Month: September 2009

Second micro insurance product launched by LIC

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Chennai, September 03: The Life Insurance Corporation of India today launched it’s second micro insurance product – ‘Jeevan Mangal’ aimed at lower income groups, as well as those living in remote rural areas.

“This policy, a term assurance plan with return of premiums paid on maturity, will be sold only by Self Help Group (SHG) and NGOs”, LIC Zonal (South) Manager V K Sharma told reporters here.

“We have set a target of selling a minimum of five lakh policies during the first year”, he added.

Pregnant woman dies of swine flu in Gujarat

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Ahmedabad, September 03: A 23-year-old pregnant woman succumbed to swine flu at the SSG hospital in Vadodara, taking the death toll in the state to nine, health department officials said today.

“Twenty-three years old Bhavya Dave, who was seven months pregnant, died at SSG hospital in Vadodara last night. She had tested positive for swine flu,” Principal Secretary(health) Ravi Saxena said.

The woman had been admitted in the hospital on August 29, he said.

“The victim had complained of cough, sore throat, high temperature and increased breathlessness,” he said.

Arunachal CM mourns death of Khandu

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Itanagar, September 03: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu today mourned the death of his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash.

In a personal letter addressed to the wife of Rajashekhara Reddy, Khandu conveyed his heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family.

‘We have been jolted by the shocking news of his demise, and in his demise we have lost a Good Samaritan. Calling the loss of YSR’s life irreparable,’ Khandu said it has left Andhra Pradesh poor and the Congress party poorer.

One new swine flu case reported in UP

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Lucknow, September 03: With one new case of swine flu reported from Uttar Pradesh, the number of people infected has gone up to 126 in the state, official sources said here.

“With one new case being tested positive, the number of patients affected by swine flu has gone up to 126,” health department officials said here.

The condition of the patient is stable and a team of doctor is attending him, they said.

Indians benefited from late entry penalty rule, beat Russia

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China, September 03: The Indian eves benefited from a late entry penalty rule to beat Russia 2.5-1.5 in the second round of the World Women Team Chess championship here.

The Indians were helped by the Zero Tolerance rule on the fourth board as Russian Gunina Valentina was a bit late to enter the tournament hall for her game against Mary Ann Gomes.

As per the latest rules the players have to be seated on their respective chairs when the games start. While Gunina was at the gate of the tournament hall, she was declared lost.

Seven naxalites overpowered in encounter; surrender

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Jharkhand, September 03: Seven naxalites today arrested after the police overpowered them in an encounter in Garhwa district’s Matoli village, the district police chief said.

“During the two-hour gun-battle with the naxalites of the Trititya Prastui Committee (TPC), 200 rounds were fired from both the sides. There was no casualty on neither side,” the Superintendent of Police, Saket Kumar Singh, told newsmen here.

Getting a tip-off that a group of TPC activists had congregated near the village, the police team rushed to the spot around 4 pm, triggering the exchange of gunfire.

Court summons George in model code case

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Muzaffarpur, September 03: A Bihar court today summoned JD(U) Rajya Sabha member George Fernandes to appear before it on November 3 next to explain his position in connection with a case related to violation of model code of elections.

First Class Judicial Magistrate R K Bharti issued the order following a chargesheet submitted by the police in this connection.

Tata Motors declares bonus

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Jamshedpur, September 03: A leading automobile company Tata Motors today declared 15.27 per cent annual bonus for the accounting year 2008-09 after an agreement was signed with Telco workers union (TWU) in this regard here.

As per the agreement, the minimum bonus payable was Rs.22,652/- and maximum Rs.26.958, according to a press release issued by Capt. P J Singh, spokesman of Tata Motors Limited.

Akhil loses, Jai Bhagwan wins opener at World C’ship

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New Delhi, September 03: A recurring wrist injury marred Olympian Akhil Kumar’s feather weight debut as he lost to Dominican Republic’s Roberto Navarro Gonzalez but Jai Bhagwan brought some cheer to the Indian camp by winning his light weight opener in World Boxing Championships in Milan, Italy today.

The seventh seeded Akhil went down 2-16 to become the fourth Indian to make a first-round exit from the mega-event.

However, late last night, Asian silver medallist Jai Bhagwan outpunched Venezuela’s Angel Rodrigues 10-4 to bring the first cheer in the Indian camp.

Seminar on ‘technology and food security’ in Hyd tomorrow

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Hyderabad, September 03: A seminar with a session on ‘Role of Technology In Ensuring Food Security’ will be organised at Hotel Taj Krishna, tomorrow.

The session will also highlight the potential and benefits that plant sciences and agri biotechnology can deliver. The seminar will also deliberate on solutions that may address the issue of food insecurity in developing countries including India, a press release issued here said.

Power dues from industries

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Puducherry, September 03: A total of Rs 69.86 crore remained as outstanding as on this March 31 from 1460 industries to the Department of Electricity for consumption of power.

Should industries continue to default in payment of the dues within the time limit fixed for them, the government would disconnect the power,an official source claimed.

—Agencies

Student drowns at college swimming pool

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Noida, September 03: A B.Tech first year student of Amity College today drowned in the college swimming pool this morning. He was rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The deceased was identified as Justin John Xavier and was a resident of Kerala and till late evening police was awaiting his relatives to come to Noida.

College Director V P Sandlas said Justin had gone to swimming pool today morning as usual and suddenly fell unconscious.

He was pulled out by life guards posted at swimming pool and rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Sanjay Dutt: ‘Dolphins’ are breathtaking actors

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Mumbai, September 03: Well, now Bollywood seems to have turned animal lover as the most awaited movie “Blue”, director Anthony D’Souza shot a song that has been composed by the music maestro “AR Rahman” with “Sanjay Dutt” and “Lara Dutta”.

What really makes this song out of the world is that it has been shot on the couple playing with mammal dolphins in all their stately magnificence, in Bimini Islands.

Intel considers replicating Flood IT revolution in 2-3 states

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Ahmedabad, September 03: Information Technology company Intel is considering replicating the model of ‘Flood IT Knowledge Revolution’ launched in Gujarat this year, for sales promotion in other states as well, a top company official said today.

“We are in talks with two-three states, other than Gujarat, for launching Flood IT revolution,” Vice President and General Manager Asia Pacific Intel Navin Shenoy told PTI.

Flood IT revolution was launched on a pilot project basis in the state and the response has been incredible so far, Shenoy said.

Oman delegation calls on Narendra Modi

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Ahmedabad, September 03: A nine-member delegation led by Maqbool Ali Sultan, Industries and Commerce Minister of Oman, called on the Chief Minister Narendra Modi today to discuss ways to increase partnership between Gujarat and Oman in trade and commerce.

The delegation discussed various issues related to trade, commerce, industry and exports during their meeting with the Chief Minister, an official release said today.

During the vibrant Gujarat investors’ summit in last January, Oman had signed an MoU with the Gujarat government for a port project in the state.

Rajasthan to get potable water from desalination plant

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Ahmedabad, September 03: Based on an indigenous solution of a Gujarat-based institute, a desalination plant in Nagor district of Rajasthan is set to supply 14 million litres of potable water per day to the desert state from November, an official said today.

Bhavnagar-based Central Salt & Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) has used membrane technology in the reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plant.

Maha assembly polls: BSP to contest all 288 seats

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Nagpur, September 03: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has decided to contest all 288 seats for the forthcoming assembly elections scheduled to be held on October 13 on its own.

“As per the directives of party President Mayawati, we will fight alone in state assembly elections on all the 288 seats,” BSP General Secretary and incharge of party affairs in Maharashtra, Vir Singh, MP, said today.

BSP has maintained its upward graph and thus party has decided to fight alone and create a situation where no party is in a position to form the government without its support, Singh told reporters.

2 drown in Godavari river during Ganesh immersion

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Nashik, September 03: Two youths drowned in the river Godavari near Someshwar where they had gone for Ganesh immersion, police said.

The two youths were identified as Pappu Dashrath Mhase (21) and Mangesh Maruti Gidhad (17), police added.

—Agencies

BJP MP remanded in police custody

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Azamgarh, September 03: BJP MP from Azamgarh Ramakant Yadav, an accused in murder and attempt to murder cases, will be kept in police custody for 12 hours tomorrow, following an order by a district court.

Arrested on August 25, Yadav was produced today before Chief Judicial Magistrate Satyanant Upadhyay, who while admitting an application moved by police, allowed his remand from 8 am to 8 pm tomorrow.

US concerns of Khan posing proliferation risk ‘baseless’: Pak

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Islamabad, September 03: Pakistan today dismissed US concerns about disgraced nuclear scientist A Q Khan posing a proliferation risk as “baseless”.

Though Khan’s case is “sub-judice”, concerns expressed by the US regarding nuclear proliferation are “uncalled for and baseless,” Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told a weekly news briefing.

Vice-chancellor slapped with contempt notice

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Allahabad, September 03: The Allahabad High Court today issued a notice to the Vice-Chancellor of Chhatrapati Shauji Maharaj University in Kanpur on a contempt petition and asked him to appear in person on September 15.

The order was passed by Justice Sabhajeet Yadav on the contempt petition of Pawan Kumar and others who had alleged non-compliance of an earlier judgement dated November 07, 2008.

Rivers swell again in UP as rains pour

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Lucknow, September 03: After receding for two days, major rivers have started swelling again in some districts of Uttar Pradesh after heavy rainfall lashed several parts of the state.

According to a report from Central Water Commission, Ramganga river was rising in Kalagarh in Bijnore district and Bareilly, whereas Yamuna was swelling in Auraiya.

Water level in Betwa river rose in Mohana in Jalaun, as Gomti river swelled in Jaunpur and Ghaghra at Katarniya Ghat in Bahraich, the report said.

Toshiba plans for Eco-friendly hard drives: 640GB, 500GB, 320GB, 250GB and 160GB

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Washington, September 03: Toshiba is known for its storage devices in the market from a long time but this time Toshiba has planned for 640GB storing capacity hard drive.

Toshiba new 640GB hard drive is portable in size as it is about 2.5inches in size which works at 5,400RPM.

This hard drive would be a helpful step for the users because of its storing capacity, size, data transfer speed, lower power consumption, eco-friendly.

This new series of hard drive launched is also offered in different storing capacity of 640GB, 500GB, 320GB, 250GB and 160GB.

CM for including crop protector from wild animals under NREGA

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Shimla, September 03: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today urged the Centre to evolve a measure to protect crops from menace of wild life under the ambit of NREGA.

Dhumal raised the issue while talking to Union Rural Development minister CP Joshi in New Delhi, an official release here said.

Farmers in HP were suffering losses worth crores due to damage caused to their crops by wild animals especially monkeys, he said and urged that a chowkidar or crop protector could be engaged to safeguard the produce under NREGA.

Chanda, Panchanathan among five share the lead

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Kolkata, September 03: Local GM Sandipan Chanda and GM Magesh Chandran Panchanathan shot into the lead along with three other GMs after third round of the fourth Kolkata Open Grandmaster Chess Tournament at Gorky Sadan here today.

GM Nigel Short of England, GM Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan and GM Enamul Hossain of Bangladesh were the other leaders.

Chanda used his white pieces effectively to crush GM Rustam Khusnutdinov in a Queens Gambit accepted game.

The Indian won his opponent’s queen for a rook and a minor piece and used his material advantage to eventually pocket the full point.