RIL starts projects to expand polyester capacity

Reliance Industries said on Wednesday it had started work on polyester projects in the country as it aims to consolidate its position as the world's largest integrated polyester producer.

Reliance plans to add over the next few years 2.3 million tonnes of capacity for making purified terephthalic acid at Dahej in Gujarat, and 395,000 tonnes of polyester filament yarn capacity at Silvassa, also in western India, it said in a statement.

The company also plans to add 540,000 tonnes of polyethylene terephthalate capacity at Dahej, it said.

Reliance operates in sectors including petrochemicals, refining, oil and gas exploration and retail.

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Bric summit in China seeks influence for huge economies

The leaders of the so-called Bric nations are meeting in China for a day.

South Africa has become the fifth member of the Bric nations - which currently includes Brazil, Russia, India and China.

The summit is set to focus on reforms to the global financial system - they have 40% of the world's population and almost a fifth of the world's growth.

It is little wonder then that the so called Brics want a greater say in global affairs.

The organisation was formed as a counterweight to Western powers.

And ever since the global financial crisis, the influence of the Brics - particularly of China - has grown.

This summit is set to focus on economic issues such as rules governing international trade.

While the Bric nations have been driving global economic growth it is still unclear whether the organisation itself will become truly influential.

All the countries broadly support free trade and oppose protectionism.

Where they have similar interests - such as climate change - they have taken a united position.

But on many other issues the countries have found little to agree upon.

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Egypt: Hosni Mubarak, Sons Detained For Investigation

Cairo:  Egypt's ousted President Hosni Mubarak was put under detention in his hospital room Wednesday for investigation on accusations of corruption, abuse of power and killings of protesters in a dramatic step Wednesday that brought celebrations from the movement that drove him from office.

Mubarak's two sons, Gamal and Alaa, were also detained for questioning and taken to Cairo's Torah prison, where a string of former top regime figures -- including the former prime minister, ruling party chief and Mubarak's chief of staff -- are already languishing, facing similar investigations on corruption.

The move was brought by enormous public pressure on the ruling military, which was handed power when Mubarak stepped down on Feb. 11. Tens of thousands protested in Cairo's central Tahrir Square on Friday, the biggest rally in weeks, demanding Mubarak and his family be put on trial. Many in the crowd accused the military of protecting the former president.

The detention is a new landmark in the stunning fall of the 82-year-old Mubarak, who only months ago appeared unquestioned in his control of Egypt after nearly 30 years of rule. Even after his fall, he seemed untouchable, living with his family at a palace in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

On Tuesday night, Mubarak was taken to a hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh because of heart troubles, and so that his health could be monitored as he submitted to the first round of questioning by investigators. Hours later, the public prosecutor announced early Wednesday that Mubarak was ordered put under detention for 15 days for investigation. He was to be flown later in the day to a military hospital outside Cairo, where he would remain in detention, a security official in Sharm el-Sheikh said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press.

Later Wednesday, prosecutors announced a new arrest -- that of former parliament speaker Fathi Surour, a prominent ruling party figure who led the legislature since 1991 until it was dissolved following Mubarak's fall. He was ordered detained for 15 days for investigation on allegations of amassing wealth and misuse of power.
Mubarak's detention also marks a new chapter in Egypt's still unsure transition to what protesters hope will be a democratic post-Mubarak future.

Protesters had pushed hard for Mubarak's prosecution, demanding what they called a clear signal that the corruption that pervaded his nearly 30-year rule would be definitively broken. Public outrage was widespread over allegations that large fortunes were skimmed off by top regime officials through shady deals over the years.

Beyond the anger has been the fear that Mubarak cronies are manoeuvring to regain power as the country tries to work out democratic rule -- and that the ruling military was not taking action to prevent them, or was even abetting them.

"I was so happy in the morning when I heard the news," said Ahmed Maher, co-founder of the April 6 group, one of the movements that led the unprecedented 18-day protest movement against Mubarak.

"All people are very happy because this step reassured them after a period of doubts and stagnation," referring to doubts over the military's intentions, he told The Associated Press. Worries over the military were intensified by a fierce pre-dawn raid on protesters in Tahrir on Saturday that killed at least one person.

Still, he said, Egypt faces a long road to ensure the transition period leads to real democracy. "Trying Mubarak and his regime is very important but what is super important is the political future of Egypt and what kind of political system we want to have," he said.

The prosecutor's announcement gave a momentary easing of tensions between the military and protesters. Following the prosecutor's announcement, the coalition of youth groups that have organized the protests said it is cancelling a planned new mass demonstration in Tahrir Square on Friday to demand Mubarak's prosecution.

But the coalition underlined that there are still unfulfilled demands, including the dissolving of the former ruling party and the sacking of Mubarak-appointed governors as well as university deans and local city councils, both seen as levers of his regime.

Activist Amr Bassiouny said in a Tweet that the detention was not the protesters' primary goal but "free speech, free assembly, free press -- no torture, real democracy, end of lies."

Since Mubarak's fall, activists have complained that the Armed Forces Supreme Council, the body of top generals that now rules Egypt, has been dictating the post-Mubarak transition without consultation. Relations have rapidly soured over past week, amid reports of abuses by the military that reminded some of Mubarak's rule -- including torture of detained protesters and the imprisoning of an activist for criticizing the army.

Protesters have criticized the army for being too close to the old regime and not swiftly bringing Mubarak to trial while hundreds of protesters remain in military detention, some convicted in swift trials before military courts.

In its announcement, posted on the social networking site Facebook, the public prosecutor said Mubarak was under investigation into allegations of assaults, killings and injury of protesters, corruption, squandering of public funds, and the abuse of authority for personal gain.

Hundreds were killed during the 18-day uprising against Mubarak, when police opened fire and cracked down on the crowds. Officials say 365 were killed, but a count by the Front to Defend Egypt Protesters, a group that provides medical and legal assistance to the demonstrators, said 685 people died as of March 7.

On Sunday, Mubarak defended himself in a pre-recorded message where he sounded as defiant as he did up to his last hours in power. He said he was hurt by the corruption allegations against him and his family, insisted he had not abused his authorities and invited investigators to check his assets.

It was his first address to the people in the two months since his ouster. He has kept a low profile since he was ousted, living on his compound in Sharm el-Sheikh. He and his family were banned from traveling and their assets frozen.Shortly after, the prosecutor general issued a summons for Mubarak to appear for questioning.

Soon after the hospitalization Tuesday night and in a sign that his ailment might not be very serious, Justice Minister Mohammed el-Guindi said Mubarak was then questioned in his suite for his role in the violence against protesters. The ministry statement on Facebook said Mubarak's lawyers and a medical team were present during the interrogation. Mubarak has a history of minor ailments and underwent gallbladder surgery in Germany in March last year.

While the ex-president was taken to the hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh, where he has been living since being removed from power, his sons were taken for questioning to the nearby courthouse.

An angry crowd of 2,000 people had gathered outside the hospital late Tuesday, demanding the sons' arrest. Then, in the early hours Wednesday, head of provincial security in the South Sinai told the crowd that Gamal and Alaa would be detained."Brothers, whatever you wanted, you have got ... 15 days," said Maj. Gen. Mohammed el-Khatib, as the crowd erupted in cheers.

As a police van with drawn curtains took away the brothers, the crowd pelted it with water bottles, stones and their flip-flops, as a sign of contempt.

Over the past decade, Gamal had risen to the top ranks of the ruling party and was widely seen as Mubarak's designated succession. Anger over that prospect helped galvanize Egypt's protest movement. Gamal brought into government and the ruling party a number of top businessmen who led an economic liberalization program that brought in billions in foreign investment but has also widened the gap between rich and poor. Several of those businessman-politicians now face trial or investigation for allegedly using their positions to amassing fortunes. His brother Alaa is a prominent businessman.

Egyptian stock market's posted moderate gains Wednesday with investors buoyed by news that Mubarak and his sons have been detained. The market had been relatively stable in the days after its reopening late last month, following a nearly two-month closure linked to the anti-Mubarak uprising.AP 

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Gilani Criticises US For Drone Strikes

Islamabad  : Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today criticised US drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal belt, saying Islamabad is applying diplomatic pressure on Washington to stop the missile strikes as they undermine efforts to fight extremism and terrorism.

Gilani made the remarks in the National Assembly or lower house of parliament hours after US drones targeted a compound in the restive South Waziristan tribal region, killing six suspected militants.

The strike was the first since March 17, when over 40 people were killed as the CIA-operated spy planes targeted what Pakistani officials said was a tribal jirga.

Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and diplomatic channels are being used to compel the US to stop drone attacks as they are counter-productive, Gilani said in response to various issues raised by Leader of Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Pakistan had informed other countries that the drone strikes were creating problems for the government, he said.

“Under a well thought out strategy, we had separated the tribesmen from militants. Whenever a drone attack is carried out, it unites the militants and the tribal people. This creates problems for the government because no war is won without the support of the people,” he said.

He said his government had united the “whole nation in fighting terrorism” by adopting a rational strategy that isolated terrorists and militants from the tribesmen.

The security forces too had conducted successful operations against militants, he remarked.

Gilani further said the leadership of Pakistan and Afghanistan were united against US drone attacks as these were not in favour of both countries.

Pakistan is part of the solution to the Afghan issue and the Afghan war cannot be won without Pakistan’s support, he added.

“Terrorism, law and order and economy are inter-related.  Until the issues of terrorism and law and order are not controlled, foreign investment will not come to the country,” he said.

Even one suicide attack would scare investors away, he said.

The Foreign Office too strongly condemned the drone attack at Angoor Adda in South Waziristan.

“We have repeatedly said that such attacks are counter-productive and only contribute to strengthen the hands of the terrorists,” spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said in a statement.

“Drone attacks have become a core irritant in the counter-terror campaign. Pakistan has taken up the matter with the US at all levels. The Foreign Secretary has lodged a strong protest with the US Ambassador today,” she said.

Today’s drone strike came just a day after a meeting in Washington between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency chief and the head of the CIA, which runs the drone campaign.

Media reports had claimed that the Pakistani military had told the CIA to limit its drone campaign. PTI

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Manmohan Singh Meets Hu Jintao

Sanya (China) : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao met here today, with the Indian leader conveying the intention to expand cooperation in all areas and strengthen the strategic and economic partnership.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation with particular focus on economy and trade, amid India's concerns over the imbalance in favour of China.

In his opening remarks at the meeting, Singh told Hu that India was "keen to expand areas of cooperation" with China.

"I wish to reaffirm the desire to strengthen strategic and economic partnership with China in every possible way," the Prime Minister said.

As the two leaders greeted each other warmly, Singh pointed out to Hu that they had met a number of times, including on the sidelines of G-20 and BRIC Summits.

Hu said it was pleasure to meet Singh and that he looked forward to exchanging views on bilateral and international issues of mutual interest.

Singh and Hu met in the backdrop of concerns in India with regard to expanding trade imbalance in favour of China and other issues like grant of stapled visas to people hailing from Jammu and Kashmir and Chinese activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Ahead of his meeting with Hu, Singh said that as the two largest developing countries in the world, India and China bear an important responsibility of ensuring their all-round and sustainable socio-economic development.

Recalling the visit of Premier Wen Jiabao to India in December last year, Singh said the two sides had agreed on a series of measures to broad base and balance trade and economic cooperation.

"We have to make more efforts to promote greater Indian exports to China to reduce the trade deficit," he has said in an interview to Xinhua while expressing hope that the two countries would be able to achieve the target of USD 100 billion by 2015.

Earlier today, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said there was a need to address the question of trade imbalance and that India had sought greater access to Chinese markets, particularly in the areas of strengths like IT and pharma, to bridge the gap.

Sharma yesterday had said the trade imbalance in favour of China was a matter of concern as he pointed out that the imbalance had gone up to USD 20 billion in the overall bilateral trade of USD 55 billion as of December 2010. The imbalance was about USD 16 billion till 2009.

He said China had assured India that it would give access through government contracts in sectors like pharmaceuticals and IT. PTI

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Gujarat Has Become Benchmark For Development In India: Modi

Ahmedabad : Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today claimed that the state has become a benchmark for development in the country.

“In the (ongoing)elections in the five states, one thing has come to fore, that Gujarat has become benchmark of development,” Modi said while addressing a public meeting after inaugurating two bridges here in the presence of BJP leader L K Advani.

“In these elections, those who were impressed by Gujarat had said that they would develop their state on lines of our state. And those who are against Gujarat, drew comparison saying that they have developed their state better than us,” Modi said.

“This only shows that, Gujarat has become a benchmark of development in the country,” Modi said.

Modi lambasted forces perceived by him to be opposed to state by saying, “Some people get fever when the name of Gujarat is taken. A simple man like Anna Hazare, was asked a question and by mistake he took my name. Those forces got jolted by it and now they are trying to defame Hazare”.

Targeting Congress, he said, “Hazare had not taken name of any party in his fight against corruption. But the Congress was disturbed. This only shows that they indulge in corruption”.

Modi also raised the issue of naming big national schemes only after members of one family targeting the Congress.

“Thousands of schemes introduced by central and state government are named after them. I do not want to take their name. But we here believe in naming them after real national leaders”.

“Our Municipal Corporation has given the name of Sister Nivedita to an under-bridge in Paldi and Rishi Dadhichi bridge which is 10th on river Sabarmati”, Modi said.  Modi told the centre to compete with Gujarat on the issue of development.

Advani praised Modi for the developmental works carried out by his government in Gujarat. PTI

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Not A Single Train Stopped As Bleeding Athlete Lay On Track For 4 Hours

Bareilly : As details of the athlete throwing incident emerged, it has come to light that Arunima alias Sonu Sinha, a national level volleball and football player, lay on the track for nearly four hours, but not a single train driver or guard who passed through that section stopped the train and came forward to help, railway sources said.

The incident took place on Monday night between 2 and 3 am, when the robbers pushed Arunima from the Padmavati Express.

Arunima had taken the train from Faizabad via Lucknow to find out the result of her interview for a job in CISF in Noida.

Arunima lay on the track bleeding with one of her legs severed. Several trains passed on that section at night time, but none of the drivers either didn't notice her, or didn't stop the train even after noticing the girl lying near the tracks.

The Government Railway Police took action 36 hours after the incident and that too after the national media played the story. One person has been held on suspicion of robbery.

It was left to the vilagers who took a bleeding Arunima at around 6 am to the nearby District Hospital in Bareilly where her leg had to be amputated.

The Divisional Railway Manager of Moradabad has ordered an internal inquiry by the RPF commandant and four other officials.  They have been asked to give their report within a week, said A K sinha, Assistant DRM, Moradabad.

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