Washington, May 23 : India and the US have agreed to work closely to combat terrorism, apprehend wanted criminals and effectively deal with security threats confronting them. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who is on a visit to the US, and Attorney General Eric Holder agreed that the Home Ministry and the US Department of Justice should work together institutionally to address pending issues relating to extradition, execution of Letters Rogatory and Red Corner Notices.

They also agreed to cooperate in the areas such as law enforcement, counter terrorism and judicial processes. New Delhi and Washington also recognised the compelling reasons for closer cooperation between India and the US based on the larger strategic objective underlined by President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the former’s visit to India in November 2010.

During the second Homeland Security Dialogue, Shinde and US Secretary for Homeland Security Janet Napolitano emphasised that cooperation between New Delhi and Washington in internal security was a key pillar of the India-US global strategic partnership.

“They also recognised that such cooperation was imperative, in view of commonality of the threats that confront the two countries,” an official statement said. The Home Minister and his American counterpart welcomed progress made over the recent past in developing practical steps to enhance the security of the citizens and to prevent the misuse of increasingly-interconnected global financial, transportation and communication systems.

Both the countries agreed to enhance cooperation in capacity building programmes and to identify technologies and equipment useful for Indian law enforcement agencies which they can source from the US. During the dialogue, the two leaders received reports from the six sub-groups that constitute the Homeland Security Dialogue and welcomed progress being achieved in substantive terms.

New Delhi, May 23 : There is a need to focus on the principles of governance to curb corrupt businesses practices, Planning Commission member Arun Maira said today.

“A measure to tackle the problem is by fixing standards in different industries. But it is imperative to address the fundamental question that when setting guidelines, it must be the society as a whole that benefits and not just a few persons, companies or representatives,” Maira said in a conference here.

“Bribery in one level is about paying and about getting, paying to get something that you are not legally entitled to … and these transactions take place in a system which is corrupt. And more corrupt is the system, more is the temptation to bribe for the sake of performance,” he said.

Government is considering laws, including the Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials Bill, the Whistleblower Protection Bill, and the new Companies Bill, to check corrupt practices, he said. Speaking at the conference, Kiran Karnik, former Nasscom president, said, “Competition is the controller and dispenser of corruption.

Media activism and civil society are most critical components in fighting bribery in business transactions and that this is a developmental phase that we are passing through.” Karnik said corruption has two types–coercive and cohesive. “The former being part of the system and the latter where individuals and companies benefit,” he said. He said it can be tackled by transparency, where Right to Information Act has been a major drive.

Bangalore, May 23 : Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone today said spot-fixing not only brings bad name to sports, but also drags names of people who are not involved in the malpractice.

“Spot-fixing brings bad name to any sport. It also drags names of other people who are no way connected to this malice,” said Deepika, who is in the city for the promotion of her upcoming film “Yeh Jawaani Hain Deewani”.

The comments of Deepika, daughter of badminton icon Prakash Padukone, come in the backdrop of IPL spot-fixing scandal and the arrest of 49-year-old actor Vindoo Randhawa, who allegedly was associated with bookies.

Deepika, who will be seen in her second release of the year after Race 2, said sportspersons can bring glory to a country by their performances, but the scourge of spot-fixing is not helping in this regard.

Directed by Ayan Mukerji, the movie starring Deepika and her former beau Ranbir Kapoor, is produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions.
“Yeh Jawaani Hain Deewani” is their second film together after their 2008 hit “Bachna Ae Haseeno”. The film is scheduled for May 31 release.

Jerusalem, May 23 : Israel’s hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today assured the US that resuming peace talks with the Palestinians tops his agenda, amid prevalent scepticism about the Obama Administration’s effort to bring both sides to the negotiating table.

“This is something that both you and I want, and I hope also the Palestinians want,” Netanyahu said at the start of his meeting with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry. Kerry arrived in Israel today on his fourth trip since he assumed office in February to push for the resumption of peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians stalled since 2010 over Israel’s settlement policy on the occupied land.

While admitting that there was scepticism and cynicism about his efforts to broker new talks between Israelis and Palestinians, Kerry praised Netanyahu for the “seriousness” with which he is looking at ways to revitalise peace talks. “I know this region well enough to know there is scepticism, in some quarters there is cynicism and there are reasons for it. There have been bitter years of disappointment,” he said.

“It is our hope that by being methodical, careful, patient, but detailed and tenacious, that we can lay on a path ahead that can conceivably surprise people and certainly exhaust the possibilities for peace,” Kerry insisted. Netanyahu said he wanted to restart talks with the Palestinians.

“We ought to be successful. When there’s a will, we’ll find a way,” the Israeli Prime Minister said. Netanyahu also noted that they would also discuss the Syria crisis and the Iranian nuclear threat. He hailed the “extraordinary resolution” overwhelmingly passed by the US Senate yesterday committingWashington’s support for Jerusalem in case of nuclear threat from Iran. The US Secretary is scheduled to meet later today President Shimon Peres and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who will be in charge of negotiations with the Palestinians. This will be Livni’s third meeting with Kerry this month, after he met him in Washington and Rome.

Islamabad, May 23 : Chinese Premier Li Keqiang today assured Pakistan of “every support and assistance” to boost bilateral cooperation in key areas of business, trade, energy and infrastructure to cement their “all-weather” ties. “China will give you every support and assistance and by helping you, we have to help ourselves,” Li said while addressing a special session of the Senate or Upper House of Pakistan’s Parliament.

Pakistan’s support is vital for China’s development, he said, adding that both the countries should stand shoulder-to-shoulder as friends and brothers with “pragmatic cooperation”. Li, in his maiden visit to Pakistan as Chinese Premier, said China will extend further cooperation in all sectors, especially in the fields of strategic relations, energy, science and technology and agriculture. “To be friends forever is the cherished desire of both nations”, he said, describing the friendship as the outcome of centuries-old people-to-people contacts.

Highlighting priorities for taking both countries towards development and progress, Li said they would have to speed up the development of the Karakorum Highway and its use for trade activities. “We are ready to work with Pakistan to speed up the project of upgrading the Karakoram Highway, actively explore and develop the long-term plans of building a China-Pakistan economic corridor, expanding our shared interests”, he said. Launching social and financial projects and cooperation in energy and agriculture would also boost bilateral ties, he said.

Li, 57, recalled his first visit to Pakistan 27 years ago as a youth leader and said that through his interaction with people, he had learnt that both sides cherished their friendship. Referring to Pakistan’s geo-political significance, Li said the country was involved in maintaining regional stability and global peace. He said support and cooperation were vital for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Raipur, May 23 : Four naxals, including a woman, today surrendered in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district. “The cadres surrendered before Narayanpur Superintendent of Police Amit Kamble at Benur police station of the district,” Additional SP N K Sahu told PTI over phone.

Those arrested have been identified as – Ajay (21) and Bharat (22), the members of Kudur LOS (Local Operating Squad) of Maoist, Vinod (32) of Chinahri Sarkar Raksha Sakha and Sudha (23), a member of Kohkameta platoon no.1 of ultras. They all were involved in several cases of crime ranging from loot, arson and murder in the region, Sahu said, adding, that of them, Vinod was active for past several years.

“Under pressure from security personnel and (due to) harsh forest life, he decided to quit and join the mainstream,” the ASP said. Sudha also claimed that she was abused, humiliated and beaten by senior naxal functionaries at times and was often denied basic facilities, Sahu said. They will be rehabilitated as per the government policies, he added.

Visakhapatnam, May 23 : Police have seized around 750 kg of ammonium nitrate, which is used in explosives, from a village under Ankapalle rural police station limits in the district.

Acting on a tip-off, Anakapalle rural police conducted raids on a building near a stone quarry at V V Ramanam Colony and found 15 bags of ammonium nitrate late last night.

Police said 46-year-old N Venkateswara Rao had procured the ammonium nitrate without any permissions from Visakhapatnam, to sell it, illegally, to quarry owners in Anakapalle mandal.

Rao, a former quarry worker, was expert in blasting for mining, they added. He has been arrested under Explosive Substances Act.

Itanagar, May 23 : The insurgency problem in Eastern Arunachal districts could be resolved only after a permanent solution of the vexed Naga issue was reached, outgoing Governor Gen (Retd) J J Singh said today.

“The problem of Arunachal is directly linked with Nagaland and the Centre should immediately resolve the Naga issue to bring peace and normalcy in these districts,” he suggested while interacting with mediapersons at the Raj Bhawan here.

“The people of three Eastern Arunachal districts – Tirap, Changlang and Longding, are living under fear due to presence of cadres of both factions of NSCN which are resorting to kidnapping, extortion and factional feuds,” the governor said.
Stating that the government had done everything to build confidence among the people, he said that a crackdown on insurgents could only be possible with popular support.

Stating that insurgency in North East was going out of fashion, the former army chief said that the problem could be resolved if the Centre and respective state governments implemented the surrender policy in the right perspective. “We have not implemented the surrender policy in the right manner so as to attract the cadres to shun violence and join the mainstream,” he said. The surrender policy, he said, should be viable incorporating a suitable package like training, necessary grants and skill development for the surrendered cadres to start new self employment ventures.

The governor who served the state for the last five years said that the major challenges he faced was on the security and law and order front.

“I am fortunate that there were no major disturbance in the border between China and India and the law and order in the state was by and large remained peaceful. He also said that his government in the last few years could minimize the bandh culture in the state and unlawful activities came down significantly with the ‘iron fist in velvet gloves’ policy.

“I am very fortunate to have been at the helm of affairs during a historical phase of development in the state in all spheres. I will leave my heart, which was embedded with the people, in the state,” the governor said.

Niamey (Niger), May 23 : A uranium processing plant owned by French nuclear giant Areva and a military base in northern Niger were hit by twin car bombings today, wounding multiple people, said the defence minister and an employee at the site. “There was an explosion in front of the military base at Agadez,” Defence Minister Mahamadou Karidjo told AFP, calling it a car bomb attack.

“The attackers have been neutralised,” he said, adding: “They are ‘redskins’” — a reference to members of the country’s Tuareg and Arab groups. Around the same time, an explosive-rigged four-by-four blew up at an Areva site to the north, injuring some at the scene, the employee said. Agadez is the main city in northern Niger. The Somair uranium mine and processing plant is located some 250 kilometres to the north, at Arlit.

“A man in military uniform driving a four-by-four packed with explosives mixed in with the Somair workers and blew up his vehicle in front of the power station at the uranium treatment facility,” the employee told AFP. “Company managers told us the suicide bomber was killed in the explosion.” The attacks are the first of their kind in Niger, an impoverished west African country that has sent troops into neighbouring Mali as part of a regional military operation against Islamist fighters who had taken over the north of the country.

Colombo, May 23 : Sri Lanka has welcomed a whopping Rs 1,372 crore Indian housing assistance programme to build around 4000 homes in the country’s eastern province. The housing assistance programme is one of the largest grant assistance projects implemented by India outside the country.

Sri Lanka’s Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has recalled the significant contribution of the Indian High Commission in initiating and implementing wide ranging projects of Indian assistance in the Northern and Eastern provinces after the end of the civil war in 2009. Construction of nearly 4,000 homes in two administrative districts in the east – Batticaloa and Ampara – was commenced yesterday.

Rajapaksa recalled that his brother, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his 2010 visit to India had requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to build 50,000 homes in the north. The project was later expanded to provide housing in the east.

“Among donor-funded humanitarian assistance projects in Sri Lanka, the Indian Housing Project was unmatched and unprecedented in its scale, reach and impact,” Rajapaksa said during the launch of the programme in Batticaloa.

Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Ashok K Kantha reiterated the importance attached by India to support initiatives for early resettlement of displaced persons in Northern and Eastern provinces and providing opportunities to enhance their livelihoods. He expressed satisfaction that projects of Indian assistance in Northern Province were progressing well.

The Indian Housing Project, which aims to support resettlement and rehabilitation of IDPs in Northern and Eastern provinces, is part of India’s overall commitment to build 50,000 houses. The entire Project is fully funded by the India with a total outlay of Sri Lankan rupees 30.6 billion (RS 1,372 crore).

Washington, May 23 : A group of 21 influential US lawmakers has demanded confirmation of Indian-American legal luminary Srikanth Sri Srinivasan’s nomination to the country’s second highest court. The demand was made in a letter sent yesterday to the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid by the lawmakers, led by Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera, in support of Srinivasan’s nomination to the DC Circuit Court.

Chandigarh-born 46-year-old Srinivasan, if confirmed, would become the first South Asian to serve as a federal circuit court judge. His nomination was unanimously been confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. He now awaits Senate confirmation, which is expected to vote today.

“Sri Srinivasan would be an outstanding judge for the Court of Appeals. He has worked in the US Solicitor General’s office three times – for both Republican and Democratic administrations – and argued 24 cases before the Supreme Court,” the Congressmen said in the letter.

“As members of Congress, we value the importance of having diversity on the court. Representation of Indian Americans within our judicial system is overdue,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter, which was penned by Bera, the only serving Indian-American lawmaker in the current Congress.

Srinivasan is currently principal US Deputy Solicitor General and is a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. He successfully worked for both Republican and Democratic Administrations and has bipartisan support from the legal community. He was first nominated by Obama on June 11, 2012.

On January 2, 2013, his nomination was returned to the President, due to the sine die adjournment of the Senate. On January 3, 2013, Obama re-nominated him for the same office.

Tokyo, May 23 : Three Chinese government ships entered waters around disputed islands controlled by Tokyo today, Japan’s coastguard said. The Chinese maritime surveillance vessels were spotted in the 12-nautical-mile zone off the Senkaku islands, which China calls the Diaoyus, in the East China Sea shortly before 9:30 am (0030 GMT), the coastguard said.

It marks the latest in a long line of stand-offs between official ships from both sides as Beijing and Tokyo jostle over ownership of the strategically important and resource-rich islands.

A long-simmering territorial row that dates back four decades blistered in September when Tokyo nationalised three islands in the chain, in what it said was a mere administrative change of ownership.

The central government’s move was intended to pre-empt a purchase by the Tokyo city government led by nationalist governor Shintaro Ishihara at the time.

Tokyo’s move prompted angry anti-Japan demonstrations across China, which has intensified claims to the islands it says should have been “returned” after World War II.

Washington, May 21 : Indian-origin Sathwik Karnik has won this year’s National Geographic Bee contest after gruelling rounds testing his geographic knowledge about lions in Botswana, mountain ranges in Asia and port cities in England. To clinch the title, Karnik, 12, correctly named Chimborazo as the mountain in Ecuador that represents the farthest point from the Earth’s center.

Karnik, a native of Norfolk, south of Boston, is a 7th grader at King Philip Regional Middle School. He will take home the spoils of the Bee prize that include a USD 25,000 college scholarship, an all-expenses paid trip to the Galapagos Islands, and a lifetime membership to the National Geographic Society, National Geographic reported. Competitors also get the chance to compete on behalf of the United States in an International geographic competition.

Nearly 5 million students started in the Geography Bee. After state and local competitions, those millions were whittled down to the top 54, and then the 10. Three of the finalists are siblings of former finalists – including Karnik, whose brother has participated in the Bee. His parents emigrated to the US from near Mangalore, in 2002. Indian-American children have dominated both the geography bee and the Scripps National Spelling Bee in recent years.

Beijing, May 22 : As Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Pakistan from India for a visit, China today said as a “friendly neighbour”, it would like to see the two countries improve their bilateral relations.

“We noted that relations betweenIndia andPakistan have shown positive movement. Leaders of the two countries said they are committed to improve their relations,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters here.

“BothIndia andPakistan are major countries inSouth Asia. Their relations are very important to peace and stability in the region,” he said.

“As friendly neighbour of the two countries, we sincerely hope that the two countries can improve their relations and maintain peace, stability and development of this region,” he said.

Yesterday, the Chinese premier concluded his three-day visit toIndia during which he stressed on the need to work as regional and global partners.

On the second leg of his first foreign trip since he assumed office in March, the Chinese premier arrived to a red carpet welcome inPakistan today for a two-day visit and held talks withPakistan President Asif Ali Zardari.

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