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| Controversy over
smuggling of timber BHUBANESWAR, Dec 5: A controversy has erupted over ...more National geographic NEW
DELHI, Dec 5: It
was 65 million years ago that an asteroid......more NEW
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DELHI, Dec 5: The
Election Commission has achieved a "major
milestone" in computing..more NEW
DELHI, Dec 5:
Deepa Mehta’s controversial film "Fire"
has been sent back to the Censor Board...more
CHENNAI, Dec 5: All India Anna DMK (AIADMK) general secretary J Jayalalitha...more |
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TRAI moots
gradual restructuring of tariffs MUMBAI Dec 5: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has mooted...more UP to attract tourists LUCKNOW,
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Controversy over smuggling of timber BHUBANESWAR, Dec 5: A controversy has erupted over Orissa’s Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Prasanna Kumar Dash directly holding the Forest Minister, Kishore Chandra Patel responsible for the large scale smuggling of timber from the magnificent Similipal National Park, now a biosphere reserve. Within hours of the minister’s charge levelled at a news conference here yesterday, the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) demanded a high level inquiry into the matter while seeking the intervention of the Centre for protection of the forest. The allegation of the J B Patnaik Government and the hollowness of the administration as it has come from a very senior minister of the Cabinet, BJD secretary general Prasanna Acharya said in a statement here today. BJD also supports the Environment Minister’s demand that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) should be deployed to ensure protection of the 2700 sq km Similipal National Park. Referring to the minister’s allegation, BJD legislator Debi Mishra demanded resignation of the Forest Minister and a clarification from the Government over the issue. Dash is a veteran leader and has been associated with Similipal as he belongs to Mayurbhanj district and his allegation can not be brushed aside, Mishra said. The Environment Minister had openly accused at the news conference that timber worth crores of rupees was being felled and smuggled to neighbouring West Bengal and Bihar by mafia groups, who enjoyed the patronage of people at the top. Replying to questions, he alleged that the whole business was being conducted with the knowledge and patronage of the Forest Minister. Dash is a former speaker of the Legislative Assembly. (PTI) |
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National geographic to show Emmy Award winners NEW DELHI, Dec 5: It was 65 million years ago that an asteroid hit had obliterated the mighty dinosaurs from the surface of the earth, and scientists have never ruled out another such impact which could wipe out all life forms from the planet once again. While two recent Hollywood doomsday movies deep impact and Armageddon Rode on this fear to achieve box office success, the National Geographic (NG) channel is bringing an Emmy award winning documentary to acquaint its Indian viewers with the science of asteroids. Asteroids : Deadly impact to be telecast on December 13 will form part of a four-film package of Emmy-winning national geographic productions coming to the viewers this month, the network said in a release here. The other three films to be shown as part of this special package are the photographers (December eight) which brings to life the gritty reality behind the romantic image of NG camerapeople, the last frog (December 11) that delves into the mystery behind the extreme adaptability of frogs, and Eternal enemies : Lions and Dyenas (December 12) that captures the mortal enmity between the two animals, it said. (PTI) Jaswant returns as Vajpayee Govt’s trouble shooter NEW DELHI, Dec 5: BJP Government’s tried and trusted trouble-shooter Jaswant Singh returns to the Union Cabinet two and half years after his short stint as Finance Minister in the 13-day old Vajpayee Governmen in the summer of 1996. The 60-year old former Army officer has been acting as special envoy of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for talks with the United States on non-proliferation issues in the wake of Pokhran nuclear explosions. He also acted as a mediator to sort out the coalition Government’s problems with the AIADMK supremeo J Jayalalitha immediately after the second Vajpayee Government was formed in March this year. After the Pokhran nuclear explosions, Jaswant Singh was in the limelight holding negotiations with U S Assistant Secretary of State Strobe Talbott. Unable to find a berth in the second Vajpayee Government early this year, as he had lost the Lok Sabha election, Jaswant Singh was made Deputy Chairmanof the Planning Commission with the rank of a cabinet Minister. A few months later, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha of which he was a member earlier between 1980 and 1989. He entered the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1989 and was relected in 1991 and 1996. A persuasive and forceful speaker, Jaswant Singh has contributed immensely to Parliamentary debates on various subjects, espcially on defence and security matters. (PTI) NEW DELHI, Dec 5: The Election Commission has achieved a "major milestone" in computing in Indian languages by going on Website with Hindi version of the results of recent Assembly elections, Deputy Election Commissioner Suvas Pani said here today. The EC had already gone on Website with the results in english and now going on the Web in Hindi was a "major milestone which was made possible by the EC," he said. He told reporters that any information regarding the elections in the four states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram could be accessed at http://www. India-election. Com or http://www. Election-India.Com or http://www. Eci.Gov.In. It had taken about two months and cost Rs 1.3 crore for the Commission to computerise the election details to make it accessible on the Web. Out of the Rs.1.3 crore, Rs 50 lakh were paid to the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (VSNL). Apparently encouraged by the people’s response, he said there were 188,000 hits to the Website on November 28-29 only when counting of votes was in progress. The availability of the election-related information on the Web had "cleaned up the counting process and made it free and fair." Whatever results came to the Commission, could be accessed on the Web, he added. (UNI) |
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Fire sent back to Censor Board for review NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Deepa Mehta’s controversial film "Fire" has been sent back to the Censor Board for review following violent protests against its screening, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said today. "The film has been sent back for recertifying to the Censor Board. We will wait for their comments," the minister said brushing aside a question on his reaction to contents of the film Asked why it was sent again to the Censor Board, he said "there have been several instances when there has been violence after which Government has referred the film to the Censor Board." However, asked for one such instance he did not specify. About the violence allegedly by Shiv Sainiks at cinema halls screening the film in Delhi and Mumbai, he said "I am not supporting or justifying the violence. The perpetrators of the violence will be punished." (PTI) |
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CHENNAI, Dec 5: All India Anna DMK (AIADMK) general secretary J Jayalalitha today praised Congress president Sonia Gandhi for reserving 33 per cent of party organisational posts for women and urged Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to introduce the Women’s Reservation Bill in the current session of Parliament itself. In a statement, copies of which were released to the press here, she recalled that the AIADMK had created a "world history" by reserving 33 per cent of its organisational posts for women. The Congress’ decision to follow suit was indeed gratifying, she added. Appealing to all political parties to cooperate with the Centre in passing the Bill, providing 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies, she said it was incumbent upon Mr Vajpayee to take alternative steps if the parties had any difficulty in passing the bill. Ms Jayalalitha also suggested that Mr Vajpayee take steps for the drafting of a new bill to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and the state legislature by one-third of their present strengths and reserve the newly-created seats for women. "I don’t think there can be any opposition to this," she added. Ms Jayalalitha wanted Mr Vajpayee to urge all political parties to cooperate in the speedy passage of the bill in Parliament. "I am sure the Prime Minister will heed my voice," she added. "It is indeed an injustice to women that the bill providing for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies has been put in the deep freeze," she regretted. There should not be any more delay in providing 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures, she said, adding "in the advancement of women lies the advancement of our nation". (UNI) |
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TRAI moots gradual restructuring of tariffs MUMBAI Dec 5: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has mooted gradual restructuring of tariffs depending on the changes in demand, traffic and revenue generation of service providers. In a consultation paper circulated recently, the proposed tariff may result in lower revenues by 35-55 per cent. Resources for reinvestment by Department of Telecommunication (DoT) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) need to be internally generated upto 65-70 per cent as borrowings beyond 30-35 per cent cannot be supported, the paper noted. Hike in access charges and local charges, which affect lower-end users may impact growth of tele-density, the paper said adding that differential regulation should be practiced with incumbent being subject to more regulation till new operators gain 35 per cent market share. TRAI had invited suggestions from service providers, institutions and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and consumers on the issue of the telecom re-balancing exercise. Cellular service providers stressed for separate tariff structure for metros and circles. Revenue sharing from long distance calls on the same lines as for basic services was also suggested. In the VSAT sector, the major concern was over the effect of reduced lease line charges on the market share of the VSATs. TRAI held a two-day open house discussion here on quality of service and telecom pricing. Consumers put across their grievances to TRAI Chairman Justice S S Sodhi and other officials. The open house solicited suggestions on determining levels of tariffs, effective dates of implementation of the various proposals, phasing of the revised tariffs and finalisation of cost basis. (UNI) |
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