Salem-News.com India articles Page 49

Three Points of View: The United States, Pakistan and India

STRATFOR Writer Peter Zeihan examines the interests and potential futures.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - In recent weeks, STRATFOR has explored how the U.S. government has been seeing its interests in the Middle East and South Asia shift.

When it comes down to it, the United States is interested in stability at the highest level — a sort of cold equilibrium among the region’s major players that prevents any one of them, or a coalition of them — from overpowering the others and projecting power outward.

Suicide Bomb in Kabul Afghanistan Targets Indian Embassy

"A suicide car bombing right outside the embassy, the car was parked outside. They say that there are scores of casualties" -Zeina Khodr, Al Jazeera in Kabul

(KABUL) - A huge explosion rocked Kabul, Afghanistan just after 8:30 a.m. Thursday. The blast in the Afghan capital near the Indian embassy left 12 dead and injured at least 83 more, according to Al Jazeera.

A senior diplomat with the Indian embassy confirmed that it was the target.

UN: Independent Probe Into Bhutto Murder Begins Today

The Commission will submit a report to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon within six months.

(GENEVA) - The independent commission charged with examining the facts and circumstances behind the December 2007 assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto formally began its work today, the United Nations said.

UN Says Urgent International Scrutiny Needed in Sri Lanka

UN Rights Experts say shipments of food and medicine to the so-called ''no-fire zone'' have been “grossly insufficient” over the past month.

(GENEVA) - A group of independent United Nations experts today called on the Human Rights Council to urgently set up an international inquiry to address the “critical” situation in Sri Lanka amid fighting between the army and Tamil rebels.

“There is an urgent need to establish an international commission of inquiry to document the events of recent months and to monitor ongoing developments,” the experts dealing with summary executions, right to health, right to food and water and sanitation said in a joint statement issued in Geneva.

Sri Lanka: Possible War Crimes

Government forces and rebels may both be guilty – UN rights chief.

(GENEVA) - The top United Nations human rights official today deplored the mounting deaths and injuries of civilians due to the “bitter” conflict in northern Sri Lanka between Government forces and a rebel group.

He pointed out that some moves by both sides could amount to war crimes.

Security Council Condemns ‘Reprehensible ’Terrorist Attacks in Mumbai (VIDEO)

This article contains a video report from Al Jazeera's Laura Kyle on the Mumbai attacks including the siege at the Taj Mahal Hotel.

(NEW DELHI ) - The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Mumbai that started on November 26th, which included the taking of hostages and caused numerous deaths and injuries in India’s financial capital.

“The members of the Security Council expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and Government of India,” the 15-member body said in a statement issued to the press last night.

The attacks, which by Thursday had stretched into their third day, targeted two major hotel complexes and several other locations in India’s largest city, leaving at least 140 people dead and more than 300 wounded. Rescue operations are still ongoing to try to free the remaining hostages.

International Researchers Discover Rich Methane Field Off The Coast of India

Researchers said the energy potential is still unknown.

(CORVALLIS) - An international team of scientists looking for gas hydrates off the coast of India has discovered a pair of methane hydrate reservoirs buried in the sediment below the Bay of Bengal, and though the idea of a new energy source is tantalizing, researchers say the technology does not yet exist to make these reservoirs commercially feasible.

A similar field of gas hydrates was found off the coast of Oregon a few years ago, said Marta Torres, a marine geochemist at Oregon State University and an investigator on the India and Oregon expeditions.