Iran quake kills 34 in Pak, felt in India, Gulf states

Iran quake kills 34 in Pak, felt in India, Gulf states

Tuesday, Apr 16, 2013, 18:50 IST | Place: Dubai | Agency: AP/PTI

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake today struck Iran--the strongest to hit the country in 40 years--killing 34 in a border region in Pakistan which bore the brunt and unleashed tremors in northwest India and Gulf Arab states.

There was no official word on any casualties in Iran in the second powerful quake in a week.

Iranian state TV initially said at least 40 people were killed in Iran but it had no official confirmation, as conflicting reports on casualties emerged from that country.
There were reports at least 100 people were feared killed while some said there were only reports of injuries.

In India, the tremors shook north India and Gujarat at 4.14 pm pulling panic-stricken people out of their homes and offices, hours after two smaller tremors jolted Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha, leaving a child dead in a mudsling in Assam.

There were no immediate reports of any damage or casualty in the tremors in India caused by the powerful quake centred near Saravan, a remote and sparsely populated mountainous region area about 48 km from the Pakistani border.

The US Geological Survey put the preliminary magnitude at 7.8 and at a depth of 15.2 km.

Nuclear plants in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan remained unaffected by the earthquake, Nalinish Nagaich, Executive Director, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) told PTI in Delhi.

"I was inside my office in Connaught Place. I felt the chair trembling and rushed out of office," said Priya Dev, a chartered accountant in Delhi where buildings swayed.

The quake struck less than a week after a 6.1 magnitude quake hit near Bushehr, on Iran's Persian Gulf coast, killing at least 37 people.

In Pakistan, the 34 deaths were recorded in the remote Panjgur and Kharan districts of Balochistan, TV news channels quoted officials as saying.

Eight children and two women were among the dead.

The Mashkel area was hit hardest by the quake and hundreds of homes were destroyed or damaged in the affected regions, reports said.

In Karachi, several persons were injured when a building collapsed.

Geo News reported that urban centres of Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Abbottabad, Islamabad and Lahore were also jolted.

The quake was also felt in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. It shook buildings and there were reports that high-rise offices were evacuated in Abu Dhabi.

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/1823135/report-iran-quake-kills-34-in-pak-felt-in-india-gulf-states

 

Iran plans to launch 'Islamic competitor' to 'Google Earth'

Iran plans to launch 'Islamic competitor' to 'Google Earth'

ANI

April 11, 12:20 IST

http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1821209

London: The Iranian authorities have planned to launch their own 3D mapping service that would rival Google Earth, which Tehran claims is a tool for western spy agencies.

Mohammad Hassan Nami, announced that his country was developing what he described as an "Islamic Google Earth" to be called Basir.

According to Nami, the 'Islamic competitor' of Google Earth will be ready for use "within the next four months", the Guardian reports.

He added that preparations have been made for launching the world's 3D map project and Iran is currently creating an appropriate data centre which could be capable of processing this volume of information.

Iran has often looked at western web services with a great deal of suspicion.

Other Iranian officials have echoed Nami in making similar accusations against Google, the paper said.

Iran's police chief, Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam, said last year that it was not a search engine but "a spying too," it added

 

Survey of India files police complaint against Google

Survey of India files police complaint against Google

PTI

April 5, 18:57 IST

http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1819267

New Delhi: A government agency has approached Delhi Police with a complaint against search-engine Google, raising security concerns after the Internet major conducted 'Mapathon' - a contest that asked users to add information about their local areas for its online map services.

Survey of India filed the complaint with Delhi Police on March 25, a senior police official in New Delhi on Friday.

"We have received a complaint. As of now, no case has been registered. We will inquire into it and will forward it to the cyber wing of Economic Offences Wing," he said.

In its complaint, Survey of India said the contest was likely to jeopardise national security interest and violates the National Map Policy.

When approached for a reaction, Google spokesperson said relevant Indian authorities, including the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Surveyor General of India, have been briefed on 'Map Maker', which complies with all applicable laws.

'Map Maker' was launched in India in 2008 with the goal of making more information accessible to all, by allowing people to add information about local places to Google Maps.

'Mapathon', which ran from February 12 to March 25, was a contest encouraging Indians to use 'Map Maker'.

"We take security and national regulations very seriously and we are open to discussing specific concerns with public authorities and officials," the spokesperson said.

 

Maharashtra MHADA LOTTERY - Form April 2013 - Draw May 2013

Mhada has announced that it is likely to launch a new housing scheme in May and June 2013. Under this lottery scheme, they are likely to allot a total of 4272 flats.

 

As per Bhausaheb Dangade, chief officer, Konkan Board, of Mhada, around 50 % of the flats would be in Virar and remaining would be spread up in locations of Borivili, Malad, Mulund, Powai, Sion, Kurla and Charkop.

 

As per Mhada, the break up of the flats under Mhada lottery would be as follows -

 

Lower Income Group : Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 20,000 / Month : No of Flats is 2643.

Middle Income Group : Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 40,000 / Month : No of Flats is 965.

Economically Weaker Section : Less than Rs. 8,000 / Month : No of Flats is around 664.

 

The winner of the flats under Mhada Lottery 2013, would be handed over the flats in 2014. Mhada application forms 2013 would be available to the applicants online in April and May 2013.

 

The Mhada Lottery Draw 2013 would be held on 31st May 2013. More details regarding online forms for Mhada Lottery scheme 2013 are yet to be announced by Mhada. We will keep you updated with all the latest information regarding Mhada 2013 and incase you have any query, just fill up the form below and we will get back to you.

Ref: http://www.indiahousing.com/authorities/mhada-lottery-form-2013-mumbai.html