Month: August 2012

Committee to decide on allocating Rs 10,000 Cr for projects

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Andhra Pradesh major Irrigation Minister P.Sudarshan Reddy today said the Cabinet sub-Committee, took a decision to allot Rs 10,000 crore for the projects. Talking to reporters, after the Committee on Irrigation Projects reviewed the progress of different ongoing projects in the state. the minister said the committee focussed its attention on impediments in the completion of Jalayagnum projects and how to address them.

The committee also focussed on the progress of projects which 50-75 per cent complete, he said .

Iskcon to hold seminar on depression

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The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) local unit today announced that it would organise two-day interactive seminar on ‘Depression and How to Overcome it’ here from September 1. The seminar would highlight the causes of depression, its symptoms and the ways to overcome them, a release here said. The release said Depression was the most common and deadly disease according to World Health Organization (WHO) affecting 121 million people worldwide.

Recongised schools union not to support YSRCP bandh

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The Recognized Schools’ Association in Hyderabad today announced that they would not support the bandh call given by YSR Congress party on August 31 on the power crisis in the state.

The president of the association, Mr Srinivas Reddy, told reporters here that so far the schools were kept closed for eight days in the wake of several protests and strikes in the new academic year. Therefore, the schools will function on August 31, he added.

Sachin’s inputs on Aussie wickets was great help: Unmukth

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The good cricketing brains of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar kept the Indian Colts, who won the Under-19 one-day championship down under, in good stead, according to team captain Unmukt Chand. Speaking to reporters here, the Delhi batsman said Sachin was very helpful to the team. ‘He had played World Cup matches in Australia and gave us tips before we left on how to play on different types of wickets and what kind of pressures the Team will face,’ he said.

Kasab not to be hanged soon in 26/11 attack case, experts say

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It is unlikely that Ajmal Kasab whose death sentence has been upheld by the Supreme Court in 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, shall be hanged soon, legal experts say. He can still file a review petition before the Supreme Court for reconsideration of today’s verdict. Thereafter, Kasab can file a curative petition under Article 142 of the Constitution of India and finally he has the option of filing a mercy petition before the President.

Rahul Dravid wins Castrol Test Batsman of the Year 2011

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Star batsman Rahul Dravid, who played a brilliant role for India when chips were down, the team lost eight tests matches and lost the top spot last year, was awarded the Castrol Indian Test Batsman of the year 2011 at a glittering function held here today. Sachin Tendulkar, for completing 100 centuries in the carrier during the year, was awarded the batsman of the year.

Centre extends NREGS mandays in drought-hit areas

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Minister for Rural Development and NREGS Dokka Manikya Vara Prasad Rao on Wednesday stated that Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh has assured to extend the mandays under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in the drought affected areas in the State.

Cabinet Sub-Committee reviews progress of irrigation projects

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The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Irrigation Projects on Wednesday reviewed the progress of different ongoing projects in the State.

Talking to reporters after the Cabinet Sub-Committee’s meeting at Lake View Guest House, Major Irrigation Minister P Sudarshan Reddy said that the committee focused its entire attention on impediments in the completion of Jalayagnum projects and how to address them. Apart from the hassles, he said that the committee also focused on the progress of projects which 50-75 percent complete.

Come clear on fees reimbursement: YSRCP

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The YSR Congress party has demanded the State Government to be categorical about fees reimbursement as its GO has been creating confusion and may not stand legal scrutiny which results in loss of an academic year to the students.

“If the State is not willing to continue the fees reimbursement scheme, it can openly tell its stand and need not take recourse in various clauses of the GO. Some student organisations are contemplating to challenge the GO in a court which will further delay the academic year,” party spokesperson, Gattu Ramachandra Rao told reporters here on Wednesday.

YSRCP demands Naidu’s apology

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The YSR Congress party has demanded an unconditional apology from TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu for his allegations and the statement that the opinion poll survey conducted by a media house was a sponsored show.

Place Jalayagnam files in Assembly, demands Naidu

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Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday once again raised the demand for placing all files of Jalayagnam including multipurpose Polavarm irrigation project before the Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar for scrutiny by the opposition leaders.

CPI (M) calls for AP Bandh over power issue

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The Communist Party of India (Marxist) called upon all opposition parties to come on a common platform to observe a State-wide bandh in the first week of September over the energy crisis in the State.

Talking to media persons, CPI (M)’s senior leader Y Venkateshwar Rao said that his party has been contacting all like-minded parties seeking their support to organise a State-wide bandh on the power issue. He said that the CPI(M) has also sought the support of Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu. The party would also consult the BJP, TRS, Lok Satta and YSR Congress party.

Congress asks YSRCP to withdraw bandh call

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Government Chief Whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy on Wednesday asked the YSR Congress party to reconsider its call for Andhra Pradesh Bandh on August 31.

Talking to reporters at the Congress Legislature Party, Venkataramana Reddy said that the State Government was keen to solve the power crisis and several efforts have already been made to address the issue. He said that the State has asked the Centre for additional supply of gas, coal and power. Therefore, taking the government’s efforts into consideration, the YSR Congress party should withdraw its call for State Bandh, he said.

Israel to work with Bihar in agri, solar and insurance sectors

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Isreal will step up cooperation with Bihar in sectors of agriculture, solar energy, water harnessing and health insurance.

Cooperation would be increased in agriculture sector with thrust on promotion of horticulture, dairy, fishery besides green vigitables and water area, the Ambassador of Israel Alon Ushpiz said today after an hour-long meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

We’ll have two centres of excellance in agriculture sector,” he told PTI.

The cooperation in energy sector between Bihar and Israel with the support of the union government would also be

Raids to be conducted against ‘hookah’ bars: Police tells HC

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Cracking down on ‘hookah bars’, the city police today told the Delhi High Court that itssenior officers will conduct raids to ensure that anti-smoking laws are enforced against restaurants which illegally run such
joints in the city.

The DCPs have been asked to conduct raids in restaurants where hookah bars are being run,” Najmi Waziri, counsel for Delhi police, told a bench of Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw.

Civic bodies — NDMC and MCD — also told the court that they have not provided licenses to restaurants to run
‘hookah’ bars.

VHP hails SC order on Kasab, demands early execution

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Hailing the Supreme Court order upholding the death sentence to Ajmal Kasab, the VHP today demanded that the 26/11 accused be executed without much delay and warned that allowing him to remain in jail for long could
lead to a repeat of incidents like the Kandahar hijack case.

Now, it has become important that Kasab is hanged as soon as possible and his execution is not delayed
inordinately. Terrorists like Kasab, if allowed to stay in the country’s jails for long, may become a cause for a grave threat to national security.

Saif and Kareena to wed in October, says Sharmila

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Though Bollywood couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor continue to maintain silence over their much awaited wedding, his mother Sharmila Tagore has indicated that it would take place in October.

“The wedding would take place in October,” Sharmila told reporters here yesterday.

However, she did not disclose the date of the wedding and said only Saif can confirm that.

–Agencies

Gujarat: Absconding Tanzanian national rearrested

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A Tanzanian national, who had escaped from police custody in Dwarka town of Jamnagar district on Monday, was rearrested last night, police said here.

Ahemad Shabadi Shadadi (32) was arrested one-and-half years back with 20 others near Dwarka coast when their boat trespassed into Indian waters.

The Union Government later deported others, but Shadadi was not allowed to go back as Tanzanian Embassy failed to provide necessary documents to confirm his identity.

–Agencies

Live reporting of 26/11 was totally wrong & unacceptable: SC

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Slamming media for live coverage of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, the Supreme Court today said it was “totally wrong and unacceptable” as it made security forces’ fight with terrorists “exceedingly difficult.”

“Any attempt to justify the conduct of the TV channels by citing the right to freedom of speech and expression would be totally wrong and unacceptable in such a situation.

–Agencies

VHP hails SC order on Kasab, demands early execution

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Hailing the Supreme Court order upholding the death sentence to Ajmal Kasab, the VHP today demanded that the 26/11 accused be executed without much delay and warned that allowing him to remain in jail for long could lead to a repeat of incidents like the Kandahar hijack case.

“Now, it has become important that Kasab is hanged as soon as possible and his execution is not delayed inordinately.

–Agencies

Now, food prices to take toll on Britons

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British families, already facing difficult times due to a financial crunch, may have to further cope with much harsher times as they would have to spend more on food following a poor harvest which has pushed up prices worldwide.

The cost of basic food products is rising because of a drought in the US and poor crops in Russia and eastern Europe, Daily Express reported.

According to Jose Graziano Da Silva, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, food prices could reach a crisis point next year if harvests in the southern hemisphere are poor.

Smoking after stroke raises death risk three-fold

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Patients who resume smoking after a stroke tend to face a three-fold increase in death-risk, says an Italian study.

Researchers led by Furio Colivicchi, professor at the San Filippo Neri Hospital in Rome, also found that earlier the patients resumed smoking, the greater their risk of death with a year.

“It is well-established that smoking increases the risk of having a stroke,” said Colivicchi.

“Quitting smoking after an acute ischemic stroke (blockage of blood supply to a brain area) may be more effective than any medication in reducing the risk of further adverse events.”

Thumbs down to benefits of chocolate, red wine

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There is no proof to show that chocolate and red wine protect the heart, even though a study has suggested that they lower cardiac risk by 37 percent, say scientists.

This was only a ‘sign’, however, and not proof because of the flawed nature of the study, said Steffen Desch from the University of Leipzig Heart Centre in Germany.

He said a more conclusive trial could be difficult because the real thing would have to be tested against a ‘dummy’ substance that looked and tasted like chocolate.

NRI appeals for LPG connection in India

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Unable to procure a cooking gas connection for his home in Punjab has forced a British citizen of Indian origin to approach the Punjab Non-Resident Indians (NRI) commission.

The commission has, in turn, issued notice to the union ministry of petroleum and natural gas.

The notice has been issued on a complaint filed by Baldev Singh, who is from Punjab’s Moga district, but is now a British citizen and holds a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card, a spokesman of the commission said here Wednesday.