Thursday, 31 August 2017

Victoria's guide dog graduates start new journey to help visually impaired


Whenever photographer Andrew Follows ventured out with his camera and his guide dog Eamon, he would capture everyone’s attention. People would stop and talk to him, asking him questions.


“I mean, could you imagine meeting a guy with a guide dog and a camera? You’d be wondering what’s going on,” Mr Follows says.


“It’s challenging sighted people, that blind people can photograph.”


Born with a form of retinal degeneration, the 56-year-old’s sight has continued to deteriorate. Today, he can still see shapes, but has no vision in his left eye and only tunnel vision in the right. He can see only up to 3 metres.


Digital cameras and computers allow him to zoom in and see more. Photography has expanded his world, but it is his guide dog that helped him navigate it.


“Eamon gave me independence and freedom,” Mr Follows says.


“Freedom to get out and just explore and do more things instead of staying home.”


Last November, Eamon died.


“It was heart-wrenching,” Mr Follows says.


“For 10 years, we were basically joined at the hip … we were never separated. We were an identity in Eltham because they all knew me because of the dog. He was wonderful.”


Started in 1957, Guide Dogs Victoria has bred 8000 puppies, training them to help people navigate their world with confidence.


Mr Follows says losing Eamon slowed him down.


Guide Dogs Victoria chief executive Karen Hayes says it takes two years and more than $50,000 to breed, raise, train and match a suitable guide dog with a person with low vision.


Yet, she says, they only receive 10 per cent of their funding from government, depending on community support for the rest.


In June, after a long and complex matching process, Mr Follows was paired with another guide dog, Leo.


Puppies leave their litter when they are two months old. Last year, volunteers spent 1.26 million hours raising 140 puppies, teaching them basic obedience and getting them used to different environments like sounds, other dogs and people.


At 14 months the dog is assessed and, if it passes, starts a five-month intensive training program to become a fully fledged working guide dog.


Mr Follows says it is early days yet, but he thinks Leo too will become indispensable.


“I am still getting used to it, every now and then I still call him Eamon,” he says.


“He is turning out to be good. It will take a few more months before he really settles in with what I do, but the signs are there that he is going to be brilliant.


“… He is very lovable and always wanting to work.”


On Saturday, Leo will be one of the 93 guide dogs to qualify in what will be the organisation’s biggest cohort of graduates. He will be one of the 214 dogs working in the community. For Mr Follows it will be the start of another chapter.


“I think it means a whole new world is just about to begin. For me and Leo,” he says.


“Just the beginning of a new friendship and new journeys.”


To donate or volunteer visit www.dogsvictoria.com.au.


Article source: http://watoday.com.au/queensland/small-town-big-mystery-the-search-for-the-cooktown-killer-20170818-gxzfqp.html

Bhendi Bazaar building collapse: 33 die, 47 rescued, 15 still trapped


Mumbai:  The death toll in Bhendi Bazaar building collapse has increased to 33 with 15 others still feared trapped under the debris, the BMC Disaster Control said on Friday. 


As per the reports, a total of 47 people have been rescued so far.


Earlier at Thursday midnight ten fire engines and quick response team , two rescue vans, one house collapse van, ambulances, about 70 fire personnel, one National Disaster Response Force ( NDRF) team, two pock lane, six JCB and 16 dumpers were working for rescue operations.



The three-storey Husaini building collapsed in Mumbai’s Bhendi Bazaar area on Thursday.


Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh for the kin of those who died in Bhendi Bazaar building collapse.


Taking stock of the situation the Chief Minister also assured that action would be taken in case of any negligence in the incident.


The Chief Minister visited the accident spot and also ordered a detailed enquiry into the matter.


“Action will be taken in case of any negligence. I am personally monitoring the situation,” Fadnavis told the media here.


The Chief Minister also directed the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner to focus on immediate medical assistance to the injured persons.


The injured people have been admitted to the J. J. hospital for the medical treatment.



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Georgia cop who said 'we only kill black people' to be fired


The Georgia police lieutenant who said cops “only kill black people” during a traffic stop, will be fired, the police chief said Thursday.


“I have known Lt. (Greg) Abbott for years and perceived him as honorable, but he’s made a mistake,” Cobb County Police Chief Mike Register said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I don’t know what is in his heart, but I know what came out of his mouth. We recommend that he be terminated and we are moving forward on that.”


During a DUI stop last month, Abbott was recorded on dash-cam video telling the driver, “Remember, we only kill black people.”


The officer’s statement was in response to the driver telling the lieutenant she was afraid to move her hands because she had “just seen way too many videos of cops…”


GEORGIA POLICE OFFICER AT DUI STOP: ‘WE ONLY KILL BLACK PEOPLE’


“But you’re not black,” Abbott said to the driver. “Remember, we only shoot black people. Yeah. We only kill black people, right? All the videos you’ve seen, have you seen the black people get killed?”


The dash-cam video was timestamped July 10, 2016, but it was brought to light on Wednesday after Channel 2 Action News obtained the dash-cam video and submitted an open-records request and the police chief and his command staff looked into it.


Register, who was not police chief during the time of the video, said Abbott’s comments were “inappropriate” for a cop to say.


“I wish Lt. Abbott well. But I think that was very inappropriate for any police officer to say that, but especially one of our leaders in the department,” the chief reportedly said.


Abbott was on the force for 28 years.


The Associated Press contributed to this report. 



Article source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/section/lifestyle/~3/7di4XO4S2co/kylie-jenner-selling-t-shirts-featuring-kylie-jenner.html

Stars who were fired from TV shows


In a Hollywood minute you can go from star of a hit show to unemployed. That was the case for several actors who got booted from successful television series. Here’s a list of seven stars who got fired from their TV shows.


Article source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/section/lifestyle/~3/7di4XO4S2co/kylie-jenner-selling-t-shirts-featuring-kylie-jenner.html

Trump pushing for $6 billion in Harvey recovery funding


President Trump is requesting that nearly $6 billion be made available for the Harvey recovery process.


The administration urged Congress on Thursday to approve and provide $5.95 billion for the initial response and recovery efforts related to the devastating hurricane affecting parts of Texas and Louisiana, Axios reported.


A senior administration official told the website that White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney will be calling Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill this week, asking them for their support on the funding plan.


The official added that the Trump administration believes the requested amount will be more than enough to support hurricane recovery efforts until year’s end.


If approved by Congress, $5.5 billion would go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for its disaster relief operations and $450 million to the Small Business Administration to assist affected businesses.


To access the funding, the U.S. debt limit would have to be increased – a move that would aim at lowering the risk of default, Bloomberg Politics reported. 


A separate official told the news site that the White House was looking to extend the limit long enough to move back the threat of default until Congress is able to draft a budget for the full federal fiscal year.


Trump has expressed his desire to move swiftly on recovery efforts and rebuild damaged areas in Houston and southeast Texas. Some Democrats have said that the area could need more than $150 billion in federal aid. The initial request is expected to be a down payment on a larger federal aid package, the Washington Post reported.


The news came on the same day that President Trump pledged $1 million of his personal money to aid victims of Hurricane Harvey in both Texas and Louisiana.


“The president is pledging a million dollars of personal money to help,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Thursday.


Sanders said the president asked that she “check with” reporters for “suggestions” on groups and organizations that would be “best and most effective in providing aid.”


The press secretary was asked whether Trump would pay the $1 million from his personal funds, or from the Trump Organization.


“I know the president said he was going to give — I don’t know the legal part of exactly that, but he said his personal money,” Sanders answered. “So I assume that comes directly from him.”


Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed reporting to this story.




Perry Chiaramonte is a reporter for FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @perrych


Article source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/section/lifestyle/~3/7di4XO4S2co/kylie-jenner-selling-t-shirts-featuring-kylie-jenner.html

Mumbai building collapse: Birthday party turns tragic as three of family die in Bhendi Bazaar tragedy



  • Virbhadra revolt could hit Congress hard


    With elections to the Himachal Assembly scheduled later this year, the ruling Congress party is in the throes of a…




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    Homegrown extremists 'more threat' than IS recruits


    However, the threat from homegrown extremists has reached unprecedented levels, with significant numbers of people being directly encouraged or instructed to carry out attacks.


    One source said: “The threat picture has diversified enormously in recent months and is likely to remain severe for the foreseeable future.


    “As IS comes under pressure in Raqqa, as they did in Mosul, the impetus to go and join them has started to dissipate, but their message remains potent for those willing to listen.


    “Part of the problem is that propaganda had democratised the threat so that self-starters and lone actors can view material that is pumped out encouraging them to get out with knives or vehicles to launch these low-tech attacks.”


    Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters walk on the rubble of a damaged street in the Raqqas al-Sanaa industrial neighbourhood, Syria June 14, 2017. Picture taken June 14, 2017. REUTERS/Rodi Said
    Image:
    Syrian Democratic Forces fighters are taking the fight to IS jihadists in Raqqa

    More than 800 Britons have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight with ISIS.


    Police and security services feared that, as the terror group crumbled in the Middle East, hundreds would find their way back home as fully-trained killers.


    But the actual number of jihadist returners is significantly less than they expected.


    Around 350 British citizens have already returned to the UK. Some have been prosecuted, but police believe most of the others were probably not directly associated with IS.


    Sky News has been told up to 200 British fighters are believed to have been killed in the Middle East, with the remainder either unwilling or too afraid to return for fear of prosecution.


    The source said: “We now think that fewer are likely to return from Syria and Iraq than had previously been feared, partly because they are likely to have been killed in the fighting as it escalates and partly because those that survive are likely to seek refuge in other countries.


    Armed officers outside Westminster Bridge following a terror attack in which several people have been killed
    Image:
    Attackers have staged low-tech atrocities in Westminster and London Bridge

    “The threat from those who have never left the UK for Syria and Iraq is the predominant threat – they are still highly motivated and increasingly they are taking direction from individuals in the Middle East.”


    Authorities tell us they are monitoring around 100 British jihadists who they believe may return, so that threat has not gone away.


    Security minister Ben Wallace MP said: “I think what has happened is IS has very cleverly switched tactics.


    “They have realised that they cannot get the supply of fighters into Syria and Iraq and indeed they have been defeated, predominantly in Iraq.


    “But at the same time, IS think they need to spread terror, so what we have seen them do is use more inspiration, use more of the internet to radicalise those people to take action at home, and do whatever they can to kill people.”


    Intelligence agencies believe that advances in communications technology – such as encrypted chat websites and apps – are allowing those in the heart of the warzone in the Middle East to directly encourage radicalised individuals at home.


    Armed police following the UK terror attack
    Image:
    Authorities have a greater challenge than after the collapse of al Qaeda, experts say

    The UK’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Max Hill QC, told Sky News: “It is not always possible to find a back door into device to device encrypted communication, but there are ways in which the tech companies, can and should be co-operating with law enforcement.”


    The template for increased terror activity in the West was set more than a decade ago, with the dismantling of al Qaeda.


    Under intense pressure from coalition strikes, the group urged followers to launch attacks in London, Madrid and in other western cities.


    But terrorism experts say the authorities have an ever greater challenge this time around.


    Raffaello Pantucci, director of International Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute, said: “The difficulty for the security services is that they have now got a threat picture that is now so diffuse; it’s incredibly easy for anyone to pick up a knife, get into a car, and commit something, which from their perspective, they would consider a terrorist act in advance of their cause.”


    UK authorities believe there are as many as 3,500 individuals here who have an Islamist extremist mindset and may be susceptible to messages encouraging them to turn to violence.


    The terror threat the UK faces, we are told, is not about to go away anytime soon.


    Article source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/section/lifestyle/~3/7di4XO4S2co/kylie-jenner-selling-t-shirts-featuring-kylie-jenner.html

    More British troops head for Iraq to defeat IS


    Forty-four Royal Engineers will be sent to Al Asad airbase in Anbar province, western Iraq, Sir Michael Fallon has confirmed.


    The troops from 5 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 22 Engineer Regiment, in Tidworth will be in Iraq for six months to build infrastructure at the coalition camp.


    Their deployment will take the number of British personnel at the camp to more than 300 and the total in Iraq to around 600.


    The airbase is around 140 miles west of Baghdad and is home to troops from Iraq, the US, Denmark and the UK.


    UK troops are there to train Iraqi forces, as they try to remove the last Islamic State fighters from their country.


    IS once controlled around a third of Iraq but, having lost much of its territory in the past few months, it now controls barely 10%.


    Earlier this year, Iraqi forces retook the former IS stronghold of Mosul and last week, they retook the northern city of Tal Afar and surrounding region of Nineveh.


    Iraqi forces have also been steadily retaking the towns and cities of Anbar, which borders Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, but IS still controls parts of the border with Syria.


    Sir Michael said: “We are stepping up our contribution to the fight against Daesh (IS) and fulfilling Britain’s role as a key player in the global coalition.


    “Daesh is being defeated.


    “Iraqi forces, backed by coalition air strikes, have now liberated 70% of the territory Daesh held and the victims of its barbarism are being helped by our humanitarian support.


    “These extra troops will help support operations to bring the defeat of Daesh a step closer.”


    The UK ended its combat role in Iraq in 2009, six years after the US-led invasion.


    Article source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/section/lifestyle/~3/7di4XO4S2co/kylie-jenner-selling-t-shirts-featuring-kylie-jenner.html

    Early Education And Care Needs To Be More Than Just A Bung To Better Off Parents


    With a singular focus on early years’ policies, which subsidise the already well off, the Government is leaving disadvantaged children lagging further and further behind. Failing these children will lead to wasted talent and frustrated lives, and a social mobility penalty the country has to pay.



    Britain languishes at the bottom of the international league tables when it comes to using early years’ investment to tackle disadvantage. Some disadvantaged children are 15 months behind their peers even before they enter the primary school gate. Many never catch up, with the biggest indicator of how well a child does at GCSE, their developmental progress by the age of five.



    Early years’ investment has always been a balance between supporting working families with childcare costs on the one hand and increasing life chances and social mobility for the disadvantaged on the other. However, a new report I’m publishing today with the Social Market Foundation, reveals a shocking new imbalance between these aims. The proportion of new government spending on early education and care initiatives over this Parliament, which support narrowing the gap for the most disadvantaged children, is just 2.7%, or £250million, of a massive £9.1bn spending.



    For the bottom half of families, or the just about managing, the news isn’t much better, with only around a quarter of the new expenditure supporting their childcare and early education needs. That means a shooting three quarters of the new government money for the early years going to the top half of earners. Higher income families are by far and away the main beneficiaries of the majority of the new tax-free childcare support. The Resolution Foundation has also shown that better off families will benefit significantly more under the 30 hours free childcare scheme, which launches tomorrow. Let’s not forget you can get this new help if parents are earning up to £100,000 each.



    This huge skewing of resources will set social mobility back with better off children getting even more of a head start. Alongside this, schemes which have a positive impact on child development are being left to flounder. The two year old offer is failing to reach all those eligible, despite new evidence showing that it is having a positive impact on development. Alongside this, £250 million of public money is being squandered on low quality early education and care.



    It’s time to break the consensus that sees children of working parents gaining ever more than poorer children. Ministers must make social mobility the key test for all its early years policies.



    Ministers should scrap Tax Free Childcare and reverse their Inheritance Tax giveaway, refocussing this investment to close the pre-school attainment gap forever. Children’s Centres should be reformed and revitalised to support the delivery of a Best Start Guarantee from conception to school for all families, checking development progress and ensuring children and families get extra support if they need it.



    A new 10 year Early Education and Care Strategy should deliver universal high quality free teacher-led early education from age one to five. Pupil premium funding should double. The number of Maintained Nursery schools should increase, and poor performing early years settings should be supported to improve, or lose their public money.



    We must embrace public service reform too if we are to better focus services on tackling disadvantage and boosting development. 91 per-cent of early years settings are good or outstanding, yet half of poorer children do not reach a good level of development. This can’t be right. Ofsted and the Early Years Foundation Stage need reform, to make them more robust and ensure providers make narrowing the development gap, and ensuring all children have strong foundations to learn, a bigger priority.



    Let’s not just have bungs for better off parents. Children’s life chances are too often preordained at pre-school. It’s time to break that cycle and prioritise social mobility in the early years.



    Lucy Powell MP is the Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Manchester Central. A Lost Generation, her report on prioritising social mobility in early years, was published today with the Social Market Foundation.


    Article source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/section/lifestyle/~3/7di4XO4S2co/kylie-jenner-selling-t-shirts-featuring-kylie-jenner.html

    'Tory Momentum' Activate Reports Twitter Hack To Police


    Activate, which is described as an independent organisation that “seeks to actively engage young people in right of centre politics” has been compared to Labour’s Momentum, an independent campaign which helped Jeremy Corbyn secure victory.


    Article source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/section/lifestyle/~3/7di4XO4S2co/kylie-jenner-selling-t-shirts-featuring-kylie-jenner.html

    Blac Chyna & “Prison Bae” Jeremy Meeks Team Up for Secret Project



    Well, this is an odd pairing. Blac Chyna and “Prison Bae” Jeremy Meeks are apparently running in the same circle nowadays.


    Chyna shared a photo holding onto Meeks on her Snapchat on Wednesday (Aug. 30). But before rumors start spreading that the pair might be hooking it up, it seems Chyna and the felon-turned-model were working together on a photoshoot.



    More models could be seen in other pictures Chyna posted. However, the Lashed salon owner did not offer any details as to what project she was working on with Meeks.


    Chyna posted the unexpected photo on the same day another photo was making headlines for Meeks. Also on Wednesday, the model sparked engagement rumors after he shared an Instagram story with Topshop heiress Chloe Green wearing a large diamond ring on her left ring finger.



    However, a rep for the heiress quickly shot down the rumor simply stating “Chloe’s not engaged.”


    Between Chyna’s drama with Rob Kardashian and rapper Rarri True, and Meeks cheating on his wife and mother of his children with Green, I’m sure the two had interesting relationship stories (and advice) to share with each other.


    Article source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/section/lifestyle/~3/7di4XO4S2co/kylie-jenner-selling-t-shirts-featuring-kylie-jenner.html

    My resignation was party's wish: Rajiv Pratap Rudy ahead of Cabinet reshuffle



    Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who resigned as Skill Development Minister, amidst news of Modi Cabinet reshuffle has said that he stepped down from the post on party’s order.


    Reports said the BJP leadership is likely to bring back Rudy to the organisation set up by making him general secretary. Some unconfirmed reports said Rudy may also be made Bihar deputy chief minister replacing Sushil Modi who will be included in the Modi Cabinet.


    “It is part of the process, nothing unusual about it. We work for the government, we work for the party. It’s absolutely fine. I have worked in the organisation earlier,” Rudy told India Today.


    “I abided by the party’s decision and tendered my resignation,” Rudy, who represents Bihar’s Saran in Lok Sabha, added.


    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to rejig his Cabinet before leaving for BRICS Summit in China. Reports say reshuffle may take place on September 2.


    Apart from Rudy, several other ministers have also offered to tender their resignation. Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti has also reportedly offered to quit on health grounds. Kalraj Mishra is also likely to step down as he well above 75 years, the age bar the partyhas informally set for  ministers.


    At least two members of the Janata Dal-United are also likely to join the Modi Cabinet. The Nitish Kumar-led party walked out of the grand alliance in Bihar to join hands with the BJP again last month.


    There are several vacancies in the Cabinet while somesenior ministers, including Arun Jaitley and Harsh Vardhan,are holding additional portfolios.


    Speculations are that Dharmendra Pradhan, Prakash Javadekar and Piyush Goyal may get elevated.


    ALSO READ:


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    CM Yogi Adityanath Directs Officials to Establish Gaushalas in Bundelkhand


    Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to ensure that gaushalas are established in seven districts and 16 municipalities of Bundelkhand region to give care to cows with the assistance of conservation committees.


    This work will be carried out under the aegis of Uttar Pradesh Gau Seva Ayog. The state government will ensure help if needed. CM Yogi Adityanath also instructed to constitute a committee under the leadership of the District Magistrate for the smooth functioning of the Gaushalas.


    The Chief Minister said that the place for the Gaushala in rural areas should be safe and arrangements for fodder, water, etc. should be ensured for cattle. He said that Gau committees were entrusted with the task of running these gaushalas smoothly. Senior officials, including Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Gau Seva Ayog, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, were present at the meeting, presided over by the CM.


    CM Yogi said, “At these Gaushalas in Bundelkhand region, sheds will be erected to protect the cows. The Gau Seva Ayog will help in this work. Similarly, in the urban areas, for the protection of the cows, Gaushalas will have to be established, where the stray cows can be kept safe, and arrangements for their fodder will also be made.”


    The Chief Minister said that the cooperation of public representatives and various policies and programs of the Central Government in this regard will also be made. “When we are dependent on cows for milk, then we should also protect them. In the first phase, 7 districts of Bundelkhand and 16 municipal corporations, Gaushalas of the capacity of 1000 cows will be developed. After this, similar Gaushaals will be established in other districts, too.”




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    Now, Haryana Police Issues Lookout Notice for Honeypreet Insan


    New Delhi: Haryana Police has now issued a lookout notice for Honeypreet Insan, adopted daughter of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim. She is also touted as the next big name in the cult after the Dera chief himself.


    Haryana Police has also alerted all airports and exit points to lookout for her.


    The police are investigating as to how did Honeypreet or ‘Papa’s Angel’, as she calls herself, manage to board the chopper that took Ram Rahim to Rohtak Jail on Friday, after his conviction.


    She is also suspected of being part of a conspiracy to whisk the Dera chief away from police custody in case of an adverse verdict against on Panchkula on August 25.


    While some say, Honeypreet has gone into hiding soon after her father was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a 2002 rape case, other reports say she is putting up at the residence of a Dera follower in Sirsa.


    Honeypreet, who addresses Ram Rahim as GuruPa on social media, has her own website where she says, “It has been a wonderful experience working with my father. He inspired me. His talent, acting skills, sharp memory and overall contribution to the film made things easier.”


    Top Ten Schools in East Delhi – Rating, Ranks & Information Based on Top C-Fore Surveys 2016


    The Top Ten Schools in East Delhi listed below carry the ranks based on the Education World – C Fore Survey 2016 for Top Schools in Delhi and rankings by Career360 Annual Rating of Top Schools in Delhi 2016.


    East Delhi spans approximately 64 Kilometers and there are over a 100 schools in East Delhi. Parents looking for Nursery Admissions 2018-19 of their wards in schools of East Delhi can refer to the below guide to know what are the parameters that they lead and where they lag behind.


    The schools below are listed alphabetically in no particular ranks or order of preference.


    1. Ahlcon International School, Mayur Vihar, New Delhi


    Location: Mayur Vihar – I, New Delhi


    Rating: AAAA+


    Rank: Ahlcon International School, Mayur Vihar, New Delhi ranked 11th by scoring 1215 out of 1500 total in the Education World C-Fore Survey for Top Schools in Delhi 2016. The school scored 91/100 for Leadership Management Quality; 85/100 for Life Skills Education and Conflict Management and 83/100 for Internationalism, the highest in East Delhi. The school scored 83/100 for academic reputation.


    The school facilitates air rifle and pistol-shooting range amongst other sports provisions and has bagged 81/100 scores for Sports education – highest amongst other top ten schools in East Delhi.


    Board: Co-educational school affiliated to CBSE Board, New Delhi with 86% Average Exam Percentage.


    Classes: Kindergarten – XII


    Age Eligibility: 3+ as of 31 March of the Year of admission for Pre-School Admission


    Official Website: www.ahlconinternational.com


    For Nursery Admissions 2018-19 in Ahlcon International School, Mayur Vihar, New Delhi: http://www.ahlconinternational.com/admissions/overview.html


    2. Amity International School


    Location: Mayur Vihar – I, Delhi


    Rating: AAAA


    Rank: Amity International ranked 45th in the EW – C Fore Survey for Top Schools in Delhi 2016 with 1076/1500 points. Amity International School, Mayur Vihar enjoys top spot when it comes to Academic Reputation amongst Top Schools in East Delhi with 90/100 Scores. It scored 163/200 points for Competence of Faculty, which is second to Ahlcon International. Amity International got 62/100 points for Internationalism.


    Board: AIS, Mayur Vihar is a Co-Ed and affiliated to CBSE Board, New Delhi. The school has the highest Average Exam Percentage with 88% in this list.


    Classes: Kindergarten – Class XII


    Age Eligibility: 5+ as of 31 March of the Year of admission for Class I
    Official Website: http://amity.edu/ais/mayurvihar/


    For Nursery Admissions 2018-19 to AIS, Mayur Vihar:
    http://amity.edu/ais/mayurvihar/Admission-Procedure.aspx


    3. DAV Public School, East of Loni Road


    Location: East of Loni Road, New Delhi


    Rating: Not Rated by Career360


    Rank: DAV, East of Loni Road, New Delhi ranked 88th in the EW C Fore 2016 survey amongst top schools in Delhi by scoring 885/1500 points. The school scored 134/200 points for Competence of Faculty, 77/100 for Academic Reputation, 63/100 for Co-Curricular Education and 59/100 for Value for money.


    Board: DAV, East of Loni Road, Delhi is a co-ed school affiliated to CBSE Board, New Delhi. The Average Exam Percentage for this DAV institute is 75%.


    Classes: Nursery – XII


    Age Eligibility: Please contact school administration
    Official Website: http://daveastofloniroad.org/


    For Nursery Admissions 2018-19 in DAV Public School, East of Loni Road:
    Refer to the Notifications tab on school’s homepage


    4. DAV Public School, Shreshtha Vihar


    Location: Shreshtha Vihar, New Delhi


    Rating: Not Rated by Career360


    Rank: DAV Public School, Shreshtha Vihar ranked 44th in the EW Delhi Schools Survey 2016 by scoring 1077/1500 points. The school lies ahead in Competence of Faculty with 160/200 Scores however as per the survey it lags behind badly in individual attention with just 56/100 points despite the claim that it maintains 1:20 Teacher-Student ratio.


    Board: DAV Public School, Shreshtha Vihar is a Co-Ed school affiliated to CBSE Board, New Delhi with 84% Average Exam Percentage.


    Classes: Nursery to Class XII


    Age Eligibility: 3-Years-Old as of 31 March of the Year of Admission


    Official Website: www.davsreshtha.com


    For Nursery Admissions 2018-19 in DAV Public School, Shreshtha Vihar:
    Refer to the Notifications tab on school’s homepage


    5. Lovely Public Sr Sec School, Priyadarshini Vihar


    Location: Priyadarshini Vihar, New Delhi


    Rating: AAA+


    Rank: LPS ranked 86th by scoring 928/1500 points. Lovely Public Sr Sec School scored 142/200 under the Competence of Faculty parameter and shares 80/100 Academic Reputation. Its Infrastructure Provision is better than Mother’s Global and Amity International in East Delhi with 67/100 Scores.


    Board: Lovely Public Sr Sec School, Priyadarshini Vihar, New Delhi is a co-educational school affiliated to CBSE, New Delhi with 79% Average Exam Percentage.


    Classes: Nursery – Class XII


    Age Eligibility: Please contact school administration
    Official Website: http://lpsschool.com/


    For Nursery Admissions 2018-19 in Lovely Public Sr Sec School, Priyadarshini Vihar:
    Refer to the Notifications tab on school’s homepage

    6. Mother’s Global School, Preet Vihar


    Location: Preet Vihar, Delhi


    Rating: AAAA


    Rank: MGS, Preet Vihar ranked 81st with 977/1500 points. The school scored 150/200 points for Competence of Faculty, 82/100 points for Academic Repute, 71/100 points in Co-Curricular Education leading ahead of Ryan International and Sneh International however lagged behind in Sports Education with 62/100 points and Life Skills Education and Conflict Management with 59/100 and Infrastructure Provision with 64/100 points from the above said contenders.


    Board: Mother’s Global School is a Co-ed affiliated to CBSE, New Delhi with 81% Average Exam Percentage


    Classes: Kindergarten – Class XII


    Age Eligibility: 4+


    Official Website: http://mothersglobal.in/


    For Nursery Admissions 2018-19 in Mother’s Global School, Preet Vihar: http://mothersglobal.in/SDJ/Admissions.aspx


    7. Ryan International School, Mayur Vihar III


    Location: Mayur Vihar – III, New Delhi


    Rating: Not Rated by Career360


    Rank: RIS, Mayur Vihar ranked 74th amongst Top Schools in Delhi EW Survey 2016 with 999/1500 scores. Ryan International scored 146/200 points for Competence of Faculty. The school has participated in several theatre festivals in countries like Turkey, Japan, Pakistan, Germany and Jordan. Although the school organizes International Children’s Festival of Performing Arts, The Indian Model United Nations and annual trips to NASA, the school scored 58/100 points on Internationalism.


    Board: Ryan International is affiliated to CBSE New Delhi and is a Co-educational school with 80% Average Exam Percentage.


    Classes: Montessori III – Class XII


    Age Eligibility: Please contact the school administration


    Official Website: http://www.ryaninternationalschools.com/rismayurvihar/


    For Nursery Admissions 2018-19 in Ryan International School, Mayur Vihar III:
    Please refer to the Notice Board on the school’s website mentioned above


    8. Salwan Public School – Mayur Vihar


    Location: Mayur Vihar – III, New Delhi


    Rating: AAAA


    Rank: Salwan Public School ranked 27th in the Delhi/NCR with 1118/1500 Points. The school enjoys Academic Reputation at par with Ahlcon International with 86/100 Scores. Co-curricular education imparted at Salwan Public School gets 83/100 Scores. The school is far behind Ahlcon when it comes to Internationalism with just 63/100 Points however it is ahead of other top 10 schools in East Delhi in this parameter. Salwan Public offers assessments in various subjects in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, The British Council and Reggio Emilia Institute. It maintains a teacher-student ratio of 1:35.


    Board: Salwan Public School is a Co-educational institution affiliated to CBSE, New Delhi. The school has 85% Average Exam Percentage.


    Classes: Nursery – Class X


    Age Eligibility: 3+ Years


    Official Website: http://www.spsmayurvihar.com/


    For Nursery Admissions 2018-19 in Salwan Public School, Mayur Vihar III:
    http://www.spsmayurvihar.com/admission%20criteria.html


    9. Shaheed Rajpal DAV School


    Location: Dayanand Vihar, Delhi


    Rating: AAAA


    Rank: Shaheed Rajpal DAV School Dayanand Vihar ranked 44th in EW C-Fore Top Schools in Delhi Survey 2016 with 1077/1500 Points. The school has subscribed to Iken Design Technology Lab. Shaheed Rajpal DAV School Dayanand Vihar has better Individual attention scores than DAV Public School, Sreshtha Vihar with 60/100 points.


    Board: Shaheed Rajpal DAV School, Dayanand Vihar is a co-educational school affiliated to CBSE, New Delhi with 80% Average Exam percentage.
    Classes: Nursery to class XII


    Age Eligibility: 3+


    Official Website: http://davdayanandvihar.net/


    For Nursery Admissions 2018-19 in Shaheed Rajpal DAV School Dayanand Vihar:
    Please refer to the Notice Board on the school’s website mentioned above


    10. SNEH International School


    Location: Swasthya Vihar, Delhi


    Rating: AAA+


    Rank: Sneh International, Swasthya Vihar, Delhi ranks at par with Ryan International, Mayur Vihar and shares Rank# 74th amongst Top Schools in Delhi with 999/1500 points. Sneh International is an ISO 9001:2000 certified institution and lies ahead from Amity International, Mayur Vihar and Ryan International, Mayur Vihar for Infrastructure Provision with 71/100 points and scored 61/100 for Internationalism. The competence of faculty is marked at 144/200 points.


    Board: Sneh International School is a co-educational academic institution affiliated to CBSE Board, New Delhi with 79% Average Exam Percentage.


    Classes: Nursery – Class XII


    Age Eligibility: Please contact School Administration
    Official Website: http://www.snehinternationalschool.com/


    For Nursery Admissions 2018-19 in Sneh International, Swasthya Vihar: http://www.snehinternationalschool.com/junior/admission.aspx


    Possible New Ministers And How They Place In BJP's Election Strategy


    Bhupendra Yadav, who is the party’s man in charge of Gujarat, and former Mumbai police chief Satyapal Singh are among those tipped to be new ministers in a massive reshuffle of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ministerial team, expected on Saturday evening.


    Four union ministers resigned late on Thursday night seeming to set in motion the Cabinet revamp and, sources said, several more are likely to quit today to make way for new faces, including at least two from the BJP’s new partner, the Janata Dal United of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Janata Dal United leaders RCP Singh and Santosh Kushwaha are being discussed as likely new ministers.


    The mega exercise is expected to fill key cabinet vacancies and also bring into the council of ministers leaders from states where elections will be held soon.


    Bhupendra Yadav has the key charge of Gujarat, where BJP chief Amit Shah has set a target of winning 150 of the 182 seats in assembly elections due by the end of the year. An A-list central team led by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will lead election strategy in the state. Satpal Singh is a parliamentarian from Baghpat, where he defeated veteran politician Ajit Singh in 2014.



    Suresh Angadi a BJP lawmaker from Karnataka and Satpal Singh Satti from Himachal Pradesh could be inducted as ministers. Elections will be held in Himachal Pradesh later this year and in Karnataka next year. From Karnataka, Prahlad Joshi could also make it to the new-look council of ministers.
     bjp gujarat in charge bhupendra yadav ani


    Bhupendra Yadav is the party’s man in charge of Gujarat. (ANI)


    Prahlad Singh Patel, who is from Madhya Pradesh, another state where elections will be held next year, could also be made a minister. Mr Patel has been a minister before in the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.


    The names of BJP Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, and Harish Dwivedi from UP are also doing the rounds as possible new ministers.


    Senior Union ministers Uma Bharti, Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Radha Mohan Singh resigned late on Friday evening, as did junior minister for health Faggan Kulaste.


    Another minister of state, Mahendra Pande, quit to become the BJP’s UP state chief.



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    Haryana police issues lookout notice against Honeypreet for plotting Dera chief`s dramatic escape


    Sirsa: The Haryana police has issued a lookout notice against Honeypreet Insaan for allegedly plotting Dera Sauda Saccha Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh‘s escape from court.


    Honeypreet, whose real name is Priyanka Taneja, is the adopted daughter of the Dera chief.


    On August 25, a special CBI court in Panchkula held the Dera chief guilty of sexually exploiting two sadhvisor female followers in the 2002 rape case.



    Honeypreet along with a Dera security team, tried to snatch Gurmeet immediately after immediately the court proceedings. The plot was foiled by Panchkula police and the Army.


    Also Read: This is how Haryana Police foil rapist Dera chief’s dramatic escape


    On 28 August, CBI judge Jagdeep Singh sentenced Singh to 20 years in prison.


    Following this, Honeypreet went underground and has since been absconding.



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    Modi ministry reshuffle: Union minister Sanjeev Balyan resigns


    New Delhi: In the latest development, Sanjeev Balyan – the Minister of State of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation – has resigned.


    Ahead of the much-awaited reshuffle in the council ministers of Narendra Modi-led NDA government, ministers Uma Bharti and Rajiv Pratap Rudy resigned on Thursday evening. More resignations are likely to follow today, sources told Zee Media


    Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, Ministers of state minister (MoS) Giriraj Singh and Mahendra Nath Pandey are also are the other three cabinet members who resigned yesterday.



    The cabinet reshuffle and expansion is likely to take place on Saturday evening, before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled departure for BRICS summit on Sunday. 


    Ministers of state minister Faggan Singh Kulaste, Mahendra Nath Pandey, and may also tender their resignations, sources told Zee Media.



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    Bakra on wheels: Buy qurbani goats online, get home delivery


    With a day to go for Eid al-Adha, the demand for bakras (goats) has soared with residents making rounds of various mandis (markets) where the animals are sold.


    Along with the traditional markets, social media to has also become a sought-after medium for ram buyers. Several residents are opting to order goats online.


    “The advantage of buying a ram online is to have it delivered on time at home without having to arrange for transportation. Our family is sacrificing four rams this year. We bought them all online from a single trader as he offered a group discount,” said Javed Ansari, a resident.


    The sellers, too, have started preferring online sales instead of the traditional way. “The advantage of selling animals online is that it eliminates the involvement of middlemen and directly facilitates the deal between the buyer and the seller,” said Angrez Singh, owner of Sardar Farm near Chomu in Jaipur.


    Singh said that he started uploading advertisements on websites such as OLX and Quikr right after Eid al-Fitr in June.


    “We also distributed pamphlets outside mosques after prayers where the address to our website was mentioned. This year, we have already sold more than 300 goats and carried out business worth Rs 5 lakh,” said Singh.


    He added that WhatsApp has also become a preferred way for both the parties to negotiate the sale.


    “At our farm, we mainly have the Sirohi breed of goat and for buyers living in places like Delhi, we send videos and photos of the animals over WhatsApp before finalising the deal,” said Singh.


    “My son introduced me to a WhatsApp group which was selling sheep and ram and also providing live pictures. I joined the WhatsApp group and the seller will deliver the animal to my doorstep on the day of Eid,” said Sheikh Mansoor, a Jaipur resident.


    He added that this was convenient as he didn’t have to bargain while having to go all the way to the bakra mandi.



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    86 newborns die at Rajasthan hospital in two months, 37 due to doctors' carelessness,...


    At least 37 of the 86 infant deaths in two months at district hospital in Rajasthan’s Banswara were due to the carelessness of the doctors, a senior government official said Thursday.


    Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO), Banswara, Dr H L Tabiyar said the district hospital recorded deaths of 86 neonates (newborns who are less than 4 weeks old) in July and August, following which he conducted a probe.


    “Of the 86 deaths, 37 were due to birth asphyxia. Those 37 newborns could have been saved. We will find out the doctors responsible for this and initiate action against them,” Tabiyar said.


    Birth asphyxia is a medical condition resulting from deprivation of oxygen to a newborn during the birth process.



    Low birth weight had claimed 18 newborns, congenital disease eight while the remaining died after contracting infection and due to other reasons.


    Taking cognisance of the reports on the deaths of the neonates, state health minister Kali Charan Saraf Thursday directed Tabiyar to conduct a probe and submit its report within three days. Saraf also formed a three-member committee headed by director, reproductive and child health, Dr SM Mittal to investigate into the deaths at the district hospital.


    The neonatal mortality rate (NMR) — death within 28 days of birth — in Rajasthan was 30 per 1000 live births in 2015, as per the Sample Registration System (SRS).


    Tabiyar, meanwhile, said there was a severe shortage of doctors in the district. “Against the sanctioned post of 72 medical officers at the district hospital, 32 are vacant. Also, of the sanctioned post of 68 specialists, 80% posts are vacant,” he said.


    The official said that in July, the district collector had launched Pukar programme to create awareness among the mothers and children towards their health. The accredited social health activists (ASHAs), auxiliary nursing midwives (ANMs) and sanitation workers were asked to identify weak and sick newborns, children and mothers. This resulted in more number of children and mothers reaching the district hospital.



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    LEGO’s gorgeous Millennium Falcon set is a mind-numbing 7,541 pieces


    Just how deep is your Star Wars fandom? Do you love the franchise enough to build this new Millennium Falcon set from Lego? Before you answer that question, let me first tell you the detailed model features a mind-numbing 7,541 pieces. You’re going to need a lot of time to put this one together. Maybe take a few weeks off work to get yourself a head start.


    Lego’s new Millennium Falcon set is the thing Star Wars fans dream about. If you’re going to collect anything from the Star Wars universe, this has to be at the top of your list. I mean, just look at how beautiful it is. Just be careful not to lose a piece—and don’t let any house guests go near it once it’s complete.


    Featuring intricate exterior detailing, upper and lower quad laser cannons, landing legs, lowering boarding ramp, and a 4-minifigure cockpit with detachable canopy, LEGO’s new set is as detailed a replica as we’ve seen. And the cool part (or bad part, depending on your point of view) is you can put the entire thing together yourself.


    The LEGO set is so detailed you can build it to look like the original Millennium Falcon seen in Episodes four through six, or as it appeared in The Force Awakens, rectangular sensor dish and all.


    Once it’s built, the Millennium Falcon measures at 8 inches high, 33 inches long, and 22 inches wide. That’s enough space to make room for a highly detailed main hold, rear compartment, and gunner station. In all, you get nine minifigures, including Han, Leia, and Chewbacca, along with classic weapons, like Han’s blaster and Chewie’s bowcaster.


    Hopefully, if you do put it together with a friend, their name isn’t Ned (that’s a Spider-Man: Homecoming joke).


    LEGO said the newest set will be available beginning October 1 via Lego’s website and Lego retail stores.


    Article source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/black-money-bill-likely-to-be-tabled-in-lok-sabha-on-friday/534940-37-64.html



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    Swiss-Style Tilting Trains Soon To Hit Tracks In India


    New Delhi:  India will collaborate with Switzerland for developing trains which will tilt on approaching a bend, just like a motorbike on a winding road.


    A memorandum of understanding was signed on Thursday between the two countries in this regard.


    Such trains are now operational in 11 countries — Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic, the UK, Switzerland, China, Germany and Romania.


    Explaining how the tilting trains work, officials said that as a train rounds a curve at speed it causes objects to slide about.



    “While it makes seated passengers feel squashed by the armrest, standing passengers tend to lose their balance. The design of the tilting trains counteract this,” an official said.


    During a curve to the left, the train tilts to the left and vice versa, the official said.


    The railway ministry signed two MoUs with the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport and Communications of the Swiss Confederation for technical cooperation in rail sector in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.


    The first agreement is a follow up on bilateral cooperation in rail sector discussed in the meeting held between Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and the Swiss Ambassador in July 2016.


    The MoU aims at cooperation in the areas of traction rolling stock, electric multiple unit and train sets, traction propulsion equipments, freight and passenger cars, tilting trains, railway electrification equipments, tunnelling technology among other things.


    The second MoU was signed between Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology which will help the former in establishing the George Fernandes Institute of Tunnel Technology (GFITT) at Goa especially for assimilation and dissemination of knowledge in the field of tunnelling, the officials said.


    Article source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/black-money-bill-likely-to-be-tabled-in-lok-sabha-on-friday/534940-37-64.html



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    'Traitors' Conspiring To Foil Gorkhaland Movement: Bimal Gurung


    Darjeeling:  Vehemently opposing the withdrawal of the ongoing shutdown for 12 days in the north Bengal hills, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung has accused some of his party leaders of joining hands with the West Bengal government and conspiring to foil their agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland.


    Terming such leaders as ‘traitors’, he appealed to the locals to further intensify the agitation from Friday so that the announcement of GJM’s chief coordinator Binay Tamang to call off the shutdown from September 1-12 did not become successful.


    “For the last three months we have been fighting for the prestige of our community. But I got the signal for the last few days that some of our leaders have joined hands with the Bengal government to fail our long standing movement for Gorkhaland,” Gurung alleged in a voice clip from an undisclosed location.



    “We appeal to the Gorkha people to strongly oppose Binay Tamang’s announcement to call off the strike. In order to ensure that the shutdown is not withdrawn, the agitation in all parts of the hills needs to be further intensified from tomorrow,” he said, accusing Tamag of playing into the hands of the state government.


    Mr Gurung claimed that he has information and proper evidence of some of his party leaders’ involvement in the conspiracy with the Bengal government to foil the Gorkhaland movement.


    He also accused those leaders of helping the state administration and police to intimidate him and force him to remain underground so that the movement loses its intensity without proper leadership.


    “The leaders who participated in the talks with the state government have joined hands with them and the police to intimidate me and force me to go underground for more than a year in order to dilute the movement,” the GJM chief alleged.


    Pointing out that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has refused to discuss the demand of Gorkhaland stating it is not in their hands, Mr Gurung questioned the fruitfulness of any other meetings with the state to fulfil the demand of Gorkhaland.


    “Chief Minister Banerjee said during the all party meeting that the demand of Gorkhaland is not under her jurisdiction and refused to discuss the issue. What else should we discuss with her then?” he questioned.


    “If Gorkhaland is out of the state’s jurisdiction, what resolution would come out by again talking to the Chief Minister or the state administration on September 12?” he added.


    GJM Joint Secretary Binay Tamang on Thursday announced the indefinite shutdown in the Darjeeling hills will be withdrawn from September 1 to September 12 till the second round of all party meeting with the state government is conducted and then decide about reinstating the shutdown depending on the meeting’s outcome.


    Following party chief Gurung’s announcement that the “Bandh (shutdown) has not been withdrawn” the GJM activists and supporters took out processions and torch rallies at several parts in the hills in support of the ongoing shutdown.


    (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)


    Article source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/black-money-bill-likely-to-be-tabled-in-lok-sabha-on-friday/534940-37-64.html



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    PM Modi's Rs 5.5 Lakh Crore River-Linking Plan For Tackling Floods


    Daudhan, Madhya Pradesh:  After years of foot-dragging India will begin work in around a month on an $87 billion (Rs 5,55,593 crore) scheme to connect some of the country’s biggest rivers, government sources say, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi bets on the ambitious project to end deadly floods and droughts.


    The mammoth plan entails linking nearly 60 rivers, including the mighty Ganges, which the government hopes will cut farmers’ dependence on fickle monsoon rains by bringing millions of hectares of cultivatable land under irrigation.



    In recent weeks, some parts of India and neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal have been hit by the worst monsoon floods in years, following two years of poor rainfall.


    Prime Minister Modi has personally pushed through clearances for the first phase of the project – which would also generate thousands of megawatts of electricity – the sources say, despite opposition from environmentalists, tiger lovers and a former royal family.


    That will involve construction of a dam on the Ken river, also known as the Karnavati, in north-central India and a 22-km (14-mile) canal connecting it to the shallow Betwa.
     


    narendra modi reuters


    PM Modi has personally pushed through clearances for the first phase of the river-linking project


    Both rivers flow through vast swathes of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP, and the prime minister hopes the Ken-Betwa scheme will set a template for other proposed river interlinking projects, one of the sources said.


    “We have got clearances in record time, with the last round of clearances coming in only this year,” Sanjeev Balyan, the junior water resources minister, told Reuters. “The Ken-Betwa interlinking tops the priority list of the government.”


    Government officials say diverting water from bounteous rivers such as the Ganges, Godavari and Mahanadi to sparse waterways by building a clutch of dams and a network of canals is the only solution to floods and droughts.


    But some experts say India would be better off investing in water conservation and better farm practices. Environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts have also warned of ecological damage.


    BJP STATES FIRST


    The 425-km (265-mile) Ken flows through a tiger reserve nestled in a verdant valley. The government plans to clear out 6.5 percent of the forest reserve to build the dam, relocating nearly 2,000 families from 10 remote villages.


    Around half a dozen clearances, including on environmental and forest protection, have been obtained for the scheme to link the Ken and Betwa, according to two sources and documents seen by news agency Reuters.


    Prime Minister Modi’s cabinet is likely to give its final go-ahead for the project within a couple of weeks, sources say, after which he will flag off construction at the site about 805 km (500 miles) from New Delhi, currently marked only by rows of red concrete slabs placed on the ground.


    The government is also finishing up paperwork on projects in western India linking the Par-Tapi with the Narmada and the Daman Ganga with the Pinjal. The projects involve PM Modi’s home state of Gujarat and neighbouring Maharashtra, both also ruled by the BJP.


    The river-linking projects was first proposed in 2002 by the last BJP-led government. Work stalled because state governments sparred over water sharing contracts and clearances got stuck in India’s notoriously ponderous bureaucracy.


    This time, officials hope starting with projects that are all in BJP-ruled states will smooth negotiations.


    Prime Minister Modi’s government is touting the linking of rivers as a panacea to the floods and droughts that plague India every year, killing hundreds of people and withering crops.


    Large areas of eastern and north-eastern India are reeling under floods in which hundreds have died, while torrential rain also brought Mumbai to a standstill this week. Tamil Nadu, in contrast, recently rationed drinking water due to drought.


    Not everyone is convinced the projects should be the priority, however.


    “Theoretically we can’t find fault with the plan,” said Ashok Gulati, a farm economist who has advised governments. “But spending billions of dollars in a country which wastes more water than it produces, it makes more sense to first focus on water conservation.”


    India, which has 18 percent of the world’s population but only 4 percent of the usable water resources, perversely gives incentives to produce and export thirsty crops such as rice and sugar cane.


    TIGERS, VULTURES AND CANYONS


    The proposed 77-metre high (250-ft), 2-km long dam on the Ken River will submerge 9,000 hectares of mostly forest land. A big portion will come from the Panna Tiger Reserve, near the UNESCO world heritage site of Khajuraho Temple in Madhya Pradesh.


    The forest reserve, a major tourist attraction, is home to 30-35 tigers and nearly 500 vultures.


    “Building a dam in a reserve forest is an invitation to a grave environmental disaster,” said Shyamendra Singh, the scion of the Maharajas who ruled a princely state near Panna during the British colonial era. “It will lead to floods in the forest and drought in the downstream.”


    Authorities say they have planned for the safety of tigers and vultures.


    People in Daudhan village, not very far from the Gangau dam built by the British in 1915, are ambivalent. With no access to electricity and other basic services, they want more information on what they will get in return for being displaced.


    “We never got to see electricity in our village,” said village elder Munna Yadav, gesticulating towards the Ken flowing a few metres from his thatched cottage. “If our children get to move out of this area and if the dam benefits everyone, we’ll not oppose it.”


    (Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Krishna N. Das and Alex Richardson)
     


    Article source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/black-money-bill-likely-to-be-tabled-in-lok-sabha-on-friday/534940-37-64.html



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    Bhendi Bazaar building collapse: Death toll reaches 33, 47 people rescued so far


    Mumbai:  The death toll in Bhendi Bazaar building collapse has increased to 33 with 10 others still feared trapped under the debris, the BMC Disaster Control said on Friday. 


    As per the reports, a total of 47 people have been rescued so far.


    Earlier at Thursday midnight ten fire engines and quick response team , two rescue vans, one house collapse van, ambulances, about 70 fire personnel, one National Disaster Response Force ( NDRF) team, two pock lane, six JCB and 16 dumpers were working for rescue operations.



    The three-storey Husaini building collapsed in Mumbai’s Bhendi Bazaar area on Thursday.


    Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh for the kin of those who died in Bhendi Bazaar building collapse.


    Taking stock of the situation the Chief Minister also assured that action would be taken in case of any negligence in the incident.


    The Chief Minister visited the accident spot and also ordered a detailed enquiry into the matter.


    “Action will be taken in case of any negligence. I am personally monitoring the situation,” Fadnavis told the media here.


    The Chief Minister also directed the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner to focus on immediate medical assistance to the injured persons.


    The injured people have been admitted to the J. J. hospital for the medical treatment.


    Article source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/black-money-bill-likely-to-be-tabled-in-lok-sabha-on-friday/534940-37-64.html



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    AAP Didn't Let Power Rates Go Up In Delhi: Deputy Chief Minister


    New Delhi:  Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday said the AAP government did not let the power rates (usage charges) go up in the city for the third consecutive year.


    “Wherever the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power, they increased electricity tariffs while this is the consecutive third year when we did not let the power rates increase in Delhi. This was possible only because the AAP is in power here,” Mr Sisodia told reporters.


    “This is a big achievement of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government,” he added.


    He, however, said that a pension surcharge of 3.7 per cent has been imposed to give pension to 22,000 workers.


    “It is negligible and it will not make much difference. Surcharge is Rs 4.5 to Rs 35 for some groups. While for high-end users — who use more than 1,000 units — it will be around Rs 200,” he said.


    The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) on Thursday kept the usage charges for power consumers in Delhi unchanged but announced a marginal hike in the “fixed charge” component of the power tariff — between Rs 5 and Rs 75.


    There will be no change in any of the charges for consumers with 2kW connection, who will continue to pay Rs 40. Low-end users having an electricity connection of 1kW will not pay a fixed charge of Rs 20, down from the earlier Rs 40.


    Consumers with 3kW, 4kW and 5kW connections will now pay a revised fixed charge of Rs 105, Rs 140 and Rs 175, respectively, as against Rs 100 earlier.


    (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


    Article source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/black-money-bill-likely-to-be-tabled-in-lok-sabha-on-friday/534940-37-64.html



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