Month: December 2009

Central team meets West Bengal Chief Secretary

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Kolkata, December 01: A three-member Union Home Ministry team, now in West Bengal on a fact-finding mission on recurring political clashes, began a meeting with the state chief secretary Tuesday.

The team, led by union Additional Secretary (home) D.R.S. Chowdhary, began discussions with the state’s top bureaucrat Ashok Mohan Chakraborty to find ways to put an end to political clashes.

The team is scheduled to visit some hotspots in East Midnapore, Burdwan and Hooghly districts before returning to Delhi Wednesday.

—IANS–

Brain cells rewire to memorise new tasks

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Washington, Dec 01: Brain cells memorise a new task by rewiring themselves as soon as it is performed, says a new study.

University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) researchers made detailed observations of the rewiring processes that take place in the brain following an activity.

They studied mice trained to reach through a slot to get a seed. They observed rapid growth of structures that form connections (called synapses) between nerve cells in motor cortex, the brain layer that controls muscle movements.

Sonia pulls up MPs skipping Question Hour

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New Delhi, December 01: Upset over her colleagues’ repeated failures to turn up during important parliamentary proceedings, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday sought a full list of MPs who skipped the Question Hour in Lok Sabha a day earlier.

According to reports, the development comes a day after Parliament proceedings in the Lok Sabha had to be abandoned with as many as 34 members, with questions listed against their names, failed to register their presence in the House.

SC moves appeal before itself on judges appointment issue

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New Delhi, December 01: The Supreme Court has moved before itself a petition challenging the order of Chief Information Commissioner directing it to make public information pertaining to appointment of three judges to the apex court superseding seniors judges.

The apex court also challenged another CIC’s order which had directed disclosure of communication between Chief Justice of India and Justice Raghupathy of Madras High Court on alleged interference by a union minister in a sub-judice matter.

Less educated, youth unable to control anger

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Toronto, Dec 01: Younger people, those with children and less-educated individuals are more likely to experience anger, according to new research.

Compared to people with fewer years of education, the well-educated are less likely to experience anger and, when they do, they are more likely to act proactively (trying to change the situation or talking it over).

Drawing upon a national survey of more than 1,000 Americans aged 18 and older, Scott Schieman, sociology professor at the University of Toronto (UT), has come up with new findings about the most common negative emotion – anger.

RBI Reference rate for US dollar and Euro

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Mumbai, Dec 01: The Reserve Bank of India today fixed the Reference rate for the US currency at Rs 46.45 per dollar and the single European unit at Rs 69.68 per euro from Rs 46.48 per dollar and Rs 69.99 per euro, respectively yesterday.

In a note issued here by the apex bank, the exchange rates of Great Britain”s Pound and Japanese Yen against the Rupee have been given as Rs 76.2454 per pound and Rs 53.13 per 100 yen, respectively, based on the Reference rate for US dollar and middle rates of the cross currency quotes at noon.

Canada now eyes India as partner in global nuclear market

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Toronto, Dec 01: Welcoming the nuclear agreement with India, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), the country’s top nuclear regulatory body, said Monday it now views India not merely as a new market but also as a global partner in nuclear energy technology.

AECL said the agreement will renew its cooperation with India after more than three decades of the Canadian embargo on India after its 1974 nuclear test.

‘The nuclear agreement means a great deal for us,” AECL vice president (marketing) Ala Alizadeh told.

China says talks best way to solve Iran nuclear issue

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Kathmandu, December 01: Talks remain the best way to solve the Iran nuclear issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Tuesday, after Iran announced plans to expand uranium enrichment in defiance of international pressure.

Iran announced plans on Sunday to build 10 new uranium enrichment plants in a big expansion of its atomic programme, two days after the U.N. nuclear watchdog rebuked it for carrying out such work in secret.

Qin also urged all sides to “intensify diplomatic efforts seeking a resolution.”

Govt will sell upto 10 pct in state firms now – Pranab Mukherjee

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New Delhi, December 01: The government will not sell more than 10-percent stake in listed state-run firms “at this stage,” Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told parliament on Tuesday.

The government had in November decided to cap its holdings in such firms at 90 percent and said would sell off shares in the firms where this limit was exceeded.

—Agencies

Iran nuke plans largely bluster, experts say

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Tehran, December 01: Iran’s announcement of plans to build 10 more uranium enrichment facilities is largely bluster after a strong rebuke from the U.N.’s nuclear agency, analysts said Monday. Nonetheless, the defiance is fueling calls among Western allies for new punitive sanctions to freeze Iran’s nuclear program.

Maoist killed, seven arrested in Chhattisgarh

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Raipur, December 01: A Maoist was killed and seven rebels arrested after a gun battle with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district Friday, officials said.

A team of paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police exchanged gunfire with Maoists at Hiroli in Dantewada district in which one rebel was gunned down and seven arrested, Dantewada’s Superintendent of Police Amresh Mishra told IANS over phone.

Hiroli is located about 400 km south of state capital Raipur.

Somali pirates seize Greek vessel with 28 people aboard

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Manila, Dec 01: Somali pirates have seized a Greek vessel with 28 people aboard, including 16 Filipinos, the foreign department here said Tuesday.

The MT Maran Centaurus was hijacked Monday about 750 nautical miles off the coast of the strife-torn country. Aside from the 16 Filipinos, the crew also includes nine Greeks, two Ukrainians and one Romanian.

The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs said 70 Filipino seafarers are currently in captivity in Somalia aboard six hijacked vessels.

–Agencies

Govt will sell upto 10 pct in state firms now

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The government will not sell more than 10-percent stake in listed state-run firms “at this stage,” Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told parliament on Tuesday.

The government had in November decided to cap its holdings in such firms at 90 percent and said would sell off shares in the firms where this limit was exceeded.

–Agencies

TRS chief claims he is continuing fast in hospital

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Hyderabad, December 01: A day after abruptly ending his “fast unto death”, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K. Chandrasekhara Rao Tuesday claimed he was continuing the hunger strike at a hospital in Andhra Pradesh’s Khammam town.

Facing the ire of people fighting for a separate state of Telangana, Rao alleged that he was forcibly administered a saline drip at the government-run hospital and that he had not taken any thing since Monday night.

Cong takes serious note of absence of MPs in Parliament

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New Delhi, December 01: A day after proceedings in the Lok Sabha collapsed due to absence of as many as 34 members who had listed questions, Congress today said it has taken serious note of the issue and the Chief Whip of the party will ask members about it.

“We have taken a serious note (of the issue) and we would talk to the MPs,” a party leader said.

“The Chief Whip will ask about it,” AICC Secretary Rajeev Shukla told reporters outside Parliament House.

Maoists end Jharkhand shut-down with violence

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Jharkhand, Dec 01: Maoists shot at and injured two persons, blew up a culvert and burnt down four vehicles at Chatra as they ended their two-day Jharkhand shutdown.

The Maoists opened fire on a truck injuring the driver and his helper at Bhuiandih in Chatra district a little before their shut-down ended last night, Superintendent of Police, D B Sharma, said here today.

The ultras also used explosives to blow up a culvert in the same village, disrupting traffic on the Chatra-Gaya route, besides setting ablaze four vehicles.

Block head’s properties seized

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Lucknow, December 01: Properties of a block head, stated to be closely associated with controversial independent MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, have been seized by Pratapgarh district administration, official sources said here today.

The district administration yesterday seized properties of the block head of Sadar, Raj Kumar Singh, that included a hotel, bar and restaurant, Cement factory and brick klins, after an inquiry by the district police chief.

Sir Ben Kingsley will not direct ‘Taj’

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Panaji, December 01: Academy award winner Hollywood actor Sir Ben Kingsley has said that he will not helm his next movie ‘Taj’ as he finds direction a very difficult job.

“We have not yet decided the director for the film. The script has arrived four days ago. It’s a new script. I would not like to direct. I find it very difficult,” Kingsley told reporters here at International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2009.

Kingsley, who shot to fame with his role in Richard Attenborough’s Film ‘Gandhi’, is in Goa to take part in IFFI, which began on November 23.

Long, bitter debate ahead for health care bill

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Washington, December 01: Democrats called it a historic opportunity. Republicans called it a sham.

Long-awaited debate over President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul kicked off in the Senate with lawmakers trading bitter partisan words over the measure to remake one-sixth of the U.S. economy.

The legislative struggle is expected to last for weeks in a test that pits Republican senators determined not to give ground against Senate Democrats determined to deliver on Obama’s top domestic policy priority.

Knowledge of Telugu is always beneficial: Zahid Ali Khan

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Hyderabad, December 01 (Siasat News): “Telugu is the official language of the state and it is must that every student should learn this language. Even for English and Urdu medium SSC students, Telugu language paper is conducted as compulsory in the second language category. This is why Siasat has taken every effort to get the SSC Telugu question bank published and made it a point to distribute the same free.”

These were the words of editor Siasat and TDP politburo member Mr. Zahid Ali Khan while inaugurating the release of the question bank.

Former Jharkhand Minister sent to judicial custody

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Ranchi, December 01: A special vigilance court today sent former Jharkhand minister and NCP leader Kamlesh Singh to 14 days judicial custody in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

Singh, who was arrested at Hussainabad in Palamau district by the vigilance police yesterday, was produced before the court of Binoy Kant Khan.

The court, however, granted his plea to allow him to file nomination papers from Hussainabad assembly seat as today is the last day to file the papers.

The court directed him to return soon after filing the papers.

Najam Sethi presented ‘Golden Pen of Freedom’ award

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Hyderabad, December 01: Eminent Pakistani journalist Najam Sethi, who faces a severe threat to his life from Taliban and has been a subject of his government’s persecution, was today presented the “Golden Pen of Freedom” award by the World Editors’ Forum (WEF) in recognition of his fearless writings.

Pak SC to reconsider amnesty granted to Zaradari as NRO lapses

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Islamabad, December 01: Adding to woes of President Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan’s Supreme Court is expected to take up next week legal challenges to the amnesty granted to him and thousands of other people in graft cases under a controversial law which lapsed three days back.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry is likely to constitute a special bench of the apex court next week to decide the fate of the people granted amnesty under the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

Collective efforts needed to check spread of HIV: Sonia

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New Delhi, December 01: Underlining the importance of collective efforts by various government departments to check the spread of HIV, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said controlling the virus was high on the priority of the government.

“The disease needs collective efforts and understanding of all our people to contain it from spreading.

Obama calls up Manmohan, discusses Afghanistan, climate change

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Washington, December 01: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and discussed with him the situation in Afghanistan and further steps required to bring peace and stability in the country.

During the “brief conversation”, the two leaders also discussed the forthcoming summit on climate change in Copenhagen, the Prime Minister’s Office said here.

Dr. Singh told Mr. Obama that India would play a constructive role in the negotiations and looked forward to a successful outcome in Copenhagen.