|
|
|
|
|
|
Breaking News
|
|
SC RAP: GOVT TO ALLOT 2.5 MT FOODGRAINS FOR BPL FAMILIES
PPSC NEED NOT GIVE INFO UNDER RTI, RULES SC
ICC CHARGES THREE PAKISTAN PLAYERS UNDER ITS CORRUPTION CODE
PAY ACCIDENT VICTIM FOR FUTURE LOSS OF INCOME: SC
FOUR INDIAN WRESTLERS FAIL DOPE TESTS, MISS CWG
IF KPS GILL CAN GET PENSION, WHY CAN'T I: RATHORE
|
|
|
Punjab News
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
New Delhi September 3:
Setting aside a Punjab and Haryana High Court verdict, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) need not allow candidates to have unrestricted access to examination records under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
A three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia passed the order yesterday on petitions filed by PPSC and its former member Jaspinder Singh Jakhar, challenging the March 29, 2006 HC order. The HC had directed the PPSC to provide information to a candidate who contended that he had stood first in the 1993 examination for the post of Punjab Civil Service (PCS) Executive after the written test and interview.
However, the results were subsequently fudged due to his father’s political affiliation and under pressure from then Chief Minister it was alleged. He had sought the court’s permission to inspect the original records of the written exam and the interview to check whether the marks had been corrected/overwritten before being fed into the computer.
The candidate contended that he had come to know of the bungling from none other than Jakhar, who was on the interview board, after he had ceased to be its member. The apex court Bench, which included Justices KS Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar, allowed the special leave petitions filed by the PPSC and Jhakar, represented by counsel Shyam Dewan and Bimal Roy Jad.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
Chandigarh September 3:
In a first, inter-religion live-in partners have got security from the Punjab and Haryana High Court after religious heads refused to solemnize their marriage unless they converted to one religion.
That left them with the only option of marrying under the Special Marriage Act, which requires their parents to be informed. This has posed danger to their lives as their families are opposed to their marriage. Jagroop Ali and Kulwant Kaur of Moga district in Punjab sought protection from the high court.
The couple, who decided to settle into a live-in relationship after refusing to convert, was granted legal protection from the girl's enraged parents. Kulwant, who belongs to Jat Sikh community, and Jagroop Ali left their village on June 22 because Kulwant's parents were unwilling to allow their marriage.
Both of them approached gurdwaras and mosques to solemnize their marriage, but both refused as they belonged to different religions. Kulwant and Ali then pledged to live together for life. Apprehending threat from Kulwant's family, the couple moved a petition before the high court on Wednesday. Hearing the couple's plight, Justice Daya Chaudhary asked the SSP, Moga and other respondents to ensure their life and liberty.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
Chandigarh September 3:
Hell hath no fury like Punjab Mahila Congress leaders scorned. And the women are not going to sit back and lick their wounds.
In fact they plan to take their grievance to the very top -- to party President Sonia Gandhi. Their gripe - Punjab Congress leaders have divided the women quota among themselves by nominating their wives or relatives as delegates of the Punjab Pradesh Congress.
The 234-member Pradesh Congress list has left the Mahila Congress members aghast. Expecting a fair representation with 25 per cent quota being given to women delegates for the first time in the state, they now face the prospect of having been upstaged by their male colleagues yet again.
State Mahila Congress chief Ratna while talking to reporters said “even my district Presidents have been ignored in favour of nominating wives of legislators and senior party members”. Ratna said she even facilitated meetings of active women workers with Pradesh Returning Officer (PRO) Usha Thakkar but to no avail. She said the present list of women delegates besides giving representation to relatives of political leaders, also consisted of women who no one had heard of till now.
Mahila district Congress presidents are a dejected lot. Amritsar city President Preeti said she had been working for the party for 15 years. “If senior leaders of the party are to indulge in ‘parivarvaad’ only, what is the use of working in the field,” she said. Preeti said she and other district Congress presidents had decided to approach Sonia Gandhi.
Amritsar (rural) chief Shivinder Kaur Boparai said she and a few others were even asked for their photographs only to find unknown women nominated as delegates yesterday. Shivinde said the Congress high command should now get party work done from the wives of legislators who do not even step out of their homes during electioneering. Gurdaspur district President Tripta Thakur said she was running two NGOs and had even contributed to the part membership drive. “We were confident that we would be nominated due to our work,” she said.
Among those who have got in their wives include Raja Sansi legislator Sukh Sarkaria, Dera Baba Nanak legislator Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Mohali legislator Balbir Singh Sidhu and Nihalsinghwala legislator Ajit Singh Shant. Quila Raipur legislator Jassi Khangura has been able to win a nomination for his mother, Gurdial Kaur Khangura. Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa’s wife Charanjt Kaur and former MP Shamsher Singh Dullo’s wife, Harbans Kaur, have also been nominated. The latter two are, however, active politically.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
Firozpur September 3:
Punjab Police baton-charged scores of sugar mill workers, who had gathered here to stage a demonstration against non-payment of wages for two years during a function presided over by State Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal.
Badal assured them that their demands would be looked into with some seriousness, and said the issue could have been resolved in a peaceful manner. "It should be their moral responsibility not to create ruckus during a function and it is not good. We had a word with them and assured them that we will do something about it. But they still disturbed the function," said Badal.
The Chief Minister later defended himself saying that he had not ordered the baton-charge against the sugar mill owners. "I did not order the baton-charge, but the police personnel did that to control the mob. There was no need of using such an extreme action. I requested them to come and talk to me. They should sit with me and talk. Three or four people should have come to me and talk, then only 90 percent things will be solved," he added. The workers were rendered jobless after the sugar mills closed down almost 30 months ago.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
Chandigarh September 3:
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s decision to evaluate the performance of all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) across the State has not gone down well with them.
They feel that such decision would be apt only if they are given ‘freedom to perform’ in a proper manner. Recently, Sukhbir Badal announced that Punjab Government would do a performance rating of all 20 Deputy Commissioners to monitor their performance and effectiveness.
Such performance rating is already a part of the State police administration since June 2007, under which the performance of all district police chiefs—Senior Superintendent of Police (SSPs)—was evaluated every month by the State Director General of Police (DGP). And as per Government officials, it’s improving results.
Contrarily, Deputy Commissioners are not a happy lot. Ruing over the State’s ‘uncooperative’ attitude, one of the Deputy Commissioners, requesting anonymity, told The Pioneer, “Evaluating the performance is fine. But they should implement this decision only when they are ready to give us full freedom to perform.”
“We are putting to test by them. The Government doesn’t cooperate fully with us. Funds are not made available to us. Only few districts are given priority and development is taking place there. We do not have any problem to pass through such test, but only if given freedom and support,” argued another DC, who does not wish to be named.
Even few DCs feel sorry about not giving them proper authority to make policy decisions, while few expressed no resistance with the decision. “We welcome the decision. We do not have any problem with that. We are authorised to take decisions which we can take at our level. Also, funds are no issue with us,” said Amritsar Deputy Commissioner KS Pannu.
Not finding any fault with the Government’s decision regarding assessing DC’s performance, Punjab State IAS Officers Association (PSIOA) president Sarvesh Kaushal told reporters, “The Government has every right to evaluate the performance of its officers in a fair and objective manner. Annual performance appraisal is a fairly standardised exercise which already exists. In case, the appraisal has to be made on monthly or quarterly or on the basis of any periodicity, it is the Government’s prerogative.”
“The appraisal is always made in the context of the challenges that he faces in terms of financial constraints, manpower deficiency and for that matter any other such issue that may be specific to a particular department or office,” added Kaushal. Regarding the evaluation process, Sukhbir Badal has already asked the State Chief Secretary SC Aggarwal to develop a performa to monitor the performance and effectiveness of all Deputy Commissioners on the pattern of senior superintendents of police and rate their performance every quarter.
The rating of the district administration chiefs will be done on the basis of their overall performance in various fields, including implementation of Government schemes and policies, ensuring proper procurement of wheat and paddy crops and other development measures initiated by them in their districts.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
more...
|
|
|
India News
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
New Delhi September 3:
If a person suffers permanent disability in an accident caused by a vehicle, the compensation due to him should be computed taking into account not only the victim's present earnings but also future loss of income, Supreme Court has ruled.
The SC distinguished between claim for damages and compensation and said damages were given for an injury whereas compensation stood on a slightly higher footing. While damages were given for atonement of injury caused, the intention behind compensation was to put back the injured party as far as possible in the same position as if the injury has not taken place, by way of grant of pecuniary relief, it said.
The case before a Bench comprising Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly was of a painter, Yadava Kumar, who in a road accident in Karnataka suffered 30-40% permanent disability preventing him from resuming his profession or even taking up manual labour. The high court had granted him a compensation of Rs 72,000 rejecting his plea to consider the future loss of income as he could no longer do painting jobs. The SC took serious view of this incompassionate approach of the HC.
Justice Ganguly, writing the judgment for the Bench, said, "In this case, the approach of the HC in totally refusing to grant any compensation for loss of future earnings is not a correct one." While ordering National Insurance Company to pay Kumar Rs 2 lakh, which was computed by the SC after taking into account future loss of earnings, Justice Ganguly said, "In the determination of the quantum of compensation, the court must be liberal and not niggardly in as much as in a free country, law must value life and limb on a generous scale."
It added, "It goes without saying that in matters of determination of compensation, both the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and the courts are statutorily charged with a responsibility of fixing 'just compensation'. It is obviously true that determination of a just compensation cannot be equated to a bonanza. At the same time, the concept of 'just compensation' obviously suggests application of fair and equitable principles and a reasonable approach on the part of the tribunals and courts."
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
New Delhi September 3:
Acting on the directive of the Supreme Court, government today decided to release an extra 2.5 million tonnes of foodgrains to states for distribution among the poor but it will not not be free.
"As an interim ad-hoc measure, pending a final decision on the issue, the government is releasing an additional quantity of 2.5 million tonnes of wheat and rice to the states at a BPL price for next six months," Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told reporters after a meeting of an Empowered Group of Ministers.
The meeting of the EGoM headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee came two days after the Supreme Court slammed Pawar for calling the court's Aug 12 on the issue as a suggestion.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
Amethi September 3:
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi launched 3G-services in his parliamentary constituency, noting that telecommunication services play an important role in development as they can bridge the rich-poor and the rural-urban divide, party officials said.
Gandhi was accompanied by telecom expert Sam Pitroda. "Rahulji, who this (Thursday) evening launched 3G services in Gauriganj said if telecommunication services are made available to the poor than they would get a link to get connected with other sections of the society, which in turn will provide them with several opportunities in different fields," Congress spokesperson Akhilesh Pratap Singh told reporters.
"While launching the BSNL's 3G services, Rahulji called upon the telecom officials to focus more on expanding the telecom network in rural parts of the country so that villagers are equally benefited like their urban counterparts," he added. Pitroda called upon the BSNL officials to gear up in order to face the challenges from the private mobile phone and telecom operators.
"Pitroda said that a lot has to be done for improving the services of BSNL... According to him, the quality of the services being offered by BSNL at present cannot be rated as satisfactory," said Singh. Gandhi reached Amethi, his parliamentary constituency, Wednesday for a three-day visit. He left for New Delhi for a few hours Thursday to meet his mother and party president Sonia Gandhi. According to party officials, Gandhi participated in a Roza-Iftar party and met youth activists of the Congress party. Amethi is about 120 km from Lucknow
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
New Delhi September 2:
Union Home Secretary G K Pillai on Thursday said the Bihar Government is trying its best to secure the release of the four policemen kidnapped by Maoists from Lakhisarai District.
Talking to reporters here, Pillai said: "The state government has been making all efforts to secure the release of the police personnel who have been taken hostage and we are hopeful that there would be an outcome to the negotiations." "The state government is now negotiating with the Maoists and, therefore, we are extending full cooperation. We hope that there would be a successful outcome," he added.
According to sources, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was also monitoring the progress of the operation with the CRPF. Meanwhile, several political parties and organisations, besides the relatives have appealed to the ultras to ensure the unconditional release of the policemen. The deadline set by Maoists for the release of their jailed comrades in exchange for kidnapped cops ends today.
The Naxals have threatened to kill the cops if their demands are not met. They want their jailed colleagues to be released and security forces withdrawn from Naxal areas. The four policemen - Mohammad Ehsaan, Rupesh Kumar Sinha, Abhay Prasad Yadav, Lokus Tete- were taken hostage on Sunday, during an encounter in the forests of Lakhisarai. Seven other policemen were killed and eleven others were injured.
The encounter began on Sunday evening when over 150 armed Maoists attacked search teams of the Bihar police that were combing the area after intelligence reports of Maoists'''' presence in the forest.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
New Delhi September 2:
A Bill passed by Parliament giving equal right to women with regard to guardianship and adoption of children has got assent of President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.
''The President has assented to the Personal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2010 on August 31, 2010 and it is published in the Gazette of India as Act 30 of 2010 on September 1, 2010,'' said an official statement. The Act, cleared during the recently-concluded monsoon session of Parliament, has amended the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 and the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 to free both laws from gender bias.
Under the new law, a mother can now also become a legal guardian of a child like the father and courts of law need not appoint any other person as a guardian of minor if either of the parents is fit for the purpose. Previously only the father was considered to be natural guardian of a child in a Hindu family for adoption and guardianship and only unmarried, divorced women and widows were allowed to adopt a child.
Now a mother with the consent of father and vice versa will also have equal rights to give in adoption of their children. Earlier, a married woman could not adopt a son or daughter merely on the basis of her marital status.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
more...
|
|
|
Sports News
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
New Delhi September 3:
Four wrestlers were axed from the Indian squad for failing dope tests barely a month before the Commonwealth Games begin there.
They have been provisionally suspended after Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) received a report from the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), WFI President GS Mander said in a statement.
“The ... wrestlers from the Commonwealth Games team have tested positive for methylhexaneamine, as per the report received from NADA,” Mander said. Three freestyle wrestlers -- Sumit (74 Kg), Masuam Khatri (96 Kg), Rajiv Tomar (120 Kg) -- and female grappler Gursharanpreet Kaur (72 Kg) tested positive for the substance which is also used as nasal decongestant.
Narsingh Pancham Yadav (74 Kg), Anil Mann (96 Kg), Praveen (120 Kg) and Anshu Tomar (72 Kg) were named as replacements after the emergency meeting of WFI’s selection committee. In January, four Indian wrestlers training for the Oct. 3-14 Commonwealth Games were asked to leave camp after testing positive for a banned substance. Doping has been a recurring problem in India with weightlifting producing the highest number of offenders.
In fact, participation of the Indian lifters in the Commonwealth Games was uncertain as the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) struggled to pay the fine they had incurred. After six lifters failed drugs tests last year, IWF was fined $500,000 by the international body, which threatened to ban the federation if the amount was not cleared in full by August.
The IWF paid $125,000 from its funds and borrowed the rest as an interest-free loan from the Games organisers to clear the way for the lifters’ participation in the first Commonwealth Games in India.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
Melbourne September 3:
The world should not be worried about Indian organisers' race against time to complete venues for the Commonwealth Games as delays are part of Indian way of preparations, Australia's Commonwealth Games chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said.
The overlays work is yet to complete at many venues as heavy monsoon rains played havoc with the work, pushing back the deadlines further. But Moneghetti was full of optimism, saying there will be a unique spin to it and everything will be in order soon. Probably from a western culture they might be, but in India that is way they do things.”
"They're actually going fine from an Indian perspective, it's just internationally that we're all worried. It will have a quite unique spin on it and that will make it a really cultural experience," Moneghetti said. Moneghetti, a former Commonwealth Games champion marathon runner, urged the Australia CWG Association to embrace the multi-sports event scheduled for October 3-14.
"I think it's brave of the Commonwealth Games -- you have got to go. It's the Commonwealth Games, it's not four nations. There are 71 countries represented in the Commonwealth and we need to embrace that," he said. "People ask me 'oh, they're way behind' -- that's the Indian way. Moneghetti said athletes should travel to India without any fear and enjoy there.
"For most countries that go, it's not about winning medals, it's about being a welcome part of the Commonwealth and enjoying that cultural experience.” "So to have them in India, it's just fantastic. Rather than close in or be scared and that 'we're losing the Commonwealth brand,' we are actually taking it out and exposing it to another part of the world, which is a fantastic thing,"
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
New Delhi September 3:
Wrestler Sushil Kumar unveiled an exclusive range of apparel and promotional merchandise for the 2010 Commonwealth Games here.
Kumar, who was the chief guest on the occasion, launched the range of designer apparel and custom-made items to make the Games more alluring and appealing. Commonwealth Games Treasurer, A.K. Mattoo said that the merchandise would go a long way in attracting the public to the sporting extravaganza. "There are 29 items which would be on display immediately. These are mostly sportswear, T-shirts, mugs, posters etc. The price range we have ensured that the merchandise is in the range of Rs. 25 and Rs 300. That is the end," said Mattoo.
Kumar, who won a wrestling medal at the Beijing Olympics, appealed to citizens to make the Games a grand success. "As a sportsman, I would like to say that hosting the Commonwealth Games is an opportunity that is given only to a few fortunate nations. I appeal to all of you to give your best in making the event a grand success," said Kumar.
"For the 15-20 days when the Games would be on, please do come forward and make them successful. It is a matter of prestige for India," he added. The 2010 Commonwealth Games, which kicks off on October 3, is India's biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games. India is expecting about two million tourists in New Delhi for the Games, as well as about 10,000 athletes from 71 teams representing 54 Commonwealth member states.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
New Delhi September 3:
Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal slipped one place from her career-best position of world number two to the third place in the latest international rankings release.
The 20-year-old Saina had made a meteoric rise following her back-to-back title triumphs at the India Open Grand Prix, Singapore Open Super Series and Indonesian Open Super Series to reach the world number two spot. But a quarterfinal finish at the recently-concluded World badminton Championship in Paris left her one place down the rung at the third position.
Saina has 64791.2637 points, while Xin Wang of China rose to the second spot after finishing second in the World Championship in women's singles. Compatriot Yihan Wang is still the number one in the ranking. In March, Saina had attained the fifth position after becoming the first Indian woman to reach the semifinals of the prestigious All England Super Series Championships.
However, she dropped to the sixth position in the subsequent weeks. Saina's next engagement will be the all-important Commonwealth Games in Delhi from October 3 to 14, before playing the Asian Games in November. In the men's ranking, the Indian trio of Chetan Anand, P Kashyap and Arvind Bhatt were at 17th, 29th and 31th spot respectively, while mixed doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and V Diju were at the 13th place.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
New York September 2:
India's Sania Mirza failed to get the measure of Russian teenager Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, losing 2-6, 4-6 in the second round of the US Open here.
With Sania's loss, India's challenge in the singles is over, with Somdev Devvarman already crashing out of the first round against South Africa's Kevin Anderson in the men's event. Sania was outplayed in the first set by the 20th-seeded Russian. She fought back in the second and was tied 4-4 before she dropped her serve.
Pavlyuchenkova showed nerves in closing the match and even faced a break point but recovered in time to convert her second match point. This is first time the Russian has entered the third round at Flushing Meadows. Sania's best performance here came in 2005 when she reached the fourth round. The 23-year old, now ranked a lowly 160 from a high of 27, came through three qualifying rounds to enter the main draw.
It was the first time since 2005 the Indian had to play in a Grand Slam qualifying round. Her recurring wrist injury sidelined her early in the year and she since has been struggling to strike form. Sania had lost in the first round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
more...
|
|
|
Cricket Special
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
London September 3:
International Cricket Council (ICC) night charged three tainted Pakistan players under its anti-corruption code in the wake of the match-fixing scandal that has stunned cricket world.
A statement issued by the ICC confirmed that Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have been charged with “various offences under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Players and Player Support Personnel relating to alleged irregular behaviour during, and in relation to, the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s last month”, the Cricinfo reported.
It said the trio have been officially notified of the offences they are alleged to have committed and have been provisionally suspended pending a decision on those charges. In accordance with the provisions of the code, this means they are immediately barred from participating in all cricket and related activities until the case has been concluded.
“The players have a right to contest this provisional suspension and a further opportunity to defend these charges at a full hearing before an independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal in accordance with Article 5 of the code. The players have 14 days from their receipt of the charge sheet to indicate their desire for a hearing,” the statement said. “We will not tolerate corruption in cricket,” ICC’s Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said, adding that “we must be decisive with such matters and if proven, these offences carry serious penalties up to a life ban.”
“The ICC will do everything possible to keep such conduct out of the game and we will stop at nothing to protect the sport’s integrity. While we believe the problem is not widespread, we must always be vigilant. “It is important, however, that we do not pre-judge the guilt of these three players. That is for the independent tribunal alone to decide,” he said. The alleged offences against Pakistani players, if proved, would involve the imposition of a ban on them. There is also a possibility, at the discretion of the independent tribunal, that a fine would be imposed in addition to a ban.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
Mumbai September 3:
The Governing Council of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is to meet here on September 5 and is expected to take a decision on the match schedule for the expanded 2011 season, involving 10 franchise.
"The IPL Governing Council is meeting on Sunday at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. The draft schedule for the 2011 season is to be finalised at the meeting, including number of matches," BCCI sources told reporters. "The meeting will also finalise player regulations, approve player contracts and registration of player contracts," they added.
The previous meeting on August 20 could not complete this process as the entire time was taken up in discussing the accounts for the 2009-10 season. No proposal was tabled at that meeting about the number of matches in IPL-IV, involving two additional teams - Sahara Warriors of Pune and Kochi.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
Kolkata September 3:
Former India captain Kapil Dev urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to act quickly on "spot fixing" scam in London and clear doubts before further damage was done to Pakistan cricket.
"I'm very sad for Pakistan cricket. I'm very sad for the Pakistani cricketers. They have given the world some wonderful cricket. "They have produced wonderful cricketers. I urge upon the ICC to investigate the matter and if players are found guilty punish them severely," Kapil Dev said in reference to the three tainted Pakistani players- Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.
Captain Butt and two pace bowlers Asif and Amir have been allegedly involved in "spot fixing" scam in the last Test against England at Lord's. Earlier during the day, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had dropped the trio from the T20 matches in England. "There will always be bad people, may be 2 per cent. But the remaining 98 per cent are good people involved in the wonderful game of cricket," the 51-year-old cricketing great, who gave India the World Cup in 1983, said.
Kapil Dev also urged former Pakistan captain turned politician Imran Khan to take up responsibility and hold the reigns of that country's cricket as Pakistan has given the world the finest cricketers, who elevated the game tremendously. "Imran Khan was the finest captain and cricketer I have ever seen in the game," Kapil Dev, who was here to inaugurate a chess tournament at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, said.
"Why do you give so much coverage to bad things when the majority in cricket are good people," he said and lambasted trial by the media on three tainted players. "Only the ICC has the real authority to judge and if the players are found guilty punish them so that no wrong message goes to the younger people," Kapil Dev said.
"Barring the ICC no one should judge whether the players were wrong or right as trial by others would only damage the game", Kapil Dev, who was also dragged unsuccessfully in match fixing, said. "I want all positive things of life. And cricket has given me everything. So I want all positive things about cricket," he said.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
London September 3:
Pakistan High Commissioner Wajad S Hasan said that the country will defend its three cricketers accused of the no-ball conspiracy as they maintain they are 'innocent'.
Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir were questioned on Thursday at the High Commission by members of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Hasan read out a statement saying the men maintained their innocence but had requested their own removal from the remaining matches because of the "mental torture" they had faced.
"They will not run away from England and will stay in the country for as long as they're needed for questioning," he said. "I believe in their innocence. Because they have not been proven guilty. The players are extremely disturbed with what has happened in the past week".
The Pakistani team manager, Yawar Saeed, said earlier that the players would miss all remaining matches of the tour. Replacements will be called up for the five-match one-day series against England but not for the two Twenty20 matches. The players' removal from the squad will come as a relief for the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), who will be hoping the move takes the heat off the rest of the tour and stems any protests by fans.
Giles Clarke, ECB chairman and chairman of the ICC's Pakistan taskforce, welcomed the announcement that the players would play no further part and said he hoped the remaining matches would be played in a "competitive spirit". "I look forward to working with Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, and Ijaz Butt, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, and everyone involved in Pakistani cricket in taking forward cricket in Pakistan so that a proper plan exists for the whole of Pakistani cricket," he said.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
Kolkata September 3:
Sourav Ganguly said he had never been approached by any bookie during his stint as Indian captain, even as the world cricket is rocked by 'spot-fixing' involving Pakistani cricketers.
"Three former India captains -- Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble -- too were never approached and such a situation was beyond their imagination," Ganguly told a media. Urging the cricketers to be responsible, Ganguly said the International Cricket Council (ICC) was not a policing body and could not have a constant watch on the players.
"ICC is not a police station, it has some set of laws. If those are violated, they will take action. Nothing is foolproof," the 38-year-old said. Referring to the 'spot-fixing' scam, Ganguly said "In our playing days, we could hardly believe such a thing. During my captaincy, betting issue used to figure in the discussions with Tendulkar, Dravid, Kumble and me. But nobody could dare approach us.
"May be they (the bookies) judge players by their characters before making the move. I can never in my life believe that this may happen. The captain and his boys have a role to play, they must act responsibly," Ganguly said. He further said those found guilty in the spot-fixing' scandal should be "heavily punished".
Without naming the accused -- Pakistan Test skipper Salman Butt and pacer duo of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer -- the left-hander said," we should wait for the outcome." "The guilty should be heavily punished. These are all allegations, there is no proof yet. We should not make comments," he said. "Not just Pakistan is involved. I hear players from Australia and Bangladesh have been approached.
It boils down to the players, it's their as well as captain's responsibility. They are playing as an individual, they should take responsibility," Ganguly said. Pakistan's Test skipper Butt and pacers Asif and Aamer are facing a Scotland Yard investigation over their alleged involvement in a betting scam "exposed" by a British tabloid's sting operation.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
more...
|
|
|
Business News
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
New Delhi September 3:
Pakistan's rice exports, a major source of revenue to the government, is estimated to decline by nearly 40 per cent in 2010-11 to 2.3 million tonnes due to the floods in the country that has badly hit the crop, the US Department of Agriculture said in a report.
"Although rice is not a staple commodity in the Pakistani diet, it is a major source of revenue for the country. Rice is Pakistan's second largest export and the reduction in rice exports is expected to have implications for Pakistan's balance of payments," the USDA pointed out.
In 2009, Pakistan's rice exports totalled an estimated USD 2 billion. Typically, Pakistan exports 50 to 60 per cent of its rice production (2.8 to 3.8 million tonnes).
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
New Delhi September 3:
The Reserve Bank has allowed banks to restructure the debt of the cash-strapped aviation sector to help the beleaguered industry come out of financial turmoil, sources said today.
The RBI has sent a communication to the banks with regard to debt restructuring for airlines, banking sources said. "The RBI has allowed banks to restructure loans. We will look at the viability of aviation companies," a senior official of Bank of India told reporters.
Bank of India has an exposure of around Rs 4,000 crore to 4-5 companies in the aviation sector. Interestingly, debt restructuring of the aviation sector comes at a time when non-performing assets of public sector banks rose due to loan recasts of certain sectors like textiles, which faced a tough time due to the global financial meltdown.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
London September 3:
As Britain's housing market continues its downward spiral due to recession, London's biggest builders are targeting cash-rich investors from India and other emerging economies to stay afloat.
A pad in London is avidly sought by upwardly mobile Indian and other foreign entrepreneurs who see the city as a safe and attractive destination. Property dealers in London have reported sales to several foreign investors, including Indians. A weak pound sterling has added to the attraction of buying houses in Britain.
Housing industry sources say foreign buyers bought more than half of the London homes that sold for more than 2 million pounds each last year. The snapping up of houses in London by cash-rich foreign investors has sparked some concern that prices will remain artificially inflated, which will make it difficult for local British buyers to enter the market.
London is said to be particularly attractive to the global super-rich because of its accessibility, stability, safety and the global standing of its financial institutions. It's seen as a magnet to the world's billionaires. Berkeley Group, London's largest volume house-builder, said of the 2,000 homes it sold last year at an average price of 263,000 pounds more than 30 per cent were to buyers in China and India.
This compares with a historic average of 10 per cent. Rob Perrins, chief executive of Berkeley, told reporters: "The demand from sophisticated investors, who want to get money offshore and into a stable investment, or want a place for their children to live in when they come here for university, has no match in the domestic market."
Another builder, Barratt Developments, is reportedly planning to sell a third of the 750 homes it will build in London this year to Asian buyers, compared with about 5 per cent in a normal market. London is already home to 23 billionaires, 11 of them of foreign origin.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
Mumbai September 2:
The BSE benchmark Sensex closed with a minor gain of over 32 points on Thursday as investors refrained from buying riskier assets ahead of the release of key economic data by the US.
Gaining strength from an overnight rally on Wall Street and supported by firm Asian bourses, the markets started the day on a strong note, but were unable to maintain the gains as investors booked profit after every rise, brokers said. The 30-share barometer of the Bombay Stock Exchange ended higher by 32.44 points, or 0.18 per cent, at 18,238.31. During the session, the index jumped about 150 points to hit a high of 18,355.84.
The National Stock Exchange's wide-based 50-share Nifty index finished at 5,486.15, up 0.26 per cent. "Investors don't want to miss a single opportunity to book profit and market is trading in a broader range. In early hour, global cues were in favor, but as the session passed, sentiment was subdued and market ended almost flat," Ashika Stock Brokers Research Head Paras Bothra said.
Analysts said investors were cautio us ahead of the release of key economic data by the US. Jobless claims, non- farm productivity and home sales data are due from the world's largest economy. Buoyed by a 51 per cent rise in cement sales during August, Jaiprakash Associates climbed 4.32 per cent and was the best performer in the Sensex pack. Consumer durables, FMCG, banking and auto stocks were in demand, while IT, technology and energy stocks were among the worst hit.
HDFC rose 1.5 per cent, HDFC Bank 1.46 per cent and ICICI Bank 0.83 per cent. Tata Power moved up 1.67 per cent, ITC 1.2 per cent and HUL 0.86 per cent. Reliance Industries, which holds the maximum weight in the Sensex, ended 0.07 per cent higher at Rs 937.15. The sentiment on Dalal Street was also upbeat after Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said overall direct taxes growth so far in the current fiscal is "satisfactory".
April-July direct tax revenue grew by 15.75 per cent in comparison to the year-ago period. While corporate tax revenue was up 20.9 per cent, personal income tax revenue rose by 8.51 per cent during the period. Higher tax collections fuel speculation that earnings may rise, an analyst said. Sterlite advanced 2.59 per cent as global copper prices rebounded, while L&T gained 0.49 per cent.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
New Delhi September 2:
Making a case for freeing the sugar sector from government controls, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today met the Prime Minister to apprise him about the proposed move to give freedom to mills for sale of the sweetener.
At present, the government controls the sugar industry by fixing the quantity of the sweetener that mills would sell in the open market as well as through ration shops each month.
With expectations of bumper production from next season starting October, the Ministry is planning to decontrol the sector. According to sources, Pawar made a presentation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the way the Food Ministry is planning to ease controls on the sugar industry.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
more...
|
|
|
Health News
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
Bangalore September 3:
A hospital in cooperation with a research group here, has conceptualised and launched a health service that uses mobile phones to detect cancer.
The Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre (MSCC) of the Narayana Hrudayalaya, a well-known hospital along with the SANA (a research group at Harvard/MIT), has launched the 'mhealth' that uses mobile phone to detect cancer.
The Head of Department (HOD) of Cancer in the Narayan Hriduyalya, Dr. Moni Abraham, said that usually patients visit specialists with stage four of cancer that is expensive to treat. However, if cancer is detected early, it can be treated properly and economically, he said.
"By sitting in the building like a major cancer centre we get a lot of patients but they have very advance stage. So, we realise that we have to reach out to people; so that is the basic motive we go out to the people and try to pick up the cancer at its early stage. So, we can provide basic help to the patient.... The cost of treatment, the benefit of treatment will be significant ... than stage four disease," said Dr. Moni Abraham.
The technology that the SANA software has developed includes certain automated questionnaires, which are directed to the patient by a trained health worker. If most of the questionnaires are answered in the affirmative, the health worker will then take high quality lesion picture using the phone camera. After clicking the picture, the entire data is uploaded on the server for the specialists to take a look and analyse the case.
"This picture can be taken by the mobile phone camera and with the optics of the recent camera the quality of picture is fairly good. So, all most like an expert going to the community and seeing the patient ourselves, so, they (health workers) take a picture then completing all the constituents and taking picture they press a button and with the button they can transfer the entire details through internet," said Dr. Moni Abraham.
It takes only two minute for a cancer specialist to decide whether the person in question is affected with cancer. Dr. Abraham said: The next development will be that the software will be given to telephone vendors to be uploaded in their phones.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
Washington September 3:
The fat tissue in those spare tires and lower belly pooches - is not just a dormant storage depot for surplus calories, but is an active organ that sends chemical signals to other parts of the body, perhaps increasing the risk of heart attacks, cancer, and other diseases, according to scientists.
They have discovered 20 new hormones and other substances not previously known to be secreted into the blood by human fat cells and verification that fat secretes dozens of hormones and other chemical messengers. Anja Rosenow and colleagues note that excess body fat can contribute to heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other diseases.
Many people once thought that fat cells were inert storage depots for surplus calories. But studies have established that fat cells can secrete certain hormones and other substances much like other organs in the body. Among those hormones is leptin, which controls appetite, and adiponectin, which makes the body more sensitive to insulin and controls blood sugar levels. However, little is known about most of the proteins produced by the billions of fat cells in the adult body.
The scientists identified 80 different proteins produced by the fat cells. These include six new proteins and 20 proteins that have not been previously detected in human fat cells. The findings could pave the way for a better understanding of the role that hormone-secreting fat cells play in heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases. The study appears in ACS’ monthly Journal of Proteome Research.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
New Delhi September 1:
Eating a high-fat diet during puberty is associated with a greater risk of breast cancer later in life, according to a preliminary research.
The findings come from research at Michigan State University's Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Center. Physiology professor Sandra Haslam, director of the center, and Richard Schwartz, microbiology professor and associate dean in the College of Natural Science, are now expanding that research.
"The pubertal time period is crucial, as this is when the basic framework is created for mammary gland development. What we are seeing from preliminary research in animals is that a high-fat diet during puberty can lead to the production of inflammatory products in the mammary glands of adults, which can promote cancer growth," Haslam said.
The work is based on the team's previous research that found the hormone progesterone activates genes that trigger inflammation in the mammary gland; that inflammation may be a key factor in increasing the risk of breast cancer. The researchers discovered that a high-fat diet during puberty produced many of the same effects seen as part of their progesterone research.
Schwartz said: "Understanding what genes were turned on by progesterone led us to look at some of the same suspects with high-fat diets. It appears both processes may lead to inflammation in the mammary glands." Since these inflammatory changes first occur during the crucial time of puberty, a period of intense development and cell division, it can have effects lasting a lifetime.
To test their findings, Haslam and Schwartz will lead a team analyzing two different mouse models of breast cancer and the effects of high-fat diets during puberty. They also will test several anti-inflammation interventions designed to overcome the negative effects of a high-fat diet on inflammation.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
London September 1:
Just a cup of coffee a day could keep your arteries healthy, supple and ward off heart disease, says a new study.
Researchers investigated regular coffee drinking to see if it helps people live longer. They looked at 485 people with high blood pressure (BP) or hypertension. They were aged between 65 and 100 years, inhabiting the Greek island of Ikaria, known as the 'land of longevity'. A third of its residents are 90 years old, reports the Daily Mail.
Hypertension stiffens arteries and reduces elasticity, increasing the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes, the study said. Study leader Christina Chrysohoou from the University of Athens found that 56 percent of people, who were moderate coffee drinkers, consuming between one and two cups a day, had the best arterial health, with their blood vessels having the elasticity of younger people. These findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Stockholm, Sweden.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
...CLICK HERE |
London September 1:
Scientists say the best way to combat garlic's lingering odour is to have a glass of milk. Drinking milk was found to reduce garlic breath when even brushing your teeth doesn't work. In tests with raw and cooked cloves, milk was shown to ' significantly reduce' concentrations of the chemicals that give garlic its long-lasting smell, reports the Daily Mail.
One of the compounds - allyl methyl sulphide (AMS) - cannot be broken down during digestion, causing it to be released from the body in the breath and sweat. Food scientists at Ohio State University found that drinking a small glass (200ml) of milk can reduce the presence of AMS on the breath by 50 per cent.
The US study, concluded that full-fat milk gave better results than skimmed and it was also better if diners drank with their meal, rather than afterwards. The study has been published in the Journal of Food Science.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
|
|
|
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|