Rains wreak havoc in Konkan, Andhra

Pune, 10 Agast-Heavy rains have thrown life out of gear in Pune, many parts of the Konkan region and Andhra Pradesh.
The Pune-Mumbai intercity trains have been cancelled and many trains, including the Mumbai-Banglore Udyan Express and the Mumbai-Nagarcoil Express have been diverted.
Heavy waterlogging has been reported from Chiplun, Rajapur, Khed and Mahad with some villages in one-two feet water. All the trains towards Pune have been stopped near Karjat and at least 70 villages have been cut off. Kolhapur itself has recorded 1,266 mm rain overnight.
Meanwhile, the flood situation in Andhra Pradesh continued to be grim on Sunday with continuous rains claiming as many as 53 lives over the past five days. Weather officials have predicted more showers.
Heavy rains and flash floods since Tuesday caused widespread devastation in Hyderabad and eight other districts in coastal Andhra and the Telangana region. Around 40 people have died since Friday and hundreds have been rendered homeless.

Official: Musharraf to face strong impeachment

Islamabad, August 10, 2008, President Pervez Musharraf will be accused of misconduct and violating the constitution in impeachment proceedings, Pakistan's law minister said on Sunday। Ruling coalition officials met on Sunday to finalise the list of charges against the embattled president, Law Minister Farooq Naek said in comments broadcast on Geo TV.

The lower house of Parliament is expected to convene on Monday to begin impeachment proceedings against Musharraf। The former army chief has resisted calls to resign, and his allies say he will fight the claims against him.

Naek said the charge sheet will detail ways that Musharraf violated the constitution and "the gross misconduct that the president has done।"

Musharraf dominated Pakistan for eight years after taking power in a 1999 military coup, but has been largely sidelined since his foes won February parliamentary elections.

NDTV, Aaj Tak, bag honours at television awards

New Delhi: NDTV 24X7 has bagged the most popular English news channel award while the top honour for best popular Hindi news channel has gone to Aaj Tak at the annual News Television awards ceremony।

TV Today Group editor-in-chief and chairman Aroon Purie was honoured with the News Television Lifetime Achievement award for his contribution to the TV news industry।

CNN-IBN was adjudged the Numero Uno English News Channel of the year while Times Now was conferred with the best News Channel Critics Award (English)।

The Numero Uno Hindi News Channel of the year award went to NDTV India।

CNBC TV18 bagged the Best Business News Channel (critic) award।

CNBC TV18, NDTV Profit and CNBC Awaaz shared the Numero Uno Business Channel of the year honors।

NDTV 24X7's prime-time show 'India 60 Minutes' was voted the best daily newscast 'The Car and Bike Show' was adjudged the best auto show।

The NDTV group got a total of 25 awards in all।

IBNLive won the best news website award and CNN-IBN's Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai won the best news anchor award।

NDTV 24x7's Poonam Aggarwal was awarded best TV news reporter of the year (English)।

Face the Nation, the show on CNN IBN won the best presented popular news show trophy and Devil's Advocate, the Sunday interview show hosted by Karan Thapar on the channel, won the award for best current affairs show।

Among others who attended the function included BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, former test cricketer Madan Lal and fashion designer Ritu Kumar.

Raj at it again, says shops need Marathi boards

Mumbai, 9 agast-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader, Raj Thackeray has been keeping a low profile for some time now, but no longer। He is back shoving Marathi down the throats of hapless shopkeepers.

He has written to Mumbai shopowners asking them to put up Marathi signboards by August 28 or else deal with his party.
"Shops that do not carry Marathi signboards have been given time till August 28 to change the signboards. After that, shops that do not have Marathi boards will face attacks from MNS," he said.
Raj is also demanding that officials stop issuing domicile certificates and driving licences to "outsiders" -- that is, North Indians.
In February this year, MNS supporters had attacked north Indian taxi-drivers in Mumbai. About 40 taxis were damaged and taxi-drivers were assaulted and the office of the taxi-men's union and a garment shop were attacked.

Patil asks J&K admin to adopt balanced approach

Jammu, Aug 09, 2008 Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil arrived here on Saturday with an all-party delegation and asked the Jammu and Kashmir administration to adopt a balanced approach while dealing with the current situation in the wake of violent protests over the Amarnath land trasfer issue.
"We must see how to reduce the difficulties in Jammu and Kashmir and as such we handle the situation with persuasion and goodwill," Patil said at a law and order review meeting with the State authorities and other Central Agencies here this afternoon.
Patil and the 18-member all-party delegation arrived here in the morning to review the situation in the border State.
Patil, who was briefed about the present situation of the State by Jammu Divisional Commissioner Sudhanshu Pandey, Inspector General of Police (Jammu zone) K Rajindra and Lt Gen Viney Sharma asked the State authorities to adopt "a balanced approach while handling the current situation."
The Home Minister also directed the administration to take steps to ensure that there is no shortage of medicine and other essential commodities in the area.
Patil has said that the Centre will provide all possible help to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Govt. mulls change in content code of TV programmes

New Delhi (PTI): The Centre is planning to have a fresh look at the Content Code in television programmes as it feels that the current one has become outdated। "We are contemplating a review of the existing Content Code as it needs to be at par with changing times," Secretary in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Sushma Singh, said here on Saturday while addressing the News Television Summit 2008.

Admitting delays on part of the ministry to finalise the code, Singh said, "The matter is being viewed seriously।"

She said there is a high demand for an effective content regulation code on TV programmes as a number of channels are coming up on a regular basis।

Referring to the opposition of the Content Code by some private news broadcasters, Singh said, "Instead of opposing it, they should discuss the matter with Government।" She expressed concern over the coverage of violent incidents and riots, and said it leads to "violation of public order".

Singh also called for a consensus on content regulation between government and private broadcasters on the issue।

The Secretary said the Delhi High Court has also asked the ministry to bring out a legislation on the subject।

"Delhi High Court has asked for our views on Content Code and what we have done about it। The ministry will send its reply by September," she said.

Singh also pointed out that though the broadcasters are against the government's intervention in the field of content regulation, "We have given licenses to 33 new TV channels this year। This shows our liberal attitude towards television channels."

On the much delayed Broadcast Bill, Singh said a decision is yet to be taken on the matter. She said the Bill is posted on the ministry's website and views of various stakeholders have been taken on it. "It is awaiting Parliament's nod."

Why can't I become PM: Mayawati

Lucknow, Aug 9 (PTI) Unfazed by the failure of efforts to pull down the UPA government that may have pitchforked her into national centre stage, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister made clear her ambitions of becoming the prime minister after the next Lok Sabha elections।

Addressing a national convention of her party workers, she also announced that she was grooming her political heir, who would take over from her in case of any eventuality।

Former External Affairs Minister and suspended Congress leader K Natwar Singh and Samajwadi Party leaders Shahid Siddiqui and S P Singh Baghel joined the BSP at the convention।

"When I can become the chief minister of the most populous state four times why can I not not become the prime minister of the country even if I am born in a dalit family", said Mayawati to a huge gathering of her cheering party workers who had come from various parts of the country।

"I am doubly proud of being a dalit and Indian as also the fact that I am managing the state better than the previous governments ", she said asking as to why a "dalit ki beti" (daughter of dalit) not not become the prime minister with the support and backing of the sarv samaj (all communities)।

Mayawati also made a surprise announcement of her political heir saying she apprehended that she could be targetted by terrorists or naxalites।

'This person is about 18 to 20 years younger than me and belongs to "chamar" (her caste)। He is being groomed but his name would be divulged only at an opportune time", she said adding, she has herself put the name in sealed envelopes and given to two of her trusted collegues for safe keeping.

'The name would not not be declared till I am in good health as the BSP detractors would lose no no opportunity to create problems for him", she said adding that it has been ensured that this heir would be acceptable to all.