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Pak inks 220-million-dollar satellite deal with China

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep. 19 (ANI): Pakistan has signed an agreement with China to provide a 220-million-dollar financial grant to help the Islamic country launch a communication satellite.

The operational life of Pakistan’s existing satellite PAKSAT-1 will be over in November 2011.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui and Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Secretary Farrukh Qayyum signed the contract.

“China has agreed to fund the project through a soft loan with low mark up for a period of 20 years,” the Daily Times quoted Qayyum, as saying.

The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Organisation (SUPARCO) and the China Great Wall Industry Corporation have agreed to develop the new satellite PAKSAT-1R, which would replace PAKSAT-1 in September 2011, he added.

The satellite will support all conventional and modern fixed satellite service (FSS) applications.

The satellite will have 30 transponders, 18 in the Ku-band and 12 in C-band (ANI)

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European company develops mobile robots that are autonomous and multi-tasking

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Madrid (Spain), September 19 (ANI): An European company has developed innovative robots which are mobile, multifunctional, collaborative, autonomous and polyvalent, suitable for a wide range of work from street cleaning and rubbish collection to accompanying elderly people.

According to a report carried out in www.basqueresearch.com, this new generation of robots have been developed by TECNALIA Technological Corporation, and are a part of the European DUSTBOT research project under the remit of the VI European Framework Programme and in which TECNALIA is participating.

These latest generation robots are suitable for the monitoring of large spaces (open and closed), as guides for persons in large shopping areas (indicating to them where a particular shop or product is within a shopping centre), for accompanying elderly people or those with certain disabilities (both at home and outside), thanks to their functions of orientation, navigation, communications with others or tele-assistance centres.

They can also be used as guides in teaching spaces (museums, visitor centres), and for transport, storage and transport and goods deliveries, besides the cleaning of both open and closed surfaces, which have either difficult or easy access.

DUSTBOT has collaborative, multifunctional and autonomous robots that are capable of operating in partially destructured environments/situations based on information provided by a map.

The robots can also facilitate working in large areas, stations, airports and other types of public buildings, without being any obstacle for the activity of these places, given its reduced size, and without being a danger for members of the public, thanks to the novel system for the detection and avoidance of obstacles.

The rail station of the Euskotren company in the Bilbao neighbourhood of Atxuri in Spain was chosen for the public presentation of these devices.

The demonstration of two robot models was undertaken: the DustCart and the DustClean.

The DustCart robot, measuring 1.45 metres high and 70 Kg in weight, has a humanoid form and is designed to interact with the user and for the collection of low demand waste.

The DustClean robot, in the form of a small vehicle and measuring 96 cm high and 250 Kg in weight, cleans streets of dirt and dust. Moreover, both control the quality of air in real time.

“These robots are the solution for cleaning areas of difficult access and for the collection of rubbish at the very front door of, above all, persons who have mobility problems when moving the rubbish to the communal waste containers,” said Inaki Inzunza, Director of the Business Unit at the Tecnalia Technological Corporation. (ANI)

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JKRTC hold demonstration over release pending salaries in Srinagar

September 15, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Sep 14(ANI): Hundreds of striking employees of Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) suffered injuries on Monday, when they held a rally outside the corporations’ headquarters and marched towards the State Civil Secretariat near Lal Chowk in Srinagar, as police had to use teargas shells and water cannons to disperse them.

Police was forced to use force, as demonstrators were adamant to meet the State Finance Minister over his alleged remarks about them.

“Today is our 20th day. We are on strike. It has not affected the Government at all. We have given the Government two options. Either the Government should run the transport corporation effectively and pay the employees their salary or wind up the whole corporation and pay the employees their compensation,” said Muhammad Ashraf, an employee of JKRTC.

Demonstrators wanted to meet the Finance Minister of the State to press for their demands, but police stopped them.

“On earlier occasions also the police baton charged us, our women and daughters. Today also they are trying to stop us from going to the secretariat. We want to meet the state finance minister. We want to know why he said that there was nothing for transport employees,” Ashraf added.

The demonstrators have been observing an indefinite strike for 20 days, and want release of last five months pending salaries. (ANI)

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Metro train derails in Delhi

September 14, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep.13 (ANI): A Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) coach on the Indraprashta-Yamuna Nagar line derailed early on Sunday morning.

Though the cause of the 6 a.m.derailment was not immediately known, several routes along the metro line were disrupted. o casualties were reported.

Earlier, a DMRC train going towards Yamuna Bank from Dwarka Sector 9 developed a break problem in the middle of its journey which led to a delay of 15 minutes, DMRC sources said.

Passengers, however, complained that the trains were delayed for upto 30 minutes. (ANI)

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Rahul holds meeting with Congress activists, farmers in Thanjavur

September 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu), Sep 9 (ANI): All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, who is on a three-day visit to Tamil Nadu, visited Thanjavur on Wednesday and held meetings with Youth Congress activists and farmers.

Gandhi was welcomed by thousand of Congress supporters, who stood outside the venue, Kandha Saras Mahal, just to have a glimpse of the young leader.

“We are very happy to be a part of this meeting, which focuses on propagation of policies and programmes of the Congress party towards the youth. And the idea of this meeting is to further the ideology of the party,” said Swaminathan, Chairman of Municipal Corporation Committee.

However, his speech got a mixed response from the farmers who attended the meeting. They felt that Gandhi neglected the agriculture sector in his speech.

“The entire focus of Rahul’s speech was targeted towards strengthening of grassroots of the party in the state whereas his neglecting of farmers’ issues have disappointed us,” said Sundra Vimalanathan, a farmer.

It is believed that Gandhi is aiming to revitalise the Congress party in Tamil Nadu, where Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) are the two major political players. (ANI)

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Ratan Tata says willing to return Singur land if compensated

September 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Sep.1 (ANI): TATA Group chairman Ratan Tata on Tuesday told a press conference here that the failed NANO plant at Singur had cost him about 500 crore rupees, and he was willing to return the land if the State Government compensated Tata Motors.

“We do not want to sit on the land. We will return it if the State Government compensates us for the investments made there,” Ratan Tata said.

“We don’t intend to block development in West Bengal. The Singur plant cost us Rs.500 crore. We have other investments in West Bengal, which are on track,” he added.

Tata said this after holding meetings with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and State Commerce and Industry Minister Nirupam Sen.

Sen was also present at the press conference.

Tata said he had no plans to invest in Singur, but was open to any plan from the government.

“We have no plans for Singur but will cooperate with the government if they have a plan that makes sense to the government and us. We do not wish to sit on the land,” he said.

“West Bengal remains in our heart. One incident or one year does not matter in the life of a corporation,” he said.

At Tata Motors’ annual general meeting in Mumbai recently, Tata had said that he could return to Singur if the situation improved.

Today’s declaration puts to rest recent speculation about the possibility of Tata reviving the project in future.

However, when reminded of Mamata Banerjee’s demand to return the Singur land, he retorted, “But it is not her land.”

It may be recalled that Tata Motors exited Singur last October after a fierce agitation by Mamata Banerjee over compensation for farmers.

The company relocated the NANO project to Sanand in Gujarat.

The overall investment was Rs.1700 crore. Much of it has been recovered. The ‘sunk’ cost is estimated to be about Rs.500 crore. (ANI)

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Karnataka Housing Minister resigns following defeat in by poll

September 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Bangalore, Aug 31 (ANI): Karnataka Housing Minister V. Somanna resigned from the state cabinet on Monday following his defeat in the recent by polls to the state assembly.

Somanna handed over his resignation to the Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa.

“I will take a decision on accepting his resignation after consulting the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief D.V.Sadananda Gowda and national general secretary Ananth Kumar and the party high command,” Yeddyurappa told reporters after receiving the resignation letter.

Somanna, who was earlier, elected from the Govidrajnagar constituency in Bangalore resigned from his seat as well as from the Congress Party to join BJP in February.

Subsequently Somanna was rewarded with a cabinet birth in the Yeddyurappa Government.

Somanna who is known for his innovative election strategies, tasted maiden defeat in his political career against debutant Priyakrishna of Congress in the by polls on August 18.

The two-day southern region meeting of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) held in Davangere in central Karnataka on Sunday asked Yeddyurappa to seek the resignation of Somanna.

The BJP is reward Somanna with another post as the elections to the Brihat Bangalore Municipal Corporation (BBMC) are on the cards. Somanna played a crucial role in party’s victory in all the three Lok Sabha seats in Bangalore in the 2009 general elections.

Somanna is the third minister to resign from the Yeddyurappa government during the last one-year. Earlier S.K. Bellubbi, and Krishnayya Setty resigned from cabinet to make way to accommodate new faces in the cabinet. (ANI)

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Fabric bags are growing popular in Kashmir

September 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Aug 31 (ANI): People are lapping up environment-friendly fabric bags in Srinagar, which they say is reusable and has many benefits.

With the two-month old ban on plastic bags, jute, fabric or recycled paper carrier bags have now become a common sight in the valley.

People can be seen carrying their shopping in jute or other fabric carrier bags.

With the increased demand, sellers are happy to earn a few extra bucks on these eco-friendly bags.

Residents are happy with the government initiative, which is helping to make their picturesque town cleaner and healthier.

“People like fabric bags. Earlier, people used to throw polythene bags anywhere. It used to clog drains forcing and dirty water would flow over. It used to help in spreading diseases.

The government has done a good job by banning it. The demand for plastic bags has decreased a lot,” said Inayatullah Dar, a resident.

The drive has also helped to generate employment for people who are now making these fabric bags from cloth and recycled paper, including newspapers.

“In the process, the cottage industry has started looking up. Now people are stitching cloth bags, which are getting popular. People are now instead of binning their old newspapers reselling them for a little less than their purchase price. This has also helped in the circulation of newspapers,” said Khawaja Farooq Renzu, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Srinagar.

The ban has been imposed in the entire state, but tourist places are seeing its stricter implementation to discourage both residents and tourists from using plastic bags. By Afzal Bhat (ANI)

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Electricity still a far-fetched dream for Gurez valley

August 30, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Aug. 30 (ANI): Electricity remains to be a distant dream for the residents of Gurez valley of Jammu and Kashmir despite ample water resources existing in the region.

Consequently, diesel run generators have been sole means of power, a situation that has prevailed and prolonged in the region for decades.

In contrast, Gurez valley is the home to a mega hydroelectric project, the power from which will be transmitted to other states!

At present, the residents of Gurez get electricity hardly for two to three hours in a day, supplied by the diesel run generators. And these generators operate as per the available stock of diesel.

“There is so much water here. The government has to take steps to put an end to the power crisis. The electricity is supplied through diesel generators. As long as diesel is there we get electricity, but if the diesel goes out of stock, we live in dark and have to wait for fifteen days to one month for the next stock to reach our place,” said Shazia Tabasum, a student.

Local authorities say that the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) is constructing 330 MW power project from the waters of Kishanganga river.

“There is so much water over here. The Kishanganga hydro project has been allotted to NHPC. It will give 30 megawatts power supply out of 330 megawatts. The worst part is that the people living here won’t get any electricity. I have appealed to the government that at least one percent of power should be supplied to our valley for free,” said Nazir Ahmed Gurazi, MLA, Gurez.

In winters, the technical snags in the diesel generators add to the woes of the locals as they have to wait for an engineer and a technician to come all the way to their valley to fix the problems.

“We face many problems as there is no power supply here. If anybody is ill, we cannot take him or her to have an x-ray. The school children can’t study without light and their time is wasted,” said Ghulam Nabi, a local resident. (ANI)

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Oxford University in land-grabbing row for its Indian campus

August 30, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Aug 30 (ANI): Oxford University’s first overseas campus in India, which is going to be set up in Lavasa near Pune, has been embroiled in a land grabbing row, with accusations of human rights violations against the land developers.

Oxford’s outgoing vice-chancellor, John Hood, has been a strong backer of the Lavasa venture, described by the university as its first overseas campus.

Oxford has struck a preliminary deal with Ajit Gulab-chand, chairman of the company that controls Lavasa, to endow a chair at the Said Business School in Oxford for a reported 7.4 million pounds, The Times reported.

The Indian developers of the 12,500-acre Lavasa site have been accused of forcing farmers into selling their land and of pressing them to accept low prices. They have also been accused of worsening deforestation by cutting down millions of trees.

Medha Patkar, a human rights activist at the forefront of villagers’ campaign, described Lavasa as a “land grab”.

“People are threatened … made to feel like criminals. They cannot survive there unless they submit so they sell their land for the prices offered. They are continually asking them to leave. They say, ‘Give away your land, give away your land’.”

Oxford plans to offer courses for Indian executives in an education centre in Lavasa, a privately managed city modelled on hill stations built during the British rule,The Times reported.

Lavasa is to be home to 200,000 middle-class Indians and include resorts, educational and sports facilities including a golf course designed by Nick Faldo. The first of its four settlements, Dasve, is due to open next year.

Oxford will not offer degrees in the planned 15-20 million pounds education center, but Rajgopal Nogja, president of Lavasa Corporation, said he hoped 5,000 students would study there in its first five years.

He said Lord Patten, Oxford’s chancellor, had been enthusiastic about the plan in a visit two years ago. “It’s going to be the best building in my city, timeless architecture for the best university in the world,” the paper quoted Nogja, as saying. (ANI)

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Minorities Development Finance Corporation to have 1000 crores share capital

August 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 27 (ANI): The Union Cabinet today accorded approval for increasing the authorized share capital of the National Minorities Development Finance Corporation (NMDFC) from Rs.850 crores to Rs.1000 crores.

The share of the Government of India, the State Governments and individuals/institutions will be Rs.650 crores Rs.260 crores and Rs.90 crores respectively.

The NMDFC is a not for profit company, registered under Section 25 of the Companies’ Act with share contribution from the Government of India (65 per cent), the State Governments (26 per cent) and individuals/institutions (9 per cent).

It provides financial assistance to people belonging to minorities living below double the poverty line for self-employment.

The NMDFC is greatly dependent on Central equity contribution. The enhanced authorised share capital will enable the Central Government release its full budgetary provision of Rs.125 crores towards equity of NMDFC in 2009-10.

The equity contribution from the Government of India, together with contribution from the State Governments and individuals/institutions and also the recovery of loans from beneficiaries will be spent for providing term loans and micro finance through State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs) and for providing micro finance through NGOs.

The NMDFC also provides educational loans and has promotional schemes like vocational training.

NMDFC’s schemes are targeted for economic upliftment of people from minority communities living below double the poverty line through self employment.

The budgetary provision of Rs.125 crores will be released to the NMDFC by way of equity contribution of the Central Government during 2009-10.

As per the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India and the NMDFC, 66,000 beneficiaries are to be covered during 2009-10.

NMDFC’s schemes envisage to cover minority communities in the entire country through State Channelizing Agencies and NGOs.

As on March 31, the NMDFC has disbursed an amount of Rs.1190.84 crores covering 4,34,329 beneficiaries belonging to the minority communities through their term loan and micro finance schemes. (ANI)

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Mumbai building collapse: Case registered against shop owners

August 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Aug 26 (ANI): A case has been registered against two shop owners after a portion of a four-storey residential building collapsed in Mumbai on Tuesday evening.

According to the police, Yunus Kasam Memon and Irfan Yusuf Memon, who own a shop of mobile handset covers, had allegedly added a staircase without seeking permission from the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

This led to collapse of the building ‘Yusuf Manzil’ at Lamington Road, they added.

Meanwhile, an 85-year-old woman, who was seriously injured, had died. Five others who were rescued suffered minor injuries and were treated at the hospital.

Among those rescued was a month-old infant.

Her condition was reported to be normal.

“We have rescued four people so far from the building. Of the four people, we have rescued a month-old infant and an 80-year-old woman,” said Pratap Damodar Kargupikar, Chief Fire Officer, Mumbai.

Milind Deora, who is the elected lawmaker from Central Mumbai, visited the spot and said that the actual cause could be ascertained only after the investigations.

“Some people say a shopkeeper began some illegal construction after pulling down the shutter of his shop. The authorities will enlighten you with the actual cause after the investigations,” he added. (ANI)

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Seven to eight persons rescued in building collapse incident: BMC(Lead: Mumbai building)

August 25, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Aug.25 (ANI): At least seven to eight persons were rescued out of 100-year-old residential building whose front portion collapsed at 6.45 p.m here on Lamington Road of the central Mumbai on Tuesday, said senior official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

“Seven to eight person trapped under the rubble of collapsed 100-year-old building have been saved. They have been rushed to the hospital. There are no reports of any death so far,” said Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Commissioner Jairaj Phatak while addressing the media persons.

“The rubble of the collapsed portion of the building will be cleared within two hours,” Phatak said at 8.00 o’ clock.

At least 10 people were feared to be trapped under the rubble of the central Mumbai’s five-storey Khatau Mansion building whose front part collapsed here on Tuesday evening.

About 10 fire tenders were rushed to spot for rescue operation along with the police personnel after the incident. (ANI)

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Air India employees on hunger strike over non-payment of salary

August 25, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 25 (ANI): Employees of India’s flagship carrier Air India are on a three-day hunger strike from today over delay in payment of their salaries.

“Over 20,000 members of the Aviation Industry Employees Guild (AIEG) and the Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU) and some other unions from across the nation have decided to go on hunger strike from today, as the management is rigid over payment of our salaries,” said J B Kadian, general secretary, ACEU.

Last Friday, the meeting of the unions with the Air India CMD in Mumbai failed to reach any conclusion. The next round of meeting is scheduled to be held here this afternoon.

The employees threatened that they would again go on strike on August 31 if their negotiations with the management fail.

Earlier, employees had gone on a two-hour-long protest over non-payment of wages.

The unions had earlier called off their proposed strike on June 30 after the management had agreed to pay the salaries of 70 per cent of workers.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel had said the government cannot bail Air India out every time, and it is time for the flagship carrier to tighten its belt and resolve its financial woes.

Air India’s borrowings have risen from Rs.6, 550 crore in November 2007 to Rs.15, 241 crore in June this year. (ANI)

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Kolkata cycle rally promotes environment awareness

August 25, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Aug 24 (ANI): Hundreds of cyclists took to the streets here on Sunday in a cycle rally organized with an aim to promote environmental awareness.

The rally was organized by the state-run oil refinery, the Indian Oil Corporation.

“We want to spread awareness amongst the people regarding the global warming, the environmental friendly attitude, what we need and how we can protect the environment, why should you protect the environment, all these points we are taking through this walk and this rally,” said Aloke Kumar Singh, Indian Oil spokesperson.

The cyclists included participants young and old.

“Today’s rally is organised to bring pollution under control because if we check pollution it will be good for us, for our next generation and for the country as well,” said 60-year-old Amarjit Singh.

It is feared that the doubling of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere within 50 years would raise global temperatures between 1.5 degree Celsius and 4.5 degree Celsius.

The WHO has warned that such environmental shifts could cause waterborne and parasitic blights, such as cholera and lyme disease, to spread to new areas. (ANI)

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Panna Diamond Mine in Madhya Pradesh reopens after four years

August 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Panna (Madhya Pradesh), Aug 21(ANI): Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh on Friday rededicated the Panna Diamond Mine of the National Mineral Development Corporation (NDMC) in Madhya Pradesh.

The mine had remained closed for about four years for environmental reasons.

Speaking in Panna after reopening the mine, Singh said the project was not only crucial for the NMDC and Madhya Pradesh, but also prestigious for the country as it is the only mechanized diamond mine in Asia.

Singh also informed that the production capacity of the mine is one lakh carats per annum.

“With the reopening of the Panna mine, we will be able to meet at least part of the domestic demand of diamonds,” he said.

“NMDC is exploring for diamond reserves in Chattarpur District and coal deposits in Shahdole and Umaria Districts. It is in the process of acquiring mining lease for development of coal blocks,” he added.

Singh further said that NMDC is making efforts to locate alternate diamond resources in the vicinity of Panna.

The minister also thanked the Madhya Pradesh Government for extending unflinching support for the reopening of the diamond mine.

“With the re-opening of the mine, the economic activity in the Panna region will pick up and Panna township and surrounding areas will one again come alive as a centre of economic activity,” said Minister of State for Steel A. Sai Prathap.

“It will also generate both direct and indirect employment for the local population. The local business, which was adversely affected due to shifting of NMDC’s workforce in the Diamond mine will also prosper,” he added.

He also hoped that the reopening of the mine will give a strong impetus to the economic activity of the entire region. (ANI)

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Now, Sikhs accuse BBC’s Asian network of religious bias

August 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Aug.20 (ANI): The BBC’s Asian Network is at the center of a race row after Sikhs accused the digital radio station of being insensitive towards their religion.

The BBC were forced to remove a show from their website after Adil Ray, a popular Muslim presenter, received threats from Sikh listeners who accused him of denigrating one of their religious symbols, The Telegraph reports.

The row centres around a show broadcast earlier this month in which Ray discussed a Punjabi music concert in Canada where police had banned a number of Sikhs who refused to remove their “kirpan” dagger. number of listeners believed that Ray had been disparaging about whether Sikhs really needed to carry their kirpan – a ceremonial symbol that baptised Sikhs are expected to wear at all times – and began making complaints and threats against him.

The Birmingham-based network has strongly denied the accusations or any suggestion that Ray meant to mock Sikhism.

The row has nonetheless raised fresh questions over whether the digital network, which was set up eight years ago after the BBC’s then director general Greg Dyke described the corporation as “hideously white”, is serving its Asian listeners.

Last year, Labour peer Lord Ahmed accused the network of being biased against Muslims in favour of Sikhs and Hindus, although an internal investigation by the BBC later exonerated it.

The Sikh Media Monitoring Group has written to the BBC asking for a full transcript of Adil Ray’s show and accused the station of being insensitive towards Sikh listeners. (ANI)

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Blackberry maker tops Fastest Growing Firms list

August 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, August 19 (ANI): Research in Motion (RIM), the developer of the hit Blackberry smartphone, has been named the world’s fastest-growing company, suggests business magazine Fortune.

The Canadian wireless device company topped the magazine’s latest annual guide to the 100 fastest-growing businesses, beating US chipmaker Sigma Designs to the second place.

Chinese internet business Sohu.com came in third, followed by Ebix, European forum for energy Business Information exchange, and then DG Fast Channel, reports the BBC.

Fortune said: “Since the Great Depression, some companies just keep growing. And not only in the United States.”

10 Fastest Growing Firms

1. RIM

2. Sigma Designs

3. Sohu.com

4. Ebix

5. DG Fast Channel

6. CF Industries

7. Shanda Industries

8. Arena Resources

9. Bruker

10. Potash Corporation (ANI)

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Deficit rainfall further aggravates water scarcity in Madhya Pradesh

August 9, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Datia (Madhya Pradesh), Aug. 9(ANI): Farmers are a worried lot in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia district as they are experiencing acute water scarcity, which has been further aggravated by deficit rainfall leading to a drought like situation in the region.

“Due to inadequate rains we are sitting idle. We have no work. Our crops are dying for want of water,” said Balram Singh, a farmer.

Meanwhile, concerned officials of the district administration say that they have initiated steps to tackle the situation.

“Our main source (of water) Ram Sagar Dam wasn’t able to fill due to scanty rainfall. Water for 35 days is remaining in the dam. We provide water to 80 percent area of Datia through filter plants and tanks. In remaining 20 percent of area, which has no lines for water supply, water is being provided through tankers,” said Ganda Lal, Commissioner of Municipal Corporation.

“For enhancing the water supply, a programme is being developed by the State Government at a cost of Rs 3.36 crore. It will be objective of the district administration and ours to ensure that the programme is implemented before Ram Sagar dam dries,” he added.

As for the trends leading to drought, agriculture scientists are of the view that farmers and others should wisely utilise water as the situation is grim.

“Farmers and people using water should ensure proper utilisation of water. We don’t have enough water. People should discretely fetch water from wells. If they try to fetch water in excess, wells will dry and it will be impossible to revive these wells,” said Y M Cool, Agronomist at Agricultural University in Gwalior.

Total rainfall in the country since the beginning of June was 19 percent below average, pulled down by the driest June in 83 years, data from the India Meteorological Department showed. (ANI)

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53-year-old woman dies of Swine Flu in Mumbai

August 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Aug.8 (ANI): A middle-aged Mumbai woman reportedly died of H1N1 flu infection on Saturday at the Kasturba Gandhi hospital here, registering second death due to Swine Flu in the country.

Fifty three-year-old Famida Panwala’s medical condition reportedly worsened on Friday night after which she was immediately shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ward of the Kasturba Gandhi hospital.

She was admitted to Leelavati hospital initially and was shifted only Friday night at 11.00 p.m to Kasturba Gandhi hospital.

“The cause of the death is not yet confirmed, as the patient was suffering from other complications as well,” said Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak.

She was stated to suffering from diabetes and hypertension when she was admitted to the hospital.

The patient was already critical before tests were conducted, stated Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

On August 3, first death due to H1N1 flu infection was reported after a 14-year-old-girl from Pune succumbed to the deadly influenza. (ANI)

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Kolkata cycle rally promotes environment awareness

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Deficit rainfall further aggravates water scarcity in Madhya Pradesh

53-year-old woman dies of Swine Flu in Mumbai

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