Month: June 2013

Scheme launched to train youths in Naxal-hit areas

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Reaching out to youths in Naxal-hit areas, Centre on Friday launched a placement linked skill development scheme targeting 50,000 rural men and women, mostly tribals, in 24 worst affected districts.

Initiating the programme called “Roshni”, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said at least 50 per cent of the candidates covered under the scheme will be women and special efforts will be made to proactively cover Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) on a priority basis.

‘Roshni’ will show a “new path” to the youths being targeted by Maoists, the Minister said.

Air New Zealand justifies tattoo ban

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Air New Zealand has said it will stand by its tattoo ban, acknowledging that its Asian customers would not feel comfortable dealing with crew with the body art.

The carrier reviewed its ban on frontline staff from having visible tattoos following a controversy after its decision to reject an air hostess a job who had a Maori tattoo on her arm, claiming it could frighten passengers.

According to stuff.co.nz, Air NZ cultural development manager Andrew Baker said regardless of the cultural significance, it would make some passengers uneasy.

Now, Chinese videogame that lets players fight Japanese

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A Chinese newspaper has launched an Internet game letting players decide the Senkaku islands issue – with force.

The Global Times launched the game called ‘Recover the Diaoyu Islands’, which controls People’s Liberation Army vessel and shoot Japanese ships and planes, the South China Morning Post reports.

According to Fox News, the game declares that the China’s determination to protect the Diaoyu Islands is unwavering!

Victory is achieved when players guide the ship to an island and successfully avoid the Japanese forces.

Japan, France vow to enhance political, economic ties

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Visiting French President Francois Hollande and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed here on Friday to enhance bilateral political and economic relations.

In a joint statement released after their summit, the two leaders agreed to promote bilateral political ties and form a “two plus two” dialogue between Foreign and Defense Ministers from the two countries.

Japan and France will also deepen their cooperation in counter-terrorism and nuclear non-proliferation, the statement said.

Pak govt officials may face action for congratulatory ads

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Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday warned “strict action” against government officials who issue advertisements to congratulate him on his PML-N party’s victory in the recent General Election.

Sharif, 63, who has become Premier for a record third term, barred ministries and government bodies from issuing advertisements to felicitate, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

He was quoted as saying that “national wealth should not be wasted on such advertisements”.

The Premier warned “strict action” will be taken against those who violated his directive.

Nawaz Sharif outlines govt’s foreign policy priorities

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Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has outlined his government’s foreign policy priorities of pursuing aggressive ‘economic diplomacy’ and favouring a ‘peaceful neighbourhood’.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Sharif provided an outline of the priorities of the government on foreign policy to serve as basic guidelines for embassies/missions abroad, reports The Express Tribune.

Pak SC asked to determine new govt’s view in Musharraf’s treason case

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Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s lawyer has requested the Supreme Court to find out what the newly-elected federal government’s views are on the treason proceedings against his client.

Musharraf’s counsel, Ahmed Raza Kasuri, put forward the request in front of the three-judge bench during the proceedings. The bench, however, deferred the hearing till June 24, observing that the new government might clarify its stance in the coming days, reports The Express Tribune.

Two get death penalty in murder case in Pakistan

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Two persons hailing from two influential families were on Friday sentenced to death by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court for the cold-blooded murder that evoked widespread outrage in the country over the elite class getting away with crimes.

Judge Ghulam Memon awarded the death penalty to Shahrukh Jatoi and Siraj Talpur, main suspects in the case while two others, Sajjad Talpur and Murtaza Lashari were given 25 years rigorous imprisonment.

Pakistan’s President Zardari set to make history

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Asif Ali Zardari is set to create a record by becoming the first President to address a joint session of both houses of Pakistan’s Parliament for a sixth time, though he will be doing so at a time when his party is no longer in power.

Officials said Zardari, 57, is expected to address the joint session of the Senate and National Assembly on June 10.

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said a presidential address was in the pipeline.

State extends deadline to fill up backlog vacancies

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The State Government has extended time limit for filling up of all the backlog vacancies reserved for the differently-abled persons in various government departments and bodies up to March 31.

The State Government has directed all the Departments of Secretariat, Heads of Departments and District Collectors to take immediate action to fill up all vacancies within the extended period. (INN)

Enterprise software market to reach $ 3.92 bn in 2013: Gartner

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Despite a challenging economic environment, the enterprise software market in India is projected to reach USD 3.92 billion in 2013, a 13.9 percent growth over 2012 revenue of USD 3.45 billion, research firm Gartner said today.

“Growing maturity of Indian users is an important driver for overall growth,” Gartner Principal Research Analyst Asheesh Raina said in a statement.

Only UPA can give Telangana: Ajit Singh

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Civil Aviation Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal president Ajit Singh said that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance could not give Telangana.

While stating that formation of Telangana was inevitable, irrespective of which party comes to power, Ajit Singh said that only United Progressive Alliance could give Telangana as a majority of its constituents were in favour of the demand. However, he said that lack of coordination was delaying the decision on the statehood issue.

Indian men, women want cricket crazy partners: Survey

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Post the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL), Indian men and women are looking to settle down with partners who are interested in cricket, indicates a survey.

As many as 32.8 percent Indian men, who were surveyed by online matrimony site shaadi.com after the IPL, admitted they would prefer a partner who loves cricket.

TPJAC seeks mass participation in Chalo Assembly rally

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Telangana Political Joint Action Committee chairman Prof M Kodandaram on Friday appealed to the people to participate in large numbers in the proposed Chalo Assembly rally on June 14.

Speaking after flagging off Bus Yatra at Moinabad, Kondandaram said that the success of Chalo Assembly rally would play a major role in pressurising the State and Central Governments on the statehood issue. He demanded that the Centre introduce a Telangana Bill in the ensuing session of the Parliament. He announced that the movement for Telangana would continue till the formation of separate State.

Glad I did not succumb to fashion pressure at Cannes: Vidya Balan

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The 35-year-old actress was part of the prestigious nine-member jury, headed by Hollywood director Steven Spielberg at the annual film festival, where glamour is key and every appearance on the red carpet is placed under the harsh scrutiny of global paparazzi.

Vidya Balan’s traditional Indian avatar at the Cannes Film Festival this year may have received mixed response from fashion critics but the actress says she did not want her choice of clothes to be just sartorial statement but rather reflect her identity.

ALMA discovers comet factory, solves planet formation mystery

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New observations from ALMA have provided answer to one of the biggest questions: how do tiny grains of dust in the disc around a young star grow bigger and bigger – to eventually become rubble, and even boulders well beyond a metre in size?

Computer models suggest that dust grains grow when they collide and stick together. However, when these bigger grains collide again at high speed they are often smashed to pieces and sent back to square one.

Can’t confirm or deny if Narendra Modi will head campaign panel: Smriti Irani

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When asked about Modi’s possible announcement as BJP’s election campaign committee head, she said that she cannot confirm or deny the development.

In a possible indication of support for Narendra Modi as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, its national vice president Smriti Irani today said the country and the party cadres were sure of their choice and it was now for the parliamentary board to decide.

Earthquake acoustics could warn of impending tsunami

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Stanford scientists have identified key acoustic characteristics of the 2011 Japan earthquake that indicated it would cause a large tsunami, and suggested that the technique could be applied worldwide to create an early warning system for massive tsunamis.

On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 undersea earthquake occurred 43 miles off the shore of Japan. The earthquake generated an unexpectedly massive tsunami that washed over eastern Japan roughly 30 minutes later, killing more than 15,800 people and injuring more than 6,100. More than 2,600 people are still unaccounted for.

25 tigers in Sathyamangalam forest

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The Sathyamangalam forest in the district has registered an increase in its tiger population with 25 tigers being enumerated by the forest department.

This is higher than the 2011 population of 22 when the enumeration was last done, officials said.

Meanwhile, the Conservator of Forests, Erode, has prepared a Rs three crore development plan under Tiger Reserve Project and sent it to the Union Government, officials said.

Hansika Motwani one-take artist

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Rarely does southern actress Hansika Motwani need a second take to perform a scene, says director Hari Gopalakrishnan who included her in the forthcoming Tamil action-drama ‘Singam 2’.

Hansika is one of the additions to the cast of “Singam 2”, a sequel to “Singam”.

“I included her in the sequel to play an important role. I haven`t worked with her before but have seen her performance in so many films. She is a one-take artist and rarely do you need spend few more takes to complete a scene with her,” Hari told Ireporters.

Modi condoles Chidambaram’s mother’s death

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Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Friday condoled the death of Finance Minister P. Chidambaram’s mother.

“Sad to know about the demise of Shri P. Chidambaram’s mother, Smt. Lakshmi Palaniappan. My condolences to the family. May her soul rest in peace,” Modi said on microblogging site Twitter Friday.

Chidambaram’s 92-year-old mother Lakshmi Palaniappan died in Chennai Friday after a brief illness.

-IANS

Siddharth Shukla`s `Jhalak Dikhla Jaa` choreographer injured

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Popular TV actor Siddharth Shukla`s choreographer Sonia Jaffer, who makes him move and groove on dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6’, was left injured during rehearsals of their “Jhalak on wheels” special episode.

Sonia was demonstrating a step to Siddharth using a wheelchair, and she accidentally ended up hurting her foot earlier this week.

“She had to get a few stitches after the incident,” a source from the sets of the show told reporters.

Pak court allows Musharraf trail to be held at farmhouse in judges” detention case

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The trial of former Pakistan president and military ruler Pervez Musharraf, in the judges” detention case, will be conducted at his farmhouse that has been declared a “sub-jail”. The Islamabad High Court allowed anti-terrorism court Judge Kausar Abbas Zaidi to try the 69-year-old former military dictator at his farmhouse in the suburb of Chak Shahzad, reports the Daily Times. The anti-terrorism court is hearing a case against Musharraf for detaining dozens of members of the superior judiciary after imposing emergency rule in 2007.

Musharraf”s counsel asks Pak SC to determine new govt”s view in treason case

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Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf”s lawyer has requested the Supreme Court to find out what the newly-elected federal government”s views are on the treason proceedings against his client. Musharraf”s counsel, Ahmed Raza Kasuri, put forward the request in front of the three-judge bench during the proceedings. The bench, however, deferred the hearing till June 24, observing that the new government might clarify its stance in the coming days, reports The Express Tribune.