Nursing students boycott classes

Nahan, February 4:Nearly 150 students of Himalayan Nursing Institute at Kala Amb near here today boycotted classes and came on roads shouting slogans against the college management.

Students were protesting against recent increase in the annual charges announced by the management.

Holding placards and raising anti-management slogans, students assembled at the main gate of the institute and raised slogans against the principal, who they alleged, has misbehaved with some students.

Ten killed in Bangladesh accident

Dhaka, February 4:At least ten political activists were killed when their minibus collided head-on with an oil-laden lorry in Bangladesh’s central Faridpur district Friday, police said.

Seven of the victims died instantly in the collision. They were on board the bus carrying supporters of a newly elected ruling party lawmaker when it hit the lorry, some 60 km west of capital Dhaka.

Jharkhand Public Service Commission ex-Chairman surrenders before special court

Ranchi, February 4:Former chairman of Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Dilip Kumar Prasad, who was absconding for over six months and had his property attached today surrendered before a special vigilance court here.

The special court of Binay Kant Khan sent him to judicial custody for fourteen days.

Prasad went into hiding after an FIR was filed against him and 31 others in connection with alleged irregularities in conducting the 2008 state civil service examination.

The state vigilance bureau had on June 13, 2010 filed an FIR against the accused.

Mohammad piles on the agony for Al Ain

Dubai, February 4: Hassan Mohammad tapped in the only goal of the match to help Dubai Club pile on the misery for former champions Al Ain as the etisalat pro-league commenced following a lengthy break yesterday.

With both teams resorting to an uninspiring display, the match looked headed for a dull draw until Mohammad latched on to a slip-shod clearance from the visiting defence to fetch his side full points for only the fourth time this season.

CBI Director told to respond to leak of Aseemanand”s testimony

New Delhi, February 04: A Delhi court today asked the CBIDirector to explain how the confessional statement of SwamiAseemanand, an accused in the Ajmer dargah blast case, wasleaked to the media.

“Issue a notice to the Director CBI to give reportregarding the circumstances under which the copy of theconfessional statement has been leaked to the media,”Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjay Bansal said.

The court asked the probe agency to file its responseon February 15.

Brian Lara: T20 impact will boost World Cup

Dubai, February 4: “The impact of Twenty20 format will produce huge scores in the 2011 World Cup,” Brian Lara, the legendary West Indies batsman, told Gulf News.

Lara, who is the third highest scorer in the World Cup behind Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, is here as the batting consultant of the Zimbabwe team who arrived for the pre-World Cup training camp at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Global Cricket Academy.

Dalits protest against Minister

Alwar, February 4:Dalits today staged a demonstration against Rajasthan Medical and Health Minister Duru Miyan here, accusing him of shielding those who had ransacked their houses last month.

Dalits staged the protest at the Circuit House where the Minister, who was in the district for a public hearing, was present.

The Minister left the place as the protest was on.

Dalit leader Suraj Mal alleged the Minister was shielding those who hand ransacked their houses.

The protesters, all residents of Husainpur village, demanded immediate arrest of those who damaged their houses.

Sena alleges Rs 15,000 crore sales tax scam

Mumbai, February 4:Sales tax irregularities to the tune of Rs 15,000 crore have taken place through the misuse of a bogus notification of the Maharashtra government, Shiv Sena alleged today.

“The state has lost Rs 15,000 crore tax since it charged only two per cent tax instead of 12.5 per cent on vehicles sold outside the state between 2005 and 2010,” senior Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai said.

The Sena leader distributed two notifications issued by the Finance department with the same (date October 17, 2005) and same number — 8(5) of CST Act 1956.

15 Indians named in Black Money list

New Delhi, February 04: The veil of secrecy on the list of Indians who stashed black money in foreign banks has finally been lifted.

Tehelka has revealed the names of 15 Indians, who have stashed their black money in the LGT bank of Liechtenstein , a well-known tax haven nation, 190 km from Munich, Germany.

The magazine claims it has has accessed 16 of the 18 names, and has made 15 of them public.

The Tehelka report claims Germany had officially handed over the list to the Indian Government on 18 March 2009.

Filipina nurse’s plea for husband’s life

DUBAI, February 4: A Filipina nurse is appealing to Good Samaritans to help her husband who’s fighting leukaemia – by a quirk of fate – in the same hospital where she works.

Teresa Galang Lareza’s husband Arthur, a 37-year-old IT technician, is bed-ridden with acute myelo leukaemia (AML) at Rashid Hospital. But she is hardly able to look after him as she has to attend to other sick patients.

Visitor faces jail for posting woman’s nude photos online

Dubai, February 4: A visitor faces a year in jail after he published on Facebook some nude photos of a Filipina girl, who claimed he raped her, a court ruled yesterday.

The Dubai Court of First Instance charged the 22-year-old Pakistani visitor of breaching the woman’s privacy by publishing her nude photos on Facebook and having sex with her.

Prosecutors accused 22-year-old S.T. of luring the Filipina, J.M., to his office where she claimed he raped her twice and used his phone camera to take nude photos of her in the shower and post them on Facebook.

Census exercise in Gujarat to begin Feb 9

Ahmedabad, February 4:The 15th census exercise beginning in Gujarat from Feb 9 will have the star cast of SAB TV’s popular serial “Tarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma” as its brand ambassadors.

With the serial director and its star cast marking presence, the state Director of Census Operations Manish Bharadwaj said here Friday that the serial is toying with the idea of dedicating an episode to the national census campaign, which is scheduled to be completed Feb 28.

“We shall devote the last day to counting of the homeless people,” Bharadwaj said.

Egypt crisis pains us, says Abdullah

Dubai, February 04: UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on Thursday that what is happening in Egypt is “painful to us all”.

“Egypt is one of the most prominent countries in terms of history, civilisation, stability, weight and prestige. We hope that Egypt is proud of its fraternal and friendly countries and allies. In the years that followed the Camp David, both Egypt and the other Arab countries were enormously hit by the rupture between them. Years were painful for all of us and we regretted it,” said Shaikh Abdullah.

2,000 special needs students integrated into mainstream

Abu Dhabi, February 04: Over 2,000 special needs students are currently integrated into the mainstream education at public schools in Abu Dhabi.
According to Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), some 1,500 students with learning and speech difficulties have been integrated into Abu Dhabi public schools over the past two years in addition to the 616 students with visual, hearing, physical and mental impairments, as well as those with autism and hyperactivity who were enrolled earlier in these schools.

State files details of CID probe in Netai carnage

Kolkata, February 4:The West Bengal state administration Friday filed three affidavits before the Calcutta High Court stating the progress in the probe into the Jan 7 Netai village carnage and on the presence of armed camps in and around Lalgarh area.

Home Secretary G.D. Gautama and Additional Director General of Police of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Raj Kanojia were present in the court to submit the reports in the public interest litigation.

Chance for families 
to share bonhomie

Dubai, February 04: A weekend of fun activities in the great outdoors is in store for Emirates Living communities today and tomorrow.

Being held between 10am and 6pm, the Winter Family Fair, an initiative of Emaar and part of Dubai Shopping Festival 2011, is set to bring neighbours together and promote healthy lifestyles.

Man dies in fire while sleeping

Dubai, February 04: A 47-year-old Emirati died in a massive fire that destroyed his house located in Al Dhait area here on Wednesday morning.
The Emirati, who was burnt to death, was sleeping when the fire broke out at his house around 4.50am and gutted the entire house.

Five Asian workers who stay in the nearby accommodation tried to save him by fighting the fire before the firefighters arrived, but in vain due to the thick smoke coming from the house.

Khalifa calls for
conservation
of environment

Abu Dhabi, February 04: The President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Thursday, urged all community forces to shoulder responsibility towards protection, conservation and development of the indigenous desert environment resources.

Satyawati College student hangs self in classroom

New Delhi, February 4:A second-year Bachelor of Arts student of Satyawati College in north Delhi was found hanging from a ceiling fan in one of the classrooms here Friday afternoon, police said.

The incident came to light at around 3.15 p.m. when a college employee found Amir Mallik, 21, hanging in a classroom in the college in Ashok Vihar.

“No suicide note was found from the deceased’s possession,” a senior police officer said.

Amir stayed in Sriram Colony in Kachchi Khazuri area with his parents, four brothers and three sisters.

Big Bus hopes to ride 
high on festival spirit

Dubai, February 04: Big Bus Tours, the company known for organising sightseeing tours on a double-decker bus, is forecasting an increase in its passenger numbers for the months of January and February this year, riding partly on the tourist arrivals during the Dubai Shopping Festival period.
According to Ines Zahouani, marketing manager of Big Bus Tours that operates hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses in Dubai, is projecting an increase of approximately 30 per cent during these months compared to the same period last year.

Ban order under Charminar police station limits around HC

Hyderabad, February 4: Powers conferred under Section 144 Cr PC and Sec. 22 of Hyderabad City Police Act, the Commissioner of Police, Mr A.K. Khan, passed an order prohibiting public meetings, assembly of five or more persons, carrying of fire-arms, banners, placards, lathis, spears, swords, sticks, bricksbats, shouting of slogans; making speeches, processions and demonstrations and picketing or dharnas in any public place around the High Court under Charminar Police limits without written permission.

Timings of air show extended

Al Ain, February 04: The 2011 Al Ain Aerobatic Show will take off today with big crowds expected to turn up to witness the amazing line-up of top-class aerobatic talents from across the world.

Medical panel formed in child abuse case Marie Nammour

Dubai, February 04: The Public Prosecution is keen to leave no loose ends in the alleged molestation case of a four-year-old girl on a school bus last November and has intensified efforts to find out the truth. Khaleej Times has now learnt that an independent medical panel has been appointed to determine the role of the three detained suspects in the alleged incident.

Palestinian Authority to seek less aid in 2011

Gaza, February 04: The Palestinian Authority will ask for substantially less foreign aid from a donor conference this year than in the past and hopes to wean itself off budget assistance by 2013.

Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said on Friday that he wanted June’s donor meeting to be accompanied by progress in the process of establishing statehood for the Palestinian entity by the end of 2011.