Menon briefs IAEA Board, NSG members
As part of efforts to garner support for its case, India briefs 35-member IAEA Board of Governors and NSG countries, on the the safeguards agreement and other aspects of the Indo-US nuclear deal.
By HT Correspondent | PTI, Vienna
UPDATED ON JUL 18, 2008 10:24 PM IST
As part of efforts to garner support for its case, India on Friday briefed 35-member IAEA Board of Governors and NSG countries, which are not part of the Board, on the the safeguards agreement and other aspects of the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon briefed the representatives of the 54 countries about the importance of the initiative of Indo-US nuclear deal while citing the country's impeccable track record on non-proliferation front despite not being a signatory to NPT.
The briefing of the IAEA Board and NSG members by Menon along with Department of Atomic Energy Secretary RB Grover is crucial as the Board will meet on August 1 to consider approval of the India-specific safeguards agreement initialled on July 7.
Approval of the India-specific safeguards agreement by the IAEA Board is a crucial step in the implementation of the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Among the 35 members of the IAEA Board of Governors , 26 are also part of NSG. Rest of the NSG countries were invited for the special briefing.
After firming up of the safeguards agreement, India has to get a waiver from the 45-nation NSG to allow it to have trade in the field with international community.
Earlier in the day, Menon met IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei and discussed issues related to the safeguards agreement.
Other members of the Indian delegation are the country's envoy to IAEA Saurabh Kumar and Joint Secretary in the Department of Atomic Energy Gitesh Sarma.
US Prez Joe Biden respects successful ties with India: White House
By HT Correspondent, Washington/new Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 23, 2021 07:10 AM IST
Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have spoken once since the American leader’s election last November, and could again soon as the president begins calling counterparts in allied and partner countries
Pride and caution in Wuhan on lockdown anniversary
AFP
PUBLISHED ON JAN 23, 2021 06:09 AM IST
A year ago Saturday, Wuhan shocked the world by ordering 11 million anxious citizens be confined at home, beginning a traumatic 76-day lockdown that underscored the growing threat of a then-mysterious pathogen emanating from the city.
Nuclear powers stay out of first nuke ban treaty
By HT Correspondent, United Nations
PUBLISHED ON JAN 23, 2021 06:07 AM IST
The 30-nation Nato alliance is also not backing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which is now part of international law and seen as a historic step to rid the world of its deadliest weapons.
House to trigger Donald Trump trial process on Monday
By Yashwant Raj
PUBLISHED ON JAN 23, 2021 06:04 AM IST
The trial will take place as the Senate is in the conformation process for President Joe Biden’s cabinet members.
Covid-19 new variant causes higher mortality, says UK PM Boris Johnson
PUBLISHED ON JAN 23, 2021 06:01 AM IST
“We’ve been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly, it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant - the variant that was first discovered in London and the southeast (of England) - may be associated with a higher degree of mortality,” he told a news briefing.
'Want to feel safe again': Americans lament slow pace of Covid vaccine rollout
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON JAN 23, 2021 06:00 AM IST
The United States is the nation hardest-hit by Covid-19, with 24.51 million cases and 409,987 deaths by early Friday morning. More than 4,000 Americans died of the disease on Thursday for the second day in a row.
Trump impeachment trial to begin in Senate week of Feb 8: Chuck Schumer
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON JAN 23, 2021 05:55 AM IST
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the trial could begin as soon as Feb. 9 - a Tuesday - and that McConnell was pleased Democrats had given Trump's defense more time.
SpaceX plans to drill for natural gas near Texas launchpad
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON JAN 23, 2021 05:49 AM IST
The billionaire’s SpaceX intends to drill wells close to the company’s Boca Chica launchpad, it was revealed during a Friday hearing before the Railroad Commission of Texas, the state’s energy regulator.
Lawmakers angered as US troops guarding Capitol forced to sleep in garage
AFP, Washington
PUBLISHED ON JAN 23, 2021 05:40 AM IST
- Some members of Congress, noting that many of the troops came from their home states, voiced outrage.
Biden warns Covid-19 toll can cross 600,000, urges Congress to pass rescue plan
AFP, Washington
PUBLISHED ON JAN 23, 2021 05:13 AM IST
- Biden added that he was looking forward to working with both parties in Congress to "move quickly" on getting people help through his rescue plan.
First Lady Jill Biden thanks National Guard members with chocolate chip cookies
AP, Washington
PUBLISHED ON JAN 23, 2021 04:34 AM IST
“I just want to say thank you from President Biden and the whole, the entire Biden family,” she told a group of Guard members at the Capitol
Donald Trump impeachment headed to Senate, triggering trial
AP, Washington
PUBLISHED ON JAN 23, 2021 04:30 AM IST
Unlike any in history, Trump's impeachment trial would be the first of a U.S. president no longer in office, an undertaking that his Senate Republican allies argue is pointless, and potentially even unconstitutional.
Spain discarding thousands of Pfizer vaccine doses for lack of right syringes
ANI, Madrid
PUBLISHED ON JAN 23, 2021 12:14 AM IST
The EU medicines regulator said in a guidance update on January 8 that low dead-volume syringes and needles with more effective space than standards ones must be used to get full six doses.
Number of US hospitals and beds dwindled before ‘catastrophic’ pandemic
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 11:09 PM IST
Research issued late Thursday by the American Hospital Association shows the number of facilities dropped to 6,090 in 2019 -- the most recent year data were available -- from 6,146 the previous year.
Janet Yellen wins unanimous Senate panel vote for US Treasury
Reuters, Washington
UPDATED ON JAN 22, 2021 11:08 PM IST
- A full confirmation vote just days after Biden took office would put the 74-year-old PhD economist quickly to work on a deep economic crisis sparked by the coronavirus pandemic. She broke a similar gender barrier when she became Fed chair in 2014, a role she held until 2018.