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Topics - Mર. ◦[ß]гคг રừlểz™
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81
« on: August 16, 2010, 10:43:21 AM »
Darmstadt August 16:
German pop star Nadja Benaissa admitted on the opening day of her trial on Monday not telling sexual partners, with whom she had unprotected sex, that she was HIV positive.
"I am so sorry," the contrite-looking 28-year-old told the court in Darmstadt near Frankfurt, dressed in a purple shirt and with her hair tied back. She denied however intending to infect anyone with the virus. Benaissa, a member of the all-female pop group No Angels, was arrested last April just as she was about to perform at a Frankfurt nightclub and spent 10 days in custody before being released.
In February this year she was charged with causing bodily harm. If convicted Benaissa faces between six months and 10 years in prison. A verdict is due on August 26. According to the charge sheet, she had sex on five occasions between 2000 and 2004 with three people and did not tell them she was infected, even though she had known since 1999.
One of the three had since been confirmed as being infected with the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, prosecutors had said in February. No Angels shot to fame in 2000 thanks to a television talent show and had a string of hits in central Europe before splitting up in 2003. They reformed in 2007 and competed in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest. Before her arrest the fact that she was HIV positive was not public.
When she was charged the news was leaked to the press, sparking a debate about trial by media in a country that partly for historical reasons is highly sensitive about privacy and the presumption of innocence. The other three members of No Angels were due to appear as witnesses in the trial, which was being held in a youth court because the first alleged incident took place when Benaissa was 17.
82
« on: August 16, 2010, 10:33:07 AM »
New Delhi August 16:
India and Mexico are likely to look for ways to enhance bilateral economic ties and discuss modalities to be adopted for the ministerial meeting on climate change to be held in New Mexico when Mexican Foreign Minister H. E. Patricia Espinosa Cantellano meets External Affairs Minister S.M Krishna on Tuesday.
Both leaders are also expected to discuss issues relating to climate change, intensification of economic ties and the UN reforms. The visiting dignitary will also call on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and meet with Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. She will also interact with the representatives of trade and industry at FICCI and CII.
This year both India and Mexico are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Several commemorative events are being planned during the year. A commemorative stamp is also proposed to be issued later in the year. India enjoys warm and friendly relations with Mexico. President Pratibha Devisingh Patil visited Mexico in April 2008. Earlier Mexican President Felipe Calderon visited India in September 2007 when both countries elevated their relations to ''Privileged Partnership''.
These visits gave a fresh impetus to our bilateral relations when a number of agreements were signed and institutional mechanisms were set up to take forward our ongoing cooperation. The bilateral trade in 2009 was 2.2 billion dollars (India''s exports were 1.14 billion dollars and imports were of 1.08 billion dollars in 2009). Total Indian investments in Mexico are in the range of 1.5 billion dollars mostly in IT, Pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and packaging sectors.
83
« on: August 15, 2010, 11:09:36 AM »
Dambulla August 15:
Faced with a litany of injury worries and a barrage of constant cricket heading into the World Cup, Team India's support staff is inculcating newer fitness methodologies, intended to keep players physically agile and mentally fresh.
This new approach of self-organized learning based on personal initiative, also includes the development of an amenable dressing-room atmosphere, something recently praised by VVS Laxman as the best ambience he has worked in.
The enhanced and strict emphasis on fitness is also intended to work as a natural culling process, with players who cut corners with their routines being found out. "The starting point of this new pathway," said India's first mental conditioning coach Padd Upton, "involves awareness and self-appraisal. In India fitness isn't in the culture. If you're training because somebody tells you to, it's difficult. We are trying to encourage players to make their own decisions so we can assist them with their thinking as we train. It's a system of gaining awareness and overcoming instincts."
The attempt came about, said Upton, when he and coach Gary Kirsten realized most players' fitness schedules went awry the moment they left the national set-up, or they discovered that doing a player's thinking for him wasn't helping in match situations. Being sensitive to cultural conditioning was the biggest challenge for the duo. The new methods are also intended to help important players like Yuvraj Singh, currently struggling with fitness issues and lack of form, to revitalize themselves.
Asked about the back-up staff's views on Yuvraj, Upton said, "The mental challenges come when you get injured, get dropped or have a low run of form. You go through a natural process of disappointment. We're teaching these players to move through that phase quickly and regain the mental, physical and technical condition necessary to be a serious competitor. How strongly an individual can come back is a test of character."
This is where mental conditioning, a rarely-understood terminology, comes in. Upton explained: "It involves the attitude you adopt to fitness and not the knowledge. Traditionally coaches in cricket do the thinking for the player. Yet when you cross the ropes you must think for yourself. It all starts with coming out of a happy dressing room, which we have worked hard at. Gary (Kirsten) communicates more with the players and is honest with them. Younger players realise this is a comfortable place and if they express concerns there will be no repercussions."
The younger lot, though, presents a newer set of challenges. "The younger generation is different, they would rather watch a DVD than read a book, rather play T20 than Tests, and we need to move with those changes," said Upton, "Yet some principles like discipline and preparation are constants. If the youngsters will take short cuts, that's their choice. Some youngsters have come to learn and understand, like Suresh Raina. He goes about his business the right way. He does the right stuff. A guy like that will prevail."
The confidence in Raina seems to have borne fruit. How the others, seniors and junior alike, have embraced the new philosophy will only become clear only during India's World Cups campaign.
84
« on: August 15, 2010, 11:08:36 AM »
New Delhi August 15:
Defence Minister A K Antony said India would continue to strive for peaceful relations with all its neighbours and sought to allay misunderstandings by some nations about the security measures taken.
In his Independence Day message, the Defence Minister said India's rising economic stature had brought with it several challenges to the nation's security which are varied and manifold. He said the developments in and around neighbourhood had forced the ccountry to review and upgrade the security apparatus.
''The security measures taken by us are often misunderstood by some nations. However, we have always been a peace-loving nation and we will continue to strive for peaceful relations with all our neighbours,'' he said. He said that although the pressure on the Armed Forces personnel was tremendous, the need for exercising maximum restraint could not be over-emphasised.
''I wish to stress that any instance of human rights violation anywhere would not be tolerated,'' he warned. The Defence Minister said that post 26/11, India had taken several steps to strengthen the security apparatus, particularly along the coastline. The government had cleared the setting up of four air enclaves at Goa, Kochi, Vizag and New Mangalore. Coastal security had been strengthened, with acquisitions of new systems and platforms.
Pointing out that Armed Forces all over the world were modernising and becoming technology-intensive, he assured the Defence forces that the modernisation plans were on the right track. ''We want to give our Armed Forces the latest and the best possible equipment. We would like the modernisation process to proceed hand-in-hand with indigenisation.'' He said the success in the development of the indigenous nuclear submarine - INS Arihant must be replicated in other fields too.
The governent had accorded top priority to creating infrastructure and build all-weather roads in inaccessible areas. The Border Roads Organization had been given the responsibility of constructing the Rohtang tunnel which would ensure that the remote areas in the northern region, which remained inaccessible for over six months, would now be connected and made accessible throughout the year. The Rohtang tunnel would be the longest tunnel in the country at such a high altitude.
He said that during his visit to Siachen in June this year, the jawans had raised the problems and difficulties being faced by them. ''Some of you wanted better quality socks and more snowmobiles for operational requirements. Some of you requested reduced telephone rates for better communication with your family members. I have directed the concerned officials and departments to take immediate remedial action.''
The Defence Minister said the Government had taken several welfare measures for the Defence personnel and was making efforts to improve the quality of atta, rice, vegetables, tea, pulses and other items. Similarly, the government had made a provision for special rations to troops deployed in counter-insurgency operations. Special rations had also been authorised for additional troops serving in high-altitude areas, specifically above 12,000 feet.
A pilot project had been launched at 20 locations across the country for rail e-ticketing. With this facility, the system of railway warrants would be replaced and Armed Forces personnel would be able to book and print e-tickets through IRCTC websites at unit locations. This project would be gradually extended to more than 5,000 Army, Air Force and Navy units across the country. He said the government was trying to ensure that there are no procedural delays in pension-related cases of ex-servicemen.
Some Armed Forces personnel were retained in service, despite a disability that is attributed, or aggravated by military service, who forego a lump-sum compensation in lieu of the disability. ''Keeping in view their valour and sacrifice, it has been decided to grant them a disability element, or war injury element, at the time of their retirement, or discharge, in addition to the retiring/service pension or retiring/service gratuity.'' On the other hand, in case of pensioners who retire on disability pension, a decision had been taken to pay them a Constant Attendant at the rate of Rs 3,000 per month, in addition to the disability pension.
The government had also granted permanent commission to women in non-combatant roles, he said and called for full cooperation from the Armed Forces in taking forward all such welfare schemes to their logical conclusion. In an effort to further improve the living conditions of jawans, he said the Government had laid special emphasis on Married Accommodation Project (MAP). Under the project, a total of 1,98,881 Dwelling Units would be constructed in four phases.
85
« on: August 15, 2010, 11:07:51 AM »
New Delhi August 15:
Punjab sought a super speciality centre from the Union Government for treatment of cancer patients in the disease-infested Malwa region of the State.
The husband-wife duo of Sukhbir Singh Badal, deputy chief minister, and Harsimrat Kaur Badal,MP, made a strong pitch for a Super Speciality Cancer Research and Treatment Centre at Mansa under the National Cancer Programme during their meeting with Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here. But the Health Minister assured only a cancer unit in one of the medical institutes in the state, a Punjab government statement said.
They told him that in Bathinda, the parliamentary constituency of Ms Badal, cancer had claimed lives of 1,089 people in the last three years. Stating that Bathinda region is becoming epicentre of cancer in India, they said intensive use of urea and other chemical fertilisers had contaminated both soil and ground water. They said researchers have found carcinogenic residue in the blood of farmers and in breast milk of the nursing mothers in the region.
The Badals told the Health Minister that researchers have also found very high level of uranium concentration in the hair samples of children, adding traces of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, strontium and barium were also found. Giving an account of pervasive menace of cancer in the area, they said out of the 3,409 tests and 894 mammograms conducted in Bathinda and adjoining Mansa districts, 46 cases turned out positive, while 131 were rated suspects. The region has no diagnostic and treatment centre and sufferers have to travel to Chandigarh and Bikaner for the purpose.
86
« on: August 15, 2010, 11:07:18 AM »
Chandigarh August 15:
In a major initiative to upgrade road infrastructure in Punjab, the state government has planned to invest more than Rs 25,000 crore into a series of projects aimed at improving the efficiency of road transport network.
In his message on the eve of the Independence Day, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said under this ambitious programme, the state government had chalked out infrastructure revamp in Punjab, covering over 13,000 kilometers and involving major four-laning, six-laning, widening and up-gradation of all key transport arteries in the state.
He said Punjab, during the last three years of the SAD-BJP regime, had achieved a rare distinction of constructing and completing maximum ROBs in the Northern Railway. ''We started on 27 ROBs/RUBs in the state with an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore out of which 14 ROBs have been completed and opened to traffic. The remaining 13 ROBs/RUBs will be completed within the current financial year,'' he said. Twelve more ROBs/RUBs would be constructed during the next financial year with an estimated cost of Rs 250 crore.
87
« on: August 15, 2010, 11:06:32 AM »
Chandigarh August 15:
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said that the State was on the path of economic resurgence. Recalling the great tradition of Punjab and the State's contribution towards the freedom struggle, Chief Minister Badal on the eve of Independence Day said: "Punjab is the on the path of economic resurgence."
"If we make an objective assessment of the State's development scenario in three-and-a-half years since the SAD-BJP Government took the reins in March 2007, it is satisfying to note that we have excelled in every sphere be it agriculture, power, infrastructure, health or education," said Badal.
"When we started our voyage, the path was strewn with odds and obstacles as the previous Government left the entire State in quandary and financial mess due to its ill-conceived policies. To put Punjab in the orbit of high growth trajectory, our SAD-BJP Government has taken bold initiatives coupled with pragmatic policies and programmes that have enabled us to achieve the desired results," said Badal in his message to the people of Punjab
"To make Punjab as a power surplus State by 2012-13, our Government has sanctioned four thermal plants at Talwandi Sabo (1980 MW), Goindwal Sahib (540 MW), Rajpura (2100 MW) and Gidderbaha (2680 MW). The work is in full swing on three thermal plants and fourth one at Gidderbaha is in the advance stage of implementation," he said.
"On the agricultural front Punjab has been instrumental in ensuring national food security, consistently contributing about 45 per cent of wheat and 25 per cent of rice towards the central pool. We have embarked upon an ambitious programme of the cleaning of the river Satluj, the Beas and the Ghaggar at a cost of Rs2054 crore thereby ensuring that all the cities in Punjab to have proper drainage and water supply system," he said.
About education, Chief Minister Badal said: "As many as 26,000 teachers had been recruited to ensure the smooth functioning of the schools. It is a matter of pride that the Punjab State achieved the 2nd position in the country for successful implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and ranked 6th from the earlier 14th position in India on education development index as per report of the National University Educational Planning and Administration for the year 2009-10."
"The SAD-BJP Government has laid special emphasises on the skill development programme to train our unemployed youth in collaboration with renowned Bharti Wal Mart to impart training in retailing, logistics and supply chain management, L&T for construction skills and Tata Motors for driving and automotive skills," he said. "To ensure the best medical and healthcare facilities, our Government has prepared a plan of Rs340 crore for upgradation of infrastructure and equipment in the Government hospitals. The entire project will be completed with in one-and-half year," said Badal.
"Our Government has given top priority to infrastructure development in the State. Major initiatives have been taken to revamp the infrastructure involving an investment of approximately Rs7000 crore. 1600-km of new roads is being constructed during the current year at a cost of Rs 400 crore," said Badal.
"Our Government has notified a New Industrial Policy, under which special package of concessions has been provided for Information Technology and Knowledge based industries, agro-based industries and food processing industries. Punjab Special Economic Zones Act, 2009 has been enacted," he said.
"Our government has sincerely ventured to make Punjab as a front-runner State on the national map. It is a testimony to the people's whole-hearted support and cooperation that has ushered in an era of overall development and progress in the State," said Badal.
88
« on: August 15, 2010, 11:05:50 AM »
Ludhiana August 15:
"Dad save me, they have entered my home, they will kill me, please do something, please save me... ,” and the call disconnected. These were the last words of Rajveer to his father, the moment before he was attacked at his house in Brisbane, Australia, on August 8. He was brutally thrashed and strangulated before he was thrown near his house.
Kulwant Singh, father of Rajveer, tried to establish contact with his son but there was no response. After two hours of frantic calls, someone identifying himself to be an employee of a private hospital, responded to the call and told Kulwant that his son was on a ventilator and that chances of his survival were thin. Last night, around 8:30 pm, friends of Rajveer broke the tragic news to his family that their son fell victim to the hate crime.
“My son had died on August 8, but the Australian authorities deliberately put him on a ventilator to cover up the issue,” said Rajveer’s father. Kulwant, who runs a grocery shop, had spent all his savings to send him abroad. He had gone to Australia in December 2007, completed his hotel management course from an institute in Melbourne and later settled in Brisbane. At present, he was working in a restaurant.
Rajveer’s mother Manjit Kaur said he was planning to return to India. He had told that he would celebrate the Independence Day with them. Kulwant Singh said, “Since these hate crime cases started taking place in Australia, I kept on asking him to return. But he insisted that such cases were taking place only in Melbourne. He used to say that Australia was a safe country. But he had to pay a heavy price for his error of judgment.”
His younger brother Harprabhjit Singh and sister Dolma Singh are still in a shock. Now another trouble is staring at the family as it does not have enough financial resources to pay the hospital expenses where Rajveer was admitted. The family has demanded the Indian Government’s intervention in the matter.
89
« on: August 15, 2010, 11:05:20 AM »
Patiala August 15:
A special CBI court today rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon in connection with a recruitment scam.
In its order, judge Balbir Singh said the petition filed for anticipatory bail was not maintainable in this court. The court yesterday heard arguments of the prosecution and the defence counsels and reserved today for the order. The Court asked Kahlon to file petition for anticipatory bail in a higher court.
CBI had filed a charge-sheet against Kahlon and 13 others on July 9 for their alleged involvement in large scale irregularities in recruitment of 909 Panchayat Secretaries in Rural Development Department of Punjab government. Kahlon was then the Minister incharge of the department during the previous SAD-BJP government from 1997 to 2002.
The court had already issued directions to start the trial in the case from August 17 in which summons had been issued to Kahlon and other accused. NPS Waraich, Kahlon's counsel, said that at this stage they had two options, either to make Kahlon surrender in the trial court on August 17 or file petition for anticipatory bail in higher court.
Those named in the charge-sheet included Mandeep Singh, IAS, the then director, rural development and panchayats, Punjab and now director, transport, Punjab, J S Kesar, IAS (retired), the then financial commissioner, department of rural development and panchayats, and Vikas Sharma, private secretary (retired) to the minister.
The case was registered on June 26, 2003 against Kahlon and 13 others on the basis of a complaint from the then director, rural development and panchayats, Punjab under sections 120-B, 465, 468, 471 and 201 of Indian Penal Code and section 13(1)(d) r/w 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
It was alleged in the complaint that the minister, in conspiracy with other accused persons, indulged in corruption, cheating and forgery of the records in respect of selection of 909 panchayat secretaries during 1997 to 2002 by abusing their official positions. The allegations about selection of panchayat secretaries were also part of the larger case dated June 14, 2002 of Vigilance Bureau, Punjab in which the accused had been charge-sheeted.
90
« on: August 14, 2010, 08:27:56 PM »
91
« on: August 14, 2010, 09:21:33 AM »
Mumbai August 14:
Sachin Tendulkar has welcomed Cricket Australia's move to split a one-day innings into two halves. He feels once the method is put into practice, the players will be able to figure out how good the new system is.
Also read: ‘Australia cricketers irked by new one-day format’ Speaking to reporters, the master batsman said, "I am glad it's being tried out in Australia. I feel once the players have tried out this format, they will be in a better position to judge if the format works or not."
Tendulkar was one of the first cricketers to suggest that one-dayers should be split into two innings in September 2009. The 37-year-old had said that the idea first struck him in 2002 when the final of the Champions Trophy between India and Sri Lanka could not be completed despite 110 overs of cricket being played over two days. "First, they played 50 overs and we played two overs before the rain interruption. The next day, Sri Lanka again played 50 overs and we played eight.
In the end we were declared joint winners. 110 overs and still no result! That is when I thought we should have 25 overs first for one side and then the other. And then once again 25 overs for one side and then the other," he had explained. Tendulkar feels that the new formula would add to the excitement of the game in the age of Twenty20. It would also negate the luck factor of the toss and provide a level-playing field.
"Today, we can tell the result of close to 75% of matches after the toss. We know how conditions will affect the two teams. But it (splitting the game into two innings) is not too dependent on the toss because, (if) it's a day-night match, then both the teams will have to bat under lights. And if it rains, you can plan for that too," Tendulkar had opined. The administrators Down Under seem to have taken note of Sachin's observation.
92
« on: August 14, 2010, 09:18:05 AM »
Chennai August 14:
For a nation with a rising number of diabetics, National Vascular Week assumes more significance than normally. Between August 6 and 13, the country has been focussing on generating awareness to prevent peripheral vascular disease in the population.
Peripheral Vascular Disease involves the circulatory system excluding the heart and brain. It is characterised by a narrowing of the vessels that carry blood to the legs, arms, stomach and kidney, caused by thickening of the vessel walls, thereby thinning and eventually, cutting off blood supply.
“The major risk factors are smoking, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol levels and a family history of heart attacks and strokes,” explains V. Balaji, senior consultant vascular surgeon at Apollo Hospital. So primary prevention is key, he adds. Vascular surgeons invariably have to advise their patients to stop smoking, eat a healthy diet, and control their cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
“The incidence is about 6-8 per cent among diabetics who come to the outpatient unit. In those who are over 60 years, it is higher at 30 per cent,” Vijay Vishwanathan of MV Hospital for Diabetes says. Convert the percentage to real numbers and the tip of the iceberg emerges. P. Sekar, senior vascular surgeon, says in private practice, 90 per cent of PVD patients are diabetic. Patients from rural areas and towns where awareness is poor come in with very bad disease, he adds.
Dr. Balaji says there is a high risk of losing limbs with PVD, especially in combination with diabetes. “The symptoms are non-healing ulcers and leg pain while walking and even at rest. If a patient comes in with these symptoms, it is prudent that the doctor suspects PVD.” It is said that 80 per cent of diabetic gangrene starts as an ulcer, Dr. Sekar points out. “If you pick up patients then, you can salvage the limbs.” Even surgeons who remove the gangrenous toe do not check for blood flow, thereby allowing the gangrene to spread.
“All they have to do is feel the pulse in the ankle. A Doppler test and the ankle brachial index can also determine blood flow to the feet,” he says, adding that patients have to watch for cold feet, hair loss (in the limb) and changes in nail texture and colour. Medical management will be helpful at the initial stages and minimally invasive procedures are also being offered now.
The tests are simple and will have to be performed during annual tests for diabetics. Some people complain about the costs, but look at it as the price for keeping your feet and arms and it is nothing.” Also PVD is now being considered a marker for other diseases, including Coronary Artery Disease and Cerebral Vascular Disease.
93
« on: August 14, 2010, 09:14:21 AM »
Washington August 14:
Health officials approved a new, longer-lasting "morning-after" pill to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex.
The prescription drug, called ella, is made by French company HRA Pharma and will be sold in the United States by Watson Pharmaceuticals. It is the first emergency contraceptive approved since a five-year battle under the Bush administration ended with limited over-the-counter sales and age checks by pharmacists for a rival pill.
Ella has been shown to prevent pregnancy for up to five days after unprotected sex. The Food and Drug Administration said it cleared ella based on two clinical trials that showed the drug was safe and effective. The drug "is not intended for routine use as a contraceptive," the FDA said in a statement. Watson said it planned to launch ella in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company has not announced a price.
The drug will compete with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd's Plan B, which works for up to three days after intercourse. Plan B is available without a prescription for those aged 17 and older, but ella will require a prescription for all ages. Plan B, first cleared as a prescription drug in 1999, saw dozens of medical and other groups push for over-the-counter use starting in 2001. The Bush administration approved limited "behind-the-counter" sales in 2006.
Watson sells a generic version of Plan B called Next Choice. While morning-after pills have not been huge money-makers, they have generated controversy, especially in the United States. Sex, birth control and abortion are perennial political hotbeds even though emergency birth control drugs had been available for decades. Conservatives, Republicans and other critics have said making another morning-after pill available -- one that works even longer after sex -- will further promote promiscuity.
They also question ella's safety and say the drug is more akin to an abortion pill than birth control. "The FDA opted against including the critical fact that ella can cause an abortion on a baby already implanted in its mother's womb in the drug labeling information," Jeanne Monahan, director of the Center for Human Dignity at the Family Research Council, said in a statement. Women's groups, Democrats and other advocates say the pills offer women much-needed options to plan their families and provide a safety net when other birth control methods fail or women are raped.
"Every woman deserves every option available to prevent an unplanned pregnancy, and there are many reasons why a woman may face the risk of unintended pregnancy -- from failure or improper use of birth control, to sexual assault," Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement. Ella is a type of selective progesterone receptor modulator, making it part of a class of drugs that interfere with the hormone progesterone that is crucial for pregnancy.
The class also includes the abortion pill known as RU-486, or mifepristone, and sold as Danco Laboratories' Mifeprex. Watson said the overall pregnancy rate for women who took ella within three days of sex was 1.9 percent, lower than the anticipated rate of 5.6 percent. For women who took the drug two days to five days after sex, the pregnancy rate was 2.2 percent, lower than an expected rate of 5.5 percent.
Company officials and the FDA have said ella appears to work primarily by preventing the release of a woman's egg for up to five days after unprotected sex, although the lining of the uterus is also affected. Common side effects with ella include nausea, headache and abdominal pain, according to the company's clinical data. Women with known or suspected pregnancy and women who are breast-feeding should not use ella, the FDA said.
Known chemically as ulipristal, the drug already is sold in several European countries under the name ellaOne. HRA Pharma has said it has also begun seeking approval in other countries.
94
« on: August 14, 2010, 09:12:44 AM »
Patiala/Nabha August 14:
It was love for a glamorous lifestyle and differences with his family that forced 24-year-old Amritbir Singh to go to such an extent that he brutally murdered all four members of the family, including his grandfather, father, mother and teenaged sister at their Preet Vihar residence in Nabha yesterday morning.
Giving this information, Patiala SSP Ranbir Singh Khatra said that perturbed with his ‘forced’ engagement three weeks ago, he decided to eliminate his parents. Notably, the news of murder of Hameer Singh, his son Iqbal Singh, Iqbal’s wife Jaswinder Kaur (50) and their daughter Gurjagjeet Kaur left the entire Preet Vihar colony shocked yesterday.
However, the Patiala district police managed to crack the case within 12 hours. According to the cops, when Amritbir narrated the sequence of incidents that took place after he left home yesterday morning, they got suspicious. The cops also said that Amritbir wanted to live a lavish life and he used to have frequent quarrels with his family.
After the cremation of the deceased, the cops started questioning Amritbir, as he was the main suspect in the case. During the questioning, Amritbir confessed his crime. “Amritbir said he wanted to marry his beloved but his family forcibly fixed his marriage with some other girl. Since the engagement day, Amritbir was feeling frustrated,” said Khatra. The SSP further said that Amritbir was pursuing MCA from a private institute and was taking tuitions at Patiala.
Giving the details of the incident, Khatra said, “Yesterday morning, Amritbir asked for a car and money from his father Iqbal Singh. Since, Amritbir’s father refused his son’s demand, Amritbir got agitated and shot his father with his licenced revolver. Later, he took out a .12-bore licenced rifle and went on a killing spree by murdering his mother, Jaswinder, in the kitchen and grandfather, Hameer Singh, who was sleeping in a room on the first floor.
“When Amritbir’s sister Gurjagjeet tried to stop him, he attacked her with an iron rod and subsequently shot her dead. He then took out jewellery and cash from the house and put these in the overhead water tank along with the rifle. After committing the crime, he took a bus to Patiala and threw his revolver in the Bhakhra Canal,” said police officials. The cops further said that the police was trying to recover the revolver with the help of divers. Meanwhile, Amritbir was presented in the Nabha court, and has been sent to police remand till August 16.
95
« on: August 14, 2010, 09:11:05 AM »
Chandigarh August 14:
Punjab has 93 engineering colleges but technical education still remains out of bounds for the poor. This is likely to be addressed now with the Technical Education Department setting in motion a proposal to provide free technical education to the poorest of the poor free of charge.
The proposal envisages the creation of one institution initially over 300 to 400 acres which will offer basic engineering courses. This would be followed by two more such institutions. The first institution, which will enrol around 1,000 students for the 2011 academic session, is likely to be run by a society including representatives of national and international NGOs as well as representatives of Punjab Technical University (PTU).
PTU Vice-Chancellor Rajneesh Arora was asked to make a detailed proposal for the institution by Secretary, Technical Education, Suresh Kumar during a meeting held here yesterday. According to the proposal, the society, which has provisionally been named the Society for Provision of Technical Education to Rural Poor, will primarily cater to the poorest of the poor only. There will be no merit list or entrance test and family income will be the only criterion for admission.
The Secretary, Technical Education, said the department realised that many of the students might not be able to come up to the required expectations. He said the institution would therefore be patterned in such a manner that students could take admission direct after class X or class XII and take up two-year ITI courses, three-year polytechnic studies or a six- year engineering degree. “Multi-level entry and exit will give flexibility to the programme and also allow scope for self-improvement”, he said, adding the institution would also teach language skills to bring students up to a certain level.
In fact, the proposal borrows from the rural university proposal initiated by the erstwhile Congress government that could not bear fruit and also the example of Yadvindra College of Engineering, Talwandi Sabo, initiated by the then Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor, Swarn Singh Boparai. What, however, is different is that there is a proposal for more than one institution offering flexibility in courses. Among the areas where the institution could come up is Ferozepur district.
96
« on: August 12, 2010, 12:50:34 PM »
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
97
« on: August 12, 2010, 09:11:49 AM »
New Delhi August 12:
In a rare judgment that may have far-reaching consequences, Delhi High Court on Wednesday came to the rescue of two minors who had got married against their parents' wishes, ruling that their wedding was "valid".
The court ruled that though the marriage flouted one of clauses in section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act - which lays down the minimum age of marriage as 18 years for the bride and 21 for the groom - this in itself did not make the marriage void. A division bench comprising Justices B D Ahmed and V K Jain said the clause which laid down the minimum age (clause III, section 5), wasn't one of the conditions stipulated in the Hindu Marriage Act that would render a marriage void.
"A Hindu marriage solemnized in contravention of clause III, section 5 of the HMA... does not fall in the category of voidable marriages," the bench ruled. The court said that even under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, the marriage involving minors had not been declared as invalid. The Act just says that the marriage can be annulled on this ground if a plea is made by the minor partner.
"It is clear that where, earlier, a child marriage may not have been voidable under personal law, as in the case of the Hindu Marriage Act, by virtue of the section 3 of the Prohibition of Child marriage Act, it has explicitly been made voidable at the option of the child spouse. But nobody other than a party to the marriage can petition for its annulment," the court said. It said the legislature while drafting the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act had consciously left out marriages in contravention of the age stipulation from the category of void or invalid marriages.
The petitioner, Jitendra Kumar Sharma, who is not yet 18 years old, had sought the court's intervention after a criminal case was registered against him on the complaint of his 16-year-old wife's family. They alleged that the boy had abducted her. The court ordered quashing of the FIR, which had booked the boy for kidnapping and rape, stating that "Poonam (the bride) has clearly stated that she left her home on her own and of her own free will...continuing proceedings pursuant to them would be an exercise in futility and would not be in the interest of justice".
The court added that even the offence under Section 9 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, which provides for the punishment of a male adult above 18 years of age, was not made out as " Jitender is less than 18 years of age". "We direct that Poonam is no longer required to be kept at Nirmal Chhaya. She is free to go with her husband and reside with him in his home. Jitender's father, brother and sister have assured this court that they will provide full support to the young couple," said the court.
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« on: August 12, 2010, 09:06:59 AM »
Ludhiana August 12:
Former Mayor of Ludhiana Nahar Singh Gill died here today after a protracted illness. He was 62. He leaves behind his wife, one son and two daughters.
Mr Gill breathed his last at the local Dayanad Medical College where he was being treated for diabetes and kidney problem. A dedicated Congress leader, Mr Gill had served as Ludhiana Mayor between 2002 and 2007. Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh condoled his death and said Mr Gill was a loyal and hardworking member of the Congress who always worked to strengthen its cadre.
Capt Singh said during his term as Mayor of Ludhiana, he worked hard for the overall development of the town and endeared himself to the people with his simplicity and positive approach. ''His death has created a vacuum which would be difficult to fill.''
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« on: August 12, 2010, 09:06:09 AM »
Chandigarh August 12:
After 13 years of trying to undo a “mistake”, the Punjab government has finally started the process of de-notifying over 55,000 hectares of land locked under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) across five districts of Punjab.
The first set of notifications delisting the pockets under the PLPA in Karoran, Nadah and Perchh villages in SAS Nagar district were issued by the Forest Department today.
Interestingly, the department has started the delisting process from Chandigarh’s peripheral villages where most of the land under the PLPA is owned by VIPs, including politicians, bureaucrats and police officers. Sources add that the VIP lobby and the land mafia had been pressurising the government to undertake the de-listing of the forest land in Chandigarh’s periphery first and only after that take up the delisting of other areas.
Thousands of farmers in Ropar, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur who are unable to till their land due to it being locked under the PLPA are, however, still awaiting relief. Their turn, sources add, is likely to come within the next three years as the process of de-notifying was cumbersome and involved preparation of detailed khasra number lists. The source added that the de-listing of the PLPA is specific to certain pockets only in certain villages and it should not be thought that all land under the PLPA in Punjab has been denotified.
Most of this land falls in the eco-fragile zone and is notified under Sections IV and V of the PLPA 1900. The PLPA does not allow a host of activities, including construction. The move to denotify this land from the PLPA was initiated in 1997 when it was discovered that vast tracts of land under habitation and cultivation had been “wrongly” shown as forest land. The land was ordered to be delisted from the list of forest areas under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in July last year.
The ministry has, however, laid down strict conditions on the delisting of land from the PLPA banning any form of commercial activity on this land. The land is to be used only for bonafide agricultural purposes and related activities to sustain the livelihood of the landowner. In September last year, a committee constituted by the department had recommended that the land be denotified from the PLPA and its control handed over to the Revenue Department. The government accepted the recommendations of the committee and it was decided that the de-notified areas be placed under the jurisdiction of the state authority that managed the land.
For instance, for Nadah and Karoran villages, which along with Kansal village form part of the Nayagaon notified area committee (NAC), the NAC will manage the de-notified land. “It will now be the duty of the Nayagaon NAC to ensure the implementation of the conditions laid down by the government of India for these pockets. In case they allow any activity other than agriculture on these chunks, they will be facing the ire of the steering committee of the Supreme Court,” pointed out a Forest Department official.
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« on: August 12, 2010, 09:05:30 AM »
Mohali August 12:
To boost industrialization in a big way in Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal called upon entrepreneurs and industrialists to chalk out a strategy to ensure overall development on one hand and eradicate unemployment on the other in the state.
Addressing a public gathering after laying the foundation stone of the second campus of Indian School of Business (ISB) here after Hyderabad at a cost of Rs 200 crore over an area of 70 acres, Mr Badal said that the State Government was committed to provide all requisite facilities and incentives to the prospective entrepreneurs to encourage them to make huge investments in the state.
The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of four founding business patners of ISB viz. Chairman of Max India Ltd., Mr. Analjit Singh, Chairman-cum-MD Punjab Lloyd Mr. Atul Punj, Vice Chairman Bharti Enterprises Ltd. Mr. Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Chairman Hero Honda Motor Ltd. Mr. Sunil Munjal and Mr. Pawan Munjal of Hero Corporate Services Ltd. for the promotion of the prestigious ISB campus at Mohali.
He also urged the Dean of the ISB Mr Ajit Rangnekar to suggest ways and means to develop synergy between the industry and management and business institutes to give a fillip to industrialization in the state. Mr. Badal sought cooperation from these industrialists and Mr. Rangnekar to further explore the possibility of developing the skill development programme to provide job opportunities to the unemployed youth.
The Chief Minister said that with the establishment of ISB campus and international airport here, Mohali would soon emerge as the most ultra modern and the advanced city not in the country but also across the globe. Mr Badal said that it was his passion to see Mohali at the top of the world and he had already convened a meeting of the councilors, senior officers of state government and GMADA to work out a plan to ensure integrated development of Mohali.
In her address, Education Minister Dr. Upinderjit Kaur said that Mohali was being developed as an educational hub with tremendous opportunities of advanced learning. She said that the Punjab government was committed to impart quality education to the students be it at school, college or university level. She said that a network of upcoming schools, colleges, polytechnics and universities was a step in this direction.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer of ISB Mohali Campus, Ms.Savita Mahajan, said that the construction of the campus was expected to be completed by March 2012, and the first academic session for the Post Graduate Programme in Management was scheduled to commence in April 2012, with an initial intake of 210 students.
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