New York (SATimes) India’s growing influence in the UN is being acknowledged by each passing year in all quarters and its place in the Security Council may take time but is only a formality, said UN Chef de Cabinet Vijay Nambiar.

New York (SATimes): “India is one of the most attractive destinations for investment irrespective of what the World Bank or any other financial bodies say about India,” said Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
“Do not go by any reports as the ground realities in India were different from what is being projected in the West.

Dharamsala, July 4 (IANS) Thousands of Tibetan exiles are expected to assemble in this Himachal Pradesh town Monday for celebrations to mark the 74th birthday of their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

"Exiles, monks and well-wishers will join the birthday celebrations of His Holiness (the Dalai Lama) Monday. They will pray for the well-being and long life of their icon of peace and wisdom," Tenzin Taklha, joint secretary at the Dalai Lama's office, told IANS.

Yangon, July 3 (DPA) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Myanmar Friday for a two-day official visit during which he will press for the release of all political prisoners including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ban and his entourage arrived at Yangon International Airport, stopping over briefly in the old capital before flying on to the junta's new headquarters in Naypyitaw, 350 km north of Yangon.

Tokyo/New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) India and Japan, the only country to have been attacked by atomic bombs, Friday decided to work together for an early conclusion of the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) and to fast-track negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, who began his two-day visit to Tokyo Friday, held the third annual strategic dialogue with his Japanese counterpart Hirofumi Nakasone on a wide array of bilateral issues, including the boosting economic and commercial ties.

St. Lucia (Gros Islet), July 4 (IANS) Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni played another responsible knock of 46 not out as India took an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the series, winning the third One-day international by six wickets according to the Duckworth-Lewis (DL) Method with just one ball to spare here on a rain-marred Friday.

India capitalised on a good start by openers Dinesh Karthik (47) and Gautam Gambhir (44) and Man of the Match Dhoni played a composed innings off 34 balls as the visitors achieved the rain revised target of 159 in 22 overs at the Beausejour Stadium.

Washington, July 4 (IANS) 'New York', the first big Bollywood film to hit America after the industry strike, has won good reviews from US media with the New York Times praising its portrayal of problems faced by a Muslim minority.

"Indian films often deal with the problems faced by a Muslim minority. Transposed to the American context, those problems continue to resonate," writes the influential daily about the film that opened across US last week.

Chicago, July 4 (IANS) The governor of President Barack Obama's home state Illinois has expressed a desire to work together with India, saying the people of India are exceptionally important for America.

"We want to work together with India, the largest democracy, hand in hand culturally, economically and in other ways to benefit all," said Governor Pat Quinn, addressing the 17th annual convention of Telugu Association of North America (TANA) in Chicago.

Seoul, July 4 (DPA) North Korea fired three more missiles off its east coast, a day after it fired four short-range missiles, according to South Korean media reports early Saturday.

The missiles were apparently Scud rockets with a reach of 500 kilometres, the national news agency Yonhap reported, quoting government sources.

The rockets were fired from a launch pad near the port city of Wonsan over the Sea of Japan.

New York, July 4 (IANS) This happens in the world's oldest democracy as well. Two lawmakers, one accused of corruption and the other of slashing his girlfriend's face with a broken drinking glass, are at the centre of a bizarre 'parliamentary coup' that has paralysed the New York Senate for weeks, stalling action on critical bills.