MIG-27 wreckage found near Bagdogra airbase
New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) The wreckage of a MIG-27 fighter aircraft which went missing on May 19 after taking off from Hashimara airbase in West Bengal, was today found 18 kms northeast of Bagdogra airbase.
An Indian Air Force helicopter located the wreckage but the fate of the pilot Sq Ldr V Sinha was not known, IAF sources here said.
The wreckage was located by the helicopter searching areas near the heavily forested Indo-Bhutan border, the sources said adding that the ground search teams were trying to reach the spot to retrieve it and find out the whereabouts of the pilot.
An extensive search operation was launched in the area after a Bhutanese villager yesterday reported in a Jalpiguri police station that he had sighted the wreckage in Samchi area of Bhutan.
An Air Force search team flew two sorties yesterday but could not find anything. The operation was called off yesterday due to bad weather.
The operation resumed this morning with the helicopter making sorties from Bagdogra and ground teams going from village to village to locate the wreckage.
The area searched today was totally new and had not been scanned earlier by IAF and Army after the figher jet went missing in bad weather following take off from Hashimara to Bagdogra in West Bengal. PTI
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India plans to test 3,000 km Agni III missile this year
Bangalore, June 4 (PTI) India has begun integrating the 3,000 km range Agni III Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) with an aim to test the missile this year, V K Aatre, the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, said today.
"We have started integrating it (Agni III). In this kind of high-end technologies, it is very difficult for me to indicate a time. We are at it.. we are still a few months away," Aatre told reporters here.
"It is certainly not in the next three months... I am planning to do it (this year), I can't be certain of it," he said. PTI
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Supreme Court stays Rajya Sabha biennial and by-elections
New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) The Supreme Court today stayed the process for the Rajya Sabha biennial and by-elections for 65 seats across the country, notification for which was issued today.
While making the Election Commission a party in a petitition filed by former Rajya Sabha member Kuldeep Nayar challenging recent amendments to the Rajya Sabha election procedures, the Bench said no further step will be taken by the Commission for the holding of the polls till June 14.
A Bench comprising Justice Ruma Pal and Justice B N Agrawal, while issuing notice to the Chief Election Commissioner said, "meanwhile, if the notification regarding the poll is not already issued, then it shall not be published in the gazette and if it is published in the gazette it shall not be given effect to". PTI
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Sri Lanka dangles FTA with India to get more investments
Colombo, June 4 (PTI) In a bid to attract more foreign investment in the island nation, Sri Lanka today asked European investors to make use of its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India to take advantage of the vast market in the subcontinent.
Sri Lanka's Board of Investment (BOI) told at least 100 European firms during a two-day investment seminar that the FTA entered into with India in 1998 had helped boost bilateral trade and reduce the trade gap that favoured India.
Sri Lanka was also negotiating a similar FTA with Pakistan that could be a further incentive for Europeans to come and invest in the island of 19 million people.
The BOI said the FTAs could become a conduit for the vast Indian market as well as the Pakistani market while using the tax concessions and other incentives offered by the authorities here to set up industries in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka approved foreign investments worth 776.8 million dollars last year, up from 328.1 million dollars in 2002. There was no immediate breakdown for investments from European companies.
Official figures showed that Sri Lanka's bilateral trade with India has been growing since the FTA went into effect in 1998.
India's export to Sri Lanka was 1,073 million dollars last year, up from 831 million dollars in 2002. Sri Lankan export to India was worth 245 million dollars last year, up from 167.7 million dollars in 2002. PTI
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Haryana to bring one lakh hectares under alternate crops
Chandigarh, June 4 (PTI) The Haryana Agriculture Department would bring one lakh hectares of land under alternate crops like soybean, til, moong and mash by reducing an equal area under paddy as part of its ambitious action plan for diversification of crops.
Agriculture Director Rajeev Arora also said there was a plan to promote the cultivation of other crops like castor and groundnut in the state.
The alternate crops have been identified keeping in view the fact that their requirement for irrigation water was far less than the paddy crop.
He said that as there was deficiency of oil seeds and pulses in the country, the area under these crops would be increased.
The increased production of oil seeds and pulses would help in the meeting the domestic demand and making substantial savings of foreign exchange.
He said village-level training camps were being organised to help farmers understand the benefits of alernate crops. PTI
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Rupee surges further against US Dollar in early trade
Mumbai, Jun 4 (PTI) The rupee continued to surge against the US currency early today driven up by strong portfolio investment inflows in the absence of adequate demand but trade was quiet and directionless at the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market.
Opening on a firm note at Rs 45.23/24 per dollar, the rupee shot up to Rs 45.18/19 in late morning deals, sharply higher from the overnight finish of Rs 45.24/25.
Strong trade and foreign fund inflows continued to drive the rupee sharply higher amidst negligible demand from corporates and importers despite a relatively firm global oil prices, a forex dealer said.
Crude oil prices eased considerably to $ 39.18 a barrel after OPEC agreed to hike the ceiling on output to pool red-hot oil prices.
Oil prices still hovered near the 40-dlr mark after spurting to all-time highs of 42.45 dollars a barrel last week after the Saudi attacks.
The rupee climbed to a 16-day highs against the US currency yesterday, backed by strong trade and foreign fund inflows. It has appreciated by over 25 paise in the current week so far.
Meanwhile, in cross currency trades, the Euro was quoted at Rs 55.24/27, Pound Sterling at Rs 83.14/16 and Japanese Yen (100) at Rs 40.65/68. PTI
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Honda sues Chinese motorcycle maker over trademark
Beijing, June 4 (PTI) Honda motor company has sued China's largest private motorcycle manufacturer over a trademark dispute and demanded compensation of over USD two million.
The Japanese company claims Chongqing Lifan Industry (Group) Co. Ltd uses "sor" on its products, which resembles its "scr," especially the way it is written, a report said today.
The Shanghai no 2 Intermediate People's Court yesterday heard the case filed by Honda and its branch company in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong province.
In its complaint, Honda said that in 1999 it won approval from the Trademark office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce to register scr as its trademark.
Xin Zhesheng, for the plaintiff, said "Honda only formally endorsed its Guangzhou company to use scr." Honda has demanded compensation of more than USD two million as well as more than USD 21,800 in legal fees, but withdrew a request for a public apology.
But Lifan insists the compensation claim is groundless and said it has never used sor on its products. PTI
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10 killed, 27 injured in Russia market blast
Moscow, June 4 (PTI) At least 10 people were killed and 27 injured in a powerful blast in a busy market place in the city of Samara, 800 kms east of Moscow, even as security services have not ruled out a terror attack.
According to state-owned TV network "Rossia", two gas cylinders exploded at 12.15 pm local time (13.45 hrs IST) in Kirovsky, the largest commercial area of the city, which is situated along the Volga river.
Among the injured, 10 have been hospitalised in a critical condition.
Meanwhile, the FSB security service has not ruled out a terror strike being behind the blast, even as forensic and explosives experts have sealed off the area, the TV said, showing several dead bodies covered with polythene sheets.
Gas canisters are widely used in Russian outdoor markets and explosions are common. However, authorities look at every such incident with abundant caution amid fears that the blast may have links with separatists in Chechnya. PTI
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Indian govt to strengthen ties with neighbours: Natwar Singh
Shirish B Pradhan
Kathmandu, Jun 4 (PTI) Undertaking his first trip abroad after assuming office, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh arrived here on a two-day visit to Nepal today, saying the new Indian government attached great importance to further improving and strengthening ties with neighbouring countries.
"The first priority of our foreign policy is further improving and strengthening our relations with our neighbours," Singh told reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport where he was warmly received by Nepalese Foreign Secretary Madhuraman Acharya and other top officials.
PTI
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Pakistan conducts second missile test in a week
K J M Varma
Islamabad, June 4 (PTI) Pakistan for the second time in a week today "successfully" testfired a nuclear capable missile Ghauri having a range of 1500 km that could hit most Indian cities, but said it was "not to send political signals outside the country." According to a military statement, President Pervez Musharraf, who witnessed the launch, said "the test was not intended to send any political signals outside the country but was necessary for validation of technical parameters." Pakistan this morning carried out second successful test fire of its indigenously developed medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf-5 (Ghauri), which travelled upto 900 kilometres in range meeting all required parameters, the statement said. Pakistan had testfired a Hatf-5 on May 29.
Rejecting that the test would have any impact on the Indo-Pak dialogue process scheduled to begin later this month, officials in the Foreign Ministry said it was not intentional and these tests were conducted periodically to validate ballistic missiles. PTI
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Pak delegation to attend Olympic Torch relay in Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) A 10-member Pakistani delegation, led by their Sports Minister Riaz Munir Ahmed, would participate in the celebrations surrounding the Olympic Torch Relay in the national captial on June 10, according to Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi.
"The delegation, which also includes the likes of Pakistan Olympic Association president Sayyed Arif Hasan, would participate in the various functions being organised as part of the relay," Kalmadi told reporters here.
Kalmadi said he has also extended an invitation to International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge to attend the grand function at the National stadium, the venue of the first Asian Games.
The IOA president said the Pakistan delegation would also take part in the Indo-Pak Sports Conference to he held on June 11.
"The conference would not only focus on consolidating the relationship between the two countries but also help in putting the sporting relations on a firm footing," he said. PTI
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Harbhajan to play in 20-overs a side match for an English club
New Delhi, June 4 (PTI) Harbhajan Singh will make a ceremonious return from a six-month injury lay off when he plays alongside some of the game's all time greats in a 20 overs a side match for English club Lashings in Kent on Tuesday.
The off spinner, who has been out of action since aggravating a finger injury during the first cricket Test against Australia in December, was scheduled to join Lashings on Monday on a month-long contract, the BBC said quoting a club official.
In the company of 'Turbanator' for the celebrity club's fixture against Somerset would be stars of the yesteryears - Courtney Walsh, Richie Richardson and Allan Donald, besides Pakistan's explosive opening batsman Shahid Afridi.
Harbhajan originally wanted to start with first-class matches to prove his fitness and form but that did not materialise due to the gradual recovery.
The arrangement with the Kent club means the off spinner will not be available for the first leg of the fitness camp for the 26 probables in Bangalore from June 13 to 19. The second leg of the camp is slated to begin on July 3.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Zaheer Khan was due to return home on Saturday from England where he had been undergoing a fitnes training. PTI
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Shoaib will not be picked for Asia Cup: PCB
K J M Varma
Islamabad, Jun 3 (PTI) Pakistan speed demon Shoaib Akhtar would not be picked for the Asia Cup cricket tournament next month as he was not fit enough to play in international fixtures, chief selector Wasim Bari said today.
Bari said Pakistan Cricket Board had advised the selection committee against picking the bowler for the July 16-August 2 tournament, also involving arch-rivals India, to be held in Sri Lanka.
"PCB Chief Executive Rameez Raja has informed us in writing not to consider Shoaib Akhtar for selection for the Asia Cup," Bari told reporters in Karachi.
Bari cited "fitness problems" as the reason for the bowler to miss out on the important series.
"These things happen in international cricket. Even Australia rested their pace spearhead Glenn McGrath for quite a few months because he was not fit," he said.
The former player also said Shoaib was likely to pull out midway from his stint with English county team Durham owing to fitness problems.
When contacted, Raja told PTI over phone that PCB was only acting on the advice of Durham and was resting the bowler keeping in mind the ICC Champions Trophy in September.
"We received suggestions from Durham that we should use Shoaib sparingly. We have had discussions among ourselves and have written to the selection committee about Durham's advice," Raja said. PTI
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Liberhan-Sharan reach last four at French Open
New Delhi, June 3 (PTI) Unseeded Indian pair of Tushar Liberhan and Divij Sharan stormed into the semi-finals of the French Open junior boys' double event defeating Phillip Simmonds of USA and South African Fritz Wolmarans in straight sets.
The Indian duo were at the top of their game from the word go and had no trouble in packing off their unseeded rivals 6-4 6-2 to reach the last four at the Roland Garros in Paris.
They will now take on seventh seeds, Alex Kuznetsov of USA and Mihail Zverev of Germany, who made it to the semis when third seeded French pair of Gael Monfils and Josselin Ouanna retired after losing the first set 6-2.
In the second round, Liberhan and Sharan had upset second seed Korean pair of Woong-Sun Jun and Sun-Yong Jr. Kim 6-3 7-6 (7/5). PTI
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