Even before it faces the confidence vote in the Lok Sabha, the government will brief the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors in Vienna on July 18 on the India-specific safeguards agreement, which the board is likely to discuss on August 1 to help the implementation of the Indo-US nuclear deal. India on Monday informed the 35 member-countries on the board of governors about the July 18 briefing, IAEA sources said.
The initiative, which was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme in 2003 in collaboration with Indian banks, was aimed at providing loans to rural households for setting up solar energy systems. Besides, the 'Billion Tree Campaign' launched in 2006 and the 'Environmental Management of Iraqi Marshlands' leading to partial restoration of the largest wetland ecosystem in West Asia were among other UNEP projects which won the awards.
International experts reaching Vienna for the 51st general conference of the IAEA are understood to be keen to know about the opportunities likely to emerge if the Indo-US civil nuclear deal goes through.
The safeguards pact, which is the next step in the operationalisation of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, was sent to the 35-nation Board on a day when the Left parties formally withdrew support from the United Progressive Alliance government, following a bitter feud over the deal which has remained stalled for several months.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who arrived in Japan on Monday to attend the G-8 summit, met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss various issues listed on the summit's agenda, including the climate change which tops it.
Former foreign secretary Shyam Saran says he is "optimistic" of the nuclear deal being cleared at the Nuclear Suppliers Group meeting. Saran -- the prime minister's special envoy on climate change and the India-US nuclear civilian agreement -- also confirmed that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will attend the G-8 summit in Tokyo later this week.
Tens of thousands of ecstatic Spaniards lined Madrid's streets and packed into a central square on Monday to raucously cheer home their football heroes, after Spain's Euro 2008 final victory in Vienna. Finally free of pressure after beating Germany 1-0 on Sunday, delighted players celebrated on a stage in front of thousands in Madrid's Colon Square and tossed 69-year-old coach Luis Aragones into the air.
The Spanish media revelled in their side's impressive Euro 2008 final victory over Germany as the story dominated the front pages of every newspaper.
German great Franz Beckenbauer said that a technically-gifted Spain would beat his compatriots in the Euro final if they played like they did against Russia.
Spain will need to be at their very best to draw the sting from a powerful Germany side in Sunday's final.
If Germany are to land a fourth European Championship and their first major title since 1996 coach Joachim Loew will have to cut out this worrying tendency towards complacency.
Philipp Lahm scored a 90th minute winner to give Germany a thrilling 3-2 victory over Turkey on Wednesday and a place in the Euro 2008 final.
Italian Roberto Rosetti will referee the Euro 2008 final in Vienna on Sunday, organisers UEFA said on Monday.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh continues to be unwell, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has postponed his visit to Australia by a day and Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Prakash Karat has warned that the Left will withdraw support to the United Progressive Alliance government by Wednesday if the UPA continues to pursue the India-US nuclear deal.
Turkey showed their battling qualities in the group stages, rallying from 1-0 down to defeat Switzerland 2-1 and scoring three times in the last 15 minutes against Czech Republic to snatch a thrilling 3-2 win.
It will be more of a shock if the 1998 World Cup semi-finalists do not progress against a battered, bruised but not yet broken Turkish side in the quarter-final of Euro 2008.
World champions Italy beat 10-man France 2-0 in Group C on Tuesday to qualify for the quarter-finals of Euro 2008. It was a nightmare of a match for France who lost Franck Ribery to a suspected broken leg and had Eric Abidal sent off before half-time as they were eliminated from the competition.
Slaven Bilic's relished Croatia's stunning 2-1 victory over Germany which left his team in the driving seat in Euro 2008's Group B and gave him a glorious feeling of deja vu. The Croatian coach played as a central defender in their 3-0 1998 World Cup quarter-final defeat of the Germans but was at a loss in the aftermath of Thursday's repeat win over this year's favourites, which of the triumphs mattered more to his country.
Italy and France face the unpalatable prospect of being eliminated from Euro 2008 on Friday.
The Left's plan is clear. It will allow the government to go to Vienna to ink the agreement only after ensuring that the deal with the US is not possible.
The Sikh Human Development Foundation, which provides scholarships to needy students in India, raised more than $ 213,000 at a dinner called 'Umeedan di Shaam.'
Switzerland will get a rare chance to grab the limelight when the joint hosts and rank outsiders face Czech Republic in Saturday's Euro 2008 opener.
With Michael Ballack back fit and in the form of his life, Germany look stronger favourites than ever to win Group B at Euro 2008, with Croatia, Poland and co-hosts Austria likely to be scrapping for second place. Ballack had an outstanding second half of the season for Chelsea and the 31-year-old midfielder capped a great performance against Serbia with the winning goal in the team's last match before departing for Switzerland.
Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has been ruled out of Euro 2008 after suffering ankle ligament damage on Monday, the Italian football federation said. The 34-year-old defender collided with Giorgio Chiellini in Italy's first training session in Austria and his departure was confirmed after having tests in hospital.
Austria coach Josef Hickersberger named his 23-man squad for Euro 2008 on Wednesday, adding Martin Harnik as a surprise fourth striker.
Playmaker Luka Modric said on Tuesday the onus would be on Croatia's other goalgetters to make up for the absence of Eduardo da Silva at Euro 2008. Arsenal forward Eduardo, who suffered a multiple foot fracture in February, was the second highest scorer in qualifying with 10 goals.
By a mix of deception, subterfuge, ingratitude and crocodile tears, Pakistan has begun to get sympathy rather than condemnation when it stands exposed as the haven for the most wanted terrorist in the world, says T P Sreenivasan.
The Mumbai-based Piramal Healthcare is preparing to become the first private sector company to process opium for use in pharmaceutical products.
Flamboyant Bollywood actor John Abraham has been roped in as brand ambassador for the UEFA European Football Championship 2008, to be held next month in Switzerland and Austria. Making the announcement, Managing Director ESPN Software India R C Venkateish, unveiled a detailed promotional campaign Bach Ke Kahan Jaoge for the tournament, which kicks-off on June 7.
Pro-Gaddafi forces pounded the port and launched a new armoured incursion into the western besieged city of Misurata on Monday, as the United Nations pulled out its staff from the Libyan capital Tripoli following violence targetting its offices.
India's strong nuclear programme, with comprehensive capability for the entire nuclear fuel cycle and the strong technical support from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, were highly appreciated, according to Chairman of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board S K Sharma, who led the 17 member high-level Indian delegation. India presented its 206-page report for the first time that included the effective regulatory mechanism for power plants.
Ambassador A K Damodaran was the last link between the freedom struggle and Indian diplomacy, the last of those, who walked from a British prison to take on national responsibilities.
India's first report on safety of civilian nuclear power plants was presented on Thursday at the Convention of Nuclear Safety at Vienna by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board Chairman S K Sharma. India's complete compliance with obligations under all the relevant articles of the convention in a 206-page report was presented by Sharma at the International Atomic Energy Agency, AERB Secretary Om Pal Singh told PTI in Mumbai.
To jointly manufacture complex and powerful engines soon.
Asserting the situation in the state was under control, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said on Monday that the violence sparked by the killing of a Sikh sect leader in Austria was confined only to a few pockets in Jalandhar and neighbouring areas.
Sant Rama Nand, the head of a Dera sect, died early on Monday morning after being shot in a clash between two groups of Sikh worshippers at a gurdwara in Vienna.At least 11 people, including Sant Niranjan Dass, another Dera chief, were injured when the two groups clashed with knives and a handgun.The fight erupted following a dispute over the sermon given by a priest from Shri Guru Ravidas Sabha.
M K Narayanan had nothing to gain by misrepresenting the Indian position to Timothy Roemer, while the latter had to impress upon his government that his demarche on the phone was very effective. Ambassadors are known to write their cables in a way that pleases their masters back home, says T P Sreenivasan.
'Fukushima should inject a sense of nuclear neutrality into the thinking of our policy makers and it leads to a full appraisal of our options for the future,' says T P Sreenivasan.
India is likely to appeal against the decision of a US court upholding imposition of $ 42.4 million property tax on it by the city for using the United Nations Mission's building in New York for residential purposes.India has been arguing that tax cannot be levied as the diplomatic staff, which occupies the 20 floors of building in midtown Manhattan across the United Nations headquarters, is exempt from tax.
India has been arguing that tax cannot be levied as the diplomatic staff, who occupy the apartments, are exempted from tax, but US District Court Judge Jed S Rakoff ruled Monday that under Vienna conventions, only the residence of head of the mission is exempted. The Indian Ambassador to the United Nations has a residence in a nearby building in Manhattan and the residential apartments in the Mission building are occupied by the junior diplomatic staff.
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