For the second time in as many months, the Government on Wednesday night cut petrol price by Rs 5 a litre and diesel by Rs 2 per litre, while the domestic LPG rate was also slashed by as much as Rs 25 per cylinder.
"The pursuit of clandestine activities in respect of nuclear technologies is unacceptable and dangerous. All States must transparently live up to the international commitment that they have undertaken," he said at the conference 'Towards a World Free of Nuclear Weapons'.
Describing terrorism as a "common menace," Pakistan Wednesday agreed to fight it jointly with India and gave a commitment for maintaining ceasefire on the Line of Control. After extensive talks between External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the two sides also reported progress on Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek issues and expressed willingness to push forward the confidence building measures.
Azad has been making clear that the proposals needed to be discussed thoroughly and there should be synchronisation between public posturing and the stand taken at the negotiating table.
The government on Wednesday admitted in the Lok Sabha that Pakistan had clandestinely acquired know-how on nuclear weapons technology. In a written reply, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said New Delhi has consistently shared its concerns regarding the adverse effects of such developments on India's security with the international community.
"Secretary Clinton expressed her desire to work together with the external affairs minister to take the relationship between India and the US to a new level," the ministry said in a statement.
The United Progressive Alliance-Left parties may have averted a showdown at the key meeting on Wednesday, but the hours preceding the meet were dramatic, and full of suspense.
"Australia wants to take the relationship with India to the front ranks of the partnerships we have," Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said at a joint press briefing with visiting External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee after the agreements were signed in Canberra. The two countries agreed to further strengthen their relationship by forming a new body to hold yearly talks and by signing treaties to increase anti-terror efforts.
External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee said the challenges of terrorism and nuclear proliferation were inter-connected and 'alarming aspect' was the linkages that radical terror groups have forged with 'a few nuclear scientists'.
India and China are understood to have discussed the latest row over Sikkim on Thursday, during talks between their Foreign Ministers, dominated by the festering boundary issue, with the two sides agreeing to use existing mechanisms whenever necessary to maintain peace and tranquility along the border.External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is on a four-day official visit to China, met his counterpart Yang Jiechi and discussed issues of mutual concern.
The original Nobel medallion, along with some memorabilia of the Tagore family, was stolen from the museum at Rabindra Bhavan on March 25, 2004.
At least clear zones where firms have own land, says minister.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India's participation in a new global consensus on non-proliferation would strengthen global efforts in this arena.
As External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee concluded his speech at the Conference, a delegate rose on his feet, displaying a Hindi daily, which had carried out a story on Wednesday on the personal website of the Consul General -- www.ausafsayeed.com -- alleging that it was selling Rushdie's books online.
"We are worried over it," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told media persons when asked to comment on the situation in Pakistan in the wake of latest blasts. Pranab also hoped that the fight against terror launched by the Pakistan government would be further strengthened.
India has reaffirmed its strong commitment to the Non-Aligned Movement and stressed its "enduring relevance" in the current international situation.
Reviewing the progress achieved by South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, leaders of the grouping have advocated greater cooperation among the members.
Responding to New Delhi's concerns, Bangladesh on Monday gave a commitment of not allowing its territory to be used for anti-India activities, as the two countries discussed a proposal for setting up a regional task force to tackle the menace. Reaching out to the new government in Dhaka, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee held talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and Home Minister Sahara Katun and conveyed concerns.
Adani, Reliance Industries, DLF, Omaxe and Singapore-based Ascendas Group had plans to set up mega multi-product SEZs, with some of them having infrastructure like ports and air-cargo complexes.
After his meeting with Pakistan's caretaker Foreign Minister Inamul Haq in New Delhi on Friday, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Foreign Secretaries of the two countries will hold talks to wind up the fourth round of Composite Dialogue after formation of new government in Pakistan.
Dasmunshi said that if Shilpa felt that Indian women and India as a nation have been insulted, she should pull out of the programme.
India on Wednesday asked the international community to show 'zero-tolerance' towards terrorism while emphasising that the Taliban remnants in Afghanistan should not be allowed to take control of parts of the strife-torn nation.
India on Friday urged the Sri Lankan government to cease its offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and declare a truce in the conflict zone. The Centre also rushed National Security Adviser M K Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon to Colombo to step up its diplomatic pressure.The decision was taken at a meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who heads the three-member committee, said on Monday he had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister A K Antony. After the government notification was issued on August 29, the issues of 'anomalies' in the pay for officers was first raised by Air chief Fali Homi Major in his letter in his capacity as acting Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee.
The members could include National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, the secretary, Department of Telecommunications, and the secretary, Ministry of Defence.
To a question on continuing support to the government, Karat said he has just talked to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and it depends on what they decide.
Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who has always played a key role in defusing tensions with the Left, were also present at the crucial meeting.
Some of the points regarding the agreement were discussed during the meeting, Baru said, adding Karat stated that he would put it to the party's Politburo which will meet over the weekend.
Among the other challenges, the big one is to maintain energy security in tune with the pace at which the country's economy is growing.
Trouble appears to be brewing for the beleaguered Mulayam Singh Yadav government with the Centre reportedly considering the option of imposing President's Rule in Uttar Pradesh.
The minister said that during his recent visit to Islamabad, he had stressed that Pakistan should provide transit facility to Afghanistan through land.
Sources in the party say the Congress ranks are divided over the issue. While one group of leaders backs Pranab for the prime minister's post and feels that this should have been done way back, another section is glad that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh didn't pass over the baton to the External Affairs Minister.
India on Friday said it was concerned about possible linkages of terrorists to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in its neighbourhood and emphasised the need for greater international cooperation to counter this threat.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is undertaking day-long visit to Bangladesh on Saturday to express solidarity with the people of the neighbouring country where heavy loss of life and widespread destruction was caused due to cyclone more than a week ago.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that he was optimistic about the chances of Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Kamlesh Sharma for the coveted post. Sharma, a seasoned diplomat, is pitted against Malta Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, a veteran politician who heads the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group. The election for the post of Commonwealth Secretary General is expected to take place during the three-day summit, beginning on November 23.
Gandhi's decision to fly economy class followed a similar act by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and an announcement by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna that he would be undertaking official trips to Belarus and Turkmenistan.
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said his country was always committed to maintaining peace in the world and outer space.
The armed forces had decided not to implement the revised pay scales from October 1.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that there are many "extraneous and prescriptive" provisions in the Hyde Act, which are "not acceptable" to India.
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