SP blames 'weak' foreign policy for Azam Khan's detention

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party on Saturday said the detention of UP minister Azam Khan at a US airport was fallout of a "weak" foreign policy of the country.

SP said the US should be told that such "discriminatory" actions would henceforth not be tolerated.

"The incident of misbehaviour with Khan is a fallout of weak foreign policy due to which India is emerging as a weak nation in the eyes of the entire world... Countries like Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal have also started browbeating India. China has entered Indian teritory..." SP spokesman and state cabinet minister Rajendra Chowdhury said.

"It should be made clear (to US) that such incidents with Indians will not be tolerated any more. Discrimination in the name of caste and colour should be immediately stopped by the US," Chowdhury said.

Supporting UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's stand of not going ahead with his scheduled lecture at Harvard University in the light of the incident, Chowdhury said that he had shown his political maturity by doing so.

"He has protected national self-respect by cancelling his lecture," Chowdhury said, comparing the UP CM with Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, who, according to him, too was arrested in US in a similar case.

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BJP leaders meet President, demand dismissal of Dikshit govt

NEW DELHI: Delhi BJP leaders on Saturday met President Pranab Mukherjee and demanded dismissal of Sheila Dikshit government on the grounds of "deteriorating" law and order situation in the national capital.

The delegation led by state BJP chief Vijay Goel and comprising leader of opposition in assembly V K Malhotra, BJP national secretary Aarti Mehra, former state BJP president Vijender Gupta and senior MLAs alleged that the Congress government in Delhi had failed to ensure security of its citizens.

"We have asked the President to consider dismissing the government under section 239 AA of the Constitution, where he can dismiss a government for non-performance," Goel said.

"The President has assured us that he will look into the matter and speak to Prime Minister and home minister on the issue," the Delhi BJP chief said.

He added that the chief minister herself has asked for the removal of Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar over deteriorating law and order situation and rise in incident of rapes, which makes it evident that her government has lost total control.

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Japan PM Abe escapes injury in five-car collision

TOKYO: A limousine carrying Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was involved in a five-car pile-up at a toll gate in Tokyo on Saturday but he escaped without any injuries, police said.

Two guards in a police car accompanying Abe's official vehicle suffered slight injuries to the face, a Metropolitan Police Department spokesman said.

The police car made a sudden stop at the toll gate, which led to Abe's vehicle bumping into it from behind.

Two other police cars and a saloon carrying reporters, which were trailing Abe's limousine, were also involved in the collision, said the official.

Abe, known for his nationalist views, was on his way to a park in central Tokyo to attend a rally calling on North Korea to return Japanese nationals kidnapped by the communist state during the Cold War, local media said.

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TRS chief vows not to rest till Telangana state is formed

HYDERABAD: Elected unopposed for the seventh consecutive term as the president of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), K Chandrasekhara Rao on Saturday vowed not to rest till separate Telangana state is achieved.

Addressing the TRS conclave at Armoor in Nizamabad district to mark 13th formation day of the party, he said he was re-dedicating himself to the cause and offered to continue his services to the party till it achieves its single-point agenda.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, also demanded the central government to table a bill in parliament to carve out separate Telangana state. "If the prime minister has any respect for the democracy and for the promise he made to parliament and to people, he should table the bill in the parliament," the MP from Mahabubnagar said.

The TRS chief said conspiracies could never stop Telangana. He declared that the TRS leaders would join the "Sansad yatra" in Delhi on Monday to demand separate state.

KCR said the selfish leaders of the region were the main hurdle in achieving the goal. He alleged that these leaders belonging to ruling Congress and main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ran away when asked to sacrifice their posts for the sake of Telangana.

Appealing to people to teach a lesson to anti-Telangana parties, he said Telangana society should emerge as a strong political force to fulfill its long-cherished demand of having its own state.

Welcoming TDP legislator Kamlakar Rao into the party fold, KCR claimed that many state legislators and MPs from other parties would soon join the TRS.

Earlier, TRS leader N Narasimha Rao announced that KCR was elected unopposed as the party president. He said no other leader had filed nomination for the post.

KCR announced that the party would hold training camps for its cadre in all the assembly constituencies, which would be followed by a brainstorming session to carry the movement forward.

KCR had quit TDP to float TRS in 2000. In 2004 elections, which it fought in alliance with Congress party, TRS won 26 assembly and five Lok Sabha seats. The sub-regional party joined hands with TDP and the Left parties in 2009 elections but its strength in the assembly and Lok Sabha came down to 10 and two respectively.

However, the developments later that year and the indefinite fast by KCR infused new life into the movement.

The central government on December 9, 2009 declared that the process for formation of separate Telangana state would be initiated. However, the mass resignations of MPs and MLAs and the protests in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions forced the central government to put the process on hold.

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Saradha scam: Several inquiries are going on, WB governor says

KOLKATA: West Bengal governor MK Narayanan on Friday sidestepped a question on whether a CBI inquiry was needed into the Saradha chit fund scam saying that inquiries were going on.

"Several inquiries are going on and the most important is how we can give some money back to the investors," Narayanan told reporters when asked whether a CBI probe was required into the scam, which has hit thousands of investors in the state.

Opposition parties have demanded a CBI inquiry into the Saradha Group alleging involvement of ruling Trinamool Congress MPs.

Asked whether he thought the Rs 500 crore relief package announced by the state government was enough to help investors, the governor said "Not enough, but it is a major effort."

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South Korea to pull all workers from industrial zone in North

SEOUL: South Korea will pull out all remaining workers from a jointly run industrial zone in North Korea, it said on Friday, after Pyongyang rejected a call for formal talks to end a standoff that led to operations being suspended.

The decision to remove about 170 people from the Kaesong factory park located just north of the armed border deepens a conflict between the two Koreas and puts at risk their last remaining channel of exchange that resulted from their breakthrough 2000 summit and a bid to improve ties.

The two Koreas remain technically at war under a mere truce that ended hostilities in their 1950-53 conflict and North Korea, angry at UN sanctions and joint South Korean-US military drills, has threatened both countries with nuclear attack in recent weeks.

"Because our nationals remaining in the Kaesong industrial zone are experiencing greater difficulties due to the North's unjust actions, the government has come to the unavoidable decision to bring back all remaining personnel in order to protect their safety," South Korean unification minister Ryoo Kihl-jae said.

The North withdrew its 53,000 workers from the complex this month amid spiralling tension between the two Koreas. The North has prevented South Korean workers and supplies from getting in to the zone since April 3.

Impoverished North Korea rejected the proposal of talks, saying the South has acted in an "unpardonable" manner to jeopardize a "precious" legacy of the rivals' bid to seek peace.

The North's National Defence Commission, its supreme leadership body, repeated that what it saw as the reckless behaviour of the South had thrown into question the safety of the zone's operations.

The Kaesong project opened in 2004 as part of a so-called sunshine policy of engagement and optimism between the two Koreas, and 123 South Korean companies produced clothing, household goods and motorcycle helmets employing local workers.

The zone was a lucrative source of cash for the North, providing it with almost $90 million a year. South Korean manufacturers have been paying about $130 a month to North Korea for each of the workers they employed.

On Thursday, South Korea made the proposal for formal talks as the South Korean workers who remained at the zone were believed to be running out of food and other supplies. It had demanded an answer from the North by Friday.

The number of South Koreans in the zone has dwindled from the 700 or so normally needed to keep the factories running to about 170, seen as the minimum number needed to safeguard assets at the 1 trillion won ($894.73 million) park.

North Korea stepped up defiance of UN Security Council resolutions in December when it launched a rocket that it said had put a scientific satellite into orbit. Critics said the launch was aimed at developing technology to deliver a nuclear warhead mounted on a long-range missile.

The North followed that in February with its third test of a nuclear weapon. That brought new UN sanctions which in turn led to a dramatic intensification of North Korea's threats of nuclear strikes against South Korea and the United States.

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Climate change may reduce crop output by 18% in 2020: Sharad Pawar

NEW DELHI: Climate change is likely to bring down the production of key foodgrain crops like wheat and rice in the country by up to 18 per cent in 2020, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said on Friday.

"Climate change is projected to reduce timely sown irrigated wheat production by about 6 per cent in 2020. In case of late sown wheat, the projected levels are to the extent of 18 per cent," Pawar said in the Rajya Sabha.

Further reduction by up to 25 per cent in crop yields are projected in 2080, he noted.

Similarly, a 4 per cent fall in crop yield of irrigated rice and 6 per cent in rain-fed rice is seen due to climate changes by 2020.

The forecast are made by the government's agricultural research body ICAR using crop simulation models incorporating future projections for 2020, 2050 and 2080, he added.

In case of maize and sorghum, Pawar said yields are projected to dip by about 18 per cent and 2.5 per cent in 2020.

To a separate query on development of quality seeds, the minister said, "A total of 157 varieties/hybrids of rice, wheat and pulses have been notified during last three years."

These varieties of seeds are developed by National Agricultural Research System comprising of centre and state agricultural research institutes, he added.

On the likely demand of foodgrains by the end of 12th Five-Year-Plan (2012-17), Pawar said a working group of the Planning Commission has pegged domestic demand of wheat and rice at 89 million tonnes and 110 million tonnes in 2016-17 fiscal.

Whereas production of rice is expected to be 98-106 million tonnes, wheat is expected to be at 93-104 million tonnes in 2016-17, he said.

At present, the production of rice and wheat is sufficient to meet the domestic demand, he added.

Rice output is estimated to be 101.80 million tonnes and wheat at 92.30 million tonnes in 2012-13 crop year (July- June), as per the government forecast.

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US economy grew at 2.5% rate in the first quarter: Commerce department

WASHINGTON: US economic growth regained speed in the first quarter, but not as much as expected, which could heighten fears the already weakening economy could struggle to handle deep government spending cuts and higher taxes.

Gross domestic product expanded at 2.5 percent annual rate, the commerce department said on Friday, after growth nearly stalled at 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter. The increase, however, missed economists' expectations for a 3.0 percent growth pace.

Part of the acceleration in activity reflected farmers' filling up silos after a drought last summer decimated crop output. Removing inventories, the growth rate was a tepid 1.5 percent.

Given the smaller-than-expected increase and signs the economy has weakened in recent weeks, the GDP data will probably weigh on US stocks. It could also give ammunition for the Federal Reserve to maintain its monetary stimulus.

The US central bank, which meets next week, is widely expected to keep purchasing bonds at a pace of $85 billion a month.

Data ranging from employment to retail sales and manufacturing weakened substantially in March after robust gains in the first two months of the year. There are indications the weakness persisted into April.

Broad-based gains

The GDP report showed contributions to growth from all areas of the economy, with the exception of government, trade and investment by businesses in offices and other commercial buildings.

Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, increased at a 3.2 percent pace - the fastest since the fourth quarter of 2010. It grew at a 1.8 percent rate in the fourth quarter of last year.

However, households cut back on saving to fund their purchases after incomes dropped at a 5.3 percent rate in the first quarter - a bad sign for future spending growth. The drop in income was the largest since the third quarter of 2009.

The saving rate - the percentage of disposable income households are socking away - fell to 2.6 percent, the lowest since the fourth quarter of 2007, from 4.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Much of the gains in first-quarter spending came from automobile purchases and outlays for utilities, which were boosted by unusually cold temperatures. Consumers managed to step up their spending despite the return of a 2 percent payroll tax and higher gasoline prices.

Despite the spike in gasoline prices, inflation pressures were benign in the first three months of the year.

An inflation gauge in the government's GDP report rose at a 0.9 percent rate, the smallest increase since the second quarter of 2012. The personal consumption expenditure index had increased at a 1.6 percent pace the fourth quarter.

A core measure that strips out food and energy costs rose at a 1.2 percent rate, still well below the Fed's 2 percent target.

Core PCE had increased at a 1.0 percent rate in the fourth quarter.

The lack of inflation should come as welcome relief for American households, but it could cause some nervousness at the US central bank, which may see it as a symptom of the economy's weakness.

Another big contributor to growth in the fourth quarter was inventory accumulation, which added a full percentage point to GDP growth after chopping off 1.5 points from output in the final three months of last year.

Business spending on equipment and software slowed sharply, growing at an only 3.0 percent rate after a brisk 11.8 percent pace in the fourth quarter.

Economists caution that it is too early to blame the cooling in business investment and other more recent signs of economic softness on the $85 billion in mandatory government spending cuts, known as the sequester, that began on March 1.

Homebuilding marked an eighth straight quarter of growth, though the pace moderated from the fourth quarter. Housing added to growth last year for the first time since 2005 and its recovery should help ensure the economy does not contract.

While export growth rebounded, it was outpaced by imports, resulting in a trade deficit that cut off half a percentage point from output.

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Punjab and Haryana HC summons singer Honey Singh over vulgar songs

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday ordered Punjabi rap singer Honey Singh to present himself before the court on May 14 to respond to the allegations levelled against him for singing a song "Main Hoon Balatkari".

HC has passed these orders while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO HELP of Nawanshar in Punjab. The petitioner NGO had sought directions to set up some effective mechanism for curbing the menace of obscene/vulgar/lewd songs from the state of Punjab, such as setting up a censor board or framing some other policy.

The petitioner had referred to a news report published in " The Times of India" for bringing home the fact as to how vulgar/ obscene songs are being recorded and played by certain Punjabi singers. A specific reference was made to a song "Main Hoon Balatkari" sung by Honey Singh. The petitioner stated that all limits of decency are being violated by such songs. The petitioner referred to provisions of section 294 of Indian Penal code (IPC), according to which singing of lewd/ obscene songs at public places is an offence. It was further stated that women have the right to protect their dignity, as a facet of their fundamental right of "right to life", and thee fundamental right to dignity of a human being cannot be violated under the garb of "right to freedom of speech".

According to the petitioner, there is a spurt in the quantum of such obscene songs being recorded and played these days, but the Punjab government has not taken any steps to curb this growing menace. Earlier on March 1, the Punjab government had informed the HC that they are in the process of finalizing a policy to ban vulgar, misogynist and sexist songs in the state.

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US jobless claims fall, labor market recovery advances

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 339,000 the Labor Department said on Thursday.

The author has posted comments on this articleReuters | Apr 25, 2013, 06.29PM IST

WASHINGTON: The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, offering reassurance that the bottom is not falling out of the labor market despite signs of slower growth.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 339,000 the Labor Department said on Thursday. The prior week's number was revised to show 3,000 more applications than previously reported.

Analysts had expected 351,000 new claims last week. A Labor Department analyst said there was nothing unusual in the data and no states had estimated their claims.

The report runs counter to several weeks of signals that economic activity has softened over the last two months, a phenomena economists have dubbed the spring swoon because it also happened in the previous two years.

The four-week moving average for new claims, a less volatile measure of labor market trends, fell 4,500 to 357,500.

That could help to further ease concerns of a deterioration in labor market conditions after nonfarm payrolls posted their smallest increase in nine months in March. However, claims around this time of the year are difficult to adjust for seasonal swings, so analysts will be cautious about extrapolating too much from today's data.

Economists expect the government next week will report that employers hired 145,000 people in April. Employers added 88,000 workers to their payrolls last month after a solid 268,000 increase in February.

Economic data for January and February suggested that growth accelerated in the first quarter after activity almost stalled in the final three months of 2012.

But in a replay of the prior two years, the economy appeared to have hit a speed bump at the end of the quarter, with data ranging from employment to retail sales and manufacturing weakening significantly in March.

The slowdown has been largely blamed on belt-tightening in Washington as the government tries to slash its bloated budget deficit.

It was unclear whether there was any impact in the claims data from a brief shutdown of offices in Boston area last week as police hunted for a man suspected of helping plant bombs at the Boston Marathon. State authorities asked hundreds of thousands of Boston-area workers to stay in their homes on April 19.

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