Heavy rains, hailstorm bring relief to north India
By IANS
New Delhi/Shimla : Heavy rain and hailstorm Wednesday brought a hugely welcome relief to north India, fried and frazzled for a whole week in searing heat.
The widespread rain that brought a welcome fall in temperature was due to low pressure created over northwest India, said India Meteorological Department (IMD) here.
"The upper air circulation due to low pressure areas in Punjab and Rajasthan are the primary reason for this weather condition," said IMD Director S.C. Bhan.
High Court warns against ambulance misuse
By IANS
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Wednesday held that the misuse of ambulances of government hospitals by medical staff would be viewed seriously, stressing that their services be availed of only by patients.
A division bench of Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice S.N. Agrawal said: "No ambulance of any of the hospitals of both state and central governments would be used by the medical staff for their private use."
Delhi government asked to explain its order negating the court’s
By IANS
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Wednesday sought an explanation from the city government how it passed an executive order staying a ruling by the court to demolish unauthorised structures in urban villages of the capital.
A division bench of Chief Justice M.K. Sarma and Justice Rekha Sharma asked the Delhi government to file an affidavit explaining the passage of the Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna's April 26 order, staying the demolition of unauthorized structures in the urban villages of the capital.
Kalam wants modern medicine accessible to all citizens
By IANS
Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh) : President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Wednesday emphasised the urgency of making modern medicines available to the people of the country.
Kalam who was on a day's visit to Uttar Pradesh to attend a function marking the 2,550th anniversary of Lord Buddha attaining nirvana in Kushinagar, inaugurated the Wat Thai poly medical clinic run by Buddhist monks from Thailand.
Emphasising the importance of health care, he said the two major issues were augmenting primary healthcare system and the use of advanced technology to improve healthcare in the country.
Indian Army unsure about Arjun tank’s role
By Vishnu Makhijani
IANS
Pallu (Rajasthan) : The Indian Army seems unimpressed with the indigenously developed Arjun main battle tank (MBT) that has been 34 years in the making - and is unsure about the role in which it can be deployed.
These are the conclusions that can be drawn by the remarks of the army chief, Gen. J.J. Singh, during a war game conducted in Rajasthan's Thar Desert at which limited numbers of the Arjun were seen in action.
Kalam asks school kids to protect environment
By IANS,
Pratapgarh (Uttar Pradesh) : President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Wednesday addressed schoolchildren in a small Uttar Pradesh town and called upon them to plant trees, protect the environment and stay away from vices like drinking and gambling.
Kalam, who was on a flying visit to Uttar Pradesh, made a large group of children in Raniganj town of Pratapgarh district take an oath to that effect.
Apex court admits one more petition against quota law
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Supreme Court Monday admitted one more petition challenging the constitutional validity of the central law seeking to provide 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) students in centrally-funded higher education institutions.
Admitting the petition filed by a group of Jawaharlal Nehru University professors under the banner of Citizens for Equality, a bench headed by Justice B.N. Agrawal posted it for hearing May 8 along with a bunch of similar petitions.
Indian Army tests network-centric warfare skills
By Vishnu Makhijani
IANS
Pallu (Rajasthan) : Tanks rumbled across the desert as helicopter gunships hovered overhead to provide protective cover even as hundreds of soldiers parachuted into "enemy" territory when night fell in an Indian Army war game to test its newly-acquired IT-based battlefield techniques.
Elsewhere, soldiers scrambled across a water obstacle after a furious fire fight while helicopter borne troops surreptitiously penetrated into "enemy" territory to neutralise a radar installation and open an air corridor for the attacking forces.
Rural electrification to be complete by 2009: Shinde
By IANS,
Mumbai : India's ambitious rural electrification programme would be complete within a couple of years, Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde announced here Wednesday.
"Rural electrification will be complete by 2009," Shinde told reporters, while admitting that the country faced a power shortage of nearly 70,000 MW.
He added that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had called a meeting of all chief ministers in later this month to discuss various strategies to tide over the power crisis.
Indian Army war game brings battlefield alive
By IANS,
Pallu (Rajasthan) : Tanks rumbled across the desert as helicopter gun ships hovered overhead to provide protective cover and as night fell, hundreds of soldiers parachuted into "enemy" territory during an Indian Army war game being conducted to test its newly-acquired IT-based battlefield techniques.
Elsewhere, soldiers scrambled across a water obstacle after a furious fire fight while helicopter borne troops surreptitiously penetrated into "enemy" territory to neutralise a radar installation and open an air corridor for the attacking forces.
India calls for stable oil prices at Riyadh meet
By IANS,
New Delhi : High international crude oil prices benefit neither the importing countries nor producing nations, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said Wednesday and called for steps to ensure stability in all aspects of oil trade.
Referring to the three-fold jump in prices of oil since 2000, Deora told the 2nd ministerial conference of Asian oil producing and importing countries in Riyadh that such instability would adversely impact all of them in the long run.
Respite from heat wave likely in Rajasthan
By IANS,
Jaipur : There is good news for fried and frazzled Rajasthan. The metrological office has predicted a drop in temperatures in the next 24 hours.
The state has been experiencing intense heat wave conditions, with Bikaner recording a high of 45 degree Celsius, while this state capital was sweltering at 43.4 degrees. Jodhpur, Udaipur and Ajmer were also sizzling at 43 degrees celsius each.
Temperature in most parts of Rajasthan is at least 4-6 degrees above normal.
Nine killed as bus plunges into rivulet
By IANS,
Hyderabad : At least nine people including two women and as many children were killed and 25 sustained injuries Wednesday when a bus fell into a rivulet in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district.
Police said the bus, belonging to the state transport corporation, plunged in to 20-feet rivulet from Gundlakamma bridge near Vinukonda town of the district, about 300 km from here.
The driver, who was among the injured, said the front tyre of the bus burst and he lost control of the vehicle.
Rajasthan begins statewide animal census
By IANS,
New Delhi : Rajasthan began a statewide animal census Wednesday with a special focus on counting the dwindling tigers and disappearing vultures.
"The comprehensive animal census will continue in 29 destinations including sanctuaries and national parks across the state," said R. Malhotra, chief wildlife warden of the state.
"While counting would continue in Sariska and Ranthambore till May 18, it would come to an end in the other 27 places on May 10," Malhotra told IANS over telephone.
BJP demands closure of controversial Kerala prayer centre
By IANS,
Kannur (Kerala) : The Kerala unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday demanded immediate closure of a Christian prayer centre near Trissur district against which police have filed a case following complaint of irregularities by a court-appointed investigation team.
"Both the Left and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) are supporting the activities of the prayer centre. We demand the centre be closed down because the police have found a lot of irregularities. This is the Noida of Kerala," BJP state president P.K. Krishna Das told reporters here.
Jet Airways inducts 10 new Boeing aircraft
By IANS,
Seattle : Jet Airways, India's largest private carrier, Wednesday announced addition of 10 new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to its fleet at the Boeing headquarters here.
The airline, which bought out rival Air Sahara for $356 million last month, would start operating the new aircraft from May 5 to celebrate its 14th anniversary.
"Jet Airways' new design is reflective of our new efforts to take our superior passenger service to international destinations in Europe and the US," Naresh Goyal, chairman of Jet Airways, said in a statement.
Five people drown in Andhra Pradesh
By IANS,
Hyderabad : In a double tragedy, three people drowned in an Andhra Pradesh lake Wednesday while trying to fish out the bodies of two children who had fallen into the water the day before.
The incident occurred at a lake on the outskirts of Vishveshrayapuram village in East Godavari district.
Police said two friends Akhil and Manoj, aged between 10 and 12 years, died while playing near the lake Tuesday. When the two did not reach home till night, their families began the search this morning.
Court seeks status report on Nandigram from government
By IANS,
Kolkata : The much deferred hearing on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report on Nandigram began Wednesday with a division bench of the Calcutta High Court directing the West Bengal government to file a status report on the March 14 police firing by Thursday.
The high court bench comprising Chief Justice S.S. Nijjar and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh asked Advocate General Balai Roy to place a report on Nandigram immediately before it.
18 newborn deaths in Kerala hospital, superintendent expelled
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : At least 18 newborn babies have died in a hospital here in the month of April alone and its superintendent was Wednesday removed from his post for not informing the state government about the deaths.
Unofficial sources, however, put the number of infant deaths at the state-owned Sree Avittam Tirunal (SAT) Hospital here at 23. The reason behind them is said to be infections in the labour room, according to blood tests conducted at the microbiology department of the Medical College Hospital.
Left government in Kerala to celebrate first anniversary
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : The V.S. Achuthanandan-led Left government in Kerala is looking forward to celebrating the first anniversary of the government this month even as the Congress-led opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) Wednesday decided to observe a protest day on the occasion.
"The cabinet would meet next week to decide what needs to be done and all of you can look forward to some new announcements," Achuthanandan told reporters here Wednesday.
Time for Indian, British lawyers to join hands: UK minister
By IANS,
New Delhi : Lawyers from India and Britain can join hands to compete for international contracts together, says Britain's Constitutional and Legal Affairs Minister Catherine Ashton.
"If British and Indian legal firms partner, it will enable Indian and British lawyers to compete for international contracts together," Baroness Ashton, who is here to press for globalisation of legal services, told select journalists here Wednesday.
22 die in Himachal bus accident
By IANS,
Shimla : At least 22 people were killed and 24 injured when the bus they were travelling in rolled into a deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh early Wednesday.
The private bus was on its way from Kiari village to Shimla when it fell into a 300-metre gorge near Kotkhai, about 60 km from here, police said.
"Eighteen people were killed on the spot and four declared dead in hospital," said Shimla district police chief Anand Pratap Singh.
All the injured have been admitted to a Shimla hospital.
The dead include two Oriya and two Nepali labourers.
2 Indians chosen for Korean human rights award
By IANS,
Seoul : Two Indians have been chosen for a prestigious South Korean human rights prize in recognition for their work towards improving human rights in India.
Lenin Raghuvanshi from Uttar Pradesh and Irom Sharmila from Manipur are the co-recipients of this year's Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.
Raghuvanshi and his Varanasi-based People's Vigilance Committee On Human Rights (PVCHR) have fought the Indian caste system through various social activities. His group has lent support to torture victims in different Indian states.
Gill’s ‘cop corruption’ comment rattles Chhattisgarh
By IANS,
Raipur : Chhattisgarh Wednesday said it would look into its former security advisor K.P.S. Gill's comments linking rising Maoist violence in the state to "mass corruption in cop recruitments".
Gill was quoted by media reports Tuesday as saying that the Maoist insurgency was because of poor administration and mass corruption in police appointments. He is also said to have remarked that his suggestions to tackle violence were brushed aside by the government.
Rain, breeze brings chill to north India
By IANS
New Delhi/Shimla : North India witnessed a respite from last week's scorching heat in a cascading effect after heavy rains and hailstorms lashed Shimla in Himachal Pradesh early Wednesday.
Light rains and strong breeze in Delhi and Agra late Wednesday morning brought down temperatures and cheered people in the capital who had been staying indoors due to the searing heat.
Foreign tourists in the city of Taj Mahal, who had been avoiding visits to the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, too welcomed the unexpected relief.
22 killed in Himachal bus accident
By IANS,
Shimla : Twenty-two people were killed Wednesday in a bus accident in Himachal Pradesh's Kotkhai area, 64 km from here.
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Jharkhand students caught in Catch-22 situation over NCERT books
By IANS,
Ranchi : Students in Jharkhand are facing an acute academic crisis.
Despite getting the copyright to publish NCERT books two years back, the state government has till now been unable to print the required number of books prescribed in the syllabus.
The crisis has been continuing for four years now since the Jharkhand government decided to switch over to the NCERT syllabus to improve the level of the education in the state.
The sudden switchover led to an acute shortage of NCERT books.
N-deal: Burns going to New Delhi for ‘final’ agreement
By IANS,
Washington : Encouraged by "extensive progress" on the bilateral civil nuclear cooperation pact with India, US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns will be going to New Delhi later this month to reach a "final" 123 agreement that will pave the way for resumption of nuclear trade between the two countries.
India acquires 12 contracted Weapon Locating Radars
By Gulshan Luthra,
IANS
New Delhi : The Indian Army has taken delivery of all the 12 sophisticated Weapon Locating Radars (WLRs) it had contracted to buy from leading US arms manufacturer Raytheon.
Ten of the 12 Firefinder radars had been supplied till last year, and the remaining two recently, according to a report in the coming issue of India Strategic defence magazine, an advance copy of which has been made available to IANS.
Rains cool Shimla
By IANS,
Shimla : Rains and hailstorms lashed this popular resort town of Himachal Pradesh early Wednesday, bringing the cold back to other parts of the state.
Rains and hailstorms were accompanied by regular claps of thunder as the cold returned, forcing many to pull out their woollens.
The wet weather brought respite to many places in the hill state where it hadn't rained for weeks.
On Tuesday, the temperature crossed the 25-degree Celsius mark while the minimum rose to 17 for the second day in a row.
British Indian doctor makes record eye check-ups
By IANS,
London : Premal Patel, an Indian origin optician who was part of a British charity, made a record 850 eye examinations in a day while volunteering in India.
Premal Patel, who was part of a team with the Vision Aid Overseas (VAO) charity, carried out a record 850 eye examinations in a day in the Indian city of Bangalore in March.
The charity helps people with sight difficulties in developing countries.
Transgenders show high awareness about HIV/AIDS: Survey
By Papri Sri Raman,
Indo-Asian News Service
Villupuram (Tamil Nadu) : A huge majority of the transgender community in India is highly aware of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS and their prevention, says a survey by a Chennai-based NGO.
CPI fomenting trouble against steel plants: Raman Singh
By Sujeet Kumar,
Indo-Asian News Service
Raipur : Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has accused the Communist Party of India (CPI) of inciting tribal villagers against two proposed steel plants, but says his government is committed to industrialisation and will not relocate the projects.
"The CPI, which is offering land to industries in West Bengal despite violent protests by land oustees, has stoked tension by provoking locals for violence in Bastar's Lohandiguda area where Tata Steel plans to set up an integrated steel plant," Singh told IANS.
India, US hold talks on 123 pact
Washington, May 1 (IANS) Amid uncertainties about the fate of the civil nuclear deal, India and the US Tuesday held a crucial round of talks and tried to sort out differences over the 123 agreement that will lead to resumption of nuclear commerce between the two countries.
Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon held talks with US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, Washington's chief interlocutor on the nuclear deal, on the text of the 123 agreement.
Enforcement Directorate denying me vital documents: Natwar Singh
By IANS, New Delhi : Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and his son Jagat Singh Tuesday contended before the Delhi High Court that they needed all documents relating to the oil-for-food scam to defend themselves against the Enforcement Directorate's probe against them for the alleged foreign exchange violations.
Advocate Arvind Nigam made the assertion before Justice B.D. Ahmed while arguing on a petition by the father-son duo seeking court's direction to the centre to supply them all the documents, brought by India's special envoy Virender Dayal from the United States.
Sikh shrine generates heat over cooling proposal
By Jaideep Sarin, Indo-Asian News Service, Amritsar : A proposal to install air-conditioners inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple - Harmandir Sahib, the holiest of Sikh shrines - here has run into stiff opposition.
Even though a committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) - the mini parliament of Sikhism that manages gurdwaras (Sikh shrines) in Punjab and outside - is to take a final decision Wednesday on the installation of air-conditioners, the move is being opposed by various quarters.
Hindustan Motors workers begin hunger strike
By IANS, Kolkata : After striking work for more than a month, workers of state-run Hindustan Motors' Uttarpara unit here sat on a hunger strike Tuesday demanding Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's intervention to resolve the labour unrest in the factory.
Workers affiliated to trade union body Sangrami Sramik Karmachari Union (SSKU) took part in the hunger strike even as members of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) simultaneously staged a relay hunger strike to press their demand for an acceptable settlement of the factory stalemate.
Rallies, promises of legislation for workers mark May Day
By IANS, New Delhi : May Day was observed across the country Tuesday with promises of social legislation for the unorganised sector and a torch rally by sex workers in Kolkata demanding their social rights.
In its message, the Left-affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) pledged solidarity with the working class and the peoples of the socialist countries for steadfastly holding aloft the banner of socialism.
Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said he would oppose downsizing the workforce in the Indian Railways.
Court summons Delhi Transport Corporation chief for defying orders
By IANS, New Delhi : Irked over Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) Chairman Anshu Prakash's failure to appear before it to explain non-payment of pension dues to a retired employee, the Delhi High Court has ordered him to be present on May 10.
Justice S. Murlidhar said Monday: "The court takes a serious view of the attitude of the DTC chairman in presuming that by merely filing an application for exemption from appearance, he can stay away from the court."
"It is not open to the DTC chairman to unilaterally decide to avoid compliance of the binding orders of this court," he said.
Intense heat in north, central India; Churu is 46.2 degrees
By IANS, New Delhi : A searing summer sun saw the mercury cross 40 degrees Celsius in most big cities across north and central India Tuesday, with Churu in Rajasthan recording a national high of 46.2 degrees.
Five cities of Rajasthan recorded over 43 degrees Celsius. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ganga Nagar witnessed 45.2 degrees Celsius followed by state capital Jaipur 44.4 degrees, Barmer 44.2 degrees, Bikaner 44 degrees and Udaipur 43 degrees Celsius.
Media is important pillar of democracy: Arjun Singh
By IANS, New Delhi : Media is an important pillar of democracy and a key institution to mobilise public opinion, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh said here Tuesday.
"It is always interesting to study how media reports and interprets political events and issues and how media itself influences the political processes and shapes public opinion," the minister told a seminar on the role of media.
Seat allocation in airlines made compulsory
By IANS, New Delhi : The government Tuesday made it compulsory for all domestic airlines to allocate seat and row numbers of passengers to ensure correct loading of the aircraft.
According to a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) here, passengers will be allotted specific seats, which will be indicated in their boarding passes.
The move will ensure keeping the centre of gravity within limits at all times during flight, said an official statement.
Radio jockey Ayushmann wins Young Achievers Award
By IANS, New Delhi : Ayushmann, a radio jockey with BIG 92.7 FM, has become the first in his field to win the Young Achievers Award.
The award has been instituted by the Bharat Nirman charitable trust, which honours young achievers in different fields.
Shahnawaz Husain, Lok Sabha member, and eminent musician and Grammy Award winner Vishwa Mohan Bhatt gave away the award Monday at the Siri Fort auditorium.
After receiving the award, Ayushmann said: "It is an honour to be presented with this award. I am proud of the fact that my work has been recognised by such an illustrious body."
Kerala village relocated from elephant corridor
By IANS, New Delhi : A village in Kerala's proposed elephant corridor has been successfully relocated by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), an NGO here, to put an end to the man-elephant conflict and protect the wild animals as well.
The six-km-long Tirunelli-Kudrakote corridor connects the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala and the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary in neighbouring Karnataka and forms an important pathway for the elephant population in the Western Ghats.
Heat wave across Rajasthan
By IANS, Jaipur : Rajasthan continued to reel under intense heat wave conditions Tuesday with the mercury hovering over 42 degrees Celsius in many places, forcing people to remain indoors.
The met department said there would be no change in the temperatures Wednesday. However, isolated dust storms or thunderstorms could occur.
Temperatures in most parts of Rajasthan continued to be three-five degrees above normal. Even the nights in the desert state are not cool, especially the western parts, where the minimum temperature has shot up to over 30 degrees Celsius.
Fire in Hindustan Times building
By IANS, New Delhi : A fire broke out in the 18-storey Hindustan Times building in the capital's central business district here Tuesday.
The incident was reported at 6.05 p.m, fire officials said.
The building is home to two leading newspapers, the Hindustan Times and Dainik Hindustan, and a host of other offices.
"We have sent six fire engines to the spot," said a fire official adding that people from the building were being evacuated.
The incident was reported from the first floor of the building, which has the editorial offices of the two newspapers.
Kalam to visit Uttar Pradesh Wednesday
By IANS, New Delhi : President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will be in Uttar Pradesh for a day Wednesday to attend the concluding function of the 2,500th anniversary of the Buddha attaining nirvana in Kushinagar and to interact with farmers and self help groups.
Besides Kushinagar, the president will also visit Pratapgarh district during his hectic one-day visit to the state.
The president will visit the Royal Thai Monastery in Kushinagar that has relics of Lord Buddha. He will be greeted by nine monks. Kalam will plant a sapling and address a gathering.
Tribal body to expose politicians through hoardings
By IANS, Ranchi : A tribal organisation in Jharkhand has decided to put up hoardings along roads to expose the politicians and officials allegedly grabbing tribal land in violation of the law.
Pahra Mahasamiti, a social and political organisation of tribal people, said it would come out with the names of politicians and officials involved in violating laws that protect the land rights of tribal people.
Haryana to build labour colonies around industrial areas
By IANS, Chandigarh : The Haryana government Tuesday announced it would build accommodation for labourers around all major industrial areas coming up in various parts of the state.
Making the announcement on the occasion of International Labour Day, Industries Minister Lachhman Dass Arora said the aim of the new policy was to prevent mushrooming illegal slums at places where industries were being set up.
"Slums come up where the labour class does not get adequate and affordable accommodation. The new labour colonies will take care of this requirement," Arora said.
Lalu opposed to retrenchment in railways
By IANS, New Delhi : Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Tuesday said he was opposed to retrenchment in Indian Railways.
Lalu Prasad told newsmen on the occasion of May Day, "I have written to the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) to introduce a waiver against this rule in the railways."
"I have written to the prime minister just 15 days ago saying the rule of reducing the workforce in every ministry by 20 percent should not be applied to us. This rule came during the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) government of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee."
India, US intensify efforts for democracy, nuclear talks
By IANS, Washington : India and the US, holding a crucial round of negotiations to iron out major differences on the civil nuclear deal Tuesday, have stepped up cooperation on global issues like promoting democracy, human rights and sustainable development.
Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon held talks with Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula J. Dobriansky at the fifth meeting of the US-India Global Issues Forum here Monday and discussed a host of pressing global issues that require joint action.
No delay in delivery of Russian aircraft carrier: navy chief
By IANS, Mumbai : Dismissing reports that the delivery of Soviet-era aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov would be delayed, Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta Tuesday said the carrier would arrive in the Indian waters by 2008-end or early 2009.
"It is as per schedule. It may slip a few months here and there because of the climatic conditions at that time," Admiral Mehta told reporters after a naval investiture ceremony at INS Kunjali-II, the naval helibase of the Western Naval Command, the sword arm of the Indian Navy, here.
Sex workers demand labour rights on May Day
By IANS, Kolkata : Thousands of sex workers from different parts of West Bengal Tuesday took out a May Day torch rally from the Sonagachi red light area here, demanding social rights and the status of a regular worker.
Over 3,000 sex workers participated in the rally that started from Sonagachi at midnight and ended at College Square in north Kolkata Tuesday.
Sonagachi is the largest red light district in West Bengal and one of the biggest in Asia with more than 10,000 sex workers living in the same area.
Malaria claims 25 lives in Assam, alert sounded
By IANS, Guwahati : The Assam government Tuesday sounded an alert following a malaria epidemic that has claimed at least 25 lives and affected about 10,000 people.
"Doctors and paramedics have been put on alert across Assam with medical teams, including mobile units, fanning out to vulnerable areas to check the spread of malaria," Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told journalists.
Eight of Assam's 29 districts have been hit by the mosquito-borne disease.
Chandra Shekhar was a true liberal: Manmohan Singh
By IANS, New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday showered praise on his former boss and India's 9th prime minister Chandra Shekhar, whom he had served as economic advisor between December 1990 and March 1991.
The occasion was the inauguration of a new campus of the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID), a think tank focused on industrialisation that has been founded by Chandra Shekhar, who turns 80 on July 1.
Don’t privatise waste, plead rag-pickers
By IANS, New Delhi : Mohammad Nazur and his wife, who used to earn Rs.250-300 a day by rummaging garbage for junk and waste, are protesting - along with 5,000 other waste pickers - against the privatisation of waste, a government move that forces them to sell at a lower rate.
"My wife and I live a life of dignity. We don't beg, but work for a living, so what if it is collecting waste? We were happy with our earnings. But after the privatisation, we are forced to sell the collected junk to a dalal (middleman) at a much lower price. We hardly make Rs.150 now," said Nazrul.
Helping hearing impaired choose their husbands
By IANS, New Delhi : In a unique bid to help hearing-impaired women find a suitable partner, an NGO here has teamed up with a leading marriage portal to hold a traditional marriage ceremony Wednesday.
Into its 15th year now, the swayamvar, which is the traditional process of a woman selecting the man she wants to marry from a gathering of suitors, is gaining popularity as applications pour in from across the country.
The special initiative is being organised by the Delhi Foundation of Deaf Women (DFDW) in association with Shaadi.com.
Kalam greets people on Buddha Purnima
By IANS, New Delhi : President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Tuesday extended his greetings to the nation on the eve of the Buddha Purnima festival, saying it should be an occasion to turn to Buddha's message of non-violence.
"Lord Buddha's teachings of non-violence, love and comparison are of eternal significance in the present time," Kalam said in his message. Buddha Purnima is the full moon day commemorating Lord Buddha's enlightenment.
Srinagar-Leh highway re-opens after winter
By IANS, Srinagar : The Srinagar-Leh highway in Jammu and Kashmir was Tuesday thrown open to vehicular traffic after six months of biting cold and snowfall.
The strategic 434-km-long highway passes through the Zojilla Pass that connects the cold, mountain region of Ladakh with the rest of the country. It remains closed each year for over six months due to heavy snowfall, which makes any movement across impossible.
Only industrialization can resolve poverty: Manmohan Singh
By IANS, New Delhi : Industrialisation may throw up challenges like alienation of the working class, environmental damage and displacement of people, but is necessary for social transformation and economic development,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said.
"It is only through rapid industrialisation that we can find meaningful solution to the problem of mass unemployment, underdevelopment," the prime minister said, inaugurating the campus of the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development.
‘Corporates benefit from taxpayer but shy of social duties’
By IANS, New Delhi : Madhu Goud Yaskhi, often dubbed an 'NRI MP' as he left a flourishing law practice in New York to enter parliament, has criticised corporates for enjoying "all kinds of benefits from taxpayers' money" while shying away from extending even basic facilities to poorer sections of society.
Kerala’s auto-rickshaws vroom up for golden jubilee
By IANS, Kochi : It is party time for auto-rickshaw drivers here as the three-wheeler vehicle Tuesday celebrates the completion of 50 years on Kerala streets.
Zakir Hussain, president of the Kalamaserry Auto Rickshaw Workers Cooperative Society, said the day is being celebrated with cultural programmes and a feast with family members.
"There are 1,000 auto-rickshaw drivers in this cooperative society, which is believed to be the largest of its kind in the state. In the afternoon we will have a full-course meal," he said.
Sikh shrine generates heat over AC installation
By Jaideep Sarin, IANS, Amritsar: A proposal to install air-conditioners inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple - the holiest of Sikh shrines - here has run into stiff opposition.
Even though a committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) - the mini parliament of Sikhism that manages gurdwaras (Sikh shrines) in Punjab and outside - is to take a final decision on the installation of air-conditioners (ACs) Wednesday, the move is being opposed by various quarters.
Kerala wants river-linking project dropped
By IANS, New Delhi: Kerala has asked the central government to drop a river linking project in south India as it would hamper drinking water and irrigation facilities required for the southern parts of Kerala.
"The proposed project to link Pamba-Achankovil-Vypar rivers in the south would affect Kerala adversely in many ways," Francis George, MP from Kerala's Idukki district, told the Lok Sabha Monday.
The proposed project is to divert waters from Achankovil and Pamba rivers in Kerala to Tamil Nadu's Vypar River.
Visakha Desai wins Woman of Achievement award
By IANS, New York: Vishakha N. Desai, president of the Asia Society, has been conferred the Woman of Achievement' award here Monday at a ceremony here.
She was given the award by Women in Development, a non-profit professional association promoting the cause of women in New York.
Desai was selected for her social contribution through transformational work, said the News India Times, an ethnic Indian newspaper.
Koda’s wife returns after two years
By IANS,Ranchi : Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda is feeling on top of the world ever since his wife returned to him after a gap of two and a half years.
"Today I am feeling great," Koda told reporters Monday, the day his estranged wife Gita Biruli returned.
Koda, who had gotten into the habit of skipping questions from the media on his marital status, threw a lavish welcome party for her at his official residence Monday.
Governor Syed Sibte Razi, ministers and bureaucrats also attended the party, said local media reports.
IAF tender for 126 fighters in two months
By IANS, New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is likely to float within two months a long-delayed global tender for 126 multi-role combat jets in a deal believed to be valued at around $9 billion (Rs.370 billion).
"There are certain procedural issues that need to be resolved before we float a request for proposal (RFP) for the aircraft," an official said.
"This should happen in a month or two," the official told IANS, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Elephants checkmate Jharkhand’s tribal hunters
Ranchi, May 1 (IANS) This year, Jharkhand elephants did what the forest officials could not do in the past - chase away tribals who came to hunt and kill wild animals in Dalma sanctuary.
To celebrate the ongoing 'Visu shikar' festival, 400 tribal people of the Dalma Buru Sendra Sammittee (DBSS) had gathered at the wildlife sanctuary for a spot of hunting and killing when a herd of elephants saw them and chased them away.
Kolkata to fund repair of Raja Rammohun Roy’s tomb in Bristol
By Prasun Sonwalkar
Bristol, May 1 (IANS) The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has promised to provide funds to the Bristol-based expert on the life and times of Indian social reformer Raja Rammohun Roy to undertake repairs on his tomb where his remains lie buried. Carla Contractor, a local historian, has returned after visiting Kolkata for six days as the guest of the KMC and is looking forward to initiating repair work next month on the tomb, beneath which lie the remains of Rammohun Roy, who died in Bristol on Sept 27, 1833.
Diplomatic passports come under immigration scanner
New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) The misuse of diplomatic passports is under focus, with sleuths instructed to keep a watchful eye on people travelling abroad with this document after an MP was arrested for his suspected role in an immigration racket.
"We have received intimation from the Intelligence Bureau to keep a check on all those travelling on diplomatic passports. It's a precautionary measure," a senior immigration official told IANS.
The directive has gone out to officials at other international airports in the country as well.
Planning your holidays on the Net could get simpler
New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) The way you plan your travel itinerary is changing at the speed of Internet. To keep pace with the rest of the world, India too needs to focus on new online strategies for inbound and outbound travel, suggest organisers of an upcoming conference on the subject.
To be held at the Hotel Inter Continental The Grand here May 18, the conference will focus on new opportunities for online travel payments and how to target, engage, fulfil and retain online customers, among other themes.
Poor apple crop likely again in Himachal
Shimla, May 1 (IANS) It could be a second consecutive poor year for Himachal Pradesh's apple crop, according to early estimates by farmers. And many suspect global warming to be the culprit.
Radio collars to monitor tigers
Jaipur, May 1 (IANS) Rajasthan, under fire for the massive poaching of its tigers, plans to improve the big cat's safety with radio collars as well as a joint forest department-police cell.
Copyright laws restrict sharing, learning: study
New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) In a world that is part of the digital revolution era, restrictive copyright laws still act as a serious barrier to sharing and learning from each other, more so in countries of the global South where three quarters of the population live, says a study.