Thursday, July 10, 2008

Soundcast Outcast


Create your very own natural raindance when the next hurricane comes calling. With this all-weather, full range, battery/AC-operated wireless speaker, now it’s perfectly possible to have that wet t-shirt garden party you’ve always dreamed of. The outcast comes with an iCast transmitter so you can also plug your iPod in (providing that’s also in a waterproof case, of course). With a signal strength of up to 350 metres, keep the neighbours jumping for Rs 30,000. (soundcastsystems.com)

Century Dolphin MP3 Player


Feeling lonely swimming in that massive flashflood that swept your town away? Reach for one these waterproof MP3 players (with waterproof headphones) and keep yourself occupied while you await rescue. With up to eight hours of non-stop playback from its USB rechargeable battery, the Dolphin will change the way you go rafting, snorkelling, scuba diving and even showering. Stay chilled for Rs 6,300. (amazon.co.uk)

AASU to launch agitation against influx

Guwahati, Jul 10 : The All Assam Students Union (AASU) on Wednesday declared vigorous and continuous agitation across the State accusing the Central and the State Government of failing to deport illegal Bangladeshis even after the scrapping of the IM(DT) Act nearly three years back. In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court had scrapped the IM(DT) Act on July 12 in 2005 acting on the petition of former AASU president Sarbananda Sonowal.

Slamming the Congress, the AASU said that all the developments taking place in the State including the release of seven arrested ISI personnel who were in jail for want of proof, were enough to testify that the party was acting as the saviour of the Bangladeshis, ISI and the fundamentalist forces.Addressing media persons, the functionaries of the student body, adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya, president Sankar Prasad Rai and general secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi warned that the AASU would resist all attempts to provide safeguard to the illegal Bangladeshis. “The Congress Government has failed to honour the verdict of the Supreme Court which has compelled us to start our agitation again to save Assam from the Bangladeshis,” said Dr Bhattacharya regretting that the Congress Government has totally ignored the crucial issues like sealing the border, providing constitutional safeguards to the indigenous communities in the State, update of the NRC and implementation of the provisions of the Assam Accord.

Bhattacharya informed that the agitational programme of the student body would commence from July 12, the day of the Supreme Court ruling in connection to the IM(DT) Act.

The war of the AASU against the illegal Bangladeshis would be announced through the sound of traditional instruments and holding of protest meeting in every district on the occasion of three years completion of the scrapping of the IM(DT) Act.

From July 15 to 22, the AASU will hold organizational meetings on the issue of illegal Bangladeshis and its agitational programme.

The student body is also going to hold a series of public meetings from July 25 on the issue of illegal Bangladeshis and the first public meeting would be held at Sivasagar district.

“The main issue in State politics is the issue of Bangladeshis and unfortunately for the people of the State, the illegal Bangladeshis now have a decisive influence on State politics,” said the AASU.

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MNF to decide on supporting UPA

Aizawl, Jul 10 : The ruling Mizo National Front in Mizoram has authorised its Political Affairs Committee (PAC) to take a decision on whether it should support the UPA government or side with its former ally NDA in the event of a trust vote in Parliament.

Lalhmingliana, Rajya Sabha MP said on Thursday that the meeting of MNF office bearers briefly discussed the issue on Wednesday following Left’s withdrawal of support from the UPA government and decided that the PAC should take the final decision.Vanlalzawma, the lone Lok Sabha member from Mizoram, said he would abide by the party’s decision.

The MNF was one of the constituents of the NDA but snapped its ties with the latter in 2006 due to differences of opinion on religious matters with the BJP.

Churachandpur to have exam centre

Imphal, Jul 10 : Close on the heels of the Churachandpur District Students’ Union (CDSU) threatening to snap ties with the Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BSEM) to protest non-apportionment of centre in the district for the HSLC 2008 compartmental examination, the Board today announced it would open one such centre.

Speaking to newspersons at the Babupara office of the Board this afternoon, BSEM Secretary L Rajmohan said after discussion with the Board’s Examination Committee members it has been decided that an exam centre would be established at Churachandpur.Reminding that the Board had been providing exam centres for the Old course matriculation examination in Churachandpur district, Rajmohan said as candidates appearing in the compartmental examination are few in number it was initially decided that exam centres would be opened at Imphal areas at a single location/venue.

However, considering the fact that the then Education Minister L nandakumar and representatives of CDSU had signed a memorandum in 2006 for provision of matriculation exam centre in Churachandpur the agreement would be respected and the candidates facilitated to appear in the compartmental exam in the district.

The examination would commence from July 14 .

It is pertinent to mention here that the CDSU had set July 12 as the deadline for the Board to decide on whether to provide examination centre in Churachandpur district or not.

In pursuit of its demand for providing an examination centre CDSU volunteers had seized files from the office of Zonal Education Officer, Churachandpur in addition to directing heads of educational institutions in the district against seeking enrolment or registration with the Board and COHSEM from class I to XII.

The Board also described as unjustifiable and uncalled for the indefinite bandh being called by candidates who had been barred from appearing in the Old course matriculation examination on technical ground.

According to the Board’s Examination Controller M Matum candidature of certain students had been rejected as they did not fulfilled prescribed eligibility criteria.

Explaining on the said criteria, the Board official said candidates should have passed class IX examination under the BSEM before the 2007 session, should have appeared (but unsuccessful) in both the old and new course HSLC examinations of the Board or had appeared in similar exams under a recognised board of other States.

Moreover, candidacy would be considered for the examination only after the candidates submit documents in support of their case during form fill-up procedures, Matum maintained.

Justifying the Board’s decision for rejection of those candidates who had formed a JAC and sponsored the indefinite bandh since July 8 midnight, the official pointed out that during verification of submitted documents these rejected students were found to have passed/appeared class IX examination from Guwahati based schools particularly Sonaram Government High School and Railways High School.

Highlighting that these students had not adhered to the Board’s rules and regulations for appearance in class IX exam under the BSEM thereby resulting in rejection of the candidacy, the Examination Controller further informed that number of students rejected is 350.He also appealed to the rejected candidates to reconsider and revoke their agitation programme.

Meghalaya to get rail connectivity


Shillong, Jul 10 : Union minister of state for railways R. Velu today said construction work for two railway projects in Meghalaya would start soon.

Speaking at a news conference, the Union minister said as Meghalaya did not have a single railway line, the proposed link from Dudnoi in Assam to Mendipather connecting East Garo Hills of Meghalaya and another from Azra in Assam to Byrnihat in Ri Bhoi district would be of great help to the people of the state.He said construction work for the Dudnoi-Mendipathar railway line would start in November at the cost of Rs 86 crore. “The estimate for the project has also been sanctioned,” the Union minister said, adding that the total length of the project would be 20km — 12km in Assam and 8km in Meghalaya.

The Dudnoi-Mendipathar project would be completed in four years. Another project, Azra to Byrnihat sanctioned by the Centre would be 25km long, 12km in Meghalaya and 13km in Assam. Velu said the project estimated at the cost of Rs 200 crore would take some time as there was land acquisition problems in Assam. “We have cleared the land acquisition process in Meghalaya,” the minister said.

Ambient Umbrella


Now always know what weather’s going to be like before you step out. This
brolly lets you know when or snow is in the forecast illuminating its handle.
patterns indicate rain, drizzle, snow, or thunderstorms with automatic updates
AccuWeather.com — no sensors, no wet commute. Stay covered for R5 5,300. (ambientdevices.com)

Olympus Mju 720 Sw



Need to shoot corrupt bureaucrats making a killing off relief aid somewhere in the jungle? Get yourself this funky Olympus. Waterproof up to 3 metres, it won’t let you down at that “depth”. The Shockproof” sticker means you can drop it on pretty much any surface from a height of 1.5 m and still take a picture of the floor. Survive Godzilla’s return for Rs 25,500. (olympus-global.com)

Casio G’zOne Type V


It doesn’t matter if you’re on
kayaking expedition down the Zanskar or just holding on for dear life in gale force winds,
will need this rock of a camera phone. Casio claims it’s water resistant, shock resistant, with 400 hours of stand-by time and a shock-absorbing plastic bumper — probably what Keith Richards will be using to call
cockroach neighbours post the Apocalypse. Stay linked for just Rs 3,200. (casiogzone.com)