Star tortoises worth Rs.3.6 million seized in Kerala -India Pakistan Gas Pipeline Price Meet in August
Kiliroor Sex Scandal : Court Orders Further Probe
Expressing dissatisfaction with the CBI's investigation into the Killiroor sex scandal, a judicial magistrate on Monday directed the agency to conduct further investigation into it. The direction was issued by The Chief Judicial Magistrate, PD Sarandharan, while considering a petition by Janadhipatiya Vanitha Sangattana, seeking further investigation into the case involving the rape and subsequent death of a minor girl, Shari S Nair in 2005. She was allegedly taken to different places and raped by many persons after being promised roles in television serials.Shari finally died after giving birth to a baby girl.
Directing further investigation, the court said that the agency had failed to investigation certain important points.Earlier, the CBI filed a chargesheet before the CJM court against nine accused -- alleging offences punishable under criminal conspiracy, rape, procuring of a minor girl, criminal intimidation, cheating and causing disappearance of evidence.The petitioner contended that the final report submitted by CBI was incomplete and sought a direction for further investigation into the cause of Shari's death.
Qatar to have stake in Kerala Power Project
The gas-rich nation would hold a 40% equity in a proposed Rs 75-bn power project to be constructed in Kerala by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), reports Financial Express. Petronet LNG too has been offered 10% in the 2,300-mw project to be built in Kayamkulam, Kerala. The state-owned NTPC will hold the balance 50% in the new special purpose vehicle (SPV) to be floated soon.
The assets of the existing 355-mw Kayamkulam project will be divested in favour of the SPV and another 1,980 mw is proposed to be added to the existing power project. Power secretary RV Shahi said that this will emerge as a good model for accessing both equity and debt funding from the cash- and gas-rich West Asian countries. However, NTPC will hold majority stakes and have management control in such ventures.
Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is in talks with NTPC and PLL for this project, but the actual investment may be made by Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC), after proper due-dilligence and valuation of the Kayamkulam assets. After its board approval to create a new SPV, NTPC has already circulated a draft shareholders` agreement to both Petronet LNG and QIA. A equity tie-up with Qatar for the project will facilitate gas supply to this power project, currently running at only a 355-mw capacity due to lack of fuel. The project has been revived after intervention at the level of the Prime Minister`s Office. Earlier, principal secretary TKA Nair, along with senior NTPC executives, was in Qatar to make a presentation on the project to the first deputy prime minister of Qatar.
India-Pakistan Agreement for $25 million Humanitarian Aid
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today between India and Pakistan, setting out the modalities for release of US $ 25 million, which the Government of India had pledged as humanitarian assistance for the victims of the earthquake of 8 October 2005. These funds would enable the Government of Pakistan to procure reconstruction material from India as per requirement. Foreign Secretary of India Shri Shyam Saran and the High Commissioner of Pakistan to India, H. E. Mr. Aziz Ahmad Khan, signed the MoU.
The Government of India hopes that this will assist the families who have been devastated by the earthquake on 8 October 2005 in rebuilding their lives. It may be recalled that the Government of India had sent relief material worth US$ 5 million for those affected by the earthquake in Pakistan. In addition, relief supplies valued at more than US$ 10.5 million were also donated from other government, semi-government and private sources. This includes relief material handed over across the Line of Control in J&K.
At the international donors’ conference organised by the UN Coordinator for Emergency Relief in Geneva in October last year, the Government of India had pledged an amount of US$ 25 million as humanitarian assistance for the victims of the earthquake of 8 October 2005. At the donors’ conference that followed in Islamabad in November 2005, Shri E. Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs, reaffirmed India’s commitment and requested the Government of Pakistan to source reconstruction material from India utilizing these funds.
Indian Defense Minister delays visit to Israel due to Gaza crisis
Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee has decided to postpone a planned visit Israel, it emerged on Saturday. The decision came in the wake of Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip and escalating tension with the Palestinians.Mukharajee delayed his scheduled arrival on 7 July following consultations with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
The Times of India newspaper reported that India's leftist factions led by the Communist party are urging their government to condemn what they termed as "Israel's brutal attacks on the Palestinians and their elected representatives."The main purpose of his visit concerns mainly arms deals with Israel, and Mukharajee was to head a delegation of senior defense and arms industry officials. Israel is India's second-largest arms provider and purchasing contracts between the countries totaled in the last decade nearly $5 billion. Among other weapon systems, India is considering purchasing from Israel an advanced anti-missile defense system, unmanned aircrafts and night vision equipment.
New Delegation to Discuss Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) Gas Pipeline Project.The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Murli Deora informed the Parliamentary Consultative Committee (PCC) attached to his Ministry that a tripartite official level meeting is being held in Tehran on 13-15 March, 2006 on Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) Gas Pipeline Project. Chairing the PCC meeting here last evening, Shri Deora said that Indian delegation will be led by Petroleum Secretary. He pointed out that as domestic availability of gas is not adequate to meet country’s demand, gas imports are being pursued both as Liquefied Natural Gas(LNG) and through transnational pipelines. Read More
Arab business channel (abc) Gets Ready for Regular Transmission
Arab business channel (abc) has completed the required preparations for launching its formal regular transmission in the coming few days.The abc CEO Saleh Zaitoon stated that the channel contracted with a pick of Arab announcers and media stuff to richen the channel and present a distinguished pick of programs which will cover the daily transmission hours which will last for 24/7 non-stop.The CEO has referred that a distinguished technical team of directors, camera men and technicians who will manage the technical operations related to transmission has been attracted.MR.ZAITOON added that the channel will transmit newscasts on the head of every hour with special reports from the events spots in the political, economical and common issues included.The channel will also also present continuous presentation for the Arab and universal bourse changes from the moment it opens to the moment it closes with presenting ON AIR special analyses for stock markets indicators which will be presented by financial experts and specialist analysts.
MR.Zaitoon also added that a distinguished selected programs collection which aims to spread the economical culture through the public besides its primary objective presented in attracting the Arab business men and constrict the gap between them and pushing them towards the united Arabian business to be a step on the way of building a common Arabian business market has been inscribed in the first program cycle.
Abcs CEO has also emphasized that the channel signed some agreements with some economical and informational institutions for constructing a furious informational network to enhance programs and newscasts in addition to a net of reporters and external bureaus which supply the channel with the special reports, the documentary and the live programs from events spots wherever it happen in the Arab world.
