Mobile alert Cellular companies in Pakistan have turned a deaf ear to the Sindh government's April 5 directive seeking them to shift base stations' antennas and mobile phone towers outside residential areas in Karachi in view of radiation threats. The companies say they are bound only by Pakistan Telecom-munication Authority's guidelines. There are 317 towers in the 15-million city of Karachi. "The cabinet had instructed the ministry of it to take steps to minimise impacts of base station proliferation,' says Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, it minister. Leghari said a detailed research study has been conducted to take stock of the situation.


Sethu project The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the centre of trying to destroy evidence of the ancient Ram Sethu in the Sethusamudram project. The issue rocked parliament on May 3.Shipping minister T R Baalu objected to the issue being raised in the house saying the matter was sub-judice since the Allahabad High Court is looking into it. The Rs 2,427-crore ship channel project envisages dredging of 167-km channel along the Palk Strait, Palk Bay and Adams Bridge to connect Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka.
US demand A group of key US congressional supporters in a letter to prime minister Manmohan Singh warned of grave concern that India's ties with Iran have the potential to significantly harm prospects for the nuclear deal reached in 2005. The letter was signed by the Democratic and Republican leaders. It comes a day after foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon ruled out reports of closer military cooperation with Iran. "We must stress that the subject of India's strengthening relationship with Iran will inevitably be a factor when Congress votes on the final language of the nuclear agreement' says the letter.