Month: March 2015

Haryana govt identifies ponds to ensure availability of water

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Haryana Minister O P Dhankar today said the Irrigation department has identified around 10,000 ponds in the state from where availability of water would be ensured for irrigation purposes and for animals.

The Agriculture and Irrigation Minister disclosed this while addressing a gathering in village Kheri Sultan and Patauda in district Jhajjar.

He said the state government has been making efforts to ensure water supply up to the tail end of farms so that the farmers have sufficient water supply for irrigation purposes and do not face any difficulty due to its shortage.

Unseasonal rains lash Gujarat; crops hit

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Unseasonal rains lashed parts of Gujarat today, causing severe damage to standing crops like wheat, groundnut, cotton and onion, particularly in the Saurashtra region of the state.

The Meteorological Centre in Ahmedabad said, upper-air cyclonic circulation over South Pakistan and adjoining Kutch area has caused rainfall over Gujarat.

“Moderate to heavy rainfall was reported in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Kheda and Vadodara districts of central Gujarat,” the official release said.

Haryana plans online system to store data about patients

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To provide better health care to the people, the Haryana government will soon introduce an online system to store data about patients like ailments, medicine prescribed and test reports which will be accessible in every hospital of the state.

A software is being developed by the Health Department for the purpose, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij said at a function of Haryana Civil Medical Services Association at Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak today.

Five more test positive for swine flu in Bihar

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Five more persons today tested positive for swine flu taking the total number of people infected with the H1N1 virus in Bihar to 26.

“We ran 22 samples in our Realtime Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine today and five of them were found to be infected by H1N1 virus. Of those who tested positive, three are from Patna, while one each from Motihari and Lakhisarai districts,” Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS) Director Dr Pradeep Das told PTI.

The RMRIMS is the lone testing facility for the disease in Bihar.

Sri Lanka cancels licences for foreign mining firms

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Sri Lanka’s new president has cancelled mining licences issued by the previous government to 16 foreign companies to search for blue sapphires and other gems, his office said today.

The office of Maithripala Sirisena said permits granted to the unidentified companies were being withdrawn immediately to better protect the local mining industry.

“Sixteen foreign companies had been given gem mining licences by the previous administration, and the president in an effort to protect local miners cancelled those permits without further investigation,” it said in a statement.

Killer of US teacher in Abu Dhabi referred to court

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An Emirati woman has been referred to court on charges of murdering one American in an Abu Dhabi mall and attempting to kill another at his home, officials said today.

Alaa Bader Abdullah is accused of stabbing to death teacher Ibolya Ryan, 47, in a shopping mall restroom and attempting to murder another American, a doctor of Egyptian origin, by planting a bomb outside his apartment.

The jihadist-inspired attacks took place within hours of each other in the UAE capital on December 1.

Egypt’s president in Saudi Arabia for talks with new king

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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi visited Saudi Arabia today for his first policy meeting with the country’s king ahead of a conference aimed at shoring up financial support from wealthy Gulf states for Egypt’s battered economy.

A Saudi official told The Associated Press the two leaders discussed el-Sissi’s proposal for a joint anti-terrorism force to tackle regional threats, particularly from Yemen, Libya and Syria.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to release the information.

Nadal wins first title of 2015 at Argentina Open

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Spanish top seed Rafael Nadal defeated local player Juan Monaco to win the Argentina Open, lifting his first title in 2015.

Nadal defeated Monaco in a match that lasted one hour and 27 minutes on Sunday with a score of 6-4, 6-1. While the Spaniard broke the Argentine on four out of nine occasions the former did not face a break point on his own serve, Xinhua reported.

The match, played at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, was delayed for two hours because of the rain.

I’ll probably be single even at 30: Taylor Swift

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Young Taylor Swift is not sure if she will ever have a long-term relationship as the pop star feels celebrity status makes it difficult for her to find a boyfriend

The 25-year-old ‘Blank Space’ hitmaker has previously dated celebrities like Harry Styles, Jake Gyllenhaal and John Mayer, reported the Daily Telegraph.

When asked where she’d be in five years time, she said: “I’ll be 30. I’ll probably still be single, let’s be honest. No one’s going to sign up for this and everything that goes with it. Like, ‘Hi, nice to meet you, want a date? Do you love camera flashes? I hope you do!’

CBSE examinations commence from Monday

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The CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) examinations for standards 10 and 12 commence from Monday.

According to a CBSE circular, a total of 13,73,853 students are appearing for the class 10 board examination and 10,40,368 students are appearing for the class 12 board examination.

“There has been a hike of 3.37 percent in the number of students appearing in the class 10 board examination and in the class 12th board examination there has been a hike of 1.01 percent of students appearing for the examination,” the circular said.

–IANS

My hummingbird tattoo dedicated to father: Zelda Williams

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Oscar-winning actor Robin Williams’ daughter, Zelda, has revealed she got a hummingbird inked on her hand last year after his death to honour him.

Robin committed suicide last year. He was 63.

Zelda paid homage to her beloved father and his humanitarian side at the Noble Awards in Beverly Hills on Friday, reported Us magazine.

“I wanted to honour my father, and to put it on my hand, the hand that I shake hands with. It meant a lot to me. I really enjoy it,” she said.

I want to be remembered as great mother, wife: Kelly Clarkson

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Singer Kelly Clarkson’s ultimate goal is to be known as a wonderful wife and mother.

Clarkson, who wed talent manager Brandon Blackstock in 2013, welcomed their first child, daughter River Rose, last year. The ‘Heartbeat Song’ hitmaker is step mother to Savannah, 13, and Seth, 8, who are Blackstock’s kids with his ex-wife.

Clarkson said she could not be happier with her blended family, reported People magazine.

Eicher Motors sells 30,240 units in February

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Two-wheeler maker Eicher Motors Ltd Sunday said it closed last month selling 30,240 units, logging a growth of 49 percent over the corresponding period last year.

In a statement, the company said it closed last month selling 30,240 units (domestic 29,491 units, exports 749 units) up from 20,343 units (domestic 19,840 units, exports 503 units) logged during February 2014.

The company making Royal Enfield bikes said it is targeting to roll out 450,000 this calendar year.

Ryan Gosling gets daughter’s name inked on his fingers?

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Actor Ryan Gosling was spotted with his newly-born daughter’s nick name inked on fingers but it is not certain if it is a permanent one.

Gosling, 34, welcomed Esmeralda Amanda last year with girlfriend Eva Mendes.

The new father stepped out in LA on Friday, when he was caught with the baby’s nickname ‘Esme’ written on his left fingers, reported People magazine.

Although it remains to be seen if the ink is pen or more permanent.

Cooking gas prices hiked by Rs five per cylinder

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The government has hiked the price of non-subsidised liquefied petroleum gas by Rs. five per cylinder.

The revised cost of a 14.2 kg cylinder in Delhi now stands at Rs 610.

The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) revise non-subsidised LPG prices on the first of every month based on average imported cost and rupee-dollar exchange rates. (ANI)

IS frees 19 of 220 Assyrian Christians abducted in north-east Syria

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The Islamic State (IS) has reportedly freed 19 of the 220 Assyrian Christians captured by it in north-eastern Syria, activists said.

London-based monitoring group, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that an Assyrian commander had told it of the releases, reported the BBC.

Assyrian Christian officials said that the 16 men and three women released by the terror group returned safely to the Church of the Virgin Mary in the city of Hassakeh on Sunday.

Berkley gets emotional at ‘Saved by the Bell’ cast reunion

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Actress Elizabeth Berkley says the reunion of the cast of her 1990s sitcom ‘Saved by the Bell’ left her overwhelmed with joy.

Berkley, 42, said the cast is friends with each other in real life but because of everyone’s individual schedules could not meet so it was exciting seeing all together at same place, reported Us magazine.

“It was so exciting to see everyone again. We’re all friends in real life… But we hadn’t seen each other in that garb, right? And in that hallway in a long time. It was so much fun,” she said.

Berkley played Jessie Spano on the show.

NBCC, DDA sign MoU to build Delhi’s tallest tower

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State-owned National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) Friday signed an agreement with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to develop a 30-hectares mega project that will also house the tallest tower in the capital.

In a filing to the BSE, NBCC said it has “…Signed MoU with DDA for development of ‘East Delhi Hub’ at Karkardooma. The East Delhi Hub mega project will be developed on 30 hectare land.”
This would be the first project based on Transit Oriented Development (TOD) norms and Smart City features, it added.

17 additional trains in Delhi Metro from Monday

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The induction of 17 trains into the services of Delhi Metro from Monday may offer the commuters a slight respite from the constant jostling for space, especially during the peak hours in the evening.

The addition of the trains, which will be undertaking 104 extra trips during off peak (11 AM – 4.30 PM) and evening peak hours (4.30 PM – 8.30 PM) on all lines except Green Line (Line 5) and the Airport Express Line, are a part of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s crowd control measures.

Kim wants Beyonce to be her neighbour

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Reality TV star Kim Kardashian reportedly wants singer Beyonce Knowles to be her neighbour and move to the Hidden Hills here.

According to a source, the 34-year-old wants to cement her new friendship with Beyonce by convincing her to move to Hidden Hills, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“Bey doesn’t do suburbs – especially one populated by B-list actors and reality stars but Kim is being really pushy,” US OK magazine quoted the source as saying.

I love my engagement ring more than anything else: Nikki Reed

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‘Twilight’ actress Nikki Reed, who got engaged to ‘The Vampire Diaries’ star Ian Somerhalder last month, says her ring is her most prized possession.

Reed, 26, and Somerhalder, 36, dated for six months before getting engaged, reported Us magazine.

“Can’t tell you anything about it other than I love it more than anything in the world!” Reed said when asked about the ring.

She was earlier married to singer Paul McDonald before separating in 2014. Their divorce got finalised two months back.

Aejaz Gulab wants to direct Salman

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Aejaz Gulab, who made his debut as a director with “Ab Tak Chhappan 2”, says he is planning to approach superstar Salman Khan for his next.

“As a filmmaker everybody wants to grow and as far as I am concerned, I am very good friends with Salman Khan. I want to work with him in my next project and I will soon be approaching him for the same,” Gulab told IANS.

“But at the moment, it’s too early to reveal any more details,” added Gulab, who worked with the superstar in films like “Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega…” and “Veergati” as a stunt director.

Foreign Secretary Jaishankar begins SAARC Yatra with Bhutan

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Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar on Sunday began his four-nation SAARC Yatra with Bhutan, holding discussions on regional cooperation and bilateral ties here.

Calling on Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Jaishankar held discussions on all aspects of the bilateral partnership between the two nations.

After his visit of Bhutan, Jaishankar will travel to Bangladesh on March 2, Pakistan on March 3 and Afghanistan on March 4.

He will undertake visits to Sri Lanka, Maldives and Nepal later.

No sense in today’s lyrics: Bappi Lahiri

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Composer-singer Bappi Lahiri says these days lyrics have no meaning and are bizarre.

“There is no meaning of lyrics these days. It’s very disappointing. Listen to songs like ‘Chaar botal Vodka’. All these words are bizarre. One has to concentrate on the lyrics,” Bappi, who has given the vocals to “Hunterrr 303” from the film “Hunterrr”, told IANS.

“Think about the old lyrics. People still remember those songs. There is no sense in today’s lyrics like it had in the golden era. Lyrics have double meaning but having said that the young generation likes it,” he added.