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Concern over Sethusamudram project

     Colombo: Environmenatilsts have cautioned that the Sethusamudram shipping canal that India plans to dig off on its southern coast could have disastrous consequences for the marine and coastal eco-systems of neighboring Sri Lanka. Dredging for the project could upset delicate ecosystems in the Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve and Palk Bay and spell doom for fishermen from both countries, say activists of the Green Movement of Sri Lanka. According to Dr. Thangavelu Jayasingham, a Professor of Ecology at the University of Sri Lanka, "Shallow seas wherever it is, that is why lagoons are much more productiveshallow seas are very productive. The Gulf of Mannar is very productive. This is acknowledged even in the report. So, the fishing activity losses are just scaled through. They (the report) do not really say how much." Earlier this month, Indian Cabinet had approved a U.S 550 million dollars ship channel project to make it easier for ships to travel between the east and west coasts of the country. At present, only small fishing boats can pass through the Palk Strait.

Advani denies conspiring to kill Jinnah (Go To Top)

     Islamabad: Indian Opposition leader and former Deputy PM LK Advani has said that he was never involved in hatching any conspiracy to kill Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said it was a baseless charge against him. "I don't think I need to comment on this........it's a totally baseless charge," Advani told reporters in Islamabad after emerging out of the meeting with President Pervez Musharraf. Advani is currently on a private visit to Pakistan on the invitation of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Over the past few days, news reports have suggested that a police case was lodged against Advani at Karachi's Jamshed Quarters police station on September 10, 1947, for allegedly plotting to assassinate Jinnah. But, Pakistani authorities say that they have no plans to initiate legal proceedings against Advani since currently he is a guest in the country. "He is our guest and visiting Pakistan on our invitation so we cannot open the case against him at this juncture," the Daily Times quoted an unidentified senior Pakistani official as saying. Meanwhile, the Sindh province government said it was making special security arrangements for Advani who is due in the city on Friday. "We have received instructions from Islamabad and are ready to provide security to him," Provincial Home Secretary Ghulam Mohammad Mohtarram said. Mohtarram added: "He is our guest and we'll accord him fullest hospitality."

Govt may increase petrol prices, Left to protest  (Go To Top)
by Vrishti Beniwal

     New Delhi: Despite Left parties' protests, indications are that the Government would give its green signal to oil companies to hike the prices of petroleum products. The Left parties met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the issue and said that they would hold countrywide protests if petrol and diesel prices are increased. They have asked the Government not to put burden on common man and have proposed five alternatives to meet the deficit caused by the high differences between the crude oil prices in international and domestic markets. "We have conveyed to the Prime Minister that we are aware of the reality that the international prices of crude and petroleum products have risen phenomenally, and because of that there is a tremendous pressure to increase the prices in our country as well. But to meet the deficit, burden shouldn't be put on the people," CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechuri told a press conference. Referring to the first alternative, Yechuri said that the Government should borne the pressure of increase in petroleum products caused by the excise and other tax proposals in the last budget. The Left has also suggested the Government to suspend the road cess, which was increased from Rs 1.50 to Rs 2.00 in current year's budget, and asked it to fix the international parity price only on crude oil and not on other petroleum products. They also pointed out that the petroleum companies shouldn't calculate difference in international crude prices and domestic oil prices as their loss. Also, they should control their burgeoning budget on advertising. "Under recovery can not be the basis of calculation," Yechuri said, while recommending that the petroleum companies, who exercise a monopoly in the market, should stop spending crores on advertising.

Foreign investment cap in non-news hiked to 100 per cent (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: The Government of India has hiked the foreign investment limit under non-news category from 74 per cent to 100 per cent in the case of Indian entities publishing scientific/ technical/specialty magazines / periodicals/ journals. According to the new guidelines, where both FDI and FII investment is envisaged, the applicant may approach the FIPB/ RBI for clearance after obtaining the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of I and B. In cases involving only portfolio investment, the applicant may approach RBI for further clearance, if any, after obtaining NOC from the Ministry of I and B. A press release by PIB has said that guidelines of the Ministry of Finance on FDI and portfolio investment would apply. All cases involving foreign investment shall be handled by the prescribed agencies, viz. FDI on the government approval route through the mechanism of the FIPB and portfolio investment by the RBI, said the release. Title verification shall continue to be done by the Press Registrar as per the existing procedure. For print media, a group of ministers (GoM) headed by home minister Shivraj Patil has been examining the issue of allowing Indian editions of foreign newspapers for the last seven months. The decision to allow FDI in print media was taken by the Vajpayee government in 2002.

High altitude sports training centre in Munnar  (Go To Top)
by Juhan Samuel

     Munnar (Kerala): Munnar, the idyllic tourist destination in God's own country, set at an altitude of 6000 ft in Idukki district of Kerala was the favoured summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days. The place would now be on the Indian sporting map, with the country's first high altitude training centre for athletes coming up here. Set up by Athletics Federation of the Kerala Sports Council, with the help of Sports Authority of India at a cost of around 7.25 crore rupees, the complex will be ready by July 15. 'The work is in full swing and we are happy that it will be completed on scheduled time' said C. Mohanachandran, President of Kerala Sports Council.

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