Posts Tagged ‘Feb’
Written by Rahul on 05 April 2009
.S. military officials and commercial satellite operators on Thursday discussed better tracking of satellites to avert collisions like the one that destroyed a Russian and U.S. satellite in February, creating more space debris.
The meeting, on the sidelines of the Space Foundation’s National Space Symposium, is part of the U.S. Air Force’s drive to improve tracking of objects in space.
The Air Force said this week it would work with U.S. Strategic Command to expand satellite tracking by Oct. 1 to all 800 maneuverable spacecraft now operating.
The move was spurred by the Feb. 10 collision of a dead Russian military communications satellite and a commercial U.S. satellite owned by Iridium, an event neither the U.S. military nor private tracking groups predicted.
British satellite communications company Inmarsat, which owns 11 satellites providing mobile phone and broadband coverage around the world, welcomed the news, said Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch, vice president for global government services.
“We’ve seen significant progress and movement on the defense side to explore more exchange of data and more meaningful data with industry,” Cowen-Hirsch told Reuters at the annual space conference.
Lieutenant General Larry James, commander of the Air Force’s Joint Functional Component Command for Space, attended a meeting hosted by industry in Washington last week, said Cowen-Hirsch, who participated in both meetings.
Inmarsat is one of several satellite operators that provide communications services to the U.S. military.
Commercial services account for about 80 percent of the military’s satellite communications, although protected communications — such as those used by the president — come from military-owned and operated satellites, General Robert Kehler, head of Air Force Space Command, said on Thursday.
NEW CAPABILITIES NEEDED
Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told some 7,500 conference participants the satellite collision had focused attention on the need to increase and improve tracking of objects in space, and several efforts were under way.
He said the Air Force needed to field more capable sensors in space and on the ground, and to better integrate and manage data from existing sources and sensors.
The goal is to build an integrated network that includes data from commercial satellite operators, foreign governments, and all parts of the U.S. government. Officials are still trying to determine how to assure that the data can be trusted, particularly when it comes from satellite operators that do not have close ties to the U.S. government, Cowen-Hirsch said.
The Air Force has an Internet-based pilot program that allows commercial operators and foreign governments to report any issues with their spacecraft.
The trick, Donley said, was being able to assess rapidly what had happened, and then “straightforwardly differentiate between attack and anomaly.”
One Air Force official, who said he was not authorized to speak on the record, said government attorneys were still working on legal agreements that commercial companies and satellite operators would have to sign to get access to the expanded tracking data.
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Written by Rahul on 03 April 2009
Patna, April 2 (IANS) The Patna High Court Thursday rejected Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Rajesh Ranjan Yadav alias Pappu Yadav’s plea to suspend his conviction in a criminal case so that he could contest the coming Lok Sabha election.
A division bench of the court rejected the petition of Yadav, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a lower court for murdering Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) legislator Ajit Sarkar in 1998. Yadav, the sitting MP from Madhepura, is currently out on bail.
The firebrand CPI-M leader, who had a running feud with Yadav over issues relating to farm labourers, was shot dead, along with his driver Harendra Sharma and party worker Ashfaqur Rehman, at Subhas Nagar in the state’s Purnea town on June 14, 1998.
Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) judge B.M. Srivastava had Feb 14 pronounced Yadav, former independent legislator Rajan Tiwari and Anil Yadav guilty and awarded them life terms.
The high court had last month reserved its order on Yadav’s petition after hearing arguments of both sides.
Meanwhile, the RJD is yet to nominate a candidate from Madhepura seat as the party was waiting for the court’s decision on Yadav’s plea to contest election. His father Chandradeo Prasad Yadav is now likely to be fielded by the party from the seat.
Last month, another RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin’s plea for suspension of conviction to be able to contest election was dismissed by the Patna High Court. Shahabuddin is MP from Siwan and currently lodged in jail.
The RJD has now fielded his wife Hina Sahab from Siwan.
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Written by Rahul on 02 April 2009
TOKYO (AP) Confidence at major Japanese manufacturers has fallen to an all-time low, a key central bank survey showed Wednesday, dragged south by an unprecedented drop in global demand and a deep credit crunch. In the Bank of Japan’s quarterly “tankan” survey for March, the closely watched sentiment index for large manufacturers stood at minus 58 the sixth straight quarter of decline and the worst reading ever.
The latest number was far worse than the minus 24 reading in December’s survey and even undercut the minus 54 forecast by economists surveyed by Kyodo news agency. The index’s lowest result before Wednesday was minus 57, hit in June 1975.
The figure represents the percentage of companies saying business conditions are good minus those saying conditions are unfavorable. The lower the number, the greater the pessimism.
Japan, which had relied on overseas demand to drive growth, has been pummeled by a global slowdown that has sapped foreign sales of its cars and gadgets. A stronger yen has exacerbated the pain by eroding exporters’ earnings abroad.
The world’s second-largest economy now finds itself in the midst of its deepest recession since World War II, and officials are scrambling to mount a bigger defense against the downturn. Prime Minister Taro Aso ordered his government Tuesday to compile fresh stimulus measures, on top of about 12 trillion yen ($122 billion) in extra fiscal spending announced last year.
Since taking office in September, Aso has launched two stimulus packages that includes a cash handout to residents, lower highway tolls and support for small businesses. “Japan is still facing the economic crisis,” Aso said.
“We plan to draw up new measures and present them to the public as soon as possible.” Wednesday’s central bank survey showed the decline in confidence at small- and medium-size companies was just as bad.
Sentiment among small manufacturers and small non-manufacturers both tumbled to minus 57. The confidence index for major non-manufacturers deteriorated to minus 31 from minus 9 in the December survey.
Companies expect business conditions to remain rough in the months ahead, though they expect the pessimism to ease somewhat. The sentiment index for big manufacturers is forecast to improve to minus 51 in the next survey in June.
Major manufacturers in the latest tankan reported far tighter bank lending conditions from three month ago, with the index measuring lending attitudes down to minus 17 from minus 4. The central bank survey also showed that large companies downgraded their capital spending plans and now expect to cut expenditures by an average 13.2 percent in the fiscal year through March 2010.
Managers also said they expect an average dollar value of 97.18 yen during the new fiscal year, which began Wednesday, weaker than their estimate of 101.91 yen for last fiscal year. The Bank of Japan surveyed a total of 10,441 companies between Feb.
23 and March 31, of which 98.5 percent responded.
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Written by Rahul on 02 April 2009
A city court Wednesday extended till April 4 the police remand of former Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani, who has been arrested for her alleged involvement in a massacre during the 2002 communal riots.
Kodnani was brought to the court as her four-day remand expired Wednesday. She surrendered before the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) Friday. A day later, the city court allowed the SIT to question her for four days.
Her counsel Mitesh Amin told IANS that the city metropolitan court extended the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister’s remand till April 4.
Kodnani had been accused of inciting riots in the Naroda Gam (village) and Naroda Patia localities in Ahmedabad in the aftermath of the burning of the S6-coach of the Sabarmati Express Feb 26, 2002 at the Godhra railway station which resulted in the death of 59 passengers in Gujarat.
The former minister is currently being questioned by the SIT at its office at the old secretariat in Gandhinagar during her remand period.
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Written by Rahul on 02 April 2009
New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) Three separate investigations were on into the Feb 26 mutiny, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) chief Major General Mohammed Mainul Islam said here Wednesday, adding that only the probe will reveal if Pakistan’s spy agency was invovled in it.
‘Three separate investigations – judicial, administrative and other – are underway to probe the mutiny,’ Islam said here at the conclusion of the India-Bangladesh Border Coordination conference.
Asked if Pakistan’s spy agency Inter-State Services (ISI) was behind the mutiny, Islam said: ‘It cannot be said before the investigations get completed.’
BDR personnel mutinied against their commanding officers deputed from the army at the BDR headquarters in Dhaka Feb 25. The mutiny, which ended the next day evening, left more than 80 people, including BDR chief Major General Shakil Ahmed and 54 Bangladesh Army officers, dead.
Islam described the mutiny as ’saddest episode ever happened in Bangladesh’.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the mutiny was part of a conspiracy to bring down her new government. Hundreds of guardsmen have been arrested in this connection but hundreds more are still sought.
US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and British Scotland Yard are also assisting the Bangladesh agencies in their investigations.
Islam praised the role of the Indian government for its ‘prudence’ and ‘wisdom’ during the crisis.
‘The Indian government, especially the BSF (Border Security Force), has shown its prudence and wisdom during the crisis. We expect them to do so in the future as well,’ Islam added.
Islam said during their three-day visit, he and his colleagues shared common concern with their Indian counterparts. ‘We hope in near future and under the guidance of the new political government, we will solve many problems.’
Islam assured India that Dhaka will not allow on its soil any criminals or terrorists who harm Bangladesh or other countries.
Border Security Force (BSF) Director General M.L. Kumawat said ‘recalcitrant elements’ of the BDR will not be allowed to enter the country. ‘If anyone attempts to come to our side, we will capture them and hand over to BDR. But so far, no such incident has been reported.’
Kumawat also offered all possible help in restructuring the BDR.
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Written by Rahul on 02 April 2009
Ranchi, April 1 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is crying foul over Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibte Razi’s move to release a Rs.910 million revival package for Heavy Engineering Corporation, allegedly in violation of the election code of conduct.
The BJP Wednesday demanded an FIR against the governor, who Tuesday released a cheque of Rs.91 crore (Rs.910 million) to Heavy Engineering Corporation Monday as a part of the Rs.250 crore revival package passed by the state government Feb 13, a fortnight before the election code of conduct came into force.
‘(The) governor is violating the model code of conduct. FIRs are lodged against politicians, ministers, chief ministers for violating the code. An FIR should also be lodged against the Jharkhand governor,’ BJP president Raghubar Das told IANS.
The governor in performing chief ministerial functions in the absence of an elected government in the state. Jharkhand is under president’s rule since Feb 26 following the political flux in the wake of then chief minister Shibu Soren failing to win a by-election to the state legislature.
‘This is the second time the governor has violated the model code of conduct. We are writing to the Election Commission,’ said Das.
Earlier, the governor’s role came under the poll panel scanner when he ordered hike in government employees’ dearness allowance (DA).
The government later stayed the DA hike after the poll watchdog raised objections to the move announced after model code of conduct came into operation.
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Written by Rahul on 04 March 2009
New Delhi, Mar 2 (ANI): India on Monday eased the ban on import of Chinese toys provided they conform to international safety norms.
India, which had banned the import of Chinese toys on January 23 for six months on grounds of public health, today said imports could be allowed if the consignments were accompanied by certificates of international quality assurance.
According to a public notice by the Commerce Ministry, the import of toys from China will be allowed only if they conform to the health and safety standards prescribed in “ISO 8124 (parts I – III) or IS 9873 (parts I – III)”.
India’s move to ban Chinese products was also deemed compatible with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules on consumer protection.
Government officials claimed the Chinese toys contained lead. This element, if ingested, can cause various ills like brain hemorrhage, anemia, learning problems and slow growth.
In 2007, the world’s leading toy maker Mattel recalled over 21 million Chinese-made toys worldwide due to excessive levels of lead paint and other unsafe components.
More than 4,000 Chinese toy companies closed last year due to waning demand and tighter safety standards, the official Xinhua News Agency reported on Feb 7.
This had led to an outcry from Chinese manufacturers and public officials, who claimed that the ban was unfounded.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce had also issued a statement on the issue last month saying, “China hopes that in a period during which the world economy faces grim challenges, India takes cautious and prudent trade remedy measures, otherwise bilateral trade relations could be seriously impacted”.
Meanwhile, the Indian toy dealers were also running out of stock and prices of toys soared by 30 percent to 100 percent.
The toy market in India is estimated at Rs 2,500 crore while the volume-driven, price-competitive Chinese toys are estimated to control 70 percent of the global toys market. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 02 March 2009
Ludhiana, Feb 28 (ANI): Despite global recession, the car owners in Ludhiana who bet on the power of numerology, are digging deep into their pockets for fancy digits to adorn their number plates.
Ludhiana’s district transport authority has recently introduced new series PB 10 K and PB 10 CL, which is forcing people to spend anything in their power to get the numbers.
“Number one (001) and all other numbers have gone for costly prices. The number plate with digit 0011 has been bid for Rs. 3.10 lakh and the second series with CL number plates have been bid for three lakh rupees. The single digit series have gone for not less than one lakh rupees,” said Chander Jain, district transport officer, Ludhiana.
Pawan Kumar a bidder, was happy to get a fancy number.This is a personal passion and there is no value for money. The car looks different on road when compared to the others,” Kumar said.
The notification for bidding was made a few days ago in many newspapers.
Inspired by the success of the auction, the transport authorities are planning more auctions in future.
Ludhiana was in the news when a bidder Rohit Nagpal made the then astounding Rs. 2,72,000 bid for fancy number 0001 in November last year. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 02 March 2009
New Delhi, Feb 28 (ANI): Former Prime Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Atal Behari Vajpayee is likely to be discharged on Sunday from the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
According to the team of doctors attending upon him at the AIIMS, Vajpayee is fit enough to be discharged from the hospital.
“He is alright now. Doctors have decided to discharge him tomorrow,” Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Sciences Chief Dr. Sampath Kumar said.
The 84-year-old leader was admitted at AIIMS on February 3 with complaints of fever and chest congestion where doctors found him suffering from respiratory tract infection. Since then, Vajpayee was recuperating at the premier hospital in the national capital.
Doctors later conducted tracheotomy on February 13 to ease his respiration process. He has since shown steady improvement in his condition. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 02 March 2009
Varanasi, Feb 28 (ANI): Pinky Sonkar, the protagonist of Oscar winning documentary ‘Smile Pinky’, got a rousing welcome at her native village here on Saturday.
‘Smile Pinky’ is the story of a child with a lip deformity which won the award for best short documentary at the famed Academy Awards.
Pinki’s neighbours and relatives gathered at the Varanasi airport and greeted her with garlands.
The shy little girl was accompanied by her father and Dr. Subodh Singh, the surgeon who gave Pinki the smile that ushered her into the Hollywood’s Red Carpet.
She was so excited about the whole experience.
Dr. Singh was hopeful that the documentary would create a lot of awareness about lip deformity in the society.
“This Oscar has created a lot of awareness about lip deformity. I am hopeful many doctors, hospitals and people will come forward and join hands with Smile Train Foundation. We will in return help such people suffering with lip problems not only in India but all over the world,” said Singh.
Pinky’s father said he would go all out to help out people who suffer from cleft lips.
“I will help them, I will tell them the name of the hospitals and doctors. I will not wait for them to approach me. But I will go to their doors and help them in curing this lip deformity,” said Rajendra Sonkar.
Megan Mylan’s film ‘Smile Pinky’ depicts the saga of six-year-old Pinki Sonkar who had become a social outcaste because of a cleft lip.
The 39-minute documentary traces Pinki’s journey from being ostracized to being treated like a normal girl after a social worker helped her undergo surgery. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 02 March 2009
Amritsar, Feb.28 (ANI): Noted filmmaker Yash Chopra offered prayers at Golden Temple, the holiest Gurudwara of Sikhs, here on Friday night and offered “Chandoa Sahib” inside temple’s sanctum sanctorum.
“We have come here but for a very short time. But today I have spent two hours here. I am delighted after paying obeisance here,” said Yash Chopra at the temple.
Beginning his career in Bollywood in 1959 Yash Chopra has produced many films of communal harmony and love.
Yash, on this occasion, also revealed that being a Punjabi he always tries to give a touch of Punjabi cultureto his all films. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 02 March 2009
Jagdishpur (UP), Feb 28 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi has vowed to make his constituency stand out as the best in Uttar Pradesh after presiding over a function marking the reopening of a sick steel plant here.
Rahul reopened Malvika Steel, a sick steel plant, in his parliamentary constituency of Amethi on Friday.ahul said that the reopening of the plant, which shut own in early 1998, was one of his dreams.On that day, I made up my mind that if I will do one thing in these five years, it would be the reopening of this steel plant,” he said.
Rahul also said with the cooperation of the people, he would make Amethi and Rae Bareilly, the best districts in a state ruled by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
“We will fight this battle together and make Amethi and Rae Bareilly the best districts of Uttar Pradesh,” he added.
The Congress party has tied up with the state’s main opposition, Samajwadi Party in a bid to unseat the BSP in the forthcoming general elections.
The steel plant, spread over an area of about 740 acres, was acquired by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) in an auction held under aegis of Delhi High Court at a price of Rs.209 crore.
As per preliminary estimates, SAIL will invest around Rs.300 crore to make the plant viable. Thus, the total investment by SAIL in this venture would be more than 500 crore, which is the largest single investment in the steel sector in the State of Uttar Pradesh.
The main strengths of the plant are: (i) located on a major highway and rail route; (ii) adequate flat land for a well laid out steel plant and township; (iii) proximity to a perennial water source; (iv) proximity to vast consuming centers in Uttar Pradesh small pig size (10 kg) preferred by foundaries; and (v) most of the civil works, structural works and major equipment for the major facilities are available. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 02 March 2009
New Delhi, Feb 28 (ANI): Cabinet Secretary K. M. Chandrashekhar met senior functionaries of the Government on Saturday and discussed issues relating to coastal security.
It was decided at the meeting that all vessels would be registered under a uniform coastal security system.
The meeting was attended by the Union Home Secretary, Deputy National Security Advisers, Defence Secretary, Secretary Shipping, Secretary, Fisheries, Secretary (Border Management), Secretary (West) MEA, DG NIC, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, Registrar General of India, DDG Coast Guard and other senior functionaries of Government of India.
The meeting focussed on the implementation aspects of issues relating to maritime security, uniform system for registration for fishing and other vessels, uniform system of issuance of Multipurpose National ID cards (MNIC) to fishermen, issuance of Identity Cards to the population living in the coastal villages, installation of navigational and communication equipments on the fishing vessels.
The review of the initiatives in respect of coastal security has enabled further streamlining of the implementation time-lines and in resolving cross-cutting issues.
The need for installation of navigational and communication equipments on the boats for tracking their movement was emphasised and it was decided that Nautical Advisor will work out the technical details of such equipment in consultation with Coast Guard, National Informatics Centre and ISRO.
As a part of coastal security measure, there was consensus in the meeting regarding the issue of application based Identity Cards to the fishermen and issuance of Multipurpose National Identity Cards to the population of the coastal villages.
It was also decided to constitute a group to look into the issue of inter-operability of two types of ID cards. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 02 March 2009
Kuala Lumpur, Feb. 28 (ANI): Malaysian Chinese Association has urged the government to lift the condition on the usage of word “Allah” in Christian Publications.
MCA Political education Bureau head Gan Ping Sieu said condition usage of “Allah” in print form was unacceptable and an affront to common sense.
“The majority of Christians are bumiputras from Sabah and Sarawak and the orang asli, whose mother tongue is Bahasa Malaysia. Because they speak and pray in Bahasa Malaysia as it is their first language, the Government must lift the ban not only for printed publications but also for oral references to God as ‘Allah,” the Star Online quoted him, as saying.
He said MCA acknowledged that the Home Ministry had heeded calls from Christian groups to allow the use of the word in their publications, albeit with conditions.
Gan said the latest government gazette should not only control Christian publications from referring to God as “Allah”.
“The Government should come out clearer that ‘Allah’ may be also used by the Sikhs. There should not be different standards for different religions in referring to God as ‘Allah’ as it will confuse Malaysians,” he said.
The Council of Churches of Malaysia has made similar calls asking the Government to not accept the use of the term “Allah” as an exclusive heritage of one religion.
“This is an unfair imposition and unwarranted restriction on the practice of the Christian religion in this country. We regret that the Government did not see fit to engage with us before introducing this order,” said the council’s general secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri.
Earlier, the Government gazette had permitted the publication of the word Allah in Catholic Herald magazine’ only when the publication agreed to clearly state the word was “For Christians only” in its masthead.
Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew said this was stated in the recently gazetted Internal Security Act signed by the Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar on February 16.
“The next edition of the Herald will contain the word Allah, and we will print the words “For Christians only” on the masthead so as not to contravene the Act,” he said.
It is learnt the Act also forbids the use of the words Kaabah, solat and baitullah. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 02 March 2009
Bangalore, Feb 28 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L. K. Advani on Saturday condemned the attack on young women at Mangalore pub by Sri Ram Sena, terming it a violation of Indian ethos.
“I strongly condemn the attack on girls in Mangalore. There can be no compromise on this. It is wrong and against Indian culture and ethos,” Advani said.
People were entitled to have different perspectives on whether young men and women should visit pubs, but attacking them was wrong, he added.
Last month, members of a right wing Hindu group allegedly assaulted girls in a Mangalore pub accusing them of behaving in an obscene manner.
After the attack, 27 members of the outfit were arrested including its chief Pramod Muthalik.
Union Minister Renuka Chowdhury had criticized the state government on its failure to prevent attempts to ‘Talibanise’ the country and sent a three-member team, led by NCW member Vanktesh, to probe the case.
Chowdhury, however, sacked Vanktesh, saying her conduct was detrimental to public interest. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 02 March 2009
Caracas, Feb. 28 (ANI): Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said 82-year-old former Cuban leader Fidel Castro seemed to be in a “very, very good shape” during their latest meeting in Cuba.
“Fidel is – well – very, very, very good. Very good. He was much better than all the times I’ve visited him in the past three years, two and a half years,” the Telegraph quoted him, as saying.
Castro has not been seen in public since 2006 when he underwent intestinal surgery and ceded power to his younger brother Raul Castro. He was rumored last month to be in serious condition but the Cuban government insisted he is still active and working.
Chavez said he met Castro twice, once for three hours on February 20, and for more than four hours on February 21.
“Fidel surprised us all. He went for a walk. Fidel went out and they saw him. Fidel walking through Havana, through the streets. A miracle. The people were crying,” Chavez said.
Venezuela’s socialist leader had received four letters from Castro a day before.
“Of course he planned it all so there wouldn’t be any record of it or anything. There’s a photo that I’ve seen, and in that sense I feel humbly privileged,” Chavez said.
It wasn’t clear exactly when Castro took the walk.
During their meetings, Chavez and Castro discussed subjects including the world financial crisis and the new government of President Barack Obama, a Venezuelan statement said.
So far no images have been released of the meetings with Castro, whom Chavez views as an exemplary “father” for leftists across Latin America. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 02 March 2009
Noida, Feb 28 (ANI): Amity International Business School (Noida) organised Asia’s largest three-day (February 25- February 27) International Business Summit and Research Conference “INBUSH (2009)”, where it presented 13 most coveted Corporate Excellence awards.
The awards bestowed during the summit included:
Amity Corporate Excellence Award for Model PSU in Corporate Governance -BSNL
Amity Corporate Excellence Award for Dominant Leadership and Global Presence-ONGC
Amity Academic Excellence Award -A. N Rai- Vice Chancellor, Mizoram University
Amity Corporate Excellence Award for Fostering International Relations- Roberto
Toscano ,Ambassador of Italy
Amity Corporate Excellence Award for Fostering International Relations- Juan
Alfredo Pinto Saavedra, Ambassador of Columbia
Amity Corporate Excellence Award for Corporate Social Responsibility-Aditya Birla Group
Amity Corporate Excellence Award for Leveraging Technology in Global Business-Tech Mahindra Ltd.
Amity Corporate Excellence Award for Outstanding Bank- Axis Bank Ltd.
Amity Corporate Excellence Award for Best Retail Chain -Bata India Ltd.
Amity Corporate Excellence Award for Best Customer Service Firm-MBS Gymkhana Ltd.
Amity Corporate Excellence Award for Outstanding Marketing-IDEA Cellular SRS Group Ltd.
Amity Corporate Excellence Award for Best Hospitality Services-Hotel Corporation of India Ltd and Mosaic Hotels
Amity Corporate Excellence Award for Best Retail Chain-Titan.
Over 150 CEO’s, 19 Vice Chancellors from distinguished National and International Universities, 34 foreign diplomats, judges of the Supreme Court and High Court, Members of Parliament and scores of media personalities participated in the conference.(ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 02 March 2009
Dhaka, Feb 28 (ANI): Newly appointed Director General of the BDR, Brigadier General Moinul Hossain, visited the BDR headquarters on Saturday.
During his visit, he supervised the search and rescue opeartions at the (BDR) headquarters.
Brigadier General Hossain has taken charge after the killing of his predecessor Major General Shakil Ahmed.
Major General Shakil Ahmed’s corpse, which was recovered on Friday, was found pitted with bullet holes and marks of a bayonet charge. It had at least seven bullet wounds.
Home Minister Sahara Khatun visited the BDR headquarters at the head of a probe committee, which has been formed to reveal the reasons of the BDR rebellion.
Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) men, who have not reported after the mutiny, have been asked to report to their respective offices within next 24 hours.
According to a press note issued by the Home Ministry today, strict action would be taken if these orders are not followed. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 02 March 2009
Caracas, Feb. 28 (ANI): Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said 82-year-old former Cuban leader Fidel Castro seemed to be in a “very, very good shape” during their latest meeting in Cuba.
“Fidel is – well – very, very, very good. Very good. He was much better than all the times I’ve visited him in the past three years, two and a half years,” the Telegraph quoted him, as saying.
Castro has not been seen in public since 2006 when he underwent intestinal surgery and ceded power to his younger brother Raul Castro. He was rumored last month to be in serious condition but the Cuban government insisted he is still active and working.
Chavez said he met Castro twice, once for three hours on February 20, and for more than four hours on February 21.
“Fidel surprised us all. He went for a walk. Fidel went out and they saw him. Fidel walking through Havana, through the streets. A miracle. The people were crying,” Chavez said.
Venezuela’s socialist leader had received four letters from Castro a day before.
“Of course he planned it all so there wouldn’t be any record of it or anything. There’s a photo that I’ve seen, and in that sense I feel humbly privileged,” Chavez said.
It wasn’t clear exactly when Castro took the walk.
During their meetings, Chavez and Castro discussed subjects including the world financial crisis and the new government of President Barack Obama, a Venezuelan statement said.
So far no images have been released of the meetings with Castro, whom Chavez views as an exemplary “father” for leftists across Latin America. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 02 March 2009
London, Feb.28 (ANI): The global recession, it seems, has taken the sting out of Twenty20 cricket, which not too long ago, was billed as the sport’s unstoppable runaway train.
According to The Sun, Twenty20 cricket is not going to die, but it is going to have its wings clipped. It may have to survive on its product as much as its rowdy bells and whistles.
The rebel Indian Cricket League has not paid its players for several months and has postponed a competition that was due to start next month.
The glamorous Indian Premier League, the officially sanctioned tournament which includes the likes of Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan and Shoaib Akhtar, is in no danger of folding but backers are now much more cautious than they were.
The high-priced, but bottom-of-the-table, Deccan Chargers have lost their major sponsor and attempts by the owners to sell the franchise have been unsuccessful.
Several other teams have also lost sponsors, with Cricinfo revealing an independent industry assessment of basic costs and expenses suggested most franchises have lost over six million dollars in their first year.
Australia had grand plans to join New Zealand and South Africa in a three-way Twenty20 league in 2011 but there is less talk about that project every week.
Competition organisers say there is still a queue of people, including the famous Tata Steel Corporation and Sahara Enterprises, who would snap up a franchise on Sunday – but the price may not be what it was. (ANI)
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