Panel reviews security measures on western coast

September 26th, 2009 KOCHI - Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Saturday called for the central government to take up the security of the coasts. "The need of the hour is that the centre should take up the security of the coast.

September 16th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A day after stones were pelted at a train in which Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi was travelling, the Congress Wednesday said security of leaders under protection of the Special Protection Group (SPG) was important along with austerity measures. We are committed to the austerity measures, but in such incidents, the security issues should be kept in mind and security of SPG protectees is of paramount importance, Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters.

September 14th, 2009 Cyber criminals targeting small businessesWASHINGTON — Cyber criminals are increasingly targeting small and medium-sized businesses that don't have the resources to keep updating their computer security, according to federal authorities. Many of the attacks are being waged by organized cyber groups that are based abroad, and they are able to steal not only credit card numbers, but personal information — including Social Security numbers — of the card holders, said Michael Merritt, assistant director of the U.S.

September 11th, 2009 Intercepted Coast Guard message led to confusionWASHINGTON — The Coast Guard says radio communications for a routine training exercise in Washington were overheard by the public, leading to news reports and confusion amid Friday's commemorations of the Sept. 11 anniversary.

September 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Air Marshal N.A.K. Browne, who heads the Indian Air Force's (IAF) western command, Wednesday visited the Chandigarh air force station to review the operational and training preparedness, officials said.

August 14th, 2009 TORONTO - Canada will deploy 'behaviour detection officers' at its airports soon to spot terrorists and criminals. These officers in plainclothes will watch air passengers for physiological or bodily hints of any hostile intent in their behaviour as they pass through concourses and departure lounges.

August 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday chaired a high-level meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) to discuss the situation arising out of intelligence alerts over possible terror threats from the sea route. He also laid emphasis on coastal security and curbing infiltration in the northeast to strengthen the country's security.

July 29th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - A two-day drill spearheaded by the Indian Navy started off the Orissa coast Wednesday to assess the effectiveness of coastal security, an official said. The state police, Central Industrial Security Force, port, custom and fisheries officials and private security agencies posted at the ports and industrial establishments are also taking part in the drill.

July 10th, 2009 MUMBAI - Security was beefed up at several key stations here Friday following intelligence alerts of a probable attack on the eve of the third anniversary of the 7/11 terror blasts. "Security measures were intensified Thursday at Churchgate, the Western Railway headquarters and Andheri," a railway official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

July 1st, 2009 GANDHINAGAR - All 41 major and minor ports along Gujarat's 1,600-km coastline have been put on high alert following an Intelligence Bureau (IB) alert that terrorists could target maritime facilities on India's west coast. "All the key ports along Gujarat's coast at Kandla, Mundra and Pipavav were already on high alert after the Mumbai terror attack (of Nov 26) but now even the smaller ports have been put under heavy security cover," a senior Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) official said here Wednesday.

June 25th, 2009 House passes $44B Homeland Security spending billWASHINGTON — The House passed a $44 billion spending bill Wednesday that awards the Homeland Security Department a 7 percent budget increase, with money for more border patrol agents and for anti-piracy efforts off the coast of Somalia. As part of a GOP campaign against President Barack Obama's order to close the U.S.

June 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India Thursday set up a high level committee to review coastal security measures at regular intervals, with Defence Minister A.K. Antony asking the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard to optimally deploy their assets to enhance surveillance in the wake of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

June 16th, 2009 SRINAGAR - Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday, a day after the annual Amarnath pilgrimage began despite inclement weather. "Kapoor reviewed the over all security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the arrangements for smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra (pilgrimage)," said a defence ministry official.

June 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Post the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the Indian Navy is taking tips from the French, the Australians and the Israelis to ramp up coastal security in the country without infringing the rights of people, a top official said. With the attacks bringing to the fore the lacunae in the security of India's 7,516-km shoreline and the overlap of multiple enforcement agencies for coastal security, the navy is all set to take a leaf out of the 200-year-old French coastal security system.

May 29th, 2009 SEOUL - North Korea warned the UN Security Council Friday that it would take "further self-defence measures" if the council imposed more sanctions on it for this week's nuclear test as media reports said it fired another short-range missile. North Korea denounced the Security Council, which includes Pyongyang's traditional allies China and Russia, for its unanimous condemnation of Monday's atomic test, North Korea's second after an initial test in 2006.