India, US sign pact for installation of first American nuclear reactor in India

The US firm Westinghouse Electric and the Nuclear Power Company of India Ltd., NPCIL have signed a preliminary pact for an Early Works Agreement, EWA for the installation of the first 1,000 MW American nuclear reactor in India under the historic 2008 Indo-US civil nuclear deal.The signing of the MoU, coincides with the third Indo-US Strategic Dialogue headed by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna.The MoU relates to negotiating an EWA supporting future construction of 1,000 MW nuclear power reactors at the Mithivirdi site in Bhavnagar district in Gujarat.

India, US coop must entail response to terror: HM

Citing the recent events in Pakistan, India has highlighted risks posed by the "epicentre of terrorism" based in that country and pushed the US for announcement of security cooperation that will entail pre-emptive steps and effective response to terror incidents.Launching the Homeland Security Dialogue in New Delhi on Friday, India and the US vowed to defeat the forces of terrorism through a series of steps like intelligence sharing and pressed Pakistan to move expeditiously in prosecuting those involved in Mumbai attacks.

US offers assistance in dealing with money laundering

The United States has offered assistance to India to deal with money laundering and fake currency menace, besides cooperation in issues related to cross-border terrorism.The visiting Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Janet Napolitano called on Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on Friday and the two leaders explored the areas of bilateral cooperation.

US lawmaker introduces legislation to cut off aid to Pak

A key US lawmaker has introduced a legislation in the House of Representatives to stop American aid to Pakistan, saying the killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad has made it clear that Islamabad concealed, protected and enabled him for many years."We can no longer afford this foolishness," Congressman Dana Rohrabacher said after introducing the 'Defund United States Assistance to Pakistan Act of 2011' in the House of Representative."The time has come for us to stop subsidizing those who actively oppose us. Pakistan has shown itself not to be America's ally," he said.

US files second chargesheet in Mumbai terror attack case

The US government has filed a second chargesheet in a Chicago court in the 26/11 terror strike in Mumbai naming five people as accused in the case.The chargesheet filed in the US court, according to media reports on Monday, named the five accused as-Sajid Majeed, Abu Qahafa, Mazhar Iqbal, Major Iqbal and a Lashkar-e-Toiba member.The accused were named in the Tahawwur Rana case.Rana is a Pakistani Canadian and like Pakistani American David Coleman Headley is involved in the Mumbai attack.

Osama was living in Abbottabad for five years: Wife

While the US-led forces were hunting for Osama bin Laden in Pakistan's unruly tribal areas for years, the al-Qaeda chief had been living a secluded life in a million-dollar mansion in the Pakistani garrison city of Abbottabad for five years, according to one of his wives.The Yemeni woman said bin Laden had been living in the compound in Abbottabad for the past five years, Geo News Channel quoted unnamed senior Pakistani military officials as saying.

Cong downplays US drawing a line between 9/11-26/11 attacks

The Congress has downplayed the distinction made by the US between 9/11 and 26/11 attacks and its apparent unwillingness to back any "hot pursuit" by India of Mumbai terror attack perpetrators similar to the operation in Pakistan to eliminate Osama bin Laden."We are not bound in any manner by the view of any other country in the matters of our security. That is their opinion. Our actions are premised on our own decisions and our independent policy. It is quite possible our independent policy can tally with any other country, but it will be our decision", party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters in New Delhi on Friday.

Paki needs to come out of its India centric mindset

Top US lawmakers and experts have asked Pakistan to come out of its India-centric mindset which they argued is nothing but destructive for it, a day after Islamabad resorted to rhetoric against New Delhi."Pakistan's strategic view and posture vis-a-vis India is, at least in this senator's judgment, and I think for many people who so talk about it is absurd in this modern context," Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said at a Congressional hearing.

Taliban announce start of spring military offensive against US led coalition

The Taliban has pledged to launch a spring offensive against the US led coalition and its allies in Afghanistan. The militant group says the operation will begin tomorrow, but did not say how long the surge will last. The Taliban said in a statement today the targets of insurgent attacks will include military bases and convoys, as well as Afghan officials, including members of the peace council. The insurgents urged Afghan citizens to stay away from the centers and activities of the coalition forces. The Taliban said the offensive is being activated to protect Islam and religious values.The announcement of the militant operation comes one day after senior officers with the U.S.-led coalition and Western diplomats in Afghanistan warned they expected a surge in militant attacks. 

Courtesy : The HIndu