 |
|
India, China hold talks
on boundary issue |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pak offers record credit to Nepal
Israel to pull out of Gaza
Schiavo case to be heard again
PPP leader rules out deal with government
Pope appears at window, blesses pilgrims
Unhappy Ali
|
|
Lack of equipment hampers rescue
Nias (Indonesia), March 30 Agus Mendrofa, the deputy district chief of Nias, one of the Sumatra coast islands, worst affected by Monday’s 8.7-magnitude quake, said the death toll there was expected to reach at least 500 as rescuers struggled. “People are vying with each other, demanding that their houses be worked on first, because they say they still have relatives there,” Mendrofa told Jakarta’s Elshinta Radio. Indonesian Red Cross officials said they estimated the total death toll from the disaster, which came three months after a giant quake and tsunami left 2,20,000 Indonesians dead or missing, could be as high as 1,000. Australia and Malaysia has been sending C-130 transport planes loaded with equipment to help with the rescue effort, but with the main airstrip in Nias too damaged for larger planes, there was no way of landing the aircraft. Instead, the United Nations has set up a hub in the Sumatra port city of Sibolga, and will use Chinook heavy-lifting helicopters to ferry machinery and supplies to the island. Michele Lipner of the UN’s office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which is overseeing the operations, said bad weather had grounded much of the gear for several hours this morning.
— AFP |
|
India, China hold talks
on boundary issue Beijing, March 30 "The two countries should seize the opportunity to assure the success of Premier Wen's upcoming visit in order to push forward the Sino-Indian constructive partnership of cooperation with practical actions," State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan said during a meeting here with Foreign Secretary Shayam Saran, who is here for the crucial round of India-China border talks. Tang praised the efforts made by the Joint Working Group (JWG) on the Sino-Indian border issue. The JWG, which is meeting here for the 15th round, "aims to safeguard peace across the boundary," he said. Tang said he believed the two countries would find a fair, reasonable and acceptable solution to solve the boundary question, through equal consultation with mutual understanding and accomodation. Tang said that better Sino-Indian relations will also contribute more to peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Saran said the Indian government and people eagerly await Premier Wen's visit. He believed that his visit will be fruitful and will further promote the bilateral ties between the two countries. Earlier, Saran held negotiations with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, Wu Dawei. The three-day talks of the Sino-Indian joint working group on the boundary question is scheduled to end tomorrow, Xinhua quoted sources with Chinese Foreign Ministry as saying. Details are not available on the talks, but official sources said the discussions will cover political parameters and guiding principles for the settlement of the India-China boundary question. The talks will also focus on measures to strengthen the constructive and cooperative partnership between the two countries, taking into account the overall global and strategic perspective of the bilateral relationship, and other issues of mutual interest and concern, Xinhua said. In his remarks, Tang noted China and India, two important developing countries in the world, will witness the 55th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties this year. Apart from Saran, the Indian delegation to the JWG also includes Indian Ambassador to China, Nalin Surie and Joint Secretary (East Asia) Ashok Kantha other senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs. Saran is expected to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing tomorrow. — PTI |
|
|
Pak offers record credit to Nepal
Kathmandu, March 30 The decisions were announced following the fifth meeting here on Wednesday of the Nepal-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission, which had been dormant for nearly 10 years. Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, who is heading the Pakistani delegation that arrived here on a four-day visit on Monday, said the credit line was the biggest offered by Islamabad to any country. The facility is intended to facilitate import of Pakistan-made industrial and agricultural equipment as well as technical assistance. Following the example of India, which has initiated moves for bilateral trade pacts with other SAARC neighbours like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan plan to enter negotiations for a free trade agreement and will set up a joint task force to start discussions. Khar said Pakistan was eager to build institutional links with Nepal that would explore each other's ‘‘pockets of excellence’’ and look at jointly promoting religious, adventure and cultural tourism. The two members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation will also look at joint investments in textiles, pharmaceuticals, communication and alternate energy. The Pakistani credit line will boost Nepal’s sagging morale after the beating it received at the UN Human Rights Commission meeting in Geneva, where rights groups and donor countries expressed concern at Kathmandu's deteriorating rights situation since King Gyanendra assumed absolute power and imposed a state of emergency on February 1. Bilateral trade between Nepal and Pakistan currently stands at Nepali Rs 470 million, with Nepalese exports accounting for Nepali Rs 270 million. It has the potential to reach Nepali Rs 5 billion in five years, say Nepali entrepreneurs. But the main hurdle is that the bulk of Nepal's shipments to other countries is routed through Kolkata in India and there are no shipping links between India and Pakistan. This requires cargo to be re-routed through third countries like the United Arab Emirates, Singapore or Sri Lanka, adding to transport costs and delays. For high-value products sent as air cargo, Nepal has asked for air concessions and Khar said Pakistan International Airlines, the state carrier flying on this route, would consider it if viable. In view of improved relations between India and Pakistan, Nepalese entrepreneurs have proposed a transit route from western Nepal through Amritsar in India to Pakistan's Wagah border. However, Khar said alternative routes through Bangladesh and China could also be explored. Though landlocked Nepal's dominant trading partner is India, since most roads leading to the kingdom go through that country, things might change after 2006 when the South Asian Free Trade Area pact comes into existence and SAARC members will be obliged to provide transit corridors to neighbours. Nepali businessmen are banking on tea exports to Pakistan to increase following a concession made by Islamabad. Currently, tea exports to Pakistan are worth about Nepali Rs 80 million. But entrepreneurs say it can go up to Nepali Rs 500 million with Islamabad having agreed to duty-free access for 4,000 tonnes.
— IANS |
|
Israel to pull out of Gaza
Jerusalem, March 30 The lawmakers voted 58 to 36 to approve the budget, one day after they rejected a proposal to submit the Gaza pullout to a national referendum. Sharon has said he hopes to begin evacuation of the 21 Jewish settlements in Gaza in mid-July and finish in about four weeks. Under Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan, first proposed in December 2003, about 8,250 Jewish settlers would leave Gaza, along with the thousands of Israeli soldiers who protect them. The plan also calls for the evacuation of four isolated settlements in the northern West Bank with about 500 settlers. The withdrawal, if it proceeds as planned, would mark the first time Israel has relinquished territory seized in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war since 1989, when the handover of the resort town of Taba to Egypt completed Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula under the Camp David peace agreement. ‘‘Sharon had this vision, for whatever reason, and he managed to manoeuvre it through every stage, even in spite of setbacks in his own party. It's really an amazing feat,’’ said Asher Arian, a senior fellow with the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem. ‘‘It's the first time in the last 35 years that the right wing has lost, and they're not used to it, and that's why there's so much anguish and hand-wringing in the country.’’ Opponents of the disengagement plan said they would move their fight from parliament to the streets, and the Yesha Council, an umbrella organisation of Jewish settlements, warned that settlers might fight the ‘‘expulsion of Jews’’ from Gaza. Opponents of the pullout argue that it rewards Palestinian terrorism because it was planned as a unilateral initiative, and Israel gets nothing in return. Palestinian militant groups have hailed the withdrawal as a major achievement of their four-and-a-half-year uprising against Israel. Sharon argues that Israel has wasted too much money and too many lives protecting settlers in Gaza, who are surrounded by about 1.3 million Palestinians. Public opinion polls show that most Israelis agree, with about two-thirds favouring the pullout. — By arrangement with the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post |
|
Schiavo case to be heard again
Atlanta, March 30 The ruling by the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals came on Schiavo’s 12th day without nourishment. The Schindlers had argued that the District Court “committed plain error when it reviewed only the state court case and outcome history.” Now, the court is considering the request for a new trial rather than whether the state court rulings have met legal standards under Florida law, which is what federal courts have done in the case up to now. Earlier yesterday, Schiavo’s father, Bob Schindler, described his daughter as “failing” following his visit. “She still looks pretty darn good under the circumstances,” Schindler said. “You can see the impact of no food and water for 12 days. Her bodily functions are still working. We still have her.” Yesterday, the Rev. Jesse Jackson prayed with the Schindlers and joined conservatives in calling for state lawmakers to order her feeding tube reinserted. The former Democratic presidential candidate was invited by Schiavo’s parents to meet with activists outside Schiavo’s hospice. His arrival was greeted by some applause and cries of “This is about civil rights!” Schiavo’s parents have maintained that their daughter would want to be kept alive. Schiavo’s husband, Michael, insists he is carrying out her wishes by having the feeding tube pulled.
— AP |
|
PPP leader rules out deal with government
Hyderabad, March 30 He maintained that the PPP would never enter into a deal with the rulers, adding that party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had sacrificed his life but had not bowed before a dictator. Mr Shah was speaking at a gathering in Noorani Basti. He said regardless of the government's claim that the general election would be held in 2007, the polls would be held in 2005. He hoped that the PPP would win the election and come into power. He further said the current year was also the year of party chairperson Benazir Bhutto's return. He said April 4 was a black day for the PPP when democracy was destroyed and a great leader was hanged. He urged people to participate in the death anniversary of the late Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bux, Larkana. He maintained that April 16 would set the course of democracy in the country when Asif Ali Zardari would return to the country. They said the PPP would control price hike when it would come into power. |
|
Pope appears at window, blesses pilgrims
Vatican City, March 30 The ailing pontiff raised his hand in blessing and made the sign of the cross as a Vatican official read greetings and prayers. The appearance came amid media reports that the 84-year-old pontiff may have to return to the hospital to have a feeding tube inserted since he is having trouble swallowing with the breathing tube that was inserted last month.
— AP |
|
Unhappy Ali
London, March 30 Zafar Khan, chairman of the Limbless Association that arranged Ali’s treatment in the UK, said yesterday Ali was suffering for the UK Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) “incompetence and negligence”. Ali applied for Disability Living Allowance last October, Khan said, but received a letter early this month saying he was not entitled to back payments.
— Kunda |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
