Thimpu, Dec 31 (ANI): Parliamentary elections were held for the first time in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan on Monday. The voting, which was held in all the 15 districts of the Kingdom, will choose 15 members of the 25-member National Council or the upper house of Parliament.

The voting for another five seats will be held in January and the King will nominate the remaining five members of the council.

The elections once concluded will leave Bhutan’s young king, King Jigme Khesar with a more ceremonial role, as devised by his father, Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

People thronged the polling station on Monday morning and the response has been termed “quite enthusiastic’ by poll officials.

Mock polls were held in April and May this year to familiarise the people about the Electronic Voting Machines through which they voted today. (ANI)

Islamabad, Dec 31 (ANI): With both the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) making it clear that they do want postponement in the schedule of the January 8 polls in the wake of the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto, the Election Commission (EC) on Monday decided to delay its decision on the general elections in the country by one more day.

“We have called for reports from the provincial governments and provincial election commissioners on the situation. The reports will reach here by evening today and we will decide tomorrow,” Election Commission Secretary Kanwar Dilshad told reporters here after a meeting of the Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Mohammed Farooq.

During the meeting, the officials of the Commission told the Commissioners that the work of the EC has been hampered in several areas of the country due to large scale rioting that followed Benazir’s assassination.

They apprised the Chief Commissioner about the fragile law and order situation prevailing in most parts of the country, especially in Sindh where several offices of the Commission were set on fire.

Chief of PML (N), Nawaz Sharif today said that the January 8 polls should go ahead as planned earlier.

Demanding Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s resignation, Sharif said that a national unity government should lead the country to the polls.

“He (Musharraf) is a one-man calamity. He is responsible for all the troubles in Pakistan. The country is burning,” The News quoted Sharif, as saying.

Sharif’s assertive comment on holding the polls as per the schedule comes a day after PPP’s new co-chairman and husband of slain Benazir, Asif Ali Zardari, told reporters that his party is favour of contesting the polls that should go ahead as per the schedule.

The PPP stated that postponement for a few more days would be fine, but anything more than that would be unacceptable to the party, which would then launch a mass agitation. (ANI)

New Delhi, Dec 31 (ANI): India’s external debt for the quarter ending September stood at 190.5 billion dollars (Rs.757, 967 crore), which is 9.9 billion dollars (5.5 per cent) more than over the previous quarter.

The Union Finance Ministry stated that out of the increased amount, 5 billion dollars alone has been due to valuation change arising out of weakening of US dollar against major international currencies and Indian Rupees.

During the half year, April-September 2007, external debt stock in terms of dollar has risen by 21 billion dollars (12.3 per cent), of which 7 billion dollars is accounted for by the depreciation of US dollar in the international market.

The rise in external debt outstanding over the quarter ending September 2007 was essentially brought about by a rise in external commercial borrowings, NRI deposits, multilateral debt and short-term debt, the statement stated.

The share of long-term debt in total external debt at end-September 2007 was 83.8 per cent (159.7 billion dollars). Component-wise, under long-term debt, multilateral and bilateral debt rose by one billion dollars, and 0.8 billion dollars to 37.1 billion dollars and 16.7 billion dollars, respectively.

Commercial Borrowings accounted for the highest share of 27.2 per cent in total external debt outstanding at end-September 2007. As a proportion of the total external debt, Non-Resident Indian deposits accounted for 22.9 per cent of the total debt at end-September 2007, followed by multilateral debt at 19.5 per cent and bilateral debt at 8.7 per cent.

The major currency of denomination in India’s external debt portfolio continued to be US dollar, accounting for 52.8 per cent of total external debt at end-September 2007. (ANI)

Kathmandu, Dec 31 (ANI): Four Maoist ministers were sworn-in here today, almost three months after they parted ways from the Nepal Government.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala administered the oath of office and secrecy to the four ministers at the State Hall in Singha Durbar, reported the Nepalnews.

The Maoist ministers — Krishna Bahadur Mahara (Information and Communication), Dev Gurung (Local Development), Hisila Yami (Physical Planning and Works) and Pampha Bhusal (Women, Children and Social Welfare) — took oath today.

Mahara leads the Maoist team in the interim Cabinet.

Another Maoist minister Matrika Yadav, who holds the Forest and Soil Conservation portfolio, did not take oath as he was out of the Valley.

Koirala had appointed the five Maoist ministerial candidates on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony, Koirala said the main focus of the government is to conduct the Constituent Assembly elections on time.

He said the government would fix the poll date in the next Cabinet meeting.

Maoist ministers had resigned from the interim government on September 18 in protest against Koirala-led Government’s lukewarm response to their demands for declaring the Himalayan nation as a “republic” and a fully proportional electoral system for the Constituent Assembly election.

Last week, the Nepal interim Parliament passed the Constitution Amendment Bill to declare Nepal a federal democratic republic, to be implemented by the first meeting of Constituent Assembly. (ANI)

By Ravinder Singh Robin

Wagah, Dec 31 (ANI): Passengers have heaved a sigh of relief with the resumption of the Samjhauta Express that plies between Attari in India to Lahore in Pakistan.

The train services were resumed on Sunday after it was temporarily suspended in the wake of unrest in Pakistan following assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Samjhauta Express arrived at Attari on Monday after a brief suspension.

While Indians were relived to be back home to safety, the Pakistani nationals were curious to reach home as quickly as possible.

A tearful Jubeda Khatun, who boarded the train to Pakistan, said: “I don’t know what would I see when I would reach Karachi, hope everything is okay there.”

Khatun said governments of India and Pakistan should not even think of stopping the train service.

“We need to meet more with our relatives in tough times and this (the train) is our link,” she said.

Raj Kumar, a resident of Amritsar, said that he had to stay in a hotel room for all the three days he was in Lahore due to the fear of getting caught in the violence.

“I wanted to visit several places and do lot of shopping, but I was advised by the hotel staff not to venture out as it could be risky” he said.

Nasreena, who returned to India, recalled a horrifying experience after a person hurled a stone at the train in Lahore. She said she was lucky to have escaped the attack.

“I was so scared when a big stone broke the window pane, but nothing happened afterwards since there were lot of policemen in the train,” she said, adding “I am relieved to be back home.”

The services of Samjhauta Express were suspended as there were wide-scale incidents of violence in Pakistan, and the authorities on both sides decided to halt it temporarily for security reasons.

The New Delhi-Lahore bus service and the Thar Express were also halted. However, these two services have not been restored.

The suspension of the bilateral services had hit the passengers badly as many of the visitors were left stranded in each other’s countries.

Samjhauta Express runs from Attari to Lahore every Monday and Thursday and from Lahore every Tuesday and Friday. (ANI)

Panaji, Dec 31 (ANI): The Goa Government today decided to scrap all the 12 Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and recommended the de-notification of the three zones to the Union Commerce Ministry.

Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat told reporters that this decision was taken after a lot of deliberations.

He said the State would write to the Centre to scrap eight proposals pending for approval, and would not notify the four already approved, adding that the rest of the three zones, would be recommended to the Centre for denotification.

The State Government faced a tough time last week with anti-SEZ protestors intensifying their movement. (ANI)

Coimbatore, Dec 31 (ANI): In an effort to protect the fragile eco-diversity and the animal chain, the Coimbatore Zoo organised a programme to save frogs, an endangered species from extinction.... Read more.

New Delhi, Dec 31 (ANI): The Central Government has agreed to extend the ceasefire with the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), a militant outfit operating in Assam, by another six months

“Suspension of Operations (SOO) agreement between the security forces and the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), a militant outfit operating in Assam, has been extended for a further period of six months up to June 30, 2008,” a government release said.

The extension follows a tripartite meeting of the representatives of the Central Government, Assam Government and the DHD on December 27

The SOO agreement between DHD and the security forces has been in operation since January 1, 2003. The current pact expires today. (ANI)

New Delhi, Dec 31 (ANI): The Centre today announced appointment of four new Chief Justices of Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh High Courts by President Pratibha Patil.

Justice Kalavamkodath Sivasankara Panicker Radhakrishnan, a judge of the Kerala High Court will be the new Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Justice Anil Ramesh Dave, who has served as a judge of the Gujarat High Court, will be the new Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court

While Justice Rajesh Balia of Rajasthan High Court has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, Justice Narayan Roy of Patna High Court will be the new Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court. (ANI)

New Delhi, Dec 31 (ANI): The Centre on Monday extended the term of the Liberhan Ayodhya Commission of Inquiry, which is probing into the destruction of the Ram Janma Bhoomi-Babri Masjid structure at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, by another two months.

The Commission has now been asked to submit its report by February 29, 2008.

The Centre has extended the tenure of the Commission on 43 occasions since its appointment. An expenditure of Rs.717.66 lakh has been incurred on the Commission till July 31, 2007, according to the Union Home Ministry.

The Commission was constituted during the regime of late Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, by an order of the Home Ministry following the demolition of the Babri mosque on December 6 and the riots in Ayodhya.

In the last 14 years of hearing, the Commission has held over 325 sittings and examined over 100 witnesses, including 14 defence witnesses, 53 Central Government witnesses and 32 Commission witnesses.

The commission had recorded statements of several politicians, bureaucrats and police officials, including former Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Cabinet Ministers Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharati, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and Bajrang Dal leader Vinay Katiyar.

Top bureaucrats and police officials of UP, former District Magistrate R.N. Srivastava and Senior Superintendent of Police D.B. Roy of Ayodhya had also recorded their statements on the demolition.

The destruction of the mosque was followed by communal riots across the country, in which there was a huge loss of life and property. (ANI)

Hyderabad, Dec 31 (ANI): In an unique gesture President Pratibha Patill will be visiting the Missile Complex of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Hyderabad on Tuesday, and will be spending few hours of the New Year day with top scientists.... Read more.

New Delhi, Dec 31 (ANI): Former Defence Minister and convenor of National Democratic Alliance (NDA), George Fernandes in his New Year message has announced the revival of ‘The OtherSide’ journal, a decade after its publication was stopped. ... Read more.

By Ravinder Singh Robin

Pul Kanzri, December 31 (ANI): People living in areas along India-Pakistan border have expressed concern over the unrest in Pakistan in the wake of assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Residents of border villages, especially the farmers, who have their cultivable land close to the international border are wary of the fragile situation in the neighbouring country.

They say this is a grim reminder of the India-Pakistan Partition days when they were forced to flee their homes and hearths.

“Whenever there is a problem in Pakistan it is the border farmers who has to face more trouble,” said Hira Singh, a farmer of Pul Kanjari, whose family was forced to migrate twice.

“We are asked by the Border Security Forces (BSF) to move away from border areas. We request the government to find a permanent solution to this problem,” said Hira Singh.

He said farmers like him had suffered a lot and were not in a position to take another blow.

“I get scared to see silence on fields of Pakistan. It is like a lull before a storm,” said Hira Singh.

Darshan Singh, an elderly farmer, said that since the death of Bhutto he had not seen any Pakistani farmer tilling his fields, but had seen movement of Rangers.

“Obviously there is a tension on other side of border,” he said and prayed that the violence in Pakistan didn’t cast a shadow on India and mar the peace process.

The Government of India has already issued an alert to the BSF to maintain vigil following Bhutto’s assassination. (ANI)

Srinagar, Dec 31 (ANI): Lack of snowfall in Srinagar has dampened the spirits of tourists and residents alike who expected to celebrate the New Year amidst heavy snow, a usual occurrence in the state around this time.

Despite the onset of the most severe 40-day period of winter, known as the ‘Chilla-e-Kalaan’, the region is under dry spell conditions.

“Here the weather conditions are such that the Western disturbances are not playing their role in brining about cold weather conditions and snow-fall in the region. The disturbances are passing by at higher latitudes. There is a dry spell,” said T K Zutshi, Assistant Director, Meteorological Department, Srinagar.

This unusual weather phenomenon of long dry spell has cast a shadow over the tourism industry.

Tourists who have been camping in the region expecting to spend the New Year in a snow-covered Valley are visibly disappointed.

“We thought it would be cold here and we would get to see snowfall. We came all the way from Nagpur, which is comparatively hot, but are disappointed. There is no snowfall at all,” said Neetu, a tourist.

Another tourist, Rajni added, “I came here for the snowfall. But I am a little disappointed that there is no snow.”

Besides, the residents have become apprehensive about shortage of water and electricity during the winter months as the flow of water in rivers, streams and springs has drastically reduced.

Nearly 500 springs have dried up, and the level in the River Jhelum has fallen to a dangerously low level.

The power shortage, already at a perturbing 80 per cent, might assume the proportions of a grave crisis if the situation persists.

In 2005, Kashmir Valley received its heaviest snowfall in the last 30 years. (ANI)

By Sandeep Datta

New Delhi, Dec.31 (ANI): Though known for its rich natural resources like iron ore and thick forests, Bastar region in Chattisgarh has invariably remained deprived of development and benefits from various government schemes due to Naxalite campaigns.

Hopefully, the situation is going to change, if one goes by the assurances made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, while addressing a conference of Chief Minister in New Delhi.

Dr.Manmohan Singh stated that in the last few years, the activities of naxal groups had revealed new aspects: targeting vital economic establishments and eliminating important political leaders. He said: “…We cannot rest in peace till we have eliminated this virus. We need to cripple Naxalite forces with all the means at our command.”

Asking the States to set up specialised and dedicated forces to combat extremism, Singh said: “We also need to ensure that essential economic infrastructure is protected and the tempo of development activities is increased.”

Present condition can be empathised from the fact that people have paid a heavy price all these years due to inaccessibility of basic healthcare facilities. Even diseases like malaria turns an epidemic and affects thousands of people because of poor healthcare.

Both–the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)–are much above the national average. People migrate to far off places in search of bread and butter.

If National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) could do a lot of good this region, if implemented effectively. People, especially youth will then stop migrating and taking up employment locally.

The major production is agriculture. But the expanded families have led to small share of land-holdings for individuals on an average in one’s family. Today, it doesn’t surprise, if one is told that a majority of these residents live under the poverty-line and survive on BPL (below-poverty-line) benefits .

The land is non-irrigated and alkaline. It does give good yield for the sustenance of the farmers and agriculture labour.

The attention of the State government is being drawn to the plight of the people. Some industrialists too are keen to improve their lot.

The establishment of a steel plant will help. Iron ore is available in abundance locally.

Local residents have always demanded that their area should be developed through the establishment of industries. It will provide employment to the local people and the steel plant and mining activity will also help in developing subsidiary enterprises. There will be more opportunities for self-employment.

People are looking forward to the early establishment of the steel plant,, proposed by the Tatas.

People’s keenness for the establishment of a steel plant is demonstrated at the Gram Sabhas meetings (village meets), workshops, seminars conducted in the town of Jagdalpur and surrounding areas.

Over 65 per cent of the people have already taken compensation for their land and homesteads while a big number of people are in the process of receiving compensation and other benefits.

But some individuals, led by vested interests who have links with mining corporates, are interested in exporting iron ore to other countries and are working against the establishment of a steel plant.

They are trying to brain-wash people and are being induced to oppose the steel plant. The ‘movement’ is being supported by some political leaders for their own benefit. False sense of insecurity and arguments against the government and industry are being propagated.

The vested interests are trying to start a Nandigram like movement in Bastar.

Their activities needs to be exposed. The situation calls for a support of the intelligentia and all concerned people who believe that tribals of the area should be given an opportunity to have access to a better life. (ANI)

Hyderabad, Dec 31 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal on Monday said that India is keen to help Pakistan to restore normalcy there if the latter asks New Delhi for any assistance.

Jaiswal’s statement comes in the wake of ensuing violence in Pakistan after the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

“India wants to see stability, peace and democracy in its neighbourhood. Pakistan is passing through a difficult phase. We are ready to help Pakistan if asked to do so,” Jaiswal said on the sidelines of the 31st passing-out parade of National Industrial Security Academy.

India wants its neighbouring countries to be progressive and strong, but recent happenings in Pakistan and disturbances in Sri Lanka and Myanmar are a matter of grave concern for New Delhi, Jaiswal added. (ANI)

Bikaner (Rajasthan), Dec 31 (ANI): Bikaner is playing a perfect host to tourists for the New Year celebrations as the desert city, located 320 kilometres from Jaipur, is bustling with party hoppers. ... Read more.

London, Dec 31 (ANI): Led Zeppelin will be the headline act at the Bonnaroo festival in the US next year.

The festival will run from June 12 to 15 in Tennessee.

A source has revealed that the band is also planning to hit the road and tour.

“This is the news that will drive their fans absolutely wild,” The Mirror quoted the source, as saying.”They have been bombarding their website to get back together for good but only Robert Plant wasn’t keen to commit.

“Now he’s had a change of heart and if it goes well they are also talking about touring,” the source added. (ANI)

London, Dec 31(ANI): Binge drinking during the festive season has raised fresh concerns among government officials, who claim it is damaging the culture of Scotland.

Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill hit out on the country’s damaging bevy culture, saying that it had become Scotland’s “national sport”.

“Scotland has a huge cultural problem with alcohol. It’s never more evident than around Christmas and New Year when getting drunk can feel and look like the national sport,” the Daily Record quoted MacAskill as saying.

“It’s impossible to walk down the street at night without seeing people who’ve simply had too much to drink. We’re not saying don’t have a drink. I enjoy the occasional pint of beer as much as the next man,” he added.

MacAskill stressed the need for a long-term strategy to change the culture, highlighting that most murder accused were found to be under the influence of alcohol, and that a Scot died every six hours due to alcohol.

“But when nearly half of those accused of murder were drunk when they committed their offence, when one Scot dies every six hours from alcohol abuse, when alcohol costs our economy tens of millions, it’s time to say enough is enough,” he said.

“For the good of Scotland and everyone who lives in or visits the country, we need to take action,” he added.

He said that the government was planning to include a ban on “three for two” or “three for 10 pounds ” wine offers, which encouraged people to drink more.

Public health minister Shona Robison said that the government would “kickstart a change in our cultural relationship with alcohol” next year.

“Scots need to think about how much they drink and do something about it,” she added. (ANI)

Washington, Dec 31 (ANI): Will Smith starrer ‘I am Legend’ ruled the international box office during the last weekend of 2007, grossing 46.1 million dollars in 25 markets. ... Read more.