The Defence Ministry, however, is yet to respond to the Sstate government's request.
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CAB hopeful of getting India-Ireland match in Eden Garden
Kolkata, 8 February : The ICC might have ruled out the possibility of the Eden Gardens hosting an India match in the upcoming World Cup match but the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) is still living on hope..jpg)
After getting a favourable response from an ICC statement whcih said the stadium was on course for the three non-India matches scheduled in March, the CAB is making an appeal for getting the India vs Ireland match, scheduled to be held in Bangalore on 6 March. The CAB's point of argument is Bangalore will be hosting two India matches."We will appeal to the BCCI to give us at least the match against Ireland as Bangalore will be hosting two matches now. As per the BCCI guideline, every venue in India should get an India match or one from the knock-out stage," CAB joint-secretary Biswarup Dey said. န Photos : AFP
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Two killed in police firing in Jalpaiguri, Centre to send CRP
Jalpaiguri, Kolkata, 8 February : Two persons were killed when police opened fire to stop Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporters from taking out a march in Jalpaiguri district violating prohibitory orders, triggering unrest in Darjeeling hills where government vehicles and offices were set on fire by GJM workers.Sub-divisional officer of Malbazar Devjani Bhattacharjee said two persons were killed in police firing at Shipchu inside a reserve forest. Clashes erupted when the police dismantled illegal temporary camps of the GJM built near Shipchu inside a reserve forest, IG (North Bengal) Ranbir Kumar said.
Soon after the police action, GJM supporters tried to march towards Dooars region of Jalpaiguri district where prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC were in force. When baton charge and lobbing of tear gas shells failed to control the situation, police fired seven rounds in which two persons were killed, ADG (law and order) Surajit Kar Purakayastha said in Kolkata.
Meanwhile, the Centre has assured the West Bengal government that it will provide additional security forces to deal with the violence which erupted following the GJM protest. န Photo : PTI
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Rupees 58 crore sanctioned for rural connectivity in Tripura
Agartala, 8 February : The Union Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid worth Rs 85 crore as part payment of second installment for Phase VI for construction of rural roads in Tripura under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
A PIB press release said the sum is from the special window created in NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) as grants in aid to the Tripura Rural Road Development Agency (TRRDA). TRRDA is the agency executing the works taken up under PMGSY in the state.
Agartala, 8 February : The Union Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid worth Rs 85 crore as part payment of second installment for Phase VI for construction of rural roads in Tripura under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
A PIB press release said the sum is from the special window created in NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) as grants in aid to the Tripura Rural Road Development Agency (TRRDA). TRRDA is the agency executing the works taken up under PMGSY in the state.
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6 WWF officials kidnapped in Manas park remain untraced
Subir Bhaumik, BBC News, Kokrajhar, 8 February : Indian police say they have found no trace of six World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) officials who have been abducted in the north-eastern state of Assam.Gunmen seized the officials in Manas national park on Sunday. Despite a massive search by security forces, police are not even able to say which of Assam's many armed rebel groups is behind the kidnappings.
The officials, including three women, were working on a WWF-India survey on tiger population in the national park. A WWF-India official said that all six were from India's north-eastern states. They were working in collaboration with a local NGO. Two members of the NGO were abducted, too, but were later released.
The Ultapani range, where the abduction took place, lies in the western part of the Manas Tiger Reserve close to the densely-forested, mountainous border with Bhutan. READ FULL STORY
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BERC raises retail and bulk power tariffs by five percent
Dhaka, 8 February : Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has decided to raise both retail and bulk power tariffs.The average retail power tariff will be raised by five percent to Tk 4.20 from Tk 4. BERC chairman Syed Yusuf Hossain at a press brief at BERC office in capital on Tuesday afternoon said the new retail tariff will come into effect on 1 February for an interim period after a mass hearing.
The hike will not be applicable for the residential consumers who use 1-100 units, irrigation connections and religious, social and educational organisations. The bulk power tariff will be enhanced in two phases, the first from 1 February and the second from 1 August.
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Lashed girl' body exhumed in Bangladesh after court order
Anbarasan Ethirajan, BBC News, Dhaka, 8 February : The body of a 14-year-old Bangladeshi girl who received about 80 lashes in public has been exhumed following a High Court order.
The body has been brought to the capital, Dhaka. On Monday, the court ordered a three-member committee of doctors and experts to conduct another post-mortem to ascertain the reason for her death. Hena Begum died a week after she received the punishment for allegedly having an affair with a married man. READ FULL STORY
Anbarasan Ethirajan, BBC News, Dhaka, 8 February : The body of a 14-year-old Bangladeshi girl who received about 80 lashes in public has been exhumed following a High Court order.
The body has been brought to the capital, Dhaka. On Monday, the court ordered a three-member committee of doctors and experts to conduct another post-mortem to ascertain the reason for her death. Hena Begum died a week after she received the punishment for allegedly having an affair with a married man. READ FULL STORY
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Fire in Nagaland Chief Minister N Rio's official residence
PTI, Kohima, 8 February : A fire broke out in the official residence of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio at the high security Ministers Hill area of the town this evening but no one was hurt.
Nine fire engines were pressed into service and firemen, prevented the blaze from spreading to the office portion of the building, fire brigade sources said. There was no report of any injury.
PTI, Kohima, 8 February : A fire broke out in the official residence of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio at the high security Ministers Hill area of the town this evening but no one was hurt.
Nine fire engines were pressed into service and firemen, prevented the blaze from spreading to the office portion of the building, fire brigade sources said. There was no report of any injury.
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"Allow CRGO Electrical Steel to be imported at Nil Duty"
Mumbai, New Delhi, 8 February : The Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA), apex association of manufacturers of electrical, industrial electronics and allied equipment, has asked the Ministry of Finance to allow import of CRGO electrical steel at nil duty till the time indigenous production starts in the country.
In a pre-Budget meeting today with the Chairman CBEC, S D Majumder, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Finance, IEEMA also advocated extension of service tax exemption to all power projects, including generation, transmission and distribution projects, under section 65 of Finance Act, 1994, to bring the power sector at par with construction of other infrastructure facilities such as roads, airports, ports, railways, transport terminals, bridges, tunnels and dams.
Mumbai, New Delhi, 8 February : The Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA), apex association of manufacturers of electrical, industrial electronics and allied equipment, has asked the Ministry of Finance to allow import of CRGO electrical steel at nil duty till the time indigenous production starts in the country.
In a pre-Budget meeting today with the Chairman CBEC, S D Majumder, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Finance, IEEMA also advocated extension of service tax exemption to all power projects, including generation, transmission and distribution projects, under section 65 of Finance Act, 1994, to bring the power sector at par with construction of other infrastructure facilities such as roads, airports, ports, railways, transport terminals, bridges, tunnels and dams.
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Bryan Adams to perform at Cricket World Cup in Dhaka
Dhaka, 8 February : Pop icon Bryan Adams will be performing at the opening ceremony of the ICC Cricket World Cup on 17 February, in Dhaka. The singer is scheduled to tour India during the same time. The authorities confirmed the news by saying that earlier his dates were not fallen to places, but now Bryans performance has been confirmed.The Canadian singer will perform three songs along with his band. The sources did not reveal the three songs and preferred to keep it a secret surprise. It just said that Bryan Adams will be performing three of his most popular song on the ocassion.
Reportedly, this will his first concert in Bangladesh wherein he will also promote his album Bare Bones. This years World Cup tournament also included his home country Canada and he will also be seen cheering Canada during the matches.
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