India, Pakistan agree to double bilateral trade within three years

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">India and Pakistan have agreed to jointly work to more than double bilateral trade within three years from current levels of 2.7 billion US dollars per annum to about six billion US dollars.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The entire phasing out of the Negative List, the transition process to Most Favoured Nation (MFN) treatment shall be complete. He said Indian side has agreed to address issues raised by Pakistan under Non-Tariff Barriers for import of cement, textiles, fruits and vegetables, processed food items and surgical instruments</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

India, Pakistan agree to double bilateral trade within three years

India and Pakistan have agreed to jointly work to more than double bilateral trade within three years from current levels of 2.7 billion ...

+ Read more »

Fresh Backward Regions Grant Fund on cards

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">In line with its “Inclusive Growth” agenda, the UPA Government is considering a major change in one of its flagship schemes — Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) — aimed to bring uniform growth across different segments of the country.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Plan panel is mulling to re-structure the programme to implement it at bock level. At present, it is implemented at district level.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; text-align: justify;">BRGF was launched in 2007 with an annual corpus of Rs 3,750 crore. The scheme, a mandate of Panchayati Raj, covers 250 most backward districts in the country.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; text-align: justify;"> </span></span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Central Government provides funds to the State Governments under the scheme to redress regional imbalances in development in the 250 backward districts  with a strategy that aims to ensure that regional disparities in development are bridged in these regions</span></span></li> </ul></div>

Fresh Backward Regions Grant Fund on cards

In line with its “Inclusive Growth” agenda, the UPA Government is considering a major change in one of its flagship schemes — Backward Re...

+ Read more »

International Civil Aviation Day is being observed

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5049" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">International civil aviation day is being observed on dec.7  across the world. This day aims at spreading the awareness of the importance of International civil aviation in the social and economic development of states. </span></span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">International civil aviation has a significant role in promoting the safety, efficiency and regularity of international air transport</span></span></li> </ul></div></div>

International Civil Aviation Day is being observed

International civil aviation day is being observed on dec.7  across the world. This day aims at ...

+ Read more »

K’taka releases Rs 31 crore for providing drinking water

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: x-small;">The Karnataka Government has released more than 31 crore rupees during 2011-12 for providing drinking water under Multi Village programme of Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking water scheme.<strong> </strong></span></li> </ul></div>

K’taka releases Rs 31 crore for providing drinking water

The Karnataka Government has released more than 31 crore rupees during 2011-12 for providing drinking water under Multi Village programme ...

+ Read more »

DRDO successfully conducts maiden flight of AEW&C

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The DRDO has conducted the maiden flight of Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system at a special facility in Brazil, taking a major step forward in the development of such system indigenously. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The first maiden flight of indigenously developed AEW&C took place yesterday at Sao Jose dos Campos in Brazil with about 1000 mission system components provided by Bangalore- based DRDO lab.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The flight is a major milestone towards realising the dream of indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control system, which will put India into a select club of countries." </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The aircraft will now undergo full certification process over next two years, but first two aircraft will be delivered to us by the middle of 2012.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The systems developed by DRDO are being integrated on specially designed Embraer aircraft with capability of tracking airborne objects in all directions.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

DRDO successfully conducts maiden flight of AEW&C

The DRDO has conducted the maiden flight of Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system at a special facility in Brazil, taking...

+ Read more »

World Bank not involved in Tipaimukh dam project

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">World Bank on Tuesday clarified that it is not involved in the proposed Tipaimukh dam project on the river Barak in Manipur.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The clarification came in response to news reports which had wrongly stated that the Tipaimukh dam project would be funded by the multi-lateral lending agency.</span></span><br /> <br /> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></li> </ul><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The World Bank, it was pointed out, was funding the power transmission project in the north-eastern region which was not linked with the dam project. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

World Bank not involved in Tipaimukh dam project

World Bank on Tuesday clarified that it is not involved in the proposed Tipaimukh dam project on the river Barak in Manipur. The c...

+ Read more »

World Court rules against Greece in Macedonia case

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5053" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The world court ruled on Monday that Greece was wrong to block Macedonia's bid to join NATO in 2008 because of a long-running dispute over the fledgling country's use of the name Macedonia. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">the court found that Greece's veto breached a 1995 deal under which Greece had agreed not to block Macedonia's membership in international organisations if it used the name "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,"</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; text-align: justify;">Greece's Foreign Ministry said today it will continue to block Macedonia's attempts to join NATO until the name issue is resolved</span></span></li> </ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div></div></div>

World Court rules against Greece in Macedonia case

The world court ruled on Monday that Greece was wrong to block Macedonia's bid to join NATO...

+ Read more »

Russia writes off $11 bn in Afghan debt

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Russia has canceled over $11 billion in Afghanistan's sovereign debt over the past decade, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><br /> </span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; text-align: justify;">Russia also provides humanitarian aid to Afghanistan - more than 40,000 tonnes of wheat flour and other shipments in the past decade, worth a total of around $50 million</span></span></li> </ul></div>

Russia writes off $11 bn in Afghan debt

Russia has canceled over $11 billion in Afghanistan's sovereign debt over the past decade, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sai...

+ Read more »

Libya ministry takes control of Tunisia crossing

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Libyan interior ministry forces have taken control of the key Ras Jdir border crossing with Tunisia from former rebels who toppled Muammar Gaddafi.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">taking control of the crossing was a "priority" for Libya as it is "displaying the law of the state." The crossing, 180 kilometres west of Tripoli, was closed last week after Tunisian guards stopped work, complaining of lack of protection against armed and unarmed fighters deployed on the Libyan side.         </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Tunisia also closed a second border post in Dehiba after allegations of attacks on Tunisians inside Libya, and Tunis Air flights to Libya have also been cancelled since last week. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Libya ministry takes control of Tunisia crossing

Libyan interior ministry forces have taken control of the key Ras Jdir border crossing with Tunisia from former rebels who toppled Muamma...

+ Read more »

S Korea resumes aid to N Korea through UNICEF

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">South Korea says it has decided to resume sending aid to North Korea through the UN children's agency UNICEF.    </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">South Korea halted its UNICEF donations last year when two deadly incidents blamed on North Korea — a ship sinking and an artillery attack on an island — killed 50 South Koreans and spiked tension.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">  </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Seoul's Unification Ministry said Monday it will donate about USD 5.7 million to UNICEF programs to send medicines and vaccines and help malnourished North Korean children.  </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">    </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">South Korea approved a shipment to North Korea through the World Health Organization. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

S Korea resumes aid to N Korea through UNICEF

South Korea says it has decided to resume sending aid to North Korea through the UN children's agency UNICEF.     South Korea hal...

+ Read more »