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:: South Asia Insights |
Indian Muslims bitterly divided over bigamy
New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS): Do bigamy and Islam go together? The Law Commission of India doesn't think so. Indian clerics of all hues disagree. But they don't seem to have the backing of ordinary Muslims.
Swine flu-hit Gujarat worried about NRI homecoming season
New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS): After a 43-year-old NRI died of swine flu in Ahmedabad Sunday, authorities in Gujarat are worried that the state could see a spurt in Influenza A(H1N1) cases as the NRI homecoming season is set to begin, Health Minister Jay Narayan Vyas said Sunday.
Pakistan offers to share with India lessons on women's quota
New Delhi, Aug 7: Amid continued uncertainty here over the fate of a bill to reserve seats for women in parliament and legislative bodies, Pakistan has offered to share its experience in successfully implementing a law in this regard.
First-timers, young MPs wanting in performance: study
New Delhi, Aug 7: The youth was the buzzword during the elections and 59 first-timers and many young members were elected to the 15th Lok Sabha, but their performance during the budget session has been dismal, according to a study.
India-Nepal land dispute threatens tiger reserve
Susta (Bihar), Aug 5 (IANS): The presence of illegal settlers is threatening wildlife in the Susta region of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve as forest staff don't patrol the area because of a territorial dispute between India and Nepal, say officials and conservationists.
No rest for Nepal's royal ghosts
Kathmandu, July 23 (IANS): More than eight years after its royal family perished in a shocking massacre in the tightly guarded palace and 14 months after the kingdom of Nepal gave the coup de grace to its once-revered institution of monarchy, the royal ghosts have been resurrected with the new government announcing it would rebuild the massacre site.
In Leh, you can shop till you drop
Leh, July 23 (IANS): Breathtaking Leh, this predominantly Buddhist region bordering China, is not just a pilgrimage place for many, a trekking idyll but also, strangely, a shoppers' paradise.
More South Asians making Washington DC their home
Washington, July 22: America's capital city has become home to the nation's fifth largest South Asian population with ethnic restaurants, salons, perfumeries and numerous houses of worship, according to a new survey.
Millions watch an eclipsed sun rise over India
New Delhi/Taregna/Guwhati/Hyderabad, July 22: Faith merged seamlessly with the wonders of science as the devout and the curious gathered on rooftops, planetariums, riverbanks and open grounds to watch the longest solar eclipse of the century in India.
Two Indian air force planes film total solar eclipse
Agra, July 22: An AN-32 transport aircraft and a Mirage-2000 trainer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Wednesday successfully chased the sun's shadow to film the total solar eclipse, the longest one of the 21st century.
Nepal PM breaks eclipse taboo
Kathmandu, July 22: Nepal's new Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Wednesday took the lead in watching the much-acclaimed longest solar eclipse of the century, breaking an old taboo that in the past forbade Nepalis from venturing out during the phenomenon.
Watching eclipse from 41,000 ft - breathtaking!
New Delhi, July 22: "It was a breathtaking experience," said 70-year-old Deepak Bhimani, one of the 35 passengers onboard the special flight to watch the century's longest total solar eclipse from 41,000 feet above the ground.
Rationalists munch breakfast during eclipse to fight superstition
Hyderabad, July 22: A group of rationalists gathered here Wednesday morning to not just watch the longest solar eclipse of the century but also tuck into breakfast in an attempt to remove superstitious beliefs from the minds of people.
Unique Bhutanese health weed as precious as gold
Thimphu, July 22 (IANS): Cordyceps, a peculiar health weed native to Bhutan and highly valued for its medicinal properties, fetches astronomical prices at the yearly auction. This year a man from Thimphu district got the highest price for his cordyceps - Rs.351,000 for a kg!
Now women will guard the frontiers
Attari (Punjab), July 21 (IANS): They might not be taking on combat positions straightaway but women guards of the Border Security Force (BSF) will soon be deployed in Punjab villages along the 553-km fenced border between India and Pakistan.
Fakes from India mar Nepal's once-thriving rudraksha trade
Kathmandu, July 21 (IANS): Once the world's only Hindu kingdom, Nepal used to be famous for its rudrakshas, the berry that is believed to have supernatural powers and is used as a prayer bead.
India as seen by Frenchmen - a photo exhibition in Bangladesh
Chittagong, July 21: India and France have collaborated to organise an exhibition in Bangladesh of photos taken by French lensmen Alain Danielou and Raymond Burnier, who stayed at Shantiniketan in West Bengal at the invitation of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
Young Pakistani author Ali Sethi making literary waves
New Delhi, July 21 (IANS): The world is growing more interested in literature from Pakistan and Afghanistan because it wants to understand certain events that have taken place in the two countries, says Pakistani author Ali Sethi, 24, one of the youngest literary sensations from the sub-continent.
Kalam wants India to adopt Bangladesh's Grameen Bank model
Dhaka, July 20: Inspired by Bangladesh's Grameen Bank endeavour, former Indian president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has mooted a separate Indian law for micro credit in rural areas, a media report here said Monday.
Clinton praises India-Pakistan students sowing 'seeds of peace'
New Delhi, July 20 (IANS): Mahek Mansoor, a 15-year-old student from Pakistan couldn't agree more with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when she said that youngsters from both the countries can "sow seeds to transcend boundaries" at an event in Delhi University Monday.
Absence of Nepali workers affects apple crop in Himachal
Shimla, July 19 (IANS): They have been crucial to the orchards of Himachal Pradesh for decades. But this year, farm hands from Nepal have failed to arrive and their acute shortage may delay the plucking of apples in the hill state.
14-year prison sentence for SMS joke on Pakistani president
Islamabad, July 19 (DPA): It would seem that in Pakistan there is nothing you need to watch out for more than making a joke about President Asif Ali Zardari by SMS (Short Messaging Service).
A Hindu temple where Muslims also pray
Rampur (Uttar Pradesh), July 19 (IANS): A temple dedicated to Hindu god Shiva in a village here counts many Muslims among its devotees. Not only do they take part in some rituals but also donate for community feasts during every festival.
Activists campaign against introduction of GM food
New Delhi, July 18: Dozens of green activists, dressed to pose as brinjals, Saturday held demonstrations and urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to introduce genetically modified (GM) food in the country, saying it is a biological and health hazard.
The secret behind a Kishore Kumar hit
Johannesburg, July 20 (IANS): Long after legendary singer Kishore Kumar and music composer Rahul Dev Burman died, a secret about one of their biggest hits together has been revealed here.
What's holding India back? Ramachandra Guha finds ten reasons
New Delhi, July 14: What stops India from becoming a 21st century superpower? There are ten reasons, according to author-historian, social analyst and teacher Ramachandra Guha.
Dhaka worried as Mauritius sends 6,000 Bangladeshi workers home
Dhaka, July 16: Bangladesh's overseas job market that fetches high earnings is set to shrink as Mauritian authorities have decided to send back 6,000 workers by the end of the year, citing the global recession.
Sri Lankan beauty Jacqueline catches Bollywood filmmakers' eye
Mumbai, July 16 (IANS): Even before her first film "Aladin" releases this Diwali, debutant actress Jacqueline Fernandez has caught the fancy of prominent directors like Siddharth Anand and Tarun Mansukhani, who are seriously considering signing the former Miss Sri Lanka for their future projects.
'25,000 MW power coming through diesel, propelling climate change'
New Delhi, July 16: Around 25,000 MW of power, nearly six times what Delhi requires during peak hours, is being produced by private consumers and commercial units by burning diesel, which is affecting environment and contributing to climate change, a senior official said here Thursday.
After jumbos, tigers bare fangs between India, Nepal
Kathmandu, July 16 (IANS): After marauding elephant herds created bad blood between Nepal's border villages and India, now big cats are threatening to strain ties between the two neighbours.
Now Hollywood's Paul Schrader to make film on Mumbai slums
Mumbai, July 16 (IANS): Yet another foreign director has set his sights on Mumbai's slums. After Danny Boyle's dark and passionate look at the city in "Slumdog Millionaire", it is American director Paul Schrader's turn to make a film here.
Once again, the Amitabh factor
Sharm-el-Sheikh, July 16 (IANS): There is really no getting away from Bollywood, of course. Indians everywhere are identified with the heroes of the silver screen but Egyptians here are steadfastly loyal to only one man -- Amitabh Bachchan -- and insist that age is no factor.
Flap, flap! Out comes another endangered Tragopan
Shimla, July 14 (IANS): Call it a feather in the cap of the Himachal Pradesh forest department, which has once again managed to breed the Western Tragopan - a critically endangered bird - in captivity.
Development for the people, by the people in Delhi
New Delhi, July 15 (IANS): Two municipal councillors in the national capital have decided to put "power back into the public's hands" by choosing to hear them out before undertaking any development work in their areas.
36 former Indian MPs still occupying government bungalows
New Delhi, July 16: What is common between Jagdish Tytler, Vinod Khanna, Renuka Chowdhury, Ram Vilas Paswan and Shakeel Ahmed ? All of them are among 36 former MPs who are unauthorised occupants of government accommodation in Delhi's Lutyen's zone, a Right to Information (RTI) application has found out.
'Indian celebrity fashion inspires designers globally'
New Delhi, July 16 (IANS): Indian celebrity fashion inspires designers around the world, says Worth Global Style Network (WGSN), an online research and fashion forecaster that aims to work with leading Indian retail chains to raise their level of pret lines.
Indian diplomats learn how to tackle the media
New Delhi, July 15 (IANS): Diplomats need more than diplomatic skills to tackle the media in this round-the-clock TV age.
Sita's viewpoint on Ramayana: Indo-Bangladesh mono drama to go global
Dhaka, June 14: An Indo-Bangladesh theatre venture articulating Sita's viewpoint on the epic Ramayana, that enthralled audiences here, is to tour Britain and North America.
Iran special guest in South Asian Film Festival
New Delhi, June 15: Iran, with its thousand-year-old legacy of cultural history and traditional arts, is the guest country in the fourth edition of the South Asian Films Festival 2009, which begins in Goa June 26.
Many Amarnath pilgrims stranded in Jammu
Jammu, June 15: Lakhan Kishore, a pilgrim from Uttar Pradesh, is already here with his family for the Amarnath pilgrimage in the Kashmir Himalayas. But Kishore, who was among the first to register for the journey, is not sure of the dates he would be allowed to proceed towards the shrine and may have to stay on in Jammu for a day or two at least.
Special solar lanterns for Aila-hit Sundarbans villagers
Kolkata, June 15 (IANS): Villagers in the remote islands of the Sundarbans can now avail of a new variety of solar lanterns that can be charged directly under sunlight. Their solar power panels in the mangrove forests, the only source of electricity in the area, were damaged by the Cyclone Aila earlier last month.
As husbands make money abroad, Goan women find themselves lonely
Thiruvananthapuram, June 8: A study conducted among women in Goa whose husbands work abroad has revealed that even though these families are well off, the problem of loneliness and the responsibility of being a single parent has given rise to social problems.
He pens tales of India's urban underbelly
New Delhi, June 8 (IANS): Writing on castaways and people inhabiting the fringes of society is not always easy. Ask writer Palash Krishna Mehrotra who walks down the dark alleys of India's urban underbelly in his debut collection of short stories.
Pakistan's 'Aishwarya Rai' shooting film in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, June 8: Often compared to Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai because of her striking beauty, Reema Khan, a big name in Pakistan's film industry, is shooting her second film in Malaysia.
Manoj Kumar turning director again for 'Indo-Pak' love story
New Delhi, June 7 (IANS): Bollywood veteran Manoj Kumar is upbeat about donning the director's hat once again in his golden jubilee year in the industry for an "Indo-Pak" love story.
Kerala village has over 200 pairs of twins
Malappuram (Kerala), June 6: It was a phenomenon that had gone unnoticed for several years, even by the residents. But now a village in Kerala with over 200 twins and a few more on the way is in the limelight.
Canada's parliament hails 'miracle' of Indian democracy
Toronto, June 6 (IANS): The election of Meira Kumar as India's first woman and Dalit speaker figured in the Canadian parliament Friday, with Indian-origin MP Deepak Obhrai describing it as a "miracle" of Indian democracy.
Are gods turning against Nepal's Maoist government?
Kathmandu, May 4: When King Gyanendra's army-backed reign ended three years ago followed by the abolition of monarchy in the world's only Hindu kingdom, it did not come as a surprise to the Himalayan nation's devout Hindus.
Where there's a will, there's water!
Raipur, May 5 (IANS): Faced with acute water shortage and tired of awaiting their turn at the municipality tap, women in one of the slums pockets in this Chhattisgarh capital decided to dig a well and ended up digging three in a month.
Rich residents of Gurgaon too busy to vote?
Gurgaon, May 4 (IANS): They are affluent, educated, well travelled and vocal about their rights. They want the best equipped gyms and swimming pools in their high-end condominiums. But many residents of this 'millennium city' won't be voting this Thursday.
Over 120,000 weapons deposited in Punjab before polls
Chandigarh, May 5: Gun-crazy Punjab has seen over 120,000 licensed weapons being deposited by their owners with the police before the parliamentary elections - a five-times increase over the previous polls.
Confident of LTTE rout, Sri Lanka draws tourism plans
New Delhi, April 27: The Sri Lankan government plans to turn the country's war-torn northeastern region, which boasts of some of the island's most scenic beaches, into a tourist attraction as the decades-old conflict with the Tamil Tigers seems to be nearing its end.
Indian buffalo at crossroads of science
Bangalore, May 5 (IANS): India's ambitious project to sequence the genome of a buffalo - the mainstay of the country's dairy industry - has become a victim of inter-agency rivalry and ego problems, an investigation reveals.
Candidate's wife never votes for him
New Delhi, April 25: Imagine a candidate whose wife always votes for his rival! That's the case with Ajit Kumar Jain 'Patwa' of Madhya Pradesh.
'No, Prime Minister' launched - but the PM stays away
New Delhi, April 4: "No Prime Minister" was an apt title for a cartoon collection released here Saturday evening with Manmohan Singh staying away as it would have be an "embarrassment" to launch a work on himself. But politicos Amar Singh and Shatrughan Sinha had plenty up their sleeves to send the audience into splits.
IT professional to housemaid turn poll volunteers in Bangalore
Bangalore, April 5 (IANS): A jeans-clad young IT professional and a housemaid with her hair neatly braided may be poles apart in their lifestyle. But they seem to find common ground during election time in India's tech hub.
No safe drinking water, no votes, says Bihar village
Patna, April 5 (IANS): Fed up with official apathy, people of a Bihar village, suffering for decades due to high fluoride content in drinking water, have sent politicians the simple message: no safe drinking water, no votes.
Bangladesh cultural movement inspires Indian musician
Dhaka, April 1: Bengalis in India look to Bangladesh to establish cultural and linguistic mores, according to folk musician Ajit Pandey.
Tibet's Drukpa Buddhist sect to woo Indians
New Delhi, March 28: Drukpa, an 800-year-old Buddhist sect from Tibet, is coming out of its theological cloister to showcase its legacy -- and it also wants to woo Buddhists in India.
Militants bring war to heart of Pakistan
Islamabad, March 30 (DPA): Pakistan's historic eastern city of Lahore has long been known as the country's cultural capital, with dozens of theatres, film studios, fashion houses, historical sites and exotic food.
Pakistani women artists make power statement in India
New Delhi, March 30 (IANS): Pakistani women artists are pushing new frontiers despite a conservative social milieu controlled by men. For proof one need look no further than an exhibition in the Indian capital displaying the works of three young women from Lahore.
Rajiv Gandhi's would-be assassin to enter poll fray in Punjab
Chandigarh, March 30 (IANS): As a 24-year-old, he hogged national headlines as the would-be assassin of then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi at Delhi's Rajghat, the memorial to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. But after nearly 25 years, Karamjit Singh wants to fight with the ballot rather than with the bullet.
Fasting and feasting - young Indians celebrate Navratra
New Delhi, March 30 (IANS): Preeti Chopra, a 25-year-old media professional here, is on a diet of potatoes, rock salt, kuttu ka atta (black wheat flour) and fruits.
16-month baby girl becomes India's youngest cadaver donor
New Delhi, March 30: After losing their 16-month-old daughter Abhilasha, to a serious liver ailment, her parents couldn't just let her die. Wanting her spirit to live on in others, they donated her organs, making her India's youngest cadaver donor.
Afghan-born Pakistan cricketer barred from representing Afghanistan
Karachi, March 30: The World Cup hopes of a Pakistani cricketer of Afghan origin have been quashed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has ruled that the player cannot represent Afghanistan in the qualifying tournament in South Africa starting April 1.
SAARC writers to debate terrorism at Agra literary fest
New Delhi, March 10 (IANS): Nearly 60 writers, poets and scholars from eight south Asian countries will debate and discuss terrorism, ethnic angst and popular culture at the SAARC Festival of Literature in Agra March 12-16.
Hindus, Muslims celebrate Lucknow's 'Holi Baraat'
Lucknow, March 11: Amid shouts of "Holi hai", a large number of Hindus and Muslims came together here Wednesday for a 40-year-old practise of jointly celebrating the festival of colours in the old quarter.
Kolkata's trams to sport a new look soon
Kolkata, March 11 (IANS): Kolkata's trams, that have been plying in the city for over 130 years and are a unique symbol of the city, are set to get a makeover.
Expats, foreigners in Delhi soak in Holi's colours, music
New Delhi, March 11: Hundreds of foreigners, mostly expatriates and vacationers, celebrated Holi in the capital Wednesday with coloured powder, traditional food, drinks and music throughout the day.
Musharraf in India after four years, to talk on terrorism
New Delhi, March 6 (IANS): Nearly four years after he came to India on an official visit to give a push to the peace process, former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf arrived here Friday on a private visit at a time when the ties between the two countries have virtually frozen after the Mumbai attacks.
Pakistani delegation visits Chandigarh, talks peace
Chandigarh, March 6: A Pakistani delegation on a nine-day goodwill visit to India Friday said the youth of both the countries are yearning to drop all the past barriers and learn more about each other.
India's scavenger women find new jobs - and dignity
New Delhi, March 6 (IANS): Rani Bai, a Dalit woman in her late 20s in Madhya Pradesh, has thrown away the shoddy cane basket and hand shovel with which she would clean a dozen dry toilets everyday. Armed with scissors and a needle, she now churns out beautiful bags from waste leather - that's her new job.
Only the sky's the limit for 10 Nepali women
Kathmandu, March 7 (IANS): Till a few years ago, Nepali women were not allowed to inherit parental property, undergo an abortion or even go abroad without the consent of their husbands.
A time to elope among Bhil tribals
Bhopal, March 6 (IANS): Elopement is not frowned upon at this time of the year among the Bhil tribals of Madhya Pradesh. The colourful seven-day Bhagoria festival that precedes Holi is a celebration of romance during which young people are encouraged to elope with their soul mates.
Four Indians named among Forbes' '48 Heroes of Philanthropy'
Washington, March 6: Four Indians have been listed among Forbes' "48 Heroes of Philanthropy" who opened their cheque books for a cause even as the global financial crisis is hammering fortunes all over Asia.
Herbal gulals passe, it's now time for organic colours
Lucknow, March 6 (IANS): Herbal gulals, which had become very popular in the past few years as people shunned toxic colours during the festival of Holi, are now facing stiff competition from new organic gulals that are packed with health benefits.
A violent history repeated in Pakistan
In the twilight of the 19th century, at the height of the British Empire, a young Winston Churchill accompanied a British military campaign to the northwest of India. In his first book, "The Malakand Field Force," Churchill described how, then as now, local tribesmen were challenging the government's authority in what is now Pakistan.
Attack on Sri Lankans making our hearts bleed: Pakistan's ex-skippers
Lahore, March 3 (IANS): Former captains of the Pakistan cricket team Tuesday condemned the attack on Sri Lankan cricketers here, fearing the incident will further damage Pakistan's position as an international cricket destination.
Who can contest Lok Sabha elections - and who cannot
New Delhi, March 3: With parliamentary elections announced in India, and with nearly 25 percent of the country's 714 million voters below the age of 35, there are tens of thousands of political aspirants who would throw themselves as candidates in the poll fray. What are the qualifications that are needed to contest the election?
Poll expense on rise - from Rs.104.5 mn to Rs.13 bn
New Delhi, March 3: Since India's first Lok Sabha elections in 1952 to the last round in 2004, poll expenses have shot up from Rs.104.5 million to Rs.13 billion. And this time, for the April-May exercise, the figure is likely to be even higher, says official data.
Auction of Mahatma's belongings stayed, India doing 'whatever' possible
New Delhi/Washington, March 3: In what could stop Mahatma Gandhi's personal belongings from going under the hammer at a New York auction, the Delhi High Court put an interim stay on it Tuesday even as the Indian government said it was "doing whatever" it could.
Fishermen are Coast Guard's new eyes in the sea
Ahmedabad, March 2: The Coast Guard has roped in fishermen to tip them off on suspected terrorists who might use the 1,600-km Gujarat coastline to infiltrate the country as the 26/11 attackers had used the sea route from Pakistan to India.
Pinki's Oscar to bring drinking water, power to her village
Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh), Feb 23 (IANS): As "Smile Pinki", a short film about a cleft lip girl - Pinki Sonkar from Uttar Pradesh's Rampur Dabai village - won an Oscar, her undeveloped hamlet has come into limelight and authorities Monday committed to provide it with roads, drinking water and solar electricity.
Can there be a Swat pact in Afghanistan?
Can a pact between the Pakistani government and the Taliban, aimed at restoring peace in the nation's troubled Swat valley, be the forerunner of a similar deal in Afghanistan? It would seem so from the remarks of US Defence Secretary Robert Gates.
90 organisations join to end child labour in Karnataka
Bangalore, Feb 23 (IANS): In a first of its kind attempt in the country, 90 civil society organisations across Karnataka have joined hands to end rampant child labour in the state.
Brightness of Kashmiri carpets fades in economic meltdown
Srinagar, Feb 22 (IANS): The centuries-old carpet industry of Kashmir is facing a severe crisis in the wake of the global economic slowdown, endangering the livelihood of over 150,000 weavers.
We have no quarrel with people of Pakistan: India
New Delhi, Feb 13: India Friday said despite a "pause" in the peace process, it has consciously taken a decision not to curtail people-to-people contacts and transport links between the two countries despite Pakistan's involvement in the Mumbai terror assault.
Koreans buy Nepali brides to work as slaves
Kathmandu, Feb 15 (IANS): Shanti Magar, a 21-year-old woman from Baglung district in western Nepal, belongs to the indigenous Magar community that sends hundreds of its men abroad every year to work as soldiers in the British and Indian armies.
Rail link to Kashmir Valley may have to be realigned
Jammu, Feb 15 (IANS): The proposed 70-km rail link between Katra in the Jammu region and Qazigund in Kashmir Valley may have to be realigned because of geological obstacles, pushing the project cost upwards.
Russia marks 20 years of Soviet pullout from Afghanistan
Moscow, Feb 15 (RIA Novosti): Russia is celebrating Sunday the 20th anniversary of the Soviet troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Gandhians unhappy with auction of Gandhi's artefacts
New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS): As auctioneers in New York prepare to sell off some of Mahatma Gandhi's possessions, including his metal-rimmed spectacles and sandals, Gandhians here are saddened and hope that the buyers will keep the objects in public domain.
India, China must cap growth of greenhouse gas emissions: UN climate chief
New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS): It is "feasible" and "indeed essential" that developing countries such as India and China come up with proposals to limit growth of greenhouse gas emissions if finances from industrialised countries are available, says UN climate chief Yvo de Boer, a point of view that will raise the hackles of the Indian establishment.
Pakistan urged to spare five Ahmadiyyas facing death for blasphemy
Toronto, Feb 4: Ahmadiyya Muslims in Canada have urged Pakistan to immediately release five members of the community facing charges of blasphemy, which is punishable by death.
Sri Lanka bent upon eradicating Tamilians, says survey
Chennai, Feb 6: A premier educational institution Friday said that 86 percent of the people surveyed in Tamil Nadu feel that the Sri Lankan government was bent upon eradicating the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka by using the alibi of fighting terrorists. The Loyola College conducted the opinion poll and results were announced Friday by an official.
Arms and the woman - Uttar Pradesh's proxy gun culture
Lucknow, Feb 4 (IANS): Nearly 700 women applied for arms licences in 2008 in western Uttar Pradesh. No, the region is not witnessing some sort of movement - rather politicians and criminals are using female members of their family to procure licences by proxy.
First transgender choir strikes gay rights chord in Nepal
Kathmandu, Feb 3 (IANS): Bhakti Shah faces an uphill struggle to get her job back a year after Nepal's army sacked the physical training instructor for being involved in a lesbian relationship with a trainee.
Learn to appreciate our nation, Nepal tells Bollywood
Kathmandu, Jan 30 (IANS): When Hindi comedy film "Chandni Chowk to China" ruffled Nepali sentiments by wrongly asserting that the Buddha was born in India, it was not an isolated mistake, say many Nepalis. They feel that Bollywood has been "stereotyping" and "belittling" the Himalayan nation over the years.
Abdullahs fight a grim battle in Jammu and Kashmir
Srinagar, Dec 26 (IANS): The Jammu and Kashmir elections, which ended peacefully with a surprisingly high voter turnout of 63 percent, is going to be an acid test for the Abdullah family that has lorded over the country's only Muslim-majority state for decades.
Mumbai attack fallout: Delhi hotels fortified
New Delhi, Dec 26: Wary guards, metal detectors and X-ray machines - a month after the Mumbai terror attacks, five star hotels in the capital have left no stone unturned to equip themselves to deal with any untoward incident.
Status-conscious Punjab VIPs to lose security
Chandigarh, Dec 26 (IANS): In a move that is bound to receive the common man's welcome, security cover given to hundreds of VIPs in the state in the name of unidentified 'terror threat perceptions' is likely to go, thanks to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Jammu's border villages vote for peace
Suchetgarh (Jammu and Kashmir), Dec 24 (IANS): It was a heartfelt vote for peace for people living in the border villages of Jammu and Kashmir's Jammu region who Wednesday turned up in large numbers to cast their ballot, in an election being held amid increasing tensions between India and Pakistan.
'Indian Idol' to become Nepal's matinee idol
Kathmandu, Dec 26 (IANS): A year after Prashant Tamang took India's entertainment industry by storm with his win in the popular television reality show "Indian Idol", the 24-year-old police constable is now poised to become a matinee idol in Nepal.
Gun barrels replace beer bottles as Goa enters festive mode
Panaji, Dec 24 (IANS): Gun barrels have begun to outnumber beer bottles on the otherwise merrily buzzing beaches of Goa, as the state slipped into Christmas mode with armed bunkers on beaches where khaki clad policemen rubbed shoulders with bare-bodied tourists.
In India, a woman becomes a crime victim every three minutes
New Delhi, Dec 25 (IANS): Every three minutes a woman becomes victim of a crime somewhere in India . The highest number become targets of their husbands and in-laws.
Class conflict, religion fuelling jehadis in Pakistan'
Islamabad, Dec 13: Class conflict and religion are in equal measure fuelling the jehadi movement in Pakistan, and the sooner the government moves against this the better, editorials in three leading English dailies said Saturday.
A slice of India in the Maldives
Male, Nov 11 (IANS): The sunny side of life - Maldives' seductive call to tourists and honeymooners has also worked its charm on nearly 25,000 Indians who have made the Indian Ocean nation their home. Doctors, teachers, chartered accountants, bank managers, business executives, travel trade professionals - Indians have left their imprint in just about every walk of life in this country of 370,000 people that is making a new tryst with democracy.
Six trucks from Pakistan carry goods to Kashmir
Srinagar, Nov 18: Six mini trucks carrying goods from Pakistani Kashmir Tuesday crossed the border in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Same-sex marriage gets court nod in Nepal
Kathmandu, Nov 18 (IANS): Close on the heels of an international furore over the state of California's decision to ban same-sex marriages, the apex court of nascent Himalayan republic Nepal has given its nod to such unions.
Six decades on, hunt for Tagore family memorabilia continues in Bangladesh
Dhaka, Nov 17: Six decades after the death of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, the hunt continues for memorabilia connected not only with him, but also his family members, in Naogaon district of northern Bangladesh.
Kashmir voters ponder over roads, water and jobs
Saderkote Payeen (Jammu and Kashmir), Nov 17 (IANS): The world looks at Kashmir as a hotspot between India and Pakistan. But people who voted here in Bandipora constituency Monday for a new legislature were more worried about local issues.
Maldives sinking? Searches for a new home
Male, Nov 11 (IANS): Fears of global warming are haunting the Maldives with its new president indicating that the Indian Ocean island country will not shy away from buying "land somewhere" that could act as an "insurance" against global warming that could submerge some of the world's lowest-lying islands.
'Prince charming' is now king of Bhutan
Thimphu, Nov 6: Oxford-educated Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Thursday became the world's youngest reigning monarch of the newest democracy of Bhutan after the fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuck handed over the Raven Crown to his eldest son.
Raven crown for world's youngest king in Bhutan
Thimphu, Nov 5: The sound of the gong accompanied by lamas chanting religious hymns would reverberate in Bhutan's capital Thimphu Thursday when 29-year-old Oxford educated Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck would be formally crowned the fifth king of the Himalayan kingdom.
Over 5,000 killed in 20,000 Himachal accidents in eight years
Shimla, Nov 6: Over 5,000 people have died in nearly 20,000 accidents during the past eight years on the mountain roads of Himachal Pradesh, police records show.
1984 riots: 10 panels later, no action against politicians, policemen yet
(24th anniversary of 1984 carnage)
It was exactly 24 years and a day ago that former prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards, triggering violence against the community, especially in the national capital. Nearly 3,000 Sikhs were massacred. But despite two commissions and eight committees set up to identify those responsible for the riots, not one politician or senior police official has been punished.
'174 terror groups operating across India'
A staggering 174 terrorist, insurgent and extremist groups, many of them little known, are operating across India, figures compiled by a terror watch portal show.
The 10 panels that probed the 1984-anti Sikh riots
Two commissions and eight committees have been set up to probe the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in which about 2,700 Sikhs were killed by rampaging mobs in the aftermath of the assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi. The following are their names, when they were constituted and their respective findings:
There is nothing called Hindu terrorism: Interview with V.K. Malhotra
Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) chief ministerial candidate in Delhi, says it is "absolutely wrong" to implicate Hindus in the Malegaon bombings and insists there is "nothing called Hindu terrorism".
220,000 Indians make US their home illegally
Washington, Nov 1: An estimated 220,000 Indians have made the United States their home illegally with a whopping 81 percent increase in their number in last seven years, according to latest official figures.
Archiving Indira - and remembering the 3,000 dead
New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS): It wasn't just an assassination, it was a cataclysmic event that claimed 3,000 lives. At the Indira Gandhi Memorial Friday, where India's only woman prime minister lived and died 24 years ago, it may be business as usual but memories of the dark days following her killing still cast shadows in the afternoon sun.
20 primitive tribals die in Jharkhand in one month
Ranchi, Oct 31 (IANS): Despite a plethora of welfare schemes, 20 members of three primitive tribes of Jharkhand have died in the last one month, with the government attributing this to food poisoning while social workers say the deaths occurred due to malnourishment.
Average Indian spends just Rs.440 on food per month
New Delhi, Oct 31: An Indian spends just Rs.440 or less than $10 per month on food, says a government survey released here Friday.
India: a major terror target
At least 600 people have been killed and hundreds maimed and devastated in terror strikes in India in the last six years. Following is a chronology of the major terrorist attacks in the country:
In a first, IAF's aerobatic team to perform in China
New Delhi, Oct 29: Providing impetus to the growing India-China defence ties, the Indian Air Force's (IAF) Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) that has enthralled audiences worldwide with its intricate manoeuvres in the skies, reached China Wednesday to perform in that country for the first time.
Chandrayaan inspires overseas Indian scientists to return home
Bangalore, Oct 28 (IANS)L The successful launch of India's first lunar mission Chandrayaan-1 has inspired many Indian space scientists working abroad to return home for a promising career in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), a top official said.
Bangladeshi writer cleared of sedition charges
Dhaka, Oct 25: Prominent Bangladeshi writer and poet Shahriar Kabir, who visited India to meet minority Hindu families that had fled his country following poll-time violence in 2001, has been cleared of sedition charges by the country's Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Deadly polio strain from Bihar creating havoc in Uttar Pradesh
New Delhi, Oct 26 (IANS): Uttar Pradesh has once again emerged as a hotbed for P 1, the most deadly polio strain, which was slowly being eliminated in India. But Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state, is again seeing a surge in the paralytic disease thanks to the virus being imported from neighbouring Bihar.
Indian breakthrough taps gravity to help road-rail travel
New Delhi, Oct 24 (IANS): An Indian breakthrough will help road-rail travel ride on gravity power alone that can potentially save the world 70 percent of fossil fuels required for the purpose every year.
Krishna Menon's kin traced for South African award
New Delhi, Oct 25: The Indian and South African governments took around six months to find the immediate kin of former Indian defence minister V.K. Krishna Menon to confer an international honour on him posthumously.
'Bring back remains of Bahadur Shah Zafar'
New Delhi, Oct 25: The mortal remains of India's last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar should be brought from Yangon to here, a committee on freedom movement has demanded as it celebrated the freedom fighter's 233rd birth anniversary.
From Muzaffarabad to Srinagar, a momentous journey begins
Muzaffarabad (Pakistan), Oct 21 (IANS): Hundreds of people lined the road as a caravan of 14 trucks began the historic journey to bridge a six decade divide to Srinagar as trade began across the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
Goodwill cargo of fruits, vegetables kicks off Poonch-Rawlakote trade
Rangar (Jammu and Kashmir), Oct 21 (IANS): For the first time in six decades, Indian vehicles rolled across the Line of Control (LoC) to bridge the divide between the two Kashmirs as trade began Tuesday and India and Pakistan came a little closer.
On the menu: Sizzlingly fast hilsa supply to India
Dhaka, Oct 22: Officials in Bangladesh and India are working out ways to quicken the supply of the much-sought-after hilsa fish to India, an export that fetched Dhaka $9.24 million in the July-October season alone.
New era in Kashmir as trade convoy leaves for Muzaffarabad
Salamabad Uri (Jammu and Kashmir), Oct 21 (IANS): To the sound of drumbeats and loud cheers, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra Tuesday flagged off the first trade convoy that will cross the Line of Control (LoC) dividing the two Kashmirs and herald a new era of goodwill.
That US pushed n-deal amid financial turmoil is 'real news'
New York, Oct 12 (IANS): The fact that the Bush administration found time to push the nuclear deal even amid the ongoing financial crisis is an indication of the growing importance the US accords to India, Indian American analysts and leaders point out.
Sri Lanka peace process R.I.P. (Book Review)
Book: "My Belly is White"; Author: Austin Fernando; Publisher: Vijitha Yapa Publications, Colombo
To sign or not to sign - that's the question for Rice
Washington, Oct 4 (IANS): US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice may or may not sign the 123 agreement to implement the landmark India-US civil nuclear deal during her India trip beginning Saturday as the two sides work on "administrative details."
Four steps to 123
Washington, Oct 4: Amid the suspense whether US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would sign or not sign the India-US civil nuclear deal during her visit to New Delhi Saturday, the US has outlined four steps before they can start nuclear trade.
Indian Americans celebrate 'historic' India-US treaty
New York, Oct 2 (IANS): Indian American organisations and community leaders have called the US Senate's final approval of the India-US civil nuclear agreement a "historic watershed" that will open up vast areas of cooperation between the two countries.
The Senate debate - Who said what
Washington, Oct 2: The historic 86-13 Senate endorsement of the India-US civil nuclear deal came after a two-and-a-half hour debate in which only seven speakers took part. This is how the debate went:
Taliban, Al Qaeda fight to death in Pakistan
Islamabad, Sep 29 (DPA): When thousands of Pakistani troops backed by tanks and artillery moved into Bajaur tribal district to retake a strategic checkpoint from Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters, many thought it would be a relatively easy walk for professional soldiers with huge fire power.
Pakistan's anti-polio campaign eats up funds, not virus
Islamabad, Oct 2 (IANS): Despite a polio vaccination campaign that has been going on for 14 years, authorities in Pakistan have failed to control the polio virus. Eleven new cases have been reported in the last two months.
South Asia making great progress in mobile connectivity
New Delhi, Oct 2: South Asia is making rapid progress in the field of telephony, specially mobiles, with even smaller countries in the region throwing up some unexpected facts and figures.
Zardari's remarks on India in parliament
Islamabad, Sep 20: Following is the portion of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari's address in parliament Saturday in which he spoke on relations with India:
Pakistani journalist recalls night of horror at Marriott
Islamabad, Sep 21: Pakistani journalist Imtiaz Alam was in a lift in Hotel Marriott here when he heard an ear-splitting boom. The lift came to a sudden halt and its lights went off.
Police sat on verification forms of terrorist tenants for a month
New Delhi, Sep 20: The tenant verification forms for the men killed, arrested or escaped in Friday's shootout in the capital have been gathering dust with the police for a month. Every landlord is obliged to submit these forms so that the police can check the antecedents of the tenants.
Marriott was Islamabad's iconic landmark
New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS): For years, the Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital Islamabad was more than just a five-star hotel. As the only luxury hotel in the city at the time, it was where well-heeled residents went for a relaxed mid-morning cup of coffee, a leisurely meal post-midnight, a swim in its heated pool and even for a bit of music at its "dry bar".
Police were complacent, harassed us: Islamabad residents
Islamabad, Sep 21: The Pakistani capital has long been a hotbed of terrorists but police have been overlooking this stark reality and been busy taking "bribes" and "harassing" commoners, media reports said Sunday, a day after a blast killed at least 46 people here.
Terrorists roamed across India with fake voter ID cards: police
New Delhi, Sep 20: Terrorists behind the recent bombings in Indian cities had obtained fake voter identity cards and had roamed across the country, Delhi Police said Saturday.
Indian Mujahideen accomplishes Operation B-A-D
New Delhi, Sep 13: The Indian Mujahideen struck again Saturday, this time in the national capital, accomplishing its 'Operation BAD' - which the intelligence community had deciphered as 'Operation Bangalore-Ahmedabad-Delhi'.
No lessons learnt, no security checks at hospitals
New Delhi, Sep 13: Security agencies seemed to have learnt no lessons from the July 26 terror attack in Ahmedabad where two hospitals were also targeted. No safety measures were taken at major hospitals in New Delhi after a series of blasts Saturday evening killed at least 18 people and injured 100 people.
Experts decry lack of counter-terror strategy
New Delhi, Sep 13: The multiple terror blasts in Delhi have again underscored the need for a coherent counter-terrorism strategy and exposed glaring gaps in policing and intelligence structure required to avert such attacks, say experts.
'Media should be sensitised about emergency situations'
New Delhi, Sep 13: Police officials said journalists should be sensitised about how to deal with emergency situations like terror attacks, as media persons were rushing to capture the scenes at the blast sites, crossing over ropes restricting access to the area at Greater Kailash I market after two terror explosions there Saturday evening.
Bose - the Indian behind the Big Bang experiment
London, Sep 10 (IANS) Of the three main past and present physicists behind the landmark proton-smashing experiment in Geneva Wednesday, one has a Nobel Prize, the other is waiting to find out if he has one, and the third never got one.
Ramadan holds special significance for Indian Muslims
The holy month of Ramadan (or Ramzan as it is known in this region) holds a special significance for the people of the Indian subcontinent. It is when the faithful not only show piety and compassion but try to send across a strong message of communal harmony.
Can Democracy Survive in Pakistan This Time?
What the impending September 6th presidential election in Pakistan is destined to determine is much more than the identity of the country's next president. Three candidates are in the race: Asif Zardari (PPP), Nawaz Sharif (PML-S) and the PML-Q candidate. According to the prognostication of political analyst C. Uday Bhaskar, Mr. Zardari is destined to win this contest by virtue of the superior numerical position of his party (PPP). It is predicted that he may garner around 360 of the 702 votes contained in the electoral college. If this outcome proves to be the case, then Pakistan will have elected a chief of state by a completely secular democratic political process for the first time in decades.
Tibet was non-negotiable for Dalai Lama's brother
Thubten Jigme Norbu, the elder brother of Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama who died last week in the US, considered the status of Tibet "non-negotiable" throughout his life.
The identity crisis facing Tibetan refugees
New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS): What is the place of Tibetans in our society? Are they just refugees, or have they taken on an Indian identity after having lived the Indian way for over three decades? A documentary titled "Tribute to Life - memoir of a lost land" answers all.
Indian Navy wins friends, expands influence in Indian Ocean region
New Delhi, Aug 28 (IANS): Parallel to India's rise as a global economic power, its navy is expanding its influence among the over 30 Indian Ocean countries with efficient delivery of aid during natural disasters.
Pakistani dictators Zia and Musharraf had much in common
Islamabad, Aug 18: Pakistan's two former military dictators - Gen. Ziaul Haq and Gen. Pervez Musharraf - had much in common, besides the fact that both were born in India and moved to Pakistan after the subcontinent was partitioned in 1947. Zia died 20 years and a day before Musharraf's rule ended.
1998-2008: Ten years in the life of Pervez Musharraf
From Oct 7, 1998 when he became chief of army staff to Oct 12, 1999 when he ousted the Nawaz Sharif government and now, almost nine years later, when he quit Monday as Pakistan's 12th president, Pervez Musharraf has played a key role in the country's development.
Prachanda - Arms and the man
Nepal's Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda", who assumed office Monday as the first Prime Minister of the federal democratic republic, was born in a farmer's family in central Nepal 54 years ago.
A history of Jammu and Kashmir
Here is a brief look at the history of Jammu and Kashmir, known for its syncretic culture where diverse faiths have prospered in peace:
SIMI's Delhi headquarters a hideout for petty thieves
New Delhi, Aug 6: Once the hotbed of political activities, the headquarters here of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) has turned into a dumping ground and a hideout for petty thieves.
An action plan to 'emancipate' Indian Muslims
New Delhi, Aug 6 (IANS): The Jammat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), one of India's oldest Muslim groups, has put in place a path-breaking Rs.55 billion (Rs.5,500 crore) action plan to create educational, health and housing facilities to improve the lot of millions of poor Muslims in the country.
When their moods said it all - view from the IAEA corridors
Vienna, Aug 2 (IANS): The Indians looked nervous, the Americans were confident while the Pakistanis preferred to sulk in the shadows.
For Ahmedabad's Muslim residents, 2008 is not 2002
Ahmedabad, July 30 (IANS) Many of them fled from their homes six years ago but they are staying put now. Even as they recall the massacre of February 2002, Muslims living in Naroda Patiya here have not panicked in the aftermath of the serial bombings in the city Saturday.
Mecca Masjid blast case was toughest, says retiring CBI director
New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) A day before his retirement, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Vijay Shankar Wednesday said the Mecca Masjid blasts case was the toughest during his two-year-nine-month-long stint as head of the agency.
Lhasa uprising eyewitness recounts nightmare
New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) "The police fired at the protesters, killing scores of innocent people. Trucks followed the army and the police, carrying away the bodies to destroy any evidence of Tibetans killed. I myself saw many people killed," recounted Kunsang, 30, who was in Lhasa when protests erupted in March this year.
Shah Jahan's 353rd death anniversary observed at Taj Mahal
Agra, July 30 (IANS) Mughal emperor Shah Jahan's 353rd urs (death anniversay) is being celebrated at the Taj Mahal here with prayers for ending terrorism.
Wanted urgently: more bomb-detection personnel for NCR
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS): Though Delhi and it suburban towns that comprise the National Capital Region (NCR) remain vulnerable to bomb attacks like the ones that struck Bangalore and Ahmedabaad, security officials admit they may be professionally ill-equipped to tackle emergent situations due to a shortage of trained bomb detection and disposal personnel.
India's 'manmade' water crisis can incite more conflicts: Assocham
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS): The water crisis staring at India is manmade, could get more complex and lead to more interstate conflicts if prompt measures are not taken to tackle the problem, warns a study by a leading industry lobby.
Serial blasts rock India's IT hub for first time
Bangalore, July 25: India's IT hub Bangalore, hit by serial blasts for the first time Friday, is known both as a peaceful city and a safe place for setting up sleeper cells by terror groups.
Indian women write their story of self-reliance - and empowerment
The barely literate homemaker struggled everyday to feed her husband and two children with only a small patch of land in the drought-hit belt of India's Maharashtra state to depend on. But Sita Bai Moite was determined to make a better life for her children and delved into her kitchen to come up with a recipe for success - supplying pickle, candy and other products to retailers.
'Many Kalawatis whom Rahulji has not visited'
Exactly a week after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visited her humble hut and later mentioned her case in parliament during the trust motion debate, Kalawati Bandurkar led a farmers' sit in agitation here Friday demanding the promised loan disbursal and relief to tide over the month-long dry spell.
Nepal's first president begins with prayer to Pashupati
Kathmandu, July 22: Ram Baran Yadav, the 61-year-old physician who will be sworn in as the first president of the new republic of Nepal Wednesday and replace dethroned king Gyanendra as the head of state, embarked on his new career by offering prayers at the Pashupatinath temple here.
35, 70 or 170? How many will accompany Gilani to the US?
Islamabad, July 22: What will be the size of Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's delegation on his visit to Washington next week - 35, 70 or 170?
Nepal's first president studied medicine in Kolkata
Kathmandu, July 21 (IANS): When Ram Baran Yadav is sworn in Tuesday as the first president of Nepal, it will be a cause for special celebration among the medical fraternity in Kolkata as the 61-year-old received his higher medical education in the Indian city.
Few Chinese presidents ever visited Tibet in five decades
Beijing, July 20 (IANS): Tibet may well be an "inalienable" part of the People's Republic of China, but few Chinese presidents or its paramount leaders have ever visited the region in the past five decades.
Child soldiers assuming dangerous proportions in Manipur
Imphal, July 20 (IANS): Indian authorities in the restive northeastern Manipur state have warned parents against letting their children venture out alone after some 20 teenagers were recruited as child soldiers by separatist groups, officials Sunday said.
Four months after riots, Lhasa limps back to normal
Lhasa, July 13 (IANS): Four months after the March 14 riots for a "free Tibet" that left 18 people dead, 800 injured and destroyed property worth millions of dollars, life in this panoramic Tibetan capital is limping back to normal. But there is apprehension among the people that there can be fresh violence before the Beijing Olympics, slated to begin Aug 8.
Sabotage suspected in Arjun tank engine; black box installed
New Delhi, July 13 (IANS): The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has installed a black box-like instrument in the indigenous main battle tank (MBT) Arjun, under development for nearly 36 years, following attempts to "sabotage" its engine. The instrument was installed after the Indian Army termed the winter trial of the Arjun tank a "failure".
Water on moon: new evidence an impetus to Chandrayaan
Dubai, July 13 (IANS): New research findings about evidence of water on the moon give fresh impetus to Chandrayaan, India's maiden moon mission.
Kabul attack throws light on Afghan power game
New Delhi, July 7 (IANS): The deadly terror attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul Monday has put the spotlight on India's strategic stake in Afghanistan, with two leading analysts hinting at a Pakistani hand.
India's Kabul mission had warned of 'invasion' in May
New Delhi, July 7: The Indian mission in Kabul, the target of a suicide bombing attack Monday, had itself warned of "compound invasions" on important buildings in the Afghan capital less than two months ago. Ironically, the person who issued the advisory was himself a victim of the attack on the Indian embassy Monday.
Chinese drug cartels making incursions into India!
New Delhi, July 6 (IANS): All this time Indian law enforcement agencies had been battling Nigerian drug syndicates, but attempts by Chinese drug cartels to get a foothold in the country for production of 'designer drugs' have set the alarm bells ringing.
Backing Congress was Mulayam's 'best' option
Lucknow, July 6 (IANS): Even from the point of view of Uttar Pradesh, there was no other alternative for Samajwadi Party chieftain Mulayam Singh Yadav than to go with the Congress on the India-US nuclear deal.
Climate, economy, security confront leaders at G-8 summit
Toyako (Japan), July 6 (Xinhua): When the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations gather in Hokkaido Monday for their annual summit, they face the challenges of global warming, an uncertain world economy and mounting tensions in the world's hot spots.
'Working for poor, India and Pakistan can create Asian century'
New Delhi, June 26 (IANS): India and Pakistan can script an Asian century if they scale up their economic ties and collaborate for uplifting millions of poor in their countries, says Salman Faruqui, deputy chairman of Pakistan's Planning Commission.
Ex-Nepal king's grandchildren stop going to school: report
Kathmandu, June 25: The exit of deposed king Gyanendra from the royal palace and the abolition of Nepal's once revered institution of monarchy has affected the former king's grandchildren as well, though they had no role in the upheaval that shook the country following their grandfather's ascension.
Are India, Myanmar slowing Bangladesh's oil exploration bids?
Dhaka, June 18 (IANS): India and Myanmar are hindering Bangladesh's exploration bids by raising objections on oil and gas exploration in several blocks bordering their maritime boundaries, say officials here.
Corruption rife in Bangladesh, says global watchdog
Dhaka, June 19: Corruption is rife in Bangladesh and is on the increase in all areas of government activity with a public interface despite a drive by the military-backed government against it, says Transparency International, a Berlin headquartered NGO addressing corruption globally.
Dhaka's independence proclamation documents missing
Dhaka, June 18: Original documents on the formation of Bangladesh's government-in-exile during the freedom struggle against Pakistan in 1971 have been missing and successive regimes have done nothing to recover them, say old timers, who smell a conspiracy behind the disappearance.
A professional, enterprising face of Indian Muslims
Agra, June 19 (IANS): Breaking stereotypes about Muslims in India, a new directory here says the community is producing doctors, lawyers, accountants, poets, artists, architects, businessmen and experts in many fields.
Was Haneef a victim of conspiracy for political gains?
Sydney, June 18 (IANS):Was Indian doctor Muhammad Haneef a victim of conspiracy for political gains? Documents obtained by Haneef's legal team under Freedom of Information laws indicate that the then prime minister's office became involved in the case within 48 hours of Haneef's arrest in connection with the botched British bombings July 2, 2007.
Many barriers for South Asian women in US
New York, June 14: Testifying before the New Jersey governor's panel on immigrant policy, a South Asian women's rights organisation has said linguistic and cultural barriers as well as the lack of information prevent many South Asians from accessing critical social services such as healthcare and law enforcement.
Excitement on India-China frontier over female Buddha statue
Itanagar, June 14 (IANS): There is a lot of excitement in Arunachal Pradesh's border region with China as work has begun to erect an 80-feet statue of the White Tara or the female Buddha on the dizzy heights of a peak that overlooks Tibet and Bhutan.
Indians and Chinese happy amidst world economic gloom: Survey
Washington, June 14 (IANS): Amidst the global economic gloom, people of India and China remain upbeat about national economic conditions, though Indians are less positive than they were a year ago, according to a new survey.
Building peace is harder than fighting in Afghan town
Gereshk (Afghanistan), June 11 (DPA): Two shots ring out in the darkness as the Danish army jeeps crawl through an unlit, heavily rutted alley - a perfect site for an enemy ambush or a strike by suicide bombers known to be at large in the town.
Burney pleads for Indian prisoners, despite immigration flap
Islamabad, June 10 (IANS): Human rights activist and former minister Ansar Burney has asked Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani to convert all death sentences to life imprisonment, including that of two Indian nationals.
Afghans look to Paris conference for boost and money
Paris, June 11 (DPA): Representatives from 80 nations and organisations will gather Thursday in Paris to provide a much-needed political boost, and some much-needed money to the international effort to stabilise Afghanistan.
Pakistani economist offers 'trade with India' mantra
Islamabad, June 2: Pakistan may be headed towards its biggest economic crisis in decades, says a leading Pakistani economist who also suggests a way out: shed distrust, accelerate trade and investment with India and reap the peace dividends.
RSP's pique apart, Congress-Left unlikely to part ways
New Delhi, June2: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a mild-mannered man. His way of showing his peevishness towards his Left allies, even on a corrosive issue like fuel price hike, is equally mild. But even by his tepid standards Singh quite outdid himself Monday morning when he obliquely reprimanded his Marxist friends supporting his government for stalling "rational economic policies."
Once dubbed 'mad' by his own, he is now a mass leader
Bayana (Rajasthan), June 4: As a soldier he fought wars. Years later, when he along with his wife began campaigning for job quotas for his community, he was dubbed "mad" by his own people. Today, Kirori Singh Bainsla has emerged as a mass leader, commanding tens of thousands of angry Gujjars in the desert state of Rajasthan.
Trade Unions demand equal pay for migrant workers in Australia
Sydney, June 4 (IANS): Trade unions in Australia are seeking guarantees for migrant workers on the 457 visa to get the same pay and benefits as local workers as some say the temporary skilled migration programme has become a source of getting cheap labour from India, China and the Philippines.
Five errors that cost Gyanendra his crown
Kathmandu, May 29 (IANS): Destiny gave Nepal's last monarch Gyanendra two chances to ascend the throne though normally he would never have been king. But the headstrong ruler gambled away his 239-year-old crown through a series of costly errors.
Building bridges across the Brahmaputra
Dibrugarh (Assam), May 27 (IANS): We got to Bogibeel ghat, about an hour's run from Dibrugarh, the last half hour taken to negotiate a short stretch that is just sand, dust and stone with huge potholes created by the trucks and vehicles busy with building the approach road to the Bogibeel rail bridge. The bridge concept was launched in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's premiership but my guess is that it won't be ready until 2012-13.
Nepali author demolishes king's blue blood claim
Kathmandu, May 27: On the verge of being stripped of his crown and evicted from the royal palace, Nepal's distressed King Gyanendra now faces another blow - the demolition of the "myth" that his dynasty is descended from India's Rajputs, a dynasty of warrior kings known for their valour and blue blood.
Pakistani analysts hawkish on Kashmir, media positive on talks
Islamabad, May 21 (IANS): Leading Pakistani dailies and analysts have struck a cautiously optimistic note on the resumption of the peace process between India and Pakistan, but remained sceptical of any breakthrough on tricky issues with some blaming India for its attempts to sidetrack the Kashmir issue by talking of confidence building measures (CBM) and trade instead.
Monument to royal folly
Kathmandu, May 23: The Narayanhity royal palace is almost as old as Nepal's Shah dynasty of kings but destined by fate to live on even after the kings of Nepal cease to be.
And now mobs deliver justice in Pakistan
Islamabad/Karachi, May 23 (IANS): Unmindful of the illegality of their action, a growing tribe of Pakistani citizens are delivering "mob justice" - killing, burning and seriously injuring criminals on the streets.
Booming media gives a slip to Musharraf
Islamabad, May 26 (IANS): Shorn of his military uniform and his power diminished by the Feb 18 general election, President Pervez Musharraf has literally vanished from the two dozen TV news channels that used to hang on to his every word and gesture for the nearly eight years that he ruled Pakistan.
Tortuous road ahead for BJP's first government in South India
Bangalore, May 26: A day after the drubbing they received from the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Karnataka assembly poll, the Congress and Janata Dal-Secular Monday appeared set to give a torrid time to BJP's first government in the south.
'India-Pakistan bilateral ties have matured'
Islamabad, May 20: Bilateral ties between India and Pakistan have matured to the extent that the recent serial blasts in Jaipur will not cast a shadow on the upcoming talks here between the foreign ministers of the two countries, a leading Pakistani commentator said Tuesday.
India, Pakistan must jointly produce n-energy: analyst (Interview)
Islamabad, May 20 (IANS): A leading Pakistani strategic expert has suggested that India and Pakistan should jointly produce nuclear energy as a confidence-building measure and to solve their power crunch.
The war dividend
A flawed election in eastern Sri Lanka; a poor promise of peace or development
Wading into Trincomalee harbour early on May 10th, a line of poor fishermen received election-day gifts from both sides of Sri Lanka's nasty, 25-year-old civil war. From the government, dominated by the Sinhalese majority, the gift was of a day's work. The government of President Mahinda Rajapakse had lifted a two-year ban on entering the harbour, an important naval base, just before the poll. From the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who claim northern and eastern Sri Lanka, of which Trincomalee is the capital, there was a stench of diesel. This was all that remained of a naval transport vessel, the Invincible, which had been blasted and scuttled hours earlier by a "Black Tiger" suicide-diver.
Bhutan - the last Shangri-la in no hurry to change
It's for no reason that they call this landlocked nation 'the last Shangri-la'. Despite its coming out party in the form of momentous elections held in March, Bhutan still zealously guards its traditional culture, identity and the environment. Foreign influences and tourism are strictly regulated and it is in no hurry to change or make that grand leap forward.
After disasters and death tolls, world moves on
Long after the waves had ripped through her life with the force of a jet, long after the rubble had been cleared away, the woman sat in her half-built house and talked about what had become of her family, her village, her idea of community.
Sri Lanka promoting ayurveda to boost tourism
Colombo, May 19 (IANS): Sri Lanka is trying to promote ayurveda in the hope that the soothing herbal therapies will attract travellers looking for relaxation and rejuvenation and boost its tourism industry, which has been affected by the ongoing civil war.
Bhutanese unsure of democracy's outcome, but feel change is good
Having relished their country's isolation for years, not many Bhutanese are sure if the historic poll held in March, which transformed their quaint Himalayan nation from a kingdom to a democracy, is going to make a qualitative change in their lives.
Pakistan's poor go hungry amid food shortages
Sukena, a middle-aged mother of two girls, argued with a shopkeeper as she reached her hands into the pockets of her burqa and counted money. All she had was Rs.25 (35 cents), barely enough to buy bread but no milk in the port city of Karachi.
A year after Hyderabad blast, wounds still wide open
Hyderabad, May 17: The marble platform of the 17th century Mecca Masjid is still lying broken in the mosque courtyard, a grim reminder of the bomb blast that killed nine people during Friday prayers exactly a year ago.
The pipe dream of Tiger statehood
If the LTTE thought of creating shockwaves by its letter to the UN Secretary General earlier this week making its case for recognition of the Tamil sovereignty it appears to have misread the situation facing the so-called liberators of the Sri Lankan Tamils today.
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