Government laxity behind Odisha illegal mining: CEC

Bhubaneswar, Oct 17 (IANS) The Supreme Court-appointed CEC, which submitted its final report on illegal mining in Odisha to the court Friday, has indicted the state for its laxity in governance, leading to violation of acts, rules and guidelines. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) said: “The senior officers of the state government from the Chief Secretary […]

Don’t insult but consult us: Mamata to centre

Kolkata, Oct 17 (IANS) Accusing the BJP-led central government of not consulting West Bengal in ordering an NIA probe into the Oct 2 Burdwan blast, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday countered allegations of her government aiding infiltration saying the borders were guarded by central security forces. However, Banerjee affirmed that her government would extend “full cooperation” […]

Five new institutes to treat speech and hearing impaired

Mysore, Oct 17 (IANS) Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Friday announced the setting up of five new national-level institutions along the lines of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH). “A committee would soon be formed to decide on the location of the new centres. A parallel endeavour would be to set up speech […]

SC grants bail to Jayalalithaa; AIADMK celebrates

New Delhi/Chennai, Oct 17 (IANS) The Supreme Court Friday granted bail to jailed former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, triggering celebrations in the state by the cadres of her AIADMK. Along with Jayalalithaa who was convicted and sentenced to four years jail and a Rs.100 crore fine in the corruption case, the three other convicts […]

Pakistan PM’s special envoy to visit Afghanistan

Islamabad, Oct 17 (IANS) Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will Sunday send his top security adviser Sartaj Aziz to Kabul as special envoy for talks with the new leadership, officials here said Friday. It will be the first formal visit of a senior Pakistani official to visit Kabul since formation of the government of national unity […]

Matthew Mason-Cox med rel: Shop around for removalists

NSW Fair Trading Minister Matthew Mason-Cox today warned consumers to watch out for dodgy removalists, following a spate of complaints to the state’s consumer watchdog. Mr Mason-Cox said NSW Fair Trading received nearly 300 consumer complaints against removalists in the nine months to 30 September, with 45 of them reported last month. “The number of […]