World / Social Life
After dreadful quake, devastating annual floods stare Sichuan province of China
03.07.2008 11:24
b4uindia.com
After the dreadful earthquake on May 12 which killed more than 60,000 people, the Sichuan province of China is facing a yet another “critical situation” as the annual floods are approaching, said a senior official from the Ministry of Water Resources, in Beijing. Jiao Yong, the country’s Deputy Water Minister, reportedly told reporters that some parts of China had experienced up to 50 percent more rain this year than usual. Sichuan is also due to get a lot wetter during its flood season, which is expected to run through this month and next, the China Daily quoted him as saying. The problem is that the earthquake did considerable damage to the province's reservoirs and dams, which will reduce its ability to prevent floods, he said and added: “We have had to be well prepared, considering all the uncertainty we have faced this year. Repairing the reservoirs is our priority. Most of them will operate with low water levels, or even be emptied during the flood season.” Emergency plans for all 1803 water reservoirs damaged by the quake have already been drawn up, he said, adding that the ministry will closely monitor the weather situation. According to him, 37 specialist teams comprising 3280 experts and technicians from across the country have also been working to inspect damaged reservoirs and dams. (ANI)
India
Social Life
European court classifies theater siege files on Russian request
03.07.2008 11:23
rian.ru
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that case files relating to the 2002 Moscow theater siege be classified material at Russia's request, a lawyer acting for the victims' families said Thursday.
Russia
Social Life
Gazprom, Azerbaijan agree to start talks on Azeri gas sales
03.07.2008 11:23
rian.ru
Russia
Social Life
Olympic sites should be moved from National Park area - Putin
03.07.2008 10:26
rian.ru
Construction of some venues for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi should be moved from a national park to alternative sites, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
Russia
Social Life
New U.S. ambassador arrives in Russia
03.07.2008 10:26
rian.ru
The new United States ambassador to Russia, career diplomat John Beyrle, arrived in Moscow on Thursday, the American Embassy said.
Russia
Social Life
Russia ready to buy Turkmen gas at market prices
03.07.2008 10:26
rian.ru
Russia is prepared to buy Turkmen natural gas at market prices and there is no need for Turkmenistan to implement energy projects with other countries, a Russian presidential aide said Thursday.
Russia
Social Life
11 militants killed in Kashmir near LoC in Tanghdar sector
03.07.2008 09:36
b4uindia.com
The Army today claimed to have killed 11 militants in an encounter near Nasthachun pass in Karnah tehsil of Kupwara district. A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army was also killed. General Officer Commanding Chief of the 28 Infantry Division Major General J. S. Bajwa said that the Pakistani army is giving full support to the infiltrators and there are about 500 militants ready to infiltrate to the Indian side. He also stated that the main purpose of this group was to disturb the coming Assembly elections. The Army's 20 Rashtriya Rifles and 16 JAT were involved in the gunfight, which is still going on. In today’s encounter the highest number of people have been killed in a single encounter between militants and Indian troops in the state this year. According to the Army officers these militants belong to the Pakistan-based Lashkar e Toiba and Al Badr groups. Heavy arms and ammunition have been recovered from the militants, which include 11 AK 47 rifles, IEDs and other explosives. (ANI)
India
Social Life
BJP sponsors nationwide strike over Kashmir land transfer issue
03.07.2008 09:36
b4uindia.com
Several cities and towns in India were hit by the nationwide shutdown called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the revocation of land transfer to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board by Jammu and Kashmir Government. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad are exploiting the issue to serve their political objectives and have taken out rallies in the country. In Madhya Pradesh, the protesters resorted to stone pelting, which forced police to take action against them while the protesters in eastern Ranchi exhibited their anger by burning tyres on city streets and raising anti-government slogans. They attacked vehicles blocked the traffic. Various protesters on bikes and autorickshaws staged rallies on roads and declared countrywide shutdown. "People have supported the shutdown across the country. It gives out a strong message to the central government and state government of Jammu and Kashmir that disrespect to the emotions of the people will not be tolerated. And so the forest land should be transferred to shrine board as soon as possible," said former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Arjun Munda. Shops, schools and business establishments have remained closed since morning and the traffic on the streets was weak. Normal life was paralyzed in other cities like Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Daltonganj where the vehicular traffic has been severely affected. Demonstrations were also organized in New Delhi where protesters of Vishwa Hindu Parishad walked on streets shouting slogans, forced the shop owners to close down the shops. Vishwa Hindu Parishad General Secretary Praveen Togadiya, protesting with his party members in New Delhi, said that the Hindus of the country would not tolerate disrespect to their religious sentiments. "Today citizens of India have demonstrated that they will not tolerate any disrespect to their religious institutions. We pledge to get back the allotted land to the Amarnath Shrine Board. The subsidies allotted for the Haj should be cancelled. And the Haj Houses should be taken back," he added. In Agra, the protesters stopped the trains in protest and resorted to sloganeering at Agra cantonment railway station. The Amarnath Shrine Board helped to organise the annual trek undertaken by thousands of pilgrims to the Amarnath cave shrine deep inside the Himalayas. But while canceling the land transfer, the state government has given the responsibility of facilitating the pilgrimage to the tourism department. The order of transfer of land was revoked after large-scale demonstrations in Kashmir valley for more than a week in which at least five people were killed in police firing and over 500 were injured. (ANI)
India
Social Life
Management Institute in Shillong
03.07.2008 09:36
b4uindia.com
The first academic session of the country's seventh Indian Institute of Management (IIM), the Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management (RGIIM) in Shillong, will begin tomorrow. The institute's Director professor Ashoke K. Dutta disclosed that Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy will inaugurate the first batch of Post Graduate Diploma in Management in the presence of Chairman, Board of Governors, RGIIM, profesor R N Dutta, Chairman Headstrong Inc USA and founder member of HCL Arjun Malhotra and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister T K Nair. The institute will commence its first academic session in Nongthymmai in Shillong, which previously housed the North Eastern Hill University. Work will soon commence on a 120 acre site for construction of the permanent campus. The institute will conduct courses in Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management, fellowship programme in management, management development programmes, tourism and hospitality management, tele-services and telemedicine, information systems and technology and subjects of local relevance such as tourism, horticulture and hydel power. For its flagship programme, Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM), the Institute envisages an annual student intake capacity of 60 in the first year, which would be increased to 120 in the third year and 180 in the sixth year. (ANI)
India
Social Life
Drugs worth 50 million rupees seized in Chennai
03.07.2008 09:35
b4uindia.com
Custom officials today arrested one person named David and seized contraband Ketamine Hydrochloride worth 50 million rupees in Chennai while smugglers were trying to smuggle the drug in a Malaysia bound consignment. The officers of the docks intelligence unit seized the contraband when they intercepted a consignment packed in four wooden crates for export to Malaysia by sea. The custom officials said that the steel drum was cut open at one side of the hollow portion in which one black coloured cylinder made up of aluminum was found securely kept. It contained white coloured powdery substance ascertained to be Ketamine Hydrochloride commonly known as club drug. "Our officers found that the drug Ketamine was kept concealed in the compressor. Each of the cylinders had 12 kilograms of Ketamine. The total weight of the drug recovered is about 50 kilograms. The value of the consignment in the international market is around 5 crores (50 million Rupees). Our officers have arrested one person and we are conducting further investigation," said Customs Commissioner of Chennai C. Rajan. The medical practitioners often use Ketamine Hydrochloride for anesthetic purpose. However, it is notorious for being used by the sexual predators for its easier availability. Consumption of Ketamine causes delirium, hallucinations along with delayed reaction time and amnesia. (ANI)
India
Social Life
25 injured in separate incidents of violence in Jammu
03.07.2008 09:35
b4uindia.com
At least 25 people were injured today in separate incidents of violence in Jammu over the revocation of the transfer of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board even as the curfew was imposed in the city on the third day. Protesters halted trains, set afire vehicles and fought pitched battles with police. The police arrested 17 BJP leaders, including its former Jammu and Kashmir President Nirmal Singh, on charges of provoking violence. Five Amarnath pilgrims, returning from Amarnath shrine in south Kashmir, were injured when some unidentified persons stoned their vehicle at Banihal, official sources said. At least 15 protesters were injured in clashes with police at Bantalab, Tallab Tillo, Gangyal and Nanak Nagar. Protesters blocked traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Udhampur and stopped two Srinagar-bound vehicles. Police fired teargas shells to clear the highway in which five protesters were injured. Some residents stepped out of their houses and burnt tyres in Muthi, Gangyal, Bakshi Nagar, Vijaypur and Samba areas. (ANI)
India
Social Life
Delimiting the Caspian: positions of Russia and Iran. INFOgraphics
03.07.2008 09:34
rian.ru
After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iran adopted unilateral laws on the territorial delimitation of the Caspian Sea and regional fishing zones. To prevent disputes, the parties set up a special working group to develop a convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea.
Russia
Social Life
Egypt reopens border with Gaza
03.07.2008 09:34
rian.ru
Egypt opened the Rafah border point Thursday to let stranded Palestinians return to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported.
Russia
Social Life
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