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US rules out special WASHINGTON, Sept 30: Both, the White House......more
Sinha lauds NRIs in WASHINGTON, Sept 30: Finance Minister Yashwant.......more India accepts G-20 WASHINGTON, Sept 30: India, as one of the...more |
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CHICAGO, Sept 30: The Chicago City Council yesterday unanimously approved plans for a residential and commercial skyscraper designed to become the world’s tallest building. ...more Tibetans forced BEIJING, Sept 30: Tibetans are being forced to participate in....more Pak completes system ISLAMABAD, Sept 30: Pakistan scientists have reportedly completed.....more Malaysia blames UNITED NATIONS, Sept 30: Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mohammad......more Japan says nuclear TOKYO, Sept 30: A nuclear accident at a....more |
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US rules out special envoy for Kashmir WASHINGTON, Sept 30: Both, the White House and the State Department have ruled out the appointment of a "special envoy" for Kashmir as demanded by some American lawmakers, forcing the United States as a mediator in the 50-year-old dispute much against the wishes of India. Veteran Democratic Congressman Gary I Ackerman last night announced that there was no change in the Clinton administration’s policy toward the Indian State Department, have reiterated to me that there was no question of the United States appointing a ‘special envoy’ to the resolve the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan." The Co-chairman of the Congressional caucus on Indian and Indian Americans, who issued a statement after discussions with the officials of the two important wings of the Government, said, "I welcome this resolute ‘N-special-envoy’ position of the administration." "The administration realises full well that Kashmir is bilateral issue that can be best resolved through bilateral dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad," Mr Ackerman said. Mr Ackerman, a ranking member of the house International Relations Committee, said, "the situation in Kashmir can best be resolved by discussion between India and Pakistan as envisioned in the 1972 Shimla Agreement." The New York lawmaker, who met Minister for External Affairs Jaswant Singh the United Nations, said "it is in the spirit of the Shimla Agreement that the Lahore Declaration was issued last February. In that declaration both New Delhi and Islamabad renewed their commitments to carry out the Shimla Accord." Specifically, the Lahore Declaration states that the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan have agreed that their respective Governments shall intensify their efforts to resolve all issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.’’ "Given all these previous commitments to address the issue of Kashmir on a bilateral basis, I do not believe that internationalisation of the Kashmir questions in any way warranted. Nor do I believe that the United State needs a special envoy to Kashmir," he added. Mr Ackerman also opposed the demand for the expansion of the UN observer mission in Kashmir. "I believe that such steps only reward Pakistan for its aggression and acts of terrorism and would do nothing to further efforts toward peace in South Asia. In fact, our naming a special envoy or seeking an enhanced role for the UN will be clearly seen as external meddling in India’s internal affairs. (AGENCIES) |
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Sinha lauds NRIs in moulding public opinion WASHINGTON, Sept 30: Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha has lauded the role of Non Resident Indians in moulding public opinion in the US in the wake of the Pokhran tests last year but ruled out dual citizenship for them in the near future. Sinha, however, promised to consider whether it will be possible to reduce the 1,000 dollar fee now charged for the PIO (Person of Indian Origin) card. This card gives an NRI with a US passport all the rights of an Indian in India sans the right to vote. For dual citizenship, Sinha said at a press conference here yesterday, a national consensus is needed, for it will require an amendment of the Indian constitution. I am not ruling it out, said Sinha, But I am not saying it will happen in the very near future either. I have repeatedly expressed gratitude to NRIs for their contribution to Resurgent India Bonds in this country and elsewhere, said Sinha. They have lived up to our expectations in the fullest measure. He pointed out that after a NRIs meeting last year with Premier A B Vajpayee we have taken some pro-active steps to involve NRIs in the development process of India. That is one role NRIs are playing very effectively. The other is their influence or clout in this country. We are aware of the fact that they play a very important role in moulding public opinion about India, especially in the light of developments in the last 16 or 17 months. They have discharged their dual role very creditably. (PTI) |
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India accepts G-20 membership, says Yashwant WASHINGTON, Sept 30: India, as one of the economically significant nations of the world, has accepted membership of the G-20 to be launched in Berlin in December, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha said. We are very happy to be in the G-20 because it is based on the recognition that India has an increasing global role and is an important country in the global economy, he said at a press conference here yesterday. This is reflective of the recognition that India makes an important contribution to the evolution of international thinking and consensus on issues of global concern, he said. The role we have played is something that we will keep up in the future. He said the group would help in facilitating greater interaction between developing and developed nations, but rejected suggestions that it would be a parallel body to the bretton woods institutions. The G-20 will play an important role in the evolution of the new financial structure. But we are clear that it should not become a parallel body to the bretton woods institutions. It will supplement work of the bretton woods institutions. The G-20 is a successor to the Willard Group which had 33 members, including India. It was organized by the US and other G-7 nations (US, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada) a couple of years ago. G-20 deputies will meet in November before the ministers meet in December in Berlin under chairmanship of Canada. (PTI) |
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CHICAGO, Sept 30: The Chicago City Council yesterday unanimously approved plans for a residential and commercial skyscraper designed to become the world’s tallest building. The 112-storey building would be 1,550 feet (472 metres) tall at the roof with two 450 feet (137.2 metres) antennas. The current tallest building title is held by the Petronas towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which is 1,483 feet (452 metres) high. The developer, European American Realty Ltd., has not disclosed financing details but says it has the backing and will break ground in the second quarter of 2000. (REUTERS) |
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Tibetans forced to celebrate 50 yrs of communism BEIJING, Sept 30: Tibetans are being forced to participate in celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Communist Rule in China and tight security has been clamped on the region, a Tibetan watchdog said today. Tibetans in Lhasa have been told that their pay or pension will be cut if they fail to take part in rehearsals for celebrations of the 50th anniversary Tomorrow, the London-based Tibet Information Network (TIN) said in statement. Schoolchildren and retirees have been required to memories patriotic songs and attend dance classes in the run-up to the celebrations, in which they will be ordered to wave including the 40th anniversary of spiritual leader the Dalai Lama’s flight into exile. His exile to Dharamsala, India in March 1959 followed a violent uprising against communist rule in Lhasa. Chinese troops first marched into Tibet in 1951. While Beijing has ordered tightened security across the country in anticipation of the 50th anniversary, special attention has been given to Tibet, frequently the site of pro-independence demonstrations. On National Day in 1987, a group of monks shouted pro-independence slogans and waved the Tibetan flag outside a Lhasa Monastery before being detained by police. (AFP) |
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Pak completes system trials of Ghauri-3 ISLAMABAD, Sept 30: Pakistan scientists have reportedly completed system trials of the advanced Ghauri-III Ballistic Missile, capable of targetting major Indian cities including, Calcutta and Bangalore, in a probable run-up to the test-firing of the missile. The trial of the 3,000-km missile was successfully carried out yesterday afternoon by scientists of Pakistan’s premier nuclear institution, Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL) of Dr Abdul Qadeer, English daily News said quoting an official here. The official, however, did not clarify when the missile, capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads of upto 1,000 kgs, would be testfired. Pakistan last flight-tested its self-proclaimed indigenous Ghauri-II with a range of 2,500 kms in April this year. The official claimed that Ghauri-III’s range would enable it to hit far off Indian cities such as Calcutta and Bangalore but said that the country’s missile programme was purely defensive and not aimed at anybody. We don’ts have any aggressive designs but to defend every inch of the country. The official also hinted at a breakthrough in the country’s space programme soon.(PTI) |
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Malaysia blames UN for situation in East Timor UNITED NATIONS, Sept 30: Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mohammad Mahathir has blamed the United Nations and the Western countries for the situation in East Timor where pro-Indonesian militias went on rampage after people voted for independence in a referendum. Addressing a press conference, Dr Mahathir said it was wrong on their part to force Indonesia to agree to the referendum in the territory at a time it was weak and unable to control the situation. He also accused the United Nations of not giving time to pro-Indonesian sections to explain their view point to the electorate. In the frustration, they reacted in the only way they knew, he said. There were no killing before the referendum and killings happened only after that, he remarked. He did not justify the killings and condemned them but then it was a miscalculation, he said. He also criticised the Australians for sending a large contingent of force and said they should be replaced by the Asian soldiers as and when they become available. But replying to a question, he agreed that the Asian nations do not have the capacity to absorb the cost of troops and would participate only in the peacekeeping operation for which the United Nations bears the cost. (PTI) |
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Japan says nuclear accident may be continuing TOKYO, Sept 30: A nuclear accident at a Japanese uranium processing plant today may have triggered "abnormal reactions" that could be continuing at the plant, the top Government spokesman said. "There is a strong possibility that abnormal reactions are continuing within the facility," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka told an emergency news conference late today. "We believe that it is a severe situation, and there are concerns about radiation in the surrounding areas." Mr Nonaka said this could be the worst nuclear accident in Japan’s history. The accident at Tokaimura in Ibaraki prefecture, about 140 km northeast of Tokyo, exposed three workers to radiation and prompted authorities to evacuate the vicinity. Mr Nonaka said there was a strong possibility that there had been a "criticality incident" at plant. Criticality is the point at which a nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining, similar to what happens inside a nuclear reactor. Asked about his remarks earlier in the day that the situation appeared to be under control, he said the measurements of radioactivity had been low but started to rise. Meanwhile the Kyodo news agency quoted the officials as saying Japan lacked experience in dealing with this kind of accident and that the US forces may have the necessary know-how. Mr Nonaka said Japan’s Ground Self-Defence Force’s Chemical Warfare unit was ready to be deployed at the accident site but that it lacked relevant experience. (REUTERS) |
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