PARIS: France and India on Tuesday signed a major nuclear cooperation pact which opens the way for the sale of French nuclear reactors to New Delhi

The atomic pact is one of the three agreements to be signed during Singh’s two-day visit to Paris. The other two relate to social security matters which will benefit Indian and French nationals staying in each others’ countries on short duration up to five years.

The following is the text of the agreement:

France and India have decided to give a new impetus to their cooperation for the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes as an expression of their strategic partnership.

Both sides recognize that as a reliable source of sustainable and non-polluting energy. It could make a significant contribution to meeting the global challenge of achieving energy security, sustainable development, economic growth and limiting climate change.

As responsible states with advanced nuclear technologies, including in the nuclear fuel cycle, France and India are interested to promote nuclear energy with the highest standards of safety and security and in accordance with their respective nuclear policies and international obligations.

France and India share common concerns and objectives in the field of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery including in view of possible linkages to terrorism.

Building on their on-going decades-old cooperation in the fields of fundamental and applied research, and nuclear safety, it was agreed to broaden and boost this partnership.

Towards this end, a “Co-operation agreement Between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the French Republic on the Development of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy” was signed on 30th September 2008.

This agreement will form the basis of wide ranging bilateral cooperation from basic and applied research to full civil nuclear cooperation including reactors, nuclear fuel supply, nuclear safety, radiation and environment protection and nuclear fuel cycle management.

— Agencies

The toll in the Chamunda Temple near Jodhpur stampede has risen to 179 and hundreds others injured on Tuesday, officials said.

Severe overcrowding apparently caused the crush as more than 12,000 people gathered at the temple to celebrate Navaratra festival, Jodhpur Police Superintendent Malini Agarwal said. At least 168 people were killed in the stampede, said Naresh Pal Gangwar, the district collector.

Thousands had gathered at the temple at dawn on Tuesday to mark the first day of Navratra, a nine-day Hindu festival to honour the Mother Goddess.

The stampede apparently began as false rumors of a bomb spread among the crowd, said Ramesh Vyas, a pilgrim who was standing in line

“Several people fell down as the floor became slippery with thousands of devotees breaking coconuts for offering at the temple,” said Vyas

“When I arrived, I saw chaos, people running around the place. I was looking for my friend and after a while found him,” local student Manish said.

“He was unconscious but without serious injuries.”

The authorities have ordered an investigation into the incident. — Agencies

Roseline Deleu – Feng Shui Master, Author and Inspirational Speaker www.fengshuisteps.com

FENG SHUI Conference DAY
Sunday 12 October 2008
Gold Coast – Southport (Sharks Club)
Full details on http:www.fengshuisteps.com/conference.html 
 

Have you ever thought how much some of our lives are influenced by what happens to celebrities! We believe they ‘have’ it all, we think they ‘know’ it all, we imagine they ‘have made it’, we expect them to be an example.

 When you delve deeper than in the gossiping of trendy magazines, you understand that those we call ‘Rich and Famous’ have their own issues – mainly with TRUST and INTEGRITY.  For some of them, they live in another reality… in their world, every day is superficial, their lives can turn up side down simply through a media release.

 What about us? Well, we are in the same boat… our lives can turn up side down too – simply by another person’s judgement, comment, approval, disapproval, criticism, compliment. Then, our Ego gets challenged – and we all have an Ego.

 Let us see if some Feng Shui tips can help us managing this Ego of ours…

When you place the grid

In Feng Shui, your home – how it looks and feels today – is reflecting your life at this moment of your life. By placing this grid (Fig. 1) onto the plan of your premises, find where your section ‘9’ is located; this area stands for ‘Fame, Recognition, Well-Being, Compliments’. There, add the element of “Fire” for example: safely light some candles OR display a picture of a fire, OR hang a photograph of what represents heat for you.

 ↑                           ↑                           ↑

Fig 1 – align this side (8-1-6) with your entry, divide your plan into 9 equal parts.

It is essential to have one picture of you displayed in your home. Of course the ‘look good-feel good’ type of picture is preferred to any other that would remind you of sad times or distressing memories.

Display your nice picture where everyone can see it as they enter the room; don’t be shy! Leave it there for 9 days and see how You feel different. Monitor what you feel towards what people say about you… and then: OBSERVE your reaction; simply observe! Feel how a comment is affecting you and how you can now process it.

Some of you might want to monitor what happens by writing the way they feel in their journal. This is a good step for spiritual growth.

After the 9 days, you are now used to have the picture there and you don’t feel that uncomfortable anymore. Choose to either leave as is or change the picture by swapping it with another one of you (again one that reminds you of good memories). When you will monitor the process, you will see that your capacity of observing has shifted something within you; you react differently now.

The happier the memories in the displayed pictures, the better the vibrations emanate from it and the better you feel.

Feng Shui is a way of living and a powerful tool for personal growth. Keep changing items around your home and you will understand the power of your placement combining it with your intent. You cannot ‘Feng Shui’ your house once in your life time, you evolve – so does the placement around your home! A Feng Shui consultation is a very encouraging experience; learning more about Feng Shui changes your life! I am training Feng Shui Practitioners in the Tropical North QLD – are you ready to learn?

AQIS 20818NESB                                                        19 September 2008

diwali gifts up for Quarantine inspection

Diwali is an important festival that involves the exchange of gifts — and that means it’s a busy period for the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).

Part of AQIS’s role is to check international mail and passengers’ luggage arriving in Australia for potential pests and diseases. For Diwali, Quarantine officers will examine gifts containing prohibited food items such as spices, herbs, nuts, seeds or plant material.

AQIS International Mail Manager Caroline Martin, said some of these gifts could introduce pests and diseases with devastating effects for Australia’s import and export markets. Khapra beetle could hitch a ride with traditional Diwali gifts, and Indian sweets containing dairy products could carry diseases.

“In the past year Quarantine officers seized more than 1029 kilograms of items mailed from India, because they contained banned spices, herbs, plant material and dairy products,” Ms Martin said.

All international mail is X-rayed, inspected or checked by detector dogs and any packages containing prohibited items are opened and inspected. Depending on the quarantine risk, the item may be released, treated, returned to sender or destroyed.

Not complying with Australian quarantine laws can be a costly mistake. If you don’t declare quarantine risk items on your Incoming Passenger Card, you could receive an on-the-spot fine of up to A$220. For more serious breaches you could be prosecuted and face a fine of up to A$66 000 which may result in a criminal record.

To enjoy a happy and prosperous Diwali, AQIS asks you to:

• remind friends and family not to send prohibited food items including spices and herbs, nuts, seeds or plant material; or Indian sweets such as barfi, mysore pak, ras malai, gulab jamun and pedas (and any other food items that contain dairy products)

• inform friends and family overseas about Australia’s quarantine laws
• ensure the sender correctly fills out the mail declaration form and lists all items in the parcel, including packing material
• correctly fill in your Incoming Passenger Card before landing in Australia.

For more information:

• visit www.aqis.gov.au
• download or request a copy of the What Can’t I Take Into Australia? and the What Can’t Be Mailed To Australia? brochures
• call AQIS on 1800 020 504 (free call in Australia)

Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar placed the current rivalry between India and Australia as bigger than the traditional one between India and Pakistan because of the “competitiveness” exhibited by the two teams over the last eight years. “I think it (India v Australia) has become bigger largely because of the competitiveness. All the series between us from 2001 onwards have been very keenly fought and have been very close ones,” said Tendulkar at a function in Mumbai to unveil him as the global brand ambassador of Royal Scottish Bank Group.

The ace batsman, who is at handshaking distance of overtaking West Indian great Brian Lara as Test cricket’s highest run-getter, pointed out that India have been the only team in the world to have run world champions Australia close of late in the latter’s backyard.

“We have gone to Australia and beaten them. We have been able to surprise the Australian team and that’s what the Australian public likes: competition and high standards of play. They love to see challenges and competitiveness.

“The fan following for the India-Australia series has definitely increased as compared to say 15 years ago. The coming series would also be very closely fought. Talking on behalf of the Indian team I can say we will play hard but fair and I feel the Australians also will do so,” said Tendulkar.

Asked whether the absence of Andrew Symonds from the Australian side would lessen the tension in the upcoming rubber starting on October 9, Tendulkar said such things had happened even before the unsavoury spat between the Aussie all-rounder and Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh during the ill-tempered Sydney Test in January.

“Such things happen but don’t happen every week. They have happened in the past (before the Sydney Test),” Tendulkar said and indicated the incidents grabbed more attention nowadays because of media coverage and the presence of ICC match referees.

Tendulkar did not lay too much emphasis on the fact that the Australian team, led by Ricky Ponting, was lacking in experience, saying the team looked to be a good blend of experienced players and new comers with lots of first class experience.

“They (Australian squad) have a lot of experienced players and some of them have been playing for a long time now. They are the number one team in the world and we are prepared to face all challenges.

“It’s going to be an extremely well-fought series which would be played in the right spirit and the cricket would be played very hard,” said the scorer of 81 Test and ODI hundreds.

Asked about his impending landmark (of highest Test runs), Tendulkar said he never played with an eye on creating records but if and when they come they were welcome additions to his well-adorned cricket cap.

“I don’t think much about records. I want to enjoy my game. If players focus on their performance, records automatically fall into place. I focus on playing the game well. If it (new landmark) comes in doing so I will be happy,” said the ace batsman who is only 76 runs short of overtaking Lara’s world bench mark.

Tendulkar has 11877 Test runs to his credit as compared to the retired West Indian champion’s 11953.

The champion batsman did not agree with the general view that he had the habit of singling out Australia for special punishment.

“I look at it differently. Whenever I play against any opposition, I try and put my best foot forward. Whenever I lift my bat I do so. I respect cricket and enjoy playing it,” he countered.

A city court on Saturday 20th September 2008 sent two suspected terrorists allegedly involved in the Delhi serial bombings to police custody for 14 days.

The court sent Mohammed Saif, who was arrested in Friday’s shootout at Jamia Nagar, and Zeeshan Ahmed, who was arrested from Jhandewalan late Friday, to 14 days’ police custody.

Claiming a major breakthrough in last week’s serial blasts in the national capital, Delhi Police said two of those arrested after Friday’s encounter have confessed to their involvement in the terror act having planted explosives in two places.

Acting on a tip off, police on Friday night arrested Zeeshan from the premises of a news channel where he had gone to give an interview. With his arrest, police had caught two militants allegedly involved in the blasts.

Investigators are on the lookout for at least ten people who planted bombs following the “disclosure” by Mohd Saif, who was arrested after a fierce encounter in south Delhi in which two other suspected militants were killed, a senior police official said.

The official claimed that Saif had confessed to his role in the Delhi serial blasts which claimed over 20 lives and that he planted a bomb near Regal Cinema in Connaught Place. The bomb was defused after it was spotted by a ragpicker who alerted police.

The official claimed that a group of two men each went to plant the bombs in the city.

Saif also told investigators that Atif, who was among the two who was killed in the daring encounter in Jamia Nagar yesterday, was the mastermind of the blasts and that he was a prominent member of the Indian Mujahideen, the official said.

Atif himself planted the bomb in Greater Kailash market in south Delhi, Saif is believed to have told sleuths of Delhi Police’s Special Cell who are interrogating him.

The ten men, for whom the police are conducting searches in various places including Jamia Nagar in south Delhi, are believed to have been brought to Delhi by Atif on July 27.

Atif, who is believed to have links with Tauqeer, the mastermind behind the serial blasts in various parts of the country in the recent past, had travelled to Ahmedabad on July 24, two days before the serial blasts in that city, Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal said.

Meanwhile, the mother of the blasts mastermind Abu Subhan Qureshi wants her son to stand trial. “I want him to come back and stand trial,” she told a packed press conference at the Marathi Patrakar Sangh. “He should clarify the allegations of terror levelled against him.”

She said she had only twice removed her hijab. “If he is found guilty, I would appeal that he be hanged in front of me. So that nobody else dares do such an act again,” she said.

Although the family did not know where Qureshi was after the train bombings, they did not lodge a missing complaint. “We do not even know whether he is dead or alive now,” said the family’s lawyer, Mobin Solkar. “On interrogation after the train bombings, the family did not want to trace him.”

Having obtained a diploma in industrial electronics from Bharatiya Vidyapeeth in 1995, Qureshi did a series of part- and full-time jobs in software firms. The police said Qureshi worked as editor and publisher of a Delhi-based magazine, Islamic Movement.

Saina Nehwal won the Chinese Taipei Grand Prix Gold Open badminton tournament after overcoming a stiff challenge from Li Ya Lydia of Malaysia in Taiwan on Sunday. World No.14 Saina, seeded second, beat the Malaysian 21-8, 21-19 to win her career’s second Grand Prix tournament. Earlier, she had won the Philippines Open in 2005.

The 18-year-old Hyderabadi beat Mingtian Fu (Singapore), Kwan Yi Monng (Hong Kong), Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand and Pia Zebadiah Bernadet (Indoensia) to reach the finals.

Saina has been in brilliant form this season and missed out on an Olympics medal by a whisker as she lost in the quarter-final to Maria Kristin Yulianti of Indonesia.

She became the first women Indian shuttler to enter the semi-final of Super Series event in Singapore Open in June and then made it the quarter-final of Thailand Open. The good show helped her to crack the top-20 in the singles charts.

But it was her performance in Olympics where she knocked out world No.5 Chen Wang of Hong Kong that caught the nation’s imagination.

Preliminary investigations into the Delhi blasts on Saturday point to the hand of an Indian Mujahideen-SIMI cell led by Abdul Subhan, the techie jehadi from Mumbai and Qayamuddin. 

The modus operandi — emails from Indian Mujahideen warning of or coinciding with blasts, use of ammonium nitrate and ball bearings pellets and other sharpnels in explosives, use of crowded markets so that higher casualties can be achieved even by low-intensity blasts — carries the signature of IM-SIMI. 

Besides, the email from Indian Mujahideen, like the two previous ones, was sent from Mumbai, Subhan’s base using an unsecured wi-fi connection of Ms Kamran Power Private Limited in Chembur, owned by one Mr Kamat. Although the mail came from Mumbai, references to newspaper coverage in Delhi editions in the past few weeks, suggests that the draftsman may have been in Delhi.

The police has been able to recover the chasis number of the autorickshaw that was used for the blast in Ghaffar Market in Karol Bagh. Accroding to latest reports, eight people have been detained and are being questioned. “We have some good clues,” said a police spokesman.

Although Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi stated in Bangalore that he had earlier this month told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and National Security Advisor that there were plans to strike the Capital, intelligence sources were taken aback by the Indian Mujahideen’s choice of Delhi.

They were suspecting Subhan and Qayamuddin, computer-graphic designer from Vadodara to strike in either Maharashtra or MP.

The probe is going to focus on the likely contacts of Subhan, Qayamuddin, and other absconding IM-SIMI activists — Abdul Bashar, Razeek, Afridi (all from Gujarat), Ikram, Inam and Musa (all from Madhya Pradesh).

Abdul Subhan who has evaded arrest after narrowly escaping a raid by Gujarat Police in Surat on SIMI hideout, has made no secret of his anger over the Ahmedabad crackdown. In the last email that he wrote, intelligence sources suggest, for Indian Mujahideen using the nom de guerre of Al arbi, Abdul Subhan tried to mislead the investigators by calling all the arrested innocent and Kenneth Haywood, the US national whose wi-fi he is suspected to have used to send the email warning of Ahmedabad blasts, an ally.

The return of Haywood has exposed the ploy (significantly, the email on Saturday was conspicuously silent on this). But Abdul Subhan who is regarded as an ace bomb maker also came off as someone smarting under the humiliation of the botched attack on Surat — none of the bombs planted in the diamond city went off because of faulty integrated circuits used in the timers. His last mail had shown his anxiety to prove his credentials. — courtesy TOI

American business magazine Forbes on Monday said India-born steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal is being conferred the third Forbes Lifetime Achievement Award, which honours heroes of entrepreneurial capitalism and free enterprise.

Mittal will get the award on Monday night at Forbes Global CEO Conference, being held in Singapore and expected to be attended by more than 450 business leaders with a combined net worth of more than $160 billion from across the world.

Earlier in March this year, Forbes had named Mittal as fourth richest with a net worth of $45 billion in its annual ranking of the world’s richest billionaires.

“Mittal will receive the third Malcolm S Forbes Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening dinner tonight from Steve Forbes, Chairman & CEO of Forbes, and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine,” Forbes said in a statement.

“The award honors heroes of entrepreneurial capitalism and those who embody and exemplify the ideals of free enterprise,” it added.

Born in Rajasthan in India, Mittal founded Mittal Steel Company (formerly LNM Group) in 1976. It later acquired numerous steel companies around the world, including the International Steel Group in the US, to become the world’s largest steel producer following merger with Arcelor in 2006.

Forbes said that this year’s theme at the three-day conference is “The Winning Hand” and would discuss strategies in dealing with the global uncertainty and issues such as US elections, real estate, China, India and entrepreneurship.

Those speaking at the conference include TCS CEO and MD S Ramadorai, Sajjan Jindal, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of JSW Steel, Tulsi Tanti, Chairman and Managing Director of Suzlon Energy. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will deliver the keynote address.

The two countries are expected to formally sign the bilateral pact, likely when Manmohan Singh goes to Washington towards the end of September, that will restore nuclear trade with the US after a gap of 34 years.

Economic sanctions were imposed by the US and the rest of the world when India first conducted its nuclear test in 1974.

The NSG’s waiver also frees India to sign bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreements with France and Russia, leading advocates of the nuclear deal, who also used their clout to win over sceptics in the nuclear cartel.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is set to sign bilateral civil nuclear cooperation with France when he goes to Paris for bilateral talks Sep 30 after attending the India-EU summit in the coastal resort town of Marseilles.

The bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Russia, which was finalized last year and iniatialled early this year, will be signed when Russian President Dmitry Medvedev comes to New Delhi in November this year.

India’s External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s statement Thursday re-affirming New Delhi’s commitment to a “voluntary moratorium” on future testing boosted India’s case in the NSG and was praised as “very significant”.

“This is a very significant statement which was discussed by members of the NSG and praised and welcomed by those in attendance,” US Assistant Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs John Rood told reporters at the end of the of Friday’s morning session of the NSG. — Agencies