PTI, Vancouver, 12 February : Cricket's push to be a part of the Olympic Games received a major boost with International Olympic Council today granting recognition to ICC.
The IOC in its meeting here voted to recognise the International Cricket Council and the federations of sport climbing and power boating. "They are recognised federations by us, which now means that they can take part in IOC events," IOC director of communications Mark Adams said after the meeting held ahead of the Winter Olympics here. "It could be seen as a first step towards becoming Olympic sports," he added.After today's IOC decision, cricket - most likely its Twenty20 version, can now bid to join the 2020 Olympic Games though ICC has not made it clear which format it will push for. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat has welcomed the decision and termed it as the first step towards cricket's inclusion in the Olympics.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indefinite Jute mills strike ends in WBengal, effect from 14th
Kolkata, 12 February : Jute mills workers in West Bengal have called off their indefinite strike with effect from Sunday after signing a tri-partite agreement in the presence West Bengal Labour Minister in Kolkata on Friday.
The Jute Mill workers in 52 jute mills in West Bengal had gone on an indefinite strike from December 14, 2009, in support of their demands, which include stoppage of the unfair labour practices, payment of statutory dues, clearance of arrears of DA, regularization of contract workers and deduction of Provident Fund and ESI contribution on actual wages.
Kolkata, 12 February : Jute mills workers in West Bengal have called off their indefinite strike with effect from Sunday after signing a tri-partite agreement in the presence West Bengal Labour Minister in Kolkata on Friday.
The Jute Mill workers in 52 jute mills in West Bengal had gone on an indefinite strike from December 14, 2009, in support of their demands, which include stoppage of the unfair labour practices, payment of statutory dues, clearance of arrears of DA, regularization of contract workers and deduction of Provident Fund and ESI contribution on actual wages.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
India's rise to provide opportunities for B'desh : US envoy
Dhaka, 12 February : Bangladesh should not have any fears over India's rise as a global power as New Delhi's emergence would provide "opportunities" for Dhaka, US ambassador to Bangladesh James F Moriarty has said.Addressing a meeting Thursday on Bangladesh-US relations organised by G2009, a group of opinion-makers close to main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Moriarty defended US-India relations. But he made it clear that his country saw Bangladesh through its own eyes, not those of other countries. "My government welcomed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent visit to India and the desire manifest both in Dhaka and New Delhi to address longstanding issues between the two countries," The Daily Star quoted him as saying.
He also said US-Bangladesh relations would be determined by "shared interests and values". The ambassador said he very often had questions about the impact of India's rise and the growing strategic partnership between the US and India on Bangladesh.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Council sets up English language school in Kolkata
Kolkata, 12 February : Here’s a never-before chance to learn Queen’s English. After deliberating for years over whether it should start teaching English to the masses, British Council has decided to set up a language school in the city.And unlike other such centres across the world, the Kolkata school won’t be housed in the Council’s premises on Camac Street, making it the institution’s only offsite campus in the world. The English Teaching Centre, as the language school has been christened, is coming up on one floor of Mahadevi Birla Girls HS School on Darga Road in Park Circus.
"We are doing it differently here, on a much bigger scale. There’s a huge demand for such courses here. If this experiment of an offsite campus proves successful, it may be replicated elsewhere," explained Sujata Sen, director, British Council (East).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price hike coming in way of structure development: Mamata
Kolkata, 12 February : Indian Railway minister Mamata Banerjee said that in view of spirally prices hindering development, her ministry was scouting for private investment and developing a business model for the purpose.
"Prices of everything, including petrol and diesel, are rising. The Railways are paying more for diesel, but cannot pass on the burden to passengers. So private participation is needed for new trains and infrastructure," Mamata said. Noting that she had extensive consultations with the chambers of commerce from national to district levels in a bid to attract private investment, Mamata said her ministry was in the process of preparing a business model for the purpose.
"Prices of everything, including petrol and diesel, are rising. The Railways are paying more for diesel, but cannot pass on the burden to passengers. So private participation is needed for new trains and infrastructure," Mamata said. Noting that she had extensive consultations with the chambers of commerce from national to district levels in a bid to attract private investment, Mamata said her ministry was in the process of preparing a business model for the purpose.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sell-out crowd greet Shah Rukh Khan's MNIK in W Bengal
Kolkata, 12 February : A sell-out crowd greeted Shah Rukh Khan-starrer My Name Is Khan in West Bengal as it released in 131 cinema halls on Friday across the state without any trouble.
Khan, who owns the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, came in for controversy for favouring inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL, with Shiv Sena demanding an apology from the film star for his remark. Police sources here said that there was no untoward incident in any cinema hall or multiplex as the film released at noon today. "The only crowd that we can see is of cine-goers. There has been no protest of any sort," an officer of the Kolkata Police said.
"Security arrangements have, however, been beefed up at the halls and multiplexes in view of the controversy," the officer said. MNIK released at 22 cinema halls in the metropolis, including several multiplexes of Inox and Fame across the city, said Debasish, head of distributors Sri Venkatesh Films here.
Kolkata, 12 February : A sell-out crowd greeted Shah Rukh Khan-starrer My Name Is Khan in West Bengal as it released in 131 cinema halls on Friday across the state without any trouble.Khan, who owns the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, came in for controversy for favouring inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL, with Shiv Sena demanding an apology from the film star for his remark. Police sources here said that there was no untoward incident in any cinema hall or multiplex as the film released at noon today. "The only crowd that we can see is of cine-goers. There has been no protest of any sort," an officer of the Kolkata Police said.
"Security arrangements have, however, been beefed up at the halls and multiplexes in view of the controversy," the officer said. MNIK released at 22 cinema halls in the metropolis, including several multiplexes of Inox and Fame across the city, said Debasish, head of distributors Sri Venkatesh Films here.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turkey president Abdullah Gul arrives in Bangladesh
Dhaka, 12 February : The President of the Republic of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, arrived in Dhaka on Friday on a two-day official trip aiming to enhance cooperation and boost economic ties.
President Zillur Rahman received his Turkey counterpart at Zia International Airport. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Planning Minister AK Khandker and Commerce Minister Faruk Khan were, among others, present at the airport. Abdullah and his wife, Hayrunnisa Gul, are accompanied by a 180-member delegation, including State Minister Mehmet Aydýn, Health Minister Recap Akdag, Transport Minister Binali Yýldýrým, as well as parliamentarians, mayors and business people.
Dhaka, 12 February : The President of the Republic of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, arrived in Dhaka on Friday on a two-day official trip aiming to enhance cooperation and boost economic ties.
President Zillur Rahman received his Turkey counterpart at Zia International Airport. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Planning Minister AK Khandker and Commerce Minister Faruk Khan were, among others, present at the airport. Abdullah and his wife, Hayrunnisa Gul, are accompanied by a 180-member delegation, including State Minister Mehmet Aydýn, Health Minister Recap Akdag, Transport Minister Binali Yýldýrým, as well as parliamentarians, mayors and business people.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indian Tea cos look to reap gains from global shortage
Kolkata 12 February : The year 2010 is likely to open on a firm note for the tea industry. With a global shortage of 53.6 million kg in calendar 2009, India’s tea industry hopes prices will remain stable this year and even rise depending on the availability of the tea crop.
Though it’s early to say whether there will be a drop in production this year, the major tea producing areas like Assam, Dooars, Terai and Darjeeling have not yet witnessed any rains. Similar weather had prevailed last year during this time, which had subsequently hit first flush teas that fetch better prices in global markets.
Kolkata 12 February : The year 2010 is likely to open on a firm note for the tea industry. With a global shortage of 53.6 million kg in calendar 2009, India’s tea industry hopes prices will remain stable this year and even rise depending on the availability of the tea crop.
Though it’s early to say whether there will be a drop in production this year, the major tea producing areas like Assam, Dooars, Terai and Darjeeling have not yet witnessed any rains. Similar weather had prevailed last year during this time, which had subsequently hit first flush teas that fetch better prices in global markets.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seedling crisis hampers Boro cultivation in Rajshahi region
UNB, Rajshahi, 12 February : IRRI-Boro cultivation is being hampered in the ongoing season in Rajshahi region due to acute shortage of seedlings and their high prices.Local farmers said, this season many seedbeds and seedlings in the region were damaged due to severe cold and dense fog creating acute crisis of seedlings. Taking advantage of the situation, unscrupulous traders are doing brisk business by selling seedlings at high prices in local markets, they alleged. Poor and marginal farmers are facing problems in purchasing seedlings from local markets to cultivate IRRI- Boro paddy. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Rajshahi, a scheme has been taken up to bring 70,000 hectares of land under IRRI-Borro cultivation this season.
The target of paddy production in the region may not be achieved this year due to shortage of seedlings, DAE sources said. While visiting different areas of the district, this correspondent found local farmers in trouble due to non-availability of adequate seedlings for cultivation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
