Month: August 2010

Rs.2.31 lakh crore in 3 years for RTE: Pranab

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Kolkata, August 08: The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry would be allocated Rs 2.31 lakh crore over the next three years to establish infrastructure for implementing the Right to Education (RTE) law, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here Sunday.

“The HRD Minister (Kapil Sibal) has said Rs.2,31,000 crore will be required for implementing RTE in the next three years for appointment of teachers, setting up schools and building of infrastructure. I said the money will be provided,” he said at a seminar in the city.

‘HRD Ministry to get Rs 2.31 lakh crore over 3 years’

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Kolkata, August 08: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the Human Resource Development ministry would be allocated Rs 2.31 lakh crore over the next three years to set up infrastructure for implementing the Right to Education.

“The HRD minister has said that Rs 2,31,000 crore will be required for implementing RTE in the next three years for setting up schools, appointment of teachers and building of infrastructure. I said that the money will be provided,” Mukherjee said at a seminar here.

Kuwait not planning to ban BlackBerry, says minister

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Kuwait City, August 08: Kuwait said today it had no plans to ban some BlackBerry services over security concerns as neighbouring Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates are threatening to do.

“At the moment, I can tell you that there is no intention to stop BlackBerry services in Kuwait,” communications minister Mohammad al-Baseeri told reporters.

He said, however, that the oil-rich state was waiting for solutions to be provided by the Canadian maker of BlackBerry, Research in Motion, to answer the concerns of those governments.

RAF, KSRP commandos to be deployed in Bellary

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Bellary, August 08: Rapid Action Force personnel and Karnataka State Reserve Police commandos would be deployed here tomorrow in view of the culmination of the 16-day Congress rally, police said today.

“Six battalions of RAF and one battalion of KSRP commandos will assist the 5,500 strong security personnel drafted for security cover,” ADGP (Law and Order) A R Infant, who is monitoring security, told reporters here.

He said a bomb disposal squad has been kept at the disposal of security wing.

Govt fixes higher price for ONGC gas from new fields

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New Delhi, August 08: In a big boost to Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), the government has approved up to 25 per higher price for natural gas the state-owned firm may produce from new fields.

The oil ministry on June 28 issued guidelines for the price national oil companies like ONGC can charge for natural gas they produce from new fields in the blocks given to them on nomination basis, official sources said.

Godavari floods claim ten lives in Andhra Pradesh

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Hyderabad, August 08: As many as 10 people have died following floods in the Godavari in the past three days even as water level in the river continued to rise alarmingly, severely affecting normal life in nine districts, particularly Khammam and East Godavari districts, officials said today.

Eight deaths were reported in Warangal district while two were reported in Adilabad district, a senior official of the Disaster Management Department said.

Standing crop in over 30,000 hectares was damaged besides 271 cattle deaths were reported following heavy rains and floods, he said.

Venus, Mars, Saturn form triangle in sky!

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New Delhi, August 08: A celestial treat today greeted star gazers as three planets of the solar system formed a triangle in the sky.

“Venus, Mars and Saturn were seen forming a right-angle triangle in the night sky theatre,” Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE) Director Chander Bhushan Devgun told PTI.

The three planets formed a triangle with Saturn in the western horizon, he said.

Flat quota for senior citizens

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Chandigarh, August 08: After fixing the quota for women, the Haryana Housing Board will reserve two per cent flats for senior citizens.

People attaining the age of 60 can now avail two per cent reservation in allotment of flats, a Housing Board release said.

It said for the first time, 1.5 per cent reservation had been provided for accredited press correspondents.

The Board has already reserved 33 per cent flats and houses for women.

–Agencies

Bengal wins Santosh trophy after 11 years

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Kolkata, August 08: Kerala lad Denson Devadas struck twice as Bengal made a spectacular comeback to beat Punjab 2-1, ending their 11 years title drought in the 64th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy here today.

Punjab drew first blood with Balwant Singh finding the net at the 30th minute but Denson scored just at the stroke of the break (45+2nd) to draw parity and then sealed the match with a winner in the 78th minute.

Incessant rains in Guj, J-K; 4 killed

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New Delhi, August 08: Torrential rains struck Gujarat claiming four lives and disrupting rail and air traffic while most parts of north India, except Jammu and Kashmir, witnessed subdued rainfall activity today.

Heavy rains virtually brought Ahmedabad in Gujarat to a standstill as the city was lashed by 130 mm of overnight rains that marooned low-lying areas.

Four people were killed when a portion of a building collapsed at Dudeshwar area. Ten trains were cancelled and nine others got delayed as railway tracks were submerged.

Cong, Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam seen getting closer

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Hyderabad, August 08: In an indication of growing proximity between Congress and Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister K Rosaiah today welcomed the comments of the actor-turned-politician offering to support the ruling party.

“Congress party does not face any danger. Congress is in a stable position. If either Chiranjeevi or someone else are ready to support us, we don’t say no. It is good, of course,” Rosaiah told reporters in Prakasam district where he was touring.

PM to take action on alleged CWG bunglings: Khurshid

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Dehradun, August 08: The Prime Minister will take “appropriate action” on the issue of alleged financial irregularities in the Commonwealth Games projects, Union Minister Salman Khurshid said today.

“Our first priority is the smooth conduct of the Commonwealth Games. Let the games be finished, we are hopeful that the Prime Minister will take an appropriate action (on alleged financial irregularities),” Khurshid told reporters here on the sidelines of convocation of Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA).

Doctors not hospitals guilty in negligence deaths: Court

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New Delhi, August 08: If a patient dies due to medical negligence in a hospital then its management cannot be prosecuted and it is only the doctors who should be penalized, the Delhi High Court has ruled.

However, the court held that the management of the hospital would be liable in case of administrative negligence and failure to provide basic infrastructure to patients.

Russian spy wants fake life

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New York, August 08: A Russian secret agent sent home in a spy swap wants to leave and return with his wife to her native Peru, while continuing to live under the false name he used for 34 years.

A lawyer for the man formerly known as Juan Lazaro says her client wants to leave Russia. She says he doesn’t speak Russian, and wants to be “where his wife is going.”

Lazaro’s Russian name is Mikhail Vasenkov. His wife is Vicky Pelaez, a former columnist for a Spanish-language New York City newspaper. Both were accused of spying for Russia and deported in July in a spy swap.

Air India evacuates passengers stranded by Leh floods

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Srinagar, August 08: Over 500 people, including a Spanish tourist, were missing, two days after a cloudburst caused flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir’s Leh town, claiming at least 132 lives and leading to widespread destruction. Air India Sunday operated four flights to Leh town to evacuate stranded passengers, most of them foreigners.

Tragedy strikes sauna contest

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Helsinki, August 08: The two finalists in Finland’s annual World Sauna Championships were rushed to hospital before the competition ended on Saturday evening and the Russian contestant died, organisers said.

The “Russian competitor has died in (the) Sauna World Championships,” the head of the competition Ossi Arvela said in a statement.

He added that the Finnish finalist had been taken from the competition location in Heinola, 138km north of Helsinki, further south to a hospital in the larger city of Lahti for treatment.

Death toll rises to 43

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Basra, August 08: The death toll has risen to 43 from a spate of blasts in Iraq’s southern port city of Basra which officials said on Sunday were caused by bombs and not a power generator short circuit as first believed.

“We received 43 corpses, and 185 people have been wounded,” said Dr Riyadh Abdelamir, director of Basra province’s health department, adding that women and children were among the wounded in Saturday’s attacks.

Humans subconsciously mimic other accents

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London, August 08: Human brains imitate speech patterns of other people, even complete strangers, without meaning to due to an inbuilt urge of the brain to “affiliate” with them.

Researchers say humans want to “bond” with others, even when a voice cannot be heard or, somewhat embarrassingly, even if another person is a foreigner.

Scientists from the University of California at Riverside, found the subconscious copying of an accent comes from an inbuilt urge of the brain to “empathise and affiliate,” says a Telegraph report.

Boy’s fingertips cut off

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Johannesburg, August 08: A 17-year-old boy was found hanging with his body parts chopped off on Sunday in Mthatha, in what seemed to be a muti related killing, Eastern Cape police said.

“He was hung in his shack at Ntshele locality in Zimbane. The right side of his nose, ears and cheeks were also cut off,” Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said.

The boy was killed late on Saturday night and found by relatives on Sunday morning. He was living alone in the shack.

Fatyela said the boy’s fingertips were also snipped off.

Wanted man held in Bangladesh over 2003 London murders

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London, August 08: One of Scotland Yard’s most wanted men has been arrested in Bangladesh in connection with a double murder in 2003.

Police want to question Ayub Khan, 27, in connection with the murder of Amarjit Singh, 52, and his nephew Rajinder Singh, 35.

They were shot dead near the hotel they owned in Forest Gate, east London.

Mr Khan was detained as he was on his way to an airport in the capital Dhaka, Bangladeshi police said.

The Met had offered a reward of £10,000 for information leading to Mr Khan’s arrest and conviction.

Flat pitches made India-SL Test series ‘dull’: Akram

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New Delhi, August 08: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram feels apart from Sachin Tendulkar’s tremendous form the just-concluded Test series between India and Sri Lanka turned out to be a rather “dull” affair due to placid tracks.

Akram was especially disappointed with the way the fast bowlers were hammered during the three-match series in the island nation.

“Fast bowlers got murdered and it was not fun at all, believe me. The 1-1 draw is a fair result but it has to be said that apart from two or three brilliant performances, it was a dull series,” Akram said.

Court rejects defamation plea against Modi

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Bundi, August 08: A local court on Sunday rejected a petition charging Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi with making derogatory remarks against Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first prime minister, on grounds of jurisdiction.

Charmesh Sharma, a Youth Congress state secretary, had filed the case on July 3 against Modi for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Nehru at a public meeting of the BJP at Gandhinagar in Gujarat on June 5.

HRD Ministry to get Rs 2.31 lakh crore over 3 yrs

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New Delhi, August 08: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said the Human Resource Development ministry would be allocated Rs 2.31 lakh crore over the next three years to set up infrastructure for implementing the Right to Education.

“The HRD minister has said that Rs 2,31,000 crore will be required for implementing RTE in the next three years for setting up schools, appointment of teachers and building of infrastructure. I said that the money will be provided,” Mukherjee said at a seminar here.

Maoists offer money for arms

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Lalgarh, August 08: Maoists on Sunday offered money for handing over weapons allegedly being used by CPI(M) cadres in the Naxal-hit areas, 12 days after the West Bengal government announced a surrender and rehabilitation package for the rebels.

“Those handing over SLRs or AK 47 rifles would be paid Rs one lakh and Rs 70,000 each would be paid for a carbine, automatic revolver and pistol, while country-made guns would fetch Rs 8,000 and above,” Maoist central committee member Akash said.

Castro warns of nuclear ‘holocaust’ in speech

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Havana, August 08: Ailing Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro has issued a dire warning of a nuclear “holocaust” as he mustered enough strength to address the country’s parliament for the first time since his health crisis four years ago.

The soon-to-be 84 father of the Cuban revolution looked much fitter and more energetic than in previous appearances as he rose to the podium of the National Assembly Saturday to expand on his favorite theme of recent days — alleged US preparations for a nuclear war in the Middle East.