New Delhi, Aug 20 : Beijing Olympic Games may become the biggest broadcast event in the Olympic history, according to an official with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Timo Lumme, managing director of IOC Television and Marketing Services, said at a press conference in the Games'' Main Press Center that there is an unprecedented amount of Olympic sports content available, with around 5,000 hours of coverage provided for viewers in around 200 countries and regions worldwide through the rights holding broadcast partners.

Lumme claimed that during the Beijing Games, these partners are expected to make a combined total coverage, which will be around three times that of the Athens Games, reports Xinhua.

New Delhi, Aug 20: A nationwide strike called by the Left-backed trade unions today is likely to hit operations in the banking, insurance, aviation, railways and various other government sectors.

Eight trade unions and 40 employees’ federations are participating in the strike to protest against the anti-labour policies of the Centre.

As the employees of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) also have decided to join the strike from 7:00 a. m. to 7:00 p. m., the air traffic across the country is affected, with many flights cancelled or delayed between major cities.

New Delhi, Aug 20: Nation will celebrate ''Rajiv Gandhi Akshaya Urja Diwas'' today.

This effective and far-reaching mass awareness campaign about renewable energy is organised every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister, late Rajiv Gandhi as ''Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas'' on August 20 every year since 2004 all over the country.

New Delhi, Aug 19 : Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora today asked state-run oil firms to clear the waitlist for new domestic cooking gas (LPG) connections in 60 days.

Deora reviewed the supply and distribution of essential petroleum products in the country at a meeting with heads of oil companies and issued instructions for ensuring adequate supplies in the coming festive season.

“LPG connections will be available on demand,” Petroleum Secretary R S Pandey told reporters on Tuesday.

New Delhi, Aug 19 : The five-day biannual Director General- level talks between BSF and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) beginning in Dhaka on Wednesday.

The Indian side will be led by BSF chief A K Mitra, who is likely to press for strong action from Bangladesh against unprovoked firing, women and child trafficking, unabated infiltration from across the border and smuggling of narcotics and cattle.

The activities of Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islamia and Northeast militants’ activities will figure in our dialogue with BDR, a senior BSF official said.

New Delhi, Aug 19 : The UPA Government has urged the Supreme Court to extend its stay on a tribunal’s order lifting the ban imposed on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) charged with indulging in terrorist activities, including the recent Ahmedabad and Bangalore blasts.