Daily Latest News

Cape Wind: A Green Signal To The First Ever Wind Farm Project of United States
Sandra Bullock Adopts Black Boy: Hollywood Star Will Adopt The Baby As A Single Parent
Fire Broke out in Kashmiri Gate shops in Delhi
iGATE Listed in Top Twenty List of Global IT firms by Int’l Ass. Of Outsourcing Professionals
Rock Star Anand Bhatt raises over $40k for Animal Rescue in a Single Morning
‘Shibu Soren ready to resign and support BJP’
Gupta passed Afghan information to ISI, probe on
Fishermen take out marches in Porbandar, Karachi
Man found hanging from tree in Delhi
Brand New Acura MDX: The All in one Car [Review, Photo and Video]
Income Tax sleuths question Kings XI Punjab officials
CBI arrests Ahmedabad cop for Sohrabuddin killing
Home ministry officer booked in bullet proof jacket scam
Pressure on Germany to accept Greece aid
Don’t hassle public when I travel: Uttar Pradesh governor
Kolkata hospital gets closure notice for pollution
MCD, DDA pulled up over illegal encroachments
Anand outplays Topalov, moves into lead in World Chess
First US wind farm approved
US central bank keeps interest rates at record low

Cape Wind: A Green Signal To The First Ever Wind Farm Project of United States

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:52 PM PDT

Today the first ever offshore wind farm project in the U.S has been given a green signal by the interior secretary Mr. Ken Salazar in Horseshoe Shoal. In the United States this project is being viewed as a huge step towards the renewable energy.

According to the Salazar this wind farm project is completely suitable for sustainable development of the area. He also says that though this project is little small when it comes to production but the aid of one billion dollars is sufficient for producing ample electricity to enlighten almost 400,000 houses. With the approval to this project other wind projects are also expected to be shown a green signal.

There are number of projects that have already been sent as a proposal for many customers of East Coast and the Great Lakes

In this project powerful and giant turbines of 400 feet are likely to be used which will need the area of 24 square miles. These giant turbines are going to be provided by the German Conglomerate Siemens AG.

So far as the decision of approving this cape wind project is concerned so it has been taken for designing certain conditions that will certainly provide protection to offshore water from getting damaged and it will also protect it from reducing visibility.

As per Salazar this decision and project is likely to face legal problems but he is confident that it will be a successful project.

Supporters of this project also present a point in the favor of this project that these wind farms represent a huge push for renewable energy endeavors

. Moreover, with this project they will no more have to be dependent on foreign oil and this project fits perfectly with the strategy regarding the energy of Obama administration.

"Greenpeace has been running a campaign for getting this project built nearly for a decade. So according to the research director at the environmental group Mr. Kert Davies approval given to it is like a huge victory and it is worth celebrating. Some facts about Cape Wind project.

Cape Wind project took years of environmental review and political efforts. It was also opposed strictly by the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, because his six-acre (2.4 hectare) family compound in Hyannis Port also became the part of it.

When a final formalities were being completed in terms of this project in the year 2009 so at that time so it was delayed further after two Wampanoag Indian tribes launched a complaint that with the huge turbines that will be used in this project will disturb the holy sun greetings and possibly ancestral artifacts including burial grounds which are located on the seabed.

Opponents have also taken this project strictly and they cogitate that it is likely to put precarious effect on property values in the vacation area that is southern part of Boston. This project is also going to harm birds, whales, fishing, aviation, and historic sites.

In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation which is a federal agency in charge of safeguarding historic landmarks sates that these types of projects must be turned down.

Moreover, in this regard the governments of six states of eastern part of United States sent a letter back to Salazar. Through this letter they have made it crystal clear that if the cape project is not shown a green signal so they will abandon other offshore projects.

The moment interior secretary Mr. Salazar received this letter he considered the things written in it as a part of his decision and said that there seems to be a huge potential for offshore wind along the Atlantic. Moreover, we do not wish to become second to anyone.

Last year there an increase in the U.S. wind generation by 27% which is attributable for fulfilling 2 percent of total electricity. In accordance with the Energy Department wind power also provides support for nearly 85,000 American jobs.

President of Natural Resources Defense Council Mr. Frances Beinecke, believes that these sort of projects for renewable energy help us fight climate change as well as in creating jobs. Besides all these things these types of projects also play a vital role in our economic recovery,”

Number of nations have got much higher levels of wind power generation with the help of wind farm projects especially with the help of huge government subsidies and this list also includes Denmark, Spain and Portugal.

Sandra Bullock Adopts Black Boy: Hollywood Star Will Adopt The Baby As A Single Parent

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 11:16 AM PDT

Sandra with Adopted Black baby (Click to Enlarge)

Top-notch Hollywood star Sandra Bullock has decided to get divorce Jesse James. She has taken this step due to the multiple or clash of characters of Jesse James.

Sandra Bullock completed all the process of filing a divorce at her home in Austin Texas. According to the divorce filing the couple does not have any child under 18 years of age who can get any sort of financial support.

According to the story made public in the Peoples Magazine's website Sandra Bullock and Jesse James adopted a baby born named Louis Bardo Bullock who had taken birth in New Orleans. This Oscar winner star is planning to adopt the baby as a single parent.

Jesse James and Sandra Bullock got separate in the moth of March after having a nuptial relation of five years. The main cause of their separation of Sandra Bullock and Jesse James was the report of celebrity website WWW.TMZ.Com.

Fire Broke out in Kashmiri Gate shops in Delhi

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 10:41 AM PDT

A major fire broke out in a few shops in Kashmiri Gate Delhi Wednesday night. No human damages were reported, fire brigade spokesperson told.

The fire was informed from the shops situated close to State Election Commission office in ISBT at around 8 in night and 32 fire brigade vehicles were rushed to the fire spot.

The reason of blazes was not recognized till now.

Quoting PCR, a communication from Delhi Disaster Management Authority told the flames broke out in the Punjab & Sindh Bank branch in Kashmere Gate, Delhi.

A major fire broke out in a few shops in Kashmiri Gate Delhi Wednesday night. No human damages were reported, fire brigade spokesperson told.

The fire was informed from the shops situated close to State Election Commission office in ISBT at around 8 in night and 32 fire brigade vehicles were rushed to the fire spot.

The reason of blazes was not recognized till now.

~ Rest Continues Below ~

Quoting PCR, a communication from Delhi Disaster Management Authority told the flames broke out in the Punjab & Sindh Bank branch in Kashmere Gate, Delhi.

iGATE Listed in Top Twenty List of Global IT firms by Int’l Ass. Of Outsourcing Professionals

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 10:31 AM PDT

According to recent news reports, the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals has listed iGATE, a business outcome driven integrated Technology and Operations firm as a Top 20 global IT firm in the Discrete Manufacturing sector.

The iTOPS firm was listed on the IAOP's top twenty list from a wide variety of outsourcing vendors. The decision was made by an independent panel of industry experts from academic and business institutions.

Deborah Hamill, senior managing director global membership of IAOP, was quoted as saying, “The Global Outsourcing 100 program continues to grow each year in importance and has become the go-to resource for the industry."

Meanwhile, Senior Vice President and Practice Head – Manufacturing, Logistics & Retail Services Delivery at iGATE, Nagasamy Pitchai, said in a statement, “Being acknowledged by IAOP as a leading outsourcing solutions provider for the discrete manufacturing industry for the second time in a row is a great honor. We are glad that several of our Fortune 500 clients in the manufacturing industry acknowledge the business process improvements they gain through our solutions.”

The World's Best Outsourcing Advisors and the 2010 Global Outsourcing 100 lists along with rankings will be listed in an advertising feature by IAOP in Fortune Magazine's May 3 issue.

IGATE is a first of its kind outsourcing solutions vendor to provide a business outcome based solution via an integrated technology and operations (iTOPS) structure. The company also offers global service delivery. One of iGATE's goals is to work with customers and optimize businesses and obtain cost advantages that are sustainable year on year. At the same time, costs are tied to business requirements and results.

The company's competitors in the outsourcing arena include mobile application firms, top web design companies and software development firms. iGATE is an expert provider of IT consulting, data warehousing, application development and maintenance, BPO, infrastructure management, Enterprise solutions, independent verification and validation, contact center services and KPO.

The company has offices in 16 countries with global delivery centers in Australia, Mexico, India and Malaysia.

Rock Star Anand Bhatt raises over $40k for Animal Rescue in a Single Morning

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 10:00 AM PDT

Anand Bhatt

User Submitted (Press Release): Rock Star Anand Bhatt raises over $40k for Animal Rescue in a Single Morning On a recent Saturday morning, while most of us were reading the paper or watching TV, Grammy recognized rockstar Anand Bhatt lead an initiative that made over $40k available for animal rescue charities.

Los Angeles, California, April 28, 2010 /India PRwire/ — On one single Saturday Morning, rockstar Anand Bhatt managed to raise over $40,000 for animal rescue in Illinois. How you ask? Bhatt decided that he was going to give up earning any money for his CD sales for one special day in which a local Chicagoland not-for-profit shop assisted in using Bhatt’s albums to earn for the cause at hand.

Each forgoing of earnings, was matched by record label Sonic Wave International. Together, the collaborative effort under Bhatt’s initiative raised over $40,000 in a matter of hours. Illinois currently has a significant population of both wild animals and pets that live in dangerous situations. The state also has a euthanasia rate.

Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year: 3-4 million. Only sixteen percent (16%) of owned dogs were adopted from animal shelters. Only fifteen (15%) percent of owned cats were adopted from animal shelters.

Animal rescue programs in Illinois help by creating, funding, and managing proactive programs which prevent unwanted animals, educating the community on the problems of pet overpopulation and offering solutions, and assisting in the aid of both wild animals in their natural habitats as well as domesticated ones.

Bhatt’s new album titled “;)” was also release last Tuesday which will help raise funds for his charity. http://www.prlog.org/10609028-rocker-anand-bhatt-raises-over-40k-for-animal-rescue-in-single-morning.html More info can be found at http://tinyurl.com/anandrescue Notes to Editor ### Sonic Wave International Entertainment Sonic Wave International is a worldwide record label and entertainment production company based in the United States of America with offices and affiliates in Singapore, Japan, Australia, & France.

For more information, please contact: Andy Desai/Vince Scalabrino press@sonicwaveintl.com (L) 312-970-WAVE Quotes from Anand on the new project: “The new album came out last Tuesday (titled “;)”) and it was an album done for fun in which I took fan requests to determine the songs. Therefore, it features rock versions of songs from John Mayer, Colbie Caillat, B.o.B., Michael Buble, Soundgarden/Pearl Jam, Sinead O’Conner, and Danzig.”

‘Shibu Soren ready to resign and support BJP’

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:40 PM PDT

Ranchi, April 28 (IANS) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren’s son Hemant Wednesday said his father would step down if the Bharatiya Janata Party wanted to form the government in the state.

Hemant Soren, reacting to the BJP summary decision to withdraw support to the Shibu Soren government, said the party should review that decision to pull out support.

If the BJP was interested in forming the government in the state,, his father was ready to step down, Hemant added.

‘He (Shibu Soren) made a mistake by supporting the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government on the cut motions,’ Hemant Soren added.

Peeved at Shibu Soren’s vote with the government during Tuesday night cut motions, the BJP at an emergency meeting of its parliamentary board withdrew support to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha government in Jharkhand.

Gupta passed Afghan information to ISI, probe on

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:40 PM PDT

New Delhi/Thimphu, April 28 (IANS) The Indian woman diplomat, held on charges of spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, continued to be interrogated Wednesday and investigations so far indicate she may have passed on sensitive information about New Delhi’s plans in Afghanistan. India said the case of spying was a ’serious issue’.

Senior external affairs ministry officials have been briefed about Gupta’s alleged activities in Pakistan, which included supplying classified documents related to Indian interests in Pakistan and Afghanistan, reliable sources said.

The sources said she had passed on information about India’s strategy for the Feb 25 foreign-secretary level talks with Pakistan.

Gupta worked as second secretary in the Indian high commission in Islamabad till she was arrested on charges of spying for the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

As the spying scandal surfaced ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani in Thimphu Thursday, Pakistan reiterated that it was an ‘internal matter’ of India.

The Indian government chose to tread cautiously when asked about the spying incident.

‘Investigations are going on. We will have to wait till the investigations are complete and then find out what was the motive and what was the modus operandi,’ External Affairs Minister S.N. Krishna told reporters in the Bhutanese capital.

Regional leaders from eight countries have gathered in Thimphu for the two-day South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit.

‘It is a serious issue. That’s the reason why she was called back and is now under police custody,’ he added, a day after Gupta was remanded in police custody.

‘MHA (ministry of home affairs) is doing the investigation. Once we get all the reports, what needs to be done will be done by the government of India,’ the minister said.

A promotee officer of the external effairs ministry, 53-year-old Gupta was arrested five days ago after she was summoned to Delhi on the pretext of consultations for the April 28-29 SAARC summit in Thimphu, official sources said.

Gupta was presented again before a court Monday which remanded her in police custody for five more days.

Gupta was not a member of the main Indian Foreign Service (IFS), but belonged to the lower cadre known as IFS-B.

It’s not clear yet what was Gupta’s modus operandi or her motive behind spying for Pakistan.

According to a report by CNN-IBN, Gupta disclosed to the ISI the identities of Indian intelligence officers posted as diplomats in Islamabad. Gupta has also mentioned names of intelligence officers posted in some Indian embassies in South Asia and Middle East, government sources told CNN-IBN.

Gupta had been under surveillance for the last four months and action was taken after it was confirmed that she was passing sensitive information to her handlers, sources said.

Gupta worked with the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), a foreign policy think tank, before she was posted at the Indian high commission in Islamabad. She worked there in 2006-2007 as assistant director, sources told IANS. The sources said she specialised in Urdu and was very keen to go to Pakistan.

Authorities are, however, trying to verify whether Gupta was used to ‘bug’ the Indian high commission in Islamabad.

Fishermen take out marches in Porbandar, Karachi

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:38 PM PDT

Porbandar, April 28 (IANS) In a show of solidarity, fishermen in India and Pakistan Wednesday took out marches in Porbandar and Karachi to demand the release of their kin incarcerated in the other country.

‘If the respective governments still fail to respond, we will knock on the doors of the respective Supreme Courts,’ Manish Lodhari, secretary of the Fishworkers Forum in Porbandar, said.

The proccessionists marched through the streets of Porbandar to the district collector’s office and submitted a memorandum listing their grievances to be forwarded to the president of India.

According to Lodhari, their demands include the release of fishermen in jails in Pakistan as well as the release of their boats.

‘Five hundred and eightyone fishermen are in jails in Pakistan, and of these 460 have already served their prison terms. Similarly 444 Indian boats are in Pakistani possession. The condition of the Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails is pathetic,’ he said.

Lodhari said that their counterparts in Pakistan, all members of the Pakistan Fisheries Forum led by their president Mohammed Ali Shah, had taken out a similar rally through the streets of Karachi demanding release of their kin and boats in Indian custody.

Over 247 Pakistani fishermen and 65 of their boats are in Indian custody, according to information available from their counterparts across the border. Besides Porbandar, similar rallies were taken out in smaller fishing towns like Veraval, Mangrol, Okha and Dwarka.

Jeevan Jungi of the Porbandar Boats Association said that the territorial disputes between the two countries was making life miserable for fishermen on both sides of the border.

‘Many innocent fishermen and their families are suffering on this count on both sides of the border. We have, therefore, decided to come together to take this up with our respective governments,’ he added.

Man found hanging from tree in Delhi

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:38 PM PDT

New Delhi, April 28 (IANS) A 26-year-old man was found hanging from a tree in south Delhi’s Kalkaji area Wednesday, police said.

Identified as Ganga Singh from Uttarakhand, the man’s body was found hanging from a tree in a park in front of a temple, an official said.

‘We have informed his family…if they reach here tomorrow (Thursday), we will send his body for post-mortem examination,’ he said.

Investigations are on to determine if the man committed suicide, he added.

New Delhi, April 28 (IANS) A 26-year-old man was found hanging from a tree in south Delhi’s Kalkaji area Wednesday, police said.

Brand New Acura MDX: The All in one Car [Review, Photo and Video]

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 07:07 AM PDT

Acura MDX

When we talks about spacious family cars with plethora of cargo room & scope for 7 people, there are plenty of alternatives outside. But when you begin to inquire much extra of these vehicles, SUVs & crossovers their plea completely loosens.

The all new Acura MDX 2010 is entertaining to drive, grips with sports car accuracy, have ultra-luxurious core fittings. Acura MDX is fashionable enough to revolve you around & do a twice take when you stroll into the grocery shop. It has class leading fuel economy.

Acura MDX is the vehicle you & your children not only require but will very much in be in love with. You will adore driving it & the children would not be uncomfortable when you go to take them up from school. The vehicle has new technique improvements for this year and has shaped a fashionably pointed external design management that gives the MDX a much additional luxurious look. You would by no means guess this seven seats surprise merely starts at USD 42,230.

Income Tax sleuths question Kings XI Punjab officials

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:36 PM PDT

Panchkula (Haryana), April 28 (IANS) Officials of the Income Tax (IT) department here Wednesday questioned officials of KPH Dreams Private Limited, which owns Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kings XI Punjab.

According to officials, this questioning went on for nearly five hours at the office of the IT department (investigation wing), north-west region, here.

‘We have also scrutinised various accounts documents pertaining to the previous three editions of the IPL. We have seized some documents but we cannot divulge details at this moment,’ said an IT department official here Wednesday.

The IT department sleuths also refused to disclose the names of Kings XI Punjab officials who were questioned.

Earlier, a team of IT officials had visited the godown-cum-office of Kings XI Punjab in the neighbouring Mohali town, in Punjab, April 23, to verify some documents.

These moves were prompted by the recent controversies in the IPL over new Kochi franchise and questions being raised about the sources of its funds, sources said.

CBI arrests Ahmedabad cop for Sohrabuddin killing

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:36 PM PDT

Gandhinagar, April 28 (IANS) An Indian Police Service (IPS) officer posted in Ahmedabad was Wednesday arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for the 2005 Sohrabuddin Sheikh killing in faked shootout, taking the number of cops held in the case to 15.

Ahmedabad crime branch’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abhay Chudasama, 44, a 1999 batch IPS officer, was one of the conspirators who abducted Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauserbi, the CBI said.

‘Chudasama has been concertedly influencing important witnesses to conceal true facts and to give false statements to the CBI hence he has been arrested today (Wednesday) on the oral testimony of witnesses and material objects,’ said the CBI, whose probe is led by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) P. Kandaswamy.

Chudasama is the first person to be arrested by the CBI after it took over the investigation under the Supreme Court direction on Jan 12.

He is the fourth IPS officer to be arrested in the case. Three other IPS officers are in jail for the killing Sheikh in a fake shootout and the mysterious death of his wife Kauserbi.

The three other IPS officers are DIG D.G. Vanzara, Gujarat cadre IPS officer Rajkumar Pandian, and Rajasthan cadre IPS officer M.N. Dinesh.

Eleven policemen are also in the dock in the case.

The arrests have come in the wake of a petition filed by Rubabuddin Sheikh, brother of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, in the Supreme Court.

In his petition, Rubabuddin stated that his brother and his wife were picked up by a team of the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Rajasthan Special Task Force on November 25, 2005, while the couple was going to Nashik from Hyderabad.

On November 28, 2005, the ATS and the STF claimed that Sohrabuddin was killed in a shootout near Ahmedabad. His wife Kauserbi was missing ever since.

The cops claimed he had come to Ahmedabad with the intention of targeting senior political leaders and to engage in subversive activities. The ATS and STF claimed that he was an operative of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Based on Sheikh’s petition, the apex court gave a notice to the central government which asked the Gujarat government to submit a report.

The Director General of Police, Gujarat, entrusted the investigation to DIG (crime) Geeta Johri who submitted two interim reports.

The investigations raised questions about the presence of Sohrabuddin in Ahmedabad on the day the encounter took place on the city’s outskirts.

In a related development, just over a year later Tulsiram Prajapati, the third person who was picked up by the ATS and STF alongwith Sohrabuddin and his wife, was killed in a shootout on Dec 26, 2006, near Ambaji in Banaskantha district.

Later, the state government admitted before the apex court that there was prima facie evidence to suggest Sohrabuddin was killed in a shootout.

The case turned out to be a major embarrassment for the Narendra Modi government in the Supreme Court which slammed the Gujarat government’s probe saying there were factual discrepancies in ATRs and the charge sheet.

The court then handed over investigation of the case to the CBI, which registered a case in February against Gujarat police officials for criminal conspiracy, murder and

abduction.

Home ministry officer booked in bullet proof jacket scam

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:34 PM PDT

New Delhi, April 28 (IANS) A senior home ministry official was booked for corruption and his residence was raided in connection with the purchase of bullet proof jackets for personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said Wednesday.

The case was registered against R.S. Sharma, director level officer in the home ministry, for allegedly accepting a bribe in the purchase of bullet proof jackets. Sharma looks after modernisation and provisioning for paramilitary forces and allocation of weaponry for all police forces.

‘Sharma had developed a nexus with certain private firms supplying security equipment such as armoured panels, bullet proof jackets, helmets and shields and was granting undue favours to such firms,’ CBI spokesman Harsh Bhal told reporters here.

The home ministry floated a tender for procurement of 59,000 bullet proof jackets for in July 2009. The tender ran into controversies after allegations of manipulation and discriminatory trial of samples of private firms participating in the tender process.

This led to re-evaluation of the tender and re-trial of sample bullet proof jackets.

‘Sharma leaked confidential information about the tender and trial process to a competing firm. He established unauthorised contact with the private firm and had been demanding and accepting illegal gratification in lieu of services and favours shown,’ he added.

Bhal said searches were being conducted at residential and official premises of Sharma as well as the owner of the private firm.

Pressure on Germany to accept Greece aid

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:34 PM PDT

Berlin, April 28 (DPA) The European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) stepped up pressure on Germany Wednesday to expedite a bailout for debt-stricken Greece, as signs emerged that Athens may need more money than first thought.

‘Every day that is lost, it gets worse in Greece and the eurozone,’ IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn told a press conference in Berlin, following a meeting with ECB chief Jean-Claude Trichet and german Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.

The Greek debt crisis intensified Wednesday amid a renewed fall in markets, after the international rating agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P) Tuesday dramatically downgraded Greek bonds to junk status and cut the credit rating for Portugal, which is also battling to clean up its state finances.

On Wednesday, Spain followed suit as S&P downgraded its rating from AA+ to AA, describing the country’s economic prospects as negative.

The news that Spain’s credit rating had been downgraded resulted in the euro sliding again in late afternoon European trading, declining by 0.4 percent to $1.3117, its lowest level for a year.

But the prospects of the new round of Greek cuts being agreed to by the end of the week helped to introduce an element of composure into financial markets in late trading Wednesday.

Stocks in Athens were also stable with the key index closing above the 1,700 points level at 1696.68 points – an increase of 10.67points, or 0.63 percent rate.

However, Europe’s blue-chip Stoxx 50 index closed down 0.9 percent at 2543 after tumbling 1.4 per cent earlier in the day.

Greece’s perilous financial state has also fuelled speculation that the nation might require additional aid to help it limp through the crisis.

Speaking in Sao Paulo where he is on an official visit, German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said that in the three years to 2012, Greece would receive some 135 billion euros ($178.1 billion) in loans, of which Germany would pay 8.4 billion a year, the highest among the 16-member eurozone states.

‘I can’t rule out,’ he added, ‘that it will be a higher amount.’

Greece was forced to request a European-IMF financial lifeline after a surge in borrowing costs.

Faced with widespread German voter anger about throwing Greece a financial lifeline, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is insisting on strict conditions to apply to any Greek bailout.

With time running out for Greece, Merkel has come under fire amid claims her government was exacerbating the crisis by delaying a decision on the legislation to help activate the financial lifeline.

Merkel suggested that the initial decision for Greece to join the eurozone may have been mistaken, after meeting the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

‘It became evident that the decision was possibly not checked thoroughly enough,’ Merkel said, referring back to the decision for Greece to join the eurozone in the year 2000.

Officials from the IMF, ECB and the European Union (EU) are currently in Athens attempting to reach agreement on a round of new measures aimed at slashing Greece’s ballooning deficit and budget level, which is expected to the completed by the end of the week.

For his part, Trichet said Athens had to agree to a program of savings that was ‘courageous and convincing.’

Schaeuble said during the press conference that legislation to activate Germany’s contribution to the emergency line of credit could be ready for parliament as early as next Monday, provided Athens agrees to the new rounds of budget cuts.

At a separate press conference, Merkel said the IMF and the European Commission need to rapidly devise a programme with Greece.

‘Everything else depends on that,’ she added.

After talks with Strauss-Kahn, Merkel later agreed that the moves to activate the bailout should be accelerated.

Speaking to reporters, Strauss-Kahn declined to set out any detail on the talks taking place in Athens, saying they were still negotiations. Greece is in a very difficult situation and slashing its debt level can’t be done ‘without being painful,’ he said.

But both the IMF chief and Trichet expressed confidence that the crisis surrounding Greece would be resolved.

‘The problem will be fixed,’ Strauss-Kahn said. ‘Athens is committed to doing what is needed.

Asked whether Greece would be able to repay the loans, Strauss-Kahn told reporters, ‘There is no programme from the IMF that has not been repaid in the past.

Don’t hassle public when I travel: Uttar Pradesh governor

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:32 PM PDT

Lucknow, April 28 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Governor B.L. Joshi Wednesday directed the state police to ensure no unnecessary traffic restrictions or diversions are imposed during his movement on the roads, said sources in the Raj Bhavan.

In a letter to Director General of Police Karamveer Singh, Joshi said unnecessary traffic restrictions imposed by the police during his movement outside Raj Bhavan cause problems for the public, so these should not be imposed taking into account the common man’s comfort.

Significantly, when Joshi was on his way to the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) last week, a motorcyclist came in the way of the governor’s convoy. Later, the motorcyclist was allegedly manhandled by the police.

Joshi has also sought action against the policemen who had assaulted the motorcyclist.

Kolkata hospital gets closure notice for pollution

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:32 PM PDT

Kolkata, April 28 (IANS) Clamping down on healthcare units for improper handling of bio-medical waste, the West Bengal Pollution Control Board has issued closure notice to a private hospital and issued notices to three state-run hospitals.

Biswadeep Mukherjee, law officer of the WBPCB, said the state pollution watchdog has issued closure notice on the 400-bedded Calcutta Medical Research Institute as it was mixing bio-medical waste with municipal waste and dumping it in the garbage.

‘They did not pay heed to our repeated show-cause notices,’ Mukherjee said.

However, the punishment would come into force a month later if the hospital continued to treat bio-medical waste improperly.

‘We don’t want patients admitted to the hospital to suffer,’ Mukherjee said.

The government hospitals served show-cause notices are Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, Howrah State General Hospital and Uluberia Sub Divisional Hospital.

However, the CMRI management claimed it followed PCB norms on bio-medical waste. ‘Some bags may have got interchanged and contents of one were found in the other.’

He said the CMRI personnel will be imparted more training to prevent recurrence of such mistakes.

MCD, DDA pulled up over illegal encroachments

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:30 PM PDT

New Delhi, April 28 (IANS) Two civic agencies were Wednesday pulled up by the Delhi High Court for not removing illegal encroachments in a locality in northwest Delhi and their chiefs were summoned May 12 for explanation.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Mukta Gupta directed Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner K.S. Mehra and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) vice-chairman Ashok Kumar to personally appear before the court to explain why they had not complied with the court’s order Feb 11 last year.

‘A year and two months have passed and the agencies have failed to implement the order for removal of illegal encroachment in two months. Each agency is passing the buck on to other,’ the judges said.

‘You cannot take the court for granted. Nobody is bothered to see the order,’ they added.

Last year, the court directed the civic agencies to remove the illegal encroachments from the roads meant for residents of three housing co-operative societies in Paschim Vihar area.

The housing societies had filed a petition saying that the residents of the 200 flats faced many problems as the road they used has been encroached upon.

They said that they had met and presented their case to the two agencies but nothing was done.

While the MCD is responsible for the civic administration of nearly 96 percent of Delhi’s land area, the DDA is the land development agency.

Anand outplays Topalov, moves into lead in World Chess

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:30 PM PDT

Sofia, April 28 (IANS) Defending champion Viswanathan Anand dealt Veselin Topalov a huge blow with a novelty and a win in the fourth game to go 2.5-1.5 up in the 12-game World Chess Championship match.

In a game that showed Anand’s ability to take mind games to his opponent’s camp, Anand used a opening that Vladimir Kramnik had used to torment Topalov.

The duo will meet again in fifth game on Friday.

Anand, playing with white pieces, played the Catalan once again and came with a novelty as early as the tenth move (10. Na3) and pegged Topalov’s moves to the queenside and made him squirm and finally give up after 32 moves.

It was in some senses a typical Catalan but White had full compensation. Into the game post 25th move, Anand was all set to launch his attack in a preparation that he seemed to be comfortable in. Yet he took his time before going all out.

With Topalov’s pieces tied, Anand launched a huge sacrificial attack on the king and carried it to through a fine win.

Once Anand unleashed his novelty on move 10, Topalov went into a long think and then played a move that showed Anand had prepared well and thereafter went on to demolish his opponent.

Topalov’s pieces gradually got tied up on the Queenside and far away from his king. Anand went for a sacrificial attack and won the game.

Thus far white pieces have produced three wins in the match so far.

First US wind farm approved

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:28 PM PDT

Washington, April 28 (DPA) President Barack Obama’s administration Wednesday approved construction of the first offshore US wind farm near the Massachusetts coastline, backing a project fiercely opposed by locals, including the state’s late senator Ted Kennedy.

The Cape Wind project is to be built in federal waters near the state’s upscale island of Cape Cod. The wind turbines would be visible from many of the exclusive villas on the island, including that of the Kennedy family.

Locals have spent nearly 10 years trying to thwart the $1-billion wind farm, which could produce up to 468 megawatts of electricity. The Interior Department, which approved the project, said it constituted one of the largest greenhouse-gas reducing

efforts in the US.

‘After almost a decade of exhaustive study and analyses, I believe that this undertaking can be developed responsibly and with consideration to the historic and cultural resources in the project area,’ said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

Massachusetts Senator John Kerry said he could ‘accept and support’ the decision, but the project still faces legal challenges in state courts.

US central bank keeps interest rates at record low

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:28 PM PDT

Washington, April 28 (DPA) The US Federal Reserve continued to keep interest rates at a record low of near 0 percent to help fuel a recovery in the world’s largest economy.

The Fed’s benchmark federal funds rate has been held at a 0-0.25-percent range since December 2008. A statement from the Fed’s board maintained language that rates would be held low ‘for an extended period’.

One of the Fed’s 10 board members opposed the central bank’s statement, preferring to signal that rates will be raised sooner rather than later.

Washington, April 28 (DPA) The US Federal Reserve continued to keep interest rates at a record low of near 0 percent to help fuel a recovery in the world’s largest economy.

GS WEBZONE

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

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