Mining ban plan

New Delhi, Jan. 25 (PTI): An environment ministry panel has recommended a complete ban on mining activities in areas of national parks, tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.

The panel has recommended that thick forests in such areas should be classified as “inviolate”. The forest grids have to be determined based on their biological richness, thickness, landscape integrity and hydrological and wildlife values, a report placed today said.

Ship damages

Kozhikode (PTI): Representatives of Panama-flagged Japanese cargo vessel MV Izumo have agreed to pay Rs 19.5 lakh to three fishermen who escaped after the ship rammed into their vessel on January 16. The ship had continued its journey after the accident before it was intercepted.

Missile test

Bangalore (PTI): India will flight test sub-sonic, medium-range cruise missile Nirbhay in February. V.K. Saraswat, the scientific adviser to the defence minister, said Nirbhay has good loitering capability, control and guidance, high degree of accuracy in terms of impact and very good stealth features.

Pak jail death

Islamabad (PTI): An Indian has died in a Pakistan jail amid reports that he was “mercilessly beaten” by prison staff two days before he passed away. The lawyer of Chamel Singh, who was to finish a five-year term for espionage, said he had seen the assault.

Zoo probe

Kanpur (PTI): A seven-member team of forest department officials has reportedly found the carcasses of two black bucks, one spotted deer and two other animals during an excavation in Kanpur zoo. The team is probing the death of 31 black bucks who were devoured by stray dogs. The team said the excavation would continue.

Topper award

Mumbai (PTI): Maharashtra governor K. Sankaranarayanan on Friday felicitated Prema Jayakumar for topping the CA final exams and announced an award of Rs 1 lakh as a token of appreciation. He advised Prema, the daughter of an auto driver, to choose her career carefully.

Haj rule change

Muzaffarnagar, Jan. 25 (PTI): The Haj Committee of India has, on a directive from the foreign ministry, drawn up new norms saying pilgrims would be allowed to avail themselves of government subsidy for Haj only once in a lifetime. Earlier, pilgrims could apply for subsidy once in five years.

The committee said the decision has been taken to give more opportunities to people who have never performed Haj.

Tunnel injury

Jammu (PTI): Four labourers were injured on Friday when rocks hit them during blasting work in an under-construction Chenani-Nashri tunnel in Udhampur. Police have ruled out collapse of any part of the tunnel.

Radio jockeys

New Delhi, Jan. 25 (PTI): All India Radio has been restrained by the Central Administrative Tribunal from holding its proposed auditions for fresh appointments of radio jockeys till the grievances of existing ones are redressed.

The panel’s order came on the plea of AIR broadcasting professionals association opposing the proposal of the national broadcaster to recruit fresh RJs through auditions on January 28.

Goa MLA

Panaji (PTI): The Election Commission will take a decision on a petition seeking disqualification of Goa BJP legislator Glen Ticlo for simultaneously holding Portugese and Indian citizenship. Under the Constitution, persons with dual citizenship are barred from contesting elections.

Fraud guru

Chicago (PTI): A Hindu leader from India, who established a temple in Milwaukee city in Wisconsin, has been jailed for 37 months for religious visa fraud. A court found Sagarsen Haldar, the founder of Gaudiya Vaisnava Society, guilty of obtaining religious worker visas for Indians in exchange for substantial cash payments.

Feet row

Etah (PTI): A police officer has denied touching the feet of a Samajwadi Party leader. Ajay Mohan Sharma said he was preventing people from touching Yadav’s feet and that he is aware of the dignity of his uniform and post.

Nuke trial

New Delhi (PTI): India’s nuclear regulator has given its nod to repeat the full systems test at the first unit of Kudankulam atomic power project in Tamil Nadu ahead of commissioning of the plant expected next month. The full systems test, also known as the hydro tests, would be carried out over the next fortnight.

Swami road

Phagwara (PTI): The Punjab government has decided to name ‘Amritsar-Wagah’ road as Swami Vivekanand Marg to mark his 150th birth anniversary. As part of Swami Vivekanand’s birth anniversary celebrations, prizes of Rs 1 lakh will be given for outstanding public service.