Peruvian President declares state of emergency

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Peruvian President Ollanta Humala declared a state of emergency late following massive rallies against a multi-billion dollar mining project in the north of the country. President Humala said the emergency will take effect at midnight and continue for 60 days. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Under the emergency measures, civil liberties will be restricted and arrests without warrants will be allowed in four provinces of Cajamarca region.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Out of fear for their water supply, local peasants have staged violent protests against a Conga mining project worth 4.8 billion dollars operated by U.S.-based mining giant Newmont.</span></span></li> </ul></div>

Peruvian President declares state of emergency

The Peruvian President Ollanta Humala declared a state of emergency late following massive rallies against a multi-billion dollar mining ...

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Govt. set to launch common mobility card for seamless travel

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Government is all set to launch the common mobility card, which can work as a cashless means of travel through the city. The card will be a single point of transaction applicable in state buses, Metro or even parking.     </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">It will enable a commuter to travel seamlessly through any mode of transport without having to carry separate cards for different modes of transport. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The card developed by the Urban Development Ministry will be launched at the ongoing Urban Mobility India 2011 conference in New Delhi. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Govt. set to launch common mobility card for seamless travel

Government is all set to launch the common mobility card, which can work as a cashless means of travel through the city. The card will be...

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International conference on Afghanistan begins in Germany

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Leaders and representatives of nearly one hundred nations and international organizations have gathered in the German city of Bonn to discuss the future of Afghanistan.         </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Hosted by the German government and presided over by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the biggest ever conference on Afghanistan is expected to review the ongoing security transition process and chalk out a plan for lasting peace, development and stability in the country after the draw down of foreign troops from the country by 2014. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Pakistan , the key player in the peace process in Afghanistan , is conspicuous by its absence.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

International conference on Afghanistan begins in Germany

Leaders and representatives of nearly one hundred nations and international organizations have gathered in the German city of Bonn to dis...

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Punjab CM honoured with "Fakhar-A-Qaum" award

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has been honoured with the "Fakhar-A-Qaum" award by the highest sikh temporal body Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Amritsar</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">This  award is being presented to Parkash Singh Badal for his services to the state especially to the sikhs. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Punjab CM honoured with "Fakhar-A-Qaum" award

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has been honoured with the "Fakhar-A-Qaum" award by the highest sikh temporal body Sr...

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Belgium defeat India 4-3 in Champions Challenge Hockey final

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">In Johanesburg India lost Belgium 3-4 in the final Champions Challenge hockey. India lost the finals of the tournament from a commanding position, a victory that would have secured their entry into the elite Champions Trophy next year. </span></span></li> </ul></div>

Belgium defeat India 4-3 in Champions Challenge Hockey final

In Johanesburg India lost Belgium 3-4 in the final Champions Challenge hockey. India lost the finals of the tournament from a commanding ...

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Syria says expects to sign Arab League deal soon

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Syria has responded "positively" to a proposed Arab League plan aimed at ending eight months of violence, and expects the agreement to be signed soon.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Damascus has complained that the initiative, which includes a plan to allow observers into the country to monitor its implementation, would infringe its national sovereignty.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Syria says expects to sign Arab League deal soon

Syria has responded "positively" to a proposed Arab League plan aimed at ending eight months of violence, and expects the agree...

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International honour for Udaipur's lake city

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Readers of international travel magazine <em>Condé Nast Traveller</em> have voted the lake city of Udaipur in Rajasthan as the “best leisure destination” in India</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; text-align: justify;">State Tourism Minister Bina Kak received the ‘Condé Nast Traveller India Award-2011' from Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay at a function in New Delhi.</span> </span></li> </ul><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Condé Nast Traveller</em><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> is one of the world's most renowned travel magazines. Its readers vote for various categories of destinations, accommodations and transport every year</span></span></li> </ul></div>

International honour for Udaipur's lake city

Readers of international travel magazine  Condé Nast Traveller  have voted the lake city of Udaipur in Rajasthan as the “best leisure desti...

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Pak demands equal treatment from Australia on uranium sale

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">A day after Australia’s ruling Labour Party approved uranium sale to India, Pakistan has demanded it be allowed to buy the nuclear raw material if the Gillard administration proceeds with sales of yellowcake to New Delhi.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Australia, Abdul Malik Abdullah, said if Australia is willing to export uranium to India then it should sell it to Pakistan as well.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">If Australia is going to lift the ban on a country which has not signed NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) it is much hoped that will also apply to Pakistan the same way.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Pak demands equal treatment from Australia on uranium sale

A day after Australia’s ruling Labour Party approved uranium sale to India, Pakistan has demanded it be allowed to buy the nuclear raw ma...

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India loses ground insupercomputing.

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">In the list of supercomputers  that is dominated by the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, India has mostly been relegated to the background in recent years.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The two supercomputers from India belong to Tata's Computational Research Laboratories and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">In comparison, four Indian systems found a place in the November 2010 list: in addition to the two already mentioned, those of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and the Indian government made it to the top 500.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> It was in 2006 that the maximum number of supercomputers from India made to the list — 11 in June and 10 in November. Then, India ranked sixth in terms of supercomputing power; this November, it was placed fifth from the bottom in a list of 27 countries.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

India loses ground insupercomputing.

In the list of supercomputers  that is dominated by the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, India has mo...

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China overtakes India as ‘Diabetes Capital'

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span>China has overtaken India to wrest the title of the ‘Diabetes Capital of the World', going by the latest figures revealed by the 5th edition of Diabetes Atlas.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span>At 90.0 million, China today has the largest number of people with diabetes. India follows with about 61.3 million, and the third on the list is far behind – United States at 23.7 million.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span>These figures revealed by the Diabetes Atlas, an effort of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF)</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

China overtakes India as ‘Diabetes Capital'

China has overtaken India to wrest the title of the ‘Diabetes Capital of the World', going by the latest figures revealed by the 5th ...

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Law soon to prevent discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Centre would soon bring in the long-pending law that would prevent discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients. The Health and Family Welfare Ministry will receive the draft law from the Law Ministry</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The proposed law has been in the pipeline for several years and activists have been demanding its immediate passage, while expressing disappointment over indifference shown towards HIV-infected people. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Law soon to prevent discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients

The Centre would soon bring in the long-pending law that would prevent discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients. The Health and Family We...

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Jayalalithaa commits 3 per cent of State jobs for persons with disability

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Tamil nadu government will implement the three per cent reservation for differently abled persons in government jobs</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> The government had raised the monthly maintenance grant for differently abled persons from Rs.500 to Rs.1000, also bringing the eligibility criteria down from 45 to 18 years.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Jayalalithaa commits 3 per cent of State jobs for persons with disability

The Tamil nadu government will implement the three per cent reservation for differently abled persons in government jobs  The governm...

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Kerala tops child rights index

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">As in most social sector indicators, Kerala tops the national child rights index, followed by Karnataka. Arunachal Pradesh is the worst performer in protecting the rights of children.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Strangely, Kerala's child marriage indicator is the lowest, and the State's performance is far from satisfactory in early childhood care and crimes against children.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; text-align: justify;">One point that stands out in the indexing — the first of its kind in the country — is that economic growth does not necessarily improve the wellbeing of children. Jharkhand is the only State whose economic status matches its child rights rank — both standing at 17</span></span></li> </ul></div>

Kerala tops child rights index

As in most social sector indicators, Kerala tops the national child rights index, followed by Karnataka. Arunachal Pradesh is the worst p...

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On World Disability Day, MS-India brings accessibility initiatives

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Microsoft India brought forth a new initiative, using which it hoped to "bridge the opportunity divide for people with visual, hearing and learning impairments</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Microsoft India doled out as many as 40 different templates, which Microsoft hopes would aid those disabled in easily accessing most commonly used public information circulars, forms, gazettes and notifications that are used in government offices. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

On World Disability Day, MS-India brings accessibility initiatives

on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Microsoft India brought forth a new initiative, using which it hoped to "bridge t...

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Carbon Emissions Show Biggest Jump Ever Recorded

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Global emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil-fuel burning jumped by the largest amount on record last year</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; text-align: justify;">Emissions rose 5.9 percent in 2010, according to an analysis released  by the Global Carbon Project, an international collaboration of scientists tracking the numbers.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Carbon Emissions Show Biggest Jump Ever Recorded

Global emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil-fuel burning jumped by the largest amount on record last year Emissions rose 5.9 perce...

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Mount Gamalama in Indonesia's N. Maluku province erupts

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Mount Gamalama in Indonesia's North Maluku province erupted at), releasing volcanic ashes.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Some parts of the provincial capital city of Ternate were covered by ash rain and blackout was occurred at the foot of the volcano.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Mount Gamalama in Indonesia's N. Maluku province erupts

Mount Gamalama in Indonesia's North Maluku province erupted at), releasing volcanic ashes. Some parts of the provincial capital c...

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President Pratibha Patil rides T-90 battle tank

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">After taking off in the frontline Sukhoi-30 MKI, President Pratibha Patil once again donned military fatigues to ride a T-90 main battle tank, becoming the first head of state to do so.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Black overalls worn by the personnel of the tank regiments, the 76-year-old President entered the exercise 'Sudarshan Shakti' riding in the main battle tank with Army Chief General V K Singh. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The exercise also involves operation by aircraft such as Su-30 MKI, Jaguars, Mig-27 and Mig-21 AWACS and helicopters. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The exercise will help the Southern Command to validate its war-fighting concepts while working towards 'capability- based approach' relying on a series of transformational initiatives, concepts, organisational structures and absorption of new age technologies. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

President Pratibha Patil rides T-90 battle tank

After taking off in the frontline Sukhoi-30 MKI, President Pratibha Patil once again donned military fatigues to ride a T-90 main battle ...

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ULFA leader, Indian scribe detained in Myanmar

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> A top ULFA leader and an Indian journalist have been detained by authorities in Myanmar.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Jivan  Moran and an Indian journalist were detained in Myanmar. </span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Moran is the second-in-command of the hardline faction of the ULFA led by Baruah. The detained journalist works for a Guwahati-based daily newspaper and had travelled to Myanmar apparently to interview Baruah. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

ULFA leader, Indian scribe detained in Myanmar

 A top ULFA leader and an Indian journalist have been detained by authorities in Myanmar. Jivan  Moran and an Indian journalist were de...

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MGNREGA wage payment to be videographed

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">In  a bid to check corruption in payment of MGNREGA wages, the government plans to introduce videography during the process.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; text-align: justify;">Videography will be used in the presence of officials while giving wages to the MGNREGA beneficiaries from now to ensure proper and timely payment</span></span></li> </ul></div>

MGNREGA wage payment to be videographed

In  a bid to check corruption in payment of MGNREGA wages, the government plans to introduce videography during the process. Videography...

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Iran says it shot down unmanned US spy plane

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> Iran's armed forces have shot down an unmanned US spy plane that violated Iranian airspace along the country's eastern border.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">An advanced RQ-170 unmanned American spy plane was shot down by Iran's armed forces. It suffered minor damage and is now in possession of Iran's armed forces.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The type of aircraft Iran says it downed, an RQ-170 Sentinel, is made by Lockheed Martin and was reportedly used to keep watch on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan as the raid that killed him</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Iran says it shot down unmanned US spy plane

 Iran's armed forces have shot down an unmanned US spy plane that violated Iranian airspace along the country's eastern border. ...

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