Month: July 2013

Reality shows set cash registers ringing for dance institutes

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Dance institutes across India are laughing all the way to the bank – thanks to parents’ new-found fascination for TV reality shows.

“There is a big boom in the industry for the past two years. It is amazing to see how the mindset of parents has changed towards dance. They no more frown if their child wants to join a dance class,” Atul Jindal, one of the founders of Delhi-based Big Dance Centre, told IANS.

A qualified dancer from a New York institute, the 29-year-old was initially disappointed with the lukewarm response when he decided to make dance his bread and butter.

Murtaza Rizvi takes charge as Chairman and Managing Director CPDCL

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Mr. Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi (IAS) took charge as the chairman and managing director of the Central Power Distribution Company Limited (CPDCL). Formerly he was the district collector of Hyderabad.

Soon after taking charge, Rizvi convened a meeting of the directors and other senior officials in which he made it clear that supply of standard electricity to the consumers will the top priority. He stressed the need for construction of sub-stations, erection of transformers and improvement of voltage situation. He hoped that the staff will ensure fulfillment of goal by their diligent efforts.

Snowden rightfully charged in courts, says US

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Rejecting allegations of political vendetta, the US has said Edward Snowden is rightfully charged by its courts for espionage and leaking classified information, and Washington is making diplomatic efforts to ensure he is brought back to face those charges.

OU changes exam schedule for PG distance exams

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All the PG exams MA/M.Sc/M.com (previous and final) conducted by Prof. G Ram Reddy Centre for Distance Education Osmania University, which were scheduled to begin from July 9, have been postponed.

Now the exams will be held in July/August beginning from July 18. Hall tickets and time table can be downloaded from website oucde.ac.in.

Siasat news

US intelligence chief apologizes to Congress

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America’s top intelligence official has apologized to the US Congress for providing incorrect information during a recent Congressional hearing on its secretive telephone and internet surveillance programme.

In a letter to Chairman Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Senator Dianne Feinstein, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said that he was mistaken during a March 12 hearing that the United States did not collect data on millions of Americans.

Administrative service target for brilliant Muslim students

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Minority Empowerment Initiative (IMI) has been formed with a concrete plan to guide the brilliant 10th inter and degree pass Muslim students in achieving future targets like becoming IAS & IPS.

Mr. Adil Mohammed stating the objectives of the organization told that the organization provides training and all facilities for the long plan of the brilliant students. Students, parents and influential persons can register the names of outstanding students at the Mehdipatnam centre or call on phone no 8179823608.

Siasat news

Drone strike in northwest Pakistan kills 7

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At least seven people were killed when a US drone strike targeted a militant compound and a vehicle in northwest Pakistan’s restive tribal region close to the Afghan border.

The drone strike in Danday Darpakhel area near North Waziristan tribal region’s Miranshah area killed seven people late Tuesday night, sources said.

The US aerial unmanned plane fired rockets targeting the compound and killed seven people whose identity was not known.

This was the second drone attack in two months.

US delays key Obamacare provision to 2015

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In a major setback to President Barack Obama’s landmark healthcare law, a key provision requiring businesses to provide their workers with health insurance or face fines will be delayed until 2015.

Announcing the postponement, the Treasury Department, which is tasked with implementing the employer mandate Tuesday said the decision was in response to concerns expressed by business owners about the law’s complex reporting requirements.

3 Hyderabadi students get International Olympiad Award

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3 Hyderabadi students got International Olympiad Award for the year 2012-13. Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) presented the awards to Sneha Reddy, Ahwan Reddy, and Yashwant Reddy. These students secured top rank in International Maths Olympiad and National Science Olympiad category.

Sneha Reddy is the student of Jee Fiit World School while Ahwan Reddy is the student of 10th class of Sri Chetan School. Yashwant Reddy, 4th class student secured 2nd position on international level.

Siasat news

6.1-magnitude quake strikes Indonesia 6 kids die

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An earthquake on Tuesday killed six children and left 14 others trapped when a mosque collapsed during a Quran reading session in Indonesia’s Aceh province, bringing the confirmed death toll from the disaster to 11.

The strong 6.1-magnitude quake left hundreds more injured as it rocked a region that was devastated by the quake-triggered tsunami of 2004.

The earthquake reduced houses in parts of Aceh to rubble, set off several landslides and badly damaged roads.

I am better than a lot of Pakistani players: Shahid Afridi

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Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi made it clear on Tuesday he is hoping for a recall after being dropped for last month’s Champions Trophy.

The 33-year-old veteran of 348 one-day internationals paid the price for a below-par performance on the tour of South Africa, where he remained wicketless in all five ODIs and scored only one half century.

But Pakistan’s humiliating three successive defeats in the Champions Trophy have raised his hopes for this month’s tour of the West Indies for five ODIs and two Twenty20s.

India will continue to be strategic partner: US

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India has been and will continue to be a strategic partner of the US, an American official said on Tuesday, asserting that Secretary of State John Kerry is looking forward to continuing the positive bilateral relationship.

Kerry, who travelled to India during his just concluded Asia trip, “enjoyed every aspect of his visit,” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters.

Ghaziabad, Allahabad most polluted in UP, says survey

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Ghaziabad and Allahabad have emerged as the two most air polluted cities in Uttar Pradesh in a recent survey by a research and advocacy organisation.

The survey conducted by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found pollutants of the size of 10 micron in Ghaziabad, Allahabad, Kanpur and Bareilly, which was four times the acceptable size of particulates in urban areas.

It also found air pollution levels three times more than the prescribed limits in Lucknow, Firozabad, Agra, Mathura, Khurja, Saharanpur, Moradabad and Gajraula.

Rahul’s Congress to reach out to young, focus on social media: Ajay Maken

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The Congress thinks the political discourse in the country has shifted from coffee shops and parks to social media and hence vice president Rahul Gandhi wants the party to increasingly communicate to the people through platforms favoured by the young like Facebook, Twitter and blogs ahead of the 2014 general election, says newly-appointed communication department chairman Ajay Maken.

Landslide on Goa-K’taka link route; traffic disrupted

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Incessant rains triggered a major landslide on the Goa-Karnataka border in the wee hours today, disrupting traffic flow on the crucial Anmod Ghat that links the two states.

Officials said that mud and boulders fell on the road in the ghat section, around six kilometres away from the Goa check post.

“The incident occurred at 2 AM, as heavy rains lashed the Anmod Ghat section along with Goa last night. The road, which serves as a link between Goa and Karnataka, has been disconnected,” a district administration official said.

BIE seeks applications for CSS Scholarships

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The Board of Intermediate Education on Tuesday informed the students and parents that fresh application forms of Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students (CSSS) for the current academic year i.e. 2013-14 will be forwarded to all the Junior College in the State within a fortnight.

Eight-year-old girl raped, murdered in Mumbai

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An eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered in Gandhi Nagar area of Worli in central Mumbai during the wee hours Tuesday, police said.

The deceased lived with her family on a footpath, police said.

According to police, the victim’s parents found her missing when they woke up in the morning, after which they started searching for her.

Her body was found 100 ft away from their hut among plants near the footpath at around 6:30 am, they said.

Locals informed the police who rushed the girl to Nair hospital where she was declared dead on arrival.

Gram Panchayat polls: Voting underway in Punjab

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Polling for over 13,000 Gram Panchayats across Punjab began amid unprecedented security on Wednesday.

All arrangements are in place for today’s polls which are not contested by candidates on party symbols, the State Election Commission said.

As many as 27,759 candidates are in fray for 13,080 sarpanch seats and over one lakh for 81,412 panch seats, it said.

Around 1900 sarpanches and 21,251 panches had already been declared elected unopposed.

As many as 214 sarpanches were declared elected from Gurdaspur, 198 from Patiala and 177 from Jalandhar.

Fingerprints may soon be needed to get SIM cards

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Noting that even the mandatory physical verification system doesn’t prevent SIM cards to fall into wrong hands, the home ministry has asked the department of telecommunication (DoT) to explore an option of making it compulsory for cellphone service providers to take fingerprints or any other biometric feature of the subscriber, akin to Aadhaar, before activating the mobile numbers.

CPI(M) should stop pointing finger at govt on rape incidents

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In a bid to turn the tables on the Marxists ahead of the Panchayat polls, West Bengal Minister Soumen Mahapatra alleged CPI(M)-sheltered miscreants were involved in many incidents of rape in the state.

“What is the political identity of Ansar Ali?… The CPI(M) should stop pointing fingers at us,” the state Water Resources Development minister said at a public meeting at Keshiary in West Midnapore district.

Painkiller overdose killing more US women

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Deaths due to overdose of prescription painkillers have risen sharply in recent years among women in the United States, a medical report said.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that between 1999 and 2010, the death toll from painkiller overdose increased more than 400 percent among American women, compared to 265 percent in American men, Xinhua reported.

A total of 48,000 American women died due to painkiller overdose during the period, it said.

“Prescription painkiller deaths have skyrocketed in women,” CDC director Tom Frieden said in a statement.

Salman Khurshid to begin Singapore visit today

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External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will begin his first visit to Singapore from Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry here has said.

Khurshid’s July 3-5 visit is at the invitation of Singapore’s Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam, it said, adding that the External Affairs Minister will be accompanied by senior officials of his ministry.

He will today call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean.

Abbas ‘optimistic’ over Kerry’s peace efforts

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Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said today that US Secretary of State John Kerry had made “useful and constructive proposals” during his four-day visit last week, adding he was “optimistic” about the outcome.

His remarks, at a news conference with visiting Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, came in the wake of Kerry’s latest attempt to coax Israel and the Palestinians back into direct peace talks, in a visit which the chief Palestinian negotiator said had failed to achieve any breakthrough.

Food Security Ordinance on Cabinet agenda today

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The proposed ordinance on food security is likely to be taken up again at a meeting of the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, when it will consider whether to go ahead with promulgating it or convene a special session of Parliament for its passage.

Sources said the National Food Security Ordinance, 2013 is listed on the Cabinet’s agenda for today. On June 13, the Cabinet had deferred the proposal amid differences on the issue.

Free Coaching For Muslims To Write Civil Services Exams

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Free coaching to Muslim Minority students for Civil Services examinations will be provided by M.A. Gaffar Education & Welfare Society.

The society invited applications from Muslim candidates from all over the State. The last date for receipt of applications for screening test is July 10. Candidates with a minimum qualification of graduation and aged between 21 and 30 can apply.