(IANS) The issue of stapled visas had not yet been sorted out but what was important was China's position on Jammu and Kashmir, informed sources said Sunday, two days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Chinese premier Wen Jiabao in Bali.
"We don't want to claim its sorted out," sources said, adding that the position China adopts on the state was important.
It was not for China to get involved in this - which since 1996 had been their position, sources said.
Manmohan Singh and Wen, who met on the sidelines of the East Asia and ASEAN summits, both said there was enough space for both countries to grow and flourish.
2007/12/15 6:38:54 The US state department has said that the fee for visas will be hiked with effect from January 1. The hike is to cover the costs of the increased security measures after the twin towers attack in 2001.
The hike will be about 31 per cent for student, business and tourist visas. The present charge is $100 and it will now go up to $131. And immigrants’ visas will go up from the present $335 to $355.
2011/11/4 9:00:06 (IANS) Stating that his behaviour was "insulting and unacceptable", the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday asked Chinese ambassador Zhang Yan to apologise over wrong map of India and for using "bad street language" against a member of the Indian media fraternity.
BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay said in a statement that the Chinese envoy used "undiplomatic and undemocratic language at a public function, trying to 'shut up' an Indian media person who was raising a very legitimate and valid query" about the brochure of a Chinese company that showed a map of India minus Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Vijay said the government should also warn the ambassador "not to indulge in such unfriendly acts in future".
"Obviously, Chinese ambassador forgot that he is posted in a vibrant democracy where Tin En Mein (Tiananmen) episodes are not allowed and media is free and not a state run apparatus taking orders from party bosses who can 'shut up' a journalist," Vijay said.
He said while the BJP welcomes friendship and growing bilateral trade with China, it would be living in self deception if "increasing level of Chinese arrogance" is not taken note of and appropriately responded to.
"The Chinese arrogance and intransigence showed its another low yesterday," Vijay said and pointed to incidents of China calling then envoy in Beijing Nirupama Rao in the early hours of the morning to lodge a protest, its statements concerning Arunachal Pradesh, and its stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
Vijay said behaviour of the Chinese ambassador was totally "unacceptable and insulting" to the democracy of India.
"We demand an unqualified apology from the ambassador to the people of India for presenting a wrong map of India while trying to get trade and economic benefits from us, and (for) using undemocratic and bad street language against a respectable member of Indian media fraternity."
"They want our market but not the heart, it's quite obvious, but they shouldn't be allowed to walk away with such brazen acts of undiplomatic behaviour. We hope this government will take note of the ambassador's foul mouthing yesterday and warn him officially not to indulge in such unfriendly acts in future," he said.
A Chinese company Thursday signed an accord for investing $400 million in Gujarat, but a row erupted when Zhang asked an Indian journalist to "shut up" when questioned about the company's brochure that showed a map of India minus Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
India was prompt to take up the issue, and the Chinese envoy assured that the mistake would be looked into.
2007/5/16 9:55:43 The US Consulate will start functioning from Hyderabad from early 2008. This was stated by the US Consulate General David Hooper in Chennai on Tuesday.
He said that they have been issuing about 600 visas a day on an average during the past one year and efforts are on to raise this number to about 1200 visas a day.
The people in the state will soon be able to get their lands and houses registered with a single visit to the registrar’s office. The CM YS Rajashekara Reddy has given the green signal for a new scheme to be implemented shortly. Under the new scheme the people can now take n appointment for registration just like the one for Visas.
And on the appointed date and time the concerned officials will be available in the office and complete the work. Any problems that arise will also be sorted out at the same time. In this connection, the government is setting up 10 more registrar offices and 43 new Sub-registrar offices across the state.
Hero Ram Charan's film Rachcha is now currently under progress in Hyderabad. The unit will fly off to China for shooting some key actions scenes and a couple of songs on Ram Charan and Tamanna.
The director is planning to shoot some key scenes against the backdrop of the Great Wall of China.
2007/3/7 10:44:59 The US Consulate would be established in Hyderabad in 2008. This was disclosed by the chief minister YS Rajashekara Reddy in Hyderabad on Tuesday. The CM disclosed this after meeting the American under Secretary for Management Henrietta H. Four yesterday. With this, it has now become clear hat the consulate will start functioning from 2008.
Applicants for visas will no longer need to go to Chennai or other places. The consulate ill screen all visa applications in Hyderabad and also grant visas. A separate help desk would also be established to enable people not comfortable with the English language. Staff well versed in Telugu would assist people from rural areas in filling up the forms and completing other formalities.
2011/10/27 0:28:40 (IANS) The United States has assured India that it was "continuing to work" on the issue of hundreds of Indian students affected by the "horrible visa scam" by California based "sham" Tri-Valley University. Some 85 percent of over 1500 TVU students were Indian, mostly from Andhra Pradesh.
US authorities are reviewing a letter sent by the Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao to the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking that the cases of Indian students should be viewed in a "fair and reasonable manner," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters Wednesday,
"She has (received), and we are reviewing that letter, and we intend to answer it," she said when asked if the treatment meted out to some of the Indian students affected by the closure of the university was justified.
"We had a pretty horrible visa scam, where a fake university petitioned and got visas for a bunch of students to come over and then actually turned out not to be a real educational institution," Nuland said.
"So we did take action, federal authorities closed down Tri-Valley University on January 11th, and we've also been working very hard, as we have told Indian authorities, to try to find other places in the US for these students who got scammed," she said.
As of Oct 19, 435 of the 1,500 former Tri-Valley University students were approved to be processed for transfer to other universities, she said. "And of the remaining cases, some students we're not going to be able place, but we're continuing to work on this issue."
Asked about the role of State Department officials in issue of visas to the students of the sham university, the official said: "Well, we issue visas on the basis of documentation that we get from institutions in the United States.
"So when we became aware of this, we turned it over for judicial review, and as I said, this scamming institution has now been closed down by US justice authorities."
The State Department in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and US Citizenship and Immigration Service, Nuland said, all "were involved in the busting of this group."
TVU president Susan Xiao-Ping Su, 41, was indicted in May by a federal grand jury on allegations of visa fraud and money laundering to the tune of $3.2 million by issuing visa-related documents to students in exchange for "tuition and fees".
2007/11/22 6:52:33 The AICC observer for Andhra Pradesh, Veeraappa Moily arrive in Hyderabad on a two-day visit. The party cadre and the leaders are treating him like an emperor. The lake view guest house is teaming with party MLAs, MPs and MLCs.
The reason is not far to seek.
The long pending issue of the new PCC chief is on top of the agenda. There are many aspirants for the post and the aspirants along with their supporters are trying to impress him in as many ways as possible. Once the PCC issue is sorted out, Moily will come down a few steps from his high pedestal. He will no longer be courted by all sections of the party like the one being witnessed today.
2011/10/4 11:12:21 Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Tuesday called off his visit to South Africa, where he was invited by his "close friend" and fellow Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu, his office said here.
"His Holiness was to depart for South Africa Oct 6 but visas have not been granted yet," the Dalai Lama's office said in a statement.
"We are, therefore, now convinced that for whatever reason or reasons, the South African government finds it inconvenient to issue visa to the Dalai Lama," it said.
Two years back too, the elderly monk was refused a visa by the South Africa government as it has close ties with China. He was to attend a peace conference there.
The Dalai Lama's office said he has been invited to South Africa by a number of universities and organisations, including Stellenbosch University, the Tutu Centre and the Mahatma Gandhi Trust to give public talks, deliver Bishop Tutu's 80th birth anniversary inaugural lecture and to receive the Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation.
"The visa applications for the Dalai Lama and the entourage members were submitted to the South African High Commission in New Delhi at the end of August and original passports were submitted Sep 20, over two weeks ago," said the statement.
It said the Dalai Lama had cancelled his visit because he "does not want to create any inconveniences to anyone, individuals or governments" in his work, but that he "regrets the inconveniences caused to his hosts and the large number of South African public".
The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet during a failed uprising in 1959. He favours "greater autonomy" for Tibetans rather than complete independence.
Chinese leaders have, in fact, called him a separatist who wants Tibet to secede from China. (IANS)
2007/7/13 16:43:58 Congress MLA and former CLP leader P Janardhan Reddy has refused to go to Delhi to sort out the issue. He is now determined to go ahead with his fast unto death from Monday. Hectic parleys by V Hanumantha Rao, Digvijay Singh and other failed to yield the desired result. PJR now says that he will go to Delhi only after the issue has been sorted out. He wants to gain as much mileage out of the issue as possible.
The police meanwhile have refused to give permission to PJR to carry out is fast near the Assembly premises. The Assembly session will commence from Monday and this has given the police a opportunity to cordon off hares citing security reasons. So even if PJR sits on a dharna near the Assembly premise his supporters will not be allowed to gather there.
But there are a full two days to go till Monday and PJR will take his own time to make up his mind or may be succumb to pressure from the high command. The next two days are going to be very interesting for the public and crucial for PJR.
2011/8/10 11:28:16 Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Safari on Wednesday thanked the Andhra Pradesh state government for extending support to 2,000 Iranians living in the state and 500 students pursuing studies in various universities in the state.
Talking to media persons after emerging out of a meeting with Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana at Gandhi Bhavan, Mr Safari expressed confidence that the government would continue to extend same support in business and trade and in fostering of ties between two countries.
Congress Minority Cell president Sirajuddin told media persons that Mr Safari has appealed to Mr Satyanarayana to extend visas of the Iranian students as they would lose a precious academic year due to frequent bandhs and agitations of statehood.
The PCC chief responded favourably to Consulate General’s appeal and assured him that the state government would take steps for renewal of visas.
Mr Safari also appealed to state government to run a direct flight to Mashed in Iran from Hyderabad, the Minority Cell president disclosed. Mr Sirajuddin disclosed that the PCC chief responded favourably to this request too.(INN)
2011/9/23 11:49:09 Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Friday said the issue of reincarnation is his personal right.
"My reincarnation is to be decided by myself, nobody has the right to decide about that," the Nobel Peace laureate said, referring to China's interference with issues of his reincarnation.
"The institution of the Dalai Lama is being followed for centuries. This is my personal right (to follow it or not)," the 14th Dalai Lama added.
He was speaking on the second day of a three-day Buddhist conference here.
A new Chinese law says the government has to approve all reincarnations of living Buddhas or senior religious figures in Tibetan Buddhism.
The government-in-exile based here believes the Chinese are trying to finish two major Tibetan religious institutions - the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama.
Heads and representatives of four major traditions and sub-traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and ancient Bon tradition are taking part in the conference being organised by the Central Tibetan Administration.
An official said the Dalai Lama's office had distributed a draft on the issue of reincarnation among the participants for discussion.
"Today communist China considers religion a poison and they consider me a demon. So, I would be a demon reincarnation. This is nonsense," the Dalai Lama was quoted as saying in Toulouse in France in August. "So the Chinese communists should accept rebirth."
The Buddhists, both in exile and in Tibet, believe once the Dalai Lama dies, China will appoint its own successor. At that time, there might be two Dalai Lamas -- one recognised by China and the other chosen by the exiles -- like in the case of the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama.
Born July 6, 1935, at Taktser hamlet in northeastern Tibet, the Dalai Lama was recognised at the age of two as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama Thubten Gyatso.
He fled Tibet after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule in 1959, basing his Tibetan government-in-exile here that never won recognition from any country.
2011/8/25 12:08:46 The City Police on Thursday arrested one person who was allegedly involved in preparation and supply of fake Income Tax Returns, Bank Statements, Educational certificates etc., to the needy persons.
According to police, the accused - Aslam Gowani, a resident of Barkatpura, used to prepare fake Income Tax Returns, Bank Statements, Charted Accountant income proof reports and Property Valuation Reports, on coming to know about the heavy demand for them from the students who intend to go for higher studies at USA. Later he extended his services even to the candidates who intend to visit other countries on visit visas, business visa, Job visa etc., by issuing fake documents.
In order to prepare fake documents in the name of different Banks, Income Tax Department in fictitious names he prepared fake rubber seals/stamps etc., by using computers and printers available in his house. He used to prepare letter of invitations by down loading the letter head script through web sites of different firms in USA for obtaining student visas, visit visas, job visas, etc. for which he used to charge an amount of Rs.5,000/- to Rs.10,000/- for each document from the clients for preparing fake document. After preparing the fake documents basing on the requirement of the clients, he handed over same to the clients, in turn the clients present the said fake documents before the consular at Consulates at the time of interview for obtaining VISA.
Aslam Gowani was earlier arrested by the Tappachabutra police for indulging in preparation of fake documents in the year 2004. On a tip off, the Central Zone team of Commissioner's Task Force arrested the accused and seized the material documents, rubber seals, Computer system, Printer, etc., from his possession.
The accused has been handed over to Begumpet Police Station as he is wanted accused in Crime No.96/2011, U/s.420, 468, 471 IPC of Begumpet Police Station for further action. (INN)
Hollywood studio Warner Bros. said Thursday it is backing the Hindi-language movie "Made in China," the first Indian film to be shot on location in China.
"Made in China" features Akshay Kumar as Sidhu, a Mumbai cook who is mistaken as a kung fu hero, Warner Bros. said in a statement. The movie also stars Deepika Padukone.
Nikhil Advani will direct, working with Ramesh Sippy Productions.
Advani is known for his musicals "Salaam-E-Ishq" ("Hail Love") and "Kal Ho Na Ho" ("Tomorrow May or May Not Come") while Sippy's directing credits include "Sholay" ("Embers")
Warner Bros. said shooting is scheduled to start in January 2008.
The budget for "Made in China" wasn't immediately clear. It also wasn't clear if the movie involves any Chinese investment, where in China it will be shot or if any Chinese actors will be cast.
Warner Bros. did not immediately respond to e-mail questions.
The company said it holds the movie's worldwide distribution rights.
Bollywood refers to the Mumbai-based Hindi-language movie industry that churns out about 200 films a year _ most of them musicals that follow a 'happily-ever-after' formula.
2011/11/4 9:47:55 (IANS) Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan Thursday snubbed an Indian journalist, asking him to "shut up" when he asked about the map of a Chinese company showing Arunachal Pradesh as part of the Chinese territory.
TBEA, a Chinese power company, inked a memorandum of understanding for investing around $400 million in manufacturing transformers in Gujarat.
However, it was noticed that the brochure of the company showed a map of India on its front page that depicted Arunachal Pradesh as part of Chinese territory, evoking consternation among journalists.
When an Indian journalist asked the Chinese ambassador for his reaction, the envoy first said it's "a technical issue." However, when he kept on pressing him, he lost his cool and said "shut up," triggering much outrage among media there.
TBEL is part of the business delegation that Nur Bekri, governor of Xinjiang Ugyur Autonomous Region, has brought to India to explore two-way investment opportunities.
China claims India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territory. The issue is part of boundary talks between India and China.
2011/10/12 4:57:30 Concerned over the presence of Chinese military personnel in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, India Wednesday said it had conveyed its objections to Beijing in this regard.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony told reporters after opening the four-day navy commanders conference here that India was aware of the presence of Chinese People's Liberation Army troops in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
"We are aware of their presence there. We have conveyed our concern to China in this regard," Antony said in reply to questions regarding the presence of some combat engineers among the 3,000 odd Chinese in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
"Over the last many years, we are consistently developing our own military capabilities so that we can meet any challenge to protect our territory and our sovereignty," he said.
To a question on China's objections to India exploring oil in parts of the South China Sea off Vietnam that Beijing claims to be its own territory, Antony refused comment as Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang is in the capital for talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"There is no question of India going there (South China Sea) in large scale. We will go there for exercises and other things. We will go there uninterrupted for passage of ships and trade. There is no question of any naval presence...that is not our intention. Our main concern is to protect our core area," he said.
However, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, ahead of the talks, told reporters that all bilateral issues will be on the table for discussion between the two sides. Krishna was answering a question if the South China Sea issue will be part of discussions with the Vietnamese delegation.
To another question, Antony said the Admiral Goshkov aircraft carrier that India has bought from Russia, where it is presently undergoing a refit, will definitely be delivered in December 2012. (IANS)
New Delhi, Oct 30 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi may not be welcome in the US, but China is ready to roll out the red carpet for him as he gears up to visit the world's fastest growing economy and Asian powerhouse next month.
Modi is likely to visit China Nov 8, reliable sources told IANS. The visit has been cleared by the external affairs ministry.
Modi is expected to make a pitch for greater Chinese investment in Gujarat and showcase his state as a hub for foreign investment. In particular, Modi is likely to discuss the prospects of Huawei, China's biggest telecom company which has a considerable presence in India, investing in Gujarat.
China has been impressed by the economic transformation of Gujarat in the last decade and the massive foreign investment it has attracted in different sectors. When China's Vice Minister Ai Ping visited Gujarat last week, he had lauded Gujaratis' contribution to business development in different countries, including China. He had also extended an invitation to Modi to visit China.
Modi is expected to seek Chinese assistance to develop a "Gautam Buddha circuit", that includes constructing a temple where Buddha's relics would be preserved, to attract tourists to the state.
Modi's visit will take place soon after Nur Bekri, chairman of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China, visits New Delhi and Mumbai next week to explore investment opportunities.
The visit by regional leaders has become a trend of sorts lately, with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar going to China in June. Kumar's visit was focused on cooperation in the field of infrastructure, agriculture and rural development.
Despite differences over a host of issues, economic ties between India and China have been showing a steady upswing.
The two countries recently held their maiden strategic economic dialogue to exchange their experiences in macro-economic management and to address issues like the growing trade imbalance in favour of Beijing.
Bilateral trade is already touching $60 billion, with both sides confident of scaling it up to $100 billion.
(IANS) China's Three Gorges Dam Sunday reached its designed highest mark, the second time for the world's largest water control and hydropower project to run at full capacity.
The water level hit 175 meters at 5 p.m. after storing water for nearly two months from the water level of 152 meters, said an official with the China Three Gorges Project Corporation (CTGPC), the developer of the project.
A dozen hydropower turbo-generator units started operation Sunday, generating power capacity of 8.2 million kw, Xinhua reported quoting the official.
The dam in central China's Hubei province completed its first full-capacity test last October.
Operating at full capacity should give full play to the dam's functions of generating hydroelectric power, delivering water to the lower reaches to alleviate spring droughts, and containing water from summer flooding.
The Three Gorges Project was launched in 1993 with a budget equivalent to $22.5 billion.
2011/11/2 5:06:02 (IANS) China has recorded about 429,000 registered AIDS patients and HIV carriers by the end of September, Xinhua reported.
According to the official figures released Monday, these statistics are up by nearly 60,000 over the past 11 months.
China's Minister for Health Chen Zhu, during a conference jointly held by the Ministry and the UNAIDS's Theme Group in China, revealed that since the 1980s, the country had seen over 164,000 registered AIDS patients and 86,000 recorded deaths attributable to the disease.
Although growth in the registered HIV/AIDS population declined in recent years, previous research also indicated a large group to have not been covered in the official count.
A joint research project conducted in 2009 by the ministry, the UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation estimated the total to be 740,000 as of the end of that year.
With more HIV carriers turning into AIDS patients and more deaths reported, the spread of the disease will project a growing influence on the social and economical development of affected regions, Chen said.
Deepika plays double role in 'Chandni Chowk To China'
2008/4/15 9:25:53
Director Nikhil Advani, who has been shooting with hectic celerity in China for his new action-comedy "Chandni Chowk To China", confirms that Deepika Padukone is playing double role in the movie.
"That's right," confirmed Advani. "Deepika is doing a double role in my film."
This would be Deepika's second double role after her debut "Om Shanti Om".
When quizzed him about the music of the film, Advani said: "While the rest of the score by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, with a little help from Kailash Kher, is completely original, we've used Bappi Lahiri's 'Bombay se aaya mera dost' from the film 'Aap Ki Khatir'. Bappi has reworked and re-sung the song."
Advani's directorial debut "Kal Ho Naa Ho" was a runaway success at the box office, but his second film "Salaam-e-Ishq" was letdown.
"Chandani Chowk to China" is a mega-budget film and is produced by Warner Brothers and Rohan Sippy.
(IANS) The United States has assured India that it was "continuing to work" on the issue of hundreds of Indian students affected by the "horrible visa scam" by California based "sham" Tri-Valley University. Some 85 percent of over 1500 TVU students were Indian, mostly from Andhra Pradesh.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Tuesday called off his visit to South Africa, where he was invited by his "close friend" and fellow Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu, his office said here.
(IANS) Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan Thursday snubbed an Indian journalist, asking him to "shut up" when he asked about the map of a Chinese company showing Arunachal Pradesh as part of the Chinese territory.
(IANS) China has recorded about 429,000 registered AIDS patients and HIV carriers by the end of September, Xinhua reported.
