| Invest in state, CM to NRIs
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here today appealed to Punjabis settled abroad to invest in Punjab and contribute towards the development and prosperity of the state. The Chief Minister was speaking at a function to mark the 11th death anniversary of Jathedar Kartar Singh, father of former Samana legislator and senior Akali Dal leader Surjit Singh Rakhra, at the latter�s native village of Rakhra, near here. Badal made a fervent appeal to Rakhra brothers Darshan Singh and Charanjit Singh, who are settled abroad, to exercise their influence on Punjabis settled in the United States to invest in Punjab. He cited the example of the NRIs from Gujarat who had made huge investments in that state. He said as per the new policy, the state government would make 50 per cent contribution in case of any NRI Punjabi came forward to invest in any development work in his native town or village.
Flood-Damaged School Reopens
Campbell says, "My understanding is it's never happened before, and I don't think it'll happen again." What happened? A courtyard drain couldn't handle last week's heavy rain, and water went into 28 classrooms. Student Laurel Prince says, "My French class was just covered with water." Student Hannah Veith says, "It was like a lake down there." The school shut down for a week. Fifty district workers knocked down some water-soaked walls and put up temporary ones. The school's trying to avoid any threat to student health. Campbell says, "Cleaning up the water wasn't the big problem. The primary concern was mold abatement in the aftermath, just like you'd do in your home."
Campbell says permanent walls will go in during the winter vacation. Students heading back to class are just waiting for the cleanup to be truly over.
Lean turnout at open house
The battle lines are drawn. As Panjab University and the Chandigarh Administration gear up for student elections tomorrow, the candidates today put their last ditch efforts to woo voters. With unprecedented security arrangements in place, the traditional open house at the university saw a lean turnout of students as compared to last year. Student unions managed to mobilise only about 1500 students out of the total strength of over 7700. A head count at the open house, which is the most visible show of strength a day before the elections, pointed towards a neck and neck fight between the two main contending parties: Panjab University Students Union (PUSU) and Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) for the key posts. Rupinderjit Singh Mann, presidential candidate of PUSU, who was the first to speak, made a lasting impression on the electorate.
Major relief for tenants in Chandigarh
Giving details of the subject-wise moderation, an exercise to evaluate answer books, the UPSC denied the allegations levelled by the applicant. Through the application, Bikramjit had moved the tribunal against the UPSC, seeking the revaluation of answer books of the civil services (main) examination 2005. He had charged UPSC chairman Gurbachan Jagat with sabotaging his candidature due to mala fide intentions. The counsel for the UPSC stated that the answer books of the applicant would be submitted before the bench in a sealed cover. The next date of hearing was fixed for December 12. The UPSC, its chairman and the Centre were made party. At last month�s hearing, UPSC under secretary R.N. Juneja had said allegations against Mr Jagat were baseless. Replying to the averment for rechecking answer books, Mr Juneja had maintained that no error was observed and the answer books were rechecked.
Alameda County sheriff plans to scan irises of sex offenders
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is preparing to become the first public agency in the Bay Area to force some convicts to submit to iris scanning, a strategy that may jump-start debate about how police should use a powerful and emerging technology. Each human iris has a unique texture, and its contours can be mapped in a searchable database. Proponents of the technology say it won't replace fingerprinting, but that it offers a speedier and more accurate way to identify people - whether they are suspects at the scene of a crime or inmates being freed. Authorities plan to begin scanning the irises of the county's 2,500 sex offenders within a few weeks - when they register during a move or when they check in annually as required by law. There are no plans yet to expand the scanning to others.
51% of Afghans feeling good about country's direction: poll
Warrant Officer Sean Chase of the Provincial Reconstruction Team hands out "Izzy" dolls to 15 children from one family. They came with their father to the Village Medical Outreach at Forward Operating Base Martello.(Captain Dave Muralt/Department of National Defence) Most Afghans said they believe their lives are better than they were five years ago, citing increased security, as well as better roads and schools because of reconstruction efforts. Those who feel they are worse off say they don't feel safe in the face of continuing violence. "There's no consensus. It's not everyone [who] has a positive view," said Keith Neuman of Environics. "But more often than not, people feel that things are better than they were." The Ottawa-based research company oversaw the Sept.
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