Khurda (Orissa), Jan.31 (ANI): A wild bull elephant had to be killed earlier this week after it strayed into the Madhupur Village of Orissa's Khurda District.

The jumbo, believed to be around 50 years of age, was shot down by a village elder Purnachandra Baliar Singh at night after it came too close to his residence and damaged the paddy stored outside his house.

Seventy-eight-year old Purnachandra described the killing as an action taken in self-defense, said forest officials.

"The  tusker was entering into the Madhupur village and it got so close to the residence of one of the persons. His name is Purnachandra Baliar Singh who was sleeping  near the verandah.

The spot is just hardly 10 feet from his residence and it was destroying his paddy. So, he fired at the animal. The animal had two shots on its temple and forehead and succumbed to the injuries," said G. Rajesh, Divisional Forest Officer, Khurda.

Rajesh added that the gun has been seized. An investigation has been launched while a post-mortem of the dead animal will be carried out and necessary action would be taken based on that.

Purnachandra Baliar Singh said he had no option but to shoot the elephant. "When the elephant charged at me I shot at it," he said.

The single-tusk elephant is stated to have arrived in the village from Chandrika Wildlife Sanctury.      

Orissa has nearly 1,900 elephants roaming in jungles. (ANI)
--MP

Bhiwani (Haryana), Jan 31 (ANI): Panic gripped poultry farmers in Haryana's Bhiwani District today due to mysterious death of thousands of chickens.

Poultry owners were scared that the bird flu virus has hit them. 

"Thousands of chickens are dying daily. Doctors come, they do check up and then go. They are not telling us the exact reason for the mysterious death," said Krishna, a poultry owner.  

There has been no official confirmation however if the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza has actually hit here.

About 160,000 poultry birds have been culled in West Bengal so far, while over 100,000 birds have succumbed to the disease.

The 5000 crore organised poultry industry in West Bengal has taken a bad hit following the outbreak of bird flu.

In 2006, after bird flu was detected in Maharashtra, the Centre had given a 4 per cent subsidy on interest on loans given to the organised sector and backed it up with subsidy on poultry feed.

The WHO has called the outbreak the most serious in India. (ANI)
--MP

New Delhi/Dharamsala/Srinagar, Jan 31 (ANI): North India continues to be under the grip of intense cold wave with some parts of the country experiencing sub-zero temperatures.

As the Meteorological Department has predicted colder day's ahead. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 3.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday.

The season's lowest was recorded at 1.9 degrees Celsius on 2nd January.

Meanwhile there was a heavy snowfall in Dharamsala, which has brought hope of a delightful summer ahead.

Snowfall augurs well for traders in Himachal Pradesh, where tourism and horticulture is the backbone of the economy.

"This is considered secretly a kind of a backbone for the coming summer in the area because of the coming of snow. I can say big flowering time expected in next one to two months," said Prem Sagar, a travel agent.  

Meanwhile, with the drop of mercury in Srinagar, sale of Kangris or earthen fire pots has picked up.

Kangri, a traditional Kashmiri heating pot, contains an earthenware pot, which holds hot coal and is used as a portable heater during winter. The wicker basket with the coal embers is held within the folds of the long and loose pherans during winter.

"Compared to last year, this year the sale has been good. What got me 100 rupees last year fetched me 200 to 250, even 300 rupees, " said Bashir, a seller.

The Kashmir valley experiences strong winds along with snow and rainfall during the winter season that lasts from November till March and the magic of the Kangri helps ward off the cold.

Other parts of North India are also experiencing intense cold weather. (ANI)
--MP

Itanagar, Jan 31 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will lay the foundation stone for the 3,000 MW Debang multipurpose hydroelectric project here today.

To be set up by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) at a cost of Rs 17,656 crore, this hydropower-cum-flood moderation project envisages construction of a 288-meter high concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse.

During his two-day visit, Dr. Singh will also lay the foundation of five major projects, including the Harmoti-Itanagar railway line.

Before leaving for Kibitho in Anjaw, he will also visit Ramakrishna Mission Hospital.

Kibitho is the second meeting point of Indian and Chinese army opened just before the Chinese President's visit to India in November 2006.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to unveil the statue of Indira Gandhi and formally inaugurate the Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan housing the state Congress headquarters. (ANI)
--MP

Kohima, Jan 31 (ANI): Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami alongwith two Election Commissioners S Y Qureshi and Navin Chawla will today review poll preparedness for the March 5 Assembly polls in Nagaland.

During their three-day visit, members of the Commission will held meetings with representatives of recognised political parties separately.

Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) C J Ponraj has constituted election committees in each district to oversee the poll arrangements and to receive complaints on violations of codes of conduct and suggestions from individuals and parties to ensure free and fair poll in the state.

The nomination papers will be filed from February 9 and the last date for it is February 16 followed by withdrawal by February 20.

Counting of votes will take place on March 8.

The term of the House that was brought under President's rule early this month, ends on March 13.

There are 60 seats out of which 59 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes. (ANI)
--MP

New Delhi, Jan 30 (ANI): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today gave its approval for continued implementation of the ongoing centrally sponsored 'Project Tiger' during the XI Five Year Plan at an estimated cost of Rs.600 crore (Rs 6 billion).

The scheme includes additional components, namely, rehabilitation/resettlement of denotified tribes/communities involved in traditional hunting, mainstreaming livelihood and wildlife concerns in forests outside tiger reserves and fostering corridor conservation through restorative strategy to arrest fragmentation of habitats, enhanced village relocation/rehabilitation package for people living in core tiger habitats apart form settlement of rights.

Safeguards/retrofitting measures in the interest of wildlife conservation, providing basic infrastructure for strengthening the National Tiger Conservation Authority and establishing a monitoring lab in the Wildlife Institute of India, establishment and development of eight new tiger reserves, provision of project allowance to ministerial staff working in tiger reserves and fostering ecotourism are other components of the scheme.

The implementation of the scheme would benefit in protection and conservation of tiger in wildlife reserves as per the recommendations of Tiger Task Force, curbing unlawful activities in tiger reserves, providing inviolate space for tiger in core tiger habitats, mainstreaming tiger conservation in the landscape and to provide conditions for increase in tiger population in the country. (ANI)
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New Delhi, Jan 30 (ANI): The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to provide subsidy to the Arunachal Pradesh for operating an exclusive MI 172 helicopter service between Guwahati and Tawang initially for a period of one year.

"Subsidy to the State Government for operating this helicopter service beyond one year would based on review of the operation of this service at the end of the first year of its operation," a government release said.

The 75 per cent of the amount of subsidy, actual cost of operation of helicopter service minus recovery from passengers, would be met by the Centre, while the State Government will incur the rest of 25 per cent.

The over all ceiling of flying hours for the proposed helicopter service in the state would be 52 hours per month.

This service is expected to facilitate the movement of tourists and public between Guwahati and Tawang. (ANI)
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New Delhi, Jan 30 (ANI): The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to merging a portion of Industrial Dearness Allowance (IDA) equalling 50 per cent of the existing basic pay of public sector employees with their basic pay with effect from January 1 last year.

The Cabinet took this decision following IDA pattern of pay scales at 1997 levels and that will be shown distinctly as Dearness Pay (DP) which would be counted for purposes like payment of allowances, transfer grant, retirement benefits, contribution to Contributory Provident Fund, various licence fees, various advances.

The Cabinet also approved extension of above decision to employees of Food Corporation of India, and approved determination of the entitlements for leave travel concession (LTC), travel allowance (TA) and dearness allowance (DA) while on tour and transfer on the basic pay alone without taking into account dearness pay.

The Board of Directors of each Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) would consider the proposal for 50 per cent merger of DA with Basic Pay for executives and workmen keeping in mind the capacity of the company to pay and submit a proposal to the Administrative Ministry, which will approve the proposal with the concurrence of its Financial Advisor.

This would benefit the employees following IDA pattern of pay scales in CPSEs, which are in a position to absorb the additional expenditure without budgetary support. (ANI)
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Ludhiana, Jan.30 (ANI): At a time when most of the kids are glued to television watching dance shows or serials, a nine-year-old Ludhiana girl has prepared herself to master the art of playing musical instruments.

Vani Talwar developed interest in classical music while observing her elders at home. The family is fond of music. Today, she can play instruments like Santoor, Harmonium, Banjo and many others with ease.


Every day Vani practices for two hours on the Santoor. She captivates everyone around once she starts off playing any of the musical instruments. She loves playing various musical tunes of the national anthem, hymns and prayers with deep interest.

"Vani is Goddess Sarswati's blessing for our family. We love music and she has picked it up very well in a short span of time. Her grandfather teaches her harmonium and I teach her Santoor. It is very difficult to play the Santoor that has 81 strings. I have taught her the basics which she has learnt very well," said Atul Talwar, Vani's father.

Many individuals, who have heard her playing these instruments, are astonished at the remarkable comfort with which she plays the classical music instruments that often prove quite challenging to learn for even grown ups.

Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma once heard her playing the Santoor and blessed her. She calls Panditji her biggest inspiration.

"Last year, I attended a musical festival and watched Pandit Shiv Kumar's programme, which really inspired me. So I started learning santoor from my dad.... I also play harmonium, keyboard which my grandfather taught and I would like to continue practicing Santoor as I like this instrument very much," said Vani. (ANI)
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Sydney, Jan.30 (ANI): The Indian cricket team today denied reports that they had chartered a plane to fly its players home on Thursday if bowler Harbhajan Singh was not cleared of racially taunting Australian player Andrew Symonds.

Arriving at Melbourne Airport this afternoon with the team in preparation for Friday's Twenty20 match with Australia at the MCG, the team's media spokesman Dr M.V. Sridhar said the team had not made any such plans.

''I don't know where that came from.There was no thinking like that at all. After what happened yesterday, we're going forward so that the game goes on,'' the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Sridhar, as saying.

He also confirmed that the team will have a 6 p.m. training session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that Cricket Australia, facing the prospect of a ruined one-day series and the loss of millions in television rights, sponsorship and gate-takings, had caved in to the demands of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is seen as cricket's financial superpower.

The paper reported that Australia's cricketers were furious that off-spinner Harbhajan Singh had escaped a three-Test match ban, and had only been asked to forfeit 50 percent of match fee for using obscene language against Symonds in the controversy-ridden second Test at Sydney.
Players and the media were reportedly of the view that Cricket Australia had succumbed to pressure from India to drop a charge of racism against Harbhajan.

At a meeting on Tuesday morning, the Australian players were reportedly convinced by representatives of Cricket Australia that the best way of getting a charge against Harbhajan to stick was to downgrade it from racism to abusive language.

This was initially met with fierce resistance by the five players involved in the hearing, who insisted that Harbhajan called Symonds a ''monkey'' during the Sydney Test and were determined he be punished.

They still expected that a one-match ban would be imposed, and were dismayed when the controversial spinner's three-Test suspension from Sydney was replaced by a fine.

''The thing that pisses us off is that it shows how much power India has,'' said a contracted Australian player, who refused to be named.

''The Aussie guys aren't going to make it (the accusation) up. The players are frustrated because this shows how much influence India has, because of the wealth they generate. Money talks,'' the unnamed player was quoted, as saying

The Australian Cricketers' Association, however, is happy with the handling of the Harbhajan race row, association president Darren Lehmann said.

''We are happy with the way it has been treated and handled. That is done and dusted, so let's move on and play some cricket. It has all been done in the right channels,''  Lehmann said today.

Earlier, Australia's Governor-General, Sir Michael Jeffrey, lamenting the loss of grace and courtesy from the game of cricket, said players representing their country at the international level needed to improve their manners and behavior, as they were seen as sporting icons by the younger generation.

''While we should be playing the game tough and hard and all of that sort of thing, I think there's also a need to really take care of the fundamental courtesies and good manners. Good manners on the ground and off the ground has such a good impact on our other cricketing friends around the world. I think we've got to have a little bit of a look at this,'' Governor General Jeffrey said ahead of a game between the Prime Minister's XI game against Sri Lanka in Canberra today. (ANI)
--MP

Labels: Cricket

Guwahati, Jan.30 (ANI): At least 21 people, including 10 members of a marriage party, died in two separate accidents in Meghalaya and Assam on Wednesday.

Reports reaching here said eleven passengers were killed after a Guwahati-Silchar bus skidded off the road and fell into a over 100-metre-deep gorge near Mawryngkneng, about 40 km from Shillong, in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.

There were 40 passengers in the bus that belonged to the Assam State Transport Corporation. The remaining 29 escaped with minor injuries and were being treated at the Shillong Civil Hospital when reports last came in.

In Assam, ten members of a marriage party, including six women, were killed and 13 injured when their mini bus collided with a truck at Gejengaguri in lower Assam's Sonitpur district on National Highway 52.

Seven persons, including the driver, died on the spot while the others succumbed to injuries while being taken to the Kanaklata Civil Hospital.

Two of the injured have been admitted to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital as their condition was stated to be serious.

The bus was returning to Tezpur after dropping the bride at Orang, reports said. (ANI)
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Ottawa (Canada), Jan.30 (ANI): Dr. Amit Kumar, the absconding prime accused in the illegal kidney transplant racket that came to light last week in Gurgaon, Haryana, may be hiding somewhere in Canada, a Toronto-based newspaper has claimed in its report.

According to the Toronto Star, Dr. Kumar has family based in Canada, and could have sought shelter with them, as soon as he was informed of an impending raid on his kidney racket by police in Gurgaon.

The paper further goes on to say that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) at present has very limited knowledge or information about Dr. Kumar's whereabouts, and is using the help of Interpol in an attempt to track him down.

"Based on the limited information available at this time, we can not confirm any outstanding notices on this individual from the National Central Bureau in New Delhi. We can, however, say that Interpol Ottawa has been in communication with Interpol New Delhi about this case," the paper quoted RCMP's Sylvie Tremblay, as saying.

The kidney transplant racket, centred in Gurgaon, at times used luxury cars outfitted with blood-testing machines to test donors as well as sophisticated surgical equipment hidden inside the DLF-Phase-One neighbourhood.

Police in Gurgaon said that the kidneys of up to 500 poor labourers were removed and sold to wealthy patients. It is unclear if the poor people actually sold the organs or whether doctors allegedly involved in the organ transplant racket duped them.

An Indian daily has quoted Superintendent of Police Manjul Saini as saying that police are certain Kumar's family "is based in Canada and he visited them a fortnight ago."

The report goes on to say that police have recovered e-mails from Kumar's Gurgaon's premises in which patients from Canada have inquired about the details of the operation.

Saini is quoted as saying: "Dealing with foreign clients from Canada would have helped him (Kumar) avoid suspicion."

Gurgaon Police Commissioner Mohinder Lal said earlier this week that the primary suspects, including Kumar, were believed to have fled the country. (ANI)
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Agartala, Jan 30 (ANI): The Election Commission (EC) will today issue formal notification for a single-phase Assembly poll in Tripura to be held on February 23.

The filing of nomination papers will close on February 6 and scrutiny of nominations will take place on February 7. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is February 9.

The counting of votes will take place on March 7. 

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami and Election Commissioners S Y Qureshi and Navin Chawla have reviewed the poll preparations.

They asked the appointed observers to ensure free and fair elections in the state.

Fifty-two general observers and eight expenditure observers have been allotted and will stay there till the end of the Assembly polls.

The observers have specially been asked to tour their respective constituencies and build up confidence among weaker sections.

The current term of the Tripura Assembly ends on March 19. (ANI)
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Sydney, Jan.30 (ANI): Australian cricketers have reportedly expressed their anger over Cricket Australia bowing to pressure from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to drop the racism charge against Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

In what is now being revealed as a brazen act of provocation, the BCCI had chartered a plane to fly its players' home on Thursday had Harbhajan not been cleared of racially taunting Australian player Andrew Symonds.

Facing the prospect of a ruined one-day series and the loss of millions in television rights, sponsorship and gate takings, Cricket Australia caved in, reports news.com.au.

At a meeting yesterday morning, the Australian players were convinced by their board that the best way of getting a charge against Harbhajan to stick was to downgrade it from racism to abusive language.

This was initially met with fierce resistance by the five players involved in the hearing, who insist that Harbhajan called Symonds a "monkey" during the Sydney Test and were determined he be punished.

They still expected that a one-match ban would be imposed, and were dismayed when Harbhajan was just fined 50 percent of his match fee for using abusive language.

"The thing that pisses us off is that it shows how much power India has. The Aussie guys aren't going to make it (the accusation) up. The players are frustrated because this shows how much influence India has, because of the wealth they generate. Money talks," said a contracted Australian player, who refused to be named. "

India stepped up the brinkmanship yesterday by flying its one-day specialist players from Melbourne, where they are due to play on Friday, to Adelaide, so they could return to India with the rest of the side if the hearing did not go as it wanted.

With the triangular one-day series in doubt, Cricket Australia feared broadcast partner ESPN, which beams matches into 27 countries, would sue it for up to 60-million dollars.

Of immediate concern was Friday's sold-out Twenty20 match at the MCG, which authorities hope will attract close to 90,000.

Board of Control for Cricket in India vice-president Rajiv Shukla said: "Ultimately, truth has prevailed. India has always stood against racism. Cricket is the victor in all this."

Late last night, Cricket Australia and the BCCI issued a joint statement, saying Symonds and Harbhajan had "resolved" the issue and intended to move on. "Both captains also said they were satisfied with the outcome," it said.

Despite that, the grave faces of the Australians at yesterday's hearing before appeals commissioner and New Zealand High Court judge John Hansen told a different story.

They maintain Harbhajan is a repeat offender, having called Symonds "monkey" during October's heated one-day series in India.

In audio evidence from Channel Nine played at the hearing, Harbhajan cannot be heard saying "monkey".

But the Australians are heard remonstrating with him. "You've got a witness now, champ," Matthew Hayden tells him. "It's a shit word and you know it." (ANI)
--MP

Labels: Cricket

Shivpuri (Madhya Pradesh), Jan 30 (ANI): Activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party clashed here during a demonstration by the BJP, demanding execution of a death sentence handed down to Afzal Guru, the prime accuse in the Parliament attack case of December 13, 2001.

"Police and administrative officials were present there. If they had wanted, they could have stopped us. But as soon as we reached the Congress party office, their workers started raining stones on us," claimed Yashovardhan Sharma, a BJP activist.

The Congress, however, refuted the charges.

"We were sitting inside our party office, the BJP workers had a plot and attacked our office with stones. One of our workers is injured," claimed Sanjay, a Congress party activist.

Police eventually quelled the protest in which several received injuries.

On December 13, 2001, five gunmen stormed the heavily guarded Parliament complex and killed nine people before being shot dead.

Mohammad Afzal Guru is one of the main accused in the case, and a trial court awarded him the death punishment, which was also upheld by the Supreme Court. 

However, Afzal's scheduled hanging on October 20, 2006 was put off after his wife had submitted a mercy petition to the then President of India, A P J Abdul Kalam. (ANI)
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Jalandhar, Jan 30 (ANI): Unbridled happiness erupted into spontaneous song and dance in typical Punjabi style as friends and relatives of off-spinner Harbhajan Singh visited his home and celebrated what they hailed as a victory of truth.

"We are extremely happy with the outcome. We are slightly disappointed that he has been fined. Even though he is innocent. However, this was God's will and we accept it that way," said Vikram Sidhu, Harbhajan's cousin.

Harbhajan's family anxiously waited for the inquiry and following the positive outcome, their elation knew no bounds.

"For the last many days, we were waiting for the hearing to happen. We are overjoyed, as he has been declared blameless. Therefore, we are celebrating the moment," said Sandeep Kaur, Harbhajan's niece.

New Zealand Judge John Hansen on Tuesday cleared Harbhajan of a racism charge and lifted the three-match ban against him. He was instead charged 50 per cent of his match fee for offensive behaviour. His offence was revised from Level Three to Level Two under the ICC Code of Conduct rules for players.

It maybe recalled that a three Test match ban was imposed on Harbhajan by match referee Mike Procter at the end of the controversy-ridden second Test between India and Australia played at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney.

Harbhajan was accused of calling Australian allrounder Andrew Symonds a "big monkey" during the Sydney Test.

Indian players had reacted strongly to the charges against the off-spinner. Senior player Sachin Tendulkar maintained that Harbhajan had not said anything racist to Symonds during the confrontation in Sydney. (ANI)
--MP

Labels: Cricket

Patna, Jan 30 (ANI): Teachers staged a protest in Patna on Tuesday against the State Government's decision to rescind their appointment.

They gathered before the state secretariat and some even managed to gatecrash into the complex.

"The protestors broke the gate, in which about 20 to 30 women and 10 -12 men sneaked through the gate of the Patna Secretariat. We have arrested some of the male protestors while we warned women to stay away," said Sridhar Mandal, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Patna.

Police chased some of the protestors and resorted to mild caning.

"We are being removed from our jobs because we have obtained less than 45 percent marks in the twelfth exams. This is unfair," claimed Nusaba Akhtar, a protestor.

The Bihar Government has also decided to cancel the appointments of the village council 'Shiksha Mitra' (helpers in education campaign) on the same grounds. (ANI)
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New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party senior leader L.K. Advani on Tuesday said the National Democratic Alliance can come back to the Centre if the BJP continues to be the party with a difference.

"We need to instill amongst the masses, the same kind of enthusiasm, confidence determination that we have seen in this national meet," said Advani.

Speaking at the three-day party conclave, Advani accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government of giving undue leverage to the Left Parties.

"The Congress Party knows what the Leftists stand for, the Congress can never forget what the Communists did in 1942 when they supported the British. In 1947, they supported Pakistan and in 1962 they supported China," said Advani.

During its conclave, the BJP has accused the Centre of compromising national security and of not taking necessary steps to strengthen internal security.

BJP President Rajnath Singh had said that the UPA Government has not been successful in solving farmers' suicides across the country and the number of deaths has increased despite an announcement of relief package by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Rajnath Singh had also demanded the Centre to call a special session of the Parliament to discuss the issues of farmers and landless labourers.

The party has also demanded an increase in the income tax exemption limit to Rupees 1.5 lakh in the upcoming Union Budget and reduction in interest rate on housing, education and agriculture loans.

The party on Monday announced that it would set aside 33 per cent of the posts in the party's organisational structure for women.

This will be implemented in three-months time from now, but the all-powerful Parliamentary Board is exempted from the quota for women, senior leader Sushma Swaraj has said. 

After the implementation of the decision, the 81-member National Executive of the party will have 27 women leaders and the chief of the national women cell of the party will also be a member of the Central Election Committee. The state presidents of the party will be part of their respective state election committees. (ANI)
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New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): The 59th Republic Day celebrations concluded here today with the "Beating Retreat" ceremony.

The ceremony signifies the retreat by armed forces after a day at the battlefront.

Thirty-five bands and bagpipers of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force enchanted the audience with their traditional musical scores.

President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Defence Minister A K Antony and the three services chiefs -- General Deepak Kapoor, Admiral Sureesh Mehta and Air Marshal Fali Homi Major -- were present at the function.

The atmosphere reverberated to the rhythmic beating of drums and the measured foot tapping of the performing soldiers.

The National Flag was lowered to the solemn accompaniment of the military band.

The army bugles sounded the last post marking the culmination of the ceremony.  (ANI)
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Patiala, Jan 29 (ANI): A special court here today deferred its verdict in connection with the Indian Airlines plane IC-814 hijacking case till February 5.

On January 18, Special Judge Inderjit Singh Walia had reserved his judgement for today against the three accused -- Abdul Latif, Dalip Kumar and Yusuf Nepali.

The three were arrested on charges of conspiracy to hijack the Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi on December 24, 1999.

They have been charged for helping the hijackers in procuring fake passports and to take weapons onboard. They have been lodged in the Patiala jail since 1999.

Over 120 witnesses have been examined in the case.

The weeklong hijack drama ended with the release of three dreaded terrorists, including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Zargar and Sheikh Ahmed Omar Sayeed in exchange for 189 people on board the Indian Airlines flight.

The hijackers killed Rupen Katyal, 25, while had stabbed Satnam Singh several times but he survived. (ANI)
--MP

New York, Jan 29 (ANI): Steel baron L N Mittal and Ambani brothers, Mukesh and Anil, are among the top 10 wealthiest Chief Executive Officers (CEO) in the world, the Forbes magazine has revealed.

Apart from Mittal and Ambanis, Wipro chief Azim Premji has also made it to top 10 wealthiest CEOs.

Chief Executive of Berkshire Hathaway Warren Buffet has topped the list with a fortune of 52 billion dollars.

Mittal has a net worth of 32 billion dollars, while Mukesh Ambani has a fortune worth 20.1 billion dollars and Anil Ambani has 18.2 billion dollars.

Azim Premji has a net worth of17.1 billion dollars.

According to the Forbes, the list of wealthiest CEOs was prepared after perusing the ranks of the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans from September and its annual billionaires' list from March last year. (ANI)
--MP

Ranthambore, Jan.29 (ANI): Popularly known as a tiger reserve, the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan is also a sustainable habitat for migratory birds that arrive here even during the winters in large numbers, courtesy surrounding water bodies.

But this year, the slightly higher arrival of migratory birds has delighted visitors at the National Park in the State's Sawai Madhopur District, which is about 130 kilometers from Jaipur, the State capital. 

The increase is being attributed to some birds shifting from the nearby Keoladeo Sanctuary in Bharatpur.

"There's a large variety of birds. Actually, I thought that the largest variety of birds was in Bharatpur. But this morning we noticed many birds here as well. We saw a lot of fowls, peacocks. Although I am not a bird specialist, we saw at least 10 to 15 different species," said Andrew, a Swizz tourist. 

During winters, the water bodies in Ranthambore's lush jungles become a favourite destination for migratory birds. Adequate rains also proved to be an advantage. Bharatpur's Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary lacks this advantage.

"Actually, Ranthambhore presently records over 300 birds like storks, ducks and others. There are loads of migratory birds. It is pretty famous for bird watching. The season begins from October and will last the entire winter till March and April," said Sudarshan Sharma, Assistant Conservator of Forest at Ranthambore.   

Ranthambhore is home to over 200 bird species including a large number of migratory birds. Some of the many varieties of birdlife found here include the great Indian horned owl, eagles, parakeets, spoonbills, kingfishers, partridge, quail, storks, owls, geese and ducks.

But the most visible bird is peacock. While migratory birds such as they grey-legged goose, pintails, shell duck are specifically visible during the winter season. (ANI)
--MP

New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram today met his State counterparts here, and discussed individual State's priorities and their demands ahead of the General Budget.

The inclusion of a financial package for farmers in the States affected by farmer suicides reportedly figured during the discussions, besides other major issue like the adverse effect of rupee appreciation against the dollar.

Poor harvests and trade liberalisation are said to be the major reasons forcing farmer to commit suicides, which have been on rise during the past decade.

Poor irrigation, lack of cold storage and little access to foreign markets are the major handicaps faced by farmers.

Maharashtra has witnessed the maximum number of suicides by farmers followed by neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Many other states have also been facing this problem.

The Central Government intends to give a boost to the farm sector in order to have a double-digit growth rate of the economy on a sustained basis.

Chidambaram will present the budget for 2008-09 on February 29. (ANI)
--MP

Rohtak (Haryana)/Mussoorie (Uttarakhand), Jan 29 (ANI): Northern India continued to shiver under intense cold wave conditions on Tuesday as mercury levels dipped to sub-zero temperatures, disrupting normal life.

In Rohtak, the temperature plummeted to around two degree Celsius, causing immense hardship to people, particularly during the intensely cold nights.

Labourers working in the outdoors have wrapped themselves up in maximum
possible warm clothing, and are spending most of their time huddling around makeshift fires.

"When we sleep at night, it is terribly cold. We have to get up in between and light a fire to warm ourselves," claimed Raju, a labourer.

Meanwhile, in Mussoorie, temperatures dipped to minus four degrees Celsius, freezing water bodies and water pipes, on Tuesday.

The residents are bitter about the 'strange' weather condition, saying that there was no snowfall despite the freezing temperatures. 

"In January, there is usually snowfall. But instead of snow, a dry cold wave is prevailing under which the temperatures are below minus.  The water pipes
have frozen over. We are experiencing this for the first time ever," said P. S. Rawat, a resident.

Meanwhile, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed today due to heavy snowfall in the Jawahar tunnel and Shetani drain area.

Over 300 vehicles have been stranded on the Highway due to the blockade caused by snow and mudslides near Ramban.

Border Roads Organisation (BDO) has deployed its personnel to clear the highway. (ANI)
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Adelaide, Jan.29 (ANI): Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was cleared of a racism charge by an appeals court headed by a New Zealand judge here today. He was instead charged 50 per cent of his match fee for offensive behaviour, and his offence was revised from a Level Three one to a Level Two under the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Code of Conduct for players.

New Zealand Judge John Hansen's verdict has been welcomed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which had said that racism remark against Harbhajan would not be accepted and warned that it would abandon the tour of Australia if the charge stood.

BCCI President Sharad Pawar said he was "happy" over the decision and confirmed that the Indian team's Australia-tour would continue.

Earlier, Australia had insisted that the spinner should not be totally exonerated, while reportedly agreeing to drop the racism charge against Harbhajan.

Accompanied by Indian media manager Dr MV Sridhar, Harbhajan arrived at the Federal Court in Adelaide this morning to give his side of the story on the episode in the Sydney cricket Test in connection with the ICC Code of Conduct appeal.

It maybe recalled that a three Test match had been imposed on Harbhajan by match referee Mike Procter at the end of the controversy-ridden second Test between India and Australia played at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney.

Harbhajan was accused of calling Australian allrounder Andrew Symonds a "big monkey" during the Sydney Test.

Indian players had reacted strongly to the charges against the off-spinner. Senior player Sachin Tendulkar maintained that Harbhajan had not said anything racist to Symonds during the confrontation in Sydney. (ANI)
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Shoghi (Himachal Pradesh), Jan 29 (ANI): Braving the shivering cold, young bikers and sports enthusiasts in Shimla took part in an adventurous motorbike rally.

Over 25 bikers from across India roared through the villages that were in a 16-kilometre radius from Shimla in a stunning bike race.

Shimla hosted the 'Shimla Motorcycle Challenge 2008', a one-day motorbike competition on Sunday with the aim of promoting motor sports in the region.

"The entire objective was to add a little bit more adventure and promote biking in the region. Biking somehow has died off in Himachal in the past few years. So our objective was to make biking alive again," said Vishal Sarin, organiser of the motorbike challenge.

While, most of the participants were from Punjab, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan, many bikers hailed from Mumbai and southern states too.

The excited participants said that the hills of Himalayas provide the much-needed challenge and add to the adrenaline rush.

Full of thrills and stunts, the race tested the skills of riders and ruggedness of the bikes, as they zoomed through the curves of the hills.

"This is very challenging, we have tarmac (downhill) and lose gravel. On the tarmac, we have little bit snow and ice, so that makes the route little bit tougher. Whereas gravel is concrete, its very fast and challenging, but good fun," said Vivek, a motorbike rider from Punjab.

Bikers, however, felt motor sports desperately need patrons.

Villagers and other visitors also came in large numbers to witness the adventure sport and cheer their friends and family members, who participated in the motorcycle challenge. (ANI)
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London, Jan.29 (ANI): British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has reportedly revealed that his government's policy in supporting India's candidature for a UN Security Council seat, is part of the country's longstanding policy.

"It is not a country-specific policy, but our longstanding policy," the Dawn quoted Brown, as saying.

Commenting on the Kashmir issue, Brown said he was happy to see the progress being made on the front and the reduction in militancy there.

According to the paper, Brown also told Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf that his government would consider giving development-related aid to Islamabad provided the forthcoming February 18 elections being held in a free, fair and transparent manner and visible progress is seen towards ushering a democratic system of governance.

Brown's reply came in response to a question on whether Britain would enhance its economic assistance to Pakistan and also provide Pakistan with enhanced access to its market in view of the worldwide recognition that the root cause of growing extremism in Pakistan and other poor Muslim countries was their poverty.

Musharraf said he had fruitful talks with Brown and was thankful for Britain's enhanced economic cooperation with Pakistan and its enhanced assistance in the social sectors.

He said he had also briefed Brown on the scenario he believed would unfold beyond the February 18 election and how the peaceful transition would take place followed by the setting up of a strong democratic government.

Answering a question, the president said the Taliban and al Qaeda menace cannot be controlled in a matter of five days.

"It is going to take a long time and we have a long fight on our hands but so far we are winning the war," the paper quoted Musharraf, as saying.

When the president arrived at the 10 Downing, he was greeted by 1,000 to 1,500 flag waving and slogan chanting protesters who were shouting "Go Musharraf Go."

The crowd was waving flags of the PPP, PML-N and Tehrik-i-Insaaf and was being led by Asma Jehangir of the HRCP, PPP's local leaders and a delegation of the PPP sent from Pakistan by PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari to organise protests. The delegation included Chaudhry Abdul Majid, Chaudhry Yaseen and Chaudhry Latif. Ghous Ali Shah of PML-N, Imran Khan of PTI, his former wife Jemima Khan and Lord Nazir Ahmed were also there with strong presence of their supporters.

Some 50 workers of PML-Q were also waving pictures of President Musharraf and shouting slogans of 'We support Musharraf'. (ANI)
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Sydney, Jan.29 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has said India has proven a worthy challenger to Australian supremacy in the game.

"They have proved they are the No. 2 Test side in the world," Ponting said after the fourth Test at the Adelaide Oval ended in a draw on Monday.

The final day of the series was all about farewells: Test cricket's farewell to Gilchrist and Australia's farewell to five Indian champions - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, V. V. S. Laxman and India's proud captain, Anil Kumble.

But there was also evidence that the absorbing rivalry between the two superpowers of world cricket was in good hands, in the battle between Sehwag and Brett Lee. The Australian speedster was last night named man of the series for his 24 wickets - confirming the 31-year-old's graduation to the leader of the new-generation Australian attack. Sehwag scored a magnificent 151 and the next highest score in the Indian innings was 20 by Mahender Singh Dhoni.

Though the series has been marred by a racism controversy and an argument over the Australians' sportsmanship after the Sydney Test, outgoing Australian wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist last night said the rivalry between Australia and India was in good health.

"There is a great rivalry there and hopefully we can keep it healthy," The Age quoted Gilchrist, as saying.

Gilchrist hugged each of his teammates when the bails were tipped off at 5.26pm, seized a stump and lifted his cherished baggy green cap to the Adelaide Oval crowd, which stood to applaud him from the field.

The Indian players lined up to shake the hand of a great entertainer. He lingered the longest with Tendulkar and then walked into the arms of his family, with whom he will now spend more time. (ANI)
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Labels: Cricket

New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh will begin a three-day visit to the Maldives from today as part of his drive to expand trade and investment ties within SAARC.

The visit assumes significance in light of the forthcoming SAFTA Ministerial meeting in New Delhi on March 1 and 2.

Ramesh will review the working of the Indo-Maldives Trade Agreement of 1981 in light of the changes that have taken place in the economies of both countries. India supplies essential commodities like rice, wheat flour, eggs, potatoes, stones and sand as part of this agreement.

Even though wheat exports from India are banned, as a measure of the importance it attaches to SAARC in general and Maldives in particular, India supplies wheat flour to Maldives.

Ramesh's visit is to explore how India can expand its trade and investment presence in Maldives, a country of great strategic significance to it.

Fisheries is one important area for bilateral cooperation that is proposed to be discussed during his visit.

Cooperation in tuna is one specific area that will be discussed now that India has also announced major plans to develop its tuna resources, particularly in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

In addition, Maldives has sought India's assistance to develop it as a trans-shipment and logistics hub because of its strategic location. Maldives has also expressed in expanding the scope of training in IT.

India accounts for around 10-11 per cent of Maldives imports, next to Singapore and Sri Lanka and is on par with UAE.

Exports from India to Maldives are presently in the region of about 100 million dollars. Singapore accounts for almost 90 per cent of the FDI into Maldives, followed by Malaysia. (ANI)
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New Delhi, Jan 28 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil on Monday said that efforts must be made to ensure better quality of life for the rural poor.

"The 11th Five Year Plan is targeting economic growth with emphasis on inclusive growth. A major focus of our efforts must be on bringing about a visible and tangible difference in the quality of life of the rural population especially the rural poor of our country," President Patil said at the National Conference of the Project Directors of District Rural Development Agencies here.

The rural people must be provided with necessary skills and opportunities to benefit from the national growth, keeping pace with today's fast-changing world, she added.

"The government has put in place a framework of policies and programmes, which seek to bring about a holistic development of rural areas. They also aim to give the weaker sections of our society a security net," said President Patil, adding, "The Flagship programmes - Bharat Nirman and National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme have been launched with these objectives."

President Patil went on to say that in a scenario when 70 per cent of the country's population live in villages, "effective implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) alone can bring in a revolution in rural India."

The NREGP scheme not only provides for 100 days of jobs to poor, but also helps in creating physical infrastructure in rural areas, she added.

Stressing on prevention of siphoning of funds through wastage and corruption, President Patil said Panchayati Raj Institutions, non-government organisations (NGO) and the local people should be involved for implementation of rural development schemes.

Talking about rural housing, she said it is one of the basic requirements for human survival.

"Possession of a house brings about a profound social change in a person's existence," she added.

President Patil also said that women undertake 60 percent of farm work in the rural areas, and contribute in a big way to food production and economic growth. "As the most vulnerable, they often are the most neglected. Your task has been greatly facilitated by the Panchayati Raj system where 33 percent of women representatives, totalling over a million, have been elected across the nation. They can certainly be your most powerful allies to bring about change in the lives of rural women," she said. (ANI)
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New Delhi, Jan 28: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday announced that it would set aside 33 per cent of the posts in the party's organisational structure for women.

The BJP National Executive amended the party's constitution to reserve 33 percent of the party's post for women in presence of senior leaders L K Advani and Rajnath Singh.

"This will be implemented in three-months time from now, but the all powerful Parliamentary Board is exempted from the quota for women," senior leader Sushma Swaraj told reporters here.

After the implementation of the decision, the 81-member National Executive of the party will have 27 women leaders and the chief of the national women cell of the party will also be a member of the Central Election Committee. The state presidents of the party will be part of their respective state election committees.

Swaraj also said that this move would be considered as "the first leap towards women's reservation."

"Whenever one would talk of women's reservation the contribution of the BJP would be recorded undisputedly," she added. 

Talking about the women vote share in the recently held Gujarat Assembly polls, Swaraj said there was four per cent increase in women's vote share, adding, "So by introducing this reservation the party will ensure that the women vote for the party surges ahead many fold."

According to the adopted resolution, similar reservation will also be introduced in the quota of office bearers. 

According to sources in the BJP, the move of reserving posts for women is not going down well within the party and it is being seen as a step to give posts to women relatives of senior leaders.

It must be recalled that the Congress Party had already implemented 33 per cent reservation at all levels of the organisations soon after Sonia Gandhi took charge of the party. (ANI)
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Guna (Madhya Pradesh), Jan 28 (ANI): At least 14 people were killed and 22 other were injured on Monday in a bus-truck collision that took place on Agra-Mumbai National Highway, around 10 kilometres from Guna.

The bus collided head-on with the truck while on its way to Kumbhraj, Superintendent of Police Yogesh Choudhary said.

Choudhary further said that all the injured have been admitted to hospital and seven succumbed during treatment, adding that the condition of five injured was critical.

Heavy machines were used to open the entangled remains of the two vehicles, he added.

According to official sources, a few injured were rushed to Gwalior for further treatment.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has reportedly announced financial assistance of Rs 50,000 each for the kins of the deceased and has asked the authorities to provide proper treatment to the injured. (ANI)
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New Delhi, Jan 28 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked for increase in income tax exemption limit to Rupees 1.5 lakh in the upcoming Union budget.

Speaking at the three-day national council meet in New Delhi, BJP party president Rajnath Singh, said "The income tax exemption limit should be raised to Rs 1.5 lakh to provide relief to tax-payers."

He also wanted reduction in interest rate on housing, education and agriculture loans.

The BJP has expressed concern over rising property rates and has demanded the setting up of a "real estate authority'.

"Housing is a basic human need. This sector cannot be left unregulated or uncontrolled. To bring about healthy competition in this sector and to ensure that the common man is assured availability of a house, the BJP is demanding the setting up of a `real estate regulatory authority," Singh said.

BJP also expressed concerns over the instability of the stock market.

BJP's three-day national council meet is going on in New Delhi.

Earlier, Singh has said that the UPA Government has not been successful in solving farmers' suicides across the country and the number of deaths has increased despite an announcement of relief package by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Singh had also demanded the government to call for a special session of Parliament to discuss the issues of farmers and landless labourers. (ANI)
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New Delhi, Jan 28 (ANI): The alliance partners of the Congress Party at the Center are trying to form a new coalition to contain the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the next Lok Sabha polls, a website has claimed.

In their attempt to fight L K Advani-Narendra Modi juggernaut, the chiefs of regional parties and national parties of the United Progressive Alliance and a few other chiefs of regional parties "will come together to from a new national coalition in 2008."  

The new coalition constituents, including the Left Parties, the Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK), the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJSP), Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), the Republican Party of India (RPI) will have strength of 172 in the Lok Sabha, www.politicsparty.com  has revealed. 

According to the website, a regional party leader will be the new Prime Minister.

"We have supported you and a Congress-led Government from 2004 till now and worked under a Congress Prime Minister" against the wish of electorate of the country, the website quoted a proposed ultimatum to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, as stating.

"From now to 2009, we want a non-Congress Prime Minister to lead the government" to contain L K Advani and Narendra Modi led NDA. "We are convinced that you and your party will fail to contain BJP," the parties will say to Sonia Gandhi in their proposed ultimatum.

These parties will also urge the Congress to either be the part of the new government or extend outside support to the new coalition.

The website has also claimed that if the Congress Party does not accept the conditions set in the ultimatum, the new coalition may go for mid-term polls. (ANI)
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New Delhi, Jan.28 (ANI): India's Sania Mirza is set to become Asia's number one women's tennis star, overtaking China's Na Li in the WTA Rankings.

Agency reports said the official WTA list would be announced on Tuesday.

Sania's third-round appearance in the Australian Open has enabled her to be ranked 29th on the WTA charts, up three spots from her previous ranking.

Mirza said she was pleased to hear the news, and described it as a rare honour. (ANI)
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Adelaide, Jan.28 (ANI): Indian pace spearhead Rudra Pratap Singh has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI tri-series Down Under involving India, Australia and Sri Lanka because of a hamstring injury.

The national selection committee in consultation with the team management has agreed to send Maharashtra fast bowler Munaf Patel as a replacement for him.

The paceman had bowled four overs during the Australian first innings on the second day of the fourth and final Test when he suffered the hamstring pull. The news from the Indian dressing room is that RP Singh has suffered a grade one hamstring tear and he would be out of action for two weeks. (ANI)
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Gurgaon (Haryana), Jan.28 (ANI): Police in Gurgaon today announced that they had arrested the driver of Dr. Upender, the doctor who was hand in glove with kidney scam kingpin Dr Amit Kumar.

The driver was picked up from Palwal near Faridabad.

Dr Amit Kumar is yet to be nabbed, and Gurgaon Police have applied for a red corner notice against him. The police are conducting raids at six properties owned by Dr Kumar in Gurgaon and on others across the country.

The kidney racket and the mastermind behind it have been making headlines ever since it was exposed last week.

The scam came to light on the basis of a complaint from Pappu, a labourer from Meerut.Forty-year-old Pappu said that he came to Gurgaon from Meerut two years ago, looking for a job. But claims one of his kidneys was removed without his knowledge.

With a family to support and no money, he left for Moradabad a few days ago to work as a labourer.

There he met Shahid, the tout who had brought him to the Gurgaon hospital, when he had fallen ill.

''I heared the tout talking about a kidney sale. I told him you first lured me and now you are trying to dupe someone else. I immediately went to the police,'' said Pappu.

That complaint ultimately led to Friday's police raid in Gurgaon, exposing the kidney racket that had been going on for the past seven years. (ANI)
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New Delhi, Jan 28 (ANI): Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami and Election Commissioners S Y Qureshi and Navin Chawla on Monday reviewed the preparations for the February 23 Assembly polls in Tripura.

They asked the appointed observers to ensure free and fair elections in the state.

Fifty-two general observers and eight expenditure observers will reach the allotted constituencies before the last day of filing nominations and will stay there till the end of the Assembly polls.

The observers have specially been asked to tour their respective constituencies and build up confidence among weaker sections.

A single-phase Assembly poll in Tripura will be held on February 23. Out of 60 seats, 20 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes and seven for the Scheduled Castes.

The filing of nomination papers will begin on January 30 and will close on February 6. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is February 9.

The counting of votes would take place on March 7. 

The current term of the Tripura Assembly ends on March 19. (ANI) 
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New Delhi, Jan 28 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh will begin a three-day visit to the Maldives from tomorrow as part of his drive to expand trade and investment ties within SAARC.

The visit assumes significance in light of the forthcoming SAFTA Ministerial meeting in New Delhi on March 1 and 2.

Ramesh will review the working of the Indo-Maldives Trade Agreement of 1981 in light of the changes that have taken place in the economies of both countries. India supplies essential commodities like rice, wheat flour, eggs, potatoes, stones and sand as part of this agreement.

Even though wheat exports from India are banned, as a measure of the importance it attaches to SAARC in general and Maldives in particular, India supplies wheat flour to Maldives.

Ramesh's visit is to explore how India can expand its trade and investment presence in Maldives, a country of great strategic significance to it.

Fisheries is one important area for bilateral cooperation that is proposed to be discussed during his visit.

Cooperation in tuna is one specific area that will be discussed now that India has also announced major plans to develop its tuna resources, particularly in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

In addition, Maldives has sought India's assistance to develop it as a trans-shipment and logistics hub because of its strategic location. Maldives has also expressed in expanding the scope of training in IT.

India accounts for around 10-11 per cent of Maldives imports, next to Singapore and Sri Lanka and is on par with UAE.

Exports from India to Maldives are presently in the region of about 100 million dollars. Singapore accounts for almost 90 per cent of the FDI into Maldives, followed by Malaysia. (ANI)
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New Delhi, Jan 28 (ANI): Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, asked the youth of the country to seek adventure and test their limits, not just academically but in all spheres of their personality development.

Addressing at the 59th Republic Day Rally of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), here today, Dr. Singh said, "The NCC inculcates among youth the enduring values of our Republic, our civilization and our composite culture. This provides an inspiring example of smartness, cheerfulness and team effort."

"You are bound together by the commonalities of our diverse faiths and the human values, which the Indian identity so majestically expresses. The bright young men and women of the NCC display the promise and hope of India to address the challenges facing our ancient civilization and modern nation," he added.

Dr. Singh said that it is a matter of great prides that the NCC has come forward and discharged its duties with efficiency and effectiveness.

"The spirit of the NCC needs to be replicated in many spheres of our society to bring about constructive social changes. The involvement of youth in a wide variety of nations building activities will be a key determinant of our success," he said, adding that, "I am confident that your legacy of dedicated service will inspire more and more students to join the NCC for serving the nation".

"Our Government is encouraging youth movements that contribute to social and human development. We are going to support youth programmes that enable young people to get involved in spreading literacy, in rural development and other constructive avenues. The Nehru Yuvak Kendras have also been
activated," he said.

Dr. Singh also said, discipline and determination are the defining attributes of any society, which has made a mark in history. As we register unprecedented progress in the economic field we need to imbibe discipline and develop character more vigorously.

He later said, "The NCC represents a movement for peace and constructive engagement for building an India where youth can play a more positive role for the cause of society and our nation."  (ANI)
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Chandigarh, Jan 28 (ANI): Real estate developers are now catering to the specific needs of upmarket buyers, including non-residents, providing accommodation that spells class, elegance and luxury.
 
The search for that ideal accommodation that spells fine living brings Jalandhar-based industrialists Simardeep and Gundeep Singh to Mohali, where there are superb options for possessing a 'dream home'.

Designed to Andalusian, Mediterranean and Spanish architecture specifications, the villas here are a perfect blend of style and form. The interiors are the epitome of elegance and quality lifestyle.  

"Several construction companies have been providing magnificent real estate options including mansions and condos. Earlier, people went abroad to adopt a posh lifestyle. Now, with everything is available in India, people will stop moving abroad," said Gundeep.

Recently, Real estate major, Ansal properties and Infrastructure announced the launch of its high-end vertical township - Orchard County.

Deepak Sachdeva, COO, Punjab, Ansal Api, said: "The number of NRIs from Punjab is very high. These people when they travel abroad, they come across such international concepts that are an inspiration to have similar facilities and set-ups back home."

In addition to town houses and villas, the Mohali Hills project launched in 2007, includes convenient shopping malls, landscaped gardens and recreational centers.

Based on the 'Street of Dreams' project of Emaar MGF, a joint venture between Emaar Properties of Dubai and MGF Development Limited of India, the Mohali Hills is an ambitious integrated township constructed over an area of about 3000 acres. 

Carrying a price tag of over 25,000 US dollars, these villas are a step towards unveiling a truly international lifestyle for the residents of Punjab and adjoining areas.

The project also includes apartments in two, three and four bedroom sizes and penthouses.

"If you look at how India has come up since 1991 to what it is today and look at what it might be in the next 16 years, India is incredible. We want to be beyond the top of the wave and offer appropriate lifestyle propositions to Indians," said William Rattazzi, CEO, Emaar-MGF.

It is not just Mohali which is on the list, as real estate developers have plans to move towards Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar.

So, the NRIs belonging to Doaba region can plan for a villa or a penthouse in their hometown. (ANI)
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Guwahati, Jan 28 (ANI): A majority of participants at the North-east India Investment Summit held here recently favoured permanent peace to promote the development of the region.

People from USA, UK, Austria, Singapore, UAE, Australia and Switzerland came to attend the first ever summit aimed at drawing investment for the region.

More than 70 NRIs participated in the summit and exhibited their eagerness to bring the north-east on the road to development.

Omar Hejazeen, CEO, ORYX Production, Dubai, said: "First the development should come then the peace will also follow. One shouldn't wait for the peace to be restored to the region first."

North-east Chamber of Commerce and Development President D K Sharma said: "Investors are not much bothered about security. All over the world, security is a problem. Once investors come to the region, development will take place. Once the development takes place, insurgency and militancy will automatically go away."

Some of the NRIs also belonged to Nagaland. Nagaland is pushing aggressively for investment in the State. The peace process and reconciliation among the warring Naga factions have created a congenial atmosphere for economic development.

Nagaland Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation Managing Director Hushili Sema said: "Law and order is a very important aspect. Without peace there cannot be any development. Without peace, people would be apprehensive about coming and investing."

Rozzel Mero, a Naga NRI, said: "When there is a desire to build economy, there is always a solution. We have a goldmine to be trapped. Why the people shouldn't come and invest here? And security should be the least problem."

Assam Confederation of Indian Industries Chairman Abhijeet Baruah said: "There are pockets in the Northeast, where security is a problem, simultaneously there are vast areas where security is not a problem. For that matter no part of the world is free from violence today. Similarly, in some pockets of North-east, we have violence but vast majority doesn't have violence or similar problems."

The success of the 'Look East' policy depends on the development of infrastructure in the region. The Central Government plans to invest Rs. 50,000 crore in the north-east over the next five years to strengthen basic infrastructure. Out off the 23 airports in the region, only 11 are operational. Plans are already in place to make others operational.

Arunachal Pradesh has bid for power projects that aim to generate as much as 30,000 Mega Watt. Tata Consultancy Services is set to sign an agreement with IIT Guwahati to establish a Centre for Human Resource Development. Besides, Gen Pact, a BPO company, intends to set up shop in Meghalaya. (ANI)
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Patna, Jan 28 (ANI): About 175 canines of 25 breeds have participated in a dog show in Patna.

The visitors curiously enjoyed rare varieties of dogs that included Pug and Dalmatian.

Dogs were evaluated on a variety of scales and skills, including a walk down the ramp.

The event was organised by the Canine Club of Bihar with an aim to create awareness about dogs.

"The main objective is to develop dogs of good breeds. The performance of the dogs of good breeds in the show will definitely create awareness among people about the dogs," said Ajit Kumar, organiser of the show.

The show attracted participants from across the state.

"The show will encourage people to train their dogs. The pet owners will be more loving and caring towards their canines," said Tuhin Bharadwaj, owner of a German shepherd.

Patna is among few cities where dog shows are held annually. (ANI)
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Kuala Lumpur, Jan.28 (ANI): Malaysian Minister and President of the Malaysian Indian Congress S. Samy Vellu has said that he would like to be more open to the views of Indian youths in the country.

According to the online version of The Strait Times, Vellu said he appreciated the role of Indian youth in bringing positive changes to the community, and added that his doors are open for an interaction with them.

He added that he would promote a similar message to the many Indian professionals in the country.

"The MIC will work with anyone who wishes to see the progress and development of the Indian community, but we will fight to the ground those who poison the minds of the Indians," the website quoted him, as saying.

Samy Vellu said Indian youth played a major role in ensuring that the community remained united, calling them a force that would shape the future direction of Indians.

He also admitted that there had been "weaknesses" in the government's implementation and delivery system that led to Indians sometimes losing out in various fields.

"But we promise to rectify them. There are weaknesses, but they can and will be corrected. We will adopt a more practical approach." (ANI)
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Amritsar, Jan 28 (ANI): Dry fruits imported from Afghanistan add flavour to sweets made in Amritsar.

Sweet-makers in Amritsar prefer almond kernels, raisins, apricots and pistas from Afghanistan. Amritsar has traditionally been a transit hub for a wide variety of dry fruits from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

An importer of various items from across the border, the city is the market for fresh and quality dry fruits coming from Afghanistan.

Avinash Singh, a sweetshop owner in Amritsar, said: "Since Afghanistan is ravaged by war, the supply of dry fruits has come down. But, if trade via road is allowed bilateral trade will get a boost. It not only benefits us, but Amritsar as a whole will become a business hub."

For decades now, Amritsar have been the center of trade from Afghanistan and accounts for 15 per cent of India's total dry fruit imports.

India's import of goods from Afghanistan via Pakistan has picked up after trucks were allowed to roll into India through Wagah border.

Since 2007, nearly 3,000 tones of dry fruits has been imported each month from Afghanistan.

Experts feel India and Pakistan - the two important pillars of South Asia Free Trade Area -- can play a crucial role in rebuilding Afghanistan.

Confederation of Indian Industries (Amritsar Zone) Chairman Gurveer Singh said: "Fortunately, today the situation is changing. But, the situation is still not good. Trade at the moment is to the tune of about Rs 300 crore annually, which, we are getting one way into India. Import and export both can increase, but this is entirely dependent on free passage from Pakistan. At present, only imports are allowed through Pakistan from Afghanistan. There is tremendous need for Indian goods in Afghanistan."

In view to increasing trade between India and Afghanistan, New Delhi is seeking passage from Pakistan to export goods via Wagah border. In 2004, Afghanistan's 43.3 percent of exports were to India, and 32.8 percent of imports were from India and Pakistan. Since 2001, Afghanistan's imports and exports have increased around 2.7 times. (ANI)
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Shimla, Jan 28 (ANI): Following in footsteps of President Hamid Karzai, a former student of Himachal Pradesh University, many students from Afghanistan are approaching the institution for various post-graduate courses.

Karzai completed a post graduate course in political science at the university from 1979 to 1983. He is today leading the war-ravaged nation on the path of peace and prosperity.

At the time when his native land was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Union in 1979, Karzai was leading a student's life in Shimla.

Home to many convent schools, Shimla has a lone university - the Himachal Pradesh University. Established in 1970, the university has given notable alumni today holding important positions world over.

Many Afghan students have sought admission in Himachal University. Education in India is suitable to Afghan students as it helps them build educational infrastructure in their home country.

Riyazullah Mateen, an Afghan student, said he was being offered higher education in England by the government, but he preferred to study in Shimla.

"I rejected it (to go to England) because I had good experience of education in India. Himachal Pradesh is the best place. People are very nice and helpful. So, I am back here to complete Masters from this university," said Mateen.

Mohammad Nawid, another Afghan student, said: "We are proud that our president Karzai has graduated from this university. That is why I have came here to pursue my education."

Many of Karzai's friends in Shimla still cherish memories of the moments spent with him.

Prof. A R Khan was a history professor at Himachal University when Karzai was a student of political science.

"One day I was sitting in the university coffee house and discussing with some students about Afghan politics. On over-hearing our conversation, although he was not sharing the table with us, he walked up to me and appreciated my knowledge about Afghan clans," said Khan.

Shyam Khanna, a businessman, who shares a three-decade-old friendship with Karzai, is confident of a bright future for Afghanistan.

Khanna said: "My friendship with President Hamid Karzai goes back to 1980s. As far as I remember, we became friends sitting in a restaurant. And I must say that a kind of person that he was at that time, his humility and vitality, is still the same. As a person he has not changed even after he has become a President."

During his visit to Shimla in March 2003, Karzai said, "I have not come as the president of Afghanistan, but as a former student of the university, and as one who continues to love Shimla". (ANI)
--MP

New Delhi, Jan 28(ANI): Delhi continued to shiver with the minimum temperature dipping to 2.3 degree Celsius this morning, six degrees below normal.

According to Meteorological Department, Delhi is likely to be under a cold spell for some more days.

Northwesterly winds are expected to continue for the next few days.

The met office has forecast a partly cloudy sky in Delhi during the next 24 hours.

The season's lowest temperature was recorded at 1.9 degree Celsius on January 2.

Meanwhile, in Amritsar, the minimum temperature dropped to nearly two degree Celsius.

Amritsar had registered its lowest temperature of -2.4 degree Celsius on January 24.

The National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting has attributed the cold wave to western disturbances affecting Northwest India. (ANI)
--MP

Imphal, Jan 28 (ANI): Health services in Manipur have been hit by the extortionist demands of militants.

Three private health clinics, Imphal Hospital, Shanti Hospital and Langol View Charitable Clinic bore the brunt of militancy threat last week. These hospitals have been shut down, as they could not meet the ransom demand of underground groups.

In a state where the private nursing homes and hospitals provide the best hope for better treatment, their closure has angered the people.

"Medication was stopped as the doctors didn't turned up. This is not the first time in Manipur. It has been a regular feature," claimed Shera Devi, a patient.

Muktarani Devi, another patient, added, "Even in war time, hospitals are not targeted. But in Manipur, there is a sense of fear."

The state has altogether 539 primary health care institutions, 13 hospitals including one state level hospital (JN Hospital) as referral centre and seven district hospitals.

Other nine drug de-addiction centres, TB centers at six districts, four leprosy control unit and six STD clinics are also functioning in the State.

In Manipur, as many as 15 insurgent groups are actively operating