Monday, 14 May 2012

Bihar News, Latest News from Bihar, News of Bihar, Biharprabha News

Bihar News, Latest News from Bihar, News of Bihar, Biharprabha News

Tehelka Witness Mathew Samuel refuses to testify

Posted: 14 May 2012 02:08 PM PDT

Tehelka Sting Operation did suffer a major setback when one of the key witness refused to testify.
A journalist, who took part in a sting operation conducted by Tehelka to expose wrongdoings in arms deal, Monday refused to testify as a witness in a court here against two former officials of the defence ministry facing trial for graft.

Journalist Mathew Samuel said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had not reimbursed his travel and other allowances. He added that he would not depose in the case if he was not paid Rs.10,000 per day.

Samuel, a resident of Goa, conducted the sting for the web portal on former Bharatiya Janata Party president Bangaru Laxman and Samata Party leader Jaya Jaitley and other government officials to expose corruption in defence deals.

He told CBI Special Judge Manoj Jain that the probe agency had called him to Delhi for 25 days in the case against Laxman and others, and promised that it would pay his air fare.

“They have not paid even the Rs.200 daily expenses,” Mathew said.

The judge said: “After all, why should anyone pay from his pocket? But there are rules and procedures that have to be followed.”

The judge said that even he wanted to financially help Samuel but he could not do so as he was bound by the legal process.

The CBI sought time from the court to consider Mathew’s plea.

The court would July 12 take up the case for recording Samuel’s statement.

Samuel holds the key to the prosecution’s case against Hem Chand Pant and Narender Singh, former civilian officers in the defence ministry.

He appeared before the court Monday after a bailable warrant was issued against him.

Supreme Court rejects PIL against Sachin’s Rajya Sabha Nomination

Posted: 14 May 2012 11:05 AM PDT

Supreme Court has dismissed a petition which challenged the nomination of Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha.

An apex court bench headed by Justice Deepak Verma dismissed as withdrawn the petition by one Ram Gopal Singh Sisodia contending that Tendulkar’s nomination to the upper house of the Indian constitution was contrary to the provisions of the constitution.

The court asked the petitioner to move the appropriate high court to raise his contention.

The petitioner contended that the Article 80(3) of the constitution provides for nomination of eminent people from the field of literature, science, art and social services. He contended that there is no provision for the nomination of an individual to the Rajya Sabha from the sports category.

Tendulkar, who was also given the honorary rank of group captain in the Indian Air Force in 2010, was nominated by the government for a seat in the upper house of parliament April 26 alongside actress Rekha and industrialist Anu Aga.

Inflation in India soars to 7.23 percent in April

Posted: 14 May 2012 10:03 AM PDT

Country’s inflation has rose much faster-than-expected to 7.23 percent in April as compared to 6.89 percent in the previous month, mainly driven by a sharp increase in the prices of food items and manufactured products, government data showed.

The monthly inflation based on wholesale price index (WPI) was 9.74 percent during the corresponding month of previous year.

In the monthly report, the commerce and industry ministry revised upward February inflation figure to 7.36 percent as compared 6.95 percent reported earlier.

The monthly data showed that inflationary pressure continued in the system, limiting the room for further rate cut by the central bank.

Food inflation surged into double-digit. Food inflation rose to 10.49 percent in April as compared to 9.94 percent in the previous month as vegetables, pulses, milk, egg, meat and fish became costlier, pinching the pockets of common people.

Prices of vegetables surged by 60.97 percent year-on-year. Potato price more than doubled. Milk became costlier by 15.51 percent. Prices of egg, meat and fish rose by 17.54 percent. Pulses became costlier by 11.29 percent.

Price of manufactured products increased by 5.12 percent year-on-year, while price of fuel and power grew by 11.03 percent.

The recent data showed that India continued to face the problem of high inflationary pressure and low growth.

As per the data released by the Central Statistics Office last week, India’s industrial output shrank by 3.5 percent in March due to poor show of manufacturing and mining sectors. It was is the first contraction in the factory output since October 2011, when it shrank by 4.7 percent.

The factory output, measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), had registered a growth of 4.1 percent in February year-on-year.

Taking cues from the moderation in inflation, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its annual monetary policy for 2012-13, announced April 17, lowered the key policy rates by 0.50 percent for the first time in three years.

Government to install 10000 Solar Water Systems in Maoists Areas

Posted: 14 May 2012 08:58 AM PDT

Indian government is planning to install 10,000 solar-based water systems to supply drinking water to the rural communities in 78 Maoist-affected districts in the country, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said here Monday.

“We have just prepared a proposal for 10,000 solar based water systems for the supply of drinking water in the rural communities,” Ramesh informed reporters on the sidelines of a workshop “Towards Greening Rural Development Programmes in India: Lessons from International and National Experiences”.

While 200 such systems have already been set up in Gadiricholi districts in Maharashtra, the entire project would cost Rs.540 crore, Ramesh said.

“Increasing the use of water efficiency is one of the areas of convergence in rural development and sustainability. Through variety of interventions we can achieve this,” said Ramesh in his inaugural address at the workshop.

Ramesh said that rural development interventions offer root not just for improving the quantity but the quality in green cover.

He also pointed out the the convergence in rural development and sustainability can help increase the resilience of local communities to adapt the impact of climate change.

Sonam Kapoor to walk Red Carpet in Cannes

Posted: 14 May 2012 07:54 AM PDT

Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor will walk the red carpet at the 65th edition of the Cannes International Film Festival, which is starting May 16.

Sonam, brand ambassador of L’Oreal Paris, will represent the cosmetic giant at the fest for the second consecutive year, reports a statement.

“The Cannes film festival is the oldest and most prestigious film festival where the best in cinema gets showcased. I am excited to be at the closing ceremony where the best films will get awarded,” said Sonam.

The brand will complete 15 years as the official make-up partner for the fest this year and to celebrate the occasion, the 26-year-old will walk the red carpet at the closing ceremony May 27.

She would be joined by approximately 35 other representatives of L’Oreal Paris including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Freida Pinto, Eva Longoria, Jane Fonda and Bianca Balti.

Sunny Leone celebrates her Birthday on sets of JISM 2

Posted: 14 May 2012 05:52 AM PDT

Indo-Canadian porn star Sunny Leone rang in her 31st birthday on the sets of her first Bollywood movie “Jism 2″ in Sri Lanka.

“Happy Birthday Sunny! Sunny celebrates her birthday with the unit members in Sri Lanka,” producer Mahesh Bhatt posted on Twitter. Her birthday was on Sunday.

She cut a chocolate cake, which read “Happy Birthday Sunny”.

Sunny, whose real name is Karen Malhotra, came to India for “Bigg Boss 5″ last year. While she was a participant on the reality show, Bhatt offered her “Jism 2″, and she gave her nod to it.

“Jism 2″ is the sequel to 2003 film “Jism”, in which Bipasha Basu’s steamy scenes became the talk of the town.

Sunny will be seen with Randeep Hooda and Arunoday Singh. It is being helmed by Pooja Bhatt.

Aamir’s TV show Satyamev Jayate soaring high on TRP

Posted: 14 May 2012 05:31 AM PDT

Aamir Khan’s debut TV Show Satyamev Jayate has witnessed an immense Television Rating Point, (or TRP) ever since it went live. Although the actor claimed that he doesnot care about TRPs.

It has got a rating of 3.8 TVR in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai (on Star Plus), according to TAM data (given out by the channel), which places it higher than IPL 5 ratings (after first 16 matches) of 3.65 at the end of April.

Across Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, the average TVR of Satyamev Jayate stood at 2.9. The debut episode scored 5.9 TVR in Delhi, followed by Mumbai (with 3.1 TVR) and in Kolkata it touched 1.8 TVR.
On Star Pravah (Marathi) the show garnered 2.2 TVR, on Star Jalsha, (Bengali), the show had 0.52 TVR, on ETV Telugu, the show got 0.88 TVR, on Star Vijay (Tamil) it fetched 0.68 TVR. In Bangalore, where it was not dubbed in Kannada, Star Plus managed 1.3 TVR.

Satyamev Jayate reached out to 8.96 million people in the age group of 4+, as per TAM Media Research. In the 4+ market, the six-metro rating stood at 4.08 and the show reached out to 8.15 million people in C&S homes.

Aamir however says that “I don’t understand TRPs and GRPs. I have no idea how to calculate it! I don’t care about it. It is important to reach out to the Indian audiences. If viewers want to see, they will see or else it is up to them”

The Topic of Satyamev Jayate Episode 3

Posted: 14 May 2012 05:10 AM PDT

Many People are wondering what would be the topic of next Episode ie. Episode 3 of Aamir’s popular TV show Satyamev Jayate.

According to a newspaper, the third episode of Satyamev Jayate will be based on Fraud and Greedy groom (NRI’s included) who marry just keeping their economic interests in mind.

This further increases the practices of dowry. Many women in past have suffered, and many are suffering and many more are bound to suffer if this problem isn’t fixed.

This is a very strong topic which needs the attention of the masses and the government.

Efforts to include World’s largest riverian Island in World Heritage List

Posted: 14 May 2012 04:54 AM PDT

Assam is pressing to include World’s largest riverian Island at Majuli in the World Heritage Site list. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has appealed for coordinated efforts for it..

Mājuli had a total area of 1,250 square kilometres (483 sq mi), but having lost significantly to erosion it has an area of only 421.65 square kilometres (163 sq mi) in 2001.

“Majuli is the lifeline of Assamese culture and a pride of the state. Its distinct Sankari (Vaishnavite) religion and culture together with its unique geographical location has given Majuli a pride of place not only in the state but also outside,” Gogoi said.

“Every effort must be made to bring the unique riverine island and the seat of Vaishnavite culture to the centre stage by ensuring that it gets Unesco’s World Heritage Site tag this time,” said Gogoi while speaking at a seminar on “Majuli’s Cultural Landscape – Heritage Value – Future” held here.

Assam has been vying for enlisting the river island as a heritage site since 2004 but losing out either due to lack of technical details in the dossier or non-compliance of Unesco’s set rules.

The seminar was organised by the Majuli Cultural Landscape Management Authority (MCLMA) to discuss with various stakeholders the preparation of a fresh dossier to be submitted to the World Heritage Committee of the Unesco for the much coveted tag.

The MCLMA, this time, has engaged renowned conservationist and architect G.S.V.S. Murthy to prepare a fault free dossier.

Gogoi stressed that the resource persons must see to it that the conditions as laid out by the World Heritage Committee for getting the World Heritage tag are fulfilled this time.

“It’s not so easy a task to get the World Heritage Site tag as there will be stiff competition from different countries, who would equally vie for getting the honour. Every effort must be put in by the resource persons and the satradhikars (heads of the Vaishnavite monasteries) to fulfill the criteria to get the World Heritage tag this time,” he said.

Gogoi also appreciated the good work of the experts and resource persons who prepared the dossier all these years, and said that the government may send resource persons for a face-to-face interaction with the members of the World Heritage Committee so that Majuli’s case can be presented in proper perspective.

Gogoi also appealed to the people in the river island to keep intact its unique eco-system and bio-diversity and said this would help Majuli in achieving the much coveted Unesco tag.

NRI Professor donates his Prize money worth 1 Crore

Posted: 14 May 2012 03:34 AM PDT

A professor of Indian origin, Kamal Bawa has donated the Prize Money received after winning Gunnerus Sustainability Award from the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and letters (DKNVS).

Bawa, distinguished professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and the 2012 winner of the Prize gifted the prize money of one million Norwegian Kronor (about Rs. 1 Crore ) to the Bangalore-based Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), a research institution in the areas of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Bawa is its founder and president.

The Gunnerus Sustainability Award is given for outstanding scientific work that promotes sustainable development globally, and the first award was given to Bawa for his work on biodiversity in Central America, the Western Ghats in India and the Himalayas.

At the acceptance ceremony in February, Bawa said it was unfortunate that almost all money in international assistance goes to projects rather than to strengthening institutions.

Standing by his belief that “it is institutions that transform societies”, Bawa donated the award money to ATREE.

“The gift is a fine example of philanthropy at its best. It also endorses Bawa’s commitment to a better world, and to ATREE,” said Pheroza Godrej, a member of the governing board of ATREE.

ATREE director Gladwin Joseph said: “The gift will help ATREE address important environmental challenges. ATREE was recently ranked No.9 globally, and No.1 in Asia among environmental think tanks.”

Bawa was recently elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences for his contribution to public discourse and public policy surrounding sustainability.
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