Howrah News Service - Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World

SC gives its nod for OBC quota in educational institutions

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:14:00 -0400

Almost after a year of legal tussle between petitioners and the Union Government, the Supreme Court today upheld the 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in elite educational institutions, but kept the creamy layer out of the quota.

Global food stocks at its lowest since 80s: FAO

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:51:00 -0400

Expressing concern over increasing food grain prices and reducing farm production, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has said that global food stocks were at its lowest level since 1980.

4 arrested in a car theft racket bust

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:57:00 -0400

A carefully planned car theft racket was busted in Kolkata today evening, with the North-24 Parganas police arresting four people, and recovering eight stolen cars parked in a garage in Baguiati area in north Kolkata.

India ensures a smooth run of Olympic torch in Delhi

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:52:00 -0400

As the Olympic torch relay faced disruptions in London and Paris, India today ensured a smooth run of the flame in Delhi with "respect and security", as discussions continued in the government on measures to provide foolproof protection.

Rs. 20 lakhs looted from central Bank in jaipur by dacoits

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:51:00 -0400

In complete Bollywood style, six armed dacoits today looted Rs 20 lakhs from a branch of Central Bank in city's busiest Johari Bazar.

India's concession to Africa to cover 94 per cent of imports

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:46:00 -0400

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today unveiled that as much as 94 per cent of India's import items notified for tariffs will be covered under the duty-free access scheme for least developed countries, mostly in Africa

Stay on the death sentence of 2 mumbai blast convicts

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:45:00 -0400

The Supreme Court has today stayed the death penalty of two 1993 Mumbai blasts convicts who were awarded the capital punishment by a TADA court in July 2007.

Left-UNPA joint protest against price rise from April 16

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:22:00 -0400

The Left parties will join hands with the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) in a week-long country wide protest against the price rise from April 16.

SC stays death sentence of two Mumbai blast convicts

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:14:00 -0400

The Supreme Court has today stayed the death penalty of two 1993 Mumbai blasts convicts who were awarded the capital punishment by a TADA court in July 2007. Hearing the petitions filed by Asgar Yusuf Mukadam and Mohammed Mushtaq Musa Tarani against the verdict, the apex court bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan issued notices to Maharashtra government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Culling begins in Ranaghat as fresh out-break of birdflu detected

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 01:20:00 -0400

After the confirmation of bird flu in the Ranaghat area of West Bengal's Nadia district, culling operation has been started on Sunday.

Cabinet expansion today, Pachouri quits Union Cabinet

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 07:28:00 -0400

The expansion of the Union Council of Ministers will take place on Sunday evening and the exercise is likely to be limited to the induction of a few new faces from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Naxal planning major strikes in Uttar Pradesh

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 07:10:00 -0400

Naxalites have set up new bases in Uttar Pradesh and are planning "major strikes" in the state, a top police officer has said today.

Man with toy gun held from venue of Sonia Gandhi's rally

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:06:00 -0400

A man brandishing a toy gun was detained on Saturday from near the venue of a rally in the city to be addressed by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi later in the day.

SA beats India by a innings and 90 runs

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:50:00 -0400

India suffered a humiliating defeat against South Africa as they went down by an innings and 90 run in the Ahmedabad Test.

Basu, Surjeet not in Politburo, Karat re-elected

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:57:00 -0400

Prakash Karat was today re-elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) by the 19th party Congress which also reconstituted the Politburo replacing veteran leaders Jyoti Basu and Harkishen Singh Surjeet. Basu will be a Special Invitee to the Politburo while ailing Surjeet, a former General Secretary, will be a Special Invitee to the Central Committee.

No harsh treatment to Indian Ambassador: China

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:43:00 -0400

China has dismissed reports of being harsh on Indian Ambassador who was summoned past midnight in Beijing on the Tibet issue and said the envoy has been treated "very respectfully".

Film school remains in limbo for second seccessive day

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:08:00 -0400

All hopes of normalcy returning at Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata were dashed on Wednesday with the CITU backed labour trouble showing no sign of abating. Slipping further into uncertainty the institute went under lock and key for an idenfinite period on the day. Resumption of classes have become more than uncertain.

Mayawati seeks resignations of Jaiswal, Buta Singh

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:39:00 -0400

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today sought the resignation of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shriprakash Jaiswal and National Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission chairman, Buta Singh for virtually siding with farmer leader Mahendra Singh Tikait, who was arrested after a two-day stand-off over his allegedly abusive remarks against the Chief Minister

Three more SIMI activists arrested in Madhya Pradesh

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:37:00 -0400

Madhya Pradesh Police today arrested three more activists of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) taking the total of arrested activist to 24.

UN group to help control bird flu in West Bengal

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:08:00 -0400

The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has announced the launch of an operation to control the spread of bird flu in West Bengal. The announcement to this effect was made on Tuesday. The representatives will also undertake the operation at a large scale to ward off the deadly H5N1 virus in Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.

He(Dalai Lama) should not indulge in any political activity:Pranab Mukherjee

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:29:00 -0400

India has urged Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, not to indulge in political activities that could hurt Sino-Indian relations.

According to BJP the current surge in the prices is not natural

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:12:00 -0400

Taking a potshot on the measures announced by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government after Cabinet Committee on Price Rise deliberated on Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today said that the current surge in the prices was not natural rather it was manufactured by the government.

1 year mprisonment to ketan and hiten for defrauding Canara Bank

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:08:00 -0400

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday sentenced high-profile stockbrokers Ketan Parekh and Hiten Dalal and five others to one year's rigorous imprisonment for defrauding Canara Bank to the tune of Rs 470 million.

'India's agreement for tripartite talks can ensure peace'

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:43:00 -0400

Hizbul Mujahideen's chief, Syed Salahuddin, has said that his terrorist organisation might think of reviewing its armed struggle in the Kashmir valley on the condition that India changes its stance and agrees to meaningful tripartite talks for the solution of the Kashmir issue.

India in danger of losing 2010 World Cup: FIH

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:31:00 -0400

In a strongly-worded message, the International Hockey Federation(FIH) today warned India that it may lose the right to host the 2010 World Cup for men if satisfactory progress is not made in FIH-backed developmental project and preparations for the mega event.

Rahul coins new slogan for Congress

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:14:00 -0400

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday spelt out a new slogan for the party - "Congress ke dono haath, garibon ke saath" (Both Congress hands for the poor), drawing loud applause from the hundreds gathered to hear him in the city.

Price rise a global phenomenon: Congress

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:12:00 -0400

With rising prices turning into a political hot potato, Congress on Monday said that the current inflation is a global phenomenon and cited China's example, where it is at a 12-year high.

Karat compares Tibet to separatist demands in India

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:05:00 -0400

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat on Monday warned that supporting an independent Tibet would be a 'great disservice' to India, which has faced many separatist movements.

Stringent action to be taken in Kerala woman case,assures Centre

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:42:00 -0400

Taking serious view of a 29-year old Kerala woman landing in a prostitution racket in Oman after being lured with a housemaid job, India has asked its mission in Muscat to take up the case with the Omanese Government and seek action against her sponsors

Govt considering elimination of import duties: Kamal Nath

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:44:00 -0400

Government today said that it is considering elimination of import duties on a host of items, mainly food products, to improve their supply and rein in rising inflation. Interacting with media in the national capital ahead of the crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Prices, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath on Monday said, “With international prices going to be steep, we are looking at cutting duties on many products, on food front, on edible oil and a whole range of products; in fact, bringing them to zero, if necessary.”