U.N. Steps Up Pressure to Raise Funds for Pakistan Floods

By Megan Iacobini de Fazio and Matthew Berger* UNITED NATIONS, Aug 19 (IPS) – The U.N. General Assembly met Thursday to express the world community’s solidarity with the people of Pakistan and to urge member states to step up their aid...

Voices against ‘caste’ in Indian census

Analysis by Ranjit Devraj NEW DELHI, Aug 18 (IPS) – Strident voices are rising against the Indian coalition government’s move to identify people by their caste background in the ongoing census. India has not included caste as a category...

Climate change behind Pakistan floods: Expert

By Zofeen Ebrahim KARACHI, Pakistan, Aug 16 (IPS) – ”If this is not God’s wrath, what is?” 40-year-old taxi driver Bakht Zada said of the massive floods in Pakistan that have swept away his life earnings. Speaking to IPS from Madyan...

Oil spill off Mumbai coast

MUMBAI: The Coast Guard on Sunday sounded an alert over the oil spill off the Mumbai coast as the slick covered a large area, up to five nautical miles, from the spot where two ships collided on Saturday morning. The spillage from MSC Chitra, after...

Analysis: Kashmir cauldron boils again

By Sujoy Dhar NEW DELHI, Aug 2 (IPS) – The sight of armoured vehicles and soldiers in battle gear out in Kashmir’s streets in July is a grim warning of a storm gathering yet again over the restive valley. It heralded the return of turbulence...

Doo Not Quit Smouking

Buyline Ravi V.Chhabra Lakhs of smokers die of cancer in Mother India. Sad. Most people do not take the surgeon general’s caution seriously. Sadder. Smoking is banned in public places and bars, pubs, clubs, bistros et al. Ridiculous/farcical. Smoking...

Indian Left opposes foreign universities

By our correspondent New Delhi: Left and other parties on Monday opposed the introduction of Bills including one that will allow foreign universities in India. Describing foreign universities as “teaching shops,” Basudev Acharia of CPM...

Indian Glaciologist Fires Back at Climate Sceptics

By Keya Acharya BANGALORE, India, Jan 26 (IPS) – ”It is a fact that global warming is happening. If the Arctic Sea ice is melting, how can the Himalayan glaciers not be melting?” glaciologist Syed Iqbal Hasnain asked indignantly. Amid the...

CWG 2010 Hockey Stadium to be ready by Dec. 15

Mr. Suresh Kalmadi and officials of the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Dec 4, 2009. PHOTO: CWG 2010 By Rajiv Sharma & Neeraj Nanda NEW DELHI, December 4, 2009: The showpiece pitch at...

Sri Lanka military chief quits: BBC

Colombo: Sri Lanka’s armed forces chief General Sarath Fonseka has resigned from his post just months after helping secure the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels. Gen Fonseka is reportedly considering challenging President Mahinda Rajapaksa in an election...