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Terrorism emerging as a global problem: President Patil August 14th, 2008 - 11:07 pm www.thaindian.com New Delhi , August 14 (ANI): On the eve of the 61 st Independence Day of India, President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil termed terrorism as an emerging global problem, posing a threat to national as well as international peace and security. She said unfortunately, terrorist groups continue to receive support and sanctuary. India has been the target of terrorist attacks for several decades, and in more recent times so have many countries across the globe. We must stand united against the threats emanating from terrorism, President Patil added. She said terrorists with their disruptive agenda will never succeed in discouraging us from our resolve to build a strong India , or from working with our neighbours to eliminate this menace from our region, or from our commitment to forge co-operative relations with other countries across the world. The president further added that India seeks to engage with the international community to promote peace and development in the world. She said as the world’’s largest democracy and a major economy, our role in global political and economic affairs has been responsible and positive. It is our view that multilateral institutions should be made more equitable and should reflect contemporary realities. In the end she said on our part, we will continue to carry into the global arena the message of harmony, pluralism, peaceful co-existence and oneness of the human race, concepts which are deeply rooted in our national ethos. (ANI)

Young Goans impress at Independence Day festival Eugene Correia http://www.goanet.org/archivetype.php?name=News&list=goanet&info=2008-August/date Wed Aug 13 08: The Goan Overseas Association (GOA), with president Oscar Furtado, took part in the 61st anniversary celebrations of India's Independence held at Dundas Square in Toronto. Raindrops kept falling throughout the time of the parade and also during the showcase of dances by different groups, some representing states of India. The dancing group, Malaikas, all young girls, performed three items. The first was a "remix" of Konkani songs, including a rap part, the second the Aum Saiba Poldoti Voita dekhni and the last a "fusion" featuring modern dances to English/Konkani songs. They got a big round of applause from the audience.The choreography was done by the husband-and-wife team of Akhtar and Naomi Akram. The group was coordinated by Rosie Barretto, a member of the GOA executive, and recently appointed to the Panorama India Board, which organizes the Independence Day and Republic Day events.It is such events that project the Goan culture to the public. This is not the first time GOA has participated in events held by the Indian community or the mainstream community. The GOA's efforts to promore Goan culture should be encouraged.A Goan band, Amigos de Goa, led by Selwyn Colaco, also performed. They sang English, Konkani and Hindi songs. They too received wide applause. The audience demanded the band sing at least another song before leaving the stage. The band has performed at many Indian events.

India’s annual inflation rate breaches 12-percent mark Aug 7th, 2008 | By Sindh Today | Category: Business, India http://www.sindhtoday.net/south-asia/9945.htm New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) India’s annual rate of inflation overshot the 12-percent mark at 12.01 percent for the week ended July 26 amid a promise by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that bringing down prices will be his government’s top priority. Data on wholesale prices released by the commerce ministry Thursday showed that the inflation rate had risen to this level from 11.98 percent for the week ended July 19 and 11.89 percent the week before. At the present level, the inflation rate is at the highest level since May 1994. The finance ministry, however, in a statement said: ‘Inflation, on a week-on-week basis, has continued to remain stable.’ ‘The rate of inflation for the week ending July 26 stands at 12.01 percent, marginally higher than the rate of 11.98 percent reported last week,’ it said. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based on final data for the week ended May 31 stood at 232.3, as compared to 231.1 (provisional), taking the annual rate of inflation to 9.32 percent as compared to 8.75 percent (provisional). The main reason for the increase in the inflation rate during the week was higher prices of non-food articles, which jumped 0.4 percent. After a lull, the WPI for fuel, power, light and lubricants rose 0.2 percent due to higher prices of furnace oil (3 percent). Earlier in the day, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said inflation would fall below the 10 percent mark by this fiscal-end. ‘Inflation is expected to moderate below the double-digit mark by the end of the current fiscal,’ Ahluwalia told reporters on the sidelines of a function. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday told a gathering of Congress spokespersons that inflation would take a minimum six to nine months to moderate. In his address at the conclusion of the trust motion July 22, the prime minister had listed nine main priorities for his government, in which inflation control was ranked first. ‘My priorities are tackling the imported inflation caused by steep increase in oil prices. Our effort is to control inflation without hurting the rate of growth and employment,’ he had said. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has also raised interest rates more than a dozen times and asked commercial banks to keep more money against deposits in a bid to curb liquidity and inflation. It raised its repo rate by 50 basis points July 29, and the cash reserve ratio - the minimum cash commercial banks have to retain against deposits - by 25 basis points in a bid to curb liquidity in the system and tame inflation. At this juncture, a realistic policy endeavour would be to bring down inflation from the current level of about 11-12 percent to a level close to 7 percent by March 31, 2009,â€� RBI Governor Y.V. Reddy had said then. But many international agencies like the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are not so sure. ‘Inflation will likely continue to plague much of emerging east Asia,â€� ADB said recently.

Better Technology in Fishing Industry http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=49458&n_tit=Udupi Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (RD/CN) Udupi, Aug 4: The technology to increase the quantum of fishing at sea should be developed and the fishermen should concentrate their energies on enhancing the fisheries stock, said Oscar Fernandes, union minister of state for labour and employment, on Sunday, August 3. Fernandes was speaking after inaugurating the newly-built Matsyaraj Ice Plant, situated at Malpe fisheries port here. He said that fishing is an ancient profession and was once very popular along the western coast. The fisheries stock has been depleting over the years because of foreign deep sea trawlers and native mechanized boats, especially during the monsoons when there is a ban on fishing, and this calls for the revision of the law in this regard, he added. The programme was presided over by U R Sabhapaty, former MLA. Vinay Kumar Sorake, former MP, who inaugurated the second ice plant, said that fishing is a significant contributor to the state exchequer which has to be encouraged since it brings in foreign earnings. Raju Poojary, president, zilla panchayat, Vasant Salian, former fisheries minister, Sujir Prabhakar, deputy general manager, Syndicate Bank, Panduranga Malpe, president, Udupi municipal standing committee, Vijay Kundar, municipal member, Hiriyanna T Kediyoor, president, Malpe Fisheries Association, and M Gafoor Saheb, president, district Congress, were the chief guests on the occasion. The building contractors and sub-contractors who facilitated the setting up of the plant were also felicitated on the occasion. Blossom Fernandes, partner, Vithal G Kotian, Abhinandan K Kotian, Yogish D Suvarna, Jagannath Suvarna, and Shankar L Putran were present on the dais. M Kotian, former president, fisheries association, welcomed the gathering while Vikram T Shriyan compered the programme and proposed vote of thanks.

Tata Steel to set up $5-bn plant in Vietnam Wednesday, August 13, 2008 New Delhi: Steel major Tata steel today signed a joint venture agreement with Vietnam Steel Corporation, Vietnam's largest steel company, and Vietnam Cement Industries Corporation to set up a steel plant in Vietnam, it said in a statement. Tata Steel will hold 65 per cent stake, with Vietnam Steel holding 30 per cent and Vietnam Cement owning 5 per cent. The integrated steel plant, with an annual capacity of 4.5 million tonnes, will be built in three phases at an estimated cost of $5 billion. The first phase of the plant envisages setting up a cold rolling mill, to be commissioned by 2010-end.  The memorandum of understanding was signed on May 29, 2007. The definitive agreements were signed today after completion of detailed feasibility studies. "We are excited to be a part of this landmark project that is slated to bring sustainable and long-term value to our companies and customers, and accelerate the development of Vietnam," Tata Steel managing director B Muthuraman said in a statement. Vietnam Steel president Dau Van Hung said, “In Tata Steel, we have a strong partner to help us exploit the opportunities within our country, and make the most of our market potential". According to Vietnam Cement general director Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Vietnam is a very attractive market with a growing population and demand for steel products. "This joint venture will be a strong platform to pursue growth opportunities," he said. (IANS)