PTI - The Press Trust of India Ltd. back issues from January 2004:
WHO asks int community to help Iran quake victims.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New York, Jan 1 (PTI) The World Health Organisation has urged the international community for 3.5 million dollars to enable it to buy relief supplies and rehabilitate health facilities for survivors of the devastating earthquake in Iran which left thousands killed. With nights ...
UNICEF identifies five chief concerns facing children.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New York, Jan 1 (PTI) Calling on the international community to do more to save children in developing countries, the United Nations Children's Fund has identified five top concerns facing them in 2004 - AIDS, war, child abuse, life expentancy and a lack of investment in education. ...
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 1 (PTI) Dr. V.V. Raddhakrishnan,.
Jan 01, 2004 ... professor and head of the Department of Pathology at the Sree Chithra Thirunal Institute of Medical Science and Technology here has been selected by the University Grants Comission (UGC) for the Jagdish Chandra Bose Award for Life Sciences for the year 2002. The award, which ...
Benazir, Sharif denounce Musharraf-MMA deal on constitution.
Jan 01, 2004 ... K J M Varma Islamabad, Jan 1 (PTI) Pakistan's mainstream opposition Thursday said Pervez Musharraf would remain an "unconstitutional" President despite winning the trust vote in Parliament through an agreement with the Muthahida Majlis Amal ratifying his office and diluting ...
India aims to fly hypersonic plane in 2007.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Bangalore, Jan 1 (PTI) Indian defence scientists are aiming to fly an indigenous "hypersonic plane" in 2007, designed to cruise three times faster than existing fighter aircraft by consuming lesser fuel. An eight-metre technology demonstrator is being built by the ...
Stakes high for both teams in Sydney encounter.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Ashish Shukla Sydney, Jan 1 (PTI) With the series tantalisingly poised at 1-1, India go into the decider fourth cricket Test here Friday against a determined Australia who have got back to their winning ways and are preparing to give their captain a befitting farewell. ...
Sino-Indian ties will take new strides in 2004: China.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Anil K Joseph Beijing, Jan 1 (PTI) Noting that Sino-Indian relations witnessed a "sound momentum" in the year gone by, China Thursday said bilateral ties were poised to take new strides in 2004 if both sides grasp the "historic opportunity" and seriously implement the consensus ...
India will emerge as a leading nation in few years: Advani.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) India's Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani Thursday said the year that went by has given people confidence to make India emerge as a leading nation among the developing countries in the next few years. "The feeling of despair and hopelessness which had been ...
Exports record double-digit growth in Nov 2003.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) India's export figures brought cheers in the new year as they bounced back to a double digit growth at 13.74 per cent in November, 2003. The monthly trade data released Thursday showed exports of 4.494 billion dollar in November, 2003 as against 3.951 ...
Ample scope for cooperation between Britain and TN: Swraj Paul.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Chennai, Jan 1 (PTI) Leading Non Resident Industrialist industrialist and Britain's Business Ambassador Lord Swraj Paul Thursday met Chief Minister of south Indian state J Jayalaithaa and said there was ample scope for cooperation between Britain and the state in various areas. ...
India interested in making ceasefire a permanent one: Sinha.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 01 (PTI) India is interested in making the open-ended ceasefire with Pakistan a "permanent" one, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said Thursday. Before emplaning a special IAF Boeing-737 aircraft for Islamabad for the SAARC Summit, he told reporters at ...
Infiltration bid foiled, army captain among three killed.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Jammu, Jan 1 (PTI) Three people, including an army captain, were killed in different encounters in Poonch and Udhampur districts of northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir where security forces also foiled an infiltration bid since Wednesday night, official sources said Thursday. ...
Wright urges players to "nail" situations in final Test.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Ashish Shukla Sydney, Jan 1 (PTI) Indian coach John Wright Thursday asked his players to be "fiercely clinical" in their approach in the series-deciding fourth cricket Test against Australia starting here Friday. Wright does not want India to surrender the advantage ...
Iraq, Afghanistan to remain on U S agenda for 2004.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Washington, Jan 1 (PTI) Iraq and Afghanistan are to remain the focus of American foreign policy in 2004, even as efforts would be made to turn the goal of a "free and democratic" Middle East into a reality, U S Secretary of state Colin Powell said Thursday. "We are also resolved ...
Plenty of time to form alliance to defeat BJP coalition: Sonia.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) Asserting that she would continue efforts to unite like-minded secular forces, Congress President Sonia Gandhi Thursday said there was plenty of time to firm up a "formidable alliance" to defeat the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party-led coalition in the next Lok Sabha ...
Monica Bedi makes move for asylum in Portugal.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Sumir Kaul New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) Little-known Bollywood actress and girlfriend of underworld don Abu Salem, Monica Bedi, has approached Supreme Court of Portugal against her extradition to India ordered by the High Court in Lisbon. The move comes even as Bedi ...
CRME will colloborate with WHO.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Madurai, Jan 1 (PTI) The Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (CRME) in this southern Indian city will colloborate with World Health Organisation in its project on 'control of bancroftian filariasis', Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research N K Ganguly said here. ...
Ganguly questions Lee, Gillespie's fitness.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Sydney, Jan 1 (PTI) Indian captain Sourav Ganguly Thursday said Australia would be taking a big risk by picking injury-prone pacers Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee in the series-deciding cricket Test and sought to put the pace duo on the backfoot by citing Zaheer Khan's breakdown in his ...
India interested in making ceasefire permanent: Sinha.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) In yet another move towards building trust and confidence with Pakistan, India Thursday said it was interested in making the existing open-ended ceasefire "permanent" even as it urged South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries to emulate Bhutan in ...
Top expelled JKLF leader hints at split.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front appears to be on the verge of a split with two expelled leaders protesting the move and deciding "not to compromise" on their ideology. "We are prepared to give up our positions and pass on the JKLF leadership to those ...
SA airliner says no need for skymarshalls on US-bound flights.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Durban, Jan 1 (PTI) South Africa's national carrier, SAA, Thursday said there was no need for employing air marshalls on board its planes flying to the United States as it has introduced adequate security measures. Following America's directions asking foreign airliners ...
Waugh's farewell Test not to distract India: Ganguly.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Sydney, Jan 1 (PTI) The Indian team has planned a "warm send-off" for Steve Waugh but Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said the Australian captain's farewell Test would not distract his team's effort to record a historic series win. "It's just another Test match. It is something ...
India, Pak exchange lists of nuclear facilities.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Islamabad, Jan 1 (PTI) India and Pakistan Thursday exchanged upgraded lists of nuclear facilities and installations under a a bilateral agreement for the 13th year in succession, three days ahead of the SAARC summit. Pakistan Foreign Office invited A Gitesh Sarma, the Political ...
Swraj Paul upbeat about prospects of UK investments in TN.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Chennai, Jan 1 (PTI) Observing that there was vast potential for Britain's investment in south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, its Business Ambassador Lord Swraj Paul Thursday promised full help to facilitate creation of recreation and fashion industries in the state. "It is time to ...
"I am fit and ready" for Lok Sabha polls: PM.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan.1 (PTI) Observing that he was "fit and ready" for elections, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has said nothing has been decided about who would lead the Bhartiya Janat Party in the Lok Sabha polls (federal polls). "Let us see what happens. It (timing) ...
PM optimistic about solution of Kashmir issue in his lifetime.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) Expressing optimism that a solution to Kashmir issue was possible during his lifetime, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, however, made it clear today that no meaningful discussions can be held on this unless Pakistan changed its perception that the state ...
Contemplating nuclear war is madness: Vajpayee.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) Is there a nuclear button? Is there a possibility of Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee pressing it? "The only button I will press is of an electronic voting machine," says Vajpayee. The Prime Minister told 'India Today' magazine that ...
People in India, Pak look with hope at SAARC Summit: Mufti.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Srinagar, Jan 1 (PTI) Asserting that there was no question of stepping back on the peace process, Chief Minister of northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Thursday said the people in India and Pakistan look forward to the SAARC Summit being held in Islamabad on ...
China not to shelter insurgents against India.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) Taking note of reports that some Indian insurgents may move northward from Bhutan and enter Chinese territory to seek shelter, China Thursday assured India that it will closely monitor the situation and not allow its territory to be used by anybody for activities ...
Jamaat quits Hurriyat.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Srinagar, Jan 1 (PTI) Jamaat-e-Islami, founder constituent of the Kashmiri separatist conglomerate Hurriyat Conference, Thursday formally announced its decision to dissociate from the amalgam, led by Maulana Abbas Ansari, and not to extend support to the rival faction led by Syed Ali Shah ...
Lanka govt ready for polls, discusses aid freeze with Norway.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Colombo, Jan 1 (PTI) Sri Lanka's government Thursday said it was ready for local council elections and planned to turn the vote into a referendum on President Chandrika Kumaratunga's attempted power grab, even as it began informal talks with peacebroker Norway to help resume aid from ...
No talk with ULFA on sovereignty issue: Gogoi.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Guwahati, Jan 1 (PTI) Chief Minister of north-eastern Indian state of Assam, Tarun Gogoi Thursday ruled out any talk with the proscribed United Liberation Front of Assam on the issue of 'sovereignty of the state' and said he had written to the Prime Minister urging for steps to close down ...
32 killed in Bhutan operation.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Guwahati, Jan 1 (PTI) Thirty-two United Liberation Front and National Democratic Front of Bodoland ultras have been killed and 72 others apprehended in the ongoing operation against the militants by the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) in the Himalayan Kingdom since December 15 last. ...
Musharraf wins trust vote from parliament, state legislatures.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Islamabad, Jan 1 (PTI) Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday won a vote of confidence from Parliament and four provincial assemblies of the country, giving legitimacy his Presidency until 2007 amid protest from mainstream opposition parties. The 100-member Senate ...
Indo-Pak talks unlikely before general elections: Shashank.
Jan 01, 2004 ... K J M Varma Islamabad, Jan 1 (PTI) Indicating that Indo-Pak composite dialogue was unlikely to begin before the general elections this year, India Thursday said it needed time to assess the impact of anti-terrorism measures taken by Pakistan. To begin a composite ...
Kunte beats Nielsen to register first victory.
Jan 01, 2004 ... From a PTI Correspondent Hastings (England), Jan 1 (PTI) Indian Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte ended the year 2003 on a high defeating GM Peter Heine Nielsen of Denmark in the fourth round of Hastings International Chess Congress here. Top seed GM Vladimir Epishin of ...
I am here to stay - Blair.
Jan 01, 2004 ... London, Jan 1 (PTI) In a stern warning to his detractors in the party, the British Prime Minister Tony Blair Thursday asserted that he intends to remain as Prime Minister until at least 2010 because his job of transforming the country into a leader among world nations is only "half done". ...
PIA flight arrives, Indo-Pak airlinks resume after two years.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) Raising hopes of normalisation of relations, a green and white Boeing 737 of the Pakistan International Airlines touched down at the Indira Gandhi International airport in Indian capital on Thursday marking resumption of airlinks between the two countries which had ...
Kashmir-Blast.
Jan 01, 2004 ... JeM militant killed in explosion, seven civilians injured Srinagar, Jan 1 (PTI) A suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad militant died when an Improvised Explosive Device he was carrying on a bicycle exploded accidentally in the downtown area of Srinagar in northern Indian state of Jammu ...
India to fight out the shrimp case in US.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) India would "fight it out" against the "very unfair" case of alleged dumping of Indian shrimps on US market, the Government said Thursday. "We will fight it out ... We are all geared up to fight the case and industry has already hired lawyers for this," ...
SAD rejects setting up CoI to probe charges against CM's son.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Chandigarh, Jan 01 (PTI) Principal opposition party in northern Indian state of Punjab, Shiromani Akali Dal Thursday rejected state government's decision to set up a Commission of Inquiry to probe the hawala deal (illegal transfer of money) allegedly involving Chief Minister Amarinder ...
Plan to sell Kashmiri trout to Britain.
Jan 01, 2004 ... London, Jan 1 (PTI) Buoyed by the success of Indian distilleries exporting whisky to Scotland, India is now planning to sell Kashmiri trout to British supermarkets, a leading daily reported Thursday. Fish farms were developed in Jammu and Kashmir in the 1980s, but the industry ...
SAARC Foreign Secys make progress on protocol on terrorism.
Jan 01, 2004 ... K J M Varma Islamabad, Jan 1 (PTI) Despite differences over definition of terrorism, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Foreign Secretaries have made progress on finalising the additional protocol on terrorism ahead of the three-day summit from Sunday. ...
PIA flight lands in Delhi, IAF plane touches down in Islamabad.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) Amidst growing detente, passenger flights resumed Thursday between India and Pakistan for the first time since aviation links between them snapped following the terrorist attack on Parliament. A Pakistan International Airways flight, carrying 40 ...
US for "freeze" of Israeli settlements, not dismantlement.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Washington, Jan 1 (PTI) The United States is currently calling for a "freeze" of unauthorised Israeli settlements on Arab territory captured by Israel in war, not their dismantlement, State Department Deputy Spokesman J. Adam Ereli has said. "Whether in the Golan or the West ...
Bangalore team in Iran to help quake victims.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Bangalore, Jan 1 (PTI) A 15-member Art of Living (AOL) team of volunteers comprising teachers and doctors from here has reached Iran to help the victims of the devastating earth quake there. The team which is carrying medical supplies, clothes and food ...
No bilateral meetings fixed with Pakistani leaders: Sinha.
Jan 01, 2004 ... K J M Varma Islamabad, Jan 1 (PTI) Observing that India and Pakistan have made gestures to create a "positive environment", External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha on Thursday said no bilateral meetings have been fixed during the three-day SAARC summit beginning on Sunday. ...
SAARC Foreign Secys finalise protocol on terrorism.
Jan 01, 2004 ... K J M Varma Islamabad, Jan 1 (PTI) In a major breakthrough ahead of the SAARC summit, Foreign Secretaries from the seven-member grouping Thursday night reached an understanding on additional protocol on terrorism and narrowed down differences on a regional free trade treaty. ...
70 new crop varieties developed.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) Indian government on Thursday said more than 70 new crop varieties had been developed for commercial release to give a boost to agricultural production. These include more than six varieties of wheat, five cotton, eight sugarcane, 13 paddy and 28 oilseeds ...
Over 200 dead as cold tightens grip over North India.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) The cold wave tightened its grip over Northern India, claiming 22 lives overnight to raise the season's countrywide toll to 216 even as dense fog forced cancellation of trains and disrupted flights on new year day. The state od Uttar Pradesh was the worst ...
12 New Year revellers killed, 46 injured.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) Twelve New Year revellers were killed and 46 injured in separate road accidents in three states as people ushered in 2004 in party mood. Seven fatalities occurred in eastern Indian state of Orissa and two in northern state of Punjab, reports said adding 30 ...
Karunakaran rejects compromise formula.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Angamaly, Jan 1 (PTI) Senior Congress leader K Karunakaran Thursday rejected the compromise formula, which reportedly envisages Deputy Chief Ministership to his son K Muraleedharan, mooted by UDF constituents to resolve the crisis in Kerala unit, saying a change of guard alone was ...
Maha prepares a bill to monitor pvt foreign universities.
Jan 01, 2004 ... Mumbai, Jan 1 (PTI) Government of the western Indian state of Maharashtra is bringing in a bill to monitor the functioning of the private foreign universities which would be opening their branches in the state from next year. "The private foreign universities would start ...
SAARC Foreign Ministers approve SAFTA and additional protocol.
Jan 01, 2004 ... on terrorism K J M Varma Islamabad, Jan 1 (PTI) In a momentous decision in the New Year, Foreign Ministers of SAARC countries on Thursday approved the framework treaty for free trade in the region by 2006 and adopted an additional protocol on terrorism to stop ...
Pak changes minister-in-waiting for Vajpayee; India has no.
Jan 01, 2004 ... role in it: Shashank Islamabad, Jan 1 (PTI) In a last-minute decision, Pakistan has replaced the minister-in-waiting for Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his visit to Islamabad for attending the SAARC summit beginning on Sunday even as India said it has no role in the ...
Revised guidelines under FCCBs announced.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) Indian government on Thursday night announced revisions and modifications in the operative guidelines for Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds under which FCCBs exceeding 50 million Dollars would be permitted only for financing import of equipments and foreign exchange ...
Sonia speaks to Mayawati who backs Cong chief's PM candidature.
Jan 01, 2004 ... New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) Pressing ahead with efforts to put together an anti-BJP alliance in coming Lok Sabha polls, Congress President Sonia Gandhi spoke to BSP chief Mayawati who asserted the foreign origin of the Leader of the Opposition would not stand in the way of her becoming the ...
US foreign policy focus on Russia, India, China: Powell.
Jan 02, 2004 ... Washington, Jan 2 (PTI) The US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said, within the broad parameters of keeping the best of relationship with all, U S foreign policy more concentratedly focus on major powers like India, China and Russia with which it had had a difficult past. ...
Bush hopes India, Pak will begin dialogue during SAARC summit.
Jan 02, 2004 ... T V Parasuram Washington, Jan 2 (PTI) US President George W Bush has expressed the hope that India and Pakistan will initiate a dialogue on a variety of issues during the SAARC summit beginning Sunday. "The Indians and Pakistanis in upcoming meetings will be able to ...
US not to let Iran off the hook, says aid an act of compassion.
Jan 02, 2004 ... Washington, Jan 2 (PTI) US President George W Bush has said that American aid to quake-hit Iran was a humanitarian gesture and not a sign of softening of stance towards that country and asked Tehran to "listen to the voices demanding freedom". "What we are doing in Iran is we ...
Putin files nomination for Russian Presidential polls.
Jan 02, 2004 ... Moscow, Jan 2 (PTI) Nine candidates including incumbent Vladimir Putin have filed their nominations for the March 14 presidential polls in Russia. Along with Putin, former Duma Speaker Ivan Rybkin, drug manufacturer Vladimir Bryntsalov, co-chairperson of Union of Rightist ...
Fencing not attempt to settle Kashmir unilaterally: Vajpayee.
Jan 02, 2004 ... Islamabad, Jan 2 (PTI) Dismissing Pakistan's objections to India building fences along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said the step was an "operational requirement" to stop infiltration of militants and not part of any attempts by ...
Lord Paul for high degree of accountability.
Jan 02, 2004 ... A Saj Mathews Chennai, Jan 2 (PTI) Leading NRI industrialist and Britain's business ambassador Lord Swraj Paul Friday underlined the need for a high degree of accountability and maximum transparency in the Indian system to achieve success in the globalised scenario. ...
Terrorism biggest obstacle in Indo-Pak ties: Vajpayee.
Jan 02, 2004 ... Islamabad Jan 2 (PTI) Asserting that the current peace initiative with Pakistan was his "last attempt", India's Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has said terrorism was the biggest obstacle in the way of solving Kashmir and other issues between India and Pakistan. "This is my ...
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 1 (PTI): The Kerala government.
Jan 02, 2004 ... Thursday issued No Objection Certificates to 96 new B. Ed colleges, according to an official state- ment here. The state Cabinet during a meeting had decided to give NOCs to 75 colleges, Education Ministry said and added that the 21 colleges had since been included in an ...