Vienna  - India's quest for foreign supplies for its nuclear power programme entered a new stage on Thursday, as nuclear-exporting countries gathered in Vienna to discuss an exemption from their rules to allow trade with India.

Several of the 45 members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which sets international export control standards, are expected to propose in their meeting that the group clearly define which conditions India has to meet if it wants to access to international nuclear materials and technology.

Under its 2005 nuclear agreement with India, the United States pledged to lobby NSG members for a trade exemption, while India made several non-proliferation commitments.

Washington, Aug 21 : The Bush Administration officials believe that an agreement on providing waiver to India will not be reached in the Nuclear Suppliers Group meeting today, as the American proposal to exempt India from restriction on nuclear trade has aroused scepticism from several members of the 45-nation NSG.

American diplomats said on Wednesday that it is unlikely that a deal will be reached in two-day meetings that begin today in Vienna. Instead, they said, a second NSG meeting probably will need to be held next month, leaving little time for final approval by the US Congress in September session.

The oil marketing companies (OMCs) on Tuesday were firmly instructed by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry to clear the waiting list of new domestic LPG connections within 2 months (60 days) and restore the normal supply of all kinds of fuels across country.

Murli Deora, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, while chairing the review meeting of the OMCs said, “The supply and distribution of essential petroleum products should be restored to the normal position. Adequate supplies must be ensured in the coming festive season.”

Amethi, Aug 21 : AICC General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP from Amethi Rahul Gandhi will arrive here today for a three-day visit.

During his visit, Rahul is scheduled to review the progress of various developmental schemes launched by him in the past.

He will also attend a meeting of the district vigilance and monitoring committee in Sultanpur, and interact with people in villages.

On Friday, he will inaugurate a Sanskrit Vidyalaya in Tikarmafi and lay the foundation of various roads to be built at a cost of Rs 10 crore at Bhadar.

New Delhi, Aug 20 : Delhi government is planning to phase out ten-year-old commercial vehicles within the next two years from the national capital roads.

The state government has recently issued a draft notification according to which all ten-year-old commercial vehicles plying on Delhi roads as well as those going in and out of the NCR region will be banned.

Jammu, August 20 : Hindu activists demanding restoration of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) went on rampage in parts of Jammu on Wednesday.

Authorities in Jammu region and Kashmir valley in the State re-imposed curfew today following violent protests in various parts on Tuesday evening.

Defying curfew protesters clashed with security personnel, seized vehicles and set them on fire. A police post in Janipur area of the city was rampaged and then set ablaze.

A private car of a leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was also burned by the protesters.