Pitching for freer movement of goods, services and people across South Asia, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday warned that the region faces the risk of "marginalisation and stagnation" if member countries fail to build SAARC as a group that is better connected and better empowered.
Ahead of a possible meeting between their prime ministers in Thimphu, Pakistan on Tuesday said it wanted the resumption of composite dialogue with India at the political level, as the outcome of parleys between the foreign secretaries had been 'disappointing'."I don't think a forward movement can take place at the foreign-secretary level," Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, adding, "If you want real progress, it will have to come from the political leaders"
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani are expected to meet in Thimphu on the margins of the South Asian Association Regional Cooperation Summit, during which the Indian leader is likely to seek an update on the probe and trial in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case being conducted in Pakistan.
Indian Premier League would generate a revenue of $1 billion this season, thanks to huge fan following across the globe, attracting a large number of advertisers, its Commissioner Lalit Modi said on Wednesday.
Taking exception to China's involvement in several projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, India, on Sunday, described it as "illegal" and said it has conveyed its concern over this as well as supply of Chinese weapons to Pakistan. Despite differences on a host of issues with China, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna who is expected to visit Beijing in April this year, said the country did not see it in "antagonistic terms".
In 2007, India slashed the additional customs duty it charged on imported (which were up to 150 per cent of value of imports depending on the spirits), but simultaneously hiked the basic customs duties to 150 per cent from 100 per cent.
The body of Albany-based hotelier George Kolath, who hails from Kerala, was recovered on Monday afternoon, state police said. Bodies of his 11-year-old son, George Kolath Jr, and friend, identified as Krishnan Raghavan (52), were pulled out from the river on Sunday.
At the Human Rights Councils special session on Sri Lanka last week, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that investigating abuses allegedly committed against civilians by both the Government and LTTE will help the country transition into a new future. "There are strong reasons to believe that both sides have grossly disregarded the fundamental principle of the inviolability of civilians," Pillay had stated.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has revised upwards its estimates of worldwide unemployment, and called for a "global jobs pact" to address the current crisis.
In January, the UN had forecast that the world economy would shrink 0.5 per cent this year. The report predicted that with a coordinated, development-oriented policy scenario, the world economy would recover to an annual growth of 4-5 per cent in 2010-2015, led by a robust growth of 7 per cent a year in developing nations.
In his hard-hitting maiden address to an informal session of the 192-member Assembly on reform of the 15-member Council, Indian ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri lambasted a 'small group' of countries for trying to derail the process by insisting that expansion be limited to non-permanent category.
The members of the Security Council voiced their strong opposition to and condemnation of the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on May 25, 2009, which constitutes a clear violation of resolution 1718, the non-binding statement said.
Concerned over the plight of civilians caught up in the ongoing fighting in Sri Lanka, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has dispatched his Chef de Cabinet Vijay Nambiar, a former Indian diplomat, to the island nation to underscore his message for protection of civilians and resolution of the humanitarian situation there. Members of the UN Security Council on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the worsening crisis in northern Sri Lanka.
According to latest WHO update, Mexico and the US have topped the list of 30 countries where laboratory-confirmed human cases of the virus have been reported. Mexico has 2,059 cases with 56 deaths while the US has 2600 with three deaths. Canada has 330 cases, including one death, while Costa Rica has eight cases, including one death.
The World Health Organisation noted on Thursday international pandemic alert remains at phase 5, on a six-level warning scale, as the number of laboratory confirmed cases rose to 2,099 up by 441 from Wednesday including 44 deaths. Twenty-three countries have reported influenza A(H1N1) infections, with Mexico reporting 1,112 cases and 42 deaths, and the United States confirming 642 cases and two deaths.
The UN health agency at the centre of the global response to the outbreak said that 23 countries have reported 1,658 cases of infection and 30 deaths as of Wednesday. Mexico, where the outbreak originated, tops the list with 946 laboratory confirmed human cases, the World Health Organisation said.
Malayalam superstar Mammooty had a harrowing experience when he was questioned by officials at the John F Kennedy International Airport on his arrival in New York, over his Muslim name in his passport. Mammooty, 56, was 'separated for questioning' for two hours by security officials after part of his official name, Muhammadkutty Ismail, popped up on the computer screen at the immigration counter while his travel documents were being screened.
Welcoming the $1.1 trillion package committed by the world leaders at the G-20 Summit in London, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has said the developing and poor countries must get the "crucial" funds to avert a human development crisis.
The policy brief for a Global Green New Deal, developed by economists and the UN ahead of the G-20 meeting of world leaders in London in early April, highlights the benefits of investing a significant amount of the $3 trillion-worth of global stimulus packages in five areas. The UN Environment Programme said these areas include raising the energy efficiency of old and new buildings, more emphasis on renewable energy sources.
The items were purchased by Mallya after the auctioneers refused to take them off the auction despite request by Otis. But the Antiquorum said he would hold the items for two weeks because of notice by US Justice Department following Delhi High Court order staying the auction.
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