Climate talks slow, individual nations must take action: PM

Voicing concern over "painfully slow" progress in climate talks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the goal of stabilising global temperatures was "nowhere in sight" and pitched for individual countries to take action to increase energy efficiency. Singh, inaugurating theFourth Clean Energy Ministerial, also made it clear that rich nations, who were responsible for a bulk of greenhouse gas emissions, were best placed to provide workable solutions to mitigate climate change. They (industrialised nations) also have high per capita incomes which gives them the highest capacity to bear the burden. They are technically most advanced, and to that extent best placed to provide workable solutions not only for themselves but for the whole world," he said. At the same time, Singh said issues of financing mitigation actions to tackle climate change have been a focus of intense discussion in negotiations under the auspices of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. "Unfortunately, progress in these

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All-party meet today for consensus on land bill

With differences dogging the contentious land acquisition bill, government will make a fresh attempt to evolve a consensus at an all-party meeting on the issue on Thursday. The first all-party meet on the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011, in NewDelhi on 9th April had failed to iron out the differences between the government and BJP, SP and the Left Front. Subsequently Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has been reaching out to leaders of various political parties to sort out areas of disagreement, sources said. The bill seeks to address problems of industry regarding acquisition of land

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Motorbike blast near BJP's B'lore office injures sixteen

At least 16 people, including five policemen, were injured when an "incendiary bomb" placed in a motorbike exploded near the Karnataka BJP city office buzzing with activity ahead of the May five Assembly polls. The policemen were on security duty as part of the bandobast arrangementsfor the BJP office in view of the polls when the explosion ripped through the crowded area damaging two vans, a Karnataka State Reserve Police vehicle and a motorbike, top police officials said. A National Investigative Agency team has arrived here, he said, adding, forensic experts would also be joining them. "As of now, we do not know what is the material of the bomb blast. We will know after examination," he said. The blast occurred around 10.30 AM when the BJP office is normally brimming with party workers and candidates.

Wednesday is the last day for filing of nominations. City Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar, citing preliminary investigation, said, "It is an explosion",

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PM to inaugurate 4th Clean Energy Ministerial meeting today

PM Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the 4th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) meeting on Wednesday which among other things would assess the steps being undertaken by various countries to pursue green initiatives. Energy ministers from 23 countries, including US Energy Secretary StevenChu, to come together in New Delhi to review the progress of clean energy initiatives. On the eve of the summit, Planning Commission Deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chu inaugurated an 'Innovation Showcase Pavillion' featuring 40 exhibits dealing with clean energy technology. Besides the ministerial meeting, the event will also host panel discussion on participation of woman in Clean Energy, Awards for the Super Efficient Appliances etc. The ministerial meetings also provide an opportunity for high-level engagement with private-sector stakeholders in a variety of formats, ranging from public panel sessions to roundtable dialogues, co-chaired by ministers and chief

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SC to hear Dutt's plea today

The Supreme Court will hear actor Sanjay Dutt's plea on Wed, seeking six months more time to surrender to undergo three-and-a-half- year jail term for illegally possessing firearms in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. A bench of justices P Sathasivam and M Y Eqbal, beforewhom the matter was mentioned on Tuesday, said Dutt's plea should be heard by the same bench which had passed the judgement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. The court posted the case to Wednesday when the matter will be heard by a bench of justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan. Dutt, 53, who was directed to surrender by 18th April, urged the apex court to allow him to finish shooting of his films which will take at least 196 days and submitted that he should be allowed to surrender after completion of films as over Rs 278 crores has been invested by the producers in

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Number of judges to be 37,000 in next five years: Govt

The government and judiciary have decided to double the number of judges to nearly 37,000 in a phased manner in the next five years. With this decision, the judge - population ratio will increase from 15.47 per million to 30 judges per million population. These decisions were taken at the conference of Chief Ministers and Chief justices of High Courts in the national capital on Sunday. "On behalf of the Central government, I would like to assure this august gathering that we would increase appropriately the quantum of funding for the scheme under which we provide support to the State governments for creation of infrastructure for subordinate judiciary," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said. Earlier, addressing the conference, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh assured Chief Ministers of more central funds for creation

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Death row convicts' kin should be informed in advance: CJI

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) Altamas Kabir said on Monday that the families of death row convicts should be informed in advance about their execution. However, he said that past incidents should not be raked up. "Procedure as has been in the past, they should have been informed and as far as I know, steps were taken to inform them," the CJI said in response to a question about keeping families of death row convicts informed in time about their execution. The CJI also warned of chaos if children, especially those in conflict with law,were not taken care of and were not provided protection. Children who constituted 42 per cent of the population, were potential force for progress of the country, but a large number of them do not have facilities, the Chief Justice said and highlighted the need of strengthening the juvenile justice system.

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