Demolition was off late seen as the only consequence of illegal construction, but the cabinet sub-committee on Sakrama, for the regularization of unauthorized constructions has opted for a more viable option. It has favored relaxing the upper limit of violation, currently 50% and reducing the penalty for irregularization substantially.

There may be more than one lakh buildings in Bangalore which have violated the building rules beyond 50 per cent and it will not be possible to demolish all of them. Furthermore, as most of these structures belong to poor and lower middle class people there was a feeling that penalty is very high, hence, a proposal for a substantial reduction in penalty for smaller sites.

Sydney, Nov. 8 : The cricketing world no longer lives in fear of the baggy green.

If a report in the Sydney Morning Herald is to be believed, players wearing the Baggy Green still command respect from opposing teams and coaches, but the fear factor has diminished.

South African cricket team coach Mickey Arthur was quoted as saying that: “We are under no illusions as to what a good team they (Australians) are. There are one or two cracks in their make-up, and the spin bowling issue will remain with them for the going forward. But they are still a very good team.”

Karachi, Nov 8 : Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has reportedly expressed surprise at batsman Mohammad Yousuf’s statement in which he said that because of captain’s attitude he was forced to join the Indian Cricket League (ICL), considered as “rebel” to BCCI-promoted Indian Premier League (IPL).

Malik said that he had a perfectly normal relationship with Yousuf, and added that he didn’t agree with his (Yousuf’s) criticism.

Islamabad, Nov 8: A Polish engineer kidnapped in Pakistan by suspected Taliban militants is still alive, a Polish foreign ministry spokesperson has said citing a latest video.

“We have new information that confirms nearly 100 percent that the Polish engineer kidnapped in Pakistan is alive,” The News quoted spokesman Piotr Paszkowski as saying on Friday in Warsaw.

He declined to provide further details citing security concerns.

The Kidnapped Polish engineer, Piotr Stanczak last appeared in a video address released by his captors on October 14 in which he urged the release of jailed Taliban fighters. He was kidnapped on September 28.

New Delhi, Nov 8 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani on Saturday celebrated his 81st birthday.

In an attempt to bring Advani closer to the people ahead of the assembly and general elections, BJP activists are launching a 700 page and 350 images interactive website-''lkadvani. in'' to mark his birthday.

The BJP party members thronged his house with bouquets and sweets to wish him on his birthday.

Advani, who spent the day with his family, said that he was overwhelmed by the goodwishes of the people.

Wellington - New Zealand's conservative National Party appeared set to oust the Labour-led coalition that has ruled for the last nine years after Saturday's general election.

With 88 per cent of the party vote counted, Television New Zealand predicted the Nationals and their allies would have 69 seats in the new parliament against 53 for Labour and their Green coalition partners.

But Mike Williams, president of the Labour Party, refused to concede defeat as counting in the main cities continued.

New Zealanders have two votes - one for their local constituency member of parliament and the other for a party. The party vote is the most important in deciding the government.