People's Democracy

On File

DELHI appears to have earned the dubious distinction of the Rape Capital   of country.

With more than 600 rapes in year 2005, the Capital  s record in protecting women is dismal in comparison to other cities like Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata. Moreover, in 2005, the Capital breached its own record of maximum rapes in a year.

In year 2004, 551 cases of rapes were reported in Delhi which was maximum in a year in any metro. Moreover, in 35 cases, the victim was gangraped, while in 2004, 21 cases of gangrapes were reported&&

The law and order situation in the Capital has deteriorated since 2001 when 401 cases of rape were reported. The situation was somewhat similar in the year 2002 when 403 cases of rape were reported.

In 2003, reported rape cases crossed all the heights and touched 490. In 2004, the rape cases touched an all time high of 551 and this figure was surpassed this year by October end.

— The Statesman, January 2

THE country's current account deficit has widened to 7.66 billion dollars in the quarter ended September 30, 2005, from 3.5 billion dollars in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal, according to the Reserve Bank of India.

The trade deficit for the quarter under question widened to 16.21 billion dollars from 9.63 billion dollars in the corresponding period the previous year. Strong import demand led to steady expansion in trade deficit, said a statement from the central bank. Imports accounted for 38.97 billion dollars during the quarter, while exports amounted to 22.77 billion dollars&..

For the first half of the fiscal, India  s current account deficit has been recorded at 12.956 billion dollars, compared to 485 million dollars in the same period last year.

— Business Line, December 31

INDIA  s external debt increased by 1.8 per cent (2.2 billion dollars) to 124.30 billion dollars in the first six months of the current financial. According to a government notification, the main reasons for the rise in debt were external commercial borrowings (ECBs) by domestic companies and increase in the trade credit for oil and non-oil imports.

Long-term debt increased by 1.2 billion dollars to 116 billion dollars due to spurt in ECBs, which went up from 27.14 billion dollars in March to 28.52 billion dollars by September

— The Times of India, December 31

FIDEL Castro and Bolivian president-elect Evo Morales say cooperation between their countries will bloom despite US worries about more nations allying with communist Cuba and a growing leftward tilt in Latin American politics.

Morales on Saturday (December 31) ended a visit to Cuba that lasted less than 24 hours but underscored his desire to boost ties with Castro and other left-leaning leaders in the region.

During the visit the two men announced a 30-month plan to erase illiteracy in the South American nation as Cuba moves to increase hemispheric cooperation without US influence.

Cuba also agreed to offer free eye operations to up to 50,000 needy Bolivians with vision problems, as well as 5,000 full scholarships for young Bolivians to study medicine on the island.

— The Times of India, January 2