New Delhi, June 11 : The United States today said it was "closer" to signing an agreement with India which would give the right to American experts to conduct physical checks of defence equipment sold to this country to verify its use.
"We are closer" (to signing End-User Verification Agreement (EUVA) with India, visiting US Under Secretary of State William Burns told a press conference here.
The US has been pushing for EUVA since the Bush Administration days.
Under US laws, EUVA is mandatory for selling military hardware and the agreement would cover transfer of all sensitive defence equipment and military technology to India.
Burns said the proposed agreement was discussed during his meeting with Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and "good progress" was made during the talks on EUVA.
He said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would be visiting India in the second half of next month, which would provide an opportunity to "launch a new phase in the strategic relations" for which a "solid base" had already been laid.
He said the two countries together could do a lot, particularly in the areas of defence and intelligence sharing.
10:00 PM
10:00 PM
Chennai, Jun 11 : A US citizen was arrested at the airport here on charges of carrying a loaded revolver and a security breach came to light after he claimed that he carried the same weapon when he flew in here from New Delhi a fortnight back.
Police said Sellmeyer(58) was detained by CISF personnel when they found the Austrian-made 'Calibre 40' weapon while scanning his baggage as he arrived to board a Mumbai-bound flight and handed him over to airport authorities.
He had come to Chennai last week from New Delhi to undergo treatment at a private hospital.
Official sources said that during a joint interrogation by the CISF and airport officals, Sellmeyer reportedly confessed that he had on May 27 travelled from Delhi to Chennai with the same gun on a domestic flight.
The passenger had kept the gun in his baggage which was cleared by the security agencies that time, sources said.
Sellmeyer told reporters that he was not aware of the Indian laws that carrying firearms in the flight was an offence. 'I realise it now', he said when reporters asked whether he was aware of the rules.
Police said that they recovered 35 bullets and three magazines.
A spokesperson of Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) when queried about a possible security breach said " we have referred the matter to the concerned security agencies who are ascertaining the facts and will reveal once all details have been obtained." The American Consulate here has been informed about his arrest, officials said, adding the Consulate had confirmed that Sellmeyer was a US citizen. A consulate official did not anwser reporter's queries.
Police said Sellmeyer(58) was detained by CISF personnel when they found the Austrian-made 'Calibre 40' weapon while scanning his baggage as he arrived to board a Mumbai-bound flight and handed him over to airport authorities.
He had come to Chennai last week from New Delhi to undergo treatment at a private hospital.
Official sources said that during a joint interrogation by the CISF and airport officals, Sellmeyer reportedly confessed that he had on May 27 travelled from Delhi to Chennai with the same gun on a domestic flight.
The passenger had kept the gun in his baggage which was cleared by the security agencies that time, sources said.
Sellmeyer told reporters that he was not aware of the Indian laws that carrying firearms in the flight was an offence. 'I realise it now', he said when reporters asked whether he was aware of the rules.
Police said that they recovered 35 bullets and three magazines.
A spokesperson of Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) when queried about a possible security breach said " we have referred the matter to the concerned security agencies who are ascertaining the facts and will reveal once all details have been obtained." The American Consulate here has been informed about his arrest, officials said, adding the Consulate had confirmed that Sellmeyer was a US citizen. A consulate official did not anwser reporter's queries.
10:00 PM
Navy recovers Satyendra's body from Ganga
planetInfo
Patna, Jun 11 : Twenty days after his abduction, Navy today succeeded in finding the decomposed body of Satyendra Singh, JD(U) leader Vijay Krishna's close aide, from Ganga.
"A six-member Navy team assisted by local police and fishermen located Singh's body near Duli Ghat, about 15 km from here," SSP R Mallar Vizhi said.
Singh's relatives have identified the body. A Patna-based tailor who had stitched Singh's trousers which he wore on the fateful day too confirmed that the body was that of Singh, Vizhi said.
Abducted on May 23 when he had gone to purchase a car, Singh was later killed and his body dumped in river Ganga.
Police had earlier found blood-stained clothes and buckets from a flat here owned by Krishna's son, Chanakya alias Guddu.
Police had also approached the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate seeking issuance of a proclamation notice against Krishna and Guddu, Vizhi said.
The police had taken Gagan, a domestic help of Guddu, on remand for two days for interrogation which led to a breakthrough in the probe, Vizhi said.
During interrogation Gagan confirmed that Guddu had gunned down Singh at his flat.
Singh's body was brought to Patna Medical College and Hospital for autopsy.
"A six-member Navy team assisted by local police and fishermen located Singh's body near Duli Ghat, about 15 km from here," SSP R Mallar Vizhi said.
Singh's relatives have identified the body. A Patna-based tailor who had stitched Singh's trousers which he wore on the fateful day too confirmed that the body was that of Singh, Vizhi said.
Abducted on May 23 when he had gone to purchase a car, Singh was later killed and his body dumped in river Ganga.
Police had earlier found blood-stained clothes and buckets from a flat here owned by Krishna's son, Chanakya alias Guddu.
Police had also approached the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate seeking issuance of a proclamation notice against Krishna and Guddu, Vizhi said.
The police had taken Gagan, a domestic help of Guddu, on remand for two days for interrogation which led to a breakthrough in the probe, Vizhi said.
During interrogation Gagan confirmed that Guddu had gunned down Singh at his flat.
Singh's body was brought to Patna Medical College and Hospital for autopsy.
10:00 PM
Tirunelveli (TN), June 11 : The ongoing investigations by Tamil Nadu police into the busting of a state-wide network of child trafficking have led to the arrest of seven more gang members today, including five women, taking the total number of those held to 11.
Acting on a tip-off by five persons working for a man running a children's home in Valiyoor in the district and a woman, police arrested the seven persons.
The lady had filed a complaint before the Village Administrative Officer at Tenkasi near here, saying that a woman had assured her that her four-year-old daughter would be housed in the children's home in Valiyoor, but had not done so, DIG (Tirunelveli range) P Kanappan told reporters here.
Two of the gang members had earlier been arrested in 2003 in a child trafficking case, he said.
The DIG said only one of the 60 children's homes in Tirunelveli district had valid registration documents. A total of 25 children from these homes had been sold at Rs 40,000-Rs 50,000 over a period of time under the pretext of adoption, he said.
The child trafficking racket was unearthed during investigations into the recent attempted kidnap of a girl by a woman from a government hospital in Tiruchirapalli.
Seven children have so far been rescued and five have been handed over to their parents.
Acting on a tip-off by five persons working for a man running a children's home in Valiyoor in the district and a woman, police arrested the seven persons.
The lady had filed a complaint before the Village Administrative Officer at Tenkasi near here, saying that a woman had assured her that her four-year-old daughter would be housed in the children's home in Valiyoor, but had not done so, DIG (Tirunelveli range) P Kanappan told reporters here.
Two of the gang members had earlier been arrested in 2003 in a child trafficking case, he said.
The DIG said only one of the 60 children's homes in Tirunelveli district had valid registration documents. A total of 25 children from these homes had been sold at Rs 40,000-Rs 50,000 over a period of time under the pretext of adoption, he said.
The child trafficking racket was unearthed during investigations into the recent attempted kidnap of a girl by a woman from a government hospital in Tiruchirapalli.
Seven children have so far been rescued and five have been handed over to their parents.
2:09 AM
Spy who triggered the Cold War
planetInfo
London, Jun 11 : Secret files have at last revealed the identity of the top spy who transfered Britains atomic bomb secrets to the Soviet Union and paved the way for the nuclear standoff with the west, triggering the Cold War for nearly five decades.
Though the MI5 suspected him, trailed him and monitored his every move, they were never able to get the man, codenamed "Eric" by the KGB, whose espionage campaign to steal the Allies nuclear bomb plans was codenamed Enormous.
Declassified MI5 files have confirmed that the master spy, described as the "main source", was a Soviet mole at the Cavendish Laboratories at the University of Cambridge, the heart of the wartime nuclear research programme.
Today, 70 years later, with the opening of MI5 and KGB files, "Eric" can finally be identified as Engelbert (Bertie) Broda, whose story is a tale of espionage and counter-espionage, elaborate spycraft, love and deception.
Broda was the KGBs prize spy, who fed Britains nuclear secrets to Moscow for a decade, including the blueprint for the early nuclear reactor used in the US Manhattan Project, Times online reported today.
"Erics" secrets enabled the communist state to catch up in the race to build the nuclear bomb and set the stage for nearly five decades of nuclear standoff with the West.
Though the KGB archives of the period are now sealed, a brief window in the mid-1990s provided a KGB officer named Alexander Vassiliev access to the files.
Vassilievs notes form the basis of a new book, published in the US this month, revealing Brodas pivotal role in Soviet atomic espionage.
Though the MI5 suspected him, trailed him and monitored his every move, they were never able to get the man, codenamed "Eric" by the KGB, whose espionage campaign to steal the Allies nuclear bomb plans was codenamed Enormous.
Declassified MI5 files have confirmed that the master spy, described as the "main source", was a Soviet mole at the Cavendish Laboratories at the University of Cambridge, the heart of the wartime nuclear research programme.
Today, 70 years later, with the opening of MI5 and KGB files, "Eric" can finally be identified as Engelbert (Bertie) Broda, whose story is a tale of espionage and counter-espionage, elaborate spycraft, love and deception.
Broda was the KGBs prize spy, who fed Britains nuclear secrets to Moscow for a decade, including the blueprint for the early nuclear reactor used in the US Manhattan Project, Times online reported today.
"Erics" secrets enabled the communist state to catch up in the race to build the nuclear bomb and set the stage for nearly five decades of nuclear standoff with the West.
Though the KGB archives of the period are now sealed, a brief window in the mid-1990s provided a KGB officer named Alexander Vassiliev access to the files.
Vassilievs notes form the basis of a new book, published in the US this month, revealing Brodas pivotal role in Soviet atomic espionage.
2:09 AM
OBAMA-ADDRESS
planetInfo
Obama to address powerful doctors' group in Chicago next week Yoshita Singh Chicago, Jun 11 : US President Barack Obama will be in Chicago next week to address members of the country's largest physician body, American Medical Association at a time when he is pushing for an overhaul of the nation's health care system.
This would be Obama's second visit to his hometown after becoming President. He was in the city in mid-February.
He would address delegates of AMA, the city-based national doctor group that has about 250,000 members.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said today that Obama would push for reforms in the country's health care system during his address on June 15.
Obama strongly favours reshaping the health care system to bring down costs and extend coverage to 50 million uninsured Americans. He is pushing for a new public insurance plan that would offer government-sponsored health care to those not eligible and one that competes with private insurers.
The support of AMA of any effort to cover the uninsured Americans is seen as critical, given its large member base.
Obama is the second President after Ronald Reagan to address an AMA House of Delegates meeting. PTI YAS BDS 06111249 D
This would be Obama's second visit to his hometown after becoming President. He was in the city in mid-February.
He would address delegates of AMA, the city-based national doctor group that has about 250,000 members.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said today that Obama would push for reforms in the country's health care system during his address on June 15.
Obama strongly favours reshaping the health care system to bring down costs and extend coverage to 50 million uninsured Americans. He is pushing for a new public insurance plan that would offer government-sponsored health care to those not eligible and one that competes with private insurers.
The support of AMA of any effort to cover the uninsured Americans is seen as critical, given its large member base.
Obama is the second President after Ronald Reagan to address an AMA House of Delegates meeting. PTI YAS BDS 06111249 D
2:09 AM
Prasun Sonwalkar
London, Jun 11 : A study carried out by Britain's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has claimed that chicken imported into the country from the European Union contains elements of pork and beef, sparking criticism by a Hindu organisation here.
The UK Hindu Council reacted with shock to the FSA report that food manufacturers in three EU states have used bulking agents made from pork and beef bones and gristle to inflate chicken breasts, before selling them on to the UK market at a higher price.
The organisation said the FSA report meant that many of Britain's 600,000 plus Hindu community may have unwittingly consumed chicken laced with pork and beef elements in cafes and restaurants across the country in at least the last two years.
Anil Bhanot, General Secretary of the UK Hindu Council said: "For many Hindus, to eat beef is as bad as cannibalism. All branches of Hinduism revere cows because they give milk to humanity, as a mother does to her child." "The companies who hoodwinked us by not fully disclosing the nature of the ingredients they have used to plump up chickens artificially ought to be reprimanded through all legal channels, and also made to give up part of their profits to good causes," Bhanot said.
London, Jun 11 : A study carried out by Britain's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has claimed that chicken imported into the country from the European Union contains elements of pork and beef, sparking criticism by a Hindu organisation here.
The UK Hindu Council reacted with shock to the FSA report that food manufacturers in three EU states have used bulking agents made from pork and beef bones and gristle to inflate chicken breasts, before selling them on to the UK market at a higher price.
The organisation said the FSA report meant that many of Britain's 600,000 plus Hindu community may have unwittingly consumed chicken laced with pork and beef elements in cafes and restaurants across the country in at least the last two years.
Anil Bhanot, General Secretary of the UK Hindu Council said: "For many Hindus, to eat beef is as bad as cannibalism. All branches of Hinduism revere cows because they give milk to humanity, as a mother does to her child." "The companies who hoodwinked us by not fully disclosing the nature of the ingredients they have used to plump up chickens artificially ought to be reprimanded through all legal channels, and also made to give up part of their profits to good causes," Bhanot said.
2:09 AM
United Nations, Jun 11 : Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated veteran UN diplomat Ali Abdessalam Treki of Libya on his election as the President of the upcoming session of the General Assembly.
The three-time Libyan Ambassador to the UN and current Minister of African Union Affairs for the North African nation was elected by acclamation by the 192-member Assembly.
Ban welcomed the President-elect back to the UN, noting that his "wide-ranging diplomatic experience will be invaluable as he presides over the General Assembly." He said that as the world faces new problems and threats, Treki's leadership will be "crucial" if the Assembly is to respond with unified action.
The Secretary-General also paid tribute to the current President, Miguel Brockmann D'Escoto of Nicaragua, on his "valuable contribution" and said that he anticipates a "smooth transition to the new leadership of the body." President D'Escoto said he is confident that Presidentelect Treki will face the job "with the same passion and determination that have inspired my presidency." D'Escoto encouraged Treki to pursue the "revitalisation of this body as it seeks to restore its authority and leadership on the world stage during these perilous times." The President-elect will take up his post when the Assembly begins its 64th session on September 15. PTI DS SHN SHN 06110739 D
The three-time Libyan Ambassador to the UN and current Minister of African Union Affairs for the North African nation was elected by acclamation by the 192-member Assembly.
Ban welcomed the President-elect back to the UN, noting that his "wide-ranging diplomatic experience will be invaluable as he presides over the General Assembly." He said that as the world faces new problems and threats, Treki's leadership will be "crucial" if the Assembly is to respond with unified action.
The Secretary-General also paid tribute to the current President, Miguel Brockmann D'Escoto of Nicaragua, on his "valuable contribution" and said that he anticipates a "smooth transition to the new leadership of the body." President D'Escoto said he is confident that Presidentelect Treki will face the job "with the same passion and determination that have inspired my presidency." D'Escoto encouraged Treki to pursue the "revitalisation of this body as it seeks to restore its authority and leadership on the world stage during these perilous times." The President-elect will take up his post when the Assembly begins its 64th session on September 15. PTI DS SHN SHN 06110739 D
2:09 AM
CPI-M reviews poll debacle in WB
planetInfo
Kolkata, June 11 : After its drubbing in West Bengal in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the state unit of CPI-M today began a two-day meeting to analyse reasons behind its poor performance in the Left Front-ruled state.
The party, which had won 26 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the 2004 polls, won only nine this time.
The meeting is being attended by CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat and politburo member Sitaram Yechury.
Yechury told reporters that the CPI-M would analyse the poll results in detail.
When asked if the party leadership in West Bengal would be changed, he replied, "Let the meeting be over. Only after that we can talk about it".
On political violence at Khejuri in Nandigram, Yechury said the main opposition party in the state, Trinamool Congress, had resorted to undemocratic way to spread its influence.
"30 years ago people had rejected the opposition parties, they would not accept them now too," he asserted.
Khejuri, a Marxist stronghold adjacent to Nandigram in East Midnapore district has witnessed post-poll violence and CPI-M offices have been burnt down by rival political parties.
Yechury claimed that the opposition parties are playing politics over distribution of relief material to Cyclone Aila victims.
The party, which had won 26 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the 2004 polls, won only nine this time.
The meeting is being attended by CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat and politburo member Sitaram Yechury.
Yechury told reporters that the CPI-M would analyse the poll results in detail.
When asked if the party leadership in West Bengal would be changed, he replied, "Let the meeting be over. Only after that we can talk about it".
On political violence at Khejuri in Nandigram, Yechury said the main opposition party in the state, Trinamool Congress, had resorted to undemocratic way to spread its influence.
"30 years ago people had rejected the opposition parties, they would not accept them now too," he asserted.
Khejuri, a Marxist stronghold adjacent to Nandigram in East Midnapore district has witnessed post-poll violence and CPI-M offices have been burnt down by rival political parties.
Yechury claimed that the opposition parties are playing politics over distribution of relief material to Cyclone Aila victims.
2:09 AM
New Delhi, Jun 11 : It may not be good news for government servants in the capital as eight of the 17 holidays declared by the government for 2010 fall either on Saturdays or Sundays.
The Ministry of Personnel has announced 17 holidays including three national holidays -- Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary -- for government offices in the national capital.
Milad-un-Nabi, Mahavir Jayanti, Independence Day, Idu'l Fitr, Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, Dussehra, Guru Nanak's birthday and Christmas Day fall on either Saturday or Sunday next year.
Government declared holidays are Prophet Mohammad's birthday (February 27), Holi (Mar 1), Ram Navami (Mar 24), Mahavir Jayanti (Mar 28) Good Friday (Apr 2), Buddha Purnima (May 27), Janmashtami (Sept 2), Idu'l Fitr (Sept 11), Dussehra (Oct 17), Diwali (Nov 5), Idu'l Zuha (Nov 17), Guru Nanak Birthday (Nov 21), Muharram (Dec 17) and Christmas Day (Dec 25).
Any change in the date of holidays in respect of Idu'l Fitr, Idu'l Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad, if necessary, will be announced depending on the sighting of the moon.
The Ministry of Personnel has announced 17 holidays including three national holidays -- Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary -- for government offices in the national capital.
Milad-un-Nabi, Mahavir Jayanti, Independence Day, Idu'l Fitr, Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, Dussehra, Guru Nanak's birthday and Christmas Day fall on either Saturday or Sunday next year.
Government declared holidays are Prophet Mohammad's birthday (February 27), Holi (Mar 1), Ram Navami (Mar 24), Mahavir Jayanti (Mar 28) Good Friday (Apr 2), Buddha Purnima (May 27), Janmashtami (Sept 2), Idu'l Fitr (Sept 11), Dussehra (Oct 17), Diwali (Nov 5), Idu'l Zuha (Nov 17), Guru Nanak Birthday (Nov 21), Muharram (Dec 17) and Christmas Day (Dec 25).
Any change in the date of holidays in respect of Idu'l Fitr, Idu'l Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad, if necessary, will be announced depending on the sighting of the moon.
2:09 AM
Ban condemns Peshawar terrorist attack
planetInfo
Dharam Shourie
United Nations, June 11 : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed "dismay" at the rising death toll from Tuesday's suicide bombing of a luxury hotel in Peshawar, which killed 17 persons, including two United Nations staff members.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban reiterated "his strong condemnation of this brutal act of terror against innocent people, many of whom were in Peshawar to carry out humanitarian work." Among the dead was Aleksandar Vorkapic, who worked for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He leaves behind a wife and three children.
Vorkapic, a Serb national, was on his first emergency mission as part of the UNHCR team recently sent to Pakistan to assist with the current displacement crisis in NWFP, with over two million people fleeing the conflict between Government forces and Taliban militants in the Swat district.
Also killed in the blast was the Chief of Education in Pakistan of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), Perseveranda So, from the Philippines, who had been with the agency since 1994.
Another four UN staff members two from the UN World Food Programme (WFP), one from the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) and one from UNICEF were among those injured in the attack, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe said.
United Nations, June 11 : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed "dismay" at the rising death toll from Tuesday's suicide bombing of a luxury hotel in Peshawar, which killed 17 persons, including two United Nations staff members.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban reiterated "his strong condemnation of this brutal act of terror against innocent people, many of whom were in Peshawar to carry out humanitarian work." Among the dead was Aleksandar Vorkapic, who worked for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He leaves behind a wife and three children.
Vorkapic, a Serb national, was on his first emergency mission as part of the UNHCR team recently sent to Pakistan to assist with the current displacement crisis in NWFP, with over two million people fleeing the conflict between Government forces and Taliban militants in the Swat district.
Also killed in the blast was the Chief of Education in Pakistan of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), Perseveranda So, from the Philippines, who had been with the agency since 1994.
Another four UN staff members two from the UN World Food Programme (WFP), one from the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) and one from UNICEF were among those injured in the attack, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe said.