W O R L D

Destroy all nuclear weapons, says India
United Nations, October 5
Warning against the possibility of weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of terrorists, India has called for total elimination of nuclear weapons in a “progressive and systematic manner” under the global and “non-discriminatory” regime to guard against further proliferation.

India and Belarus sign pact to curb terrorism
Minsk, Belarus, October 5
India and Belarus today signed an agreement on ‘’mutual legal assistance in criminal matters’’ to combat the growing menace of terrorism.

French, 2 Americans share Nobel chemistry prize
Stockholm, October 5
France’s Yves Chauvin and Americans Robert H. Grubbs and Richard R. Schrock won the 2005 Nobel Prize in chemistry today, for their work to reduce hazardous waste in forming new chemicals.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Richard Schrock (left), who won the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Yves Chauvin of the Institut Francais du Petrole in France (right). — Reuters/AFP photos

Death sentence for four
Musharraf assassination bid
Islamabad, October 5
A military court in Pakistan has awarded death sentence to four Pakistan Air Force personnel for their involvement in an assassination attempt on President Pervez Musharraf in Rawalpindi on December 14, 2003.

Tourists watch a sunset at Kuta beach, four days after bombs ripped through packed restaurants, in Bali on Wednesday. Indonesian police widened their search on Wednesday for those behind weekend suicide blasts. — Reuters

	Two held for Bali bombings October 5, 2005
	Musharraf a liar: Washington Post October 4, 2005
	4 killed in raids on Pak posts October 3, 2005
	Sarabjit got death due to bias: lawyer October 2, 2005
	Mission solidarity October 1, 2005
	Mission solidarity September 30, 2005
	Lift N-curbs, India pleads before IAEA September 29, 2005
	US Congress hails India’s decision on Iran’s N-plan September 28, 2005
	Iran may halt spot checks of N-facilities September 27, 2005
	Anti-war rallies in Washington, London September 26, 2005

3 Pak nationals sent to UK for questioning
Islamabad, October 5
In the first case of its kind, Pakistan has sent three of its nationals to the UK to face questioning over the murder of a Scottish school boy, the British High Commission said today. The three men were “returned to the UK this morning to face questioning about the murder of Scottish school boy Kriss Donald,” the High Commission said in a statement.



Britons of Pakistani origin Imran Shahid (right) Zeeshan Shahid (centre) and Mohammad Fazal Mustaq are escorted by officials of the Federal Investigation Agency at Islamabad airport for deportation on Wednesday.
— AP/PTI photo

Ford Foundation’s leadership award announced
Washington, October 5
The Indian-American trade union leader, Ms Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, has been chosen by the Ford Foundation for the"2005 Leadership for a Changing World Award’’.

Destroy all nuclear weapons, says India
Dharam Shourie

United Nations, October 5
Warning against the possibility of weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of terrorists, India has called for total elimination of nuclear weapons in a “progressive and systematic manner” under the global and “non-discriminatory” regime to guard against further proliferation.

Addressing a committee of the General Assembly yesterday, the Indian delegate to the UN Inderjit said the non-proliferation framework remains beset with “crisis” and to address this issue, it is necessary for nuclear weapons states to reaffirm their commitment to nuclear disarmament.

But simultaneously, he also called on all states to implement “fully and in good faith” the obligations they have accepted. Though Inderjit did not refer to any country by name, diplomats said the formulation obviously referred to Iran which has accepted obligations under the NPT and is involved in a confrontation with the USA and Europeans over its programme to enrich uranium.

He said dealing with growing proliferation concerns in an inclusive manner consistent with the UN Charter and international law would reinforce the commitment to and facilitate achievement of nuclear disarmament.

“We believe that nuclear disarmament and non proliferation are inter-linked and are mutually reinforcing. Only total elimination of nuclear weapons will provide the assurance that there will be no further proliferation,” he said.

While pursuing the goal of nuclear disarmament, Inderjit said, there is a need to take some interim measures to reduce the danger, including “de-alerting” nuclear weapons.

“There is an urgent need to adjust nuclear doctrines to a posture of no-first-use and non-use against non-nuclear-weapons states. India’s nuclear posture is characterised by responsibility, predictability and a defensive orientation,” he added.

But, Inderjit said it is important to ensure that proliferation issues do not hamper cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy with states whose “non-proliferation records are beyond doubt.” Stating that India’s record on non-proliferation is “unblemished,” he welcomed the decision of some “key states” to cooperate with New Delhi in the endeavour to develop nuclear power generation capacity.

“We are engaged in constructive dialogue with the international community for finding ways to facilitate international collaboration in the development of nuclear power,” he said.

Emphasising India’s resolve to develop nuclear energy as an important component of its overall energy basket, he said New Delhi’s goal is to generate at least 20,000 MW of nuclear power by 2020.

“The development of nuclear energy will reduce pressure on oil prices and provide a clean and environmentally sustainable alternative to fossil fuel,” he told delegates.

Inderjit assured the committee that India is determined to ensure that advanced technologies, both civilian and strategic, do not fall into the “wrong hands” whether of States or non-state actors.

“We have established a comprehensive system of export controls which is continuously reviewed and updated and accords with the global standards,” he said. — PTI

India and Belarus sign pact to curb terrorism

Indian Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat (right) greets Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko in Minsk on Wednesday. — PTI photo

French, 2 Americans share Nobel chemistry prize

Stockholm, October 5
France’s Yves Chauvin and Americans Robert H. Grubbs and Richard R. Schrock won the 2005 Nobel Prize in chemistry today, for their work to reduce hazardous waste in forming new chemicals.

The three won the award for their development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis, which focuses on how chemical bonds are broken and made between carbon atoms, and which the Nobel Prize committee likened to a dance in which the couples change partners.

Metathesis has tremendous commercial potential in the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and foodstuffs production industries. It is also used in the development of revolutionary polymers.

The process is used “daily in the chemical industry, mainly in the development of pharmaceuticals and advanced plastic materials.”

“This represents a great step forward for ‘green chemistry,’ reducing potentially hazardous waste through smarter production. Metathesis is an example of how important basic science has been applied for the benefit of man, society and the environment,” the committee said.

Chauvin (74), is the honorary Director of research at the Institut Francais du Petrole in Rueil-Malmaison, near Paris.

Chauvin is the first Frenchman to win a Nobel Prize since Claude Cohen-Tannoudji won the physics prize in 1997, and joins his famous counterparts Pierre and Marie Curie who shared the 1903 physics prize Antoine Henri Becquerel.

Grubbs (63) is a professor of chemistry at the California Institute of Technology, and Schrock is a chemistry professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The three men share the $ US 1.3 million award, which will be presented December 10 in the Swedish capital. — AP

Death sentence for four
Musharraf assassination bid

Islamabad, October 5
A military court in Pakistan has awarded death sentence to four Pakistan Air Force (PAF) personnel for their involvement in an assassination attempt on President Pervez Musharraf in Rawalpindi on December 14, 2003.

A press release issued by the PAF on Tuesday night said two other junior ranking Air Force personnel have been awarded life imprisonment in the same case.

The case was being tried by a court- martial of PAF for the past six months and the proceedings of the case concluded on October 3.

The convicts have a right to appeal, according to a provision of the PAF Act.

A civilian identified as Mushtaq, who was also involved in the same assassination attempt, had been tried by the court- martial and handed down capital punishment.

The latest convictions came little over a month after another military court handed down death punishment to five people, including a non-commissioned Pakistani army official, in last August,

for conspiring to assassinate General Musharraf in December 2003.

Three other people had also been sentenced to different jail terms in the same case.

In 2003, Musharraf survived twin attempts on his life near his official residence in Rawalpindi, first on December 14 ,when a bridge blew up seconds after he crossed over it and the second on December 25, after two suicide bombers rammed their explosive-laden vehicles into his motorcade. — UNI

3 Pak nationals sent to UK for questioning

Islamabad, October 5
In the first case of its kind, Pakistan has sent three of its nationals to the UK to face questioning over the murder of a Scottish school boy, the British High Commission said today.

The three men were “returned to the UK this morning to face questioning about the murder of Scottish school boy Kriss Donald,” the High Commission said in a statement.

“The men have been wanted in connection with the murder since the offence occurred in March 2004. But without a formal extradition treaty the Pakistani authorities were unable to return them to the UK,” it said.

“Following lengthy negotiations the Pakistani authorities amended the 1972 Extradition Act to allow for the return of the three wanted men,” the statement said.

The development came at a time when the British and Pakistani governments were about to ratify a formal extradition treaty and demonstrated growing ties between the two nations.

The British High Commissioner said the murder of Kriss Donald was a vicious crime against an innocent 15-year-old boy that caused revulsion throughout the UK. — PTI

Ford Foundation’s leadership award announced

Washington, October 5
The Indian-American trade union leader, Ms Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA), has been chosen by the Ford Foundation for the"2005 Leadership for a Changing World Award’’.

Besides Ms Desai, 17 others in various fields were recognised for "Outstanding Leadership in US Communities’’. Each awardee will receive US $100,000 to advance their work and an additional $15,000 for educational opportunities to strengthen their individual or organizational effectiveness, over the course of two years.

"These leaders are a welcome reminder that people can make a difference,’’ president of the Ford Foundation Susan. V. Berresford said in a statement here.
— UNI