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

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

Pound re-elected Chairman of the Labour Friends of India.
May 1, 2004... London, May 1 (PTI) Stephen Pound has been re-elected Current Chairman of the Labour Friends of India, Stephen Pound has been re-elected tto head the 165-member powerful pro-India Group in the House of Commons. The new team includes...

Sharon's last effort to get Likud party support for his plan.
May 1, 2004... Jerusalem, May 1 (PTI) In a last ditch effort to get ruling Likud party members to vote for his disengagement plan amid adverse reports, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said that fresh elections could be held if the plan fails to clear...

Kohler for transparant selection process of IMF top brass.
May 1, 2004... Washington, May 1 (PTI) Favouring a "transparant" selection process for IMF Managing Director, Horst Kohler, who had recently stepped down following his nomination in German Presidential election, said the European monopoly in this regard...

Indian films to feature at Commonwealth Film Festival.
May 1, 2004... Mumbai, May 1 (PTI) More than eight classics on the celluloid from India, including Satyajit Ray's 'Aranyer Din Ratri', Amol Palekar's 'Anaahat' and Rakesh Sharma's 'Final Solution', would be screened at the 10-day Commonwealth Film Festival...

India-S Africa ties to contribute to world peace.
May 1, 2004... K G Suresh Cape Town, May 1 (PTI) Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has said the growing cooperation between India and South Africa would make positive contribution to world peace and welfare of whole humanity. Addressing a reception...

Shekhawat remembers freedom fighters at Robben Island.
May 1, 2004... K G Suresh Cape Town, May 1 (PTI) India's Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was visibly moved and reminded of the sacrifices of Indian freedom fighters when he visited the Robben Island prisons, where South African anti-apartheid icon...

Thiruvananthapuram, May 1 (PTI) The European Union.
May 1, 2004... Film Festival concluded here on Friday with the screening of the Dutch film 'A Polish Bride'. The festival was organised by Kerala State Film Development Corporation in association with the Central Film Festival Directorate and European...

UNHCR awards Memorial Human Rights Centre.
May 1, 2004... New York, May 1 (PTI) The United Nations High Commission for Refugees has awarded with its top prize an organisation working to resettle displaced persons seeking shelter in Russia. The Memorial Human Rights Centre, which provided legal...

LNM group signs agreement for iron ore mining in Bosnia.
May 1, 2004... London, May 1 (PTI) The LNM Group, world's largest steel producer owned by India-born steel baron Lakshmi Narayan Mittal, has entered into a joint venture agreement with RZR Ljubija for mining and developing iron ore mines in Bosnia...

Ten Indian-origin students selected for Truman Scholarship.
May 1, 2004... From Seema Hakhu Kachru Houston, May 1 (PTI) Ten Indian-origin students have been named 'Truman Scholars', the scholarship offered by the prestigious Truman foundation, for the year 2004. The Indian students, Swati M Saini, Biren A Bhatt,...

UN asks for quick probe into Thai clashes.
May 1, 2004... New York, May 1 (PTI) The United Nations Human Rights chief has asked Thailand to quickly investigate the killings of more than 112 people in the country's troubled south during clashes between the police and armed militants. Acting High...

Sania eyeing for senior doubles in Wimbledon.
May 1, 2004... Hyderabad, May 1 (PTI) After her stupendous success in the junior circuit of Wimbledon last year, India's teen tennis sensation Sania Mirza, is now making a determined bid to enter the senior league and have a go at the senior doubles title of...

Old rivals cross swords again in Adoor.
May 1, 2004... J Ramakrishnan Adoor (Kerala), May 1 (PTI) Adoor, one of the two reserved constituencies in Kerala, is witnessing a keen tussle between sitting Congress MP Kodikkunnil Suresh and Chengara Surendran of CPI in the Parliamentary elections....

Collusion between accused and prosecution glaring in Guj: CJI.
May 1, 2004... New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) India's Chief Justice V N Khare Saturday said the country's highest judiciary the Supreme Court stepped in to protect the victims and witnesses in the post-Godhra riot cases to secure justice delivery system from a...

ITC supports anti-tobacco law.
May 1, 2004... Kolkata, May 1 (PTI) The country's largest tobacco firm ITC came out in support of the government enforcing the anti-tobacco legislation effective from Saturday. "We are obviously going to comply with the legislation. There cannot be two...

Shoaib to take action after panel submits report.
May 1, 2004... Islamabad May 1 (PTI) Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who finds himself at the centre of the injury controversy rocking Pakistan cricket, would decide his future course of action after the medical inquiry commission submits its report on May 4. ...

Pak extends deadline for Al Qaeda, Taliban to surrender.
May 1, 2004... K J M Varma Islamabad, May 1 (PTI) Pakistan has extended by a week the deadline for surrender by Al Qaeda and Taliban militants holed up in its tribal areas bordering Afghanistan after Friday's ultimatum passed without a single militant laying...

Three Lashkar e Toiba militants killed in Jammu and Kashmir.
May 1, 2004... Jammu, May 1 (PTI) Three Pakistani militants belonging to Lashker-e-Toiba outfit were gunned down by security forces in a fierce gunbattle in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir early Saturday, official sources said. Acting on a tip-off,...

Vajpayee seeks another term to complete "unfinished tasks".
May 1, 2004... Sawai Madhopur, May 1 (PTI) Asking the electorate to keep in mind the achievements of the National Democratic Alliance government in the last five years, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Saturday sought another term in office to...

No infiltration from across the border: Indian Army chief.
May 1, 2004... Jammu, May 1 (PTI) Fencing work on the Line of Control (LoC) has almost been completed and right now there is no infiltration from across the border in the insurgency-hit northern state of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Army Chief General N C Vij...

Baldev Raj is new Director of Indian atomic research faciility.
May 1, 2004... Kalpakkam, May 1 (PTI) Distinguished scientist Dr Baldev Raj on Saturday took over as the Director of the prestigious Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam in southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Raj had been...

Pak takes over Presidency of UN Security Council for a month.
May 1, 2004... Islamabad, May 1 (PTI) Pakistan on Saturday took over the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council for a month, assuming the post for the second time since it became a non-permanent member of the Council last year. Pakistan, hich...

Norwegian envoy in Sri Lanka to revive peace talks.
May 1, 2004... Colombo, May 1 (PTI) Peace-broker Norway will on Saturday launch its efforts to revive the stalled talks between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels. A high-level Norwegian delegation led by deputy foreign minister Vidar...

WHO meet to chalk out strategy to check animal-borne diseases.
May 1, 2004... New York, May 1 (PTI) Amid resurgence of deadly SARS epidemic in China, health experts from various countries under the aegis of the World Health Organisation will meet in Geneva next week to discuss measures to contain diseases like SARS and...

Vajpayee seeks another term to complete unfinished tasks.
May 1, 2004... Sawai Madhopur, May 1 (PTI) Hitting out at the Congress party for "neglecting" basic needs of people during its 45-year-rule, Indian Prime Minitster Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Saturday asked the electorate to vote National Democratic Alliance back...

BJP confident of making gains in remaining two rounds.
May 1, 2004... New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) In the backdrop of exit poll projections on a not-so-good performance for National Democratic Alliance, the coalition's main constituent Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday raised the spectre of stability on account of...

2ITC to support Tobacco Bill.
May 1, 2004... Kolkata, May 1 (PTI) ITC, India's largest tobacco firm, on Saturday came out in support of ban on tobacco advertisements in mass media, prohibition on selling tobacco products to minors, and smoking in public places. "We are obviously...

CJI seeks more powers to deal with "errant" judges.
May 1, 2004... Ranjit Kumar Sinha and Satya Prakash New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) Exasperated over helplessness in dealing with corrupt and indisciplined judges of higher judiciary, Chief Justice of India V N Khare on Saturday said Constitution should be amended...

President of India petitioned to disqualify Hema Malini.
May 1, 2004... Indore, May 1 (PTI) After a local court dismissed their petition against bollywood actor and BJP candidate from Rajasthan's Bikaner constituency Dharmendra, some Congress activists here have sent a petition to President A P J Abdul Kalam...

EC issues showcause notice to AIADMK.
May 1, 2004... New Delhi, May one (PTI) The Election Commission on Saturday issued a showcause notice to the AIADMK asking it why its recognition as state party may not be suspended or withdrawn in Pondicherry for violating the model code of conduct and...

Explosion kills one in Anantnag.
May 1, 2004... Srinagar, May 1 (PTI) One woman was killed and another seriously injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast triggered by militants on Dayalgam-Kokernag road in Anantnag district of south Kashmir on Saturday, official sources said....

BJP holds musical night.
May 1, 2004... New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) It was a musical night with a difference. Bollywood singer Kumar Sanu, musician Ravindra Jain and actors like Suresh Oberoi were at their best Friday night with their paraodies hailing the Vajpayee government and...

Bomb aboard Kanishka flight exploded in cargo area: expert.
May 1, 2004... Vancouver, May 1 (PTI) As the proceedings of the Air India trial moved to a secret location, an aircraft explosives expert has testified that the bomb aboard the ill-fated Kanishka flight, which killed all 329 people on board almost a decade...

UNHCR expresses concern on new EU legislation on refugees.
May 1, 2004... New York, May 1 (PTI) The United Nations refugee agency has expressed concern over a new European Union legislation on asylum, warning that it might lead "in practice" to breaches of the international refugee law. "The 'Asylum Procedures...

Ban on smoking, tobacco ads come into force in India.
May 1, 2004... New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) In a major public health measure, the ban on smoking in 'public places', direct and indirect advertising of all tobacco products and their sale to minors came into force on Saturday in India under Anti-smoking Act. ...

Popat qualifies for Olympics.
May 1, 2004... New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) National women's champion Aparna Popat would be the lone Indian challenger in the badminton event of the Athens Olympics starting on August 14. Popat, ranked 23rd in the world, is the only Indian to find a place...

Telugu Desam Party non-committal on joining NDA.
May 1, 2004... New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) The Telugu Desam Party, a key ally of the National Democratic Alliance, on Saturday remained non-committal on the issue of joining a future government led by the coalition, saying its polit bureau would discuss the...

Mulayam to make all efforts to unite secular parties.
May 1, 2004... Lucknow, May 1 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on Saturday made it clear that he would make all efforts to unite secular parties on one platform against Bharatiya Janata Party but would not say whether he would...

Chautala says his options on support open.
May 1, 2004... Faridabad, May 1 (PTI) With exit polls predicting a hung parliament, Indian National Lok Dal President Om Prakash Chautala on Saturday said he was keeping his options open on support after elections as there was "no friend or enemy in...

Five Indians find pride of place in Wisden Almanack.
May 1, 2004... New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) Swashbuckling Virender Sehwag along with batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, vice-captain Rahul Dravid, stylish batsman VVS Laxman and ace spinner Anil Kumble have made it to this year's Wisden's list of world's 40 top...

Shah, three others detained.
May 1, 2004... Srinagar, May 1 (PTI) Police on Saturday detained senior separatist leader and president of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabir Ahmad Shah along with three of his associates in Anantnag district of south Kashmir when he was proceeding for...

Forex reserves grow by USD 287 mn.
May 1, 2004... Mumbai, May 1 (PTI) India's foreign exchange reserves rose by US dollar 287 million to reach USD 117.87 billion for the week ended April 23. Foreign currency assets surged ahead by USD 291 million to USD 112.39 billion, according to...

Police forms special team to nab 18 accused in Bakery case.
May 1, 2004... Vadodara, May 1 (PTI) Police has formed a special team to arrest the remaining 18 accused who remain untraceable in the Best Bakery case after the Supreme Court's order of April 12 directing reinvestigation into the case. Soon after...

Bilkis case: 14 accused apply for regular bail.
May 1, 2004... Ahmedabad, May 1 (PTI) A court in Dahod on Saturday began hearing plea for regular bail filed by 14 out of the 20 persons chargesheeted in the Bilkis Bano gangrape-cum-massacre case during the post-Godhra riots, wherein 14 people were...

45 to 50 per cent votes cast in repoll in Bihar constituency.
May 1, 2004... Patna, May 1 (PTI) An estimated 45 to 50 per cent voters cast their ballots during Saturday's repoll at 25 polling stations in Siwan parliamentary constituency in Bihar, which passed off peacefully. Official sources said no no untoward...

Asiatic Society embraces modern times.
May 1, 2004... Kolkata, May 1 (PTI) Opening up its wares to an international audience, the 220-year-old Asiatic Society on Saturday embraed modernity by going online. Unveiling its own website www.asiaticsocietycal.com, Asiatic Society General...

Heroin seized, two arrested.
May 1, 2004... Ramanathapuram, May 1 (PTI) Over one kg of Heroin worth about Rs 11 million in the international market was seized from two persons hailing from Mumbai near Tiruppullani on Saturday. Police said that a team of Narcotics Intelligence...

3,008 goats sacrificed in a temple ritual.
May 1, 2004... Coimbatore, May 01 (PTI) Over 3,000 goats were sacrificed at a temple in Bhavani taluk in Erode district as 'thanks giving' amidst tight security, police said on Saturday. The goat sacrifice is being conducted for more than 200 years as...

JD-S confident of forming govt in Ktk.
May 1, 2004... Bangalore, May 1 (PTI) Latching on to a reported statement of Congress General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad on his party's readiness for a pact with it, JD(S) on Saturday asserted that it was confident of forming a government in the state....

UGC to launch two new projects to help students, teachers.
May 1, 2004... Kannur, May 1 (PTI) India's University Grants Commission has decided to launch two major projects on intellectual property rights (IPR) and to set up technology incubation centres in select universities in the country from next academic...

Probe into rice genes begins this year.
May 1, 2004... Madurai, May 1 (PTI) India's five educational and research institutes will begin this year a Rs 66.9 million project aimed at studying and modifying the genes of rice, a probe that will lead to development of high-yielding rice. ...

Rallies, marches and meetings mark May Day celebrations.
May 1, 2004... Thiruvananthapuram, May 1 (PTI) Rallies, marches and public meetings at various places of the state organised by different trade unions marked the May Day celebrations in Kerala on Saturday. Auto-rickshaw drivers and other transport...

Bush says coalition implementing clear strategy in Iraq.
May 1, 2004... Washington, May 1 (PTI) Amid escalating violence across Iraq, US President George W Bush has acknowledged that his country faced "serious" challenges in the war-ravaged country but said the coalition would finish its work by implementing a...

Two more NRIs appointed to the House of Lords.
May 1, 2004... H S Rao London, May 1 (PTI) Two leading non-resident Indians, Diljit Rana and Prof Sir Kumar Bhattacharya, have been made peers in the House of Lords by Prime Minister Tony Blair. Diljit Rana, founder of Andras House, a leading...

Reds spit venom at Putin on May Day.
May 1, 2004... Moscow, May 1 (PTI) Thousands of supporters of the Communist party on Saturday took out demonstration in Moscow on May Day with slogans blasting the anti-people economic and foreign policies of President Vladimir Putin, who they alleged had...

Nepal journalists hold candle-light demonstration.
May 1, 2004... Kathmandu, May 1 (PTI) Over 200 Nepalese journalists on Saturday staged a candle-light demonstration demanding press freedom and reinstatement of democratic rights in the Himalayan kingdom. Pledging support to the five-party agitation...

Thunderstorms kill 11 in Uttar Pradesh.
May 1, 2004... Lucknow, May 1 (PTI) Eleven people, including six of a family, were killed overnight in severe thunderstorms that lashed parts of northern Indian state Uttar Pradesh, police said. Six members of a family, including three women, were...

India win junior Davis Cup zonal championships.
May 1, 2004... New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) Indian colts capped their golden run by blanking top seeds Australia 2-0 to emerge the Asia-Oceania zonal champions in the junior Davis Cup tennis competition in Colombo on Saturday. Jeevan Nedunchezhian defeated...

Libya accuses SBI of holding up its funds.
May 1, 2004... New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) Libyan embassy on Saturday threatened to take legal action against State Bank of India for holding up its 200,000 euros in an account, even as SBI said it has initiated action to resolve the issue soon. "If they...

Only BJP can bring about devlopment of Muslims: Naqvi.
May 1, 2004... Rampur, May 1 (PTI) The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday said the "great positive change in the mindset of the Muslims" has exposed the opposition's "phoney pseudo-secularists conspiracy to indulge in the game of votebank politics." ...

"India getting positive reaction from Bangladesh".
May 1, 2004... Shillong, May 1 (PTI) Officiating Governor of north-eastern state Meghalaya Lt General (retd) Ajai Singh on Saturday appreciated Bangladesh's 'reaction' to India's security requirements but maintained that the North east militants still...

BCCI puts to rest controversy on Abu Dhabi match.
May 1, 2004... Kolkata, May 1 (PTI) The Indian Cricket Board on Saturday sought to put to rest the week-long controversy over the proposed Indo-Pak match in Abu Dhabi, saying neither had it received any request for giving clearance to the limited overs...

Rainstorms kill 11; mercury slids in North.
May 1, 2004... New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) Rainstorms killed 11 people, including six of a family, in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh as heavy downpours and intermittent snowing overnight in parts of North India provided relief to millions from the...

CEO seeks report on poll violation.
May 1, 2004... Chandigarh, May 1 (PTI) The Chief Election Officer of Punjab has sought a report on alleged use of official machinery to arrange a press conference of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at Jalandhar on Thursday by his Advisor B I S Chahal while...

Cong "betrayed" people of Jammu: Gupta.
May 1, 2004... Jammu, May 1 (PTI) Junior Minister for Defence Chaman Lal Gupta on Saturday accused the Congress and its "collaborators" in Jammu and Kashmir of "consistently betraying" the people of Jammu. Addressing poll rallies in Reasi area of...

Indo-Pak cordial ties would boost world peace: Shourie.
May 1, 2004... Phagwara, May 1 (PTI) Giving full credit to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for ushering in cordial relations between India and Pakistan, federal Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie said on Saturday the "sweet" relations between the two...

Madhya Pradesh Governor dead.
May 1, 2004... Bhopal, May 1 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Governor and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta died on Saturday in New Delhi following a prolonged illness and his body was flown in here for people to pay homage. The 82-year old...

Two Malaysian youth arrested for using bogus credit cards.
May 1, 2004... Hyderabad, May 1 (PTI) City police on Saturday arrested two Malaysian nationals for cheating businessmen by using bogus credit cards and seized goods worth over Rs 600,000 even as two more gang members -- another Malaysian and an Indian --...

BCCI puts to rest controversy on Abu Dhabi match.
May 1, 2004... Kolkata, May 1 (PTI) The Indian Cricket Board on Saturday sought to put to rest the week-long controversy over the proposed Indo-Pak match in Abu Dhabi, saying neither had it received any request for giving clearance to the limited overs...

Relaxing with pads on: Dravid unwinds.
May 1, 2004... Chennai, May 1 (PTI) After an eventful and hectic international season which saw him anchor India's historic wins over Pakistan, Rahul Dravid on Saturday shed light on what goes into the making of 'The Wall'. It was typical of the...

Holy pond claims one more life.
May 1, 2004... Madurai, May 1 (PTI) The slush of the Saravana Poikai (holy pond) at the famous Tiruparankunram Sri Subramania Swamy Temple near here has claimed one more life, police said. A youth was found trapped in the slush on Friday evening and he...

Army extends surrender deadline for AlQaeda, frees tribesmen.
May 1, 2004... K J M Varma Islamabad, May 1 (PTI) Pakistan on Saturday extended by a week the deadline for Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants to surrender to armed forces after no militant turned up to give themselves in so far, even as 78 tribals were...

ITC files Rs 5.50 billion civil defamation suit against ABP.
May 1, 2004... Kolkata, May 1 (PTI) India's largest cigarette and tobacco company, ITC Limited, and its Chairman Y C Deveswar have jointly filed a civil defamation suit of Rs 5.50 billion against leading newspaper 'Ananda Bazaar Patrika' (ABP) and its...

America faces "a moment of truth" in Iraq: Kerry.
May 1, 2004... Washington, May 1 (PTI) Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry has said America faces a "moment of truth" in Iraq and called on NATO to make Iraq a central mission and for President George W Bush to make a better case to...

Eight dacoits, one policeman killed in encounter.
May 1, 2004... Islamabad, May 1 (PTI) A police inspector and eight dacoits were killed in an encounter in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province on Saturday. A police raid on the hideout of a notorious gang of dacoits in Rajanpur town, 350 km west of...

20 injured in Nepal protests, 1,000 arrested.
May 1, 2004... Kathmandu, May 1 (PTI) At least 20 people were on Saturday seriously injured and over 1,000 arrested when riot police tried to control pro-democracy agitators in Nepal. Around 10,000 agitators marched into the main Kathmandu markets of...

Kashmir as a destination figures at World Tourism meet.
May 1, 2004... Doha, May 1 (PTI) Kashmir figured prominently as a tourist destination at the fourth World Travel and Tourism Summit (WTTC) here on Saturday with some operators pointing out the difficulties in going there. Of late, there has been an...

NDA experiment shows coalition can be run successfully: PM.
May 1, 2004... Kanpur, May 1 (PTI) Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said on Saturday night the federal National Democratice Alliance government had proved that political parties with divergent views could join hands and run a coalition successfully....

Pakistan ready to talk on all issues: Vajpayee.
May 1, 2004... Kanpur, May 1 (PTI) Asserting that India wanted cordial relations with its neighbours, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said on Saturday night that Pakistan was ready to talk on all outstanding issues, including Kashmir. Pakistan was...

DMK to abide by CPI-M's stand on govt formation: Karuna.
May 1, 2004... Madurai, May 1 (PTI) The DMK said on Saturday night that it would abide by any decision taken by the CPI-M regarding formation of the next federal government and selection of Prime Ministerial candidate. Addressing an election rally in support...

Pak ready to talk on all issues: Vajpayee.
May 2, 2004... Kanpur, May 2 (PTI) Asserting India wanted cordial relations with its neighbours, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said Pakistan was ready to talk on all outstanding issues, including Kashmir. Pakistan was earlier adamant on a dialogue...

Free press essential for fight againt poverty: World Bank.
May 2, 2004... T V Parasuram Washington, May 2 (PTI) Citing free press as a key element in the global fight against poverty, the World Bank has said it also provides a source of accountability, a vehicle for civic participation, and a check on official...

UK to send additional 4,000 troops to Iraq danger zone: report.
May 2, 2004... London, May 2 (PTI) Britain plans to send an additional 4,000 troops to Iraq to take control of the Shia holy city of Najaf, a leading London daily reported on Sunday. The additional troops will start arriving in Iraq in the next few weeks...

US says "no concessions, no deals" with terrorists.
May 2, 2004... Washington, May 2 (PTI) Reiterating its policy of "no concessions, no deals" with terrorists, the United States has said those who are holding hostages in Iraq would have to release them unconditionally as any concessions or deals with...