Can’t rule out more border tunnels: Home secretary
By IANS,
Jammu: Home Secretary R.K. Singh said Friday that it is possible Pakistan may have dug more tunnels to push militants and weapons into India.
Telecom debacle: Caught between presumptive loss and affordable services
By Arvind Padmanabhan, IANS,
Benefits of ‘modern’ Islamic banking
By Atif Aziz,
Conventional banking or interest based banking is a banking system in which interest is charged on money against stipulated period of...
Should the media not applaud Kejriwal’s anti corruption plank?
By Saeed Naqvi
It is true that every anti corruption movement in recent history has decisively shifted the centre of gravity of Indian politics...
Understanding the media outburst against Kejriwal
By M.R. Narayan Swamy,
It is amusing how self-righteous the Indian media can get over a so-called threatening admonition from Arvind Kejriwal.
If I was in Kejriwal's shoes, I would be as angry and upset as he is with sections of the fourth estate, some of the electronic media in particular.
Elections 2014: Between Wave and Reality, the Shadow of Figures
By Saeed Naqvi ,
Anil Trivedi, tall, with an unkept grey beard, settles down over a cup of tea in my Indore hotel room,...
Admitting Delhi ‘mistake’, Kejriwal in dialogue with voters
By Nachiketa Desai ,
Varanasi: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who admitted he should have consulted the people before deciding to quit as Delhi chief minister,...
Securing your future with best-suited insurance policy
By Rajesh Sud,
What is the best way to save for one's future? For any kind of financial strategy, it is important to consider carefully what works best for your own needs and goals. Thus begins your hunt for a financial tool that offers the most competitive return and stability.
Army chief’s appointment: Need for restraint and consensus
By C Uday Bhaskar,
Even as India is going through the last phase of a critical and intensely contested general election, which hopefully will lead...
Ab ki baar… Nifty 8,000
By Vatsal Srivastava,
Kudos to the markets for pricing in not just the direction but also the magnitude of the Modi led BJP sweep across the Indian electorate. The last time a single party won a majority was in 1984 with the Congress winning 414 seats.
Is US bond market not pricing in enough inflation?
By Vatsal Srivastava.
Over the past few weeks, this column has been pointing out how only a mild appreciation in the Dollar Index and US 10-year yields staying well below three percent are defying the Federal Reserve’s forward guidance. One of the major factors behind these market moves is that the market believes that US inflation will not pick up at the pace the policymakers expect it to and this in turn will defer the first rate hike by the Fed.
India’s veto doesn’t mean collapse of global trade talks
By Arvind Padmanabhan,
India's demand for concessions on food subsidy as a quid quo pro to a pact to simplify procedures on global commerce may have blocked the first major step forward in the 19-year history of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). But that does not mean the global trade talks have collapsed.
Book in Urdu on heroes of ‘First War of Independence’
Book: Jang-E-Azadi Ke Sarkhail
Language- Urdu
By Dr. M Waseem Raja,
The book by Dr. Mohammad Shahid Siddique entitled “Jang-e-Azadi ke Sarkhail” published by Educational Publishing House is very timely, informative and a documented work which deals with revolt of 1857. In this book Dr. Shahid has tried to bring out the detailed biographical sketches of the prominent freedom fighters who fought the first war of independence during the revolt of 1857. He widely consulted the source material on the theme and brought out the detailed descriptions of the contribution by the Indian native princes, commanders and those brilliant warriors have been portrayed.
Planning for ‘The Future Commission’
By Rahul Singh,
As the Narendra Modi government completes 100 days in office, the prime minister seems keen to implement far-reaching changes, phasing out the old and ushering in the new. One of the first things he did was to question the relevance of the Planning Commission - a question also asked by his predecessor Manmohan Singh in 2009.
In Asia’s season of summits, India can make unique contributions
By Evan A. Feigenbaum,
In Asia, it’s summit season again - the time of year when leaders from the Eurasian steppes to the Pacific Ocean gather at an alphabet soup of multilateral meetings. India has joined some of these groups - for instance, the East Asia Summit. It is about to join another - the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Hawkish Yellen is what the Indian equity market needs
By Vatsal Srivatava,
On equity strategy, Currency Corner has maintained that we have reached a point where the risk-off move of the previous years (a slightly upbeat hawkish Fed leading to a fall in stock prices) is now working in just the opposite manner. As of today, the market will only rally further if Fed chief Janet Yellen talks about the first rate hike after the commencement of QE in October. Any talk about the weak labour market recovery and lack of clarity about the time gap between the first rate hike and the end of the QE taper (this was 6 months earlier)would just imply a lack of a clear exit strategy.
Strategic and economic consequences of cheap oil
By Amit Kapoor,
Crude oil prices have plummeted globally. The present levels have consequences for both oil exporting countries like Russia, Nigeria, Mexico and Venezuela and those in the Middle East, as well as developing economies like China and India that depend on imports for meeting the demands of their fast prospering populations. In the past, the high price ensured that the oil exporting countries had enough inflows in the form of payments by developing and developed economies that have had a shortage of crude oil pre-July. However the economy is just one of the consequences of cheap oil. The other effects of equal, if not more importance include geopolitics and strategic alignment.
Awake, it’s no Satan, it’s just Salman
By Manish Chand
Bigots baying for the blood of celebrity novelist and freshly knighted Sir Salman Rushdie, from Iran to Pakistan to Malaysia to Srinagar, are back in business, albeit with a slightly farcical hiss. However, this time round their rage has turned not such much on the "apostate" novelist but on the not-so-great Britain they have come to see as the blood brother of the almighty America in stigmatising and attacking Muslims.
Indonesia to use its dormant Islamic voice
By Dewi Fortuna Anwar, NNN-News Straits Times
Jakarta : President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in his first major speech on foreign policy in 2005, proclaimed that Indonesia would project its image internationally as the world’s largest Muslim nation, the third largest democracy and a modern society.
In short, Indonesia is projected as a country where Islam, democracy and modernity go hand in hand. The official proclamation of Islam as being part of Indonesia’s national identity by Susilo is something quite new in Indonesia’s modern history.
Pakistan will stay hotbed of confrontational politics
By Nasim Zehra, IANS
The split judgement on the petitions challenging General Parvez Musharraf's holding of two offices and also his candidacy for the Oct 6 presidential elections does give him a legal 'go-ahead'. However, it does not give Musharraf and more importantly the process through which he seeks re-election any political legitimacy.
Ram Sethu issue unlikely to boost BJP prospects
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS
The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) hopes of using the Ram Sethu issue for electoral gains are unlikely to be fulfilled. Like the temple, which is no longer of any electoral value for the BJP, the sethu (bridge) doesn't seem to have been of much use in mobilising voters for the party.
NGOs need to work with Muslim orgs: Gagan Sethi
Gagan Sethi is the Managing Trustee of Jan Vikas, an NGO in Ahmedabad which has been active in the struggle for justice for the victims of the 2002 Gujarat genocide. In this interview with Yoginder Sikand he talks about his work.
YS: Jan Vikas is said to have played an important role in the battle for justice for the victims of the Gujarat genocide of 2002. What has been the nature of this work?
Wanted: a long-term energy policy for India
By Sushma Ramachandran, IANS
Global oil prices are literally going through the roof, and developing economies like India are groaning under the burden of expensive imports. The conventional wisdom seems to be that there is no escape from passing on these high prices to consumers. But a holistic, long-term energy strategy can help India cushion short-term oil shocks.
The fact is international speculators are largely responsible for these high prices, and it does seem somewhat unfair that the unwary citizens of developing countries like India have to pay the price.
Price of oil approaching $100 per barrel
MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti economic commentator Oleg Mityayev) - At the end of the working week, on Friday November 23, the price of American WTI oil was $96-$97 per barrel.
When it reached $99.29 per barrel on November 21, it seemed that this unprecedented psychological barrier - $100 per barrel - would be overcome this week. But operators of oil futures are still capable of surmounting it in the nearest future.
Benazir: intrepid woman, charismatic politician
By Manish Chand, IANS
The first woman elected to head a Muslim nation, former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto was often seen as a beacon of democracy and moderation in a military dominated country and was poised to play a starring role in the changing political landscape of her country when the assassins brutally cut short her life.
Arabs have no appetite for Bush-style democracy
MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Maria Appakova) - Iran and al-Qaeda are the main obstacles in the way of the Middle East's movement towards democracy and freedom. They sponsor terrorism worldwide and threaten regional stability. This is the main message of George Bush's speech given during his visit to Abu-Dhabi.
The speech, delivered at the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, is undoubtedly the highlight of Bush's Middle East tour designed to drum up Arab support for America's anti-Iranian policy.
Turkey will not launch war against Kurds
MOSCOW. (Georgy Mirsky for RIA Novosti) - Turkey invaded North Iraq, the domain of the Kurdistan Workers Party, several times. Five years ago, I was in the area where fighting is now taking place. At that time, small Turkish groups used to cross the border to deliver strikes on Kurdish positions.
What has changed since then?
Intensive trade promises to broaden India-China interaction
By Srikanth Kondapalli, IANS
By all accounts, the recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Beijing is considered successful in the matter of expanding bilateral trade. With an impressive Rs.1.5 trillion ($38.6 billion) in bilateral trade, investments contemplated in each other's markets and physical connectivity explored between the two countries, bilateral engagement in these fields is poised to expand in the short-to-medium terms.
Preventing nuclear terrorism worldwide
MOSCOW. (Yury Zaitsev for RIA Novosti) - Starting in 2008, the U.S. defense budget will feature allocations for protection against nuclear terrorism.
This will ensure the safe storage of radioactive substances in the United States and abroad, and will facilitate operations against terrorist groups attempting to lay their hands on nuclear weapons.
The myth about world economy’s independence from US economy
By Mayank Chhaya
New York, Jan 23 (IANS) The steep Asian and European stock market fall seriously challenges the recent wisdom that the global markets have finally become independent of and immune to any slide in the US economy. If anything, the panic on the Asian and European stock markets only underscores how seriously misplaced this assertion was.
Why didn’t Bush mention North Korea in his State of the Union Address?
MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Ivan Zakharchenko) - U.S. President George W. Bush never missed a chance to lash out at North Korea and its leader Kim Jong Il, but he did not even mention North Korea in his latest State of the Union Address.
There must be a reason for this. It is doubtful that Washington has suddenly forgotten all about Pyongyang. In 2002, Bush included North Korea in the Axis of Evil and has since accused it of cheating and human rights violations. He also called it one of the most dangerous countries in the world.
News Analysis: Russia-U.S. talks on missile shield see no breakthrough
By Liao Lei, Xinhua
Moscow : Showing his broken arm, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates denied he is a difficult negotiator in the 2-plus-2 talks with Russian counterparts, but the talks held in Moscow were seen as tough with no breakthrough on a planned U.S. missile shield in Central Europe.
No missile shield compromise
India, China go their own way in Africa
By Manish Chand, IANS,
China was a looming shadow at India's first summit with 14 African countries held in New Delhi recently that not only revealed the depth and diversity of their relationship but also provided clues to what could give New Delhi a competitive edge in the resource-rich continent.
Redefining the US-Pakistan partnership
By Arif Rafiq
The need to redefine our relationship with Pakistan – a nuclear-armed, frontline state in the war on terror – has never been greater. Now there is considerable opportunity to do so.
US Senate Democrats issued a letter to President George W. Bush this month urging him to "embark on a new relationship with Pakistan based on cooperation with institutions rather than individuals, and to support the will of the Pakistani people as expressed in the February 18 parliamentary elections."
Sending money home: top priority for NRIs
By Kul Bhushan, IANS,
Sending money home remains the top priority for most NRIs. After arriving - legally or illegally - in the host country, the first task is to start earning; and then sending a major part of their earnings back home to the family. Just like arriving can be legal or illegal, sending money can also be legal or illegal - by official transfers through a bank if the NRI has legal status or through the black market in case of illegal status and/or a better exchange rate.
Settlement in Afghanistan: back to 1997?
MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Pyotr Goncharov) - Pakistan has started talks with the Taliban in the northwestern province of the country bordering on Afghanistan. Kabul authorities fear that Islamabad will stop military operations, thus giving the Taliban a chance to become more active in Afghanistan.
The two proposals on stabilizing Afghanistan, which Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf made during his visit to China in mid-April, do not look surprising in this light.
Communist obstinacy could derail India’s nuclear energy plans
By A. Vinod Kumar, IANS,
Ever since the 123 agreement was announced, the Communist parties have been raising various issues pertaining to it that have wider consequences on India's foreign policy. Foremost among their concerns are their references to the Hyde Act that leftist leaders argue would impinge on the autonomy of India's foreign policy and make India a junior partner of the US.
The Bastar blackout: new Maoist design to target infrastructure
By P.V. Ramana, IANS,
Sprawling Bastar has again plunged into darkness. The region is experiencing a blackout for the second time in as many years. On June 5, guerrillas from the Communist Party of India-Maoist set off explosions and brought to the ground two 220 KVA high tension towers near the interior Barsoor village of Dantewada district in Bastar in mineral-rich Chhattisgarh state in central India.
Lengthy paperwork before NRIs can invest in India
By Kul Bhushan, IANS,
Non-resident Indians (NRIs) can benefit from the current bear run on the Indian Stock Exchange as the risk-reward ratio is in favour of long-term investors. Despite the prevailing dip, the Indian economy is expected to grow at a healthy pace of over eight percent this year.
Give me a Lalit Modi, please, instead of Allen Stanford
By V. Krishnaswamy, IANS,
Trawling through the net, I came across pictures of Sir Allen Stanford getting out of a black chopper bearing his name and on to the Nursery Ground at Lord's. And then there was that amazing still of $20 million in $50 bills in plastic crate, which had been wheeled out after the Texan billionaire's announcements of his promises to boost English and West Indies cricket.
Curbing inflation – too little, too late!
By Sushma Ramachandran, IANS,
With inflation touching a 14-year high of 11.42 percent, the big question being asked now is: Did the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government do too little too late? Or was there just no way to avert the price crisis, given the impact of global crude oil prices?
While Finance Minister P. Chidambaram insists there was no policy failure on the part of the government, there is a growing feeling that the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh government could have taken more steps and at an earlier stage to curb the runaway inflation now afflicting the economy.
A fresh start for Iraq?
By Jonathan Steele, CGNews,
There's an odd thing about Baghdad: Iran is the only regional power with an embassy, while US President George W. Bush's best Arab allies – Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia – refuse to let their diplomats live there.
It is not for want of US effort. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has raised the anomaly several times with Iraq's Arab neighbours, as have lesser emissaries. So far, to no avail.
US policy not a scapegoat for extremists
By Daniel Yankelovich, CGNews,
As the competition for the US presidency heats up, the threat of Muslim extremism is bound to become a major issue in the campaign. The reason is its link to the war in Iraq. Public polling shows that Iraq is the top foreign policy issue for most Americans, with many seeing the war as increasing the risk of future terrorism against the United States and its allies. The presumptive Republican nominee John McCain has called the threat of Muslim extremism "the transcendent challenge of our times."
Nuclear deal and India’s place in a multipolar world
By K. Subrahmanyam, IANS,
US President George W. Bush reportedly intends to write individually to heads of governments of 44 other member nations of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), urging that India be given a clean waiver from the present NSG guidelines which do not permit nuclear commerce with any non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which has not placed all its nuclear facilities under the full scope safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Terrorising Muslims in the Name of Countering Terrorism
By Yoginder Sikand, TwoCircles.net
In the face of a seemingly unending wave of fake encounters, killings and arrests of innocent Muslims across the country falsely accused by the police of being ‘terrorists’, a three-day Peoples’ Tribunal was recently held in Hyderabad on ‘Atrocities Committed Against Minorities in the Name of Fighting Terrorism’.
In the face of a seemingly unending wave of fake encounters, killings and arrests of innocent Muslims across the country falsely accused by the police of being ‘terrorists’, a three-day Peoples’ Tribunal was recently held in Hyderabad on ‘Atrocities Committed Against Minorities in the Name of Fighting Terrorism’.
Will Bindra’s blunt truths wake up Indian sports?
By K. Datta, IANS,
India's latest sports icon Abhinav Bindra told the country quite bluntly that it had no sporting ethos worth the name and that politicians, ministers, bureaucrats and others of the ilk should not be controlling sports bodies.
These words, coming from a champion sound punchy. But such sound bites have sparked animated debates every time our athletes have failed in international arenas like the Olympic or Asian Games. The usual refrain is: What do they know about sport? Throw them out.
Cry, my beloved Mangalore
By Maxwell Pereira, IANS,
The first holocaust for Mangalore Catholics happened in 1784 at the behest of Tipu Sultan. Following his defeat by the British in the first battle of Mangalore, Tipu's wrath had turned on the local Christian community, in the belief that it was their aid and support to the British that cost him his battle.
Jehadis could target Obama with psychological warfare
By Mayank Chhaya, IANS,
President-elect Barack Obama's reputedly conciliatory approach towards international flashpoints can potentially open the door for psychological warfare against the United States by Islamic jehadi groups.
Fighting Fascism
By Yoginder Sikand, TwoCircles.net,
Last month, the New Delhi-based human rights' group Anhad, along with some 90 other organizations, held a two-day national convention on the theme, 'Countering Fascism: Defending the Idea of India'. It was attended by scores of social activists from various parts of the country. Predictably, it received hardly any mention in the so-called 'mainstream' Indian media.
Countering Fascist Forces
Countering Fascist Forces
India’s 9/11: Will this be its wake-up call?
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
Just as the images of billowing smoke from the twin towers of New York are seared in the memories of people all over the world, similarly the television visuals of the raging fire in the ornate façade of Mumbai's iconic Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel will be recalled whenever the deadly terrorist attack on India's financial capital Nov 26-29 is mentioned. The booming sound of gunfire as the security forces engaged the jehadis will also become a part of the nation's collective memory.
Poll outcome: the BJP loses its terror plank
By Amulya Ganguli
New Delhi, Dec 9 (IANS) Prima facie, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not fare too badly in the recent elections in north and central India. It beat the anti-incumbency factor in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to retain power and its vote share in Rajasthan, where it lost, was marginally less than the Congress'.
Cry, daughter, cry..
By Nupur Basu, IANS,
Nothing surprises me any more when it comes to how low we can sink as a society in heaping abuses on India's daughters. Even before she has been able to dry the tears from the last assault, comes the next one.
Corruption in business journalism: a worrying malaise
By Sushma Ramachandran, IANS,
The startling order of the markets watchdog recently on the Pyramid Saimira stock manipulation case over the alleged involvement of a business journalist from a leading financial daily should make the media sit up and think hard about the issue of corruption.
It is certainly not a new issue in business journalism. It has been widely whispered and speculated over for years, even though there are few cases of business journalists having actually been caught for accepting remuneration or incentive for writing or broadcasting slanted and biased information.
National mandate for Congress, demise of divisive politics
By Gilles Verniers, IANS,
Although it is yet too early to draw conclusions or formulate a detailed analysis from the results of India's 15th general elections, there is a series of significant aspects that will most probably reshape the understanding of Indian politics in the years to come.
Taking the Law in their hands
By Anjali Singh, CNS,
Lucknow: It comes as a blessing in disguise for many estranged couples hoping to find a solution to their marital problems. Trapped in a never ending circle of appearing on dates, filing FIRs, dodging recoveries and refusing to budge from their adamant stance for a compromise, warring couples are now beginning to realize that their life is wasting away with no solutions to their problems in sight at the family courts.
Observations of a Sunni Indian on the unrest in Iran
By P.A. Mohamed Ameen,
The following is my general observation; I can not say how much of it applies to Iran. It is open to debate. I am neither a scholar nor an Alim, I try to approach issue from a layman’s point of view.
Generational clash in Muslim world
Agenda for India: Health
TwoCircles.net presents “Agenda for India”. Series editor is Charu Bahri.
Challenges & Solutions
Gilgit-Baltistan amalgamation: India must react
By Alok Bansal, IANS,
With the signing of the Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self-Governance) Order 2009 by President Asif Ali Zardari Sep 7, the Pakistan government has taken the first step towards amalgamating this strategically significant part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir into Pakistan. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government has patted itself on the back for undertaking far-reaching administrative, political, financial and judicial reforms in this region.
India’s Muslims lack an enlightened leadership
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
Indian Muslims continue to suffer from the misfortune of being led by people with a limited vision whose initiatives appear to be aimed at fostering a ghetto mentality instead of encouraging the community to become a part of the mainstream.
Greed and sleaze may taint IPL
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
Follow the money - was the advice given by Deep Throat, the secret informant who helped two intrepid Washington Post journalists unravel the Watergate scandal, forcing Richard Nixon to resign as US president.
As the tax raid on the offices of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Mumbai showed, a similar trail might be followed to ascertain whether the transactions relating to various IPL teams have all been above board.
Force of faith trumps law and reason in Ayodhya case
If left unamended by the Supreme Court, the legal, social and political repercussions of the judgment are likely to be extremely damaging
By Siddharth Varadarajan,
Will federal auditor’s report on nuclear watchdog open a Pandora’s box?
By Dhirendra Sharma, IANS,
Much ado about a newspaper article: Washington Post and India
By Mayank Chhaya, IANS,
Whether or not Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a tragic figure, it is clear that his office's media management is tragically inept.
Hockey India League a boon for Indian players
By Bharat Sharma,
Few would disagree that the two-year-old Hockey India League is a step in the right direction. But for it to make Indian hockey vibrant and regain its past glory, it still has some catching up to do.
Ex-babu and ‘neta’ battle in Kerala’s commercial capital
By Sanu George
Kochi: A grizzled politician and a seasoned bureaucrat will match their wits to win over Kerala's commercial capital, the Ernakulam Lok Sabha...
We will fight them and beat them: Amarinder Singh
By Jaideep Sarin
Chandigarh: Amarinder Singh has set the political temperature soaring after the Congress announced he would take on BJP heavyweight Arun Jaitley...
Traditional foes UDF, LDF battle for Kerala’s 2.4 mn votes
By Sanu George ,
Thiruvananthapuram: At the end of the long, sustained, acrimonious electoral campaign, the fate of Kerala's traditional political foes, the Congress-led...
Who will inherit Sharad Pawar’s legacy?
By Quaid Najmi,
Mumbai: This Lok Sabha election may well be an opportunity for Sharad Pawar, who once harboured prime ministerial ambitions, to bequeath...
Mulayam no hero for Mainpuri’s young
By Puja Awasthi,
Mainpuri (Uttar Pradesh): Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is no longer a hero for the young in Mainpuri, the constituency which...
Ram Vilas Paswan’s village still in lantern age
Khagaria (Bihar): Believe it or not, there is no electricity in Lok Janshakti Party's chief Ram Vilas Paswan's native village.
Although Paswan is rubbing shoulders...
Currency Corner: Indian equities should remain uptrend despite Iraq oil crisis
By Vatsal Srivastava,
Militant insurgency and violence in Iraq have put the brakes on the great Indian rally. Investors are weighing in the potential impact of higher energy prices as the possibility of a supply disruption from the world's sixth biggest oil exporter is priced in global oil benchmarks. Both WTI crude and Brent crude are trading at 10 month highs with the spread between these two benchmarks having widened to $7 per barrel. India is the world's fourth largest importer of oil and imports nearly 75 percent of its demand.
What does it take to go cashless?
By Dharmarajan Krishnan,
In the past, it passed for a moment of instant fun. In shops, behind the busy payments counter, you saw this advisory on bold display: "In God we trust, others pay cash!" This was their way of telling the customer that you’d better pay for the purchase cash down, no running after in case you default! Long after those times, you are perhaps inclined to believe that the cash-only obsession has withered away. Think again!
India’s ambitious off-grid solar targets achievable
By Vaishalee Dash, Pooja Vijay Ramamurthi, Saptak Ghosh,
Currently, over 300 million Indians are without access to electricity. One of the primary reasons for poor electrification is the limited reach of the power grid. Remote locations and low incomes of the rural population however make grid extension uneconomical. Small-scale systems can be an alternative solution. This is why the government's newly announced 100 GW solar power target under the Jawarharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) by 2022 includes an ambitious 20 GW from off-grid systems.
Safe, Habitable or Smart? India’s 100 Smart Cities must be all three
By Sanjiv Kataria,
Each time there is a mention of Smart Cities in India, I get concerned about the safety of women because there is a surfeit of news stemming from the vulnerability of women in our cities. A few incidents that shook India recently, include:
10 years: 1,303 death sentences, 3 executions
By Chaitanya Mallapur & Devanik Saha ,
New Delhi: A death sentence – such as the one handed to Yakub Memon, lone convict of the...
PM speaks his mind: But his government needs to look inward
By Sushma Ramachandran
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appears to be in a mood to speak his mind. In a series of speeches lately, he has made blunt comments about the state of the economy and the role of private industry. The question is: what has prompted the prime minister to suddenly shift from his usual moderate tone to aggressively talk about the ills affecting the country.
Indian strike – privatisation is the answer
By Sushma RamachandranThe civil aviation industry remains in a turmoil with the latest short term strike of the public sector carrier Indian creating chaos...
NRIs, save Mother Ganga to save yourself
By Kul Bhushan
Tens of thousands of Hindus come to India from many corners of the globe every year solely for Mother Ganga. Some come to submerge the ashes of their beloved in the holy river for salvation. In a few weeks, hundreds of NRIs will visit the river goddess to perform annual 'shraddhs', or prayers for the departed souls of their loves ones. Most devout Hindus visit the river to take a holy dip to wash away their sins.
A case for Muslim quotas in AP
There are 13 Muslim communities in the state that qualify for inclusion in the backward classes list, and that would be constitutional
By PS Krishnan
The limits of Pakistan-US counter-terror cooperation
By Nasim Zehra
In Pakistan insecurity and concern about a US attack is catching on. The only logical and plausible Pakistani response to such a possibility is for the government to publicly warn the US that all cooperation on anti-terrorism will immediate stop if the US violates international law and attacks Pakistani territory.
In Pakistan insecurity and concern about a US attack is catching on. The only logical and plausible Pakistani response to such a possibility is for the government to publicly warn the US that all cooperation on anti-terrorism will immediate stop if the US violates international law and attacks Pakistani territory.
Machiavellian method behind BJP’s manoeuvres
By Amulya Ganguli
There is seemingly a Machiavellian motive behind the Bharatiya Janata Party's confrontation with the Election Commission over the party's anti-Muslim compact disc, which was meant for use during the campaign for the ongoing Uttar Pradesh elections.
India’s Regional Politics Remain Immature
Syed Ali Mujtaba
The jubilation for the victory of India?s first women president Prathibha Patil seems to have drowned one of the ugliest episodes of the Indian democracy. Tamil Nadu?s main opposition party the AIADMK and its ally the MDMK defied its own whip and voted for Bhrion Singh Shekhawat, an independent candidate backed by the National Democratic Alliance in the recently concluded presidential election.
Pakistani dictators have a shelf life of 10 years
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS
Pakistan's tryst with individual dictators seems to last for about 10 years. Even Ayub Khan (1958-69), who had the advantage of assuming charge when dictators everywhere were America's favourites, couldn't last much longer.
The return of the natives – global Indians are returning home
By Shubha Singh, IANS
Global Indians are wooing and are being wooed by top Indian corporates to return home to India. It is not just techies but Indians working in different sectors of industry are homeward bound to be part of a booming Indian economy. The number of returning non-resident Indians (NRIs) has swelled in the past one year as expatriates find better job offers in India.
Is the BJP’s hold on Gujarat overrated?
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS
Since Gujarat was advertised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a laboratory for its experiments with Hindutva, the ideology that accords primacy of place in Indian society to Hindus, an electoral outcome in the state has considerable importance for the party. While the BJP's success will show that the saffron agenda is alive and kicking, a setback will mean much more than a similar failure in any other state.
Yet one more Beijing duck! Manmohan visit to China
By Mohan Guruswamy, IANS
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will shortly be meeting in China President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on what has now become a regular annual catch up between India's and China's leaders. Like all the other recent visits, this one too will be big on atmospherics with little on substance.
Who is spreading avian flu?
MOSCOW. (Yevgeny Kuznetsov for RIA Novosti) - In the first month of 2008, avian flu caused by the H5N1 strain was registered at least in 12 countries - Israel, Vietnam, Britain, India, Iran, China, Egypt, Germany, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and Bulgaria.
Surprisingly, there have been no cases of avian flu in Russia, but there is a high risk of an outbreak in Russia's European South - the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories.
India preparing a revolution in the arms market
(RIA Novosti correspondent in India Yevgeny Bezeka) - All participants in DEFEXPO-2008, which opens in New Delhi on February 16, are bound to see the beginnings of a revolution in the Indian military-industrial complex.
This revolution is certain to acquire global dimensions, because India is in the top ten in arms spending - in 2007-2012 it will buy $30 billion worth of weapons.
A new world peace initiative
By Saboor Syed
Worldwide attention has for some time now been focused on media sources that paint Islam as an ideology that causes unrest, turmoil and mayhem in the world at present.
No breakthrough for Iran nuclear stalemate in sight after IAEA report
By Wei Jianhua, Xinhua
Beijing : A breakthrough in the deadlock over Iran's controversial nuclear activities remains as elusive as ever, two days after a report by the world's nuclear watchdog threw up more questions than it answered.
While the report, circulated by IAEA Director General Mohamed El Baradei Friday, made no final judgment on the Iran nuclear issue, it did succeed however in stimulating contradictory responses from Iran and some western countries.
Where booming missiles enthuse teeming beggars
By Sampathkumar Iyangar
India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) `successfully' conducted its first test of a ballistic missile from an undersea platform on Feb 26. A beaming Dr Prahlada, DRDO chief controller, proudly announced the launch of the "nuclear capable" missile from a submerged pontoon off India's south-east coast near the port city of Visakhapatnam.
Outgoing Russian President Putin makes impressive achievements
By Liao Lei, Ma Mengli, Xinhua
Moscow : Incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin has made numerous impressive achievements during his two terms including the consolidation of the Kremlin's power and the marked improvement of economy, analysts say.
Dmitry Medvedev, first deputy prime minister of Putin's cabinet, has won Russia's fifth presidential election, according to the preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC) Monday.
Iran nuclear deadlock hard to break up
By Che Ling, Xinhua,
Tehran : The stalemate surrounding Iran's nuclear issue seems to remain hard to break up although an updated package of incentives offered by six major world powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States was handed over to Iranian officials by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Saturday.
Creativity as resistance, an interview with Rafa Al-Nasiri
By Martina Sabra, CGNews,
Rafa Al-Nasiri is one of the best-known contemporary Iraqi artists on the international stage. His work is deeply influenced by the culture of Arabic script, and also by his intensive encounters with artists in China and Europe. Martina Sabra interviewed the artist at his home in Amman, Jordan.
Arabic script occupies an outstanding position in contemporary Arabic art, and also in your own work. Does calligraphy play a similar role in Chinese art?
One of the best planned transitions in corporate history
By Prasanto K. Roy, IANS,
It's finally happened. Thursday was Bill Gates' last day as full-time Microsoft employee. It is not, of course, a shock. It is possibly the best planned - and definitely the best publicised - transition in recent corporate history.
In 1998, Gates' long-time business partner Steve Ballmer became acting president of Microsoft. In January 2000, Gates handed over the chief executive reins to Ballmer, becoming its chief software architect.
Cricket must not obscure breadth of India-Australia ties
By Neena Bhandari, IANS,
Sydney : The overwhelming success of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Australia last month have helped inch India-Australia bilateral ties closer, beating the tyranny of distance and going beyond cricket and the Commonwealth to embrace commerce and culture.
Trust! Manmohan Singh will now bat for reforms
By Sushma Ramachandran, IANS,
By using the term "bonded slave" in his speech at the conclusion of the trust vote, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh eloquently expressed his feelings during the four years of ties between the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left parties. The pioneer of economic reforms in the 1990s, Manmohan Singh was expected to push forward the reform agenda during his tenure as prime minister but was hamstrung at every step by the Left partners.
Islam, democracy and violence
By Asghar Ali Engineer,
I was invited last week to Indonesia for a series of lectures by Asia Calling International Radio to speak on Islam, Democracy and Nation state. These days Indonesian intellectuals are rocked with questions we were faced with in early fifties in India. Also, all over Islamic world the question is being asked is Islam compatible with democracy and nation state? In Indonesia too, a largest Islamic country in the world the radical Islamists have raised this debate. The progressive Islamic thinkers there, are therefore, seized with these questions.
Premier NRI event needs big shake-up
By Kul Bhushan, IANS,
In these weeks, selected overseas Indians from across the globe are being invited to attend the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Jan 7-9, 2009, in Chennai. Meant to network with more than 25 million non-resident Indians, called NRIs, round the globe, this is the seventh flagship event of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA).
A strong pro-democracy message from Kashmir
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
At a time of gloom in India, the poll outcome in Kashmir has been like a ray of sunlight breaking through the dark clouds. One reason for the high hopes generated by the contest was the large turnout of voters, which was nothing other than a slap in the face of the separatists.
The latter had gained a fresh lease of life during the Amarnath land transfer row when they organised large demonstrations and shouted pro-independence and pro-Pakistan slogans.
Will the war in Gaza compensate Israel for Lebanon?
MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Maria Appakova) - "In many respects, the war in Gaza has compensated for the shortcomings of the Second Lebanon War. This time around, the decision to launch the offensive was calculated and reasoned, and the army has shown impressive capabilities." This quotation from the Israeli Haaretz daily describes the prevailing attitude in Israel.
Iran goes into space
MOSCOW. (Andrei Kislyakov for RIA Novosti) - On February 3, Iran fulfilled its promise to launch its first satellite, Omid (Hope), into orbit by its own carrier rocket before the end of the Iranian year (which ends in March).
The world media reported that it has already transmitted a message from the Iranian leader to the effect that the successful launch "officially seals Iran's presence in space."
The race for Delhi has begun, but winner is anyone’s guess
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
Although marred by Maoist violence, the first phase of the Indian elections can be said to have got off to a reasonably satisfactory start.
In the context of the vastness of the exercise - an electorate of 714 million voting in 180,000 polling stations for 1,715 candidates in five phases for a month - the stray attacks carried out by the Maoist desperadoes are not expected to have much of a demoralising impact outside the affected areas despite the tragic loss of lives.
Sri Lanka: Humanitarian disaster in making
By Bobby Ramakant, CNS,
Activists expressed their deep anguish and concern on unabated mass killings in Sri Lanka which is, as they underlined, "no short of a humanitarian disaster in northern Sri Lanka".
"We also protest the covert provision of economic and military aid to Sri Lanka by Indian government which has, certainly, deeply aggravated the situation in Sri Lanka" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and Convener of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM).
Houghton is right, Indian football needs infrastructure
By K. Datta, IANS,
When Bob Houghton spoke out against M.S. Gill's sports ministry for not doing anything to raise quality football infrastructure, he was only expressing the anguish of a coach who was unable to find a decent enough ground to train his national football team ahead of the coming Nehru Cup tournament.
Will Delhi’s infrastructure be ready anytime soon?
By Sanjiv Kataria, IANS,
Try asking a friend a simple question: "Caught in a traffic jam in Delhi recently?" You will hear endless stories of agonising hours spent in travelling a few hundred metres to a few km, of roads in constant need of repair, whether it is a small matter of pavement stones being improved or month long "Work In Progress" mega jobs.
India’s budget: NRIs wake up and smell the coffee
By Kul Bhushan, IANS,
India's budget yet again demonstrates to NRIs that investing in their homeland is probably the best option right now. The West is still struggling to climb out of one of its deepest recessions and provides low returns, while India's growth story promises healthy returns. Surely, it's time to wake up and smell the Indian coffee.