Tuesday, November 30, 2010

दूसरों को रास्ता दिखा रही हैं मधु

मधु सिंघल देख नहीं सकतीं लेकिन उनकी बदौलत हजारों लोगों की ज़िंदगी रोशन हो चुकी है। मधु ने जीवन में संघर्ष तो बहुत किया लेकिन ये संघर्ष सिर्फ जिंदगी जीने के लिए नहीं था, ये संघर्ष था दूसरों के अधूरे सपने को पूरा करने के लिए। टाइप करती हुई मधु की उंगलियों को देख कर कोई अंदाज़ नहीं लगा सकता कि उन्हें दिखाई नहीं देता। मधु के जन्म के दो महीने बाद उनकी मां को पता चला की मधु देख नहीं सकती। थोड़ा बड़ी होने पर मधु को एहसास हुआ कि हमउम्र बच्चे उसके साथ खेलना पसंद नहीं चाहते।



जैसे-जैसे उम्र बढ़ती गयी आंखों की रोशनी ना होना के एहसास उनमें छटपटाहट भरता गया। साथ ही ये तकलीफ़ भी बढ़ती गयी कि नेत्रहीन कितनी भी मेहनत कर लें उनके आगे बढ़ने के रास्ते ना के बराबर है। फिर इसी तकलीफ़ से बाहर निकलने के लिये उन्होंने मित्रज्योति संस्था की स्थापना की, नेत्रहीनों को आत्मनिर्भर बनाने के लिए जॉब प्लेसमेंट सेल बनाया। कंप्यूटर की नई तकनीक से जरुरतमंदों को ट्रेनिंग की व्यवस्था की।



51 साल की मधु सिंघल की कोशिशों ने लंबा सफर तय किया है। उन्होंने 5000 से ज्यादा दृष्टिहीनों की मदद की है, इसके अलावा स्पेशली एबल्ड लोगों के अधिकारों और उनहें आत्मनिर्भर बनाने के लिए संघर्ष कर रही हैं।


News From: http://www.s7News.com

HORTICULTURAL EXPERTS HOLD INTERFACE WITH FARM MACHINERY MANUFACTURERS AT PAU

LUDHIANA, NOVEMBER 30:



A meeting of 'Punjab State Agricultural Implements Manufacturers Association' was organized at the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology (COA&E), PAU by the Punjab Chapter of Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE) under the aegis of National Horticulture Board (NHB). Mr. Bijay Kumar, Managing Director, NHB, Gurgaon, was the chief guest. He discussed about the problems and challenges in the marketing of fruits and vegetables and emphasized on the need for machinery to handle the produce. He said that the NHB has programmes wherein funds for the research and development of machinery for horticulture, vegetable and floriculture could be provided. The meeting involved the participation of about 50 manufacturers.



Presiding over the event, Dr S.S. Gosal, Director of Research, PAU, laid stress on the need to develop the machinery for harvesting and peeling of green peas. He said that PAU has developed improved varieties of horticultural crops which are suitable for processing.



Dr M.S. Gill, Director of Extension Education, PAU, said that the University holds trainings in need-based areas and assured the officials of NHB for the arrangements of training and exhibition of horticulture machinery for the farmers hailing from different parts of the country at PAU.



Speaking on this occasion, Dr PPS Lubana, Dean, COA&E, stated that the PAU experts would provide the technical know-how for the mechanization of horticulture and vegetables. Dr CJS Pannu, Coordinator of Research (Engineering), COA&E, and Chairman of Punjab Chapter of ISAE, presented an overview of the achievements made pertaining to the mechanization of horticultural crops.



Mr. Baldev Singh, President, All India Agriculture Implements Manufacturers Association, recommended the manufacturers present on the occasion to undertake the development of low cost machinery for the mechanization of crops.



Earlier, Mr. Karnail Singh, President of Punjab State Agriculture Implements Manufacturers Association welcomed the participants. Mr. N.C.Mistrey, Additional Managing Director, Dr. P.K.Singh, Deputy Director, Mr. J. B. Singh, Mr. S.S.Nijjar from NHB and Dr S.K.Chanana, Ex-Head, Department of Horticulture of PAU and advisor to NHB also participated in the meeting. Dr Pannu proposed the vote of thanks.


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Two Young Sikh Professionals join EcoSikh to lead Environmental Initiatives in Punjab and New York

Two young professional Sikhs are joining EcoSikh as staff members to launch a global ecological movement comprising of several diverse initiatives on behalf of the global Sikh community.



Ravneet Pal Singh from Ludhiana, Punjab and Bandana Kaur from New York, started in their role earlier this month to further the mission of EcoSikh, which emerged as a result of a collaboration between the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Alliance for Religions and Conservation (ARC) and the Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE). In summer 2009, Sikh leaders, environmentalists, and representatives of Sikh organizations, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC)gathered in Delhi to endorse the five year EcoSikh plan, as the Sikh community's response to climate change.



Ravneetpal Singh, 29, well versed in Sikh scriptural teachings on the Environment, graduated with a degree in Agricultural Engineering from Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana, is based in Ludhiana and will coordinate activities from this city. He worked as a project manager in a multinational irrigation company. His main task was to promote water conservation through sound irrigation designs, construction observations and water management practices. He recently spent two years in the UK, from which he broadened his understanding of life in the 21st century Sikh diaspora. Bandana Kaur in New York has a Masters degree in Environmental Science from Yale University's School of Forestry and in Environmental Studies. During her time at Yale, Bandana spent two summers in the Punjab learning about the ecological challenges facing the state, and researching women's participation in agricultural biodiversity conservation in rural areas. She has also spent several years working on water, forest, and climate issues in non-profits, both in the US and India. She feels strongly that a global alliance to address the environmental challenges that impact the Sikh community and the world is an urgent need.

"The aim is to mobilize Sikh communities in India and elsewhere to develop practical solutions to today's pressing environmental challenges in accordance with the teachings of the Sikh Gurus and also exchange ideas with faith communities around the world. This will be achieved by creating partnerships, improving environmental education, and using advocacy, media and other networks to strengthen the Sikhs' commitment to the environment," stated Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education and the convener of EcoSikh. "We are thrilled to have these two young people join the EcoSikh team. We feel strongly that their vision and their energy will make a big difference in bringing the Sikh community to the center stage on this challenging issue facing humanity."



\"Up until now EcoSikh has just been an idea - an important idea, and one which many Sikhs have quickly grasped the importance of - but still, an idea. This month, with the appointments of Bandana Kaur and Ravneet Singh as coordinators for North America and India respectively, EcoSikh begins to become a reality. \" said Victoria Finlay, Director of Communications at ARC, which is working closely with Eco-Sikh in its first year.

"The Sikh community is in many places already leading in the fields of environmental education, restoration, recycling and reusing of waste products, water filtration and treatment, and nature preservation. The intention is to disseminate these ideas more widely, and help make every Sikh community, a ecologically active community," says Ravneet Pal Singh. He added, "I am truly excited to be part of such a noble effort."



"In the spiritual homeland of Sikhs, Punjab, chemical contamination and the grave damage to the soil and water systems are affecting the health and wellbeing of the men, women, and children. The Sikh community has the potential to be at the helm of this challenge by living and acting according to the humanitarian and ecological principles espoused by our Sikh Gurus," says Bandana Kaur.



EcoSikh is the Sikh community's commitment to the Plans for Generational Change programme inaugurated by the UNDP and ARC, and announced in November 2009 at Windsor Castle outside London, UK, in the presence of Prince Philip and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon.



Over the past year, the organization has forged alliances with Sikh environmental leaders throughout Punjab. Last year, it proposed March 14th to be celebrated as Sikh environment day which was well received in the community throughout the world with SGPC committing to planting 100,000 trees in Punjab in addition to singing of Sikh hymns on nature from the Harmandir Sahib ( Golden Temple).



The first set of priorities are to (1) establish March 14 as the Annual Sikh Environment Day, (2) to create alliances with 100\'s of Gurdwaras around the world, and to (3) launch a new website (www.ecosikh.org) which will track progress against EcoSikh\'s mission and agenda.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

REFRESHER COURSE ON PLANT BREEDING METHODOLOGY CONCLUDED AT PAU

LUDHIANA, NOVEMBER 29:-----



The Centre of Advanced Faculty Training in Genetics and Plant Breeding, PAU has organized a three-week advanced training programme on \'Recent Advances in Plant Breeding Methodology\' in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics which was concluded today. This was the 26th training course in a row organized by the centre. Dr. Gursharan Singh Sambhi, Dean Postgraduate Studies was the Chief Guest at the concluding function and on this occasion he advised the participants to utilize the knowledge gained in this course in their own research. He emphasized the participants to develop projects in collaboration with the faculty of this department. Dr. M.S.Gill, Head, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics-cum-Director of the Centre discussed the topics delivered in this course. The course was being attended by 16 Assistant Professor and Associate Professor level scientists from 5 states of India (Gujarat, Karnataka, UP, Rajasthan and Punjab). All the participants showed keen interest in the latest techniques of Plant Breeding in combating the yield barrier, biotic and abiotic stresses in crop plants. They were given in depth knowledge regarding basic cell biology, fertility regulation, male sterility and incapability, methods of Plant Breeding, experimental designs including GGE biplot, micropropogation, markers and marker assisted selection, development of special type of crops, Plant Breeder\'s Rights and Plant Variety Protection and Farmer\'s Right Act etc. This was an unique opportunity for the scientists from different parts of the country to refresh their knowledge and interact with the faculty of this institute, said Dr. Gill.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

PAU ORGANISES EXHIBITION TO COMMEMORATE THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF GREAT ARTIST SOBHA SINGH

LUDHIANA, NOVEMBER 29:



To commemorate the 110th birth anniversary of the renowned artist S. Sobha Singh, an exhibition of paintings 'Celebrating Life' by Ms. Meera Ahuja, an alumnus of PAU, was organized at Dr M.S. Randhawa Art Gallery, by the PAU Centre for Communication and International Linkages (CCIL). The exhibition was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Dr R.K. Mahey, PAU Registrar.



Paying rich tributes to S. Sobha Singh, Dr Mahey remarked that he was a great artist who prepared the paintings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Sohni Mahiwal which became popular all over the world. He added that although PAU was an agricultural university, yet it was taking a number of steps to promote art and culture. He congratulated Meera Ahuja for her paintings depicting the beauty of nature and the routine chores of daily life on canvass. Maintaining the legacy of the great artist who hailed from Punjab, he appreciated the CCIL for remembering Sobha Singh.



Presiding over the event, Dr Dr Khem Singh Gill, former Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, described the work of Meera as a 'wondrous display of art.' Remembering Sobha Singh, he said that the portraits of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and other Sikh gurus are the hallmark of his dedication and devotion. He was a born artist whose paintings are most realistic and give the depiction of religious and spiritual fervor of the gurus, said Dr. Gill.



Speaking on this occasion, Dr S.S. Johl, former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University and PAU, stated that Sobha Singh, a worshipper of nature, always painted positively. The visit to Palampur is incomplete without visit to the Museum of Sobha Singh's Paintings in Andretta, he added. Congratulating Meera Ahuja, he said that her paintings reflect her deep thoughts and hard work.



Dr PPS Lubana, Dean College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, PAU and A.C. Rana, Comptroller of PAU, also spoke on this occasion and paid rich tributes to the great artist Sobha Singh, They described the today's exhibition as full of memories and true to life.



Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman, Additional Director, CCIL, stated that Centre for Communication of the PAU was promoting the budding artists by organizing such exhibitions. He said besides painting the portraits of Sikh Gurus, Sobha Singh also painted the portraits of political figures and freedom fighters.



Talking about today's exhibition, he said that Meera Ahuja is passionate about art and feels that painting is poetry in colour or black and white. She suffers from Coeliac disease and took up the painting as a challenge to face and overcome this disease through the spiritual strength and solace which she extracts from art and wished her success in her artistic endeavour.



Gurbhajan Gill also shared his views about the contribution made by the famous artist Sobha Singh. He said that PAU has several paintings of S. Sobha Singh displayed at different places. Dr Amarjit Singh Hayer and Dr. S.N.Sewak, former Heads, Department of Agricultural Journalism, Languages and Culture also spoke on this occasion. Dr Nirmal Jaura, Deputy Director (Public Relations), proposed the vote of thanks.



The artist, Ms. Meera Ahuja while thanking Dr. Kang for the help in organizing the exhibition at PAU said that she derived ideas and colours for paintings from Nature, surroundings and daily happenings.

_________________________________________
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

TRAINING ON MANAGEMENT OF ANEMIA THROUGH CONSUMING GREEN VEGETABLES

LUDHIANA, NOVEMBER 29:-----



A training programme on \'Management of anemia through consuming green vegetables\' is being organized by the Directorate of Extension Education for the farm women/farmers on December 7-8. The Director of Extension Education, Dr. M.S.Gill said that the participants will be provided a know how about the symptoms, causes and management of anemia through including green vegetables in diet. The experts will also deliberate on various food preparations from vegetable greens. The trainees will also be provided hands on experience on the subject. The registration will be held at 9.00 a.m. in the Kairon Kisan Ghar where the course will be held. The course Coordinator is Mrs. Rupinder Kaur while the Technical Coordinator is Dr. (Mrs.) Kiran Grover.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

NHB MD visits to explore possibilities of collaboration at CIPHET

Ludhiana, November 29:



A delegation led by Managing Director of National Horticulture Board (NHB) Bijay Kumar visited Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology, to explore possibilities of collaboration and get first hand information regarding research activities initiated by the CIPHET.



On the occasion, Director CIPHET Dr R.T Patil and Managing Director Bijay Kumar carried out detailed discussions on common areas of interest and steps to improve lives of farmers through post harvest management, handling, better storage and value addition. Seeing good amount of work done in Post Harvest Management of horticultural produce, he specifically emphasized on the promotion and mass production of the equipments developed for this sector by the institute. Dr. R.K. Gupta, Head, HCP also explained the equipment developed for harvesting and value addition of underutilized fruits such as Jamun, Ber and Anola. .



It was discussed that NHB may fund for multiplications and adaptive trails by farmers as well as entrepreneurs for equipment developed by CIPHET, which included Pomegernate Aril Extractor, Fruits harvester and Ber destoner. "CIPHET may be involved in contract/consultancy research by NHB funding modification of railway containers for transportation and handling of fresh fruits and vegetables. Storage and handling facility development at international borders (Bhaga Border at Amritsar) for export of quality horticultural produce and selection of appropriate packaging and cushioning material for distance transportation of horticultural produce," Dr Patil, said, while revealing about various areas of collaboration came on forefront during discussions. Dr. S.N. Jha, Head, AS&EC also participated in the discussion.



NHB MD Bijay Kumar, also indicated on possibility of funding Entrepreneurship Development Programmes for farmers as well as young entrepreneur pertaining to PHM and value added product manufacturing from fruits and vegetables at CIPHET. Earlier, Dr. Patil welcomed the delegates and a video on CIPHET was also screened for delegates to give them idea about technology and equipments developed by the institute.


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

PAU TO ORGANIZE BHAI VIR SINGH CHRYSANTHEMUM FLOWER SHOW ON DECEMBER 2

LUDHIANA, NOVEMBER 29:-----



The Punjab Agricultural University is continuing its tradition of organizing the two-day Chrysanthemum Show in the name of renowned Punjabi poet, Bhai Vir singh Ji. This year it is being organized on December 2 near the Flag Post of the University. Giving details, the Head, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping (DFL), Dr. Kushal Singh said that the show being organized jointly by the DFL and the Estate Organization of the University will be inaugurated on December 2 at 10.00 a.m. by Dr. Manjit Singh Kang, Vice-Chancellor, PAU. Dr. Singh informed that more than 250 different varieties of chrysanthemum having varied colours, shapes and flower size will be put on display. Dr. Kushal Singh added that PAU has strengthened research on chrysanthemum varieties including hybrids and has raised 17 varieties for general cultivation in the state. The technical experts of PAU will be available to address the queries of the visitors regarding cultivation of flowers and ornamental plants.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Tewari exposes Sukhbir’s false claims about Ludhiana airport

LUDHIANA, November 29: The Ludhiana MP and the spokesperson of the Indian National Congress Manish Tewari today sought to expose false claims of the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal about Ludhiana Airport. He said, the state government was deliberately delaying the installation of the DVOR equipment by not cooperating with the Airports Authority of India (AAI).



In a statement issued here today, Tewari said, while Mr Badal was trying to take false credit for getting the flights resumed from Ludhiana airport, the reality was that his government was sitting over the plans to expand it and improve facilities of visibility there.



Substantiating his charges of callous indifference of his government towards facilitating the improvement of services, Tewari quoted a letter from the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to the state government for the transfer of 150 kanal land to Airport Authority of India for upgradation of Aerodrome Ludhiana, besides removal of various obstructions and provision for approach road.



Tewari said, despite the union ministry's request that the matter may be taken on priority given the approaching of the foggy season, the state government did nothing. The Union Civil Aviation ministry had worked expeditiously for getting installed the DVOR equipment, required for improved visibility. But the state government has not done its part so far.



Although the union ministry sent the letter about a month ago requesting the state government, "with a view to operationalise DVOR before the onset of the next fog season your early response is requested" it (the state government) is yet to respond not to speak of initiating any action.



The Ludhiana MP pointed out, when Kingfisher flight was launched in Ludhiana, the Deputy Chief Minister made state government to pay for the advertisements. "Now let Mr Badal talk to Mr Vijay Mallaya (the owner of the Kingfisher airlines) to ensure regular flights of the Kingfisher and I am sure he will return the favour", Tewari remarked, while ridiculing the publicity stunts of Mr Sukhbir Badal.



Tewari said, Mr Badal should practice what he claims. "If he is really serious about success of the Ludhiana airport he should ask his government to contribute its little bit so that the DVOR equipment is installed at the earliest at the airport so that the frequency of cancellation of flights does not increase", the MP said, while hoping Mr Badal might feel morally obliged that he should be practically doing what he is claiming to be doing.




News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Shrieking inmates for ‘Bigg’ TRPs...

It had to happen. As reality shows got louder and louder, so did the criticism and outraged voices: Should Rakhi Ka Insaaf (Imagine) and Bigg Boss (Colors) be pushed to a late night slot when the only viewers likely to be awake are owls (adult owls, of course)? Or should such shows be taken off the air altogether?



It's tough to be a fan of either show. Looking back now, the first season of Bigg Boss (on Sony) seems almost innocent in comparison. The housemates pottered around, doing their 'tasks,' bickering a bit, talking a lot, but mostly just hanging around lethargically in groups. Even then, Bigg Boss (or more accurately, the makers of the show, since Bigg Boss is of course not a person, just a disembodied voice that makes you want to giggle every time it booms out in the house) did their best to raise conflict levels by assigning tasks that would divide the housemates into warring factions. Otherwise, or so the thinking went, who would want to watch a show with no drama, no battles, no bitching? A show where everyone was living together peacefully would be like watching life in some sort of saintly ashram, wouldn't it? About as exciting as watching paint dry.



The current season of Bigg Boss inducted petty criminals, controversial lawyers, reformed dacoits and then, the real WMD, a small-time actress called Dolly Bindra, who was so loud and foul-mouthed, she needed to rinse her mouth with antiseptic every time she opened it. Aaj Tak even did her the honour of devoting an entire show to her called Lady Ravan, where we were treated to the sight (and sound) of Dollyji laughing.



So Dollyji fought with everyone, and got evicted for disturbing the law-and-order situation in the house — but, according to rumours, might be coming right back to get the ratings going again (since she was apparently the TRP-catcher of the show).



In the middle of all this, the channel even got blonde-and-buxom Pamela Anderson on the show for a few days, in a bid to create further excitement. But watching Pamelaji chopping vegetables or dancing Bollywood-style to 'Dhak dhak karne laga' was not as exciting as the 'scoop' on a news channel (apparently the 'videshi atithi,' as Disembodied Voice called her, was not living in the house at all. Every night she would slip out and spend the night in a hotel and reappear in the morning, pretending as if she'd been in the house all night. Was this not fooling the viewers, the channel demanded indignantly).



At the end of the day, every TV channel wants ratings. And being tasteless, crass, unpleasant and negative brings controversy, creates buzz, which leads to curiosity, which leads to heightened viewership. That seems to be the formula. Maybe many people actually find watching Dollyji shrieking at everyone entertaining.



Perhaps there are some viewers who find Rakhi Sawant shouting at her audience and her 'troubled' guests on the show amusing viewing.



Maybe — just maybe, but I'm not betting on it — there's someone out there who would enjoy watching something called Big Switch 2 on Bindass (participants switch parents, or so it seems). On this show, you get to see the edifying sight of teenagers wrecking bathrooms by smashing everything in sight/attempting to hit a 'switched' parent. So here's my take. More than the 'vulgarity' and 'obscenity' (two people were caught in a clinch on Bigg Boss?! Oh gosh, where's the moral police? Pramod Muthalik, come quickly), how about criticism on grounds of sheer tastelessness?



Or unpleasantness?




News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

My relationship with Dev is challenging: Freida Pinto

Actress Freida Pinto says her relationship with \"Slumdog Millionaire\" co-star Dev Patel is a challenge because they spend so much time apart. The actress, who has been dating the British star since they met on the set of Oscar winning film \"Slumdog Millionaire\", admits they are both focused on their careers, which means they spend a lot of time apart, but she insists the pair try not to let it disrupt their romance too much, reports femalefirst.co.uk.



\"I am still together with Dev. It\'s a challenge to meet mid-way because I live in Mumbai,\" she said.



\"But at the same time, we both respect and support each other. We know this is our work. And we know that we have got to concentrate and focus on that as well, just as much as we concentrate and focus on the relationship,\" she added.




News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

‘Break Ke Baad is Deepika and Imran’s film’

Shahana Goswami received rave reviews for her debut in Rock On!!. She has already worked with Shah Rukh Khan in Ra One, Abhishek Bachchan in Game and is rumoured to be signed on for Deepa Mehta's adaptation of Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children. Despite this, related stories

Break Ke Baad explores new break-up mantra: Director

Break Ke Baad about space in relationships

I don\'t identify with my Break Ke Baad character: Deepika

Mayank Shekhar\'s Review: Break Ke Baad

Goswami says, "Let my work do the talking."



Refuting that she was sidelined during the promotion of Danish Aslam's Break Ke Baad, Goswami says, "The film is a love story revolving around Deepika and Imran's character. My role is in context to the story and I don't see any reason why I should be promoted in the first place. It defeats the whole purpose." Goswami plays a feisty Nadia who runs a paying guest accommodation along with her brother Cyrus (played by VJ Yudi) in Australia. During their break-up Deepika's (Padukone) and Imran's (Khan) characters stay at her house.



Goswami says her character is very pragmatic but seemingly cold. "She has been jilted in life emotionally, so she has become sarcastic," says Goswami, who views the couple's relationship objectively as a third person. "She would call a spade a spade. Sometimes, people hide behind a different lingo and labels thinking that they have moved beyond the emotions of the past relationship. You need someone to come and show you how it works or what the other person is feeling."



VJ Yudi, who plays Cyrus, provides comic relief in the film. "While Nadia is feisty and righteous, Cyrus is her complete opposite and is always messing things up," Yudi says about his character. He adds, "I turn the house into a party. Everyday, there's a new girl coming home. It's a riot."


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Lavasa `shocked\' at MoEF\'s stop work notice



NEW DELHI: Lavasa Corporation on Saturday issued a clarification claiming it was \"shocked at the receipt of a stop work notice from the Union environment ministry on November 26, 2010\".



It claimed that it has already communicated with Maharashtra on the issues.



Lavasa Corporation has claimed in its letter to the state government, that it did not require an environmental clearance from the Centre under the Environment Protection Act (EPA) as had been alleged in the complaint. that the environment ministry took cognizance of.The environment ministry, which sent a show-cause notice on Friday after reviewing the reply by Lavasa and reports of the state government, has concluded that the luxury housing complex in Pune district is in violation of the EPA and requires clearance from the Centre.



The show-cause notice referred to the report of the district collector that mentioned that construction had been undertaken on the site on plots more than 1,000 m above sea-level, an explicit violation of the rules laid down in the clearance given by the state government. However, the company has claimed it had built only a gate above the permitted height.



The Centre said has pointed out the approved plans of the Rs 2,786-crore project had been changed during the first phase of construction that began in 2004.



The firm had argued that it had gone by the book and tried to project itself as environmentally and socially sensitive by hiring 444 local villagers for the project and constructing 53 houses for locals and carrying out various welfare activities.



The company has now been asked by the environment ministry to file a reply within a fortnight, and it could get another week of reprieve if the company wants to present its defence in person.




News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

CBI probes ‘chain in loan-taking pattern’ by real estate companies

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating if the real estate companies, found to be taking loans after paying bribes to top bank and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) officers, were buying land using this money. The CBI has found that there was a chain in loan-taking pattern by builders.



"They kept on taking excess loan on projects and diverted part of the money to buy land for future projects," a CBI officer said requesting anonymity.



"They used this technique to increase their company's asset value and net worth," the officer said, adding that this helped them in enhancing their position in the market.



The CBI found that the excess loan amount was diverted in the stock market as well.



The income tax (I-T) department will also investigate if the builders were inflating land costs in their records to evade tax.



"The land purchased in the past at a lower value, is shown as acquired at a later stage on increased cost," a senior I-T officer said, adding that this helped them in showing 'increased' expenditure in account books, which was used to reduce profit (in account books) and which further helped them in evading taxes. The



I-T department will coordinate with the CBI in the probe.



Property lawyer, Vinod Sampat, confirmed that builders created land banks using loan money. This is done with the consent of the government officers concerned who overlook internal checks that are required to pass the loans.



The CBI had arrested Naresh K Chopra, secretary (investment) LIC, Mumbai, Ramchandran Nair, director and CEO, LIC Housing Finance, Mumbai, RN Tayal, GM, Bank of India, Chennai, Manindersingh Johar, director, Central Bank of India, New Delhi, Venkoba Gujjal, deputy general manager, Punjab National Bank, Mumbai, Rajesh Sharma, CMD, Money Matters, Mumbai, and Suresh Gattani and Sanjay Sharma from Money Matters, Mumbai.



Real estate and other firms were getting excess loans with the help of Money Matters, a financial services firm, which was the link between them (the firms), the bank and LIC officers. The bribe for clearing loans was also paid through Money Matters.




News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

NPCIL to add 1400 mw to Kaiga plant

KARNATAKA: State-run nuclear power utility, Nuclear Power Corporation of India, plans to add two more units of 700 megawatts (mw) each at the Kaiga Atomic Power Station in Karnataka, company officials said on Saturday after the commissioning of the fourth unit at the plant.



With the commissioning of the indigenously-developed 220 MW Unit-4, India's nuclear power capacity has risen to 4,780 mw. The fourth unit achieved criticality, or ability to sustain stable reactions and steady power supply, at 8.07.22 am on Saturday and would start commercial generation in two months.



The Unit – 4 at Kaiga was constructed a few years back but could not be commissioned due to lack of supply of Uranium fuel. The unit tied up Uranium supply from domestic sources earlier this year. Currently, the first three units at the Kaiga plant are running at 70% capacity due to shortage of fuel.



"We would like to raise the capacity of the first three units to 100% and add two more units at Kaiga," Jain said. The fifth and the sixth pressurized heavy water reactors at the plant may be of 700 mw each. "Our site selection committee has evaluated the option of setting up two more reactors at Kaiga and has concluded it's suitable. We await government approval," said Chairman and Managing Director Shreyans Kumar Jain.



Nuclear Power Corp is currently setting up four pressurized heavy water reactors of 700 mw each. Two of these are at Kakrapar in Gujarat, while the other two are at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan. "We are currently working on four units, by March we hope to start work on four more," Jain said.


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Teen held in alleged Portland bomb plot

In August, 19-year-old Mohamed Osman Mohamud told two men who claimed to be Al Qaeda operatives that he had considered violent jihad since he was 15, and that he now was ready to commit mass slaughter.



Mohamud, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Somalia, said he wanted to set off a bomb during the lighting of a giant Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving in an outdoor plaza in downtown Portland, Ore. The festive ceremony on the busiest shopping day of the year normally draws thousands of people.



\"You know, the streets are packed,\" said Mohamud, at the time a student at Oregon State University in Corvallis. When one of the men responded that \"a lot of children\" would attend, according to an FBI affidavit, he replied, \"Yeah, I mean, that\'s what I\'m looking for.\"



Mohamud — tall, thin and known for enjoying rap music and pickup basketball — shrugged off concerns about security at the event. \"They don\'t see it as a place where anything will happen.... It\'s on the West Coast, it\'s in Oregon, and Oregon\'s like you know, nobody ever thinks about it,\" he explained.



But the two men were undercover FBI agents, and audio and video recorders captured that conversation and many others like it. Mohamud now sits in federal custody — the latest alleged domestic terrorist to fall for an elaborate FBI sting — after months of secret surveillance and a grisly plot worthy of Jack Bauer.



A 38-page FBI affidavit released Saturday paints Mohamud as highly determined and deadly serious. He is charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. He is due in court Monday.



\"The threat was very real,\" said Arthur Balizan, special agent in charge of the FBI in Oregon. \"Our investigation shows that Mohamud was absolutely committed to carrying out an attack on a very grand scale.\"



According to the FBI, they arrested Mohamud after he dialed a cellphone that he thought would detonate a huge bomb — six 55-gallon drums, diesel fuel and a large box of screws — in a large white van parked near the tree lighting.



But the bomb was a fake built by the FBI, and the packed crowds who enjoyed a youth choir and a symphony orchestra at Friday\'s holiday celebration at Pioneer Courthouse Square were never in danger, authorities said.



Mohamud joins a growing list of amateurs who have shown more fervor than smarts in their apparent plots against America. His operation unfolded under the careful supervision, and with the direct assistance, of undercover FBI agents.



Aided by good luck and good intelligence, U.S. authorities have disrupted or uncovered at least 15 homegrown terrorist conspiracies over the last two years, often by penetrating the scheme at an early stage and carefully orchestrating the results.



Two domestic attacks have produced casualties — the shooting deaths of 13 people at Ft. Hood, Texas, and the slaying of an Army recruiter in Little Rock, Ark., both last year. Another plot, involving a failed car bomb in New York\'s Times Square in May, was traced to a Pakistani-born U.S. citizen, who was arrested and pleaded guilty.



The alleged plot in Portland also would have carried the potential for mass slaughter.



According to the affidavit, the FBI began tracking Mohamud in August 2009 when they discovered he was e-mailing a former Oregon student who was living in Pakistan\'s lawless northwest region, where Al Qaeda has a stronghold. The Associated Press reported that the bureau was led to Mohamud by a tip from someone concerned about him.



By December, Mohamud was trying to visit the area. His friend, who was not named in court documents, urged him to contact an associate named Abdulhadi to arrange the trip. But Mohamud repeatedly mixed up the Hotmail address with the password, and the e-mails bounced back.



Apparently frustrated, Mohamud tried to fly to Kodiak, Alaska, on June 10. He already was on a no-fly list, however, and was stopped from boarding at Portland International Airport. He told the FBI that he had hoped to go to Yemen, but couldn\'t obtain a visa or ticket, so had gotten a summer fishing job in Alaska instead.



Two weeks later, an FBI undercover agent contacted Mohamud and pretended to be Abdulhadi, providing an e-mail address that the FBI controlled. Mohamud and the agent met for the first time on July 30 in downtown Portland.



Mohamud boasted that he had written in support of violent jihad for an online, English-language propaganda magazine called Jihad Recollections, using the pen name Ibnul Mubarak.



The FBI later recovered the three articles, including one titled \"Getting in shape without weights.\" It seeks to introduce Pilates training to those preparing \"physically for jihad.\"



Mohamud also submitted an article to Inspire, an extremist magazine published by the media arm of the Al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen. Samir Khan, a Pakistani-American, allegedly ran Jihad Recollections from his parents\' home in Charlotte, N.C. He moved to Yemen last year and now is believed to edit Inspire.



Mohamud told \"Abdulhadi\" that he \"initially wanted to wage war in the U.S.\" The FBI agent told Mohamud he could not tell him what to do, but suggested several options, including going \"operational\" or becoming a shaheed, or martyr. Mohamud said he wanted to build a car bomb, but would need help.



At Oregon State, about 80 miles south of Portland, Mohamud had a benign profile. \"He wasn\'t the most social person, but he wasn\'t anti-social,\" said Omar Mohamed, president of the Muslim Student Assn. \"He seemed like a pretty normal guy.\"



Mohamud also was not known for being particularly pious. \"From what I understand, he wasn\'t the most religious person,\" Mohamed said. \"He didn\'t regularly go to mosque.\"



And unlike some Muslim students, he was known to attend college parties where alcohol was served, though it was unclear whether Mohamud actually drank.



On Aug. 19, Mohamud and \"Abdulhadi\" met again — in a bugged hotel room — and \"Abdulhadi\" brought another undercover FBI agent, who claimed to be an expert in explosives. Mohamud told them that he had begun thinking of jihad when he was 15.



He then described his plan to bomb the Nov. 26 event.



\"They have a Christmas lighting and some 25,000 people that come,\" he said. They should \"be attacked in their own element with their families celebrating the holidays,\" he added, quoting Osama bin Laden.



He said he had scouted where Black Friday shoppers streaming from nearby stores would likely gather in the busy outdoor square. The tree lighting was scheduled for 5:30 p.m., \"so I was thinking that would be the perfect time.\"



The trio met again Sept. 7. This time, the undercover agents asked Mohamud to buy the bomb components. They gave him $2,700 in cash to rent an apartment where they could all hide, and $110 to cover the cost of the bomb parts.



Over the next few weeks, the affidavit says, Mohamud mailed them a Utiliteck programmable timer, two Nokia cellphones, stereo phone jacks, a toggle switch and other gear, mostly from Radio Shack. One package also had a pack of gum and a scrawled note: \"Good Luck with ur stereo system Sweetie. Enjoy the Gum.\"



They held more meetings in early October in Corvallis, and Mohamud gave them a computer thumb drive with Google street-view photographs of the his preferred parking spot, the attack site and escape routes. And he enthused again about his plan.



\"It\'s going to be a fireworks show… a spectacular show… New York Times will give it two thumbs up.\"



According to the university, Mohamud stopped attending the school that month.



On Nov. 4, Mohamud and the two agents drove to a remote location near the coast west of Corvallis, supposedly to test the homemade bomb design. In reality, federal agents remotely detonated a device.



On the way home, he recalled the Sept. 11 attacks. \"Do you remember when 9/11 happened, when those people were jumping from skyscrapers? … I thought that was awesome.\" He said he hoped people attending the tree lighting would \"leave either dead or injured.\"



That afternoon, the undercover agents helped Mohamud record a video statement. Explaining that he wanted to dress \"Sheik Osama style,\" he donned a white robe and camouflage jacket. He then read a lengthy testimonial to jihad on camera. According to an FBI transcript of the statement, Mohamud, who was born in Mogadishu, briefly mentions his parents and suggests they had tried to steer him on another path in life. Arabic phrases are set off in brackets:



\"To my parents, who held me back from jihad in the cause of Allah. I say to them [by Allah] if you — if you make allies with the enemy, then Allah\'s power [the glorified and exalted] will ask you about that on the day of judgment, and nothing you can do can hold me back.\"



In a follow-up meeting, their seventh, he gave the FBI agents hard hats, safety glasses, and reflective vests and gloves. He said they would wear the gear before the attack as a disguise, and put traffic markers around the parked van.



Abdulhadi, the first FBI agent, picked up Mohamud at about noon Friday, and they went to inspect the bomb. Built by FBI technicians, it appeared impressive. But the explosives, the detonation cord and the blasting caps all were inert.



\"Beautiful,\" Mohamud said.



At 4:45 p.m., they drove the van to Yamhill and Sixth Street and parked. Police had secretly kept the space open. Mohamud attached the blasting cap and flipped the toggle switch to arm the bomb, then put on his hard hat.



They walked several blocks, got in another car and drove to a pre-selected parking lot. Mohamud quickly dialed the number to detonate the bomb. When they didn\'t hear anything, he got out of the car to look for a better signal, and FBI agents swarmed in for the arrest.



An Oregon State student directory listed an apartment address for Mohamud in the Portland suburb of Beaverton. A woman who answered the apartment door declined to speak with a reporter. Hanging to the right of the door was a heart-shaped sign with the words \"Bless this home.\"



When Mohamud attended Oregon State, he was not a member of the Muslim Student Assn. and rarely attended events held by the group. But Mohamed, the association president, recalls that he did attend one function recently. It was an event, said Mohamed, designed to combat stereotypes and show that not all Muslims promote violence.




News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

After dominating Asiad, China eye London Olympics

Games, China\'s sports juggernaut will be relentless in its preparations to top the table at the 2012 London Olympics, sports officials said.



China topped the Asiad for the eighth straight time winning 199 gold and a whopping 416 total medals -- both Asian Games records -- and outpacing nearest rivals South Korea and Japan which won 75 and 48 gold medals respectively.



\"This medal haul again can represent a major achievement in our preparations for the London Olympic Games,\" said Duan Shijie, chef de mission of the Chinese delegation and vice minister of sports.



But \"just because we had a successful Asian Games does not mean that we will be bound for success at the London Olympics ... we will never relent. We will devote our utmost efforts to the preparation of the London Olympic Games.\"



China is coming off its strongest-ever Olympic performance at the 2008 Beijing Games where it topped perennial sports powerhouses the United States and Russia in the gold medal stakes.



In London, China\'s stars like hurdler Liu Xiang, badminton pin-up Lin Dan and a group of elite divers, tennis table paddlers, weight-lifters and gymnasts aim to show the world that what they did in Beijing can be done abroad.



\"The reason why we have been largely successful is related to the rise of our nation, along with the constant rise of China\'s economy and our comprehensive national strength,\" Duan said.



Of the 199 gold medals won in Guangzhou, 128 of them were won by Chinese youths making their first-ever appearances at the Asian Games, he said.



\"In our strong sports our athletes have maintained the marked advantage over their competitors that we have had since the Beijing Olympics and we feel this is sustainable based on our talent pool,\" Duan said.



Swimming is one sport where China showed obvious improvement grabbing 24 of the 38 gold medals on offer in Guangzhou and defeating once superior rivals from Japan and South Korea.



A leading threat for China in London could be Sun Yang who obliterated the Asian mark in the men\'s 1,500 metre freestyle by more than 10 seconds clocking 14min 35.43sec and winning a total of three gold medals.



Ye Shiwen, just 14, underlined the strength of China\'s younger generation of swimmers, winning the 200m individual medley after her earlier success over 400m, while Shao Yiwen, 15, won the women\'s 400m freestyle and Li Xuanxu, 16, took 800m freestyle gold.



Meanwhile, Liu Xiang showed he is recovering from injury and nearing his once world record holding form, clocking a 13.09sec in the 110m hurdles to become the third fastest in the event in 2010.



Following their strong performance here in Guangzhou, Chinese athletes will also likely compete in London for medals in archery, shooting, rowing and a host of lesser sports where they are trained professionally by the state.



\"In major team sports like football, volleyball and basketball, we are still underperforming and (some of) our men\'s teams are in decline,\" Duan said.



\"In many sports there is still a marked difference between us and world leading teams so we need to be sober in preparing for the London Games.\"


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Egypt set for key elections marred by clashes

Egyptians are due to go to the polls in parliamentary elections, in a process which has already seen clashes between the opposition and security forces.



The ruling NDP party of President Hosni Mubarak is expected to win easily.



Interest is centred on whether the Muslim Brotherhood - officially banned - will retain its position as the country\'s biggest opposition party.



In 2005, its supporters won about a fifth of the seats, standing as independent candidates.



Polls around Egypt will open at 0600 GMT and will close at 1700 GMT.



Some 42m voters are eligible to cast their ballots, with results expected within several days.



Widespread criticism

Continue reading the main story

EGYPT ELECTIONS



Q&A: Egypt\'s elections

The new parliament will have 518 members, 508 of whom will be elected and 10 will be appointed by presidential decree.



Each of the 254 constituencies will return two MPs representing two sets of people: workers and farmers represent one group, and professionals the other. According to the constitution, the former must account for at least half of all MPs.



The winners are decided on a first-past-the-post basis. To win outright, a candidate must get more than 50% of the vote. Otherwise, the top two battle it out in a second round.



There has already been widespread criticism of the way the election has been conducted, the BBC\'s Jon Leyne in Cairo reports.



In a number of seats, the courts have called for the elections to be postponed, because opposition candidates were illegally struck off the ballot, our correspondent says.



But he adds that the government is expected simply to ignore that.



Some observers believe that the ruling party may win an embarrassingly large victory, further undermining the credibility of these elections.


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

China says chairman of North Korea parliament to visit

Choe Tae-Bok, the head of North Korea\'s rubber-stamp parliament, will visit China until Saturday, the most senior visitor from Pyongyang since the confrontation erupted after North Korea shelled a South Korean island this week.



The announcement came while Dai Bingguo, a Chinese State Councillor who advises leaders on foreign policy, was in Seoul for talks on the volatile standoff. Dai outranks China\'s Foreign Minister.



Beijing is the North\'s most powerful ally and has repeatedly urged restraint and fresh talks to defuse the tensions


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Pakistan Offers Reward for Taliban Information

Pakistan is offering a reward of about $120,000 for information about Taliban militants linked to attacks or planned attacks in the country.



Interior Minister Rehman Malik announced the reward Saturday saying the government would be willing to resettle informants and their families in Pakistan or possibly abroad if they feared retaliation.



The Associated Press of Pakistan quotes Malik as saying the government has \"broken the back\" of the Taliban which he said is \"breathing\" its last breath. He said the militant group is \"desperate\" as it carries out \"terrorist activities\" in mosques, shrines and other public places.



He commented a day after Pakistani authorities announced the arrests of two suspected suicide bombers accused of planning to attack a mosque and government buildings in Islamabad. A senior police official said both men were linked to the Pakistani Taliban.



Malik said many of the Taliban militants are linked to the banned Sunni Muslim Laskhar-e-Jhangvi. Authorities believe the group has played a role in violence that includes the 2002 kidnapping and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl. Malik said some Taliban militants are also linked to the extremist Sunni Muslim group Sipah-e-Sahaba.



Pakistani authorities believe Taliban-linked militants are responsible for attacks that have killed several thousand people in the country.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Adarsh: Key papers missing; will affect CBI probe

Mumbai, Nov 28: The controversies happened all over the country and the resignation of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan have not yet threatened \'thieves\' to steal the key documents dealing with the Adarsh Society scam from the Urban Development department.



Maharashtra police said on Saturday, Nov 27 that some key papers from Adarsh Housing Society files have gone missing from the Urban Development department.



\"We have registered a first information report against unknown persons,\" Cherring Dorje, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone I said.



Police officials added that the missing papers include a note-sheet which had remarks and signatures of all the authorities who went through and signed the file.



Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Conress government over the missing documents. BJP leaders said that Maharashtra government was trying to hide the Adarsh documents to protect its leaders.



"The Maharashtra government is trying to brush the issue under the carpet. Not just Ashok Chavan, but other big names are involved," said BJP

spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain.



Missing of the key documents will affect the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation to Adarsh Housing Society scam.


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Congress plans to checkmate Jagan Reddy

Hyderabad/New Delhi: When his father YS Rajshekhar Reddy was tragically killed, he had the sympathy of the nation and the top leadership of the Congress party. But, over the last year, Jaganmohan Reddy appears to have become a law unto himself in Andhra Pradesh.



\"YSR\'s son seems to be confused. His channel has been known for using it for politics, but if the channel is being misused to weaken the Congress party, naturally that decision has to be taken at national level,\" senior Congress leader Jaipal Reddy said.



This not-so-subtle warning to defiant Jaganmohan Reddy came on a day when new Andhra Chief Minister Kiran Reddy was in Delhi to say thank you to his leaders and discuss Cabinet formation.



The formation of the new Cabinet is crucial as it could help Kiran Reddy meet his biggest challenges - Jagan and Telangana.



Rediff.comTwitter

NDTV Social

Live Messenger

Gmail Buzz

Print



Sources say the idea is to weaken and isolate Jagan by offering plum portfolios to YSR loyalists who are now a part of the Jagan camp. YSR\'s brother Vivekananda Reddy is likely to be made a minister in Kiran Reddy\'s cabinet.



But Jagan supporters say Vivekananda Reddy will be just used as a prop by the Congress to say they are taking care of YSR\'s family.



Sources also say that a deputy Chief Minister could come from the sensitive Telangana region. This will help in countering the pro-Telangana lobby within the Congress who are pushing for a separate state.



Jagan ,though, is aware of the Congress strategy which is why they have now distanced themselves from the anti-Sonia and anti-Rahul comments aired on Saakshi TV.



\"Jaganmohan Reddy has given a free hand to the Sakshi TV editorial. I have also seen that programme. It mentions both the positives and the negatives. I don\'t think for something like this, Congress party will take action against Jagan,\" said Ambati Rambabu, a Jagan supporter.



But the Congress says the controversial programme was cleared by channel\'s management.



If the tussle between Congress and Jagan were to be a game of chess, then Congress seems to moving towards a checkmate. Now it all depends on Jagan\'s political acumen if he is able to counter this.




News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

ANNUAL FUNCTION AT G. N. INTERNATIONAL SEN. SEC. PUBLIC SCHOOL

Today on the evening of 27th Nov.2010 the campus of G. N. International Sen. Sec. Public School, Model Town, wore a festive look to celebrate the Annual Function.



Mr.Chitranjan S.Kahlon, Member Central Board of Direct Taxes was the Chief Guest of the evening. Mr.Gurbir Singh Sarna, Secretary, Mr.Harbhajan Singh Advocate, Manager Mr.Gurvinder S.Sarna Joint Secretary, P.Kahlon, Director & other members of the management and parents of the students were other distinguished guests present on the occasion.



The evening was full of fun and frolic, the items- Orchestra, Dances, Plays, Choreography all had a theme & a message for years to come 

" SAVE OUR PLANET- EARTH"



GNItians conveyed the message to save our priceless Earth with its bounty of resourceful riches and to keep our Environment green & pollution free.

The students urged the audience to join hands to fight the destruction being caused to Earth & save & conserve our planet for generations to come.











Every item displayed on stage left the audience spell-bound & ended with a thundering applause from the parents and guests. The young students presented choreography on today's burning social evil- Female Foeticide, which was appreciated by one and all.



It was amazing to see the perfection with which the singers, dancers actors, musicians, mimicry artists performed on the stage. Students from class Nursery to class XII performed in huge numbers and won over the hearts of guests.



It was over-whelming to see the young GNItians- full of zest and zeal trying to spread their message that – how one must be modern and change with times but at the same time, remain within the parameters of nature & cultural values & lead a happy and healthy life.



Principal Mrs.Gurmant Kaur Gill read out the Annual Report of the school.



The Chief Guest addressed the audience and commended the children of the school for their excellent performance in the function. He also appreciated the Principal and her team of teachers and workers for the high standards of the institution.



The function ended with the National Anthem- sung with sanctity.


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Indian post harvest technologies can help Egyptian farmers: reveals Dr Moustafa

Ludhiana, November 27:



"Agriculture in Egypt is still not highly mechanized. Indian post harvest technologies can help lot to farmers of Egypt". This was revealed by Dr Moustafa Saleh Emam, Chairman of Vegetable Handling Research Department, Agricultural Research Horticultural Institute, Gizo, Egypt, who was here on training programme on post harvest at Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET).



Having very less sources of irrigation, Dr Moustafa said that presently less than four million acres of area in Egypt was under irrigation. "Most of the country is under desert and still ancient river Nile is major source of irrigation for fields," he said, adding that due to very small landholdings large scale mechanization of agriculture is not possible. "Potato, cotton, rice, maize, garlic, green beans, strawberry, wheat, cotton are our major crops. But, very less fruits and vegetables are processed and most of them are consumed as fresh. We are trying to increase their processing and seeking Indian expertise in that," he added.



Dr Moustafa said that he was quite impressed with research work on non-destructive methods to evaluate quality of fruits and vegetables, drying methods for fruits and vegetables and work on modified atmosphere packaging at CIPHET. "These technologies can help to increase income level of our farmers," he added.



Head Transfer of Technology Division Dr Deepak Raj Rai gave a brief presentation on modified atmosphere packaging. He informed the Egyptian scientist that there was long chain of middlemen involved between farmers and consumers in India. "This is led to manifolds escalation of prices till time it reaches to consumers. While middlemen get most of the profits, farmers are left with peanuts only," he said, adding that by using Modified Atmosphere Packaging farmers could take the benefits of longer storage and could be saved from distress selling. "With increased shelf life, they would not require selling their produce immediately and also fruits and vegetables could be transported to faraway places," he added



Dwelling on advancements in packaging, Dr Rai said that mathematical modeling could help in design of appropriate packaging for different fruits and vegetables, without investing much time and money on research. Dr R.K Gupta, CIPHET Abohar Incharge, who is coordinating the visit of Dr Moustafa, said that they would provide all possible assistance to him. Director CIPHET Dr R.T Patil, briefed Dr Moustafa about achievements and mandate of CIPHET and institute's contribution to post harvest. He hoped that new era of agriculture cooperation between India and Egypt would begin with more such visits of scientists taking place in near future.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

TRAINING ON VALUE ADDITION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE FOR PROGRESSIVE FARMERS

LUDHIANA, NOVEMBER 26:-----



A training programme on \'Value addition of agricultural produce\' was organized jointly by PAU College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology and the Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (IICPT), New Delhi for progressive farmers. Twenty five farmers participated in the training. The Dean of the College, Dr. P.P.S.Lubana said that processing and value addition were important in view of huge post harvest losses of perishable commodities. The farmers profitability can improve through undertaking proper post harvest handling and value addition of the produce, he said. The Course Coordinators, Dr. Venkatachalapathy Natrajan of IICPT and Dr. Satish Kumar Gupta, PAU said that the participants were provided useful tips on the value addition of fruits and vegetables, processing of turmeric and herbal plants at cottage level. The value addition of the produce through packaging and grading was also explained. Information was also shared by experts on agro-industrial complexes. The participants were shown around various laboratories including Punjab Horticultural Post Harvest Technology Center (PHPTC), Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), PAU apiary, Raikot Agro Processing Complex, etc. for their practical exposure. The experts interacted with participants and cleared their queries.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

FAO sponsored International Field Veterinary Epidemiology Training Programme in GADVASU

Ludhiana 25-Nov-2010



High level FAO expert committee comprising Dr David Castellan, Regional Veterinary Epidemiologist, FAO; Dr Leo Loth, Chief Technical Advisor, FAO India; and Dr M.V. Subba Rao, National Project Consultant, FAO India, on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) visited the GADVASU on 25.11.2010 to strengthen the Field Veterinary Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP-V) for Epidemiology of Transboundary and Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases in the Country. The meeting was chaired by Dr V K Taneja, Vice-Chancellor, GADVASU and he welcomed the FAO experts. Dr Taneja emphasized on creating extra manpower force for epidemiology and control of diseases. He is also of the opinion to give them some incentives. In this way more and more people can be involved in the mission. He also suggested that the economics of the whole project must be considered carefully.



Dr David Castellan gave a talk and presentation on Field Veterinary Epidemiology Training Programme. He highlighted the linkage between academic and field veterinarian training programme.



Dr Leo Loth said that the course on epidemiology, data analysis, animal disease monitoring and disease model will be taught in the training programme.



Dr Subba Rao emphasized the need of field visit for the trainees of the programme to attend the outbreak of diseases and collection of data.



Heads of Departments from Vety Microbiology, Vety Public Health, Vety Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Pathology alongwith senior professors from these departments actively participated in the discussion and were of the opinion that the above said programme will be highly useful to control the emerging and transboundary animal diseases due to Globalization.



Dr Simrat Sagar Singh, Dean, COVS and Dr K S Sandhu, DSW-cum-EO-cum- Director of Extension Education thanked the FAO experts and faculty.






News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

GADVASU gets the second term

The Board of Management of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana which met today at Chandigarh decided to grant second term for a period of four years to Dr. V. K. Taneja, Vice-Chancellor who is completing his first term on 19.12.2010. Dr. Taneja during his tenure made significant contributions in terms of research, academics and transfer of technology. In addition to the establishment of new Colleges of Fisheries and College of Dairy Science & Technology, a School of Animal Biotechnology was established which is a Centre for higher learning and recognized by the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India as a National Centre for training and education. The Department of Biotechnology has given sufficient grants for postgraduate teaching in the area of Animal Biotechnology. The other major contribution has been developing - Farmers' Hostel, Scientists' Home and Girls Hostel and strengthening teaching and research facilities specially the Veterinary Clinics with sophisticated equipments which are greatly helpful in early and precise diagnosis.

It is hoped that Dr. Taneja's continuation would provide effective leadership to the University to ensure that GADVASU becomes a number one institution in research, training and extension in Veterinary & Animal Sciences in the country and shall address problems of the farmers' community with focus on increasing their income through use of improved and new technologies.

Dr. Taneja is of the firm opinion that farmers can earn more money through management of livestock in scientific manner and delivery of services and inputs to the farmers at their door-steps. A widely travelled Dr. Taneja has vast management experience both at national and international level and that farmers of Punjab would benefit from his continue as head of GADVASU.

We wish him all success.




News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

TRAINING COURSE FOR RURAL YOUTH AT PAU

LUDHIANA, NOVEMBER 25:----- The Directorate of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), will organize a three-month training course in integrated agriculture for young farmers of the state.

Giving this information, Dr M.S.Gill, Director, Extension Education, said the course would be conducted in Kairon Kisan Ghar of the PAU from January 3 to April 4, 2011. For young farmers of Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts similar course would be organized at Gurdaspur. The candidates from these districts should, therefore, contact the Regional Station, Gurdaspur or the Directorate of Extension Education, PAU, Ludhiana.

Dr Gill said that young farmers desirous of adopting farming as a profession would be provided with theoretical and practical training in different aspects of crop production and allied enterprises.

Matriculate farmers aged between 20 and 40 years could send their applications on performa available from the office of Director of Extension Education or from the Kairon Kisan Ghar latest by December 30, 2010.

The interview would be conducted on December 31, 2010 at 10.00 a.m. in Kairon Kisan Ghar, PAU, Ludhiana. The candidates should produce matriculation certificate and proof of their date of birth at the time of interview. The selected candidates would have to deposit Rs 500 as security on the spot which will be returned to them after completion of the course. The fees prescribed for the course is Rs 300/- only and for accommodation a fees of Rs 100/-per month would be charged.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

DR. MAHAJAN GETS GOLD MEDAL FOR POST HARVEST RESEARCH ON FRUITS

The Horticultural Society of India has awarded Dr. J.C.Anand Gold Medal for the year 2010 to the PAU Senior Horticulturist, Dr. B.V.C.Mahajan, who is working in the Punjab Horticulture Post Harvest Technology Center. The award has been given to Dr. Mahajan in recognition to his contribution in post harvest management of horticultural crops. He received the honour during the 4th Horticulture Congress-2010 held at New Delhi. Dr. Mahajan developed post harvest protocols for domestic and export marketing of fresh fruits and vegetables and has standardized technologies for safe ripening of banana, mango, pear and guava.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

SCIENTIST FROM AMERICA DELIBERATES ON THE GAINS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE

Dr. Kulwinder S. Gill, Professor & Vogel Endowed Chair in Wheat Breeding & Genetics, Washington State University (WSU), Pullman, USA is currently on a visit to PAU. He delivered a lecture in PAU School of Agricultural Biotechnology on molecular wheat breeding and virus induced gene silencing. Dr. Gill said that PAU has state of the art facilities in biotechnology and with this it has joined the list of renowned centers in this area. \'The ultimate gain is the use of genomic information in the fields\', said Dr. Gill while replying to queries by participants about various aspects of biotechnological research in agriculture. The researchers, students and faculty members participated as audience. Presiding over, Dr. Manjit Singh Kang, Vice-Chancellor, PAU said that PAU alumni have found placements all over the world and they are playing a bridge between PAU and their place of working. Dr. Kang appreciated Prof. Gill in providing career counseling to PAU students. The Director of Research, Dr. S.S.Gosal while welcoming Dr. Gill said that his visit to PAU is always rewarding to students. He said that during his stay at PAU, Dr. Gill will deliver lectures on various topics to the students in the areas of wheat genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics & Biotechology. Besides, he will be giving some practical demonstrations regarding bio-informatic tools for their proper use in gene cloning and gene sequencing. He will also be available for the career counseling to the students. Dr Kulwinder Gill is an alumnus of PAU who did his M.Sc. in the discipline of Plant Breeding. Dr. Gosal said that Dr. Gill has his research interest in the wheat genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics & biotechnology. Dr. Gill is recipient of several prestigious awards such as Gold Medal (1983) PAU, Sigma Outstanding Scientist Award, Junior Faculty for Excellence in Research Award, Univ. of Nebraska. He has delivered several scientific lectures on various conferences/seminars held in India, USA, Canada, France, Italy, Singapore, The Netherlands. Dr. H.S.Sandhu and the adjunct Professor Dr. G.S.Miglani also spoke on the occasion and thanked the speaker, Dr. Kang and all participants.


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

MBA ADMISSIONS IN THE STATE SHOULD BE DONE THROUGH CAT/MAT

Admissions in various management institutes of Punjab should be done at centralized level either through MAT or CAT Entrance tests said Dr K.N.S.Kang, Director General, PCTE Group Of Institutes, Dr Balram Dogra, Director ApeeJay Institute of Management, Jalandhar and Prof. Vipin Dewan, Director, CMTR, Mohali.

Dr Kang, Dr Dogra and Prof Dewan suggested that admissions in various management institutes of Punjab should be done at centralized level through MAT or CAT at national level. They quoted that system of admissions in various engineering colleges of the state has already changed. The CET (State level test) being conducted by PTU Jalandhar for admission in various engg colleges has been scraped and all the admissions are done at National level through AIEEE. This system will improve the process of admission in various engg colleges of the state and multiplicity of tests would not be there.

They said that if something can be done on same grounds in management field, will definitely improve the admission process, the Institutes in Punjab will also get more exposure outside the state.





The directors of Management institutes informed that (Management Entrance Test) is conducted for approx 150 management institutes in Punjab and out this 90% institutes fall under the Punjab Technical University Jalandhar. They informed that from the last six years the MET Test is conducted late and admission in various colleges of Punjab Technical University is delayed. This causes delay in start of session and ultimately institutes under PTU face problems in completion of syllabus and fulfillment of criterion of minimum no of lectures. Students of the university too face lots of problems because of this delayed start of session.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Government College to Launch M.Com (Business Innovations)

Under the Innovative Programme-Teaching & Research in Interdisciplinary and Emerging Areas, of the University Grants Commission, SCD Government College Ludhiana will be launching a New Post Graduate Programme M.Com (Business Innovations) from the academic year 2011-12 with affiliation to Panjab University Chandigarh. Principal of the SCD Government College Ludhiana Mrs Jasbir Kaur Makkar told that the master\'s degree M.Com (Business Innovations) program will provides critical thinking and business skills outside normal high-tech curricula. It is a professionally oriented program which develops the diversified analytical skills and competencies required to gain insight and intelligence into the operations of a modern business enterprise. She told that University Grants Commission has agreed to support the proposal for starting M.Com (Business Innovations) at the Department of Commerce, SCD Government College Ludhiana and provide the financial assistance to the college for a period of five years .i.e 1.04.2011 to 31.03.2016 the letter for which was received today at the college. Mrs Makkar Congratulated the Head of the commerce department Prof. R.K. Miglani and Programme Co-ordinator Dr. Ashwani Bhalla along with faculty members for getting the grant of to the tune of Rs. 39 lacs (Recurring plus Non-recurring ) along with the salary of two lecturers in the scale of 15600-39100 in the grade pay of Rs. 6000 for five years which in total becomes around 75 lacs. Mrs Makkar told that it is big feather in the cap of the Department of commerce and the programme will have far reaching impact on teaching as it will be having industry institute collaborative programme where faculty of the college will have the chance to interact with industry experts, know their requirements, identify their core areas of research and the research projects will become collaborative in nature. The Programme will not only help to produce quality executives for the business organizations but will also prepare trainers to impart training to managerial persons working in the various business establishments she added. Programme coordinator of M.Com (Business Innovations) Dr. Ashwani Bhalla who designed Course curriculum of the Programme said that curriculum is designed for students who want to broaden their knowledge of the business world through an interdisciplinary and an international perspective. Students acquire the skills required to undertake activities related with innovation management in any kind of organization. There will be 40 seats in the programme and the programme will be run under semester system. The admission to the programme will be done on the basis of Written test, Group Discussions and Interview along with the weight age to the academic merit.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

ARTISTS, LITERATEURS AND SINGERS CAN HELP PROMOTE PEACE IN THE REGION: DR. KANG

LUDHIANA, NOVEMBER 23:-----



Ustad Khadim Hussain Warsi, the Chief Sewadar of Waris Shah Darbar, Jandiala Sher Khan, Pakistan and Jenab Husnain Akbar enthralled the huge gathering of students, faculty members, employees and guests in the jam packed Pal Auditorium with their rendition \'Heer\'. Jenab Amzad Ali produced captivating music with his flute. The trio is internationally renowned as heer singers. They sang \'hazi lok makke wal jawan, appan jana takhat hazare\', \'akh ranjheya bha kee bani teri, desh apna chhdd sudhar nahin\' and other sufi kalams of Waris Shah and Hazarat Sultan Bahoo. They drew huge appreciation by clapping from the audience when they produced a long hoook.



Dr. Manjit Singh Kang, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, who presided over said that although Punjab underwent a division yet the legendary Heer Ranjha, Sassi Punnu, Mirza Sahiba and the like always keep both Punjabs together. Dr. Kang said that PAU has its roots in Layallpur (now Faislabad) where agricultural institute contributed towards removing hunger from the world, a century ago. He honoured the three artists by presenting floral bouquets and shawls.



Dr. P.P.S.Lubana, Director Students Welfare in his welcome remarks said that the rich Punjabi culture and heritage on both sides of the border act as a binding force. He suggested the youngsters to learn from our rich culture and heritage. The Additional Director of Communication, Dr. Jagtar Singh Dhiman said that PAU has a tradition of organizing programmes promoting culture, art, heritage and values. He told that the English translation of Heer of Waris Shah was done by Principal Sant Singh Sekhon and was published at PAU. Mr. Gurbhajan Gill said that the effort to bring eminent artists to PAU will continue as it inspires students. The Cultural Coordinator, Dr. Nirmal Singh Jaura introduced the artists and said that they are well respected globally by music enthusiasts.



Present on the occasion, were the Deans, Directors, Officers of the University besides Dr. S.S.Gill, Dr. Amarjit Singh Hayer, Mr. T.P.S.Sandhu, Mr. Kamaljit Shankar and Dr. Jaswant Singh of mobile library repute. Famous story writer, Mr. Gurdit Singh Kang was presented with a portrait of Waris Shah and a CD of their renditions by the Pakistani artists.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

PROF. KULWINDER GILL IS A BRIDGE BETWEEN PAU AND WSU: DR. KANG

LUDHIANA, NOVEMBER 23:---



Dr. Kulwinder S. Gill, Professor & Vogel Endowed Chair in Wheat Breeding & Genetics, Washington State University (WSU), Pullman, USA is on a visit to PAU. He delivered a lecture in PAU School of Agricultural Biotechnology, today. He replied to queries by participants about various aspects of biotechnological research in agriculture. The researchers, students and faculty members participated as audience. Presiding over, Dr. Manjit Singh Kang, Vice-Chancellor, PAU said that PAU alumni have found placements all over the world and they are playing a bridge between PAU and their place of working. Dr. Kang appreciated Prof. Gill in providing career counseling to PAU students. The Director of Research, Dr. S.S.Gosal while welcoming Dr. Gill said that his visit to PAU is always rewarding to students. He said that during his stay at PAU, Dr. Gill will deliver lectures on various topics to the students in the areas of wheat genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics & Biotechology. Besides, he will be giving some practical demonstrations regarding bio-informatic tools for their proper use in gene cloning and gene sequencing. He will also be available for the career counseling to the students. Dr Kulwinder Gill is an alumnus of PAU who did his M.Sc. in the discipline of Plant Breeding. Dr. Gosal said that Dr. Gill has his research interest lies in the wheat genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics & biotechnology. He is recipient of several prestigious awards such as Gold Medal (1983) PAU, Sigma Outstanding Scientist Award, Junior Faculty for Excellence in Research Award, Univ. of Nebraska. He has delivered several scientific lectures on various conferences/seminars held in India, USA, Canada, France, Italy, Singapore, The Netherlands. Dr. H.S.Sandhu and the adjunct Professor Dr. G.S.Miglani also spoke on the occasion and thanked the speaker, Dr. Kang and all participants.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

चीन में इलेक्ट्रानिक पासपोर्ट

चीन नेc जारी करने की शुरूआत की है। इस पासपोर्ट में सूचनाएं माइक्रोचिप में संग्रहित की जाएंगी।



चीन के विदेश मंत्रालय के वाणिज्य दूतावास मामलों के विभाग के प्रमुख हुआंग पिंग ने शुक्रवार को शंघाई में एक समारोह के दौरान कहा कि इलेक्ट्रानिक पासपोर्ट अंतर्राष्ट्रीय आवश्यकताओं के अनुरूप है और इससे पेशेवरों और अधिकारियों को अंतर्राष्ट्रीय यात्रा के दौरान आसानी होगी। पासपोर्ट में डाटा संग्रह करने के लिए इलेक्ट्रानिक चिप लगाई गई है जिसमें नाम, परिवार, निजी कोड, वैधता के दस्तावेज, नागरिकता और जारी करने वाली एजेंसी का नाम आदि सूचनाएं संग्रहित होंगी।



इलेक्ट्रानिक पासपोर्ट गैर इलेक्ट्रानिक पासपोर्ट की तरह ही दिखता है लेकिन इसमें नई डिजिटल संकेतीकरण और मुद्रण तकनीक का प्रयोग किया गया है।
News From: http://www.s7News.com

पंजाब में 500 महिला कांस्टेबल नियुक्त होंगी

पंजाब पुलिस प्रमुख ने शुक्रवार को कहा कि राज्य में जल्द ही 500 महिला पुलिसकर्मियों की नियुक्ति की जाएगी।



यहां पंजाब पुलिस अकादमी (पीपीए) में आयोजित 464 महिला पुलिस कांस्टेबल के पासआउट परेड के अवसर पर पुलिस महानिदेशक (डीजीपी) पी. एस. गिल ने कहा कि अभिभावकौं को अपनी ल़डकियों को पुलिस में शामिल होने के लिए प्रोत्साहित करना चाहिए। गिल ने कहा, \"\"इन ल़डकियों ने सफलतापूर्वक प्रशिक्षण हासिल कर पंजाब पुलिस के इतिहास में एक सुनहरा अध्याय जो़डा है।\"\" उन्होंने कहा, \"\"वामपंथी उग्रवादियों, मादक पदार्थ गिरोह और प़डोसी के नापक इराकों से सफलता पूर्वक निपटने के बाद पंजाब पुलिस नई सदी में मिलने वाली चुनौतियों को स्वीकर करने की तैयारी कर रही है। देश के विकास में महत्वपूर्ण साझेदारी निभाने के लिए हम नई प्रौद्योगिकी और कुशलता को अपना रहे हैं।\"\"
News From: http://www.s7News.com

Friday, November 26, 2010

छात्राओं का बनाया अश्लील एमएमएस

देहरादून में छात्राओं का अश्लील एमएमएस बनाने के आरोप में पुलिस ने एक व्यक्ति को गिरफ्तार किया है। सरबजीत सिंह को पुलिस ने बालिका की शिकायत के बाद रेसकोर्स इलाके से गिरफ्तार किया।

पुलिस ने बताया कि सर्वे कर नक्शा तैयार करने का काम करने वाले सरबजीत ने अपने मकान में दो छात्राओं को बतौर किरायेदार रखा था। छात्राएं तीन महीने से किराये पर रह रही थी। इस दौरान सरबजीत ने छात्राओं की वीडियो क्लिप तैयार करने की योजना बनाई। उसने एक वेबकैम छात्राओं के बाथरूम में लगा दिया।

बुधवार को एक छात्रा ने बाथरूम के रोशनदान से तार निकलते देखा तो उसे कुछ शक हुआ। उसने जब गौर किया तो पता चला कि तार का एक भाग मकान मालिक के कमरे की तरफ था तो दूसरा बाथरूम में लगे कैमरे में। उसने अपनी सहेली के साथ पूरे मामले की जानकारी पुलिस को दी।

सूचना पाकर मौके पर पहुंची पुलिस ने सबसे पहले मकान मालिक सरबजीत को पकडा। पुलिस ने जब उससे कैमरे के बारे में पूछा तो उसने कहा कि यह तो पहले से ही वहां लगा हुआ है इसमें उसका कोई लेना-देना नहीं है। पुलिस ने जब उसके लैपटॉप की जांच तो पता चला कि उक्त कैमरे से कई फुटेज उसमें रिकॉर्ड किए गए है।

पूछताछ के दौरान सरबजीत ने अपना जुर्म कबूल कर लिया है।
News From: http://www.s7News.com

मुख्यमंत्री पद की शपथ नीतीश ने ली

नीतीश कुमार ने बिहार के मुख्यमंत्री पद की शपथ ली. नीतीश कुमार को राज्यपाल देवानंद कुंवर ने 32 वें मुख्यमंत्री के रूप में शपथ दिलायी. साथ ही भाजपा के सुशील कुमार मोदी ने कैबिनेट मंत्री के रूप में शपथ ली. वह बिहार राज्‍य के उप मुख्यमंत्री होंगे.



नीतीश कुमार और सुशील कुमार मोदी के अलावा जदयू के 18 विधायकों और गठबंधन सहयोगी भाजपा के 10 विधायकों को भी राज्यपाल ने आज मंत्री पद की शपथ दिलायी.


News From: http://www.s7News.com

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

कर्टनी लव ने पोस्ट की अश्लिल तस्वीर

कर्टनी ने गलती से ट्विटर पर अपनी एक तस्वीर प्रकाशित कर दी. इस तस्वीर को वे दरअसल अपने बॉयफ्रेंड को भेज रही थी.



इस तस्वीर में वे एक अन्य महिला को चुम्बन देते हुए नज़र आती है.



वैसे यह भी एक पब्लिसिटी स्टंट हो सकता है. हॉलीवुड सेलिब्रिटियाँ ट्विटर के माध्यम से अपनी लोकप्रियता बढाने के लिए इस तरह के हथकंडे अपनाते रहे है.



कर्टनी लव पहले भी ऐसी तस्वीर प्रकाशित कर चुकी हैं और तब उन्होनें ट्विटर छोड देने का दावा भी किया था.
News From: http://www.s7News.com

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Fourteen women die in Pakistan sewage tank collapse

At least 14 women died in north-western Pakistan when a porch above a sewage tank collapsed during a funeral, police say.



The women had been packed in the courtyard of a house in Buner district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, to get a better view of the ceremony.



At least 10 people were injured in the accident in Jhor village.



Many homes in the area lack proper plumbing and divert waste from their homes into holes covered with concrete.



Correspondents say it is not clear if the women drowned in the sewage or were killed by the fall.



A 15th woman who fell into the sewage was in a critical condition, while nine people who tried to rescue them also suffered serious injuries.



Officials say the victims had gathered on the porch after the funeral casket arrived.



\"The porch was situated over a large sewage tank that had been recently constructed,\" Syed Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, head of the local administration in Buner, told the BBC.



\"It was in the house of a local citizen, whose body had just been brought back from Peshawar for burial.\"



Mr Rahman said that the porch had caved in \"under the sheer weight of numbers\".


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

India ups Lanka aid to offset China presence



NEW DELHI: Days after Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the Chinese-built port in Hambantota for business, India will be opening its consulate in the southern Lankan city. Foreign minister S M Krishna will be in Sri Lanka over the weekend to do a couple of things — open consulates not just in Hambantota but in Jaffna as well — and send a message that with India\'s expanding presence in the island nation, it\'s not playing second fiddle to the Chinese.



With two massive infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka, Hambantota and Colombo port, China had posed a direct challenge to India\'s influence in its strategic backyard. But with the Lanka conflict behind them, India is trying to regain its act in the island nation. Most importantly, India is reviving talks on a defence agreement with Sri Lanka, an agreement that was essentially in limbo when the conflict was underway. In July, the Indian Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma was in Sri Lanka and his counterpart returned the visit recently, a sign senior officials interpreted to mean as reviving the defence ties.



It\'s unlikely India will be able to match the scale and efficiency of the infrastructure projects that China can execute — for unlike China, India cannot command its companies to undertake \"strategic interest\" projects in foreign countries, and the public sector does not have the capability. Nevertheless, India is financing the construction of the northern railway in Sri Lanka from Omanthai to Palali and from Medawachchiya to Mannar through Medu, as well as developing the port of Kankesanthurai.



But India\'s footprint is more in the reconstruction effort in northern Sri Lanka. It\'s in helping to demine acres and acres of thickly forested land in Mullaitivu, which helps the internally displaced people (IDPs) (seven teams are at work there), helping them rebuild their lives with seeds, tractors, agri implements, housing materials — basically, all the elements needed to restart lives in the erstwhile LTTE strongholds, now recovering from the war. However, LTTE remains on the banned list of the Indian government. In a sign that India continues to consider it a threat, the home ministry recently renewed its ban in the country.




News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Birth, death certificates will not be couriered: MCD



NEW DELHI: In fresh rules for acquiring birth and death certificates, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has decided that these documents will now be available only at the respective hospitals or zonal offices and not be couriered to the online applicants.



Officials at the health department of MCD, which provides online services for registering births and deaths, said the decision was taken after they discovered that many applicants provided fake details to acquire the documents.



\"We offered online services whereby one can order the birth or death certificate after paying the fee over Internet through credit card. After that we used to courier the certificate. But now this service will stop and applicants can get the certificate only at the hospital or zonal offices,\'\' MCD health committee chairman V K Monga said.



\"The reason being that we received many complaints from applicants that they did not receive their documents. When we inquired, we found that the address provided were misleading,\'\' he said.



If the child delivery is institutional, the birth certificate will be available at the hospital and if it is at home, the applicant has to visit the zonal offices, he said.



As per the service, the applicant would first need to register with the MCD website www.mcdonline.gov.in, he said.



As many as 281 hospitals and nursing homes here are linked to the MCD website, which is updated everyday on details of births and deaths, Monga said.




News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

BTech students booked for junior\'s death



GHAZIABAD: Four second and third year students of an engineering college here have been booked for allegedly causing the death of a first-year BTech student. Ghaziabad senior superintendent of police Raghuvir Lal said: \"The boy\'s father, a manager in a local firm, has filed a case under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code.\"



According to police sources, 21-year-old Akshay Gaur of Vasundhra was asked by his seniors — Abdul Rizwi, Pawan Chowdhary, Aditya Kumar and Mukul — to accompany them on the morning of November 18 when he was going to the college.



\"They all boarded a bus for Masuri area, and from there an auto to the Upper Ganga Canal. They then walked to the bridge on the canal, which is not far from the main road,\" said Masuri police station in-charge Pramod Kumar.



Gaur\'s friends began bathing close to the bank of the canal, said police. Gaur, who was a swimmer, walked to the middle of the bridge on the canal. \"From there, he told his seniors that he was going to dive in the deep water. Even as they reportedly tried to deter him, he dived into the strong current. His body was quickly swept away by the water,\" said Kumar


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

MHA officer in custody; Chinese firms may have picked up info he leaked





In what is turning out to be a case of industrial espionage, investigators believe Ravi Inder Singh, the Director in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) who was detained by the Delhi Police on Monday, could have been leaking information to telecom companies through an acquaintance called Vineet. Sources said some of the information made available by the 1994-batch West Bengal cadre IAS officer to Vineet — who runs a food processing unit in Bengal — could have been accessed by Chinese companies doing business in India.







Sources said Singh was in constant touch with Vineet, who was acting as a "broker" on his behalf. Vineet was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell from a five-star hotel on Monday evening. During the five-month-long investigation by the Special Cell and the Intelligence Bureau, it was established that Singh was using five mobile phones, all of which have been recovered by the police, they added. The Delhi Police, which has been questioning Singh since Monday under Section 160 of the CrPC, placed him and Vineet under arrest late on Tuesday night. Singh has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act and for criminal conspiracy. Singh allegedly leaked information relating to quotations to the companies apart from other vital details related to contracts and minutes of meetings, said the sources. Senior MHA officials realised something was wrong after they found secret information making its way to some companies. "He used five phones, including one which was official. He never called any executive of private telecom companies to his office in North Block. Instead, he used to operate through Vineet, who has been taken into custody," said a source. Singh was using a string of code names. Sources said the money deals were done by Singh in five-star hotels. The police are now analysing the officer's laptop, pen drives and documents. Two property documents have also been recovered from him.


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Delhi House puts Sheila before Sonia, PM



NEW DELHI: In the absence of opposition BJP, the short duration discussion on Commonwealth Games in the Assembly on Tuesday turned into a rich eulogy of chief minister Sheila Dikshit. It didn\'t stop at that. Paeans were also sung to CM\'s son Sandeep Dikshit for his resignation from the OC many months ago and to her family for making guests comfortable.



In a remarkable diversion from the usual Congress culture, Sonia Gandhi was mentioned just once and the PM a couple of times with Sheila Dikshit stealing the show for everything from infrastructure upgrade to stemming CWG corruption.



The only criticism a mild one at that came from LJP MLA Shoaib Iqbal who lauded the government\'s efforts but also pointed out how the CM had done little to answer corruption charges against many departments. \"Take the case of your own FOB collapse. It was an unfortunate incident and a challenge to the government. You should rise up to it and table the inquiry report in this House and also tell us what action has been taken here,\'\' he said. Iqbal also mentioned corruption in the OC and talked about how MLAs were made to run around for two passes. \"Compare this with the royal reception we got in Melbourne Games. It is clear that such a man should definitely be sent to jail,\'\' he said referring to bosses in the OC.



In her reply, the CM reiterated the Delhi government stand on expenditure saying that Games projects cost the exchequer about Rs 3,752 crore while cost of city infrastructure projects stood at Rs 11,077 crore. The Union sports ministry in its report on Games expenditure had mentioned that the Delhi government had spent Rs 16,650 crore on the mega event.



Dikshit said: \"We have not burdened anybody. We have generated our own resources and in doing that we have not imposed any fresh taxes on the city. We have simply strengthened our collection system to spend on the city the kind of money which we would probably have done over a period of 10-12 years.\'\' This, she added, actually saved money because inflation would have added several times to the cost had the city government undertaken projects like acquiring the DTC bus fleet and augmenting water and power supply later.



She dared anybody \"from the CVC to the CAG to the CBI\'\' to look into Delhi government\'s role. \"We are ready and we are open. But what would a House Committee have achieved? Does it have more powers than this august institution? And I would like to know why V K Malhotra kept quiet all these years.\'\' She was critical of the DDA\'s role and said their \"complete non-cooperation\'\' had jeopardised projects, a statement that could be interpreted as yet another salvo in the CM-vs-LG tussle that most government insiders think is on.



Earlier her partymen sang flowing praises. Nasseb Singh talked about how, at the opening ceremony every time her name was mentioned she received rousing applause. \"This shows that in the public psyche all Games preparations were synonymous with Sheila Dikshit,\'\' he said. Anil Bharadwaj congratulated Sandeep for his resignation, putting him up as an example to V K Malhotra who \"is a part of the OC but never raised a stink till he saw political benefits to be garnered out of doing so\'\'. Malhotra, in fact, was targetted by every speaker in what was clearly a well thought out strategy to take the heat off the government.






News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

The Miz wins the WWE championship!



The Miz wins the WWE championship!

to watch go to this given link.........





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmiF16nE9YI
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Museum for Indian cinema to come up in Mumbai by 2013

A museum covering all aspects of films right from costumes, scripts, set designs, monographs and even film magazines will come up in Mumbai as part of the 100 year celebrations of Indian cinema, an official said today.



\"The project will cost Rs110-crore and it will be inaugurated in 2013 to commemorate 100 years of Indian cinema which began with Dadasaheb Phalke\'s epic film Raja Harischandra in 1913,\" Films Divisions director Kuldeep Sinha told reporters on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Panaji.



Sinha said the webcast of the films made during the last six decades will soon be done by the division which will enable online purchases of the films and documentaries.



\"The films division has produced over 8000 films during the last 60 years and about 5000 films will be available for online purchase and downloads,\" he said.



Sinha said the division has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Films Division Corporation (NFDC) to market its documentaries.



\"Through the MoU, NFDC has given all the rights to market the films all over the world on a revenue sharing basis,\" he said.



Sinha said an announcement regarding the waiver of one per cent rental being charged at present from cinema owners to screen their films at the cinema halls is round the corner.


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

Guzaarish fails at overseas box office

Guzaarish hasn\'t lived up to the expectations in key international markets. The film is below average in U.S.A., but hugely disappointing in U.K. and Australia. In fact, it ranks amongst Hrithik Roshan\'s lowest openers there. The film has fared better in Middle East. In short, it failed at the overseas box office.



Weekend: November 19 - 21, 2010.



U.K. BOX-OFFICE



* Guzaarish has debuted at No. 9 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 1,63,988 [approx. Rs. 1.19 crores] on 49 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 3,347.



* Golmaal 3 [last weekend: No. 16, this weekend: No. 19]: In its third weekend, the film has collected £ 35,610 on 27 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 1,319. Total: £ 6,06,981 [approx. Rs. 4.40 crores].



* Action Replayy [last weekend: No. 18, this weekend: No. 24]: In its third weekend, the film has collected £ 18,895 on 13 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 1,453. Total: £ 3,84,734 [approx. Rs. 2.79 crores].



* Aladin [this weekend: No. 79]: The film has collected £ 464 on 1 screen. Total: £ 1,08,433 [approx. Rs. 78.61 lacs].



* Anjaana Anjaani [last weekend: No. 65, this weekend: No. 81]: In its eighth weekend, the film has collected £ 427 on 1 screen. Total: £ 4,75,336 [approx. Rs. 3.44 crores].



U.S.A. BOX-OFFICE



* Guzaarish has debuted at No. 18 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected $ 4,88,121 [approx. Rs. 2.23 crores] on 108 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 4,520.



* Golmaal 3 [last weekend: No. 22, this weekend: No. 35]: In its third weekend, the film has collected $ 59,096 on 86 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 687. Total: $ 11,32,192 [approx. Rs. 5.16 crores].



* Action Replayy [last weekend: No. 37, this weekend: No. 53]: In its third weekend, the film has collected $ 12,384 on 15 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 826. Total: $ 4,10,262 [approx. Rs. 1.87 crores].



AUSTRALIA BOX-OFFICE



* Guzaarish has debuted at No. 15 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected Aus. $ 81,411 [approx. Rs. 36.53 lacs] on 15 screens, with the per screen average working out to Aus. $ 5,427.



FIJI BOX-OFFICE



*Guzaarish: In its opening weekend, the film has collected FJ $ 14,512 [approx. Rs. 3.56 lacs] on 2 screens, with the per screen average working out to FJ $ 7,256.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com
 
eXTReMe Tracker