the latest information, the...

ULFA responds to Indian government's peace initiative.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, July 1 (PTI) The banned militant outfit ULFA has formally responded to the peace offer of the Federal Government of India. A letter written by ULFA Chairman to the India's National Security Advisor has been passed on to the...

VSNL completes acquisition of Tyco.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) India's Tata group owned Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited Friday completed the acquisition of undersea cable network company Tyco Global Network, a move that would provide VSNL more bandwidth for providing connectivity to...

Goswami suspended.
July 1, 2005... Patna, Jul 1 (PTI) Former Patna District Magistrate and senior IAS officer Gautam Goswami has been placed under suspension following his arrest after being charged with corruption in the multi-crore flood relief scam. "Goswami has been...

Goswami to be sent on vigilance remand.
July 1, 2005... Patna, Jul 1 (PTI) Suspended former Patna district magistrate Gautam Goswami was Friday remanded to five days vigilance custody by a special judge in connection with the multi-crore flood relief scam. Designated Vigilance Judge Jitendra...

Choppers to rescue stuck train passengers, rains continue.
July 1, 2005... Ahmedabad, July 1 (PTI) Choppers were pressed into service Friday to evacuate several passengers of Gandhinagar bound Indore-Gandhinagar Shanti Express, stuck near Dakor town of Kheda district, after flooding of the coaches. "At least...

Time to hand over reporter's notes to grand jury.
July 1, 2005... New York, July 1 (PTI) In a decision that could have far reaching consequences for investigative journalism, Time magazine has decided to hand over the notes of a reporter facing jail term for refusing to cooperate with a grand jury probing the...

UN facing shortage of funds in Sudan.
July 1, 2005... United Nations, Jul 1 (PTI) The UN is facing a major shortfall for providing humanitarian aid and other assistance to Sudan with the donors contributing only 643 million dollars of the required 1.6 billion dollars. As UN agencies met with...

Charles received 1000 complaints over wedding to Camilla.
July 1, 2005... London, July 1 (PTI) Prince Charles and his wife Camilla received more than a thousand angry letters from people criticising their marriage earlier this year. The annual review of the Prince of Wales' finances and activities revealed that...

Inflation at almost 2-year low of 4.1 pc.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) Reversing its very short upward trend, inflation in India fell by 0.23 per cent to touch about two-year low of 4.10 per cent for the week ended June 18 even as food items and manufactured products become costlier. ...

Goswami suspended, remanded to Vigilance Custody.
July 1, 2005... Patna, Jul 1 (PTI) A day after he surrendered in court in connection with the Rs 170 mn flood-relief scam and was sent to jail, high profile IAS officer Gautam Goswami was remanded to five days vigilance custody even as authorities suspended...

Kerala fast emerging as IT destination.
July 1, 2005... Kochi, Jul 1 (PTI) With IT, ITES and BPO companies flocking to the state, Kerala is fast emerging as a hot IT destination. IT experts say increasing costs in Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad, are prompting many IT companies to look at...

Salman set for Hollywood stint with Marigold.
July 1, 2005... Amsterdam, Jul 1 (PTI) Aishwarya Rai may be making waves abroad but when it comes to starring in a mainstream Hollywood flick, actor Salman Khan has pipped her to the post. Shooting for American filmmaker Willard Carroll's 'Marigold',...

Nixon wanted to brand India "Naked Aggressor".
July 1, 2005... Washington, Jul 1 (PTI) Frustrated over his administration's inability to gauge former Indian Prime Minister the late Indira Gandhi's mind ahead of the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict, U S President Richard Nixon seriously contemplated branding India as...

Diana told Charles to marry Camilla: Report.
July 1, 2005... London, July 1 (PTI) Towards the end of her life, Princess Diana had urged ex-husband Prince Charles to marry long-time sweetheart Camilla Parker Bowles. The startling revelation was made in Simone Simmons' book 'Diana: The last Word'...

Indo-Pak differences will not destabilise SCO: official.
July 1, 2005... Beijing, July 1 (PTI) With India and Pakistan all set to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a top official of the grouping Friday said differences between the two nations will not destabilise the regional body but would boost its fight...

'Pak has kept open option of supporting militancy in Kashmir'.
July 1, 2005... Washington, July 1 (PTI) An expert on South Asia has testified before a US Commission on International Religious Freedom that Pakistan has kept open the "option" of supporting militancy in Kashmir and blamed public schools in the country for...

Artist electrocuted on stage.
July 1, 2005... Thiruvananthapuram, July 1 (PTI) In a real life stage tragedy, a famous percussionist of Kerala was electrocuted while making preparations on the stage where his wife was to perform the 'Koodiyattam' musical play. Subramanian Potti, 47, a...

Gandhi centre conducts workshop to promote Hindi.
July 1, 2005... Trinidad, Jul 1 (PTI) The Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Co-operation has conducted a workshop in Trinidad and Tobago in an attempt to promote Hindi here. The Institute has joined hands with the National Council of Indian Culture...

Bangladesh aircraft skids off runway; 200 have narrow escape.
July 1, 2005... Dhaka, Jul 1 (PTI) Nearly 200 passengers onboard a Bangladesh Biman aircraft Friday had a narrow escape after it skidded off the runway at an airport in south-eastern Chittagong city, official sources said. One of the rear wheels of the...

Blair contemplates snubbing US on climate change: Report.
July 1, 2005... London, July 1 (PTI) British Prime Minister Tony Blair is contemplating an unprecedented rift with the US over climate change at next week's summit of Group of Eight (G-8) nations. The alternative is a "catastrophic failure" of Blair's...

LIC Housing Finance to set up office in Dubai.
July 1, 2005... Dubai, July 1 (PTI) LIC Housing Finance plans to open a representative office here to cater to Non-Resident Indians in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, a company official said. "The immediate objective and thrust will be to...

Imrana fails to appear before Shariat Court.
July 1, 2005... Muzaffarnagar, July 1 (PTI) A day after pledging to abide by Shariat laws, the woman who alleged that she was raped by her father-in-law in this north Indian town, on Friday failed to appear before the religious court to present her case. ...

PM assures all help to rain-battered Gujarat.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today spoke to Gujarat (West Indian state) Chief Minister Narendra Modi on telephone and assured all help to the rain-battered state badly hit by floods. "The Prime Minister spoke to the...

HC notice to Ketan Mehta on Fox Film plea.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, July 1 (PTI) The Delhi High Court Friday issued notices to film producer and Director Ketan Mehta, his wife Deepa Sahi and their company Maya Movies on a plea by 20th Century Fox Film Corporation to restrain ZEE TV from telecasting...

India looks at potential investors to set up fab facility: PC.
July 1, 2005... Bangalore, Jul 1 (PTI) India is looking at potential investors and studying successful models adopted by Taiwan and China on establishing a fabrication facility in the country, Federal Finance Minister P Chidambaram said Friday. "In the...

Poacher Chand sent to 10 days CBI remand.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, July 1 (PTI) A New Delhi court Friday sent India's most wanted animal killer and smuggler Sansar Chand to 10 days CBI remand. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Manoj Jain handed over Chand to the agency accepting its plea...

Bush takes note of Indira Gandhi's statement on pollution.
July 1, 2005... Washington, July 1 (PTI) On the heels of the disclosure that President Richard Nixon called Prime Minister Indira Gandhi an "Indian witch" in the run up to the 1971 Bangladesh war, US President George W Bush has praised her for her campaign...

India to provide funds for Nepal irrigation project.
July 1, 2005... Kathmandu, July 1 (PTI) India has agreed to give a grant of Rs 18.3 million for an irrigation and drinking water project in Nepal's Lalitpur district. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Embassy of India, Lalitpur...

Delegation of Indian judges on Pakistan visit.
July 1, 2005... Peshawar, July 1 (PTI) A delegation of Indian judges and officials is currently in Pakistan to interact with their counterparts in the country's judiciary. The five-member delegation, here on a three-day visit, exchanged views on various...

Expression of strong remarks "one-time event": Kissinger.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, Jul 01 (PTI) Expressing regret for using foul language against the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Indians in the run up to the 1971 Bangladesh war, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger Friday said the remarks had to be...

Koirala willing to hold talks with Maoists.
July 1, 2005... Kathmandu, Jul 1 (PTI) Former Prime Minister and President of Nepali Congress, Girija Prasad Koirala, has said he was willing to hold talks with Maoists to resolve the decade-long insurgency in the Himalayan Kingdom and was even ready to "face...

Rain cripples Guj economy; loss expected to be Rs 2,000 cr.
July 1, 2005... Ahmedabad, Jul 1 (PTI) The torrential rains which have lashed western Indian state of Gujarat for six consecutive days, inundating its `Golden Corridor', have crippled the state's economy with the industry losing an estimated Rs 20 billion...

UK to review travel advisory on Kashmir: Arthur.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) Britain Friday said it will review its latest travel advisory which claimed that tensions "remain high" in Kashmir in northern India and forewarned its nationals againstundertaking visit to the border state in the wake of...

Britain supports India's bid as permanent UNSC member.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, July 1 (PTI) Pledging its "active" support to India becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Britain Friday said it would back the G-4 resolution seeking expansion of the world body but expressed difficulties in...

Vohra meets Patil.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) Indian government's interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir N N Vohra Friday met Home Minister Shivraj Patil and discussed the latest situation including the sudden increase in terrorist activities in the state. Official...

Unlettered doc in '1,000 Women for Nobel' nomination.
July 1, 2005... Varanasi, July 1 (PTI) An unlettered 'doctor' who turned the tide of destiny by opening a clinic of herbal medicines for the have-nots is among the "1,000 Women for Nobel Peace Prize 2005". Doing her rural folks proud, 'Dr' Sukha is in the...

IPCL and Gujarat refinery shut down due to rains.
July 1, 2005... Vadodara, July 1 (PTI) Mukesh Ambani-owned Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd and Indian Oil Corporation's Gujarat Refinery are among the several plants that have been shut down following torrential rains that have caused flood-like...

Hindujas turn to West Bengal.
July 1, 2005... Kolkata, July 1 (PTI) Impressed by West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee's initiatives to speed up industrial development in the state, the Hindujas have sought to explore investment opportunities in this eastern INdian state. ...

At least 10 soldiers killed in Russia blast.
July 1, 2005... Moscow, July 1 (PTI) At least 10 soldiers were killed and over 20 wounded in a powerful blast in Makhachkala, the capital of Russia's Caucasian republic of Daghestan, neighbouring restive Chechnya. According to prelimeniary reports, a powerful...

Indian, Nepalese officials to step up security along border.
July 1, 2005... Kathmandu, July 1 (PTI) Indian and Nepalese security officials have agreed to step up vigil along the common border and share intelligence to check movement of terrorists, amidst increasing Maoist activities along the porus border. At a...

India to take one match at a time: Coach.
July 1, 2005... Rotterdam, Jul 1 (PTI) Defending champions India, who maintain a clean slate so far, will seek to keep the momentum going with the 'one match at a time and the maximum points' mantra in the Rabobank Junior World Cup hockey championship for men...

OIC welcomes Indo-Pak dialogue process.
July 1, 2005... Islamabad, Jul 1 (PTI) Welcoming the Indo-Pak dialogue process, the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) has expressed hope that it would help find a "just and durable" solution to the Kashmir issue. This was stated by the grouping's...

Rashid still wants to visit J-K.
July 1, 2005... Islamabad, Jul 1 (PTI) Despite India's denial of permission to him to visit northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid has said he still hoped to undertake a bus journey to Srinagar "soon". ...

PM likely to visit Kabul in Aug, Abdullah here on Sunday.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, Jul 1(PTI) As part of ongoing high-level contacts, Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah will arrive here on Sunday on a two-day visit for talks on the entire gamut of bilateral ties including India's assistance programme to the...

Six, including teenager, killed in Kashmir violence.
July 1, 2005... Srinagar, Jul 1 (PTI) Six persons, including a teenager, two Hizbul Mujahideen militants and a Village Defence Committee member, were killed and three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel injured in separate incidents in northern...

Bid to target Amarnath Yatra foiled in J-K.
July 1, 2005... Jammu, July 1 (PTI) Security force today foiled militants' bid to target the ongoing Amarnath Yatra by recovering a live grenade at Seri-Chamliyas on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, defence sources said. Militants had planted a live...

Punjab to trace Gulf War victims for compensation.
July 1, 2005... Chandigarh, July 1 (PTI) The Punjab Governent has set up a special cell to trace dependants of victims of the 1991 Gulf war in the state so that they can be compensated properly. According to United Nations Compensation Commission, which is...

Naval divers sent for rescue operatios in flood-hit Guj.
July 1, 2005... Mumbai, Jul 1 (PTI) The Western Naval Command on Friday sent two teams of naval divers to undertake rescue operations and provide assistance to the civil authorities in flood-hit areas of Gujarat in western India. On a request from...

Inzamam for more exposure to emerging teams ahead of World Cup.
July 1, 2005... Karachi, Jul 1 (PTI) Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq favoured more international exposure for emerging cricket nations while expressing his reservations on the format of 2006 Champions Trophy. "I think the emerging nations deserve more...

WB gives USD 28 mn for Afghan for solidarity programme.
July 1, 2005... Washington, Jul 1 (PTI) The World Bank Friday approved a USD 28 million grant for a programme supporting Afghanistan's reconstruction and development as also for strengthening its local governance. Afghanistan National Solidarity Programme...

UNFPA regrets US withholding support for its China operations.
July 1, 2005... Beijing, July 1 (PTI) The UN population agency Friday expressed regret that the US has withheld support for its population programme in China by accusing the agency of supporting the Communist nation's "coercive" family planning policy. UN...

'US should not condone Pak military's support to militancy'.
July 1, 2005... Washington, June 30 (PTI) The US should not condone Pakistani military's continued support of militants and "state sponsorship" of Islamic fundmentalists as also the use of intelligence apparatus to control local politics, an adviser to the...

Maoists shot dead Indian trader, two others.
July 1, 2005... Kathmandu, Jul 1 (PTI) An Indian trader was among three people shot dead by Maoist rebels at a veterinary clinic in western Nepal. Besides the Indian businessman, the Maoists shot dead a veterinary doctor and a peon at the clinic in Bardia...

India to compete with South Korea for 2014 Asian Games.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) India will fight it out with South Korea as it bids to host the 2014 Asian Games in New Delhi. Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi told reporters here that with the passing of the last date for...

Top Airbus official quits.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) A top Airbus Industrie official deployed for promoting aircraft sales in the Indian subcontinent has quit the company, weeks after creating a controversy over Air India's decision to acquire an all-Boeing 50-aircraft...

Narain finishes 20th in Friday practice.
July 1, 2005... Magny-Cours (France), Jul 1 (PTI) Despite driving on a familiar track, India's Narain Karthikeyan could not improve his position and finished 20th behind Jordan Test driver Robert Doornbas while Maclaren-Mercedes' Pedro de la Rosa was the...

Two Britons found guilty of NRI family's murder.
July 1, 2005... London, Jul 1 (PTI) A British court Friday found two Englishmen guilty of murdering an NRI millionaire and his entire family in order to take over his freight company. After an eight-month trial, Kenneth Regan and his accomplice William...

FM hints at merger of big public sector banks.
July 1, 2005... Bangalore, July 1 (PTI) Finance Minister P Chidambaram Friday indicated the government's intention to merge some of the big public sector banks of India to make them comparable in size and functions with foreign giants. Speaking after...

Indo-us joint group for collaborating on earth observation.
July 1, 2005... Bangalore, Jul 1 (PTI) The India-US Joint Working Group on civil space cooperation has expressed its intention to collaborate on earth observation projects and said India's 'Chandrayaan-1' lunar mission offered an 'outstanding' opportunity to...

Extradition case of US drug kingpin closed; now Govt to decide.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, July 1 (PTI) A Delhi court Friday closed the extradition proceedings against US drug trade kingpin William George Benedict, in custody in India since 2000 after his arrest from Orissa, in view of his willingness to surrender and...

Russia, China for central role of UN in world affairs.
July 1, 2005... Moscow, Jul 1 (PTI) In a veiled attack on the US, Russia and China Friday warned nations against making attempts to "monopolise" world affairs and stressed on an undictated central role of the United Nations. Each nation should address...

Bhupathi-Pierce storm into mixed doubles semifinal.
July 1, 2005... London, Jul 1 (PTI) India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Mary Pierce of France stormed into the semifinals of the mixed doubles at the Wimbledon tennis championships with a straight sets win here Friday. The duo defeated Olivier Rochus and Kim...

Indian origin man wins UK passport after two years in airport.
July 1, 2005... London, July 1 (PTI) The dogged persistence of a man of Indian origin who exiled himself in the transit lounge of a Kenyan airport for 13 months has paid off when he won his battle for a British passport. Sanjai Shah, 43, who was given the...

Indian prof to direct prestigious US undergraduate programme.
July 1, 2005... Washington, July 1 (PTI) An Indian professor was Friday chosen to direct the 3000-student undergraduate programme of Kelley School of Business, one of the most prestigious business schools in the US. Chennai-born M A Venkataramanan, 47, now a...

IFJ demands immediate release of Dahal.
July 1, 2005... Kathmandu, Jul 1 (PTI) An international body of journalists Friday demanded immediate release of Binod Dahal, the editor of a local weekly in Nepal, who has been under detention for the past 15 months for his alleged links with Maoists. ...

Pakistani rock star appointed UNAIDS goodwill ambassador.
July 1, 2005... Islamabad, July 1 (PTI) Pakistani musician Salman Ahmad of rock band 'Junoon' fame has been appointed a goodwill ambassador for the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AID (UNAIDS). Ahmad, the lead singer of 'Junoon', will assist UNAIDS in...

Sonia talks to Left leaders, no breakthrough yet.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, July 1(PTI) India's ruling coalition forum Friday held crucial talks with its Leftist partners but got nowhere to a breakthrough over the latters' opposition against the government's proposed divestment plan in engineering giant...

Govt announces Rs 5 bn package for flood-hit Gujarat.
July 1, 2005... Gandhiangar, Jul 1 (PTI) The government Friday announced Rs 5 billion for west India's Gujarat state, where rain-induced flood wreaked havoc and claimed at least 95 lives, saying more help was underway. Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who...

Former Nepal PM meets Indian Home Minister.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) Former Nepalese Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa Friday met External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh here and apprised him about the latest situation in Nepal. During the 45-minute meeting, he apprised him of the...

Kalam gives away B C Roy Awards.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, July 1 (PTI) President A P J Abdul Kalam Friday gave away the prestigious B C Roy National Awards to those excelling in the field of medical sciences, literature, philosophy and art. Among those conferred with the award is...

Manmohan to be conferred honorary doctorate by Oxford Univ.
July 1, 2005... London, July 1 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be conferred upon with an honorary doctorate degree by his alma mater Oxford University. Singh, who will arrive here on July six to attend the G-8 Summit at Gleneagles in Scotland,...

Pak denies Aziz chopper strayed into Indian airspace.
July 1, 2005... Islamabad, July 1 (PTI) Pakistan Friday termed "baseless" its media reports that the helicopter carrying Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz crossed Line of Control near Chakoti sector and strayed into Indian airspace. A government spokesman here...

11 dead in blast in Russia's Dagestan province.
July 1, 2005... Moscow, July 1 (PTI) At least 11 soldiers were Friday killed and 20 people wounded in a powerful explosion in Makhachkala, the capital of Russian Federation's Dagestan republic, bordering the restive Chechnya region. The blast in the parking...

Minorities had faced violence in Kashmir: Report.
July 1, 2005... Jammu, Jul 1 (PTI) Not only Kashmiri pandits but other minorities in Jammu and Kashmir have also faced rights violation, an international human rights organisation said in a report. Highlighting the condition of minorities: Kashmiri...

National Child Awards for Exceptional Achievement announced.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, July 1 (PTI) Twenty-seven children including eight girls have been selected for 'National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement' for the year 2004. Master Amanjot Singh of Jaipur has been selected for Gold Medal for his...

Indian scientist wins World Meteorology Award.
July 1, 2005... New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) Gurfran Beig of the Indian Institute of Meteorology, Pune, is among 18 international scientists to bag world meteorological award for research on temperature trends. Norbert Gerber-Mumm International Award for 2005 by...

250 tourists, others airlifted from Kinnaur.
July 1, 2005... Shimla, July 1 (PTI) Some 250 tourists, students and local residents were Friday evacuated in 20 sorties by Indian Air Force helicopters from flood-ravaged Kinnaur while the district remained cut off from the rest of the country for the sixth...