19 Nov 2009
NEW DELHI: With a political statement on the anvil in Copenhagen, India put forward its contribution to the mitigation strategy in dealing with climate change.
While indicating that it was willing to be “part of a solution” , New Delhi has reiterated that developed countries will have to take on binding targets.
While acknowledging that India could be a big polluter considering its large population and growing economy, New Delhi has said it would ensure that its per capita emissions never exceed that of developed countries.
“India’s per capita emissions are now around 1.2 tonnes of CO2 equivalent and are expected to be around 2-2 .5 tonnes by 2020 and 3-3 .5 tonnes by 2030. The per capita limit is an onerous binding that India has imposed on itself,” said Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.
The only concession that India was willing to make was on submitting a national communication on climate change actions and their impact on emissions every two years. In keeping with the offer first made in September by the minister , India has suggested that the national communication could be used as a basis for international consultations.
“This will more than meet the demand for internationalisation of domestic commitments and obligations taken on unilaterally. The format of reporting could be decided by the UNFCCC after discussions and consensus among parties,” Mr Ramesh submitted.
The government could find it difficult to sell this line to the domestic audience as a section has been seeing it as the first step towards accepting international monitoring of establishments funded with domestic resources. But the government leadership has been arguing that national communication and per capita emission limits will help the country counter pressure from the developed world to accept legally binding emission limits.
Another plank of India’s mitigation strategy is the proposal to convert some of the nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMA) into nationally accountable mitigation outcomes (NAMO).
This will be undertaken both through executive or legislative action. This effort would mean indicating specific performance targets in industry, energy, transport, agriculture, buildings and forestry for 2020 and 2030.
These actions will be derived from the National Action Plan on Climate Change and Eleventh Plan document. As early as September, Mr Ramesh had announced that the government was considering bringing a legislation that would broadly indicate targets. There is no forward movement on this as there was political opposition to the proposal.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Incredible India bags Grand Prix Award
New Delhi, Nov 14(PTI) In yet another feather to its cap, the Incredible India campaign bagged the prestigious Grand Prix Award.
Tourism Minister Kumari Selja received the award for the Incredible India promotional film in Vienna yesterday.
"It is a great privilege for me to receive the Grand Prix Award for our new Incredible India promotional film. The film has been used extensively in our global marketing campaigns and has received worldwide recognition," Selja said.
Earlier in the week, Incredible India had got the World Tourism Award for the best destination marketing campaign in London.
"After winning a series of international awards at Berlin, Poland, Romania, France, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Croatia, the film has now been honoured with the prestigious Grand Prix Award," she said.
Tourism Minister Kumari Selja received the award for the Incredible India promotional film in Vienna yesterday.
"It is a great privilege for me to receive the Grand Prix Award for our new Incredible India promotional film. The film has been used extensively in our global marketing campaigns and has received worldwide recognition," Selja said.
Earlier in the week, Incredible India had got the World Tourism Award for the best destination marketing campaign in London.
"After winning a series of international awards at Berlin, Poland, Romania, France, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Croatia, the film has now been honoured with the prestigious Grand Prix Award," she said.
Food prices jumped 13.32 pc in October
14 Nov 2009
NEW DELHI: India's annual rate of inflation, based on wholesale prices, rose sharply to 1.34 per cent in October from 0.5 per cent in the previous month, mainly on account of a 13.32 per cent jump in prices of food articles.
Data on the official wholesale price index released on Saturday showed that over the past year, prices of potatoes have nearly doubled while onions have become dearer by 37.6 per cent.
Similarly, pulses are costlier by 22.81 per cent, vegetables by 17.02 per cent, rice by 13.22 per cent, wheat by 6.88 per cent, milk by 10.03 per cent and fruits by 5.83 per cent, showed the statistics released by the industry ministry.
During the 12-month period under review, the index for manufactured products was up 1.36 per cent while that for fuels, the other major commodity group, declined by 6.55 per cent.
As per a decision taken by the cabinet, the data on official wholesale price index is now released only on a monthly basis, doing away with the practice of weekly updates, in a bid to curb "volatility" in the markets.
Earlier this week, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said food prices would come down "after a month or so" as a result of steps taken to import food and create a buffer stock.
The Reserve Bank of India and the government have warned India's annual inflation rate based on wholesale price index for all commodities will rise to 6-6.5 per cent by March, while the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council has pegged the rate at 6 per cent.
NEW DELHI: India's annual rate of inflation, based on wholesale prices, rose sharply to 1.34 per cent in October from 0.5 per cent in the previous month, mainly on account of a 13.32 per cent jump in prices of food articles.
Data on the official wholesale price index released on Saturday showed that over the past year, prices of potatoes have nearly doubled while onions have become dearer by 37.6 per cent.
Similarly, pulses are costlier by 22.81 per cent, vegetables by 17.02 per cent, rice by 13.22 per cent, wheat by 6.88 per cent, milk by 10.03 per cent and fruits by 5.83 per cent, showed the statistics released by the industry ministry.
During the 12-month period under review, the index for manufactured products was up 1.36 per cent while that for fuels, the other major commodity group, declined by 6.55 per cent.
As per a decision taken by the cabinet, the data on official wholesale price index is now released only on a monthly basis, doing away with the practice of weekly updates, in a bid to curb "volatility" in the markets.
Earlier this week, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said food prices would come down "after a month or so" as a result of steps taken to import food and create a buffer stock.
The Reserve Bank of India and the government have warned India's annual inflation rate based on wholesale price index for all commodities will rise to 6-6.5 per cent by March, while the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council has pegged the rate at 6 per cent.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
RSS chief Bhagwat says China becoming a huge threat for India
November 9th, 2009
SHIMLA - Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that Beijing was becoming a security threat for New Delhi.
Talking to reporters here on Sunday, Bhagwat said: “China has encircled us, it has its base in Burma (Myanmar). We should also have a similar policy and should not allow these neighbouring countries to go with Beijing, and make them friends. They should favour India. Everyone knows China’s policies, but we did not pay attention and have almost lost Nepal.”
Bhagwat further said China makes claims on India’s Arunachal Pradesh State and at the same time wants good ties with New Delhi.
“Intentions of China are not hidden, it attacks Arunachal Pradesh and on the other hand says wants good relations with India,” he said.
Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader Dalai Lama’s visit that began on Sunday to Arunachal Pradesh also claimed by China has renewed tensions between the Asian giants.
The visit, as well as reports of border incursions in recent months, has triggered tensions between the two nations.
Beijing, which claims Arunachal Pradesh a part of Tibet, criticised the visit of Dalai Lama. It has slammed the Dalai Lama’s ” visit as a scheme to wreck China’s relations” with India. (ANI)
SHIMLA - Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that Beijing was becoming a security threat for New Delhi.
Talking to reporters here on Sunday, Bhagwat said: “China has encircled us, it has its base in Burma (Myanmar). We should also have a similar policy and should not allow these neighbouring countries to go with Beijing, and make them friends. They should favour India. Everyone knows China’s policies, but we did not pay attention and have almost lost Nepal.”
Bhagwat further said China makes claims on India’s Arunachal Pradesh State and at the same time wants good ties with New Delhi.
“Intentions of China are not hidden, it attacks Arunachal Pradesh and on the other hand says wants good relations with India,” he said.
Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader Dalai Lama’s visit that began on Sunday to Arunachal Pradesh also claimed by China has renewed tensions between the Asian giants.
The visit, as well as reports of border incursions in recent months, has triggered tensions between the two nations.
Beijing, which claims Arunachal Pradesh a part of Tibet, criticised the visit of Dalai Lama. It has slammed the Dalai Lama’s ” visit as a scheme to wreck China’s relations” with India. (ANI)
Headley's phone number in India found; probe makes headway
Mumbai, Nov 10 (PTI) Central security agencies have located the mobile phone number used by David Headley, arrested by FBI for his involvement in an LeT plot to carry out attacks in India, during his stay in Mumbai.
The clue to the mobile phone used by Headley was given by a 38-year-old Parsi lady who was working with him at his immigration services office set up in Mumbai, official sources said.
The security agencies have already started analysising the call records of Headley who has been arrested by FBI on October three for allegedly hatching a conspiracy with Pakistan-based terror group Lashker-e-Taiba to carry out strikes inside and outside the US.
This may also help the security agencies to ascertain whether disappeared cadres of banned SIMI
The clue to the mobile phone used by Headley was given by a 38-year-old Parsi lady who was working with him at his immigration services office set up in Mumbai, official sources said.
The security agencies have already started analysising the call records of Headley who has been arrested by FBI on October three for allegedly hatching a conspiracy with Pakistan-based terror group Lashker-e-Taiba to carry out strikes inside and outside the US.
This may also help the security agencies to ascertain whether disappeared cadres of banned SIMI
David Headley posed as Jew in Mumbai
DNAMonday, November 9, 2009
New Delhi: David Coleman Headley and Tahawwura Hussain Rana, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives arrested in the US for planning attacks in India and Denmark, were linked to a Bangladesh-based terror network that was involved in several attacks in South India, sources in the security establishment have told DNA.
Mumbai under attackIt is also learnt that Headley -- who operated an immigration service in Mumbai between 2006 and 2008 as reported by DNA on Sunday -- had allegedly posed as a Jew during his time in the city and even had people buying into his claim.
The Bangladesh-Pakistan network is headed by Syed Abdul Rahman, the unidentified LeT leader in the criminal complaint filed by the FBI in Headley's arrest, before a US court a few days ago.
Shahid Bilal, a Hyderabad-born terrorist who masterminded several terror strikes in India (including the twin-blasts in Hyderabad in 2007) and who was mysteriously killed
in Karachi in August 2007, was also part of the same network, American and Indian investigators believe.
This network -- which includes members from the LeT as well as HuJI -- could have played a role in the Mumbai attacks through Headley and others, some investigators are now beginning to believe.
Investigating officers have fanned out in Mumbai and elsewhere to piece together details of Headley's activities. Details of Rana's visits to India are also being probed. As was reported on Sunday, Rana left Mumbai just five days before the 26/11 attacks, while Headley was in Mumbai on several occasions between 2006 and 2008. There are indications that Rana may have travelled to Gujarat during his visit to India.
Several aspects of Headley's operations in Mumbai during that period are also emerging as investigators interview people who were familiar with him during those days. Apart from the finding about him posing as Jew, it has also been learnt that Headley used rarely used mobile phones and computers.
Details of his mobile phone as well as that of a Tata Indicom landline number he used while operating his business -- a firm named Immigrant Law Centre from AC Market, Tardeo in Mumbai - are now with the investigating team. Officially, his job was to facilitate visas for the US and Canada for semi-skilled and unskilled workers.
Headley preferred to pay salaries and make other payments in cash. He rarely used banking channels, sources also indicate. Headley spent hardly two hours in the morning and a couple of hours in the evening in the office while in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, in New Delhi, Union home secretary GK Pillai confirmed that Headley had made repeated visits to India. "We do know that Headley had visited India a number of times. That is being investigated," Pillai told reporters.
On Sunday, DNA had reported that the two terror suspects arrested in the US few days ago, Headley and Rana, had travelled to India in the run-up to the Mumbai attacks and that investigations are on to establish their role in the 26/11 carnage.
New Delhi: David Coleman Headley and Tahawwura Hussain Rana, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives arrested in the US for planning attacks in India and Denmark, were linked to a Bangladesh-based terror network that was involved in several attacks in South India, sources in the security establishment have told DNA.
Mumbai under attackIt is also learnt that Headley -- who operated an immigration service in Mumbai between 2006 and 2008 as reported by DNA on Sunday -- had allegedly posed as a Jew during his time in the city and even had people buying into his claim.
The Bangladesh-Pakistan network is headed by Syed Abdul Rahman, the unidentified LeT leader in the criminal complaint filed by the FBI in Headley's arrest, before a US court a few days ago.
Shahid Bilal, a Hyderabad-born terrorist who masterminded several terror strikes in India (including the twin-blasts in Hyderabad in 2007) and who was mysteriously killed
in Karachi in August 2007, was also part of the same network, American and Indian investigators believe.
This network -- which includes members from the LeT as well as HuJI -- could have played a role in the Mumbai attacks through Headley and others, some investigators are now beginning to believe.
Investigating officers have fanned out in Mumbai and elsewhere to piece together details of Headley's activities. Details of Rana's visits to India are also being probed. As was reported on Sunday, Rana left Mumbai just five days before the 26/11 attacks, while Headley was in Mumbai on several occasions between 2006 and 2008. There are indications that Rana may have travelled to Gujarat during his visit to India.
Several aspects of Headley's operations in Mumbai during that period are also emerging as investigators interview people who were familiar with him during those days. Apart from the finding about him posing as Jew, it has also been learnt that Headley used rarely used mobile phones and computers.
Details of his mobile phone as well as that of a Tata Indicom landline number he used while operating his business -- a firm named Immigrant Law Centre from AC Market, Tardeo in Mumbai - are now with the investigating team. Officially, his job was to facilitate visas for the US and Canada for semi-skilled and unskilled workers.
Headley preferred to pay salaries and make other payments in cash. He rarely used banking channels, sources also indicate. Headley spent hardly two hours in the morning and a couple of hours in the evening in the office while in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, in New Delhi, Union home secretary GK Pillai confirmed that Headley had made repeated visits to India. "We do know that Headley had visited India a number of times. That is being investigated," Pillai told reporters.
On Sunday, DNA had reported that the two terror suspects arrested in the US few days ago, Headley and Rana, had travelled to India in the run-up to the Mumbai attacks and that investigations are on to establish their role in the 26/11 carnage.
Using own name, David Headley stayed at Mumbai hotel
Monday November 9, 2009
David Coleman Headley, arrested by the FBI for planning a terror attack against Delhi, spent a fortnight at a hotel in South Mumbai in 2006.
Headley checked in using his own name at Hotel Outram. Hotel authorities say at that time, they had submitted documents to the Mumbai police as part of the standard procedure of sharing information on foreigners staying at the hotel.
The Mumbai police has confirmed that Headley visited Mumbai at least four times; his accomplice, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, had also visited India. Rana and Headley were both arrested in Chicago last month. Headley allegedly exchanged several emails with top operatives of terrorist group, Lashkar-e-Taiyaba.
Headley, a US citizen, lived for several years in Pakistan. He was about to catch a flight to Pakistan when he was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare airport.
The Mumbai police says Rana and Headley also met in Mumbai. Between November 2006 and July 2008, Headley also reportedly ran a firm by the name Immigrant Law Centre at the AC Market. The police says that officially, the firm helped applicants to get visas for the US and Canada
A team of Indian officials is in America to interrogate Headley. It has already been revealed that he planned to attack the National Defence College in Delhi.
David Coleman Headley, arrested by the FBI for planning a terror attack against Delhi, spent a fortnight at a hotel in South Mumbai in 2006.
Headley checked in using his own name at Hotel Outram. Hotel authorities say at that time, they had submitted documents to the Mumbai police as part of the standard procedure of sharing information on foreigners staying at the hotel.
The Mumbai police has confirmed that Headley visited Mumbai at least four times; his accomplice, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, had also visited India. Rana and Headley were both arrested in Chicago last month. Headley allegedly exchanged several emails with top operatives of terrorist group, Lashkar-e-Taiyaba.
Headley, a US citizen, lived for several years in Pakistan. He was about to catch a flight to Pakistan when he was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare airport.
The Mumbai police says Rana and Headley also met in Mumbai. Between November 2006 and July 2008, Headley also reportedly ran a firm by the name Immigrant Law Centre at the AC Market. The police says that officially, the firm helped applicants to get visas for the US and Canada
A team of Indian officials is in America to interrogate Headley. It has already been revealed that he planned to attack the National Defence College in Delhi.
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