India Claims foiling Pak infiltration bid in the boarder

Rights group concerned over death sentences in Darfur

H.L. Bajaj Takes over as Chairman , Central Energy Agency

H.L. Bajaj has taken over as Chairman, CEA with effect from 1st July, 2002. Bajaj brings with him 34 years of rich experience in the Indian Power Sector. Before taking over as Chairman, CEA he was Director (Commercial) on the Board of National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd., a 20,000 MW plus, Navratna PSU. He started his career with Haryana State Electricity Board, then moved o to Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL), before finally joining National Thermal Power Corporation in 1987. The high point of his career was the test synchronization of the first 500 MW unit (Unit VII) of Vindhyachal STPP Stage-I, eleven (11) months ahead of schedule and all the power stations in the Western Region i.e., Vindhyachal, Korba, Kawas, Gandhar and Balco, then managed by NTPC, receiving ISO-9002 accreditation during his tenure as Executive Director heading the region. As head of Consultancy Division of NTPC, he turned it around and successfully executed projects located in India, Dubai and Nepal.

Bajaj joined Haryana State Electricity Board in 1968 where he played a pivotal role in 100% electrification of the state, being the first to achieve this distinction. He moved on to Bharat Heavy Electrification Limited (BHEL) where he was instrumental in engineering Indian and overseas power projects. He joined National Thermal Power Corporation in 1987 and successfully executed many projects in India as well as overseas. As Executive Director of the Western Region of NTPC, having an installed capacity of more than 5000 MW, he provided effective leadership which entailed motivating the entire 5000 strong team of the region. Recipient of many national and international awards which include Best Corporate Manager of the year 2001, PECOBA Award-2001, Outstanding Chapter Power Engineer Award by Power Engineering Society 1999 and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. USA (IEEE) 3rd Millennium Award, Mr. Bajaj is Fellow of Institution of Engineers, Fellow and Chartered Electrical Engineer of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), UK and Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. USA.

New Amendments toCivl Procedure Act,

The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1999 (Act No. 46 of 1999) and the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2002 (Act No. 22 of 2002) comes into force with effect from today. Two notifications, to this effect, under the 1999 and 2002 Acts respectively were issued earlier in the Gazette of India. The Chief Justice of India, Justice B.N. Kirpal, in his message to both the Bench and the Bar all over the country has urged them to extend their wholehearted cooperation in the implementation of the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1999 and the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2002 in order to ensure speedy justice to the people. He was speaking at a function organized by the Bar Council of India to felicitate him.

The two amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, will bring a sigh of relief to those who have been waiting for the outcome of the civil cases pending for a long time or ages in the courts. It also seeks to compress the time frame for disposal of all civil cases within one year by setting a time limit for every stage of litigation.

The main features of the code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1999 and the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2002 include measures taken to reduce delays at pre-trial stage in terms of obligations of the plaintiff, the court are defendant.

The 2002 Amendment Act also modifies the 1999 Amendment Act following a broad consensus arrived at after consultations with the Law Commission of India, representatives of the Bar Council of India, Bar Associations, Law Officers of the Union and others.

Besides restricting adjournments to three times only, it seeks to abolish second appeal in money suits where value does not exceed Rs. 25,000. Further, the general power of the courts to extend the time prescribed in the Code is restricted to 30 days now. Earlier, the court could extend time without any limit. Besides, on the filing of revision application against the orders of a sub-ordinate court, its records shall not be called unless the High Court orders to do so specifically.

The amendments also empower the courts to refer suits in appropriate cases for conciliation and arbitration. This is intended to reduce the bulk of litigation which otherwise increases the pendency of cases in the Civil Courts.

33 International Film Festival Entries Invited

Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has invited entries for 33rd International Film Festival of India 2002 for the Competition Section (Feature Films by Asian Directors). The awards consist Golden Peacock and a cash prize of Rs. 5,00,000/- for the Best Film by an Asian Director, Silver Peacock and a cash prize of Rs. 2,50,000/- for Most Promising Asian Director and Silver Peacock and a cash of Rs. 2,50,000/- for Special Jury Award winner.

Only those Feature films censored between 1st January, 2000 and 31st December, 2001 are eligible for the entry. Feature films entering for competition will be subject to preview by a Committee constituted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The decision of the Government in respect of all matters related to selection shall be final. Only the films selected by the Committee will be screened for the International Jury. The selected films will have to be made available with English subtitles either in 35 mm or 70 mm.

Entry forms should be submitted along with VHS cassettes (preferably PAL system) so as to reach the Directorate of Film Festivals not later than 31st July, 2002. Entry forms and regulations are available with the Film Industry Organizations, Offices of the Central Board of Film Certification, National Film Development Corporation, State Film Development Corporations and Department of Information/ Public Relations of State Governments and on website: www.mib.nic.in/dff and from the Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information and Broadcastin.

Project Management Institute's conference highlights major development projects in Lebanon

Dubai: July 1, 2002 , The Project Management Institute - Arabian Gulf Chapter (PMI-AGC) has announced that it will be organizing a first of its kind technical event and dinner meeting on July 4, 2002 at the Monroe Hotel, Beirut, Lebanon. Titled "Project Management: Council of Development & Reconstruction (CDR) choice for Successful Project Delivery," the presentation will be conducted by Jamal Itani, President of CDR. The presentation will focus on CDR's decision to select project management as its approach for transforming its mission, vision and goals into programs and projects that will enable the ultimate attainment of its objectives. The event is sponsored by PROJACS (www.totalpms.com) Project Management and Controls CO, Dubai, UAE, a leading organization promoting professional Project Management Solutions in the entire Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.

"The Council for Development and Reconstruction is currently playing a major role in the industry of Project Management by delivering several important projects in the region. There are plans for CDR to release projects that cover a diverse range of sectors and regions of Lebanon in the next five years. These projects will be financed by international and regional financial organizations including the World Bank, USAID, Kuwait Fund, Arab Fund, Abu Dhabi Fund and Islamic Bank among others. We are providing the opportunity for local, regional and international consultants and project managers to participate in delivering these projects," said Mr. Jamal Itani. "This presentation will set CDR expectations for those who will play an active role in delivering these projects," he added.

"This event is in keeping with our long-term vision of creating widespread awareness of Project Management, so as to enable it to become a 'Profession of Choice' in the Middle East and Gulf region. The event will provide the audience with direct access to relevant information on Project Management, in addition to specific details on the coalition between CDR with PMI," said Mr. Bassam Al Samman, the President of PROJACS, Dubai, UAE and UAE Chapter Director of the Project Management Institute-Arabian Gulf Chapter. "Some of the vital issues to be addressed at the presentation will include the role that CDR plays in delivering projects in Lebanon, projects that CDR will be involved in delivering for the next five years, key success criteria for CDR and how Project Management will help in achieving the same as well as challenges faced by CDR."

Feature - Conversion to eco-friendly traditional stoves

ASMARA, 1 July (IRIN) - An innovative scheme to convert 500,000 traditional injera stoves across Eritrea will cut thousands of tons of carbon emissions each year and help to conserve the country’s precious supply of firewood.

For centuries, injera - a pancake-like food widely eaten in Eritrea - has been cooked on simple clay stoves, built over an open fire. However, the stoves are smoky, dangerous and require a substantial amount of firewood to burn effectively.

But scientists at the ministry of energy believe they have found a solution. By making a few simple design changes they have increased the efficiency and safety of the stoves - known as mogoggos - by over 100 percent.“We have added a chimney, so that smoke no longer fills the kitchen, and an insulated firebox to conserve heat," Afeworki Tesfazion, the ministry's research director, told IRIN. "We have also improved ventilation, to allow the fire to burn better, so that it uses 50 percent less fuel.” He said the new stove also burns a wider range of fuels, such as animal dung, twigs and leaves.

The ministry estimates that each new stove reduces carbon emissions by 0.6 of a ton annually and saves 366 kg of firewood per household each year. The government hopes that every one of the 500,000 households currently thought to own a stove in Eritrea will convert to the new style. If this happens the environmental savings would be enormous.

The health benefits are also significant. Without the thick smoke pouring into their kitchens, women and children are less likely to suffer from the respiratory diseases and eye problems that affected many who used the old stoves. The new mogoggo is already proving popular. In a scheme run by the government and backed by small grants from the British Embassy, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, and non-governmental organisations, dozens are being built in villages around the country every week. More than 5,000 households have already converted.

Under the scheme, village women are taught how to build the stoves themselves. They then teach other women, who teach others and so on. With free labour and free materials - the stoves are made of clay and rocks, which are easily available everywhere - the only cost is the accessories. Metal chimney caps, valves and doors, as well as clay fire grates and cement chimneys, are mostly made locally.

One village taking part is Mehiyaw, in Debub region, close to Eritrea’s southern border. Nearly half of the 160 households in Mehiyaw have already installed new mogoggos. Others in the village hope to do so soon. Standing in her small, neat kitchen, Miriam Amman, proudly shows off her work. Miriam, a mother of six children, built the stove with help from women from another village one week ago. "I love it because there is no smoke in here anymore," she says. "My clothes are clean and the children can play in here while I cook. Before now nobody would come into the kitchen while the stove was lit. Also we use less wood, so I spend less time gathering it.”

The biggest challenge faced by the government now is to let people know about the new stoves - and persuade them to convert as soon as possible. “The scheme has to be accessible to everyone,” said Afeworki Tesfazion. “They don’t have fax or phone, or email, they don’t come to Asmara to ask how to construct a mogoggo, so we have to reach them. The best way to do that is to teach 30,000 or 40,000, women so that they can pass their knowledge on to others, who in turn will pass it on to more women.”The government is setting up a credit plan, to enable families to borrow money to build the stoves now - about US $8 each - and repay the loan when they can afford it. It estimates that the next stage of the project, including training the women and the credit scheme, will cost a further $500,000.

But so far, customers appear satisfied. In Mehiyaw, a group of Miriam Amma’s neighbours and friends crowd into her kitchen to admire her stove. It is larger and more elevated than the old fireplace, which required women - who do all the cooking in traditional Eritrean households - to bend low while preparing food. In the small outdoor kitchen the stove is alight, but the air is clear. One woman points out the smoke-blackened corrugated tin roof, a reminder of Miriam’s old stove. “At first nobody wanted these new mogoggos,” said Miriam. “But now they have seen how well they work, everybody wants one.”

Sanmina-SCI's purchase of three Alcatel European
manufacturing facilities

Paris, July 1, 2002 - Sanmina-SCI Corporation (NASDAQ NM: SANM), a leading
electronics contract manufacturer, today announced the completion of its
asset purchase of Alcatel's (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) manufacturing
facility in Toledo, Spain. This asset purchase completes the three phases
of Sanmina-SCI's announcement on January 24, 2002 of its acquisition of
Alcatel's manufacturing facilities in Cherbourg, France, Gunzenhausen,
Germany and Toledo, Spain. It follows the announcement of the completion of
the purchase of the Gunzenhausen facility, announced on April 3, 2002 and
the completion of the Cherbourg facility, announced on May 23, 2002. Terms
of the transaction and multi-year supply contract were not disclosed.

Safe Harbor Statement
The foregoing, including the discussion regarding the company's future
prospects, contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties, including uncertainties associated with economic
conditions in the electronics industry, particularly in the principal
industry sectors served by the company, changes in customer requirements
and in the volume of sales to principal customers, the ability of
Sanmina-SCI to effectively integrate its operations following the merger of
Sanmina Corporation and SCI Systems, Inc. and to assimilate other acquired
businesses and achieve the anticipated benefits of the merger and other
such acquisitions, and competition and technological change. The company's
actual results of operations may differ significantly from those
contemplated in the company's 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10K/A
filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on December 21, 2001 and
March 26, 2002, and the company's 10-Q filed with the Securities Exchange
Commission on May 13, 2002.

Infrastructure Development Finance Company Limited

Rs. 1.0 Billion Long-Term Debt Instrument AAA

The rating reflects IDFC's strong financial profile underpinned by high capitalization levels and a comfortable liquidity position. IDFC had a Tier I capital ratio of 56.08%, and liquid assets represented 18% of its balance sheet as on March 31, 2002. CRISIL expects IDFC to maintain this conservative financial profile given its business strategy and philosophy. While IDFC's core business of financing infrastructure projects poses inherent risks, CRISIL expects its high capitalization levels and strong risk management systems to address any potential deterioration in asset quality. CRISIL considers the support that IDFC has received from the government of India to be a positive factor, given IDFC's central role in enabling infrastructure financing in the Indian private sector.

IDFC was established in 1997 as a specialized financial institution with the objective of leading private capital to commercially viable infrastructure projects. As on March 31, 2002, IDFC had approved financial assistance to 59 projects aggregating Rs. 64.86 billion. For the year ending on that date, IDFC reported a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs.1.86 billion on an asset base of Rs. 31.1 billion.

Rights group concerned over death sentences in Darfur

NAIROBI, 1 July (IRIN) - International human rights groups have expressed concern over what they describe as a "sharp increase" in death sentences this year in the Darfur region of western Sudan.

The London-based human rights organisation, Amnesty International (AI), on Friday said it considered the Sudanese penal code, which is based on the Islamic [sharia] law as "cruel, inhuman and degrading". Punishments under sharia include limb amputations and death by crucifixion. The organisation said this was inconsistent with international human rights law.

According to AI, at least 19 people have been executed in Darfur since the beginning of this year, without being given the opportunity to defend themselves, as required by international law. "Many more run the risk of losing their lives unless this alarming trend is halted," it warned.

"This is state-sanctioned killing at its worse, with those suspected having little or no recourse to defend themselves," AI said. "The judicial authorities in Sudan must ensure that all prisoners are guaranteed every opportunity to defend themselves, including the right of appeal to a higher tribunal, and to seek commutation of the sentence."

According to AI, emergency courts were established in both Northern and Southern Darfur in May 2001 to deal with offences such as armed robberies, murders and the illegal possession of weapons. The courts are headed by two military judges and one civilian judge, and do not allow representation of the accused until the appeal stage of the proceedings, the rights organisation said.

India Claims foiling Pak infiltration bid in the boarder

An infiltration bid was foiled by the Indian Army troops deployed in Kupwara Sector, in the early hours this morning. An ambush party in Keran Sector deployed about 400 meters on own side of the LoC detected the movement of terrorists. A fierce gun
battle ensued in which two terrorists were killed and a large quantity of war like material was recovered from the place of incident.

Pak Army assisted and supported this infiltration by resorting to heavy unprovoked shelling of posts along the LoC in the area of infiltration.Seen in conjunction with the two earlier infiltration bids in Poonch Sector during the last one week and in view of the fact that for every infiltration bid foiled/detected, three to four others go undetected, it is evident that infiltration across the LoC goes on inspite of Pak promises to stop it.