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Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar passes away
New Delhi, July 8 (PTI) Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, a socialist who strongly opposed policies of liberalisation and personality politics and headed a minority government at the Centre for a brief while, died here today after a prolonged battle with cancer of the blood.
He had turned 80 exactly a week ago and is survived by two sons. He died at the Apollo Hospital where he was admitted three months ago.
"He was suffering from multiple myloma (blood disease), Dr Rakesh Chopra, senior consultant (oncology), who was attending on him, told PTI.
Condoling his death, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described him as a truly secular nationalist who was committed to people's welfare and national development.
The Congress and BJP also condoled his death, saying his death was a huge loss.
Chandra Shekhar, who was elected to the Lok Sabha for the eight term in the 2004 elections, served as Prime Minister for a brief period between November 10, 1990 and March 6, 1991. He had served one term in Rajya Sabha to which he was elected in 1962.
Known for courage of conviction and sticking to principles, the socialist veteran held no no office before he split with V P Singh and floated a rebel outfit Janata Dal (Socialist) at the height of anti-reservation agitation in 1990 and formed a weak minority government with outside support of Congress headed then by the late Rajiv Gandhi.
His government was short-lived when the Congress decided to withdraw support in the wake of controversy over spotting of two intelligence operatives outside 10, Janpath in the capital which the Congress felt was an attempt to snoop on Gandhi. PTI
Aussie Police search residences of Indian doctors Haneef, Ali
Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, July 8 (PTI) Australian police today searched the residence of detained Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef, a suspect in the botched UK car bombings, who is also facing a probe for possible links to an underground network of radical Islamist doctors here funding overseas terrorist activities.
The police also searched the home of the second Indian Mohammed Asif Ali who was questioned by police but released.
The two doctors are employed at Gold Coast Hospital "Two search warrants were executed this afternoon. They were required as a result of analysis of material seized during search warrants executed last week," an Australian Federal Police spokesman was qouted by a local radio channel here.
Haneef has been detained in a Brisbane watch-house since Monday as authorities investigate whether he has any links to the failed car bombs in London and the attack on Glasgow airport, as well as to a national sleeper cell of foreign doctors established here to fund overseas terrorist activities including the botched UK bomb attacks.
The 27-year-old medico was arrested as he tried to leave Brisbane on a one-way ticket to India.
On Thursday night, a Brisbane magistrate gave the fedreal police (AFP) investigators authorisation under the counter terrorism laws to hold Haneef until tomorrow night till 7 PM local time.
The interviewing time does not include any breaks which could ensure that Haneef could be quizzed well into Tuesday.
Haneef's solicitor Peter Russo tonight expressed frustration that AFP hadn't stated the case against his client. PTI
PM to review farm sector progress in six states
New Delhi, July 8 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will tour six states from July 16 to make an on-the-spot assessment of the impact of various measures being taken by central and state governments to bail out the crisis-ridden farm sector.
Singh will visit Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, where he would meet the respective state governments to ascertain the progress made in implementing the suggestions of National Development Council (NDC) at its meeting in May, official sources said.
The tour assumes importance in the backdrop of the UPA government's stress to achieve 4 per cent growth in the farm sector during the 11th Five-Year Plan from less than 2 per cent in the 10th Plan and its commitment to provide an additional Rs 25,000 crore for improving farm productivity during the next four years, sources said.
The Prime Minister would this month complete the farm sector review of the six states where farm sector suffers from significant yield gaps -- the difference between what is produced and what can be produced with existing technologies.
"There are gaps between actual yields and yields that are technologically feasible. The yield increase potentials vary from 40 per cent to 100 per cent. Increased production in the next 3-4 years can only come from bridging this massive yield gap," Singh had said on May 29 while addressing the NDC meeting on agriculture. PTI
Anil Ambani, only second Indian to become trillionaire
New Delhi, July 8 (PTI) Hotly chasing his elder brother Mukesh Ambani in the wealth race, Anil Ambani has entered the exclusive trillionaire club with personal riches of over Rs 100,000 crore in terms of his share holding in various group companies.
As per the closing prices on Friday at the Bombay Stock Exchange, the value of Anil Ambani share was worth Rs 100,334 crore while market capitalisation of his group soared to Rs 162,930 crore.
While the wealth of Mukesh Ambani was upwards of Rs 115,000 crore, the share of Anil Ambani group companies -- Reliance Communication and Reliance Capital touched an all time high of Rs 551 crore and Rs 1,149 crore respectively, resulting in the increase in wealth.
Market capitalisation of flagship Reliance Communication was placed at Rs 112,657 crore, of which promoters holding is 67 per cent giving Anil Ambani a wealth of Rs 74,354 crore.
Likewise, Reliance Capital market capitalisation was Rs 28,219 crore of which Anil Ambani's share was 53 per cent at a value of about Rs 15,000 crore.
This along with the shares in Reliance Energy, Reliance Natural Resources Ltd and elder brother's Reliance Industries Ltd (Rs 2,856 crore) took the combined wealth of Anil Ambani to over Rs 100,000 crore.
KP Singh, Chairman of recently listed real estate giant DLF, is close behind with the wealth of about Rs 85,000 crore in terms of market capitalisation of his share in the group company as per the closing at BSE on Friday. PTI
Jet Airways open for alliance with Air India: Naresh Goyal
Sridhar Krishnaswami
Seattle, Jul 8 (PTI) Outlining an ambitious route expansion agenda for Jet Airways, its chief Naresh Goyal today said his airline was open for an alliance with state-owned Air India to enhance the market share for Indian carriers from the prevailing 20 to 50 per cent in the next few years.
Noting that cooperative arrangements were needed to increase the market share of Indian carriers in terms of traffic in and out of the country, he told reporters that his company favoured such cooperation with Air India.
"We have agreed that the new merged Air India and Jet Airways must cooperate, not just go for alliances. Why can't we have an alliance within India," Goyal posed, adding that all sides would benefit from such an arrangement.
Air India has plans to join a major global alliance of airlines and has held advanced level talks with Star Alliance, which has Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines as partners among others.
Goyal was here for the rollout of Boeing's Dreamliner 787 for which Jet Airways has placed an order of ten planes which will start joining the fleet in 2011. In addition to these planes, Jet has also placed an order for 10 Boeing 777 (Long Range), with two of these planes joining the fleet this month.
Elaborating his route expansion plans, he said the B-777s would be put on the North America route starting out of Mumbai first via Jet's newly-created European hub in Brussels, Belgium. PTI
MSMEs in India to focus on capacity expansion: CII
New Delhi, July 8 (PTI) A majority of micro, small and medium enterprises will focus on capacity expansion and modernisation even as they expect a rise in turnover in the next six months, a CII survey has said.
"For a majority of MSMEs, capacity expansion, new market initiatives and modernisation will assume top priority in the future," CII's 19th Business Outlook Survey on 'General Business Prospects' for MSMEs said.
In the survey, around 84 per cent of the respondents expected growth in their turnover. Projection for the next six months reveal that 49 per cent of the respondents foresee an increase in inventory level, while only 9 per cent anticipated a decline.
The survey, conducted to analyse future trends, projections, capital investment, production growth, employment and capacity utilisation, covered a broad spectrum of industry groups and activities of the MSME industry across the country.
Highlighting the factors that could limit the growth of the sector, the survey revealed that MSMEs faced a threat from domestic and international competition as well as decline in export demand.
"Higher cost of funds, lack of working capital finance and plant capacity are also reasons that will hinder growth of the sector," it said.
However, 60 per cent of the respondents expressed optimism over the general business scenario, while 33 per cent did not foresee any significant change in the same. Seven per cent felt there would be a downtrend in business as compared to the previous year. PTI
Videocon aims to be $10 bn entity through M&A; eyes US, Europe
Rajkumar Leishemba & Nikhil Gulati
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Aiming at an over three-fold jump in revenue to ten billion dollars, consumer durables major Videocon Group today said mergers and acquisitions will be key to its plan and it was hunting for prospects in Europe and US.
"We are a three billion dollar group now... We intend to become a ten billion dollar group. We have a corporate plan and we will realise it in the next five years," Videocon Group Chairman Venugopal Dhoot told PTI in an exclusive interaction.
He said the group's ambition would be possible only by mergers and acquisitions -- a route through which it became the owner of French firm Thompson's picture tube business and Swiss company AB Elextrolux' Indian subsidiary.
"Our liquidity position is very good and we have 300 million dollar in cash in our balance sheet," he said, while hinting the group could spend as much as five billion dollars on its M&A activities.
"We are in an acquisition mode because it has lot of advantages... And it takes you through a fast route. Exponential growth is possible only through mergers and acquisitions," he said, adding a core team of 20 people was on job for identifying and studying targets.
Asked about funding acquisitions, Dhoot said money was not an issue but getting a good company for takeover, was.
"Once a good project is identified funding is easily available considering the image Indian companies has developed in the recent past. We are getting good valuations," he added.
Dhoot said geographies could be anywhere, and the group was already looking at the US and European countries.
"China is also a good place for expansion. But I think the best opportunity exist in India and after that Brazil and Mexico," he added. PTI
FM calls upon goldsmiths to tap global jewellery market
Sivaganga (TN), July 8 (PTI) With the global market for jewellery wide open for Indian products, goldsmiths in the country should adapt innovative ideas to meet international standards and fulfill the expectation of global traders and customers, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has said.
Distributing loans to goldsmiths at a function organised by the Indian Bank here last evening, he stressed on the need to go for value addition to exploit the global market.
Their intricate work should cater not only to the domestic customers' taste but also people living abroad.
Besides loan facilities, special training was being provided to the goldsmiths to improve the quality of products to meet international standards and they should utilise it to improve their talent, he said. PTI
Staging twenty20 World Championship is premature: ACA
Melbourne, Jul 8 (PTI) Australian Cricketers' Association Chief Paul Marsh has criticised the International Cricket Council for premature staging of the Twenty20 World Cup this year, saying the initial focus should be its development at domestic level.
"The administrators need to work out, is Twenty20 serious cricket or is it purely entertainment. The way that it started off, it was very much entertainment," Marsh said.
"All of a sudden you introduce a world championship (to be played in South Africa in September) like they've done and it legitimises this form of the game," he was quoted as saying by 'The Sydney Telegraph'.
Many countries countries, including India and Sri Lanka, don't have a domestic twenty20 tournament yet.
"We couldn't understand how the ICC were putting together a world championship when it had not even formalised what its position was on Twenty20 cricket. Domestically is where the initial focus should be.
"It has been very successful in Australia for the two years that we've had it here and we'd prefer not to see it over-exposed internationally at this stage. The crowds have been enormous and TV ratings have been very strong." Marsh also said the shortest version needed to be treated as a serious competition and with more respect, not something based on "gimmicks" as described by Ian Chappell.
"It hasn't really been positioned as serious cricket. As Ian Chappell has said, 'the game has to move in that direction and away from on-field gimmicks'." PTI
I need to match fitness of younger players: Dilip Tirkey
Y Sarangi
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Old warhorse Dilip Tirkey thinks he has to work harder than ever to match the fitness and pace of his younger colleagues in the Indian hockey team.
Dilip, who gave a glimpse of his class in the Champions Challenge tournament in Boom, Belgium, said he has to enhance his athleticism and form to make a bigger impact.
"The team is packed with youngsters who are playing aggressive hockey. They are high on fitness. I have to match them on this front. I need to improve my fitness and penalty corner conversion skills. I am trying to give my best," Dilip told PTI in an interview.
The 30-year-old defender, who made a comeback to the international scene after the Asian Games debacle in December, said conceding a few soft goals prevented India from making a better finish in Belgium.
"It was a good tournament. Everyone played well. We were aggressive, our attackers did well and tackling was much improved.
"But we could not play well against Argentina and failed miserably to convert the short corners. We conceded a lot of soft goals in the tournament. So we have to be more active in the defence," he said.PTI
Nayeem set to take over reins in Bangladesh
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Former India coach Syed Nayeemuddin is set to take over the reins of the Bangladesh national football team in a couple of days' time.
The name of the Dronacharya awardee, who guided the fortunes of the Indian team in three separate stints as also those of Kolkata giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, was proposed by the Bangladesh Football Federation and the celebrated coach has reportedly conveyed his willingness to take up the job.
"We've asked former Indian national football coach Syed Mohammad Nayeemuddin about the salary and other facilities he expects... He is likely to reply in a day or two," BFF Deputy General Secretary Manjoor Hossain Malu was quoted as saying by 'The New Nation'.
He is likely to be in charge of the Bangladesh team till the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) championship to be held in Colombo and Male, Maldives in December, where the team could face India.
Bangladesh are also likely to participate in the ONGC Cup to be held in New Delhi in August.
Nayeem is presently in his second stint in charge of Dhaka club Brothers' Union and the team is placed fifth in the Bangladesh League right now.
Nayeem has said it would be a privilege to coach the Bangladesh team.
"To work in a country that gave birth to a footballer like Jadukar Samad is an honour. The culture here is same as India and it would be easy to work for me," he told 'Daily Star'. PTI
Anand to take on Topalov in Leon final
From our Chess Correspondent
Leon (Spain), Jul 8 (PTI) In a repeat of last year's final, Viswanathan Anand will take on Veselin Topalov in the finals of Magistral Ciudad de Leon Chess Tournament after the Bulgarian Grandmaster defeated Rustam Kasimdzhanov in the semifinals here.
Anand had won the title last year by defeating Topalov 2.5 -1.5. Anand is eyeing his seventh title here.
Topalov defeated his Uzbek opponent 2.5-1.5 in the four-game semi-final of rapid chess. Topalov took an early lead in the match by winning the first two games. He lost the third game but managed to hold a draw in the last game to advance to the finals.
Unlike the first semi-final between Anand and Ponomariov, which the Indian won quite easily, the Topalov-Kasimdzhanov match was a close contest. In fact it was Kasimdzhanov who held the upper hand in most of the games.
The first game was a Queen's Gambit declined with Topalov opting for the Catalan Opening. Kasimdzhanov chose a solid setup with black and obtained a grip on the light squares on the queenside. Topalov reacted by launching a king side attack, but Kasimdzhanov defended resourcefully and slowly outplayed his opponent.
Topalov was clearly struggling by move 30 and was lucky to escape an outright loss after he made a tactical mistake on the 38th move. Kasimdzhanov's play went downhill thereafter and Topalov fought back to win in 70 moves.
The Bulgarian, playing the black pieces in the second game, chose to defend with the Modern Benoni. PTI
Atwal breaks into top-10 at Legend Financial Group Classic
Highland Heights (Ohio), Jul 8 (PTI) Arjun Atwal shot the day's best card -- a brilliant five-under 66 -- to soar to the tied eighth place after the penultimate round of the Legend Financial Group Classic on the US Nationwide golf Tour here.
Atwal, who has been dividing his time between the US PGA and Nationwide Tours, is now nine-under 204 at the par-71 Stonewater Golf Club.
It was Atwal's third successive sub-par round and after rising from tied 26th to eighth, he is now just three shots off the lead held by Australians David McKenzie, who also shot a 66, and Jason Day (67). The duo is at 12-under 201.
Atwal had a superb front nine, which despite starting with a bogey on the first, had four birdies on the second, fourth, fifth and eighth.
On the back nine he added birdies on 12th and 14th for a day's work of 66.
Atwal has been in solid form on the back nine, for which he is nine-under and has no bogeys over three days.
The first has been a bogey hole on each of the three days and he has only a total of four bogeys in 54 holes. The Orlando-based golfer needed 27 putts for his third round.
Atwal, who has now made 11 cuts in a row spanning two seasons and six years apart -- 2001 and 2007, has one top-10 at the Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship at Wente Vineyards this season. PTI
South Africa inundated with dangerous drugs: Police
Durban, July 8 (PTI) South Africa has been inundated with dangerous drugs such as mandrax, cocaine, methamphetamine and ephedrine which are used to make local concoctions known as sugars and tik, according to police.
"These drugs are coming through the port and have various origins. We know that they are coming from certain countries but we cannot disclose this just yet. We have been conducting intensive investigations for the past few months. Statistics show that Mandrax and cocaine are the most common drugs coming in," Superintendent Vincent Mdunge said here.
The local Durban Harbour is the number one conduit that drug lords and drug kingpins use to smuggle the drugs into the country. Most of the drugs are reportedly brought from the Asian countries, according to sources.
There has been an increase in the illegal import of black-market Viagra also.
Mdunge said specialised police teams have been working on various leads. "We have specific information about exactly where the drugs are coming from." According to police, here has been a huge increase over the past three years in the amount of drugs being analysed at the police laboratory in Pretoria.
"We have found that the Indian-origin community in Durban and the coloured community in Cape Town are the main targets of drug lords, most of whom are reported to be Nigerians who have settled in the country after 1994," the sources claimed.
According to them, the Nigerians work in conjunction with local drug lords and runners in the Indian and coloured communities. PTI
Israel to release of 250 Fatah prisoners
Jerusalem, July 8 (PTI) In a bid to bolster Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, the Israeli cabinet today approved the release of 250 Fatah security prisoners, even as rival Hamas accused Abbas of "collaborating" with Israel against them.
"The approval comes after thorough deliberations and consultations with ministers and security officials," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the cabinet.
"We want to make use of all means to strengthen moderate forces within the PA, and to encourage them to follow the path that we believe can create conditions for real talks," he said.
"I think that this gesture is a fitting one, and not a product of some illusion," the Prime Minister asserted.
Olmert said that he believes the release of Fatah prisoners will not hurt the chances of release of kidnapped Israeli soldiers but may even create conditions that will ease the process.
Meanwhile, Islamic faction Hamas, which has seized control over Gaza after violent bloodshed against rival Fatah faction, accused Abbas of collaborating with Israel against them.
"He should have refused any release unless it includes all Palestinian prisoners," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said. PTI
Harry Potter might die, predicts Radcliffe
London, July 8 (PTI) Speculation is mounting that J K Rowling will kill off Harry Potter in her final book after Daniel Radcliffe, who plays him in the films, predicted his death.
"I think I might die in (the final book). That's just my prediction. I think so, but I've no idea at all. I have no inside hints," Radcliffe said.
However, it comes just a day after Rowling told the BBC that the seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, has a grisly end when many characters die.
Rowling refused to be drawn on the young wizard's fate in an interview, but warned Potter fans they may be surprised.
She said it was "unlikely" she would ever write any more books about Harry, Ron and Hermione.
The fate of Harry Potter has been a source of speculation since December 2005, when actor Jim Dale, Potter's voice in US audio books, claimed Rowling was looking forward to life without the character, who has earned her a 500 million pounds fortune.
"She's lived with Harry Potter so long she really wants to kill him off," he told a reporter after a business meeting with the author to discuss characterisation.
In his interview with a US website, Radcliffe said the highlight of the fifth and latest film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which opens in British cinema this week, was working with the actor Gary Oldman, who plays Sirius Black.
The seventh book will be published on July 21. Previous books have been translated into 65 languages with more than 325 million copies sold. The films have grossed more than 1.7 billion pounds. PTI
UK to unveil policy to protect London from 9/11-style attack
London, Jul 8 (PTI) Amid high alert against possible terror threats, Britain will unveil a new policy this week to avert a 9/11-style attack on London, involving deployment of war planes.
Defence sources said Typhoon jet fighters will be deployed with a key responsibility to secure the safety of the British capital.
The warplanes based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire would be detailed to intercept hijacked aircraft intent on emulating the 2001 New York attacks, the sources said.
New counter-terrorism minister Sir Alan West will deliver an interim report to Prime Minister Gordon Brown tomorrow on how to prevent terrorists working in the National Health Service in the country.
Seven of the suspects in the London and Glasgow bombing attacks worked or had worked for the NHS.
In an interview to Sunday Telegraph, West warned that the country faces a 15-year battle to end the threat posed by Islamist terrorists.
"This is not a quick thing. I believe it will take 10 to 15 years. But I think it can be done as long as we as a nation apply ourselves to it and it's done across the board," he was quoted as saying.
West, formerly head of the Royal Navy, said Britain was facing its greatest threat yet.
Two days after Brown took over from Tony Blair, two car bombs were discovered in central London on June 29 and a blazing Jeep slammed into Glasgow airport's main terminal the following day. PTI
Pakistan facing another Lal Masjid
Islamabad, July 8 (PTI) Battling the radicals holed up in Lal Masjid, Pakistan security forces are gearing up to take on another set of well entrenched extremists led by a cleric, in a tribal area, who has issued a decree asking people to attack anyone supporting the crackdown on the Islamabad mosque.
Government has decided to launch a massive operation against the banned Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM) leader Maulana Fazalullah in the tribal Malakand agency of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), media reports said here.
Fazalullah is a close associate of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz, arrested while trying to sneak out from the besieged mosque in a burqa four days ago, and his younger brother Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who is leading the resistance.
Fresh deployment of troops started following an announcement of war against security forces by Fazalullah after the operation against Lal Masjid, the Post daily said.
Situations is alarmingly deteriorating in Swat district as most of the students of the madrassas affiliated to Lal Masjid are hailing from the region.
Also, after the security operation Fazaullah, through his illegally run FM Radio, had issued a statement saying anyone who supported the crackdown was an 'infidel'. He called the religious leaders supporting the present government as "rebels of Islam".
After the operation in Lal Masjid began several attacks against the security forces took place in the Agency.
Pakistan's Minister of State for Information, Tariq Azeem said he would have to verify the reports.
The News daily said Fazaullah issued a decree against supporters of the action against Lal Masjid and warned the government against conducting military operations. PTI
Dealing with divorce made easy
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) "You are bound to come across many, many reminders of your marital life. This can be fairly distressing. Don't hesitate to throw out photographs and letters if they upset you for holding on to your past is not going to help you make a clean break for the future." This and many other tips on how to deal with that difficult situation form part of a new book, 'Dealing with divorce made easy, The essential Handbook' by Leela Kirloskar, a lawyer turned publisher.
Statistics reveal a steep rise in marriages in India ending up in divorce in courts. Seventy per cent of these figures represent young people in the age group of 25 to 35. Amicable separation within the first year of marriage has increased by 30 per cent since 2000 while 85 per cent went in for a divorce within the first five years of marriage.
The book attempts to explain the process of divorce in India and the legal provisions as simply as possible, the author says.
India has the most complex family laws in the world. Along with the social, familial and emotional pressures you will inevitably face it is a complicated recipe most people would not like to taste, she says.
According to the last census of 2001, divorce rates have gone up sharply over recent years mainly in cities, from four per cent in 1980s to 14 per cent in 2001. In Mumbai alone, the percentage shot up by 56 per cent between 1991 and 2001.
According to Indian Statistical Institute figures, over 8000 divorce petitions were filed in 2001 and the figures have definitely gone up, Kirloskar says. (About the book: 'Dealing with divorce made easy; The essential handbook', by Leela Kirloskar, Roli Books, pages 138, price Rs.195/-) PTI
Delhi will go dry, Mumbai, Chennai risk floods: UN
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Many of the world's largest cities like Mumbai and Chennai on the sea coasts and at the mouths of the great rivers face a considerable danger of being flooded due to extreme climatic events as a result of global warming, says a report.
Coastal cities are increasingly at risk from seaward hazards such as sea level rise and stronger storms induced by climate change, says a recent report released by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Sea level rise, especially if combined with extreme climatic events, would flood large parts of coastal cities, says 'State of World Population, 2007'.
The report adds that sea level rise would also introduce salt water into surface fresh water and aquifers, affecting cities' water supply, and modify critical ecosystems supplying ecological services and natural resources to urban areas.
The population especially when concentrated in large urban areas within rich ecological zones can be a burden on coastal ecosystems, many of which are already under stress, it added.
Pointing out that the best way to prevent such a scenario would be to avoid policies that favour coastal development, it asked for a better coastal zone management.
Talking about other dangers that big cities will face due to global warming, the report says, dry cities like Delhi will face acute water crisis. PTI
Third Front in Himachal
Sanjay Kumar Sinha
Shimla, Jul 8 (PTI): Buoyed by its massive victory in Uttar Pradesh, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and suspended Congress legislator Vijay Singh Mankotia are asserting they would have an important role as Third Front in the polls early next year, an optimism not shared by the Congress and BJP.
BSP general secretary Man Singh Manhera has repeatedly asserted that the dalit party would repeat its 'social engineering' in Himachal Pradesh in the assembly elections due in February next year.
He has already announced to field candidates on all the 68 seats.
Suspended Congress MLA from Shahpur Vijay Singh Mankotia, who has created furore in the hill state by releasing CD leveling serious corruption allegations against Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his MP wife Pratibha Singh, has also hinted of a Third Front which would play an important role in the state assembly polls.
The Third Front would take a shape after presidential elections, Mankotia told PTI.
Many leaders of national parties are in touch with me for formation of a joint front against the Congress and BJP in HP, he added.
But, ruling Congress and BJP do not see any significant role of the Third Front in HP.
Senior congress leader and former Union Minister Sukh Ram has also cautioned the grand old party against emergence of BSP in the hill state. PTI
Digest of domestic news for the week June 30-July 6
Saturday
Mumbai: Heavy rains pound Mumbai and several parts of Maharashtra killing at least 16 people in separate incidents and thousands had to be evacuated to safer places following flash floods.
Jaipur: Senior BJP leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma dies in a road accident in Alwar district of Rajasthan, nearly 165 kms from here.
Tinsukia: Four persons, including a woman, were killed and 65 people injured in four serial bomb blasts triggered by militants in Assam's Tinsukia and Karbi Anglong districts.
Sunday Srinagar: The annual pilgrimage to Amarnath, which was held up due to bad weather, begins with nearly 13,000 devotees heading for the cave shrine where the ice 'lingam' of Lord Shiva completely melted due to rising temperatures.
Ahmedabad: A police inspector, wanted by the Gujarat CID in connection with the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake encounter, surrenders to the agency.
Sasaram (Bihar): Nine persons, including five policemen, were killed and as many were wounded as CPI-Maoist rebels carried out simultaneous attacks on a police station and an outpost in Bihar's Rohtas district and fled with arms and ammunition.
Monday Nahan (HP): At least 19 passengers, including eight women and one child, died and 25 injured when a private bus in which they were travelling rolled down into a 1,000-feet deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district.
Guwahati: The banned ULFA says it is ready for an "honourable, peaceful and political" solution of the decades-old insurgency problem in the northeastern state if the Centre showed "sincerity". Ahmedabad/Bhopal: Rains continue to wreak havoc in many parts of the country, including Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, with 20 more deaths reported even as life in Mumbai returned to normal after days of chaos and destruction.
Tuesday New Delhi: The Supreme Court dismisses a petition seeking cancellation of nomination papers of UPA-left nominee Pratibha Patil for Presidential election, saying there was no sufficient document to substantiate allegations against her.
New Delhi: India and Pakistan set up three sub-groups to go into contentious issues like terrorism and extradition and deportation of wanted criminals sheltered in each other's territory.
Wednesday New Delhi: Taking forward their confidence-building measures, India and Pakistan agree to set free all fishermen in each other's custody by August 15, release prisoners who have completed their sentences and finalise a liberalised visa agreement soon.
New Delhi: With involvement of two of its nationals being suspected in the failed terror plot in the UK, India says it would extend any assistance if asked for by investigators but cautioned against reaching any conclusion if anyone was merely detained or questioned.
Thursday New Delhi: In a bid to take advantage of the emerging nuclear fusion technology to meet India's enormous energy needs, government decides to spend an estimated Rs 2,500 crore to participate in the prestigious International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project.
New Delhi: The election for the post of Vice President will be held on August 10 to elect a successor to incumbent Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
Srinagar: Nine militants were killed and five securitymen injured after an infiltration bid foiled in Jammu and Kashmir, where two teenaged boys lost their lives in an explosion and a Hizbul Mujahideen militant arrested.
Friday Jaipur: In a tragic culmination of a 50-hour ordeal, a six-year-old boy, who fell into a borewell while playing at a village 35 kms from here, was pulled out but found dead.
Bangalore: The family of Sabeel Ahmed, one of the Indians detained in connection with the failed terror plot in Britain, was questioned by police here for the second consecutive day.
New Delhi: Government put the figure of people suffering from HIV/AIDS in the country at 2.5 million, a drastic reduction of around 50 per cent from last year.
New Delhi: Allowing the extradition of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, accused of raping and murdering British teenager Hannah Foster, the Delhi High Court modifies the order passed by a local magistrate, saying it can only be held that there is prima facie evidence against him. PTI
Newsletter Meghalaya: returning to normalcy after Khasi stir
Shillong, Jul 6 (PTI) With the release of the jailed Khasi Student Union leaders, Meghalaya is now slowly limping back to normalcy after last month's agitations of the student bodies, NGOs and other social organisations.
Normal life in the state, particularly in the east, west and Ri Bhoi districts were affected due to a series of Khasi Students' Union agitational programmes of office picketing, bandhs and night road blockades to protest the proposed mining by the Uranium Coporation of India Ltd (UCIL) in Kylleng Pyndeng Sohiong at Mawthabah area in West Khasi hills district.
Bowing to the demands of women demonstrators, who had taken up the issue of the arrest of 17 KSU activists, five KSU members, belonging to the East Khasi hills district who were arrested under the MPDA were formally released on Thursday and two other KSU members belonging to the west Khasi are expected to be released very soon.
Fourteen other KSU members who were arrested in connection with last month's ban have been released on bail.
Around 150 women demonstrators were held for violating prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC while trying to force their way into the state secretariat to press for the release of Khasi Students' Union (KSU) activists.
Deposits of uranium were discovered in various parts of Meghalaya way back in 1984. The atomic mineral division of the department of atomic energy conducted excavation and assessed the uranium deposits in Domiasiat and Mawthabah in West Khasi hills and in Dawki area near the Indo-Bangladesh border. PTI
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