|
Defiant Iran displays nuclear might on live TV
Iran has made advances in its nuclear programme,
building new generation uranium enrichment
centrifuges and producing its own nuclear reactor
fuel plates, state television reported Wednesday.
The announcement, to be confirmed by President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad later today, would likely
further unsettle the United States and allies who
believe Iran is also forging ahead with atomic
weapon development.
Iran has developed "4th generation centrifuges"
made of carbon fibre that are "speedier, produce
less waste and occupy less space" as they spin at
supersonic speeds to purify uranium, state
television reported.
BACK
UP polls: 56% turnout in third phase
Around 56 per cent of the 1.75-strong
electorate on Wednesday exercised its franchise
for 56 seats in the third phase of the UP Assembly
polls in which Mayawati's ruling BSP is facing a
strong challenge from Congress, SP and BJP. The
incident-free third phase of the seven-part
elections in the state will decide the fate of
three cabinet ministers, a minister of state, 29
sitting MLAs and 14 former ministers.
The polling, which began on a sluggish note at
18,374 booths spread over 10 districts, picked up
as the day progressed with state election
officials putting overall turn out at around 56
per cent. As many as 1,018 candidates were in the
fray for elections held in Amethi and Rae Bareli,
pocket boroughs of Nehru-Gandhi family, CSM Nagar,
Sultanpur, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Jaunpur, Varanasi,
Sant Ravidas Nagar and Naxal-hit areas of
Chandauli, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra.
BACK
After saying can support Cong, Mulayam
backtracks
In a u-turn, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam
Singh Yadav on Wednesday ruled out giving support
to Congress in government formation in Uttar
Pradesh, hours after he spoke about this
possibility if there are signs of BJP coming to
power.
Apparently realising the political import of
his remarks on SP's readiness to support Congress,
Mulayam at a hastily convened news conference in
Lucknow said the question of support did not
arise, claiming his party will be getting absolute
majority.
BACK
Govt to move ahead with ONGC stake sale, BHEL in
next fiscal
Running against time to raise Rs 40,000 crore
from disinvestment by March-end, the government is
planning to move ahead with 5 percent stake sale
in the oil major ONGC through the auction route in
the current fiscal. BHEL disinvestment, however,
has been pushed to the next fiscal as the stock
market conditions are not appropriate, sources
said after a meeting of the Empowered Group of
Ministers (EGoM) which was chaired by Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Talking to reporters after the meeting,
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Jaipal Reddy
said, "EGoM has taken a decision to exercise the
option (of auction route of Sebi)... in respect of
ONGC and BHEL. As for further decision (timing and
price), EGoM is going to meet shortly again. For
all other decisions, next meeting will have to be
awaited".
BACK
WSH remains unsanctioned event for FIH despite
HC relief
Despite receiving a shot in the arm from the
Delhi High Court, which recently paved the way for
Indian players` participation in the World Series
Hockey, the FIH on Wednesday said that the
upcoming cash-rich league remains an
"unsanctioned" event for the world body.
The Delhi High Court on Monday cleared the way
for the players` participation in the WSH -- a
joint initiative of rival Indian Hockey Federation
and Nimbus Sport – provided WSH schedule does not
clash with international commitments of the
national team. But International Hockey Federation
chief executive officer, Kelly Fairweather
reiterated that there was no question of
sanctioning WSH as it is being orgainsed by IHF,
which does not have the recognition of FIH.
BACK
|
