The Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Stephen Harper, will convey a heartfelt message on Wednesday to families of the victims of the Kanishka bombings on the 25th anniversary of the worst terror attack in the country's history.
“Some wounds are too deep to be healed even by the remedy of time,” Mr Harper wrote in his speech which he prepared for the occasion.
“We are sorry,” the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) said quoting the Prime Minister.
“Harper will say the destruction of Air India Flight 182 was, and remains, the single worst act of terrorism in Canadian history,” the national broadcaster reported.
“He will describe terrorism as an enemy with a thousand faces, and a hatred that festers in the darkest spots of the human mind,” it added.“This was evil, perpetrated by cowards. Despicable, senseless and vicious,” Mr Harper would say.
Mr Harper had promised to respond positively to the damning report into the 1985 Kanishka bombings, especially on the call for compensation, as the families torn apart by the tragedy said the word “closure” still haunts them.
The final report into the Air India tragedy that killed 329 people recommended ex-gratia payment to families of victims, mostly of Indian-origin, and blamed the Canadian government for its failure to prevent the country's worst terror attack.
Soon after the report's release, Mr Harper met the families and termed the document a “damning indictment of many things that occurred before and after the tragedy”.
“Our government launched this inquiry to bring closure to those who still grieve and to ensure that measures are taken to prevent such a tragedy in the future,” he had said.
Inderjit Singh Reyat, the only person ever convicted in the case, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2003.
Suspected ring-leader Talwinder Singh Parmar died in India in 1991, and the two main surviving suspects — Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri — were both acquitted in March 2005 after a 19-month trial.
Showing posts with label daily news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label daily news. Show all posts
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Dam spillway lies unrepaired
The urgent repairs suggested for the spillway of the Nagarjuna Sagar dam nine months ago are yet to be undertaken though another monsoon season has started.
Experts are worried that the safety of the dam may be in jeopardy if floods occur before the spillway is repaired.
Part of the spillway and adjoining vents were damaged in the record-level discharge of water from Nagarjuna Sagar during the 2009 floods. The dam safety committee recommended immediate repairs and the irrigation department prepared proposals and also selected some companies to take up the work.
However, the government intervened and cancelled the proposal to hand over the work on nomination and directed the officials to go for short tenders.
But it took the department three months to call short tenders. When the bids were opened, only one company was found to be qualified. But the irrigation officials are now trying to relax the tender conditions again and this has generated another controversy.
All the files related to the issue have now been placed before the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, who will take a final decision on the matter.
"The safety panel recommended immediate action but we have little time left,” said Mr Adityanath Das, secretary of irrigation. “We have asked the panel whether we can take up the work post monsoon.”
With repairs at Srisailam almost completed, the inflows from Almatti, Narayanpur and Jurala will start reaching in July. This has added to the worries about the dam’s safety.
Experts are worried that the safety of the dam may be in jeopardy if floods occur before the spillway is repaired.
Part of the spillway and adjoining vents were damaged in the record-level discharge of water from Nagarjuna Sagar during the 2009 floods. The dam safety committee recommended immediate repairs and the irrigation department prepared proposals and also selected some companies to take up the work.
However, the government intervened and cancelled the proposal to hand over the work on nomination and directed the officials to go for short tenders.
But it took the department three months to call short tenders. When the bids were opened, only one company was found to be qualified. But the irrigation officials are now trying to relax the tender conditions again and this has generated another controversy.
All the files related to the issue have now been placed before the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, who will take a final decision on the matter.
"The safety panel recommended immediate action but we have little time left,” said Mr Adityanath Das, secretary of irrigation. “We have asked the panel whether we can take up the work post monsoon.”
With repairs at Srisailam almost completed, the inflows from Almatti, Narayanpur and Jurala will start reaching in July. This has added to the worries about the dam’s safety.
Slipper ad puts Didi in trouble
The railway minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, appears to have landed in major trouble over an advertisement in which she is shown modelling for a particular brand of rubber slippers (hawai chappals).
A full-page advertisement in a Bengali daily on Monday showed Ms Banerjee walking in her now-famous rubber slippers. The name of the brand — Ajanta Hawai — is mentioned clearly along with the one-line caption in Bengali: “drirpta padakshwep (firm and bright footsteps).”
The Left parties have sought a clarification from the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on the matter and are also looking into moving the Election Commission to examine if a breach of the law has taken place.
Sensing trouble, Ms Banerjee has directed her ministry to investigate how the advertisement appeared, and her close associates claimed that “Didi had no knowledge” of it. The railway ministry has ordered an inquiry, which will be conducted by the Railway Board member-secretary, Mr Shivaji Rakshit.
An FIR has also been lodged at the Parliament Street police station here against the footwear company for having used the minister’s picture without her prior consent. The PMO has sought further information from the ministry.
A full-page advertisement in a Bengali daily on Monday showed Ms Banerjee walking in her now-famous rubber slippers. The name of the brand — Ajanta Hawai — is mentioned clearly along with the one-line caption in Bengali: “drirpta padakshwep (firm and bright footsteps).”
The Left parties have sought a clarification from the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on the matter and are also looking into moving the Election Commission to examine if a breach of the law has taken place.
Sensing trouble, Ms Banerjee has directed her ministry to investigate how the advertisement appeared, and her close associates claimed that “Didi had no knowledge” of it. The railway ministry has ordered an inquiry, which will be conducted by the Railway Board member-secretary, Mr Shivaji Rakshit.
An FIR has also been lodged at the Parliament Street police station here against the footwear company for having used the minister’s picture without her prior consent. The PMO has sought further information from the ministry.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Park in memory of YSR to come up in Nallamalla forest range
The Union ministry of Environment and Forest has cleared a proposal for building the YSR Smrithivanam, a park in memory of late Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
The smrithivanam will come up on a 6.17 hectares site at Pavuralagutta in the Nallamalla Forest range where YSR was killed in a helicopter crash on September 2 last year.
Union Minister for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh who met Chief Minister K. Rosaiah in the Secretariat here today informed that his ministry had cleared the proposal for setting up of YSR Smrithivanam.
The union minister also discussed the proposal for setting up a tiger conservation zone in the Srisailam— Nagarjunasagar forest area, sources in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.
The smrithivanam will come up on a 6.17 hectares site at Pavuralagutta in the Nallamalla Forest range where YSR was killed in a helicopter crash on September 2 last year.
Union Minister for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh who met Chief Minister K. Rosaiah in the Secretariat here today informed that his ministry had cleared the proposal for setting up of YSR Smrithivanam.
The union minister also discussed the proposal for setting up a tiger conservation zone in the Srisailam— Nagarjunasagar forest area, sources in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.
Notice served on 128 TTD personnel
In a significant development in the probe currently under way into the multi-crore Arjitha tickets scandal which rocked the TTD, the AP State Vigilance and Enforcement Wing has on Tuesday served notice on as many as 128 TTD personnel. Those named are all working in the two core departments -- Tirumala temple and the Arjitha office -- and they are both the in-service and retired personnel.
The Enforcement wing, which at the instance of the government has taken over the probe from the TTD's own Vigilance and Security wing, has in its notice asked the persons concerned to appear before it for an inquiry in connection with the scam.
The Enforcement wing, which at the instance of the government has taken over the probe from the TTD's own Vigilance and Security wing, has in its notice asked the persons concerned to appear before it for an inquiry in connection with the scam.
India among worst ranked countries in tackling human trafficking
India has been ranked as a “Tier II Watch List” country – only one level better than worst-performing Tier III countries such as Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe – in the 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) compiled by the State Department.
Given the definition of Tier II Watch List in the TIP, this implies that India ranks among those countries whose governments “do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.”
Additionally, one of the three following conditions was found in India: first, that the absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking was very significant or was significantly increasing; second, that there was a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year; or, third, that the determination that India was making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with minimum standards was based on commitments by India itself, to take additional future steps over the next year.
In terms of the definition of trafficking under the TVPA, a person may be a trafficking victim “regardless of whether they once consented, participated in a crime as a direct result of being trafficked, were transported into the exploitative situation, or were simply born into a state of servitude.”
The TIP adds that at the heart of this phenomenon are the myriad forms of enslavement including forced labour, sex trafficking, bonded labour debt bondage among migrant labourers, involuntary domestic servitude, forced child labour, child soldiers and child sex trafficking.
While most of South Asia ranks along with India as a Tier II Watch List country, Pakistan is notably ranked as Tier II – one level better than India. Thus while Pakistan’s government did not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, it was making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with those standards – with none of the three additional conditions found in the case of India applicable to Pakistan.
Most developed countries, but even some developing countries such as Colombia and Nigeria, were ranked as Tier I countries in the TIP, that is countries whose governments fully complied with the TVPA’s minimum standards.
Commenting further on the case of India, the TIP noted that the Government of India “does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so, particularly with regard to the law enforcement response to sex trafficking.”
Yet, the TIP argues, the Indian government did not demonstrate sufficient progress in its law enforcement, protection, or prevention efforts to address labour trafficking, particularly bonded labour. “Therefore India is placed on Tier 2 Watch List for the seventh consecutive year,” the report said.
The TIP also noted that there were few criminal convictions of forced labour during the reporting period and police raids of brick kilns, rice mills, factories, brothels, and other places of human trafficking were usually prompted by NGO activists, as were efforts to provide rehabilitation and protective services to the victims removed from human trafficking.
Further, national and state government anti-trafficking infrastructure, and the implementation of the Bonded Labour (System) Abolition Act (BLSA), “remained weak,” the TIP observed, and the number of government shelters increased but some continued to be of poor quality. Some public officials’ complicity in trafficking remained a major problem, the report noted.
Given the definition of Tier II Watch List in the TIP, this implies that India ranks among those countries whose governments “do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.”
Additionally, one of the three following conditions was found in India: first, that the absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking was very significant or was significantly increasing; second, that there was a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year; or, third, that the determination that India was making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with minimum standards was based on commitments by India itself, to take additional future steps over the next year.
In terms of the definition of trafficking under the TVPA, a person may be a trafficking victim “regardless of whether they once consented, participated in a crime as a direct result of being trafficked, were transported into the exploitative situation, or were simply born into a state of servitude.”
The TIP adds that at the heart of this phenomenon are the myriad forms of enslavement including forced labour, sex trafficking, bonded labour debt bondage among migrant labourers, involuntary domestic servitude, forced child labour, child soldiers and child sex trafficking.
While most of South Asia ranks along with India as a Tier II Watch List country, Pakistan is notably ranked as Tier II – one level better than India. Thus while Pakistan’s government did not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, it was making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with those standards – with none of the three additional conditions found in the case of India applicable to Pakistan.
Most developed countries, but even some developing countries such as Colombia and Nigeria, were ranked as Tier I countries in the TIP, that is countries whose governments fully complied with the TVPA’s minimum standards.
Commenting further on the case of India, the TIP noted that the Government of India “does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so, particularly with regard to the law enforcement response to sex trafficking.”
Yet, the TIP argues, the Indian government did not demonstrate sufficient progress in its law enforcement, protection, or prevention efforts to address labour trafficking, particularly bonded labour. “Therefore India is placed on Tier 2 Watch List for the seventh consecutive year,” the report said.
The TIP also noted that there were few criminal convictions of forced labour during the reporting period and police raids of brick kilns, rice mills, factories, brothels, and other places of human trafficking were usually prompted by NGO activists, as were efforts to provide rehabilitation and protective services to the victims removed from human trafficking.
Further, national and state government anti-trafficking infrastructure, and the implementation of the Bonded Labour (System) Abolition Act (BLSA), “remained weak,” the TIP observed, and the number of government shelters increased but some continued to be of poor quality. Some public officials’ complicity in trafficking remained a major problem, the report noted.
Vehicle registration to go online: Vikhe-Patil
Making registration of new vehicles easy for customers, Maharashtra Government has decided to take the process online.
“We would soon introduce a system of registering newly purchased vehicles online to avoid the long wait at transport offices,” Minister for Transport, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil told PTI here.
As per the existing system, the vehicle dealers approach the transport office for registration and the process takes a couple of days. With the new system, the dealers can register the vehicles online in a day and need not approach the transport offices, Vikhe-Patil said.
The minister said the facility of getting driving license online would be extended to other cities and towns across the state. The facility is currently available in 24 offices in big cities like Mumbai, Thane and Pune.
‘Learning’ licenses are given in a day and permanent ones are delivered at the door step within three days, he said.
“We would soon introduce a system of registering newly purchased vehicles online to avoid the long wait at transport offices,” Minister for Transport, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil told PTI here.
As per the existing system, the vehicle dealers approach the transport office for registration and the process takes a couple of days. With the new system, the dealers can register the vehicles online in a day and need not approach the transport offices, Vikhe-Patil said.
The minister said the facility of getting driving license online would be extended to other cities and towns across the state. The facility is currently available in 24 offices in big cities like Mumbai, Thane and Pune.
‘Learning’ licenses are given in a day and permanent ones are delivered at the door step within three days, he said.
Nissan fast charger revives batteries in 30 minutes
Japanese carmaker Nissan has unveiled a high-performance charger which can revive the battery pack of the new Leaf electric car in just half an hour.
The “Quick Charger” can restore 80 per cent of battery power within 30 minutes, compared to around eight hours for a conventional recharging station which typically replenishes batteries overnight.
The device looks like a cross between an oversized refrigerator and a fuel station petrol pump.
The price of some 21,600 dollars for the device may deter potential customers; especially since they will have already paid more than twice that sum for the car which is due to go on sale in Europe during 2010. An exact introduction date for the model has not been announced.
The Leaf will initially be introduced in Britain, Ireland, Portugal and the Netherlands, with the Netherlands the first European country to get the car.
The mini power station is aimed primarily at shopping centres or local authorities who might like to underscore their green credentials by providing the owners of electric vehicles with an extra recharging service.
Nissan plans to establish 2,200 conventional charging stations and a further 200 with the high-performance charger. The Japanese company says the network will mean that no owner is further than 40 kilometres away from the next public charging facility.
The “Quick Charger” can restore 80 per cent of battery power within 30 minutes, compared to around eight hours for a conventional recharging station which typically replenishes batteries overnight.
The device looks like a cross between an oversized refrigerator and a fuel station petrol pump.
The price of some 21,600 dollars for the device may deter potential customers; especially since they will have already paid more than twice that sum for the car which is due to go on sale in Europe during 2010. An exact introduction date for the model has not been announced.
The Leaf will initially be introduced in Britain, Ireland, Portugal and the Netherlands, with the Netherlands the first European country to get the car.
The mini power station is aimed primarily at shopping centres or local authorities who might like to underscore their green credentials by providing the owners of electric vehicles with an extra recharging service.
Nissan plans to establish 2,200 conventional charging stations and a further 200 with the high-performance charger. The Japanese company says the network will mean that no owner is further than 40 kilometres away from the next public charging facility.
Eight killed in wall collapse in Thane
Eight persons were killed and four injured when a wall collapsed in neighbouring Thane district this morning.
The boundary wall of Birla company fell on the slums at Dnyaneshwar Nagar at 0500 hours, police said.
Fire brigade personnel were at the spot. The injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital.
The boundary wall of Birla company fell on the slums at Dnyaneshwar Nagar at 0500 hours, police said.
Fire brigade personnel were at the spot. The injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital.
Miliband wants Indo-British ties to be further strengthened
Britain’s new David Cameron-led government should work towards further strengthening UK’s bilateral ties with India, which have never been better, former Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said.
Mr. Miliband, a strong contender for Labour leadership, said the Indo-Britain ties during his party’s term, were marked by the remarkable relationship between former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Manmohan Singh, as he pressed on the need to build on the achievements of the previous government.
“During the Labour regime, the two Prime Ministers -- Gordon Brown and Dr Manmohan Singh -- had a fantastic relationship and British Indian relationship was never been better,” Mr. Miliband said here on Tuesday night.
Emphasising that it is very important for any government to build on the achievements of previous governments, Mr. Miliband, said: “I want to see the links between Britain and India strengthened properly“.
Earlier, speaking at a reception held in honour of the newly elected Councillors at the famous Red Fort restaurant, Mr. Miliband called upon partymen to re-dedicate themselves to champion the cause of the electorate with “principal, humility and determination“.
He said though the party had lost power at the national level, it had gained power in most of the Councils.
“We have suffered defeat at the national level but (we are) not defeated,” he noted.
Mr. Miliband said the party should be proud of the achievements made during its 13-year regime, particularly in the Middle East peace process, democratic rule in Pakistan, improving friendship with India and supporting the cause of the people of Sri Lanka.
“Modern Britain is much stronger and much more multi-cultural,” he said at the reception organised by NRI Labour MP Rt Hon Keith Vaz, Member, National Executive Committee of the party.
Leader of the Opposition, Harriett Harman was the Chief Guest.
Mr. Miliband, a strong contender for Labour leadership, said the Indo-Britain ties during his party’s term, were marked by the remarkable relationship between former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Manmohan Singh, as he pressed on the need to build on the achievements of the previous government.
“During the Labour regime, the two Prime Ministers -- Gordon Brown and Dr Manmohan Singh -- had a fantastic relationship and British Indian relationship was never been better,” Mr. Miliband said here on Tuesday night.
Emphasising that it is very important for any government to build on the achievements of previous governments, Mr. Miliband, said: “I want to see the links between Britain and India strengthened properly“.
Earlier, speaking at a reception held in honour of the newly elected Councillors at the famous Red Fort restaurant, Mr. Miliband called upon partymen to re-dedicate themselves to champion the cause of the electorate with “principal, humility and determination“.
He said though the party had lost power at the national level, it had gained power in most of the Councils.
“We have suffered defeat at the national level but (we are) not defeated,” he noted.
Mr. Miliband said the party should be proud of the achievements made during its 13-year regime, particularly in the Middle East peace process, democratic rule in Pakistan, improving friendship with India and supporting the cause of the people of Sri Lanka.
“Modern Britain is much stronger and much more multi-cultural,” he said at the reception organised by NRI Labour MP Rt Hon Keith Vaz, Member, National Executive Committee of the party.
Leader of the Opposition, Harriett Harman was the Chief Guest.
Sensex gains further ground on bullish global trend
The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex on Wednesday rose further over 111 points in early trade today as funds remained net buyers in fundamentally strong shares amid a firming global trend.
The 30-share index, which gained 74.66 points in the previous session, added another 111.05 points to 17.523.88 points in the first five minutes of trading, largely supported by stocks in Bank and Technology shares.
The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty gained 33.30 points to 5255.65 points at the same time.
The market remained firm in tandem with a higher trend in the Asian region, followed by overnight gain in the US market.
The 30-share index, which gained 74.66 points in the previous session, added another 111.05 points to 17.523.88 points in the first five minutes of trading, largely supported by stocks in Bank and Technology shares.
The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty gained 33.30 points to 5255.65 points at the same time.
The market remained firm in tandem with a higher trend in the Asian region, followed by overnight gain in the US market.
Quake rocks Papua in Indonesia, tsunami warning lifted
Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency has lifted a tsunami warning in Papua in the easternmost of Indonesia where a 7.1-magnitude quake struck late Wednesday morning.
The 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck at 10:16 a.m. Jakarta time (0316 GMT) with the epicenter 123 km southeast Biak of Papua and the depth 10 km under sea bed, and a tsunami warning was issued, official of the agency Sujabar told Xinhua. The mainshock was followed by two strong aftershocks of 6.6 and 5.3 on the Ritcher scale respectively.
Jerry Purba, an official with the agency, said several buildings have collapsed in Biak of Papua. “We got reports from the meteorology office in Biak that several buildings have collapsed,” Jerry Purba told Xinhua.
The metro television also reported that several buildings cracked. But they did not say if there are casualties.
The 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck at 10:16 a.m. Jakarta time (0316 GMT) with the epicenter 123 km southeast Biak of Papua and the depth 10 km under sea bed, and a tsunami warning was issued, official of the agency Sujabar told Xinhua. The mainshock was followed by two strong aftershocks of 6.6 and 5.3 on the Ritcher scale respectively.
Jerry Purba, an official with the agency, said several buildings have collapsed in Biak of Papua. “We got reports from the meteorology office in Biak that several buildings have collapsed,” Jerry Purba told Xinhua.
The metro television also reported that several buildings cracked. But they did not say if there are casualties.
Rupee appreciates against dollar in early trade
The Indian rupee appreciated by 17 paise to 46.39 a dollar in early trade on the Interbank Foreign Exchange today, helped by fresh inflow of global funds into the equity market.
The rupee had closed lower by 7 paise at 46.56/57 against the dollar in yesterday’s trading.
Forex dealers said that fresh capital inflow into equities by foreign funds provided support to the rupee.
Meanwhile, the Bombay Stock Exchange index, Sensex, rose by 111.05 points to 17,523.88 points in the opening trade today.
The rupee had closed lower by 7 paise at 46.56/57 against the dollar in yesterday’s trading.
Forex dealers said that fresh capital inflow into equities by foreign funds provided support to the rupee.
Meanwhile, the Bombay Stock Exchange index, Sensex, rose by 111.05 points to 17,523.88 points in the opening trade today.
‘UPSC exam success due to equality provision in Constitution’
Shah Faesal, the first Kashmiri to top the Civil Service Examination, has attributed his success to the provision of equality for all enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
“Indian Constitution provides for giving equal rights to everyone irrespective of caste, religion, region and my success in the UPSC exam is a result of that,” he said at a felicitation function here on Tuesday night.
Faesal said people create controversies over petty things like caste, religion, region and language.
“There is no reason to get upset if someone doubts your Indianness because you are a Muslim. There is no need for a certificate from anybody that you are an Indian. Practise any religion in your home or society but outside, do not ever forget that you are an Indian and learn to respect people from other religions,” he said.
“In pursuit of your goal, you will find people who will trouble you because you belong to a particular religion, caste, region but if you have the capability, then nobody can stop you from overcoming these hurdles and reach your goal, Faesal added.
“Indian Constitution provides for giving equal rights to everyone irrespective of caste, religion, region and my success in the UPSC exam is a result of that,” he said at a felicitation function here on Tuesday night.
Faesal said people create controversies over petty things like caste, religion, region and language.
“There is no reason to get upset if someone doubts your Indianness because you are a Muslim. There is no need for a certificate from anybody that you are an Indian. Practise any religion in your home or society but outside, do not ever forget that you are an Indian and learn to respect people from other religions,” he said.
“In pursuit of your goal, you will find people who will trouble you because you belong to a particular religion, caste, region but if you have the capability, then nobody can stop you from overcoming these hurdles and reach your goal, Faesal added.
Eight naxals killed in encounter; bodies recovered
Eight naxals including three women were killed in an encounter at Saloboni village in West Bengal’s Midnapore district.
The dead bodies of the naxals have been recovered.
A joint team of CRPF, the special anti-naxal force (SAF) and state police acting on a specific intelligence input which went into the encounter last night also recovered one AK-47, a SLR, one pistol and five single barrel guns, a senior CRPF official said.
“Dead bodies of the eight naxals alongwith three women have been recovered and the encounter may prolong”, the officer added.
The encounter happened in Dhuli forest area under the Saloboni police station of the district.
Some explosives have also been recovered.
The additional reinforcements from the state police and CRPF have been asked for, the officer said.
The dead bodies of the naxals have been recovered.
A joint team of CRPF, the special anti-naxal force (SAF) and state police acting on a specific intelligence input which went into the encounter last night also recovered one AK-47, a SLR, one pistol and five single barrel guns, a senior CRPF official said.
“Dead bodies of the eight naxals alongwith three women have been recovered and the encounter may prolong”, the officer added.
The encounter happened in Dhuli forest area under the Saloboni police station of the district.
Some explosives have also been recovered.
The additional reinforcements from the state police and CRPF have been asked for, the officer said.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
GDP up 7.4% as India’s growth picks up speed
India was the second fastest growing major economy globally during 2009-10, even as US grappled with unemployment and the Eurozone slid into a crisis.
The Indian economy grew 7.4 per cent for 2009-10, with a better than expected growth of 8.6 per cent in the Jan-March quarter. This growth came on back of a drought last year, which hit agriculture.
Better still for the economy, growth for the coming year 2010-11 is being pegged at an even higher 8.5 per cent. Over the medium term, stronger economic growth would mean higher corporate profits, salary hikes and a buoyant stock market. On Monday, the Union finance minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, said that the growth momentum of the fourth quarter would continue with 8.5 per cent growth in FY11. “The growth numbers are pleasant but not really surprising, because we were expecting them to be robust which they have turned out to be. This clearly indicates the momentum which is there in the economy and the expectations that the 8.5-percentage points estimation for 2010-11 is going to be a clear possibility,” said the finance secretary, Mr Ashok Chawla. Other estimates on FY11 are more cautious, but still peg growth at over 8 per cent. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had said last week that the government is targeting an overall growth of 10 per cent for the country. The recovery is evident in other areas as well. Corporate profits are already recovering with many of the major players beating expectations. Large companies, including IT majors, have also announced pay hikes in the past few months.
The strong growth could see a roll-back of the stimulus measures brought out to combat the slowdown. The government had already cut back some of these sops during the budget. Another possibility going ahead is an interest rate hike by the RBI, to rein in inflation.
The Indian economy grew 7.4 per cent for 2009-10, with a better than expected growth of 8.6 per cent in the Jan-March quarter. This growth came on back of a drought last year, which hit agriculture.
Better still for the economy, growth for the coming year 2010-11 is being pegged at an even higher 8.5 per cent. Over the medium term, stronger economic growth would mean higher corporate profits, salary hikes and a buoyant stock market. On Monday, the Union finance minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, said that the growth momentum of the fourth quarter would continue with 8.5 per cent growth in FY11. “The growth numbers are pleasant but not really surprising, because we were expecting them to be robust which they have turned out to be. This clearly indicates the momentum which is there in the economy and the expectations that the 8.5-percentage points estimation for 2010-11 is going to be a clear possibility,” said the finance secretary, Mr Ashok Chawla. Other estimates on FY11 are more cautious, but still peg growth at over 8 per cent. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had said last week that the government is targeting an overall growth of 10 per cent for the country. The recovery is evident in other areas as well. Corporate profits are already recovering with many of the major players beating expectations. Large companies, including IT majors, have also announced pay hikes in the past few months.
The strong growth could see a roll-back of the stimulus measures brought out to combat the slowdown. The government had already cut back some of these sops during the budget. Another possibility going ahead is an interest rate hike by the RBI, to rein in inflation.
Israel attacks Palestine aid ship, triggers unrest
Israeli marines stormed a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza on Monday and 10 pro-Palestinian activists were killed, triggering a diplomatic crisis and plans for an emergency UN Security Council sessions.
European nations, as well as the UN and Turkey, voiced outrage at the bloody end to the international campaigners’ bid to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. Its navy stopped six ships ferrying 700 people and 10,000 tonnes of supplies toward the Palestinian enclave.
Once-close Muslim ally Turkey accused Israel of “terrorism” in international waters. But Washington, Israel’s powerful friend, said only that it regretted the loss of life and was looking into the “tragedy”.
Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in Canada and expressed full support for the naval operation, cut short a visit to North America that was to have ended Tuesday with a White House meeting with US President Barack Obama. As the captured foreign vessels were escorted into Israel’s port of Ashdod, accounts were sketchy of the pre-dawn operation. Marines stormed aboard from dinghies and rappelled down from helicopters. — Reuters
European nations, as well as the UN and Turkey, voiced outrage at the bloody end to the international campaigners’ bid to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. Its navy stopped six ships ferrying 700 people and 10,000 tonnes of supplies toward the Palestinian enclave.
Once-close Muslim ally Turkey accused Israel of “terrorism” in international waters. But Washington, Israel’s powerful friend, said only that it regretted the loss of life and was looking into the “tragedy”.
Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in Canada and expressed full support for the naval operation, cut short a visit to North America that was to have ended Tuesday with a White House meeting with US President Barack Obama. As the captured foreign vessels were escorted into Israel’s port of Ashdod, accounts were sketchy of the pre-dawn operation. Marines stormed aboard from dinghies and rappelled down from helicopters. — Reuters
Monday, May 31, 2010
Politicians, mining and land mafia ruling roost in A.P.: Naidu
Accusing the ruling Congress of failing to maintain law and order, Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said “political mafia, mining mafia and land mafia” were ruling the roost in Andhra Pradesh.
“There is no security for people in the state because of the political mafia while the mining mafia has been plundering precious national wealth,” he told the valedictory session of the TDP’s three-day meet at Gandipet near here.
Naidu alleged that the police was being misused by the ruling party to serve its vested political interests.
He said the so-called safety and security committee in the state headed by Rajya Sabha member K.V.P. Ramachandra Raohas has failed to do anything. “It should be disbanded forthwith,” he said.
The TDP chief strongly condemned the growing attacks on his party cadre by the ruling party. “We shall not tolerate these attacks and resist them by all means,” he said.
Mr. Naidu said no one could stop the TDP’s victory in any election in future. “But we want the Election Commission to do away with the Electronic Voting Machines and revert to the ballot paper system. EVMs can be used to rig the election and manipulate the result in favour of a particular party,” he said.
Earlier, film star and TDP founder-president N.T. Rama Rao’s son Nandamuri Balakrishna foresaw the possibility of mid-term elections in the state soon due to bickering within the ruling party.
“Be geared up for Assembly elections, not four years later but anytime soon,” said Mr. Balakrishna, who was one of the attractions at the ‘Mahanadu’ on the final day.
The TDP would return to power and Mr. Chandrababu would become Chief Minister whenever elections are held, he said.
Young star and Mr. Balakrishna’s nephew NTR Junior said he would work for the party “till the last drop of my blood.”
“My aim is to restore glory to the party and bring it back to power. I appeal to the party president to give due prominence to youth and women,” he said.
The three-day annual conference culminated with the unanimous re-election of Mr. Naidu as the TDP president for the 15th year in a row.
“There is no security for people in the state because of the political mafia while the mining mafia has been plundering precious national wealth,” he told the valedictory session of the TDP’s three-day meet at Gandipet near here.
Naidu alleged that the police was being misused by the ruling party to serve its vested political interests.
He said the so-called safety and security committee in the state headed by Rajya Sabha member K.V.P. Ramachandra Raohas has failed to do anything. “It should be disbanded forthwith,” he said.
The TDP chief strongly condemned the growing attacks on his party cadre by the ruling party. “We shall not tolerate these attacks and resist them by all means,” he said.
Mr. Naidu said no one could stop the TDP’s victory in any election in future. “But we want the Election Commission to do away with the Electronic Voting Machines and revert to the ballot paper system. EVMs can be used to rig the election and manipulate the result in favour of a particular party,” he said.
Earlier, film star and TDP founder-president N.T. Rama Rao’s son Nandamuri Balakrishna foresaw the possibility of mid-term elections in the state soon due to bickering within the ruling party.
“Be geared up for Assembly elections, not four years later but anytime soon,” said Mr. Balakrishna, who was one of the attractions at the ‘Mahanadu’ on the final day.
The TDP would return to power and Mr. Chandrababu would become Chief Minister whenever elections are held, he said.
Young star and Mr. Balakrishna’s nephew NTR Junior said he would work for the party “till the last drop of my blood.”
“My aim is to restore glory to the party and bring it back to power. I appeal to the party president to give due prominence to youth and women,” he said.
The three-day annual conference culminated with the unanimous re-election of Mr. Naidu as the TDP president for the 15th year in a row.
Gates Foundation grants $ 5 mn for tobacco control
Public Health Foundation of India has been awarded $ 5 million by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to strengthen the National Tobacco Control Program on pilot basis in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
These two States have been selected for the pilot project as they are the largest producers and consumers of tobacco.
The program will be subsequently scaled up across India.
Geeta Kiran, joint Director of Medical Education said that this is a three year programe aimed at taking up community campaign against tobacco use. The foundation will create awareness in Indian languages and will also be working with beedi and cigarette industries.
Tobacco farmers would be informed about the alternative crops or alternative livelihood available to them, she added.
While six districts in Andhra Pradesh will be covered under the Pilot project including three in coastal Andhra Pradesh, two in Telangana and one in Rayalseema, five districts will be covered in Gujarat.
Dr. Srikrishna Ramachandra, professor at Indian Institute of Public Health said that currently the usage of tobacco is between 15 and 19 per cent among men and less than 5 percent among woman which includes use of tobacco related products, passive smoking. Despite warnings, there is hardly any effect on smokers, he said.
These two States have been selected for the pilot project as they are the largest producers and consumers of tobacco.
The program will be subsequently scaled up across India.
Geeta Kiran, joint Director of Medical Education said that this is a three year programe aimed at taking up community campaign against tobacco use. The foundation will create awareness in Indian languages and will also be working with beedi and cigarette industries.
Tobacco farmers would be informed about the alternative crops or alternative livelihood available to them, she added.
While six districts in Andhra Pradesh will be covered under the Pilot project including three in coastal Andhra Pradesh, two in Telangana and one in Rayalseema, five districts will be covered in Gujarat.
Dr. Srikrishna Ramachandra, professor at Indian Institute of Public Health said that currently the usage of tobacco is between 15 and 19 per cent among men and less than 5 percent among woman which includes use of tobacco related products, passive smoking. Despite warnings, there is hardly any effect on smokers, he said.
Naidu re-elected TDP chief
Nara Chandrababu Naidu was re-elected president of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) unanimously for the seventh time in a row on the concluding day of ‘Mahanadu' here on Saturday. The process of election that commenced on Friday was completed this afternoon, though it was a mere formality.
In his concluding speech, Mr. Naidu thanked the party delegates for re-electing him and giving him another opportunity to serve the party. He promised to spend equal time for the party and the people and pledged to protect every party worker, stating that it was because of the committed activists the party was so close to people.
There was a historic necessity to bring TDP back in power as “problems cloud the State every time Congress returned to power,” he said and pointed out that the present situation was an example.
The TDP chief claimed that manipulation of voting was possible in electronic voting machines (EVMs) and sought a nationwide debate on the issue as 14 political parties had already expressed reservations over the EVMs. He demanded that the State government hold party-based and direct elections to local bodies.
Speaking on the resolution relating to law and order in the State earlier, Mr. Naidu demanded scrapping of the Committee on Public Security headed by K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao as it had failed to take stock of the situation.
Alleging that Congress government was behind the murder of TDP activists during the last six years he said: “Had the previous TDP government thought on the same lines, no Congress man would have been alive.”
He blamed political mafia for the violent incidents at Mahabubabad in Warangal district on Friday and felt lack of freedom in functioning was incapacitating the police.
Coming down heavily on ‘Jalayagnam', the TDP chief said it was difficult to complete the projects taken up even in the next three decades.
He demanded that the government announce Polavaram and Pranahita-Chevella as national projects.
In his concluding speech, Mr. Naidu thanked the party delegates for re-electing him and giving him another opportunity to serve the party. He promised to spend equal time for the party and the people and pledged to protect every party worker, stating that it was because of the committed activists the party was so close to people.
There was a historic necessity to bring TDP back in power as “problems cloud the State every time Congress returned to power,” he said and pointed out that the present situation was an example.
The TDP chief claimed that manipulation of voting was possible in electronic voting machines (EVMs) and sought a nationwide debate on the issue as 14 political parties had already expressed reservations over the EVMs. He demanded that the State government hold party-based and direct elections to local bodies.
Speaking on the resolution relating to law and order in the State earlier, Mr. Naidu demanded scrapping of the Committee on Public Security headed by K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao as it had failed to take stock of the situation.
Alleging that Congress government was behind the murder of TDP activists during the last six years he said: “Had the previous TDP government thought on the same lines, no Congress man would have been alive.”
He blamed political mafia for the violent incidents at Mahabubabad in Warangal district on Friday and felt lack of freedom in functioning was incapacitating the police.
Coming down heavily on ‘Jalayagnam', the TDP chief said it was difficult to complete the projects taken up even in the next three decades.
He demanded that the government announce Polavaram and Pranahita-Chevella as national projects.
