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

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

Hong Kong allows Air India to levy fuel surcharge.
June 1, 2004... Beijing, June 1 (PTI) Hong Kong has allowed Air India, the state-owned long distance air carrier, to levy fuel surcharge from passengers along with seven other international carriers operating in the Chinese territory. Apart from Air...

Former PM's portrait still adorns Indian Ambassador's office.
June 1, 2004... Moscow, June 1 (PTI) More than a week after a new government headed by Manmohan Singh assumed office, former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's portrait continues to adorn the country's ambassador's office in Moscow. When asked...

NASDAQ plans to increase support for Chinese companies.
June 1, 2004... New York, June 1 (PTI) The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. plans to increase its support for the Chinese companies listed under it. "NASDAQ opened its first office in Shanghai in 1998 and we are committed to strengthening our presence in China by...

Everest climbers warned of air pressure risk.
June 1, 2004... New York, June 1 (PTI) Climbers on Mount Everest could die because of sudden drops in air pressure triggered by high winds and better forecast of these events could save many lives, researchers say. Kent Moore, a physicist from the...

Three Indian organisations in race for 'Green Oscars'.
June 1, 2004... H S Rao London, June 1 (PTI) Three Indian organizations are among seven finalists short-listed for this year's prestigious Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy, globally known as the 'Green Oscars'. The three finalists from India for...

US to improve access to information about Iraqi prisoners.
June 1, 2004... New York, Jun 1 (PTI) Under attack for the Abu Ghraib prison abuses, the American military is taking steps to improve access to information for the families of arrested Iraqis, media reports say. The issue was central to a confidential...

R C Lahoti sworn-in as Chief Justice of India.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) Justice Ramesh Chandra Lahoti was sworn-in on Tuesday as the 35th Chief Justice of India by President A P J Abdul Kalam. Justice Lahoti, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court, succeeds Justice S Rajendra Babu...

Justice R C Lahoti takes oath as CJI.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) Justice Ramesh Chandra Lahoti on Monday became the new Chief Justice of India (CJI) taking oath in the name of God and immediately thereafter took blessings of his mother at the glittering Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati...

Kozhikode, June 1 (PTI): A 3-D animation telefilm based on.
June 1, 2004... novelist Vaikkom Mohammed Basheer's 'Anavariyum Ponkurishum' is being produced under the banner of Origa Creations, Multimedia Production Division of the Thai Group of Companies. Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, Najeeb...

Advani to be Leader of Opposition in Indian Parliament.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) India's Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was on Tuesday elected Chairman of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Parliamentary Party while, former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani was elected its Leader. BJP...

Gustad's associate may be booked for "false complaint".
June 1, 2004... Mumbai, June 1 (PTI) Police may book film director Kaizad Gustad's associate, Ashish Udeshi on Tuesday for lodging a false complaint of road accident following the death of Gustad's assistant Nadia Khan, at Mahalaxmi railway station on May 25....

Military court disallows recording of personal allegations.
June 1, 2004... Jodhpur, June 1 (PTI) The military court, recording summary of evidence in Siachen "fake killing" case here, on Tuesday disallowed taking on record personal allegations leveled by the then Commanding Officer (CO) of Gorkha rifles against his...

UPA govt to face testing times on "tainted" ministers issue.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government in India is expected to face testing times in its first session of Parliament beginning Wednesday with opposition Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic...

Tigers warn destruction following killing of Tamil journalist.
June 1, 2004... Colombo, June 1 (PTI) Tamil Tiger guerrillas on Tuesday warned of "calamity and destruction" following the murder of a Tamil journalist and blamed security forces for the wave of violence that had gripped the island's embattled east. The...

Indian Govt to restore incentives to plastic exporters.
June 1, 2004... Chennai, June 1 (PTI) The Indian government will restore the incentives provided to the exporters of plastic consumer goods to unexplored regions, including Latin America and CIS countries, from April 2005. "We will restore the incentives...

Six dalits embrace Islam in Southern Indian state.
June 1, 2004... Tuticorin, June 1 (PTI) Close on the heels of Tamil Nadu government withdrawing the anti-conversion law, six dalits (lower caste) of a remote village in the district embraced Islam citing discrimination from Hindus as one of the main reasons...

Insurgent shot dead, IED diffused in Kashmir.
June 1, 2004... Jammu, June 1 (PTI) Security forces have gunned down an area commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen Pirpanjal Regiment (HMPPR) and averted a major tragedy by detecting and defusing an Improvised Explosive Device(IED), planted by militants, on the...

Annual Indo-Tibet trade begins.
June 1, 2004... Dehra Dun, Jun 1 (PTI) The annual Indo-Tibet barter trade officially began on Tuesday at Taklakot area in Tibet with the authorities expecting the trade volume to touch Rs 50 million in the four-month long affair. Even as the officials are...

China says "progress" made in dealing with problems with India.
June 1, 2004... Anil K Joseph Beijing, Jun 1 (PTI) Flourishing political interaction, uninterrupted dialogue channels and stronger mutual trust between China and India during 2003 helped the two countries make progress in dealing with bilateral issues,...

Nepal marks King Birendra's death anniversary.
June 1, 2004... Kathmandu, June 1 (PTI) People and the press in Nepal Tuesday paid tributes to the late king Birendra on the third anniversary of his death in a gruesome palace carnage that also took the lives of eight members of his family, but there was no...

Advani elected BJPPP leader.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) Former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani will be the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha or the Lower House of Indian Parliament following his election Tuesday as leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party while former...

IndiaS, Bangladesh dicuss insurgency, inter-linking of rivers.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, Jun 1(PTI) In the first high-level contact after the Manmohan Singh government assumed office, India and Bangladesh Tuesday discussed insurgency, inter-linking of rivers and other issues in a spirit of "mutual understanding" and...

China rubbishes Pentagon report on military build-up.
June 1, 2004... Anil K Joseph Beijing, Jun 1 (PTI) Rejecting as "exaggerated" the Pentagon's latest report which said China was aggressively expanding its military might, Beijing Tuesday asked Washington to stop sale of sophisticated weaponry to Taiwan....

Future of Indo-Pak talks should be based on trust: Natwar.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) India today announced dates for the much awaited Foreign Secretary-level talks and expert-level parleys on Nuclear Confidence Building Measures, saying that future of Indo-Pak talks should be based on trust, not...

Govt may consider 5 per cent divestment in BSNL.
June 1, 2004... By Anjanaa Daas New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) In a bid to consolidate position of the its telecom undertakings, the Indian government may consider five per cent divestment in Bharat Sanchar Nigam before looking at the option of merging it...

Saudis allowed terrorists to walk free under a deal: Report.
June 1, 2004... London, Jun 1 (PTI) Three suspected al-Qaeda terrorists who carried out twin attacks in a Saudi Arabian oil city, killing 22 people including eight Indians, were allowed to walk free as part of a deal to ensure the release of others taken...

Nearly 100 prisoner abuses, including stealing comes to light.
June 1, 2004... Washington, June 1 (PTI) Shocking cases of previously unreported prisoner abuses by the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan, including stealing of expensive items and deaths and assaults outside prisons, have come to light after it was...

China rejects Pentagon report on military build-up.
June 1, 2004... Anil K Joseph Beijing, Jun 1 (PTI) China Tuesday angrily dismissed as "exaggerated" a US government report on the Communist nation's military might, saying it was filled with "Cold war mentality" even as Beijing asked Washington to stop...

Musharraf asks west to help resolve Palestine and Kashmir.
June 1, 2004... Islamabad, June 1 (PTI) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Tuesday called on western countries to help resolve political conflicts involving Muslims such as Palestine and Kashmir, and said Islamic countries should grapple with terrorism...

Kalam calls for the economic development of oceans.
June 1, 2004... Dehradun, June 1 (PTI) Stressing on the need to exploit the maritime zones of India, President A P J Abdul Kalam Tuesday called for evolving a national plan for the economic development of oceans. "We have to map our maritime zones with...

Arun Prakash to be new Naval Chief.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) Vice Admiral Arun Prakash will be the new Chief of the Indian Navy succeeding Admiral Madhvendra Singh who is retiring on July 31. In the rank of Vice Admiral, he has been Commandant of the National Defence...

US says it has renewed offer of hi-tech weaponry cooperation.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) United States Tuesday said it had renewed to India its offer to move ahead on cooperation in joint development of hi-tech weapons system including missile defence shield and it was awaiting the new government's...

Natwar to visit Nepal first after assuming office.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) India's External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh will be undertaking his first visit after assuming office to Nepal from June four and later travel to China, Oman, UAE and Geneva. The two-day visit to Nepal follows a...

Pak accepts dates proposed by India for talks.
June 1, 2004... Islamabad, Jun 1 (PTI) Pakistan Tuesday said it has accepted dates proposed by India for Foreign Secretary-level talks and expert-level parleys on nuclear CBMs later this month. "The government of India Tuesday proposed June 19-20 for the...

Indian railways to be honoured for computerised ticketing.
June 1, 2004... T V Parasquram Washington, June 1 (PTI) Indian Railways will receive the prestigious Computer World Honour 2004 for the computerised 'Unreserved Ticketing System' (UTS) that has improved customers' travelling experience and provided...

Solution to W Asia crisis sans Arafat "unrealistic": Natwar.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) Observing that India valued its relations with Israel, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh Tuesday said it would be "unrealistic" to find a solution to the West Asia crisis without Palestinian President Yasser Arafat....

Arun Prakash to be new Naval Chief.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) Vice Admiral Arun Prakash, one of the highest decorated naval officers who as a Lieutenant won a bravery award for flying IAF fighters in 1965 Indo-Pak conflict, was today named as New Chief of the Naval Staff. ...

Outstanding issues with Bangladesh to be resolved: Manmohan.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said all outstanding issues with Bangladesh would be resolved through sustained cooperation and consultations. Singh conveyed this to visiting Bangladesh Foreign Minister...

Jet Airways joins corporate travel payment system.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) Jet Airways has become a merchant party to the internationally-recognised Universal Air Travel Plan (UATP) Programme card. The UATP card, the world's first corporate travel solution and payment system, will be...

India's export earnings from BPO may reach $ 21-24 bn by 2008.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) India's export earnings from business process outsourcing is likely to reach 21-24 billion dollar by 2008 with an increased market share of 4.8 per cent, according to a study by IDC-Assocham. By increasing the...

Hero Honda mulls renewing agreement with Honda tomorrow.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) India's biggest motorcycle maker Hero Honda Motors Tuesday said it was considering renewing its agreement with joint venture partner Honda Motor Co. of Japan Wednesday. Hero Honda, which is 26 per cent each owned by...

Wipro Infotech signs four major agreements in Kuwait.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) IT major Wipro Infotech has signed four agreements in Kuwait in the areas of application development, IT consultancy, infrastructure related development and awareness programmes on six sigma quality standard. Wipro...

Chinese firms seeking partnerships in India.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) Chinese construction companies have expressed keenness to work with Indian companies on infrastructure projects in both India and China. "Chinese companies are keen to explore projects on BOT basis, in partnership...

Natwar moots common nuclear doctrine for India, Pak, China.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) Outlining the broad contours of the new government's foreign policy, India's External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh Tuesday mooted a common nuclear doctrine for India, Pakistan and China, announced that Foreign...

STT-Telekom Malaysia to acquire AT&T's 33% stake in Idea.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) Singapore Technologies Telemedia and Telekom Malaysia combine have reached an agreement with AT&T for acquiring its 33 per cent stake in mobile operator Idea Cellular. "A broad agreement has been reached under which...

Bhutanese Foreign Minister visits India from June 7.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonpo Khand Wangchuk would be on a four-day visit to the country from June 7 and would hold indepth talks with the Indian leadership to consolidate bilateral cooperation. Wangchuk will...

Mandela wants to spend time with friends, family and himself.
June 1, 2004... Durban, Jun 1 (PTI) Former South African President Nelson Mandela virtually announced his retirement from public life Tuesday, saying he wanted to spend time with "family, friends and myself." Speaking in Johannesburg a day after opening...

Two killed in clashes during funeral of Karachi blast victims.
June 1, 2004... K J M Varma Islamabad, Jun 1 (PTI) At least two persons were killed in clashes between police and protestors in southern Pakistani city of Karachi Tuesday when thousands converged to attend the funeral of 20 people who died in a suicide...

US air carriers outsourcing and insourcing maintenance work.
June 1, 2004... Washington, June 1 (PTI) America's air carriers are benefiting by both outsourcing and insourcing with more than half of all maintenance work for the airlines now being performed by contractors - foreign and domestic and the figure projected...

India will not agree to separate Tamil 'eelam': Natwar Singh.
June 1, 2004... New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) Asserting that India will not agree to a separate Tamil 'eelam' (state) in Sri Lanka, India's External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh Tuesday maintained that New Delhi is committed to the sovereignty, territorial...

Nobody raised leadership change issue, says UDF convenor.
June 1, 2004... Thiruvananthapuram, June 1 (PTI) Ruling-United Democratic Front Tuesday ruled out a leadership change in Kerala following its rout in the recent Lok Sabha polls, but called for a change in the "style of functioning" of the state government....

CPI-M expels ex-VC from party.
June 1, 2004... Thiruvananthapuram,June 1 (PTI): Demonstrating the firm grip of 'traditionalists' in CPI-M's Kerala unit, former vice-chancellor of the Kerala Univeristy Dr B Ekbal and academic Joy Elamon were today expelled from the party for taking up...

Major train mishap averted.
June 1, 2004... Thiruvananthapuram, June 1 (PTI) A major train mishap was averted Tuesday with the timely application of brakes by the engine driver avoiding a collision with another train which was coming along the same track at the Central Railway Station...

Waugh hails ICC decision on Zimbabwe crisis.
June 1, 2004... Kolkata, June 1 (PTI) Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh Tuesday lauded the decision of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to cancel the Test series between Zimbabwe and Australia and asked the African country to sort out...

Waugh's next project for blind children in city.
June 1, 2004... Barrackpore (WB), June 1 (PTI) After lending invaluable support to 'Udayan', the home for children of leprosy patients, former Aussie skipper Steve Waugh will now set up a blind school in Kolkata as part of the welfare ventures of his...

Waugh keeps 'secret' Aussies' plans for Indian challenger.
June 1, 2004... Barrackpore (West Bengal), Jun 1 (PTI) Former Australian captain Steve Waugh Tuesday kept 'secret' the Aussies' plans and preparations for the forthcoming Indian tour but said it would be a 'great challenge' for his country to beat the hosts...

Nasser timed his retirement perfectly: Waugh.
June 1, 2004... Barrackpore (West Bengal), Jun 1 (PTI) Former Aussie skipper Steve Waugh Tuesday hailed former England captain Nasser Hussain for making a heroic exit from international cricket after scoring a match-winning knock against New Zealand in the...

Detailed communication from UCB awaited: Dalmiya.
June 1, 2004... Kolkata, Jun 1 (PTI) India's cricket board - BCCI - president Jagmohan Dalmiya Tuesday said it was awaiting a detailed communication from the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB) expressing concerns over possible Delhi Police's action...

Afghan farmers harvest another bumper crop of heroin.
June 1, 2004... Washington, June 1 (PTI) Afghan farmers have harvested another bumper crop of heroin-producing poppies but US authorities have decided to leave the crop alone for the time being to maintain political peace and security in the country. ...

US welcomes Indo-Pak talks.
June 2, 2004... Washington, June 2 (PTI) The United States has welcomed the proposed Indo-Pak Foreign Secretary level talks later this month and said it was glad to see the United Progressive Alliance government in New Delhi was continuing the policy of...

Two Indian-origin persons listed among drug kingpins by US.
June 2, 2004... T V Parasuram Washington, June 2 (PTI) Two persons of Indian origin are among the list of foreign individuals and entities the US President George W Bush has designated as 'Foreign Narcotics Kingpins' to face special sanctions. Iqbal...

Bush plays down contacts with Chalabi over his Iraq policy.
June 2, 2004... Washington, June 2 (PTI) US President George W Bush has sought to play down notions that his administration's policy on Iraq was influenced by information received from Ahmed Chalabi, the expatriate leader who was financed to be the "successor"...

US confident that Saudi oil supply won't be affected.
June 2, 2004... Washington, June 2 (PTI) United States has expressed confidence that Saudi Arabia would continue uninterrupted supply of oil in the wake of the terrorist attack on the country. "I have confidence in the ability of the Saudi Arabians to...

US condemns Karachi violence.
June 2, 2004... Washington, June 2 (PTI) Condemning the spate of violence and a deadly blast in a mosque in Karachi following the killing of a Sunni cleric, the US has said such incidents would affect Pakistan's efforts to strengthen democracy. "We...

Bush administration to appeal ruling on partial birth abortion.
June 2, 2004... Washington, June 2 (PTI) US President George W Bush has expressed his strong disagreement with a California Court ruling that would permit partial birth abortion and said the Government would appeal the ruling. A White House statement said...

Kerry calls for reducing tensions between India and Pakistan.
June 2, 2004... Washington, June 2 (PTI) US Presidential candidate John Kerry has called for reducing tension between India and Pakistan to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists. "We must work with every country to tighten...

World Bank announces poverty reduction projects for Nepal.
June 2, 2004... Washington, June 2 (PTI) The World Bank has approved two separate projects aimed at poverty reduction through community-led and managed initiatives in Nepal. A USD 25.3 million credit was approved to extend water supply and sanitation to...

US, Britain circulate amended resolution on Iraq.
June 2, 2004... Dharam Shourie United Nations, June 2 (PTI) Under pressure from Security Council members to be specific about their plans in Iraq, the US and Britain have circulated an amended resolution which would give the interim government control...

Gustad, associate arrested for Nadia's death.
June 2, 2004... Mumbai, Jun 2 (PTI) Noted film director Kaizad Gustad and his associate Ashish Udeshi were arrested by Government Railway Police here on Wednesday in connection with the accidental death of 27-year-old British assistant director, Nadia Khan at...

Nadia case: Gustad, Udeshi arrested; more arrests likely.
June 2, 2004... Mumbai, Jun 2 (PTI) Indian film director Kaizad Gustad and his colleague Ashish Udeshi were arrested here on Wednesday by Government Railway Police (GRP) in connection with the death of assistant director, Nadia Khan, police said. Gustad...

Preventing terrorists from gaining nukes top priority: Kerry.
June 2, 2004... T V Parasuram Washington, June 2 (PTI) Observing that the greatest threat facing the country is that of terrorists laying their hands on nuclear weapons, US Presidential candidate John Kerry has said his top security aim, if elected...

Kerala Briefs.
June 2, 2004... Thiruvananthapuram, June 2 (PTI) The commercial staff of Indian Airlines in the international airport here went on a flash strike on Tuesday to protest against the management's decision to introduce new duty roster. Sources said the...

Prosecution seeks warrant against eye witness in Salman case.
June 2, 2004... Jodhpur, Jun 2 (PTI) Prosecution has sought warrant against an eye witness who is eluding cross examination in a local court here trying Bollywood actor Salman Khan in a poaching case. Moving an application before Chief Judicial Magistrate...

'India would emerge as developed nation if progress continues'.
June 2, 2004... New York, June 2 (PTI) Observing that India is making remarkable progress, leading London-based Non Resident Indian (NRI) industrialist Lord Swraj Paul has said that if it continued to do so, it would emerge as a developed nation on the...

Indian PM slated to address UNGA on Sept 23.
June 2, 2004... United Nations, June 2 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is slated to address the high-level segment of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 23, according to tentative programme for 59th session released by the world...

Air India witness set to testify has heart attack.
June 2, 2004... Vancouver, June 2 (PTI) An alleged member of the inner circle of conspirators in the Air India bombing case suffered a heart attack just before he was to testify for the defence at the international terrorism trial. Defence lawyer Bill...

Shun dope, take up yoga for performance enhancing: experts.
June 2, 2004... New Delhi, June 2 (PTI) 'No to drugs, yes to yoga' is the slogan of the new Indian sports minister Sunil Dutt, and health experts agree that the ancient Indian art of yoga can be a viable alternative to dope for sportsmen who want that extra...

"The breathing movements, which are critical in sports.
June 2, 2004... like athletics can be greatly improved with the help of these asanas (exercises)," Krishnan, says. Krishnan, who has been teaching yoga for the last 25 years says that athletes from all parts of Delhi and the surrounding regions come to...

US reaffirms opposition to sale of arms to China.
June 2, 2004... Washington, June 2 (PTI) The United States Wednesday reiterated its opposition to sale of arms to China, saying lifting the ban "would not contribute to regional stability". The embargo was first imposed by the US after the Tiananmen Square...

Sri Lankan Tamils call strike to protest killing of journalist.
June 2, 2004... Colombo, June 2 (PTI) Sri Lanka's embattled northern and eastern regions observed a strike on Wednesday to protest the killing of a Tamil journalist, officials said. Shops were closed and public transport was off the streets in the towns...

208 students hit by food poisoning in south China.
June 2, 2004... Beijing, June 2 (PTI) Two hundred and eight middle school students in south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region who ate soup laced with poison are out of danger, the state media reported on Wednesday. About 150 students were showing...

China cracks over 250 serial murder cases in first five months.
June 2, 2004... Beijing, June 2 (PTI) In a major nationwide crackdown on crimes, Chinese police claimed to have solved over 250 serial murder cases by May 20 this year, seizing over 130 suspects. "The timely solving of murder cases has helped intimidate...

Mulayam Govt blames Kalyan, Rao, BJP, VHP for Babri demolition.
June 2, 2004... New Delhi, Jun 2 (PTI) The government of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday alleged before the Liberhan Commission that the then Chief Minister Kalyan Singh and top leaders of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (a radical Hindu...

A civilian killed, security personnel injured in Kashmir.
June 2, 2004... Jammu, Jun 2 (PTI) A civilian was killed and an army personnel injured when militants fired at security forces in Mohra Bachai area of Poonch district in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said on Wednesday. ...