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Kathmandu: A sort of political blizzard is likely to overwhelm Nepal soon. Destructive politics appear to have already taken a shape which awaits only its formalization in a week or so. The frenzied play that is being played in the dim corners of Kathmandu backed by some alien forces in the South will, if it does happen, apparently be very hard to be tackled by the ruling Maoists-the party in government. Exactly after a lapse of three years four months (minus 12 days to be more precise), such a destructive political play is being staged by forces that are visibly...

Israel is concerned over losing its largest defence market to close ally US, which has reached an understanding with India that could result in billions of dollars of American defence sales to New Delhi, a media report has said. "(US President Barack) Obama is embracing the Indian Prime Minister and 40 to 50 billion USDs worth of deals are being wrapped up in one shot," Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) President Itzhak Nissan told Middle East Newsline adding, "We don't have such personalities." Israeli officials said the Defence Ministry and major companies have been closely monitoring the US marketing drive in...

Two men from Pakistan and Sri Lanka were held without bail Friday on charges that they smuggled Middle Easterners into the United States through third countries for $20,000 each. Iqbal Munawar and Chelliah Sri Kajamukam were arrested late Thursday at Miami International Airport on charges filed in New York, federal authorities said.They made federal court appearances Friday and were ordered to return to court for bond hearings Thursday.An Indian businessman led the smuggling ring, which illegally flew people to Miami and New York and carried them to the United States by boat, FBI agent Timothy Ryan wrote in a court...

So, it's under way and, using a memorable turn of phrase from a colleague, India soared over the first Commonwealth Games hurdle by producing a vibrant and polished opening ceremony with a mass singing of Jai Ho at the end it would be hard to ever forget. It's certainly an event Nottingham's badminton star Nathan Robertson will remember - being a flag bearer for your country at a major games is quite something. He'll be looking to shine, but will have to wait his turn. My job out here will often be to get to the sports which are getting...

India inaugurated a multi-billion-dollar airport terminal in New Delhi on Saturday -- a shiny glass and steel symbol of the country's aspirations as an emerging global power The state-of-the-art hub, which cost nearly three billion dollars and can handle 34 million passengers a year, was showcased at a special ceremony by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ahead of opening to the public later this month. Built in just 37 months to coincide with New Delhi's hosting of the Commonwealth Games in October, the terminal sprawls over four square kilometres (1.5 square miles) and boasts 97 automated walkways and 78 aerobridges. "This...

Obama amputates our nuclear arms By: Charles Krauthammer ...snippet...Under President Obama’s new policy, however, if the state that has just attacked us with biological or chemical weapons is “in compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty,” explained Gates, then “the U.S. pledges not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against it.” Imagine the scenario: Hundreds of thousands are lying dead in the streets of Boston after a massive anthrax or nerve gas attack. The president immediately calls in the lawyers to determine whether the attacking state is in compliance with the NPT. If it turns out that the attacker...

SNIPPET - quote: YOU ARE HERE: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report Warden Message: New Delhi Market Threat CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS South / Central Asia - India 21 Apr 2010 U.S. Embassy New Delhi released the following Warden Message on April 21, 2010: This Warden Message provides additional information related to the Travel Alert issued for India on April 16, 2010. There are increased indications that terrorists are planning attacks in New Delhi. Terrorists have targeted places in the past where U.S. citizens or Westerners are known to congregate or visit. Markets, such as those located in...

National Security Advisor (NSA) Shivshankar Menon today assured President Hamid Karzai that New Delhi will continue its developmental efforts in Afghanistan. But India has temporarily suspended its medical mission in Kabul that was the target of a suicide attack last Friday. While Menon, in his interaction with Karzai and top Afghan officials, made it clear that reconstruction efforts will not be affected, sources said India will take a more cautious approach after the third major attack on its establishments here in the last two years. The Karzai government assured Menon that security for Indian establishments across Afghanistan would be increased...

While the White House was engaged in hosting a Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.C., a major nuclear incident occurred in India that escaped the attention of the international press. Five people suffering from serious radiological burns were hospitalized in West New Delhi this week from contact with nuclear material in a Delhi scrap market. The material has been identified as Cobalt-60 which may be used for making a dirty bomb. Indian police sectioned off the 200 market stores in the thickly populated city of 14 million and sealed nearby establishments within a one-kilometer radius. Scrap dealer Deepak Jain and...

ndia and Pakistan held their first formal talks in 14 months yesterday, seeking to put their volatile relationship back on track after it was derailed by the devastating 2008 Mumbai attacks. Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir met for three hours in New Delhi for talks that offered little hope of a breakthrough, but carried vital importance for regional peace and stability. Arguments over the agenda and a brief exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani border guards before the meeting augured badly for major progress, with the probable best-case scenario an agreement to keep...

Note: Video included. NEW DELHI: SNIPPET: "Stephen Hampston and Steven Martin were detained by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Delhi Police on Monday for possessing some high-tech gadgets, maps and binoculars. "They checked into the hotel on February 13 and hotel authorities informed us after they found their activities suspicious. We are questioning them," a police officer said."

NEW DELHI: SNIPPET: "The US national, identified as Winston Marshal Carmichael, was detained late last night after CISF personnel found knife in his hand baggage during the security check when he was to leave for Doha in a Qatar Airways flight, official sources said. ( Watch Video ) Reminiscent of the case of terror suspect David Headley, arrested in Chicago in October last for allegedly plotting terror strikes in India, Carmichael is a convert from Christianity to Islam. The New York resident changed his religion some 40 years ago. Carmichael, who was flying to Doha in a Qatar Airways flight,...

At least half of the country's defence equipment is obsolete and needs urgent upgrade, a report said on Wednesday, underlining gaps in its defence preparedness in a region roiled by Islamist militancy and military rivalries. Only 15 per cent of India's equipment is "state of the art", according to the first comprehensive report on the country's defence sector prepared by global consultancy firm KPMG and the Confederation of Indian Industry. New Delhi changed its defence procurement policy last year to further open its defence sector to the world and local companies after the Mumbai attacks in November 2008, in which...

A scheme named “Developing of Traffic and Communication Network in NCR and Mega Cities and Model System of Traffic Management” has been included for implementation in 11th Five Years Plan with a provision of Rs. 200 crore. The scheme has two components viz., (i)Introduction of Intelligent traffic system (ITS) and (ii) Setting up of an Integrated Date communication Network (Cyber Highway). The scheme comprises a wide range of novel tools for managing transport networks, as well as services for travelers. The project broadly includes the state-of-art command and control centre, a city video surveillance system covering the maximum number of...

India raised the pitch of an increasingly testy row with China over disputed border areas Wednesday, warning Beijing about its involvement in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. "The Chinese side is fully aware of India's position and our concerns about Chinese activities," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said in response to a Chinese statement that it would remain engaged in Pakistan. "We hope that the Chinese side will take a long-term view of the India-China relations and cease such activities in areas illegally occupied by Pakistan," Prakash said. The remarks came a day after India and China traded diplomatic jabs over a...

India's greenhouse gas emissions are expected to jump to between 4 billion tonnes and 7.3 billion tonnes in 2031 ... Per-capita emissions are estimated to rise to 2.1 tonnes by 2020 and 3.5 tonnes by 2030, according to a government-funded study by five different organisations, including environmental groups and the management consultancy firm, McKinsey. The report did not give a figure for present emission levels but Indian climate negotiators say per-capita emissions are 1.2 tonnes at present. India's population is 1.1 billion but is expected to grow to more than 1.5 billion in coming decades. The report is the nation's...

Two Chinese helicopters have reportedly violated the Indian airspace in recent months in Leh area of north Jammu and Kashmir during which they air-dropped some canned food in barren land at Chumar, northeast of this Himalayan town, along the border. ( Watch Video ) The MI series helicopters were reported to the nearby defence post by residents of this high altitude area living along the Pangong lake, located in the lap of majestic hills, prompting the Army Aviation Corps to rush its Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. However, they could only find tell-tale signs left by Chinese helicopters which hovered in...

An Indigo aircraft flight E-664 made an emergency landing at New Delhi airport. The National Security Guard and Delhi police's quick response team have been called in. The Border Security Force's planes have been put on standby. The plane has been isolated at the airport. No one has disembarked from the aircraft. The possibility of a hijack has not been ruled out.

<p>LONDON (AP) - The British Broadcasting Corp. is reporting that six gunmen have been shot and killed by Indian security forces at New Delhi's main international airport. The report on the BBC Web site Thursday was attributed to airport officials.</p>

EOM