NATO rejects Russia’s missile defence proposals

NATO has rejected Russia’s proposals for cooperation on a European missile defence, the Russian defence chief said even as both sides vowed to continue talks.“We have not received any positive and intelligible response. Our concerns have not been dispelled,” Russia’s Defence Minister Antoly Serdyukov told reporters after a ministerial-level meeting of the Russia-NATO council in Brussels on Wednesday. “NATO is not heeding for the moment Russian proposals on missile defences.”

NHRC makes assets of Balakrishnan public

The National Human Rights Commission has made public skeletal details of assets owned by its Chairman K.G. Balakrishnan showing there was no change in the moveable and immovable properties owned by him.According to details of his assets given by the NHRC in response to an RTI application, Justice Balakrishnan owns four properties in his name and one in his wife Nirmala Balakrishnan’s name. One property is a family-owned.

Apple plans new spaceship headquarters

Apple is planning a new headquarters shaped like a spaceship, which it hopes will be the best office building in the world.The ambitious plans were unveiled by Apple CEO Steve Jobs before the Cupertino City Council. Jobs broke into his indefinite medical leave to showcase the new design, which is planned to house 12,600 workers in a four-storey, ring-shaped building with a massive garden in its centre.

Mini spy satellites to track terrorists from space

The U.S. military will soon be using mini satellites called CubeSats, which can be quickly and inexpensively built and operated, to keep tabs on terrorists and other suspects.“Orbital assets can provide persistent, worldwide coverage — anywhere, anytime,” Discovery News quoted Wes Ticer, spokesman with the U.S. Special Operations Command at Florida’s MacDill Air Force Base, as saying.

Now, a new technique to detect onset of blindness

Scientists have developed a new technique, which they claim will help detect healthy people at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide.Using standard clinical techniques, the detection of AMD has previously not been possible in the disease’s early stages. Doctors tend to diagnose AMD once small changes become visible at the back of a patient’s eye. However, degeneration begins many years before these clinical signs appear.

Research identifies treatment for ovarian cancer

An Australian-led clinical trial has been able to identify a promising treatment for the most common type of ovarian cancer.According to AAP report, the international trial tested whether a new medication known as olaparib could prevent the re-growth of ovarian cancer by extending remission after successful chemotherapy.

Nano gets into Sri Lankan taxi market

Tata Nano, one of the world’s cheapest car, on Thursday entered Sri Lanka’s lucrative taxi market with a fleet of 45 cars and an overload of passengers.A local company launched the service as an alternative to expensive air conditioned taxis, but more comfortable than the ubiquitous three-wheel taxi.

First batch of low cost computers ready

The first batch of 10,000 low cost access-cum-computing devices will be ready for distribution to the States later this month. The devices are in the process of testing.Launched under the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, each device will cost Rs. 2,200. The learners will get it at a fifty per cent subsidy.

M.F. Husain passes away

M.F. Husain, one of the pioneers of modern Indian art and hailed as the "Picasso of India", died in a London hospital on Thursday after a heart attack. He was 95.Husain, who was forced to leave India in 2006 following death threats from right-wing Hindutva groups over his depiction of Hindu deities, had been living in London and Dubai. Last year, in an unprecedented gesture, Qatar offered him citizenship which he accepted though he insisted that India would always remain his "home" regardless of where he lived physically.

Prasar Bharati to negotiate out of court settlements

Litigation-riven public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has decided to set up a team to negotiate out-of-court settlements in the Rs. 400 crore worth arbitration issues it is involved in.Calling this a “decision of far reaching consequences”, the Prasar Bharati Board on Monday decided that a “special high-level negotiating empowered team” would take this up on a priority basis.

Bangalore to host 51st National Senior Athletic Championship

Bangalore will host 51st National Senior Athletic Championship from June 11 to 14 at Kanteerava Stadium. In a press conference on Thursday, the Vice President of Karnataka Athletics Association Dr. Ashwath Narayana informed that the four day Championship will be crucial for the Indian athletes attempting to qualify for Asian Championship at Kobe in Japan . Around 680 athletes from across India will showcase their talent in 44 events. International level athletes from India , winners of Asian Games and Commonwealth Games medals, will contest in the championship. Doordarshan has arranged live telecast of the event. 

Courtesy : AIR

Prithvi-II successfully test-fired

India on Thursday test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Orissa as part of the user trial by the Army."The missile mounted on a mobile launcher was test-fired from the launch complex-3 in the ITR at around 0905 hours", defence officials said on Thursday.With a maximum striking range of 350 km, the missile is capable of carrying a pay-load of 500-1000 kg warhead.

Beedi workers to get medical insurance benefits

About 55 lakh beedi workers will soon get medical insurance benefits under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) by 2013-14 under a proposal approved by the Union Cabinet on Thursday.A meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, decided to extend the insurance cover to the beedi workers spread across the country, with the government spending an estimated Rs 311.25 crore on it.

Govt lowers pension age limit for BPL category

An additional 72.32 lakh persons in the age group of 60-64 years and living below the poverty line will get pension benefits with the Government on Thursday lowering the age limit to 60.The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also decided to increase the rate of pension to persons of 80 years and above from Rs 200 to Rs 500.

Reaching Out to the Neglected Poor in Rural India National Social Assistance Program

One of the underlying philosophies behind the pro-people and pro --poor initiatives of the Government enjoins upon the State to undertake series of welfare measures.  Article 41 of the Constitution directs the States to provide public assistance to its citizens in case of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement and in other cases of undeserved want within the limit of its economic capacity and development. Keeping in mind these basic principles the National Social Assistance Program was launched in 1995.

Sports Ministry Earmarks Rs 258.39 Cr for Preparation of Athletes under Opex 2012, London 28 Foreign Coaches and 32 Observers to Over See Preparations for Olympics Separate Three Member Committee to Ensure Diet and Nutrition & Oversight of Infrastructure and Food. Norms Put in Place for Time Bound and Speedy Clearance of Athletes for Training Abroad

The Sports Ministry has earmarked Rs 258.39Crore for preparation of athletes under “Project Opex 2012” for London Olympics. This was announced by Shri Ajay Maken , Minister of State ( I/C) for Youth Affairs & Sports at a press conference here today.