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Showing posts from February 5, 2012

'Community Seed Fair'

'Community Seed Fair' by Nksagar @ 2012-02-11 'Community Seed Fair' The annual bio-diversity festival in the name of 'Community Seed Fair' being celebrated by the indigenous adivasi farmers of Malkangiri draws scores of traditional seeds, samples of minor forest produces, local agro implements and shared among thousands of farmers. The conclave also deliberate upon knowledge and practices related to sustainable agriculture systems focussed on local food chain. This year the Community seed fair at Malkangiri in Odisha state is being scheduled for the dates 24th, 26thd and 28th of February 2012. On 29th there will be conclave of the Community Seed Mothers to deliberate upon the local indigeneous seeds and the cro

"Barack Obama"campaign for president

"Barack Obama"campaign for president Naresh -- Five years ago today, a few thousand of us gathered in Springfield, Illinois, to launch an improbable campaign for president. The task was to build a grassroots movement capable of making the kind of change we believe in. You've got to see this video about that journey -- it will make you smile: https://donate.barackobama.com/Springfield From the very start this has been an experiment in our political process, testing whether ordinary people really can still come together to change this country. We proved that it's possible. But we've also learned that entrenched interests adapt and claw back even harder, which means this election will be even more of a challenge. I can't wait to see what you can do. Barack ----- More than 1 million people like you power this campaign. If you can, please donate today.

India China Institute

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The  India   China  Institute would like to invite you to our event, Chat n' Chai, to celebrate the start of a new academic school year which coincides with the Chinese New Year.  The event will take place on Monday, February 13th, 2012, from 5-7pm in Theresa Lang Center, 55 W. 13th St, 2nd Floor.     The  India   China  Institute fosters study, research, and connections between  India ,  China , and the United States.  Established in 2004 with a generous gift from the Starr Foundation, the institute has since received several multi-year grants and support from prominent foundation and other institutions.     The event will highlight the many activities and opportunities the  India China  Institute offers; travel research grants to  India  and  China , public programs right here at The New School, volunteer and research positions, and so forth.     The  India   China  Institute strives to promote new ways of teaching about  India  and  China , while serving

Police van attacked after PTI rally in Sawbi

Police van attacked after PTI rally in Sawbi SWABI: Attackers hurled two hand grenades and opened fire on a police van following the PTI rally in Swabi.Four police officers and four civilians were injured as a result of the explosions.>Police opened retaliatory fire following the explosions. The area has been cordoned off by the police and the bomb disposal squad has reached the site.>Speaking to Geo News, PTI chairman Imran Khan said he was unhurt and safe.Khan said the attack took place after he had left the venue of the rally.Media agencies

Free trade pact will figure in India-Eu Summit today

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Free trade pact will figure in India-Eu Summit today The proposed free trade pact, which has been hanging fire for quite some time, will figure prominently in the India-EU Summit in New Delhi on Friday when the two sides discuss ways to boost relations in commerce and other spheres. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will lead the Indian delegation while European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will lead the EU team. This is the first such Summit in India following the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. "The progress in the free trade agreement and the carbon tax issue are expected to figure in the summit besides discussions on ways to enhance two-way trade between India and EU," an off
FICCI MSME Summit-2012 Theme: “Innovation & Clusters” Thursday, February 23, 2012 at FICCI, Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi There is a need for encouraging cluster development and innovation culture amongst M icro, Small and Medium Enterprises ( MSMEs) as this could be potential recipe for enhancing the growth of Indian MSMEs. In view of getting a deep insight on advantages and challenges likely to be faced in achieving this ambition, FICCI with support of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India is organizing its 3 rd MSME Summit with the theme “Innovation & Clusters” on February 23, 2012 at FICCI. Dr. Ashwani Kumar, Hon'ble Minister of State for Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences & Ministry of Planning, Government of India, has been invited to inaugurate the Summit. Mr. Radha Krishna Mathur, Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India has kindly agreed to deliver the k
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"Safe Food Alliance" spirit of swaraj in protecting our baingan! SFA celebrating spirit of swaraj in protecting our baingan! Two years ago, on this day the Government of India placed a  moratorium on the introduction of Bt Brinjal in India. The process of public consultation that preceded such a decision was also a rare gesture of deepening a democratic process of decision making on a technological issue. In the process several common sense voices were heard that showed the there-is-no-alternative-to- technology voices for what they were - misplaced, misrepresenting and unnecessary.  This (not so) fictional work captures the essence of this dialogue and in its easy to read mode provides the lay intelligent reader a quick understanding of the different arguments surrounding the GM debate.   Seek friends who can pick up copies in bulk for distribution. Thank you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Airline in Asia to Introduce Innovative Empty Seat Option

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AirAsia X, first Airline in Asia to Introduce Innovative Empty Seat Option   Guests onboard Asia’s leading long-haul, low-fare airline can purchase affordable options for the empty seat(s) next to them to spread out comfortably over a full row of 3 seats.     Singapore, February 9 2012 – From January 2012, AirAsia X and its technology partner, Optiontown, have introduced an innovative new service, called ‘Empty Seat Option (ESo)’, available on Optiontown.com. AirAsia X is the first airline in Asia Pacific to offer its guests travelling in Economy, an option which provides a chance to get all three seats in a row for a nominal fee.   Empty Seat Option (ESo) is AirAsia X’s second successful ancillary offering introduced in partnership with Optiontown after the success of its Upgrade Travel Option (UTo) service, launched in 2011.   The UTo provides AirAsia X’s guests the opportunity to upgrade to AirAsia X’s Premium Flatbed seats. The UTo has helped

2 More Acts Published in the Gazette of India

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The Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research Bill, 2011, after having received the assent of the President on 6th February, 2012, has been published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section-1, dated the 7th February, 2012 as Act No. 13 of 2012. Also, the Factoring Regulation Bill, 2011, which received the assent of the President on 22nd January, 2012, has been published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section-1, dated the 23rd January, 2012 as Act No. 12 of 2012.

Master Plan for Delhi MPD-2021

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Kamal Nath directs DDA to follow a participative and transparent process for Review of MPD 2021. Mr Kamal Nath, Minister of Urban Development has directed DDA to ensure that the review of MPD 2021, which has commenced as per the provisions of Master Plan for Delhi (MPD-2021), has a futuristic vision and follows a participative process. In order to ensure that the MPD 2021 Review process is well structured and involves the stakeholders, Minister Nath has directed that: (i) DDA shall create area wise Master Plan review cells. Each Review cell will be headed by an officer of appropriate seniority and shall be responsible for a particular area of Delhi. (ii) The names of the officers heading the Review Cells, along with their contact details would be made available to the public and other associations in order to facilitate the receipt of representations. (iii) The public should be encouraged to continue sending their suggestions up to 30 April 2012. (iv)

Need to restore fiscal balance

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FM’s Budget should express his resolve on pressing issues By Dr Rajiv Kumar THE forthcoming Budget has a lot hanging on it. Given his accumulated wisdom gathered over decades of political leadership, the Finance Minister surely realises that the Budget offers an opportunity to turn around the rather downbeat mood in the country about its economic prospects. The first imperative for the Budget, therefore, must be to ensure that it is not another routine statement of government accounts and rises above it to be seen as a policy statement of a government that is seized of the issues facing the economy and is committed to address them. Therefore, the Budget should include some major policy initiatives, like the notification of the rules for permitting 100 per cent FDI in multi- brand retail; permission for 49 per cent FDI in civil aviation; notifying Aviation Turbine Fuel as a ‘ declared good’ that attracts a Central Sales Tax of 4 per cent; removal
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India, Mauritius sign five agreements Amid concerns over Mauritius being used as a major route for avoidance of taxes on investments by Indian companies, PM Manmohan Singh and his counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam on Tuesday agreed on early conclusion of an agreement aimed at tackling this menace. The two leaders reviewed the status of negotiations on the revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) during their talks in New Delhi and directed officials to fast-forward talks in this regard. The issue of DTAA came up among several other issues during the talks between Singh and Ramgoolam which included security cooperation and enhanced economic ties. India announced a new economic package to Mauritius consisting of a Line of Credit of USD 250 million and a grant of USD 20 million. Five pacts were also signed covering the fields of education, textiles, sports and science and technology. In a statement to the media after the talks, Singh said the two leaders r

US for Monitoring of Burma By-elections

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US for Monitoring of Burma By-elections 5 Feb The United States has urged Burma to allow local and international monitors at April 1 by-elections, seen as an important step in the country’s democratic transition. Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner, the top US diplomat specializing on human rights issues, said on Thursday the results of the by-elections would not alter the balance of Burma’s military-dominated Parliament, but were a “way-station” in the democratic transition, leading up to fresh national elections in 2015. The party of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be contesting all 48 seats up for grabs. Media agencies

"The European Union in a Changing World"

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H.E. Mr. Herman Van Rompuy President of the European Council   "The European Union in a Changing World" on Friday 10 th February at 15:30 hrs Please be seated at 15:15 hrs at Main Auditorium India International Centre 40 Max Muller Marg New Delhi 110003

ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA NEW DELHI

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THE EMBASSY OF ITALY ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA NEW DELHI cordially invite you to  a classical guitar concert by  GANESH DEL VESCOVO Wednesday, 8 th February 2012, 6.30 p.m. Istituto Italiano di Cultura 50-E, Chandragupta Marg (Entry from Nyaya Marg)

Clinton had constructive talks with Lavrov on Syria

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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held talks with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the contentious issue of the Syria unrest, after Moscow rejected a fresh UNSC bid to seek an end to the political crisis under the Bashar al-Assad regime.   Officials said Clinton had "constructive" talks with Lavrov, and the two leaders agreed that the officials of the two countries at the UN headquarters in New York would continue to consult on the resolution in Syria . "I can confirm she spoke with her Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Lavrov, earlier this morning. They did agree that their teams in New York would continue to consult on this draft resolution," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference. Later, a Senior State Department official speaking on condi

Antrix-Devas deal

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5 Feb Former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair and three senior scientists, have been indicted by the country’s top space body-appointed committee for acts of commission in the Antrix-Devas deal. The report prepared by a committee headed by Pratyush Sinha, former Chief Vigilance Commissioner, said Antrix-Devas deal lacked transparency.It recommended that action needs to be taken against Nair, A Bhaskaranarayana, K R Sridhara Murthi and K N Shankara all of whom have retired.The Antrix is the commercial arm of ISRO. The five-member high level team which was set up to examine the deal and identify the acts of omission and commission by government officials made its report public last night. The team said that there have not only been serious administrative and procedural lapses but also suggestion of collusive behaviour on the part of certain individuals. It said

Early commissioning of Kudankulam Plant

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Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has appealed to Tamil Nadu Government to cooperate with the Centre in ensuring early commissioning of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project. He addressed a public rally organized by Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) to mobilise public support for the project in Tirunelveli Saturday night. Chidambaram welcomed Tamil Nadu Government's move to constitute a panel of experts to look into the perceptions of local people and safety aspects of the Project. He added that the Central expert committee had already submitted two reports on the safety of the nuclear plant. Chidambaram noted that India is not able to add additional power generation capacity in five years what China is doing in just one year. He said more than 95 pc of the Kudankulam project work has been completed and it was not in the