July 2014 – Page 63 – DesiGoogly.com

Environmentalists unimpressed by “pro-corporate” budget

July 12, 2014 0

A labourer, who works in a salt pan, covers her face beside a solar panel outside a shelter in Little Rann of Kutch in the western Indian state of Gujarat

By Nita Bhalla NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The new government’s budget shows no real commitment towards the environment and is not transformational because it does not allocate enough funds towards promoting renewable energy or public transport and appears to favour corporates over people, environmentalists said on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, which swept to power in May, said on Thursday that it would invest in very large solar power projects and establish a fund to help farmers adapt to changing weather patterns as a result of climate change. “The steps on renewable energy and energy efficiency are not transformational and the attempt to force fit coal production to clear the irrational power proposals, is a signal that the reality of climate change has far from been recognised by this government,” said Vinuta Gopal, head of climate and energy at Greenpeace India.

Annapurna Pictures to financially back Leonardo DiCaprio’s ‘The Revenant’

July 12, 2014 0

Washington, July 12 (ANI): Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures is negotiating to come aboard as financial backer for Leonardo DiCaprio’s ‘The Revenant’ after its original backer, Worldview, pulled back on film financing. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film, to be directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, co-starring Tom Hardy and Will Poulter, and is a harrowing survival story set in the early 19th century, based on the experiences of fur trapper Hugh Glass.

Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz unveil ‘Sex Tape’

July 12, 2014 0

Washington, July 12 (ANI): Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz shared a great deal of information about their new comedy flick ‘Sex Tape’, during the film’s premiere in Los Angeles recently.

Congress meeting held to chalk out strategy to fight for peoples’ woes

July 12, 2014 0

New Delhi, July 12 (ANI): Congress leaders from the Delhi unit on Saturday described Saturday’s party meeting as focussed on developing a strategy to fight for the problems faced by the people residing in the national capital. “Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed had called for a meeting of leaders who had fought in the Assembly elections to strengthen the party in view of the people of Delhi facing crisis in regards to shortage of power and water. It was a fruitful meeting and based on the proposals given by all the party will work upon a strategy,” Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said. Another Congress leader and former minister in Delhi Haroon Yusuf said: “The meeting was called by the senior leader of the AICC was to take stock of the matter as to how the BJP and AAP had bluffed the people before the elections.

Sandra Fluke seeks wider influence in California

July 12, 2014 0

In this July 1, 2014 photo, Sandra Fluke poses for a photograph at her campaign office in Los Angeles. The former Georgetown University law student who gained national attention after being denied the chance to testify before Congress about health plan contraception coverage, and then subjected to degrading comments by radio host Rush Limbaugh, is trying to transform herself from advocate to lawmaker. She is running for the California state Senate to represent some of the most affluent communities of Los Angeles County, a district that stretches from the Hollywood Hills to the Palos Verdes peninsula. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The former Georgetown University law student who gained national attention for being denied a chance to testify in Congress for health plan contraception coverage — and then was subjected to degrading comments by radio host Rush Limbaugh — is hoping to make public policy of her own.

Won’t oppose Nripendra Mishra’a appointment, says Sharad Pawar

July 12, 2014 0

Mumbai, July 12 (ANI): Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday lent his party’s support to the bill introduced by the government in Parliament to amend TRAI Act in respect to the appointment of Nripendra Mishra as principal secretary to the Prime Minister. Misra, joined the PMO the same day the ordinance was promulgated and the bill has been brought to give his appointment the requisite legal backing.

Telangana observes shutdown over passage of Polavaram Bill

July 12, 2014 0

Hyderabad, Khammam (Telangana), July 12 (ANI): Telangana observed shutdown on Saturday to protest the passing of a Bill in the Lok Sabha that paves the way for merger of villages with Andhra Pradesh. Activists of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), Communist Party of India (CPI), and Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M) took to streets in Khammam district in Telangana to protest against the construction of Polavaram irrigation project and the passing of Polavaram Bill for transferring over 200 villages to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.