Month: April 2013

Russian denies waste problems at Olympic sites

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Russia has denied that it is failing to dispose of construction waste properly as it prepares for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The government’s denial came following Greenpeace’s complaint to the International Olympic Committee last month, saying Russia was failing to meet its obligations to implement the Zero Waste principles during Olympics-related construction.

“All measures to realise the Zero Waste principle have been being implemented and are being implemented,” deputy prime minister Dmitry Kozak said Monday.

‘Russia not obliged to notify West of war games’

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Russia is not obligated to notify western countries beforehand of its recent snap military exercises, a top Russian defence ministry official said Monday.

“The mechanism of checks today is such that we only need to notify western countries when we hold planned events,” Sergei Ryzhkov, the chief of the ministry’s treaty implementation department, told journalists.

“If exercises occur suddenly, we may notify them [other countries] only when the exercises begin,” Ryzhkov said.

19 killed in attacks in northern Nigeria

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Nineteen people were killed over the weekend in Nigeria’s northern state of Kaduna where gunmen attacked two villages of a local community, officials said.

The chairman of the local government, Kumai Badu confirmed the attack on the Ataka community in Kaura local government area alleging that the assailants who came with guns were from neighbouring villages.

“19 people were killed while 10 others were critically injured in Mafang and Zilang villages,” he said.

The official said the attackers burnt almost all houses in the two villages forcing those alive to flee their homes.

Magnitude-6 quake off Japan, No tsunami alert

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A magnitude-6.0 undersea earthquake hit off eastern Japan, the US Geological Survey reported. No tsunami alert was issued.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the quake, which the USGS said happened at 4:53 am today local time (1853 GMT yesterday).

The USGS said the quake hit some 107 kilometres (66 miles) east of Miyako, Japan, and some 327 kilometres (526 miles) northeast of Tokyo.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency and the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency issued no tsunami warnings or alert.

–PTI

Saffron’s diminishing returns

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By flaunting RSS-associated leaders in its line-up for the 2014 general election, the BJP fails to see that voters will reject politics not focussed on bread-and-butter issues

Raspberry may help you lose weight

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Raspberry ketones can help you lose weight and boost levels of a metabolism-regulating hormone, a report has claimed.

Raspberry ketones are fragrant compounds that occur naturally in raspberries and other fruits. The compounds can boost levels of adiponectin hormone, which regulates metabolism. Higher levels of this hormone are associated with fewer fat stores.

8% DA hike likely for central government employees

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Union Cabinet is likely to approve on Tuesday a proposal to increase dearness allowance (DA) to 80 percent from existing 72 percent benefiting about 50 lakh employees and 30 lakh pensioners of the central government.

“The Union Cabinet may consider the finance ministry proposal to increase the DA by 8 percent to 80 percent in its meeting scheduled for tomorrow”, a source said.

The hike would be effective from January 1, 2013 and the employees and pensioners would be entitled for arrears, he said.

Delhi gang-rape: Accused seeks nutritious food, newspapers in jail

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One of the four accused in the December 16 gang-rape case on Monday sought a direction from a special court here that he be provided nutritious food inside Tihar jail as he has to prepare for tests for recruitment of clerks in Indian Air Force.

Vinay Sharma, the accused who along with others had allegedly gang-raped the 23-year-old girl in a moving bus here, moved the plea before Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna and sought “proper food and newspapers” inside jail.

The court sent the application to the jail authorities for their comments.

No extension to RTE deadline: Govt

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With the deadline for meeting RTE obligations ending Sunday, government ruled out any extension maintaining that 90 per cent of the schools have met required norms.

HRD Minister M M Pallam also appeared to dismiss fears of schools risking the threat of being closed down for lagging behind when he said that there were government schools also which were lagging behind in meeting infrastructure norms such as classrooms, libraries, toilets and disable friendly campuses.

Govt. releases remaining fund for Urdu Academy

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State government has released a major part of the remaining fund of Urdu Academy for the fiscal year 2012-13. A large part of the Academy’s budget was stalled as the department of finance had frozen the treasury. After the representation with finance department release of budget for salaries, and construction of Urdu Ghar and Function Hall was carried out.

Secretary/director Urdu Academy Prof. S A Shukoor told that finance department has released Rs 97 lakh towards salaries of workers and Rs. 23 lakh towards construction of Urdu Ghar and Function Hall.

Siasat news

Pakistan Rangers hand over Indian girl to BSF

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The seven-year-old girl, who inadvertently strayed into the neighbouring country from a village near Indo-Pak border was handed over to the BSF by Pakistani Rangers in a flag meeting on Monday.

The girl was handed over in a flag meeting at BSF outpost and her father identified the minor, a security force official said.

Pooja was playing near her father’s farm, which is close to the international border and crossed over to Pakistan on March 29, the BSF official said.

CBI to file supplementary chargesheet against Jagan today

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The CBI, probing the alleged disproportionate assets case involving YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy, has said it could file a supplementary chargesheet in the case by Tuesday.

The central agency made this submission before a special CBI court here while seeking extension of judicial remand of Jagan and other accused.

The supplementary chargesheet is likely to be filed against three pharma companies after the CBI during its investigation collected more details against them.

All India Mushaira on Friday

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The Karwan-e-Urdu Virasat which aims at promotion and development of Urdu will reach Hyderabad on April 4. 2-day programme is being conducted in Hyderabad in collaboration with Siasat daily. The state government has decided to extend complete support in the programmes of Karwan-e-Urdu Virasat.

Prof. S A Shukoor director/ secretary Urdu Academy is the coordinator appointed by the government. He told that eminent Urdu speaking personalities of the country will reach Hyderabad on April 4. All India Mushaira will be held on April 5, at Telugu Lalit Kala Thoranum, Public Garden.

Halle Berry wants no trouble for celeb kids

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Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry wants to block photographers from capturing unauthorised pictures of celebrity children, reports nypost.com.

She is reaching out to her famous friends, including Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, for the initiative, said a source.

Berry, who lost a court battle to ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry to move her daughter Nahla to France where they have strong anti-paparazzi laws, wants to lobby for a legal ban on pictures of young children of celebrities here in the US.

–IANS

Drinking felt naughty: Hudgens

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Actress Vanessa Hudgens has admitted she felt “naughty” when she drank in her youth.

The 24-year-old explained she couldn’t really relate to her role in 2012 movie “Spring Breakers”, which follows a group of college girls on their spring vacation who get caught up with a drug dealer, because she and her friends are “very tame”.

“I don’t really relate. Being young, I can relate to it a little, perhaps, but not to the extreme of the spring break reality itself,” contactmusic.com quoted Hudgens as saying.

South Korea unveils ‘active’ nuclear deterrence plan

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South Korean defence ministry has unveiled a new plan of “active deterrence”, allowing it to pre-emptively strike its northern neighbour, in case, it detects any sign of an imminent nuclear or missile attack.

The plan was unveiled by Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin during an annual policy briefing to President Park Geun-hye amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Yonhap reported Monday.

Russia rejects Georgia’s concerns over Black Sea drills

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Moscow has dismissed Tbilisi’s condemnation of Russian military drills in the Black Sea region.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday that Russia’s actions “are at odds with the interests of stability” in Europe and could be viewed as a “proportional reaction to possible threats”.

On Monday, the Russian foreign ministry said Georgia’s assertion was groundless and out of synch with its declared commitment to normalise its relationship with Russia.

Maldivian president visits UAE

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Maldivian President Mohammad Waheed arrived here Monday on a three-day visit, accompanied by a delegation of state officials.

He will hold official talks with Kuwait’s Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

–IANS

New batch starts for EAMCET crash course

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Siasat daily offers EAMCET (Engineering/Medicine) coaching at two places. EAMCET exam is scheduled on May 10. Registrations are in progress for new batch at Charminar centre. The special crash course of 15 days will continue from April 3 to May 8.

Intermediate MPC, BiPC candidates who have submitted EAMCET form online can register their names at Mahboob Husain Jigar Career Guidance Cell, opposite Ram Krishna Theatre from 10 am to 5 pm.

Siasat news

Govt ready to help anyone hit by new Saudi rule on employment

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Government today said it is constantly monitoring the situation in Saudi Arabia following the Kingdom’s proposed implementation of the “Nitaqat” (naturalisation) law in its employment sector and help Indian workers there who could be affected by it. The Nitaqat law makes it mandatory for local companies to hire one Saudi national for every 10 migrant workers. There has been widespread perception that the new policy will lead to denial of job opportunities for a large number of expatriates from India.

Rs 40,000 crore needed to complete railway projects: Minister

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Andhra Pradesh’s minister of state for railways Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy said that about Rs 40,000 crore are required to complete all pending railway projects in the state.

He told reporters here on Monday that about 30 railway projects are pending in the state and they would be completed in a phased manner.

He supported the hike in fares by saying that internal resources should be improved to strengthen the financial condition of the railways.

Shiv Sena misleading people on Jaitapur project, says Ajit Pawar

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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday accused Shiv Sena of “misleading” people from the coastal Konkan region on the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power project. “Investment to the tune of Rs one lakh crore is being made in the Jaitapur nuclear power project. However, the party is misleading people to oppose the project,” Pawar said without naming Shiv Sena, which is reportedly opposing the project.

No need to panic over new Saudi work policy, says Salman Khurshid

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Amid worries that Saudi Arabia’s new ‘nitaqat’ policy, which seeks to reserve 10 per cent jobs for Saudis, would affect thousands of Indian workers in the kingdom, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Monday said there was “no need to panic” and the Indian government was ready to provide any assistance to affected Indian workers.

“We are in touch (with the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia) and we will review it (situation) tomorrow (Tuesday),” Khurshid told IANS on the sidelines of an event.

Married man arrested for trying to rape two young girls

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A married man has been arrested for allegedly trying to rape two young girls in Loni area of the district in Ghaziabad on Monday, police said. Narendra, a resident of Ankur Vihar Colony in Loni , was arrested for allegedly trying to rape two girls, aged 10 and 11 years, police said.

The victims were playing outside when Narendra called them to his house on the pretext of making them watch TV and allegedly tried to rape them, they said. The girls started crying. Hearing their cries, locals rescued them and nabbed Narendra, they added.

Myanmar police failed to stop killing, arson: HRW

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Human Rights Watch (HRW) today urged Myanmar to investigate the failure of police to stop a recent wave of Buddhist-Muslim killing and arson attacks.

The New York-based rights watchdog released satellite images which it said showed more than 800 buildings were totally destroyed in the central town of Meiktila, leaving several charred areas where homes and properties once stood.

“The government should investigate responsibility for the violence in Meiktila and the failure of the police to stop wanton killings and the burning of entire neighborhoods,” said HRW Asia director Brad Adams.