Balachander gets Dadasaheb Phalke award

K. Balachander, who brought a whiff of fresh air with a daring new style in direction and filmmaking in Tamil cinema in the 1970s, was on Friday chosen for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2010.The award, which is given for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema, was announced by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry based on the recommendation of a committee of eminent persons.

Stockholm meet favours elimination of endosulfan

The conference of parties at the Stockholm Convention on Friday approved the draft proposal for elimination of production and use of endosulfan and its isomers worldwide, subject to certain exemptions. The decision will not be binding on India unless specifically ratified by the country.However, the Indian delegation to the Convention has concurred with the proposal after its concerns regarding exemptions and financial assistance were addressed. 

Mallikarjun Kharge Minister of Labour & Employment Extends Greetings and best Wishes on International Labour Day on 1st May

Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Minister for Labour & Employment has conveyed his best wishes on the auspicious occasion of May Day to all workers, employers, civil society Organisations and the Government. In his message he reiterated the Government would continue efforts to promote the welfare of workers and provide all social security measures to the working class of organized as well as unorganized sectors.

Indian Space Research Organisation preparing for three more PSLV launches

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) braces itself for three more PSLV launches this year, M. Chandradathan, Director, Sathish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, said.“PSLV C-17 will be launched in July and it will carry GSAT-12, a communication satellite. PSLV-C18 will be launched in September and it will carry a weather forecast satellite. PSLV-C19 with a payload of Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) will be launched by this year end,” Mr. Chandradathan said.

nclusion of New Markets from LAC Integral to India’s Growth Strategy: Scindia

Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, led the discussions in the plenary session on the theme of “Achieving Inclusive Economic Growth” at World Economic Forum(WEF), Latin America in the Rio-Di-Janerio on April 28th, 2011. Strongly pitching for percolation of fruits of growth to the common man Shri Scindia said that, “There is an urgent need to give a boost to manufacturing sector so as to increase employment opportunities for the large young population in the developing countries.” He further said, inclusion of new markets particularly from Latin American countries is integral to India’s strategy for inclusive growth. He said that the regions of Asia, Latin America and of Africa are fast emerging as growth engines of world economy.

Lokpal Bill panel: SC refuses to take up “premature” PILs

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to go into a batch of PILs challenging constitutional validity of the notification on composition of a committee to draft the Jan Lokpal bill, saying the petitions were “premature”.A bench headed by Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia posted the matter for hearing in July. The bench said, “The petitions are premature and can’t be taken as the Lokpal Bill was yet to be passed.” 

Air India operations severely affected with around 80 flights cancelled due to strike by pilots; Delhi High Court issues notice

Air India operations have been severely affected with around 80 flights being cancelled due to strike by pilots. The Delhi High Court castigated striking Air India pilots for defying its order to immediately call-off the agitation and issued notices to their union's office bearers seeking replies as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them. 

The Enforcement Directorate will soon attach properties of two telecom companies involved in the 2G spectrum scam

The Enforcement Directorate will soon attach properties of two telecom companies involved in the 2G spectrum scam. This was disclosed by the ED in a report submitted before the Supreme court yesterday. Appearing for the ED, senior advocate K K Venugopal told the apex court that property worth 2,000 crore rupees each has to be attached. He, however, did not mention the names of the companies but assured that attachment proceedings will be initiated soon and will be completed within two months. Mr Venugopal hinted that attachment orders will be issued shortly under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Foreign Exchange Management Act, against the two companies against whom the ED has so far registered the complaints. Meanwhile, CBI also filed fresh status report about its probe and sought more time to complete the investigation relating to the allocation of spectrum during 2001-07. The court appreciated the probe done by the CBI and ED and said they have done a commendable job.

Couresy : AIR

Four people were killed during the anti-encroachment drive in Jharkhand

In Jharkhand, four people were killed and 23 others were injured in a clash between protestors and police during the anti-encroachment drive at Matkoria area of Dhanbad yesterday. Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Sunil Kumar Burnwal told a news conference that indefinite curfew has been clamped in the town. Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda  has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The inquiry will be conducted by Divisional Commissioner of North Chota Nagpur. AIR correspondent reports that among those injured include Superintendent of Police P.R.K. Dhan. 

Uniform price for gas for all three importing countries

Uniform price for gas for all three importing countries including India will be the centre of discussions in the Steering Committee Meeting on TAPI Gas pipeline project today. Oil Ministers of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India are meeting in New Delhi to discuss the gas sales and other details of the 7.6 billion dollar TAPI Gas pipeline project.

The President Pratibha Devisingh Patil leaves back home after five days of her state visit to Mauritius today.

The President  Pratibha Devisingh Patil leaves back home after five days of her state visit to Mauritius today. Before leaving she will attend a India-Mauritius business meet and will be conferred honorary degree of law by the Mauritius university. AIR correspondent covering the President's visit has filed this report.

Madheshiya wins 2011 Sony World Photography Awards

Indian photographer Amit Madheshiya has been named 'Arts and Culture Photographer of the Year' at the prestigious Sony World Photography Awards 2011.Mumbai-based Madheshiya was one of 13 professional category winners presented with an award held at the ceremony at the Odeon in Leicester Square, London, on Wednesday night.

Food inflation up to 8.76%; RBI likely to hike rates further

Food inflation went up to 8.76 per cent for the week ended 16th April, raising fears of another hike in the key policy rates by the Reserve Bank in its annual policy to be announced next week.Amid concerns of rising inflation, RBI Governor D Subbarao is expected to hold consultations with Finance Ministry officials before firming up proposals for the annual credit policy to be announced on 3^rd May.

Govt urges media not to sensationalise important issues

Over 800 more FM radio stations would be made available when the FM phase-III is rolled out shortly, while 31 new satellite TV channels are awaiting the government's approval, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said.

Govt hikes benchmark prices of imported DAP, MoP

The govt increased the benchmark prices of imported di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and muriate of potash (MoP) fertiliser for the fiscal to ensure uninterrupted availability in the country during the coming kharif sowing season.The decision was approved in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in New Delhi on Thursday.

Air India - Address the crisis at its roots - Opinion

Air India has managed to remain in the news for the wrong reasons. After years of being in the red and repeatedly asking the Government of India to bale the airline out of its financial mess, it has been unable to sort out its labour issues and long-standing problems with its pilots. Normally, the passengers, who are at the receiving end of such strikes, have no sympathy for the pilots because they may be the highest paid class of employees in an airline. But the present case is somewhat different — at the very least, it has to be understood from a different perspective. Although the passengers are put to hardship, and hundreds of families are losing out on their summer holidays for no fault of theirs, the striking pilots, affiliated to the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA), have some legitimate demands that need to be addressed. From 2007, the process of merging the two national carriers — Indian Airlines and Air India — has been going on endlessly at the management and the government levels. Even the muddling-through has not been completed and glaring inequalities between the staff of the two merged entities remain. 

Sex ratio, patriarchy, and ethics - Opinion

India's sex ratio, among children aged 0-6 years, is alarming. The ratio has declined from 976 females (for every 1000 males) in 1961 to 914 in 2011. Every national census has documented a decline in the ratio, signalling a ubiquitous trend. Preliminary data from the 2011 census have recorded many districts with sex ratios of less than 850. The ratio in urban areas is significantly lower than those in rural parts of the country. Reports suggest evidence of violence and trafficking of poor women and forced polyandry in some regions with markedly skewed ratios. The overall steep and consistent decline in the ratio mandates serious review.

Myanmar, China agree to build rail link to seaport

Myanmar and China plan to build a railroad together that will link China’s landlocked Yunnan province to a deep—sea port being built in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.The state—run New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported on Thursday the project will start with a 79—mile (126 kilometer) rail link between the border town of Muse and Lashio in Myanmar’s northeastern Shan State. That first phase is expected to be built in three years.

Majority rejects PAC report, Joshi walks out

After accusations and counter-accusations through unprecedented chaotic scenes at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) here on Thursday, 11 of its 21 members recorded their “vote” to “reject” the draft report on 2G scam circulated to the members by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Wednesday.The majority that voted to reject the report said they intended to send recorded rejection slips to the Speaker as well as PAC Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi. 

RBI moots deregulation of savings bank interest rate - sought feedback from the general public by May 20

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday made a pitch for deregulation of savings bank deposit rates, saying that deregulation of interest rates on savings bank (SB) accounts would benefit savers, as it would enable lenders to come out with innovative products to attract more funds from low-income households.

World Bank evaluator calls for more poverty reduction with growth

An insightful evaluation of the work of the International Finance Corporation, the private-sector-focused lender within the World Bank Group, has noted that while 86 per cent of IFC investment projects “contributed positively to overall economic growth,” approximately “about 60 per cent [of the IFC’s investment projects] do not provide identifiable opportunities for the poor.”

Civil society shocked over Jaitapur nuclear power plant clearance

Civil society groups have expressed shock over the government’s “sheer insensitivity’’ in announcing on the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe that it is going ahead with the Jaitapur nuclear power project.This means disregarding the overwhelming opposition to the project by 40,000 local people and the larger public, the caution counselled by numerous experts, and the grave safety concerns raised by the still-unfolding Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, a statement issued by the civil society groups said here on Thursday. These concerns are eminently reasonable. Many governments, including those in Germany, China and Switzerland, have taken them on board by adopting a “pause-and-review” approach towards reactor construction. The European Union has ordered “stress tests” on all its 143 reactors lasting many months.

Non-communicable diseases leading killer: WHO

A new report by the UN World Health Organisation says non-communicable diseases are the “leading killer” and are on the increase across the world.“The rise of chronic non-communicable diseases presents an enormous challenge,” said Margaret Chan, head of WHO, after releasing the report in Moscow on Wednesday.

“For some countries, it is no exaggeration to describe the situation as an impending disaster; a disaster for health, for society, and most of all for national economies,” she added.

In 2008, 36.1 million people died from conditions such as heart disease, strokes, chronic lung diseases, cancers and diabetes, the WHO said. Nearly 80 per cent of these deaths occurred in low and middle-income countries.

“Chronic non-communicable diseases deliver a two-punch blow to development. They cause billions of dollars in losses of national income, and they push millions of people below the poverty line, each and every year,” she said.

The report said that cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, or 17 million people annually, followed by cancer (7.6 million), respiratory disease (4.2 million), and diabetes (1.3 million).

Tobacco use, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol and poor diets were four recurring factors in these diseases.

WHO said that millions of deaths can be prevented by stronger implementation of measures that exist today, which include stronger anti-tobacco controls and promoting healthier diets, physical activity, and reducing harmful use of alcohol.

“About 30 per cent of people dying from NCDs in low- and middle-income countries are aged under 60 years and are in their most productive period of life,” said Ala Alwan, a top WHO official.

“These premature deaths are all the more tragic because they are largely preventable,” Alwan said. 

Courtesy : The Hindu

India not against Endosulfan ban if interests protected

India on Thursday told the sixth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) of the Stockholm Convention going on at Geneva it would not prevent an international consensus on banning of Endosulfan pesticide as long as the its interests were protected and concerns reflected in the final declaration.

World Bank Assistance to National Ganga River Basin Authority for abatement of pollution of River Ganga

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the Project for cleaning of River Ganga to be implemented by the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) at an estimated cost of Rs. 7000 crore. The share of Government of India will be Rs 5100 crore and that of the State Governments of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal will be Rs 1900 crore. The World Bank has agreed in-principle to provide a loan assistance of US $ 1 billion (approx. Rs 4600 crore) to the Government of India for the NGRBA project, which will form part of the central share of the project. The duration of the project will be eight years.

Steering Committee meeting and Technical Working Group on TAPI project being held in New Delhi from 25-29 April 2011

New Delhi, 28 April: Carrying forward the momentum to make the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Pipeline project a reality, the Ministerial-level Steering Committee of TAPI met in New Delhi on 28^th April, 2011. It was attended by Mr.S  Jaipal Reddy, Minister, MoP&NG, Government of India, Mr. W Shahrani, Minister of Mines, Afghanistan, Dr. Asim Husasain, Advisor to PM on P&NR, Pakistan and Mr B Nedirov, Minister of Oil & Gas Industry and Mineral Resources, Turkmenistan. It has been decided that the Gas Sales Purchase Agreement(GSPA) between the four countries should be finalized, so that it can be signed by 31st July, 2011.