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Karnataka to waive dead farmers' loans

      Bangalore: The Karnataka Government has some relief in store for the families of farmers who committed suicide in the last two years owing to crop failure by waiving aside the loans taken by them. The State Agriculture and Cooperation Department is in the process of preparing an estimate of the cost to the State exchequer from this exercise. The proposal was made by the Agriculture Department after former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda in a letter told Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy that compensation was still due to the farmers who had committed suicide. The number of suicides by farmers is on the decline since 2000-01 when 2,630 farmers had ended their lives to 143 in 2005-06. With as many as 69 suicide cases reported in Hasan in 2003-04 and 37 in 2004-2005, Hasan topped the list of suicides by farmers in the State.

Fanaa screening stopped in Gujarat theatre

       Jamnagar: The Amber theatre today withdrew the film "Fanaa" starring Aamir Khan and Kajol after a youth set himself on fire inside the toilet of the theatre to protest the screening of the film. Vimal Madam, the theatre owner, said that the decision was taken after Yash Raj Films called up from Mumbai and requested them to stop screening of the movie. He said they were not interested in earning money in such a way when a man was forced to commit suicide. The condition of thirty year old Pravin Joshi, who reportedly received about 60 per cent burns while trying to immolate himself, was stated to be critical but stable. Amber was the only theatre in Gujarat screening 'Fanna' after the BJP's Youth Wing in the state called for a ban on the movie for Khan's remark in support of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA). Amber theatre began screening 'Fanaa' three times a day on June 6, a day after the Supreme Court directed the Gujarat Government to provide police protection, if sought by the theatre owners who wished to screen 'Fanaa'. BJP has been demanding an apology from the actor for his stand on the Narmada issue. However, Aamir has refused to give any apology, saying he has not said or done anything wrong but had only demanded proper rehabilitation for the people displaced by the Narmada project. Meanwhile, the BJP has decided to hold state-wide protests against the screening of the film. Sit-ins will be held in all district headquarters of the state, party sources said. BJP workers also staged a sit-in protest at the Lal Bangalow chowk in Jamnagar today.

SC refuses to ban screening of 'Da Vinci Code'

      New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to impose a ban on the screening of the controversial movie, "The Da Vinci Code". The judgment was announced after the apex court heard two Public Interest Litigations (PILs), seeking a ban on the movie and Dan Brown's best selling novel by the same name. The petitioner, Mathews, claiming to be a member of Delhi-based Cathedral Church, said in his petition that the controversial film hurt the sentiments of Christians. Another petitioner, the All-India Christians Welfare Association, said that the film based on Dan Brown's book was blasphemous, for it described Jesus Christ as a man who authored the Bible. The movie also claims that Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene. The screening of the film has already been banned in Tamil Nadu, Goa, Kerala, Manipur, Nagaland and Punjab. A vacation bench, comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice Lokweshwar Singh Panta had observed that the film was released after clearance from the Censor Board and the Government.

One killed, 2 Amarnath pilgrims injured in attack

      Jammu: At least one person was killed and 31 people wounded when suspected militants hurled three grenade attacks at the inter-state bus stand in Jammu on Monday morning. The blast took place at bus station which is located close to a camp where hundreds of pilgrims stay before a long journey to Amarnath, a Hindu shrine deep in the Himalayas. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Jammu) Sardesh Kumar said that three grenade blasts rocked the bus stand but most of the injured were locals and not the pilgrims. "Three grenades were lobbed at a bus station at Indira Chowk. These were all local buses; some were going to Aknoor and Rajouri when they were attacked. One person has died, one is critically injured and around 20 to 25 people were hurt because of splinters. They have been admitted to a hospital. The one who died was a local. In fact most of them were locals only one or two were pilgrims for the Amarnath Yatra," he said. "We were going to board a bus to Srinagar, when all of a sudden we heard three explosions and then everyone was running helter- skelter," a pilgrim from Ahmedabad, Kailash Patel added.

    There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. The attack occurred just ahead of the two-month long Amarnath Yatra, which was scheduled for flagged off on Sunday and has now been postponed due to inclement weather and landslides. The pilgrims worship an ice stalagmite in the cave which they regard as a symbol of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction. A record 400,000 pilgrims visited the shrine last year. Security forces have been put on high alert along the entire route of the yatra to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. Security has also been beefed up at the Amarnath base camp.

Seven labourers shot dead in J-K (Go To Top)

      Anantnag (J-K): Hours after grenade attacks at an interstate bus stand in Jammu on Monday morning, seven labourers, reportedly belonging to Bihar, were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Kulgam area here this afternoon. The incident took place at Budroo village in Kulgam area of the District at around 3.30 p.m. (IST). Six labourers died on the spot while one succumbed to his injuries after reaching hospital. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Army have cordoned off the whole area and search operation for the killers has been launched. Earlier in the morning, at least one person was killed and 31 others were injured when suspected militants hurled three grenade attacks at an interstate bus stand in Jammu. The blasts took place at bus station which is located close to a camp where hundreds of pilgrims stay before undertaking a long journey to shrine cave of Amarnath, located deep in the Himalayas.

Best Bakery case: Three months jail to Zaheera

      Mumbai: Zaheera Shaikh, prime witness in Best Bakery case on Monday sentenced to three months imprisonment on charges of perjury in the Best Bakery case. A Mumbai Sessions Court Judge Abhay Thipsay also asked Zaheera to pay a fine of Rs. 500. Zaheera's perjury trial concluded on June 9. Zaheera earlier maintained before a court that she had spoken the truth while tendering evidence. Zahira is in Mumbai's Byculla jail and has completed three months of the one-year imprisonment. After, her one year imprisonment is over, then her three-month jail term will start. The court had already sentenced Zaheera's mother Sahrunisa and sister Sahira to three months' rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 500 on each of them on the same charges. Thipsay, who had conducted the retrial in Best bakery case, has charged Zaheera with falsely stating in the court that she had not lodged the FIR regarding the incident and that she was unaware of the document (FIR) although it bore her signature. Thipsay also charged Zaheera with telling a lie during the re- trial that she had not told Vadodara court earlier about talking to police regarding the Best bakery incident. He referred to Vadodara court proceedings which indicated that she had indeed told the police about it. Thipsay further charged Zaheera with making a false statement before him during re-trial that she was not aware of the outcome of verdict of Vadodara court which had acquitted the accused in Best bakery case as she and other witnesses had turned hostile.

NDA leaders court arrest against fuel price hike

      New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani courted arrest here on Monday to protest against the recent hike in prices of petrol and diesel. Besides these two, several other leaders of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also courted arrest at the Parliament Street Police Station after a rally against the hike in prices of fuel and other commodities. However, all the leaders were released soon after their arrest. Commenting on the Congress-ruled states' move to cut marginal sales tax on fuel prices, Vajpayee said it was a "joke". He said that instead of slashing sales tax, the Centre should reduce customs and excise duties on fuel. Apart from Vajpayee and Advani, those who courted arrest were Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh, Janata Dal United chief Sharad Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Jaswant Singh and BJP leaders Vijay Kumar Malhotra and Sushma Swaraj and the Shiv Sena's Manohar Joshi and Anand Geete.

Indians second largest immigrants to US

      New Delhi: As many as 84,681 Indians received green cards last year, making them the second largest immigrants to the United States, according to data released by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Mexico topped the list with 1,61,445 immigrants to the US who got green cards last year. India stood second followed by China with 69,967. Migration through employment has led to drastic increase in the number of Indians getting green card which entitles them permanent residency in the US. Most of them are software professionals who came to the US on a worker visa like H1-B. After five years of permanent residency they can opt to become US citizens. A large number of software professionals who migrated to the US in the 1990s in search of jobs made India also claim the largest number of green cards last year under the employment category. The US issues green cards on family relationship, employment preferences and asylum seekers. The CSIS sources also said that the largest number of applications pending approval for green card was in India.

Sensex falls by three percent (Go To Top)

     Mumbai: The 30-share BSE index fell more than three percent on Monday, paring most gains, as harried investors dumped banking and metals stocks, ignoring impressive industrial production data released earlier in the day. The BSE index fell 3.41 percent at 9,476.15 points, after see- sawing more than 400 points. Losers beat gainers by more than two to one in a modest trade of 140 million shares. Sensex was dragged down by heavy weights like country's second- largest bank ICICI Bank Ltd, Housing Development Finance Corp. Ltd, Reliance Industries Ltd., and ITC Ltd. Housing Development Finance Corp. Ltd. fell 6.8 percent to 1,124.9 rupees on market talk of a further revision of interest rates by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in July. Heavy weight Reliance Industries lost 2.1 percent to 902.80 rupees. Other metal producers such as Tata Steel Ltd. fell 6.5 percent to 426.7 rupees, while aluminium major Hindalco Industries Ltd. lost 4.11 percent to 152.80 rupees on weak international prices. Market analysts, however, term the latest dip a "healthy correction."

Arcelor rejects Mittal's $15 billion offer (Go To Top)

     London: The board of directors of Luxembourg-based steelmaker Arcelor has rejected the revised takeover offer from larger rival Mittal Steel. The decision of the board was unanimous, it said, adding that Mittal's 22 billion euro (15 billion dollar) hostile bid, was found to be "inadequate" and therefore, accepting it could have undervalued the firm. . It is now urging shareholders to support the proposed merger with Russian firm Severstal. But Arcelor also said its group management board would meet with Mittal "to review Mittal's proposals to further improve its offer". Should Arcelor buy Severstal - a move launched to fight the Mittal bid - it would create the world's biggest steelmaker with a turnover of 46 billion euros.

Monsanto to commercialise two
more GM crops (Go To Top)

      Bangalore: The controversial multinational seed company Monsanto is all set for commercialisation of two more genetically modified crops, Boll guard 2 and new Corn seed in India. "We got approval for the latest Ball Guard technology; it is called Ball Guard 2. It is a two-gene technology. We just got the approval for the commercialising that technology and we expect to start it during this season. That technology will bring . to the farmers and obviously will enhance the quality particularly of the Ball Guard and also we have the regulatory process", said Felipe Osorio, Managing Director of Monsanto for India on the sidelines of a seminar in Bangalore recently. Osorio also said that both the new genetically modified varieties will be undergoing field trails at 14 places in India. "Right now we are planning on that. We have the permission to do 14 trials. We are just deciding the states . what are the best places to actually perform this testing", he added. BT cotton, widely grown around the world, contains a gene from Bacillus Thuringiensis, a bacterium species. When ingested by bollworm, a pest, it causes lethal paralysis in the digestive tract. However, the seed has been constantly under attack by environmentalists and traditional farmers relying on organic farming who say that the harmful effects far outweigh its benefits. Enraged farmers, in the past, have burnt BT cotton crops and have also attacked the Bangalore office of Monsanto, which has been marketing genetically modified BT Cotton seeds in India .