Sagar Global News Views Reviews

TOKYO DAILY!!!.

2012-01-31T08:40:00.001-08:00

TOKYO DAILY!!!.

AIRASIA X TO FLY SEVEN TIMES A WEEK FROM KUALA LUMPUR TO TOKYO

Long Haul, Low Cost Carrier to offer guestsRM199 one way, all inclusive fares from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo (Haneda) to commemorate additional frequency.

Sepang, January 30 2012 – AirAsia X, the Malaysian based long haul, low fare affiliate of AirAsia will increase its flight frequency to Tokyo (Haneda), Japan from its current three flights to six flights weekly effective from 23 March, 2012.

From 22 June, 2012, AirAsia X will operate daily flights from the Low Cost Carrier Terminal in Kuala Lumpur to the Japanese capital.

In addition, AirAsia X currently flies four times weekly to Osaka (Kansai).

The increase in frequency is part of the airline’s realignment plan announced recently which will focus on increasing services to its core markets in Australasia, China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. The increase in flight frequencies to Tokyo (Haneda) follows AirAsia X’s recent announcement of its Australian route to Sydney, which will see AirAsia X commencing services from Kuala Lumpur from April 1, 2012.

To-date, AirAsia X has flown over 100,000 passengers to Tokyo (Haneda) with an average passenger load factor of 75% .The airline incurred a drop inpassenger traffic from March to June 2011 due to the Tohoku tragedy. However, the demand for the route has rebounded back to normal with healthy two-way traffic consistently above 80%.

Commenting on the added frequency, AirAsia X Chief Executive Officer, Azran Osman-Rani said “The increase in flights to and from Tokyo is in response to the growing demand for the sector, which continues to see steady increase in passenger traffic and yields from the time AirAsia X first began flying into the Japanese city on December 9, 2010.”

“With our wide network and strong brand affinity in Japan, we remain focused to grow our existing core markets and are geared up to capitalise on the continuous increase in demand for air travel to and from Japan. We will also leverage on our affiliate airline, AirAsia to provide a feeder network for intra-ASEAN travel as the world shifts its focus towards Asia and the emerging markets across ASEAN.”

To commemorate the additional flight frequencies to Japan, AirAsia X is offering guests a promotional all in fare from as low as RM199 one way on Economy to Tokyo (Haneda) from Kuala Lumpur. Those looking to fly with extra comfort to Japan, AirAsia X Premium fly flatbed seats are also on offer from as low asRM999 all in one way from Kuala Lumpur to the city.

Guests from Japan may experience AirAsia X’s fly thru flights which offers seamless onward flight connections from Kuala Lumpur to popular South East Asian destinations such as Singapore, Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket) and Indonesia (Medan, Jakarta, Bali, Surabaya).

Similarly, AirAsia X’s South East Asian guests may also enjoy our fly thru flights to Tokyo with our promotional fares from as low as THB4490 all-in, one way from Thailand,IDR969,000 all-in, one way from Indonesia and SGD139 all-in, one way from Singapore.

All low fare deals for this promotion areonly available for the added flight frequencies to Tokyo and up for grabs exclusively onwww.airasia.comfrom27 January– 13 February 2012 for the travel period from 23 March to 27 October 2012.

For continuous updates on our latest promotions, contests and cool activities throughout the region, be a fan of AirAsia’s Facebook page (facebook.com/AirAsia) and follow AirAsia’s Twitter at twitter.com/AirAsia.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE FOR ADDED FLIGHT FREQUENCIES FOR KUALA LUMPUR - TOKYO

Flight No	Destination	Flight Departure/Arrival	Day	Remarks
D7 522	Kuala Lumpur - Haneda	14:30 /22:30	2 4 7	Current flights
D7 523	Haneda- Kuala Lumpur	23:45/06:10 (+1day)	2 4 7	Current flights
D7 522	Kuala Lumpur - Haneda	14:45/23:00	1 3	*New Flights* *promotional fares are only applicable to the flights in this section
D7 523	Haneda- Kuala Lumpur	23:55/06:20 (+1day)	1 3
D7 524	Kuala Lumpur - Haneda	15:30/23:30	6
D7 525	Haneda- Kuala Lumpur	01:30/07:55	7
D7 524	Kuala Lumpur - Haneda	15:30/23:30	5 6
D7 525	Haneda- Kuala Lumpur	01:30/07:55	6 7

***END***

About AirAsia and AirAsia X

AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with over 165 routes covering destinations in Asia, Australia and Europe. Within 10 years of operations, AirAsia has carried over 140 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to 108. The airline today is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, servicing a network stretching across all Asean countries, China, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Australia. This is further complemented by AirAsia X, its low-fare long-haul affiliate carrier that currently flies to destinations in China, India, Europe, Australia, Taiwan, Iran, Korea, Japan, and New Zealand. AirAsia is the regional carrier with the largest destination network and highest flight frequencies. AirAsia was named the 2011 World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for three consecutive years.

AirAsia X Communications Team:

Sherliza Zaharudin

"We are ready to hear their points of view: Antrix-Devas

2012-01-29T18:54:00.000-08:00

Government has said it is ready to listen the points of view of four scientists, including former ISRO chief Madhavan Nair, who have been barred from occupying any govt posts in connection with the controversial Antrix-Devas deal.

"We are ready to hear their points of view. Let them give their views", Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanasamy said on Sunday.

Asked whether there was any move to revoke the decision, he said, "How can I say that now. Let them give their points of view first." The government would consider the version of the scientists, he told a news agency.

The government had earlier this month barred Nair and three other senior space scientists from all current and future government jobs for their alleged role in Antrix Corporation's deal with Devas Multimedia for leasing out bulk transponders on two satellites for launch of digital multimedia services.

The contract related to allocation of scarce S-band space segment to private firm Devas.

Taking serious exception to the move, Prof C N R Rao, Head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, had on Saturday said Nair and three fellow space scientists were thrown out like garbage.

Earlier, reacting to the decision, 68-year-old Nair had hit back at the government for taking action "in violation of principles of natural justice and tarnishing the image of reputed people like him."

He has also attacked the incumbent ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan, saying that he had misled the government on the issue. Radhakrishnan has reportedly remained unfazed by his Nair's outbursts against him and has chosen not to react.

The deal was signed during the tenure of Nair as the chairman of ISRO. Nair was also the person behind India's maiden moon mission Chandrayan-I.

The government had taken action after considering a report of the high powered committee (HPC) that went into the Devas deal and that of another panel which examined the HPC report.

The Prime Minister had on 31^st May, last year constituted a five-member high-level team under the chairmanship of former Central Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha to examine aspects of the agreement between Antrix and Devas.

Following the order, Madhavan Nair has stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT-Patna.

On whether he is planning to move the court against the government order, Nair had said that he has filed an application under the RTI Act to get a copies of the order and reports of the B K Chaturvedi Committee on the Antrix-Devas deal.

USD 1.5 million to UOC to establish Vivekananda Chair

2012-01-29T10:08:00.001-08:00

India will provide USD 1.5 million grant to the prestigious University of Chicago to establish a Vivekananda Chair for Indian studies as part of initiatives to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the 19th century luminary and spread his message of harmony.A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in this regard between Dean of University of Chicago (UOC) Martha Roth and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Culture Sanjiv Mittal in presence of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee."The Indian Government is extremely happy in giving an endowment of USD 1.5 million to the University of Chicago, for establishing the Swami Vivekananda Chair," Mukherjee said."The activities that would be undertaken under this Chair would focus on Vivekananda, through lectures, seminars and suitable related academic activities on Indian Culture and Indian Studies," he said.Under the MoU, India will provide the grant to UOC for the Vivekananda Chair to honour his life and legacy and to facilitate exchange of research scholars from/to India."We sincerely hope that this Vivekananda Chair will promote an ongoing study of the cultures and way of life of the peoples of these two great democracies, so that our two countries understand each other better and come closer together," Mukherjee, who is in Chicago to celebrate the new Indian Ministry of Culture Vivekananda Visiting Professorship at the University of Chicago.He expressed the hope that the permanent endowment will help spread the message of harmony of religions, understanding between nations and the spiritual oneness of humanity, which Swami Vivekananda worked for.US Ambassador to India Nirupama Rao spoke on the opening of University of Chicago Center in New Delhi this year under the mutual partnership of the two countries. Martha Roth, Dean of the Humanities and the Chauncey S Boucher Professor of Assyriology and Dipesh Chakrabarty.Kimpton Distinguished Service Professor in History and South Asian Languages and Civilizations also spoke about Swami Vivekananda's contribution to religious freedom that opened doors of religious tolerance between East and West. University students also performed dance and music at the event.The University also did a live webcast of the event that could be viewed from "UChicago Live" tab of the UChicago Facebook page.

MEETING OF INDIAN COAST GUARD AND JAPAN COAST GUARD

2012-01-29T08:31:00.000-08:00

HIGH LEVEL MEETING AND COMBINED EXERCISES BETWEEN INDIAN COAST GUARD AND JAPAN COAST GUARD
New Delhi, 29 Jan 2012:A high level delegation led by Admiral Hisayasu Suzuki, the Commandant, Japan Coast Guard (JCG), is visiting India from 26-30 Jan 2012, for the XIth High Level Meeting and Combined Exercises, with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The visit, was in pursuance of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC), signed between the two Coast Guards on 24 November 2006, which stipulates that the heads of the two organizations meet alternately in India and Japan, to discuss maritime issues of mutual concerns and formulate a cooperative approach to address these.The Memorandum of Cooperation between the two Coast Guards encompasses issues of maritime search and rescue, combating marine pollution, technical assistance for responding to natural disasters and exchange of information regarding crimes at sea, including smuggling and illicit trafficking.The first ICG-JCG combined exercises were carried out in November 2000 off Chennai, in which one JCG ship participated and was overseen by a high level delegation of JCG, led by the then Commandant of JCG. This also laid the foundation for development of close interaction between the two organisations that included regular visits and exercises, sharing of information and expertise and training visits During the XIth ICG-JCG High Level discussions, it was mutually agreed to strengthen the cooperation on evolving collaborative approach, in addressing a spectrum of maritime issues concerning safety and security. The visit was also very significant in providing renewed impetus to strong ties that exist between the two Coast Guards as the Japan Coast Guard Ship has visited India, after a gap of six years, for the combined exercises with the ICG off Chennai. A delegation from the Information Sharing Centre, Singapore established under the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) also participated in the exercise. This was significant in furthering the interaction among the participating agencies on anti-piracy issues.

Anti-Nazarbayev protest in Kazakhstan

2012-01-28T21:49:00.001-08:00

Anti-Nazarbayev protest in Kazakhstan as hundreds of demonstrators on Saturday defied a heavy police presence to stage a rare protest in Kazakhstan against strongman President Nursultan Nazarbayev and the conduct of legislative elections.

Around 1,000 people shouted angry slogans against the Kazakh leader on the fringes of Republic Square in the largest city Almaty in an unusually large protest for Kazakhstan's tightly-controlled society.

"Freedom!" chanted the demonstrators.

"Nazarbayev go!" The demonstration had not been sanctioned by the authorities and police erected barricades around the square to prevent the protestors from entering its centre, agency said.

With around 500 members of the security forces present there was an atmosphere of high tension but so far it appeared that the police were allowing the demonstration to go ahead.

Leaders and top activists from the anti-Nazarbayev opposition, which won no seats in parliament, took turns to denounce the leadership of the energy-rich state.

"Return the country's riches to the people!" said the co-chairman of the Azat (Freedom) opposition party Bolat Abilov.

"We will stage another meeting in February. Even more of us will come. Let's stop being scared."

Leading opposition journalist Gulzhan Yergaliyeva declaimed: "The people are stronger than the regime. We must show our strength!"

The demonstration -- originally called to protest against fraud in parliamentary elections -- has been given an additional impulse by the arrest and jailing of three prominent opposition figures over the last few days.

Vzglyad newspaper editor Igor Vinyavsky, the leader of the unregistered Alga opposition party Vladimir Kozlov and activist Serik Sapargali have all been remanded in custody for two months after their arrest earlier this week.

Nazarbayev's Nur Otan party won almost 81 per cent of the vote in the 15^th January polls which international observers said failed to meet "fundamental principles of democratic elections."

The controversy came just one month after over a dozen people were killed in clashes between striking oil workers and police in the Caspian Sea city of Zhanaozen in Kazakhstan's worst bloodshed since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Nazarbayev, who has ruled Kazakhstan since before the Soviet Union's collapse, last year appointed former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to advise the country on attracting more foreign investment.

While Nazarbayev has been hailed by some as a shining example of modern leadership in the Islamic world, critics have long criticized his regime for seeking economic prosperity and stability at the expense of human rights.

2012-01-28T21:48:00.001-08:00

India, Brazil, SAfrica distressed at Doha impasse

India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) has underscored the need for resisting protectionism in the current economic scenario.

"Global economic conditions are challenging, this is almost fourth year of recession. The only way is to engage more and work for a multilateral trade regime," Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma told reporters in Davos on Saturday.

At the IBSA meeting, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual event, the trade ministers said that developed countries had caused distortions by high-level of protection in the form of tariffs and subsidies in agriculture.

These distortions "continue to undermine the development prospects of developing countries, especially the least developed among them," an IBSA declaration said.

It said, "The ministers expressed deep disappointment at the current impasse in the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations..."

The IBSA ministers met ahead of the informal meeting of important WTO members, including India, US and South Africa.

Besides Sharma, Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota and Rob Davis of South Africa were present.

The meeting hosted by the Swiss authorities was also attended by Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Pascal Lamy.

US Representative Ron Kirk said "We need to have a new start and have a beginning towards putting something concrete on the table.... I am hopeful."

Kirk's remarks are important given the impression among the developing countries in the midst of slowdown and the US elections; America does not seem to be keen on pushing for opening up of its economy.

About the discussion, Sharma said it was very frank and healthy. "One thing that came out of the meeting with absolute clarity is that all the ministers and political leaders are collectively committed to keep the flame burning.

"Even small measures would move in the direction of the final agreement. Many bilateral and regional agreements are there and we are also pushing some of them but there are some issues which has to be through the WTO," he said.

Meanwhile, during a panel discussion, WTO Director General Pascal Lamy said most of the problems related to the WTO negotiations are political in nature.

"The bilaterals (agreements) have mostly been between large players. The rules-making functions of the WTO are not working totally, but that does not meant that bilaterals have an advantage over multilaterals... In bilaterals, you can pick and choose the partners," he pointed out.

Speaking on the occasion, European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said that the problem is certainly political within WTO.

"Doha round began ten years ago. The emerging economies have largely emerged since then. Not just China, even India and Brazil have emerged as major players on global platform," he added.

Iran moves banning oil sales to Europe

2012-01-28T21:21:00.000-08:00

Iranian parliament will debate and vote today on a draft bill requiring the government to immediately halt crude oil sales to Europe. Nasser Soudani, the deputy chairman of Iranian parliament’s energy committee said in Teheran that a draft bill in this regard in response to the bloc’s decision to ban the purchase of Iranian oil has been finalized. Iran’s state Television quoted him saying that as long as the EU doesn’t lift the oil embargo, not a single drop of oil will be given to it. The European Union imposed an oil embargo against Iran and froze the assets of its central bank on Monday.Many Iranian lawmakers and officials have called for an immediate ban on oil exports to the EU before the ban fully goes into effect in July. They say the 27 EU nations account for only about 18 percent of Iran’s overall oil sales and they would be hurt more by the decision than Iran. If parliament passes the bill to halt oil sales to Europe, the legislation must still be approved by the Guardian Council to become law.

It happens to every team: Sehwag

2012-01-28T00:30:00.000-08:00

Our leading batsmen failed miserably in test series to OZ.Facing intense criticism for failing to put up even a semblance of fight in the 0-4 Test series loss to Australia, stand-in Indian skipper Virender Sehwag on Saturday tried to defend the team's performance, insisting that such debacles happen to every international side.

Sehwag urged the fans and media to back the team when it is down in the dumps after India lost the final Test by 298 runs at Adelaide Oval on Saturday to sign off with a 0-4 scoreline.

"If you look at even Australia, they lost the Ashes and were all out for 47 in South Africa. It happens to every team," said Sehwag when asked about the abject surrender, their second successive series defeat on foreign soil after the disaster in England last year.

"They (fans and media) should be upset with our performance, I agree. But this is the time fans should back team and players. This is the time we need support from fans and everybody should back their team," said Sehwag as he faced a barrage of questions.

"When we won the World Cup, everybody was happy and cheering Team India. This is the time we need support. Every other media does it, be it England, South Africa or Australia. They criticise in a manner the player doesn't go down. They don't do it in the manner that a team and a player goes down when they read articles and watch television."

Trying to explain the debacle, the opener, who is himself under scrutiny for his poor form and reckless shot selection, defended his senior teammates all of whom came a cropper.

"We didn't bat well there (in England) and we also didn't' bat well here. Our top 6-7 batsmen didn't' score enough runs for bowlers to win the games. In England, Rahul (Dravid) scored three hundreds. Here only Virat Kohli did it," he said.

Senior players failed to show the defensive game of cricket,lacked maturity to stay at site and failed to deliver on fast tracks which needs quick reflexes.Practice and fitness is key mantra to which senior players needs to play more test games thus building their games and none of the senior players wants to have rest is matter of concern.Bench strength of team India needs to be tested with regular induction but the cartel makes the strategy hard to bend. Sachin Tendulkar God of Cricket failed to present his 100th international century and is without a century for 25 Test and one-day innings media reports his last hundred was in the World Cup last March.

Paes in mixed doubles final:Australia open

2012-01-27T22:03:00.001-08:00

Paes in mixed doubles final, Sania-Hesh ousted

Leander Paes is in line to win two Slam titles as he and Elena Vesnina reached the mixed doubles summit clash even as Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi bowed out after their semifinal defeat at the Australian Open on Friday.

Fifth seeds Paes and Vesnina came from behind to tame a fighting Italian pair of Roberta Vinci and Daniele Bracciali 5-7 6-2 10-7 in the semifinals.

Paes has already made it to the men's doubles final with Czech partner Radek Stepanek and they face top seeds Americans Bob and Mike Bryan.

Meanwhile, the sixth seeded Sania-Bhupathi's campaign ended after they lost 3-6 3-6 to the eighth seeded combo of Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States and Romania's Horia Tecau in just 68 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena.

Although the match was a closely-contested affair, the American-Romanian duo played better as far as the crucial points were concerned. The Indians could hit only 17 winners as compared to 24 by their opponents.

In the opening set, the Indians managed to convert only breakpoint out of the three that they got, besides losing their serve on two occasions to hand their opponents the advantage.

The second set was on serve till 3-3 but the eighth seeds broke Sania and Bhupathi to go up 4-3 and then held their serve to make it 5-3.

The Indians once again failed to keep their serve and the opponents claimed their second consecutive break to book a place in the final

Senior players failed to show the defensive game of cricket

2012-01-27T21:48:00.001-08:00

Senior players failed to show the defensive game of cricket,lacked maturity to stay at site and failed to deliver on fast tracks which needs quick reflexes.Practice and fitness is key mantra to which senior players needs to play more test games thus building their games and none of the senior players wants to have rest is matter of concern.Bench strength of team India needs to be tested with regular induction but the cartel makes the strategy hard to bend. Sachin Tendulkar God of Cricket failed to present his 100th international century and is without a century for 25 Test and one-day innings media reports his last hundred was in the World Cup last March.

FILMS ON SPIRITUALITY & FAITH

2012-01-27T08:14:00.001-08:00

THE FOUNDATION FOR UNIVERSAL RESPONSIBILITY
of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
&
INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE

present
FILMS ON
SPIRITUALITY & FAITH
a series
of monthly screenings

28^th February 2012 6.30 PM

THE MODERN
MYSTIC - SRI M OF MADANAPALLE

DIRECTED
BY RAJA CHOUDHURY

72
MINS

28^th March 2012 6.30 PM

THE
SALTMEN OF TIBET

DIRECTED
BY ULRIKE KOCH

109
MINS

3^rd April 2012 6.30 PM

THAKUR

DIRECTED
BY RAJIV MEHROTRA

112
MINS

Venue: Auditorium, India International Centre
40 Max Mueller Road, New Delhi, India

We are happy to send the above three months film screening details to you and also I would like to request to add these in your events/programme listing if possible. Your consideration and supports for our programmes are highly appreciated.

Thank you and regards,

Jangchup Lingpa

Tenzin Jangchup Lingpa
Assit. Programme and Administrative Officer

Foundation for Universal Responsibility of HH the Dalai Lama
Core 4A, UGF, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, INDIA
Tel: +91-11-246-51606 Fax: +91-11-246-48451 Web: www.furhhdl.org

Connect FURHHDL: Facebook Twitter

India Art Fair 2012

2012-01-27T07:20:00.000-08:00

India Art Fair2012

National Seminar on Nowcasting

2012-01-26T20:55:00.000-08:00

National Seminar on Nowcasting (Location Specific Weather Forecast for next 6-12 hours) to be organized by India Metrological Department, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.Date 30 & 31.01. 2012 (Monday & Tuesday)Time 9.00 a.m. to 12 noon – Inauguration12 noon to 6:30 pm – Technical Sessions Venue Inauguration at India Islamic Cultural Centre, Lodi Road, New Delhi- 3 and Technical Sessions at Arnav Conference Hall, 3rd Floor, Prithvi Bhawan, Lodi Road, New Delhi.

4th Feb Event - Kale dhan pe hulla bol...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2012-01-25T21:44:00.000-08:00

Sweden, Stop Forced Sterilization of Trans People!

2012-01-25T21:24:00.001-08:00

Hi Naresh,

In Sweden, transgender people who would like to be legally recognized for having undergone gender reassignment must first be sterilized.

This law is over forty years old, but no changes have been made to stop this bizarre and horrifying violations of rights. »

The sterilization surgery is a serious and invasive medical procedure. What's more, many transgender people want to have children someday. There is absolutely no reason why this law should still be on the list.
Those that choose not to have the surgery and stay fertile cannot change their gender on official documents or be accurately.
This is a bizarre and sickening violation of human rights. Tell Sweden's Prime Minister that every person has the right to make decisions about their own body. »

Thanks for taking action!

Kathleen
ThePetitionSite

Sweden, Stop Forced Sterilization of Trans People!

Take action link: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AGagF/zL8E/.cwO

63rd Republic Day- 63 Things to Admire About India

2012-01-25T21:08:00.001-08:00

63rd Republic Day- 63 Things to Admire About India

By SiliconIndia,Wednesday, 25 January 2012, 18:23 IST

Bangalore: We are 63 years old as a Republic. It is the time to celebrate the fact that we are the citizens of India and live in a democracy; a blessing we sometimes take for granted. It is time to appreciate our founding fathers that had the conviction and wisdom to give us this Constitution; which for all its frailties has stood the test of time. Here are the 62 things in our national life that define us and make us proud.

The Indian Armed Forces: Nothing matches the untamable courage of the Indian jawans and officers. They live to defend our borders; stay awake so we get a good night's rest. They are truly the brave forces. Jai Jawan!

Hospitality: One of the most evident things any person or even a visitor in India will notice is its hospitality. Indians are full of warmth and hospitality. For instance just board a train and you will see that the family on the next berth will open their tiffin, with rotis and sabzi and pickles and generously offer to share their food with you. Guests in a small Indian home! No issues because they eventually offer their bed while they sleep in the hall. Hospitality like this would only be seen in a place like India.

Economic Renaissance: It has been such a pleasure to see that since the beginning of the 1990s, India has taken an upbeat turn in the economic field. Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and his Finance Minister Manmohan Singh will be remembered in history as those who dared to abandon the old Soviet path of a planned economy.

Supreme Court: It is our tough cookie that serves justice and gets to rap our leaders. The apex court that has had a very busy year, pulling up governments, public servants and criminals along with all the scams bursting into the scene one after another.

Election Commission: Whether it is about thinking of a new political party or a fancy symbol for your existing one, or wanting to nail a guy for his hate speech. The Election Commission is here to meet your every electoral need.

Indian Railways: Our very own essence of India, the Indian Railways, something no one can miss to travel in. The experience of hot chaai, garam vadas, even a three-course meal in the train, ensures you get a ride you'll never forget! It is 'India's Lifeline' without a doubt.

ऐसा हो गणतंत्र हमारा

2012-01-25T21:03:00.000-08:00

- विनोदबंसल

26 जनवरी 1950 को, जब हमारा संविधानलागू हुआ, तब यह सोचा गयाकि यह विश्व के चुनिन्दा देशों के अच्छे संवैधानिक प्रावधानों का सार तत्व है।संविधान सभा का यह मत था कि जिस रूप में यह लागू किया जा रहा है वर्तमानपरिस्थितियों में तो सर्वोत्तम है किन्तु, समय-समय पर देश की परिस्थितियों के अनुसार परिवर्तन भीआवश्यक हैं। तब से अब तक विदेशों के संविधानों से नकल किये गये प्रावधानों मेंअनेक संशोधन तो हुए किन्तु अपेक्षित परिणाम सामने नहीं आये। गणतन्त्र के मायने हैंगणों का तंत्र अर्थात जनता का शासन। आइये आज हम अपने गणतन्त्र की 63वीं वर्षगांठ परकुछ विश्लेषण करें।

कभीपूरे विश्व के अंदर सोने की चिड़िया एवं विश्वगुरू कहा जाने वाला यह देश आज चारोंतरफ जेहादी आतंकवाद, माओवाद, नक्सलवाद, भाषावाद एवंभ्रष्टाचार से जकड़ा हुआ है। अधिकांश राजनेता अपनी राजनैतिक महत्वाकांक्षाओं केचलते वोट बैंक की भूख में सभी सामाजिक, सांस्कृतिक एवं राष्ट्रीय मूल्यों को खोते जा रहे हैं।विडम्बना यह है कि राष्ट्र की युवा शक्ति को भी जो संस्कार, आत्मनिर्भरता वराष्ट्रीयता का पाठ पढ़ाया जाना चाहिये उससे हम कोसों दूर हैं क्योंकि हमारी शिक्षाप्रणाली भी वोट केंद्रित राजनीति के दलदल में फंस गयी है। जहाँ पर मतदाता समूह मेंहैं, उस समूह पर किसीव्यक्ति, संस्था, जाति, मत-पंथ यासम्प्रदाय का बोलबाला है। राजनेता ऐसे समूहों को रिझाने के लिये कुछ भी करने कोतैयार रहते हैं। चाहे वह राष्ट्र विरोधी कदम ही क्यों न हो।

राजनैतिकसंरक्षण के चलते अपराधियों को या तो पकड़ा ही नहीं जाता और यदि पकड़ भी लिया जाये तोकानूनी पेचीदगियों में उलझा कर सजा नहीं मिल पाती। न्यायालय द्वारा सजा दे दी जायेतो भी हमारे दुष्ट राजनेता राष्ट्रघातियों का संरक्षण जारी रखते हैं। आखिर कौनबचायेगा हमें आतंकवाद से?

गणतंत्र के 63वें वर्ष में हमें प्रण करउपर्युक्त सभी समस्याओं के समाधान हेतु व्यवस्था में आमूलचूल परिवर्तन करने होंगेतथा जनता की उसमें राजनैतिक जिम्मेवारी सुनिश्चित करनी होगी।

निम्नांकितबिंदु इस दिशा में कारगर हो सकते हैं:-

1. वोट डालने की अधिकार केसाथ कर्तव्य का बोध।

2. अनिवार्य मतदान काप्रावधान।

3. यदि चुनाव में खड़े सभीप्रत्याशी अयोग्य हों तो किसी को भी न चुनने हेतु गोपनीय मतदान का अधिकार।

4. चुनाव में खड़े होने केलिये न्यूनतम शैक्षणिक योग्यता हो।

5. राजनीतिज्ञों केरिटायरमेंट की भी कोई अवधि हो।

6. जाति, मत, पंथ, संप्रदाय, भाषाव राज्य के आधार पर वोट मांगने वालों के खिलाफ कार्यवाही तथा इस प्रकार के आंकडोंके प्रकाशन पर रोक।

7. सांसदों व विधायकोंद्वारा किये कार्यों का वार्षिक अंकेक्षण (ऑडिट) कर उसे सार्वजनिक करना अनिवार्यहो।

8. संसद व विधान सभाओं/विधानपरिषदों से अनुपस्थित रहने वाले नेताओं पर कार्रवाई।

यदि राष्ट्रको खुशहाल देखना है तो प्रत्येक मतदाता को सबसे पहले यह सुनिश्चित करना होगा किजिस प्रकार शरीर के लिये भोजन व प्राणों के लिये वायु की आवश्यकता है उसी प्रकारराष्ट्र को आपके वोट की आवश्यकता है। कोई भी मतदाता अपने मताधिकार से वंचित नहींरह पाये, इसके लिये हमें समुचितप्रबंध करने होंगे। हालांकि, इलेक्ट्रॉनिक वोटिंग मशीनोंके आने से वोट डालना कुछ आसान एवं प्रामाणिक तो हुआ है किंतु इसे अभी और सरल करनेकी आवश्यकता है। आज कम्प्यूटर का युग है, हमें ऐसीप्रणालियां विकसित करनी होंगी जिससे देश का तथाकथित उच्च वर्ग, जिसमें उद्योगपति, प्रशासनिक अधिकारी, बुद्विजीवी व बड़े व्यवसायी इत्यादि आते हैं, अपनीसुविधानुसार मताधिकार का प्रयोग कर सकें। जहाँ पर एक ओर मतदाताओं को उनके मत कीकीमत बतानी होगी, वहीं दूसरी ओर कुछ ऐसे प्रावधान भी करनेपड़ेंगे जिनसे प्रत्येक मतदाता इस राष्ट्र यज्ञ में अपनी एक आहूति सुनिश्चित करसके। मतदाता पर यह दबाव न हो कि चुनाव में खड़े हुए किसी न किसी एक प्रत्याशी कोचुनना ही है, लेकिन यह दबाव जरूर हो कि उसे वोटडालना ही है। वैलेट पेपर में या वोटिंग मशीन मेंप्रत्याशियों की सूची के अंत में एक बिंदू यह भी हो ''उपरोक्तमें से कोई नहीं,'' जिससे कि मतदाता यह बता सके कि सभी केसभी प्रत्याशी मेरे हिसाब से चुनने के योग्य नहीं है। ऐसा होने से देश के कानूननिर्माताओं (सांसद/विधायक) की सूची में से गुण्डे, आतंकवादीव राष्ट्रविरोधी मानसिकता वाले लोगों को अलग रखा जा सकेगा।

कहीं भी यदिनौकरी की तलाश करनी है या अपना कोई व्यवसाय चलाना है तो पढ़ाई-लिखाई बहुत जरूरी है।साथ ही उसके काम करने की एक अधिकतम आयु भी निश्चित होती है। इसके अलावा बीच-बीचमें उसके कार्यों का वार्षिक मूल्यांकन भी होता है। जिसके आधार पर उसके आगे केप्रमोशन निश्चित किये जाते है। आखिर ये सब मापदण्ड हमारे राजनेताओं के क्यों नहींहो सकते? चुनाव में खड़े होने से पूर्व उनकी न्यूनतम शैक्षणिक योग्यता, आयु तथा शारीरिक सामर्थ्य की न सिर्फ जांच हो बल्कि रिटायरमेंट की भी आयुसीमा निश्चित हो।

अंग्रेजों नेजाते-जाते देश को साम्प्रदायिक, जातिवाद व भाषावाद में बांट दिया। कहीं जाति पर, कहीं भाषा पर तो कहीं किसी विशेष सम्प्रदाय को लेकर लोग आपस में भिड़जाते हैं। जो कहीं न कहीं, किसी न किसी राजनेता के दिमागीसोच का परिणाम होता है क्योंकि उन्हें तो किसी खास समुदाय के सहानुभूति वाले वोटचाहिये। ऐसी स्थिति में हमें यह सुनिश्चित करना होगा कि कोई भी राजनेता किसी भी हालत में हमें इन आधारों पर न बांटसके। चुनावों के दौरान प्रकाशित ऐसेआकड़ों या समाचारों को भी हमें रोकना होगा जिनमें किसी जाति, भाषा, राज्य, मत, पंथ या सम्प्रदाय का जिक्र हो।

देश की जनताने जिन प्रतिनिधियों को संसद या विधानसभाओं में भेजा उनकी भी अपनी जनता के प्रतिएक जबावदेही होनी चाहिए। जिससे यह तय हो सके कि आखिर करदाताओं के खून-पसीने कीकमाई का कहीं दुरुपयोग तो नहीं हो रहा। वैसे भी एक-एक राजनेता पर करोड़ों रुपयेप्रत्येक वर्ष खर्च होते हैं। क्षेत्र काविकास एक न्यूनतम मापदंड से कम रहने, आवंटित धन व योजना कासमुचित प्रयोग क्षेत्र के विकास में न करने पर या किसी भी प्रकार के दुराचरण मेंलिप्त पाये जाने पर कुछ न कुछ दण्ड का प्रावधान अवश्य हो।

जनप्रतिनिधियों के कार्य का वार्षिक अंकेक्षण (ऑडिट) अनिवार्य होना चाहिए। जिससे जनता उसकेकार्यकलापों को जान सके। इसमें न सिर्फ आर्थिक वही खातों की जांच हो बल्कि वर्ष भरउसके द्वारा किये गये कार्यों की समालोचना भी शामिल हो।

आम तौर परदेखा जाता है कि ये जनप्रतिनिधि या तो विधानसभाओं या संसद से लापता रहते हैं याक्षेत्र की आवाज कभी उठाते ही नहीं हैं। ऐसी स्थिति में उनका चुना जाना व्यर्थ हीहोता है। जिस प्रकार नौकरी या स्कूल सेएक निश्चित अवधि से अधिक अनुपस्थित रहने पर विद्यार्थी/कर्मचारी को निकाल दियाजाता है। उसी प्रकार संसद या विधानसभाओं में भी इसप्रकार के कुछ प्रावधान अवश्य हों।

इस प्रकार जबदेश का प्रत्येक नागरिक स्वछंद रूप से राष्ट्रीय जिम्मेदारी समझते हुए एक योग्यव्यक्ति को अनिवार्य रूप से मतदान कर संसद/विधानसभा में भेजेगा तथा जनप्रतिनिधिअपने-अपने क्षेत्र की जनता का समुचित प्रतिनिधित्व कर राष्ट्रोन्नति के कार्य मेंलगेगा तो क्यों नहीं भारत पुन: सोने की चिड़िया या विश्वगुरू कहलायेगा। जब प्रत्येकजनप्रतिनिधि निर्भय हो बनेगा जनता का सहारा,तब होगा गणतंत्र हमारा।

**सम्पर्कसूत्र : 9810949109 329, द्वितीय तल, संतनगर, ईस्ट ऑफ कैलाश,नई दिल्ली-65**

Help end unfair trials in Egypt

2012-01-25T20:23:00.001-08:00

One year on, the “25 January Revolution”, it seems further away than ever.

Last February, military police and soldiers beat up Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry and arrested him at a protest in Cairo. Days later, a military court sentenced him to five years in prison for assaulting a public officer and breaking the curfew. Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry had no chance of a fair trial. His hearing lasted just minutes. The court didn’t allow his family or lawyer into the room. Instead, it chose its own lawyer to defend him. Now, a military appeals court has said Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry will be retried – by another military court.

As for Maikel Nabil Sanad, the army is toying with his life. He has already served 10 months in jail for criticizing the army. His family’s hopes were dashed when he was not released in spite of an official announcement. He should never have been sentenced in the first place.

Since the uprising, military courts have tried about 12,000 cases and convicted an estimated 8,000 ordinary Egyptians for crimes like “thuggery” or “breaking curfew”. The cases of Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry and Maikel Nabil Sanad are two of those. Military courts have even sentenced people to death.

Call on the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to end military trials of civilians.

Egyptian Uprising: Maspero on Mubarak's Last Day © Omar Robert Hamilton

Egypt’s military rulers have said they will release nearly 2,000 people locked up after military trials. However, they have not said how many will be left behind bars. Military courts can’t deliver justice. It’s time to put a stop such trials once and for all.

P.S. Do you have friends who also care about human rights? Why not invite them to become a part of Amnesty International as an International member?

In Solidarity,

Online Communities Team
Alaphia, Buddha, El-Mutamid and Franziska

Find us on Twitter and Facebook.

Egyptians fill Tahrir square on revolution anniversary

2012-01-24T22:30:00.000-08:00

Egyptians gathered at the Tahrir square to mark the completion of their revolution that begin a year ago leading to the ousted of President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year-old regime.

They had gather on the anniversary eve to celebrate and commemorate the revolution.

In an effort to preempt massive protests planned, the Egyptian government and military ruler of the country, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) took several measures including granting government jobs to all those got injured during the protests.

Finalising the compensations to be paid to them, granting them medals of honour and arranging for the Parliament to convene for the first time on 23^rd January two days before the anniversary.

Egyptian Parliament, on the second day of its functioning also decided to form a fact-finding committee on the victims of the revolution and sending a mission to Tahrir Square on the anniversary to assure revolutionaries that revolution's goals would be achieved.

The Chief of the SCAF, Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi announced the end of the state of emergency in a televised speech late Tuesday afternoon, few hours before the anniversary.

Egypt has been in the state of emergency since 1981 when Mubarak came to power.

Tantawi speech did not appease the activists, who said the rhetoric, tone, language and even set up of the speech was reminiscent of Mubarak's speeches. Also the lifting of emergency was also not welcomed by them.

Human rights activist Hossam Bahgat said "Mubarak used to say he will cancel the emergency law except in cases of terrorism and narcotics. The speech by Tantawi today is no different. Policemen can still stop anyone in the street because they believe he is a thug."

For some, 25^th January is a day of celebration while for others it is a commemoration, as at least 846 people killed and 6,000 injured during the revolution. The SCAF insists the day is to celebrate the revolution.

The view was also shared by the Islamists, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis, who combined won a majority in Parliament.

They say they will take to the streets to protect the squares. For the revolutionaries, who are taking to the squares to commemorate the people who lost their lives last year and who were not avenged so far.

The silent majority or who have been named "the Party of the Couch" is in fear the day may be chaotic or witness violence tantamount to last years.

Many people may not leave their houses at all today. They are also stocking up on food and cash money in fear the country might come to a standstill like last year.

INDIA'S THINK TANK FAILURE

2012-01-24T21:49:00.001-08:00

**INDIA'S THINK TANK FAILURE**

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http://the-diplomat.com/the-editor/2012/01/19/indias-think-tank-failure/

India’s Think Tank Failure
January 19, 2012

By Jason Miks
Diplomatic Courier* has released its new list [Global Think Tanks, Policy Networks and Governance http://www.gotothinktank.com/] of the world’s leading think tanks, which always makes for interesting reading. In top spot this year in their global list is Washington-based Brookings Institution, which also came in second overall in the United States on the specific area of international affairs, behind the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

The list is drawn up largely by the University of Pennsylvania, and this year included nominations for 5,329 think tanks around the world.

“Our rankings process, as in the past, relies on a shared definition of public policy research, analysis, and engagement organizations, a detailed set of selection criteria, and an increasingly open and transparent nomination and selection process,” said James McGann, director of the university’s think tank and civil societies program, in announcing the results.
It’s no surprise on the overall list to see organizations like Brookings, Chatham House in the U.K., Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Council on Foreign Relations and CSIS making up the top five. But what is in some ways surprising is the failure of India to place a single think tank in the global top 30.
That American think tanks dominate the top 30, taking 12 spots, isn’t a surprise – they are extremely well-funded here, and there’s a long-established culture of ideas generation based around this format in Washington and elsewhere that’s boosted by the ease with which former politicians and government officials move in and out of the “circuit.” U.S. think tanks undoubtedly benefit from the U.S.-style of government, which often involves officials being appointed, serving a relatively short period in government, making contacts and then returning to the research sector. You only have to look at the staff line-up of any of the top organizations to see a host of former (often very senior) government officials making up the ranks.

This is in stark contrast to parliamentary systems such as the U.K., where cabinet positions are typically filled by members of parliament – a British Foreign Office minister whose term in government has ended returns to the back benches rather than becoming a fellow at, say, Chatham House.

But none of this explains the absence of India on the list – an absence that should trouble Indian policymakers. At their best, think tanks can be a hotbed of ideas for government to draw upon, and if India has aspirations toward looking past its neighborhood and stepping up on the global stage it will need to draw upon the vigorous exchange and debate of ideas and policy proposals that such research centers can offer. And yet clearly, in the eyes of their peers, Indian think tanks lack the rigor and influence of a Germany, Canada or indeed Kenya, at least according to the latest list.

I’m going to quote here at some length from one of our writers on this issue from a couple of years back:

“Apart from (the) persistence of endemic poverty and poor infrastructure, India faces other critical challenges in its search for great power status: its acute shortage of critical human capital. At one level, the country can justifiably claim that it has some institutions of higher education which can compete with their peers on a global basis. But these institutions are mostly confined to the realms of science, engineering and management and despite the existence of these centers of excellence, mediocrity is the hallmark of many of India’s other educational institutions.

“For example, with the possible exception of the discipline of economics, India lags woefully behind in the other social sciences such as sociology, anthropology and political science. Few, if any, significant contributions to these fields of intellectual endeavor have emerged from India in recent decades. Most scholarship in these areas is either derivative, or worse, still mostly descriptive and hortatory.”
It’s the kind of damning indictment I’ve come to expect from those engaged in the China vs India debate that rages on our site and elsewhere. And yet these words were written by one of our Indian Decade bloggers, Sumit Ganguly.

And he’s right. When we’re sourcing material for the site, too often we find Indian think tank analyses littered with basic errors, unsubstantiated claims or rehashings of long debunked theories (Flashpoints contributor James Holmes is just one of many to have expressed frustration at how a likely non-event involving the Chinese and Indian navies last summer is still treated as fact in Indian media and policy circles).
It goes without saying that India has an enormous amount to offer the international community. But there’s no excuse for its absence on a list like this.

*I mistakenly referred to this year’s list as being published by Foreign Policy as it was in previous years. This year, it’s being being published by Diplomatic Courier, although the report is also being hosted on Foreign Policy. My apologies for any confusion. ___________________________________

AN EXPLANATORY NOTE FROM RAM NARAYANAN
The report on Global Think Tanks, Policy Networks and Governance (http://www.gotothinktank.com/), runs to some 96 pages. It can be down loaded at http://www.gotothinktank.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/2011_Global_Go_To_Think_Tanks_Report_-_January_20_Edition_WITH_LETTEr-1.pdf

COUNTRIES WITH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF THINK TANKS:
USA 1815; CHINA 425; INDIA 292; UK 286; GERMANY 194; FRANCE 176; ARGENTINA 137; RUSSIA 112; JAPAN 103; CANADA 97; ITALY 90; SOUTH AFRICA 85; BRAZIL 82; ISRAEL 54; S. KOREA 35.
In spite of the presence of 192 think tanks in India, only some figure among the various categories of think tanks surveyed in this report, and they too not among the top ones.

The top think tank of the year 2011 – the top think tank in the world – is Brookings Institution of the US.

The top fifty think tanks – worldwide (non-US) - include U K 14, Germany 8, Belgium 4, France 2, China 2, Canada 2, Norway 2, Poland 2, Sweden 1, Russia 1, Lebanon 1, Denmark 1, The Netherlands 1, Brazil 1, Australia 1, Azerbaijan 1, India 1, Egypt 1, Indonesia 1, Japan 1, Singapore 1, South Africa 1.

The solitary India think tank is listed number 34 and it is, none of the well known ones such as Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) or Observer Research Foundation (ORF) or Institute of Peace & Conflict Studies (IPCS) or Centre for Policy Research (CPR), but the Center for Civil Society which does not even focus on foreign policy or national security issues.
IDSA, ORF, IPCS and CPR owe an explanation to the people of India as to why, in spite of the transparent procedure adopted by the University of Pennsylvania team which did the research and prepared the report, they failed to qualify for entry into the list of the top 50 think tanks in the world.
CPR (Centre for Policy Research) does figure as number 4 among the top thirty think tanks in Asia, a think tank which specializes in Economics (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations -ICRIER) occupies the 15th place, The Energy Research Institute (TERI) takes the 17th place, the Centre for Civil Society (CCS) the 18th place and Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses (IDSA) the 24th place -- in all 5 Indian think tanks figure among the 30 Asian think tanks. The first place is taken by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the second by Japan Institute of International Affairs and the third by Centre for Strategic and International Studies of Indonesia. The Chinese in all have 7 think tanks among the thirty Asian ones, the Japanese 4, Singapore 4, Australia 2, Korea 2, Malaysia 2, Indonesia 1, Taiwan 1, Uzbekistan 1, Bangladesh 1.

Surprisingly, neither IDSA nor any other Indian think tank figures in the list of top fifty security and international affairs think tanks, worldwide -- US 18, UK 4, France 4, Germany 3, Belgium 3, China 2, Norway 2, the Netherlands 1, Sweden 1, Brazil 1. Korea 1, Indonesia 1, Australia 1, Poland 1, Singapore 1, Japan 1, Jordan 1, South Africa 1, Russia 1, Spain 1, Israel 1.

Of the top thirty international development think tanks, one is from India -- Center for Development Alternatives, Ahmedabad, which ranks # 34.

Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore is # 19 among the top thirty environment think tanks in the world.

Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi which specializes in economic and social development, surprisingly, figures under top thirty health policy think tanks and it holds, obviously an error, both ranks 25 and 29.

Not a single Indian think tank is counted among the top thirty domestic economic policy think tanks.

India Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) is placed # 25 among the top thirty international economic policy think tanks.

Centre for Policy Research (CPR) is part of a list of top thirty social policy think tanks, ranking # 27. A think tank each from Bangladesh, Peru, South Africa and Singapore rank above CPR.

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), # 16, and the Telecom Center of Excellence (TCOE), # 30, figure among the top thirty science and technology think tanks. India has many other excellent scientific and technological think tanks. It is not clear why none of them made it to the list.

Development Alternatives, # 22, and Common Cause, # 28, are among the top thirty transparency and good governance think tanks.

Development Alternatives, again, ranks # 23 among the 30 think tanks with the most innovative policy ideas/proposals.

No Indian think tank figures as part of the 20 best new think tanks (established in the last 18 months).

Again, not a single Indian think tank is included among the 30 think tanks worldwide with outstanding policy-oriented public policy research programs.

Even more distressing for a software giant, no Indian organization figures among the 30 think tanks with the best use of the internet or social media to engage the public.

Development Alternatives of India is the only one and counts as # 30 among the 30 think tanks with the best use of the media (print or electronic) to communicate programs and research.

Again, Development Alternatives at # 21, is the only Indian organization to be counted among the 30 think tanks with the best external relations/public engagement programs.

To its credit, but otherwise not really much of an achievement for India’s think tanks, Development Alternatives ( the sole Indian think tank) ranks at # 44 to figure among the 50 think tanks worldwide with the greatest impact on public policy (global). Does that mean Indian policymakers pay no attention whatsoever to the work done by think tanks such as IDSA, ORF, ICRIER, CPR and IPCS?

Of the 30 best university affiliated think tanks (global), not one is from India.

Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) is # 20 among the 30 best government affiliated think tanks, Congressional Research Service of the US secures the first place. Four Chinese think tanks are on this list with ranks #s 12, 17, 18 and 21.

No Indian organization figures among the 30 best worldwide party affiliated think tanks. Indian political parties no doubt do not need think tanks to advise them on what they focus on, viz. fissiparous issues!

Finally, one Indian institution figures among the 15 top think tanks with annual operating budgets of less than $5 million USD -- Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe) at # 15. IRADe of New Delhi "conducts research and policy analysis and connects various stakeholders including government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), corporations, and academic and financial institutions. Its research covers many areas including energy & power systems, urban development, climate change & environment, poverty lleviation & gender, food security & agriculture, as well as the policies that affect these areas". ______________________

Rice Procurement Crosses 200 Lakh Tonn

2012-01-24T04:18:00.000-08:00

Rice procurement in the Kharif Marketing Season 2011-12
(October-September) has crossed the mark of more than 200 lakh tonne.
According to statistics 2,03,87,853 tonne rice has been procured by the
various government agencies by January 24, 2012.

Chhatisgarh procured 31,13,772 tonne followed by Andhra Pradesh
26,93,473 and Haryana 19,700,20 tonne of rice.
This procurement is 1,20,799 tonne more than the corresponding
day of last marketing season.

1500 militants to surrender in Assam

2012-01-23T21:23:00.001-08:00

Assam, around 1500 ultras belonging to nine ethnic militant groups will formally lay down arms at a surrender ceremony organized at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati this morning (10.00 a.m.).

A State Police spokesman said that the militants will lay down arms in presence of the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and the State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi besides senior police and civil officials.

The nine groups to surrender en-masse are part of two major ethnic groups - the tribal Kukis and the Adivasis.

Among the major groups that are surrendering include the Kuki Revolutionary Army, the Hmar People’s Convention, the Birsa Commando Force, and the Adivasi Cobra Militant of Assam.

All these militant groups are already observing cease-fire with the Government, although formal peace talks are yet to begin. Most of these groups were either fighting for secession or for greater autonomy.

Mr. Tarun Gogoi said the Government will hold talks with all these groups and see to it that their genuine grievances are met. Guwahati correspondent reports that this would be the biggest-ever surrender of militants in the North-East.

Rajasthan retain Ranji Trophy

2012-01-23T21:22:00.001-08:00

Rajasthan retain Ranji Trophy

Rajasthan completed formalities on the fifth and final day as they successfully defended the Ranji Trophy by virtue of first-innings lead against Tamil Nadu, at the Chepauk, in Chennai on Monday.

The match was dead as a contest on the fourth day itself, when Rajasthan managed a huge 326-run first innings lead.

Rajasthan walked away with a winners' cheque of Rs 2 crore while Tamil Nadu got half that amount.

With only academic interest left in the match, Rajasthan declared at 204 for five in the second innings, leaving Tamil Nadu to bat out a few mandatory overs which would have ended the drudgery. The match was called off after the hosts had managed eight runs for the loss of two wickets in 13 overs.

The man who has turned a bunch of 'also-rans' into a gutsy domestic outfit is undoubtedly Hrishikesh Kanitkar.

With back-to-back domestic titles under his belt, Kanitkar will certainly now be remembered as one of the finest domestic captains in recent times rather than a 'one-shot wonder' which has been his claim to fame for past 12 years.

Kanitkar, who became a journeyman cricketer six season back when his own state Maharashtra dumped him, though, admitted that the title should be attributed to "a bit of luck and loads of hardwork" that his boys put in.

"It's an amazing feeling. At the group stage, we had a few results going our way. We won a few matches and then a combination of favourable results got us in the knock-out. We played superb cricket after that," Kanitkar stated at the post-match presentation ceremony.

PARALLEL JOURNEYS / VIAJES PARALELOS

2012-01-23T20:45:00.001-08:00

PARALLEL JOURNEYS / VIAJES PARALELOS
SUNAINA BHALLA & JORDI GISPERT
FROM 28/02/12 TO 8/03/12 Tue – Sun from 11am to 7pm.
Instituto Cervantes – Exhibition Gallery
In contemporary art, India and Spain are very distinct, yet they have two artists, two
towering individuals who influenced and touched the lives of people worldwide – Pablo
Picasso and Rabindrath Tagore. No single artist in India is unaware of Picasso, the
icon who gave the world a strong language of modernity. Meanwhile, in India, that
modernity was expressed chiefly through cinema (Satyaji Ray) and literature (Tagore),
rather than in fine art. Tagore has penetrated the Euro zone, though not necessarily in
the same intensity, with his idea of the universal human spirit. Tagore - the great
universal humanist, with his many facets of genius; a figure of literary excellence and
humanistic values; his commitment to modernity
Against this backdrop comes the journeys of two artists, Sunaina Bhalla, an
Indian artist who lives in Singapore for the moment and Jordi Gispert Pi an artist
from the region of Catalan in Spain.Both are thoughtful artists who are engaged
with their personal environment. Jordi comes to India for the first time with a
painting exhibition bringing „the largest painting” . Through the artworks the
signature style of Jordi is unfolded. Almost otherworldly magical figures which
center around the eco systems. Jordi says:"...The message of the art piece is to
provoke reflection and second thoughts about the current abuse of nature and the way
it is manipulated. The way trees have existed before humanity and the way trees exist
today after humanity. The assembly of the art piece allows for easy hanging against
any type of walls, and also allows for suspension from the ceiling. The viewing pleasure
of the art piece is maximized when the light reflects in 3 simultaneous modes..."
Sunaina on the other hand has been engaged with issues of gender in the recent
past. The body of her work seeks to foreground the increasing visibility of the
contemporary Indian woman. Sunaina wonders why Indian women feel the need
to pursue equality with men, when they have reserves of formidable strength
within and this is what the thematic of the show.
Parallel Journeys is an interesting trajectory of two diverse voices from two
different geographies expressing the emotions of two distinct artists
Dr Alka Pande
Curator
SUNAINA BHALLA is a contemporary artist of Indian origin, who currently lives and
works in Singapore. Born and educated in India, she moved to Tokyo in the late 90‟s
and has spent the last two decades in various parts of North and South Asia. The
cultural and societal influences reject in her style of work, which is an amalgamation of
the various art forms she has studied, formally and informally over the last 20 odd
years. Having completed her formal education as a textile designer specializing in print,
she chose to pursue an immersive education in Nihonga, when living in Japan and
spent 5 years working under Ohta-sensei of the Kyoshin-Do school, studying Sumie-e
and Nihonga – the traditional Japanese art forms of painting.
Her work is, in essence, a confluence of her experiences and observations in diverse
situations and contrasting cultures. Quite naturally her imagery revolves around the
societal impact of economic, political and religious issues prevalent today, and
represents her interpretation of social change in a rapidly shrinking world changing at
an incredibly fast pace.
Being an expatriate Indian with very deeply rooted sensibilities her views on the
volatility that is India on the world stage today is very evident in her work.
Sunaina‟s has exhibited in Japan, India, Singapore and Europe. Apart from being in the
permanent collections of the ESSEL Museum, Vienna and Mumbai Airports Authority,
India, her works are in various private collections globally. Her solo exhibition of the
themed series “The Rising Sun” was sponsored by The Japan Foundation as the art
representation for the 50 year celebration of Indo-Japan cultural ties. She is also one of
a select handful of non- Japanese artists who have been invited to exhibit their work in
Japan.
JORDI GISPERT PI is a contemporary artist student at the University of Barcelona.
Inspired by the counterculture, the symbolism and neohinduism adopts in his works the
ecosophic aesthetic.
He alternates studio work with orders from abroad, having exhibited his work in Spain,
France, Germany, Italy and the United States since 1980.
In an accelerated and eccentric age, the work that he presents moves away from
velocity and gestuality. It is slowly constructed. Patiently, the artist relishes the instant
with a meditative work, without past or future, and wants the observer to enjoy the
same experience, the experience of stopping time. The artwork does not want to
picture its historical age, but to reflect the ancient culture on earth to project itself
towards the future with the paradigms of profound ecology. These do not feed the
nostalgia of a gratuitous and unconscious lost paradise, but establish the possibility of
a garden designed and maintained by a clean technology.
The ideal of science is not destruction; this is represented by the spyglass, which
implies a more profound sight, that is, knowledge. In the twelve paintings of The
Longest Landscape in the World, changes of conception can be seen in the
approximation circles. The first ones introduce the traveller to the heart of nature, the
joyfulness of open fields. Later on abstractions appear that make reference to the
formation or protection of its singular cosmos. In paintings seventh, eighth and ninth,
ideas are thematically grouped, referring to drawing, writing and eroticism, respectively.
In the last terse, excepting the one dedicated to philosophy –treating upon the question
of the being-, there is a return to the beginning, looking for a structure of cyclic beauty.

Chinese New Year

2012-01-22T20:57:00.000-08:00

Singapore's Chinatown on Sunday night were treated to three hours of non-stop entertainment at a countdown party, centred on the theme "A Bountiful Year of the Dragon."

Grand Gala start to the Year of the Dragon as thousands packed the streets of Chinatown to soak up the atmosphere and usher in the new year.For Chinese man : "For me, this is my first spring festival here. I expect to see more Chinese traditional (performances) like the dragon show. I expect it would be very exciting."The area was also a hit with tourists.

People all across the People's Republic of China and throughout the Chinese diaspora are preparing to mark the start of the new year on Sunday. Chinese President Hu Jintao visited grassroots cadres and people in Beijing on Sunday, the eve of the Spring Festival, extending greetings to them and celebrating with them the lunar New Year.With the traditional Chinese Spring Festival around the corner, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has delivered a message wishing the Chinese people Happy New Year.
"I sent my warmest congratulations on this auspicious celebration. The New Year is time for families and friends to come together. It is a season of renewal. The year of the dragon reminds us of our dynamism, our energy, our power to make a difference," Ban said in the video message.
"Let us, in this spirit, work throughout this year to help those who are suffering to advance peace and to build a future we want. Happy New Year to all of you!" he said.

Abdullah says municipal, national polls to be held in 2012.

2012-01-22T04:06:00.001-08:00

Jordanian King Abdullah says municipal, national polls to be held in 2012.
The Jordanian King Abdullah-II has said, Jordan will have both the municipal and the national elections in 2012.
In an interview to a US TV Channel, King Abdullah said, he has ushered in the reforms in a big way inside the country.
One third of the constitution has been ratified and an independent election commission will oversee the poll process in the country.
Referring to a host of demonstrations by the people and the opposition activists in Jordan this year, he said there was no single loss of life in his country which speaks volumes about the security forces.

REPUBLIC DAY 2012 - FLY PAST- AN IAF APPEAL

2012-01-21T09:03:00.001-08:00

REPUBLIC DAY 2012 - FLY PAST- AN IAF APPEAL

In viewof the flypast at heights varying from 60 to 500 metres and the associatedflight safety concerns posed by birds, the IAF appeals to all citizens of Delhiand its neighbourhood to keep their areas clean and avoid throwing eatables,garbage, dead animals or carcasses in the open in all the days leading upto 26 January.

Responsible citizens are also requested to alert the nearest Air Force Unit orPolice Station and report instances of carcasses found in the open. Thevulnerable areas that come in the route include Palam,Najafgarh drains, Tihar Jail, War Cemetery and areas adjoin RashtrapatiBhavan.

IAF Tableau showcases the men from our specialforces and special operations capabilities of the Indian Air Force. Wehave the C-130J Super Hercules the World’s most advanced and tactical aircraft.The Aircraft has already demonstrated its responsiveness during the recent Sikkim earthquake where it undertook relief operations withinthree hours. Also on the tableau is the latest acquisition in the IAF-Mi-17 V5Helicopter. This multipurpose Helicopter is intended for airlift of SpecialForces to combat area , both by day and night. Thesetwo platforms will cater to the need of joint operation with Army Commandos,Marine Commandos, IAF’s Garudsand NSG Commandos.

RD MARCHING CONTINGENT

The IAF Marching contingentcomprises of 4 officers and 144 Airmen. The Contingent will commanded by Flt LtSneha Shekhawat and will befollowed by 3 supernumerary officers. The Air Force contingent will marchesabreast in 12 by 12 formation.

IAF BAND

The IAF Band consists of 72musicians and three drum majors. TheBand will be led by Sergeant M Thakur , Drum Major. The Band will willplay the tune ‘Air Battle’ especially selected for the occasion in front of theDias.

BIRDS POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO AIRCRAFT FLYING ATLOW LEVELS. EATABLES THROWN OUT IN THE OPEN ATTRACT BIRDS, TO ENSURE A SAFE FLYPAST, THE INDIAN AIR FORCE REQUESTS THE CITIZENS OFDELHI, AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD NOT TO THROW EATABLES AND GARBAGE IN THE OPEN.ALSO, IF THEY FIND ANY CARCASS OUT IN THE OPEN THEY ARE REQUESTED TO REPORT TOTHE NEAREST AIR FORCE UNIT / POLICE STATION TO ARRANGE FOR ITS DISPOSAL.

’

"EXPERIMENTS WITH THE MAGYARS - Associations of Identities Across Geographies"

2012-01-20T21:26:00.001-08:00

Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre in cooperation with the Clark House Initiative an exhibition "EXPERIMENTS WITH THE MAGYARS - Associations of Identities Across Geographies" and a collateral event of the India Art Fair. The exhibition has been curated by Sumesh Sharma and Zasha Colah (Clark House Initiative).

The exhibition will include works by Somnath Adamane, Imran Ali Khan, Liz Ballard, Tibor Balogh, Sachin Bonde, János Borsos, Prapti Chavanke, Věra Duždová, Roland Farkas, Lada Gaziova, Tushar Joag, Andras Kallai, Henrik Kallai, Szabolcs Kisspál, Roland Korponovics, József Zé Kovács, Krisztián Kristóf, Simon Liddiment, Oláh Mara, Miklós Mécs, Avinash Motghare, Prasad Nikumbh, Szacsva Y Pál, Nandini Pantawane, Deepali Patkar, Madan Pawar, André Raatzsch, Nikhil Raunak, Sharmila Samant, Alexander Schikowski, Hemant Shinde, Shambhavi Singh, Priya Sawale, Laszlo Siroki, Lajos Csonto Sontó, János Sugár, Csaba Vándor, Tamás Zádor.

The exhibition will be inaugurated by renowned artist, Vivan Sundaram on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 3:30 pm at the gallery and lawns of the Hungarian Centre. Please join us for high tea after the inauguration.

You are cordially invited for the same.

Watch the State of the Union with Us

2012-01-20T21:20:00.001-08:00

Watch the State of the Union with Us
On Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m. ET, President Obama will give a State of the Union address to Congress. He'll talk about where we find ourselves as a nation and lay out his agenda for the year ahead.
At the White House, David Plouffe -- a senior advisor to the President -- sat down to talk about the speech and how you can get involved.
Watch the video and share it with your friends:

To make sure you're getting the most out of the speech, we're also putting together an enhanced version of the State of the Union that you'll be able to watch as President Obama speaks. The enhanced version will be available at WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU so be sure to tune in Tuesday at 9:00 p.m.
As the President outlines his goals for 2012, we'll pull out key facts and important data -- and go deeper to give you additional information.
This speech will be a big moment, and we hope you'll watch it with us. Learn more from David Plouffe, and don’t forget to tune in Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. ET.
WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU

Categorization of Central Public Sector Enterprises

2012-01-19T19:40:00.000-08:00

Criteria for Categorization of CPSEs

The Departmentof Public Enterprises(DPE) has laid downcriteria for initial as well as re-categorization of Central Public SectorEnterprises(CPSEs) into appropriate schedules. All CPSEs are required to be categorised into four schedules, namely,Schedule ‘A’, Schedule ’B’, Schedule ‘C’ and Schedule ‘D’.

Thecategorization of CPSE has implications mainly for organizational structure andsalary of Board level incumbents of the concerned CPSE. Some modifications have been made to thepreviously existing system of categorization. The procedure and parameters to be used for the purpose ofcategorization are as below:

(i) The proposals for categorization of CPSEswould continue to be initiated by the concerned administrativeMinistry/Department and submitted to DPE, which would examine such proposals inconsultation with the Public Enterprises Selection Board. The proposals for categorization of CPSEsshould be furnished to DPE with the concurrence of the Financial Advisor andthe approval of the Minister-in-charge of the concerned administrativeMinistry/Department.

(ii) The proposal should contain performance ofthe concerned CPSE for last five years on the following quantitative parameters(definitions as per Public Enterprises Survey).

· Investment

· Capital employed

· Net sales

· Profit before tax

· Number of employees and units

· Capacity Addition

· Revenue per employee

· Sales/Capital Employed

· Capacity utilization

· Value added per employee

(iii) Theproposals for categorization should alsocontain details on the following qualitative factors related to the concernedCPSE.

· National importance

· Complexities of problems being faced by thecompany

· Level of technology

· Prospects for expansion and diversification ofactivities

· Competition from other sectors

(iv) The information on the followingfactors, wherever available, should also be included in the proposals for categorization.

· Share price

· MOU ratings

· Maharatna/Navratna/Miniratna status

· ISO certification

(v) Inaddition to above factors, thecritical/strategic importance of the concerned CPSE will continue to be takeninto account.

(vi) In case of initial categorization, ifthe figures of past performance on above quantitative factors are notavailable, figures projected in the Cabinet Note relating to the setting up ofthe CPSE may be furnished.

The concerned administrative Ministry/Department should furnishself-contained comprehensive proposals for categorization of CPSEs containingthe following particulars/information/documents:

(i) Fulljustification for proposing categorization of the CPSE in a particular Schedulesupported by financial, physical and qualitative performance figures for thelast five years in respect of parametersas mentioned at (ii), (iii) and (iv)above.

(ii) Copyof the Cabinet Note for setting up ofCPSE along with an extract of the decision of the Cabinet and copy ofMemorandum and Articles of Association of the CPSE (applicable in case ofinitial categorization).

(iii) Existingorganizational structure indicating all posts up to the 4^th level inthe CPSE and their pay scales.

(iv) Comparison with other CPSEs in the samecognate group and with those under the administrative control of theMinistry/Department concerned, with reference to the quantitative parametersmentioned. The CPSEs incorporated underSection 25 of the Companies Act would also be compared with similar CPSEs forthe purpose of categorization.

(v) CorporatePlan of the concerned CPSE.

(vi) Financial implication of the proposal.

PRESS INVITATION January 19, 2012

2012-01-18T21:43:00.000-08:00

India International Coffee Festival

18 to 20 January 2012
New Delhi,India

1. ABHAAS Feature film, January 19, 2012

Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre

cordially invites you to the

special screening of
ABHAAS (PrOLOGUE)

Feature film, directedby Bijaya Jena (1996), colour, duration: 105 minutes

on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 6:00 pm
at 1/ A Janpath (Near Hotel Claridges)
New Delhi 110011

2.R V Kanoria, Chairman, Kanoria Chemicals has taken over as the President of FICCI. Naina Lal Kidwai, Country Head – HSBC India & Director, HSBC Asia Pacific, HSBC Ltd is the new Senior Vice President of FICCI.Mr Kanoria and Ms Naina Lal Kidwai will unveil FICCI’s Vision Statement at a Press Conference at 1.30 p.m. at FICCI, Tansen Marg, New Delhi

3. National Security Adviser, Shivshankar Menon will speak on : KS AND INDIAN STRATEGIC CULTURE at 6. 30 at Multipurpose Hall, Conference Block, IIC (entry from gate No. 1).

4.Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce, Industry & Textiles, will be inaugurating the Tex- Trends India 2012, at 11:00 AM at Shakutalam Theatre, ITPO Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
5. Women Hockey Test Match
India Vs Azerbaijan at Dhyan Chand National Stadium > 3pm-4pm on 15th, 16th, 18th & 19th January 2012. Spectator entry for the Azerbaijan and India four match test series will be free.

World will Regret Its Neglect of Tibet: Tibetan PM

2012-01-18T19:56:00.001-08:00

World will Regret Its Neglect of Tibet: Tibetan PM
January 18, 2012

Jan 18 (IANS): The international community is setting a bad precedence by not backing Tibet's non-violent struggle even when monks are self-immolating out of helplessness, says Tibetan leader Lobsang Sangay.

"If the Tibetan movement is not supported ... there are many other struggles around the world… What will they think?" Sangay, prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, asked.

Sangay, who was here on his way from Bodh Gaya in Bihar to Dharamsala, his base in Himachal Pradesh, himself gave the answer.

"They will say it's not worth investing in non-violence and democracy," he said. "They will say, 'Look at the Tibetan cause, how many Tibetans are self-immolating non-violently and no one gives a damn'."

If a group resorts to violence, the international community "rushes to intervene, (acknowledging) there's a tragedy and pulls in money", said Sangay, who was at Harvard University before being sworn in as the Dalai Lama's political successor last year.

"But the damage is done. It's too late. Rather, if you support a non-violent, democratic movement, like the Tibetan cause, it sets a moral example for others to follow."

Since March last year, at least 15 Tibetans, mostly young monks, have set themselves ablaze calling out for Tibet's freedom and return of the Dalai Lama, who fled to India after a failed uprising in 1959.

"The international community should respond by acknowledging that Tibet is in a tragic situation," Sangay said, adding that self-immolations show vulnerability of the monastic community in the wake of the "crackdowns" on monks and "interference" in monasteries.

There's a need for "a more preventive, more encouraging and inspiring measure" by the international community, the 48-year-old leader proposed.

Asked if Tibetans felt hurt by the lack of vocal support from Bhutan, the only Mahayana Buddhist country in the world, Sangay said: "We welcome whoever supports us, but we don't complain when someone doesn't."

However, "for any country, it's better to stand up for human rights than not to.

"Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere... What goes comes around… That's the battle we have to fight for the 21st century, for the whole world."

Sangay, born to Tibetan refugees in Darjeeling in India, referred to South Africa and said: "We were all on the streets when they fought for democracy. The world rallied around and ended the apartheid regime."

But 20 years later, "when visa is denied to the Dalai Lama to attend Desmond Tutu's 80th birthday celebrations, it's really unfortunate".

When that happens, he added, "it sends a message to the world, that you supported our (South African) cause but when it comes to us )the Tibetans), we don't give a damn… For us (South Africa), economics is more important than human rights."

Will Tibet get genuine autonomy anytime soon?

Sangay replied: "One has to be hopeful of finding a solution soon, at the same time be prepared for long challenges ahead. We are for dialogue; we want to reach out to the Chinese government."

Sangay said he was often asked if his hope was "rational and realistic".

"I am not in a rational choice theory business. I am in an irrational choice theory business. The rational choice theory simply cannot apply in movements of struggle.

"More often than not, when a history is made, it's often by irrational choice theory."

There are several models of solution involving dialogue, international pressure and internal pressure, he said.

"So it could be anything in Tibet's case. There's an Arab Spring model, a Soviet Union model, the Berlin wall collapse, the East Timor model, the Good Friday model and so on."

India win over SAfrica in 2nd Test

2012-01-18T09:44:00.000-08:00

Star drag-flicker Sandeep Singh converted a late penalty corner to hand India a 2-1 win over South Africa in the second hockey Test in New Delhi on Tuesday.

India now leads the five-Test series 2-0. The home team had on Monday defeated South Africa 4-0 in the series opener.

The Indians scored their goals late in both the halves through Chingelsana Singh (33rd minute) and Sandeep (68th), while Lance Louw (43rd) was the lone goal getter for South Africa at the Dhyan Chand national stadium in New Delhi.

Despite the win, the Indians were far from impressive today and looked scrappy throughout the 70 minutes.

As expected India coach Michael Nobbs made nine changes in the starting line-up and gave the captain's armband to Tushar Khandekar, who played his 200th international match, in place of Sardara Singh, who was rested.

The changes seemed to have disturbed the home team's rhythm as the Indians looked rusty and out of sorts for most part of the opening period.

Contrary to Monday’s first Test, the Indians lacked sting in their attack and the lack of co-ordination between the mid-field and forward line was quite evidently visible.

The Indians were also found wanting at short corner conversions as they utilised one out of the three they earned.

The South Africans, on the other hand, came out with more purpose today and displayed impressive hockey from the onset but what did them in was the finishing of their strikers.

The visitors created their first scoring chance in the ninth minute and if not for Indian goalkeeper Bharat Chetri, who played in place of P R Sreejesh, the home team could have conceded the advantage early.

An agile Chetri denied South Africa the lead when he blocked Llyod Norris Jones' hit from close range.

The Indians, on the other hand, created their first real scoring chance in the 30th minute but young Dharamvir Singh shot wide from close range after he was set up by a one-two from S K Uthappa and Vikram Pillay.

IAC’S PLAN FOR POLL BOUND STATES

2012-01-17T04:46:00.001-08:00

IAC’S PLAN FOR POLL BOUND STATES

India Against Corruption’s (IAC) tour of poll bound states would start from January 21st. The first state IAC would visit is Uttarakhand, where the team would tour for three days till January 23rd. After this, IAC would visit Punjab for two days on January 24th and January 25th before returning back to Uttarakhand on January 27th and January 28th. The month of February has been primarily dedicated to Uttar Pradesh elections, which Team Anna would visit from February 2nd till February 25th. The tour program would coincide with the different phases of election in UP. On February 28th-29th and March 1st, IAC would visit Goa.

The nitty-gritties of the visit like the cities which IAC would visit, the members visiting the rallies, etc are yet to be finalized. The campaign meetings in different cities are being organized by small committees that are being formed especially for this purpose.

During these tours, the response of various parties to the movement and their stand on Lokpal Bill would be told to the people. People would be encouraged to ask all parties whether they would bring a strong Lokayukta Bill. The movement would not ask people to vote in favor or against any particular party. It would be left to their wisdom.

PRESS INVITATION

2012-01-16T21:18:00.001-08:00

FUNCTION	:	Dr. Charan Das Mahant, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries to inaugurate 3^rd Mayors Conference of National Meat and Poultry Processing Board.

VENUE	:	PHD House,4/2 Siri Institutional Area, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi 110016

DATE	:	Tuesday, January 17, 2012

TIME	:	11.30 a.m.

Kashmir Valley remains cut off from rest of the country

2012-01-16T05:11:00.000-08:00

Kashmir remained cut off from the rest of the country for the second day on Monday as snowfall blocked the vital Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and delayed all scheduled flights to the Valley.

The snowfall, which began on Saturday night, continued overnight in most parts of the Valley including in the summer capital Srinagar, crippling normal life as most of the people preferred to remain indoors.

However, the snowfall has brought much needed respite to the residents of the Valley as the minimum temperature recorded an increase for the second successive day, weather officials said.

They said moderate to heavy snowfall was recorded in the Valley and efforts are on to clear the roads of accumulated snow.

Fresh snowfall ranging between two to eight inches was also recorded in other parts of the Valley including Pahalgam, Yousmarg and Sonamarg.

Snow clearance machines were deployed at Srinagar International Airport since 5.00 AM by Mechanical Engineering Department, while Beacon authorities also deployed their machines for clearance of apron and runway, officials said.

Fresh snowfall has blocked the 294-km Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only road link between Kashmir Valley and rest of the country.

An official of the traffic department said the road link remains blocked due to overnight snowfall.

All the incoming flights at Srinagar International Airport have also been delayed.

Despite moderate to heavy snowfall, electricity supply in the city and major towns of the Valley remained unaffected.

The snowfall has resulted in an increase in minimum temperature as Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius.

Gulmarg skiing resort in north Kashmir, where mercury had stayed 10 to 12 degrees below freezing point since new year, recorded a minimum temperature of -6.7 degrees Celsius.

Pakistan Military’s Desire to Slip Into The Driving Seat Once Again

2012-01-14T23:05:00.000-08:00

Pakistan Military’s Desire to Slip Into The Driving Seat Once Again

P. K. Upadhyay-
January 13, 2012
Some very strange developments seem to be unfolding in Pakistani politics. A political dogfight between the civilian and military leaderships has been unheard off in the country’s history so far. The generals never had to air their differences with the political masters in the public as they are doing at present. When faced with a ‘defiance’ of their writ at any stage, the generals have always taken over power after booting-out the civilian government. In a rare case, as during the time of General Waheed Kakar, the Army did not directly take over power, but forced the feuding President (Ghulam Ishaq Khan) and Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharief) to quit and brought in a new government. The story, as told by Pakistani columnist Azeem Chaudhary, goes that General Kakar, in his full ceremonial uniform with a pistol holster by his side, called a meeting of Ishaq Khan and Nawaz Sharief and, when they tried to resist his gentle persuasions, just tapped his baton on the table and asked them to quit, which they complied with meekly. Then why this time around is General Kayani not able to push out the President and Prime Minister and has let the current army-civil tug-of-war drag on since May, when the present political crisis seems to have started in the wake of the Abbottabad raid? The simple answer is that the Pakistan Army in 2012 is not what it used to be during the Ayub Khan to Musharraf eras. At present, it does not have the confidence to enforce its diktat due to a weakening of its earlier hold on the power structure on account of the sharp deterioration in the Pakistan-US military-to-military relationship, changes in the social complexion and the background of the current crop of military officers as well as the deep penetration of jehadi influence in the Armed Forces.
The US raid on Osama’s hideout marked a watershed in more sense than one in the contemporary history of Pakistan. On the one hand it further accentuated the already deepening rift between the US and Pakistan establishments over Afghanistan as well as the relationship with the Taliban and, on the other, rocked the fledgling post-Musharraf relationship between Pakistan’s civilian government and the Army leadership. For the western world and particularly the United States, the raid exposed the Pakistan Army’s duplicity in dealing with Osama and Taliban and raised serious questions about its role and commitment to fight Islamic radicalism. For the Pakistanis it exposed their Army’s (lack of) capability and even commitment to defend the country’s ‘honour’ and ‘principles’ by standing up to the Americans. These sentiments did not engulf just the civilian society but also reverberated in the barracks. Soon after the US raid, General Kayani and his Corps Commanders had to face many difficult questions from junior officers about the Army’s response to the US action. On May 5, the Corps Commanders’ meeting decided to institute an enquiry into the ‘intelligence failure’ about US plans, as also to enforce an immediate reduction in the presence of US military personnel in the country. Pakistan’s civilian government, on its part, was confused and vague in its reaction. It tried to score some brownie points by contending that the US raid was made possible by intelligence Pakistan provided and that the “killing of Osama Bin Laden showed the commitment of Pakistan and the world community in the war against terrorism” (Prime Minister Gilani’s statement). At the same time, it ‘warned’ the US that the Abbottabad raid should not set a precedent for such “unilateral actions” in future.
The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) was quick to move to exploit the situation for its political agenda by targeting both the Zardari government and the Army. Taking advantage of the anti-American and anti-establishment mood in the country, as demonstrated by the media focus on the role and performance of the Army not in just harbouring Osama bin-Laden but also in handling the US action, the PML(N) called for the setting up of an independent enquiry commission to investigate the Abbottabad raid. Later, just a week before the budget session of the National Assembly was to commence, it requested an emergency session of the House to discuss “the delay” in the setting-up of the Commission. The Zardari-Gilani regime yielded ground and held an in-camera session of both houses of Parliament (May 13), during which the entire top-brass of the military was present. ISI Chief General Shuza Pasha admitted to intelligence failure and surrendered himself to full parliamentary accountability. But at the same time, he also held the provincial government, the local police and other agencies responsible for this failure. Parliament adopted a resolution to set up an enquiry commission to ascertain the full facts about the presence of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan as well as the circumstances and full facts about the US raid, determine the nature, background and causes of the lapses of the concerned authorities and make recommendations to prevent such incidents in future.
Sensing that they had gained an upper hand, Nawaz Sharief and his party stepped up their assault. Sharief made an open demand for parliamentary scrutiny of the budgets of the Army and the ISI. He held out a thinly veiled threat to the government by declaring that his party would support the government only if it was ready to stand on its own legs and not live with a begging bowl. Later, PML (N) convened a meeting of various opposition parties to give the government an ultimatum to set-up the enquiry into the Abbottabad raid by June 3 and subsequently submitted a notice to the Speaker of the National Assembly for the purpose. Buckling down, the government announced on May 31 the setting up of the enquiry commission under the chairmanship of Justice Javed Iqbal, a sitting judge of the Supreme Court, which commenced its proceedings from July 25 and summoned the Chief of the ISI, the DG of Military Intelligence, and the heads of various police and intelligence agencies to present their testimonies. The Pakistani media carried reports to the effect that the commission raised many awkward questions about the presence of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan and the security cooperation between the US and the Pakistani militaries, which made the Army feel uncomfortable.
The Army was already making moves to counter all this challenge. Maulana Fazal-ur Rehman, whose Jamiat-ul Ulema-e-Islam (F) had initially joined the PML (N)-led campaign for an enquiry into the Abbottabad raid, disassociated itself from the move, terming it as against “national interests” apparently under the Army’s persuasion. The Army seems to have also put pressure on the government to scuttle the enquiry, or consign it to the cold storage. As the government found itself on a politically weak wicket but at the same time unwilling to yield, the Army’s veiled hints became more open and ominous. What must have increased the discomfiture of the Army was the government’s thinly veiled efforts to distance itself from the Army and the Abbottabad episode. When the Army began to huff-and-puff in its efforts to bring the government down to its point of view, Zardari, or someone close to him, appears to have thought about approaching the Americans to exercise their influence over the Army and restrain it, thus giving birth to the ‘Memogate’ affair. The former Ambassador to US Hussein Haqqani, considered close to Zardari, has been accused of writing to Adm. Mullen seeking his assistance in installing a “new security team” in Islamabad that would be friendlier towards Washington.
Nawaz Sharief’s efforts to fish in troubled waters as also to move closer to the Army’s position on ‘Memogate’ on the one hand and to force early general elections in the wake of the ouster of the Zardari regime in an Army putsch on the other, intensified. By the second half of November, after describing the parliamentary enquiry commission as a sham, he petitioned the Supreme Court to investigate the Memogate affair and punish “without any leniency” those who had “taken the country into abyss of despair”. ‘Memogate’ was indeed the last straw for the Army and Zardari was forced to go abroad for ‘treatment’ on December 18, after seeing Kayani a day before. However, as the Army showed no inclinations to take over power and no alternative arrangements to fill the post-Zardari void were in place, the PPP Government continued and Zardari also came back to the country, vowing on the eve of the anniversary of Benazir’s assassination that he would continue to fight for the ‘infant democracy’ in the country.
It was clear that the Army was reluctant to assume power and, at the same time, also reluctant to let the Zardari-led PPP government continue. It appears to have chosen the judicial route to hound out the government. Apparently, a deal between the Army and the Chief Justice of Pakistan allowed not just a renewed focus on the old National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) cases against Zardari and others, but also the setting up of a four-judge judicial enquiry into Memogate under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of the Baluchistan High Court, to “investigate” the episode and report in four weeks. In response to the Court’s orders for submissions, the government denied any link between the mysterious memo to Mike Mullen and the President and wanted the Court action to be quashed. However, Kayani highlighted it as high treason and an attempt to demoralize the military. Interestingly, the submissions by Kayani and Shuza Pasha were made to the Court directly through the Attorney General, totally by-passing the civilian government. On its part, the Ministry of Defence submitted through its Secretary Lt. Gen (Retd.) Naeem Khalid Lodhi that the government had no operational control over either the Army or the ISI. This pushed the polemics between the Army and the government to a new and bitter high and both Zardari and Gilani chose to speak out against “conspiracies to pack up the elected government”. In a clear move to enlist Chinese support, while Kayani went to Beijing, Gilani gave an interview to the Chinese People’s Daily (January 9) where he described the Army commanders’ submissions to the Supreme Court as “unconstitutional and illegal”. The Army joined issue with the government by issuing a press release warning it of “serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the country”. In continuing tit-for-tat responses, the regime responded by sacking the Defence Secretary and the Army, in turn, called a meeting of the senior generals to discuss the situation.
Why is this unprecedented and uncharacteristic spat between the Army and the civilian government continuing? Apparently, the United States is a factor. Although, for the record, the US Administration and Pentagon had dismissed the memo to Mullen, they seem to have quietly acted on it by heavily leaning on the Pakistan Army. Despite the recent breakdown in their relationship, the US military still has a considerable hold over the Pakistan Army in the form of continuing supply of spares and other vital equipment, apart from training and intelligence cooperation. The Americans could have conveyed to Kayani and company that ousting the civilian regime in a coup would mean a total break in links, including the supply of spares and other wherewithal. The Pakistan Army cannot resist this pressure, since without using US supplied armour and attack helicopters, it cannot continue its operations against the Taliban in FATA or the Baluchi rebels in Baluchistan. Another inhibiting factor for Kayani and his generals could be the extent of penetration of the Army by jehadi elements. For sometime now, there appears to be a lull in clashes between Islamic radicals and the Army. While a let-up in US drone strikes (after the handing over of the Shamsi airbase) appears to be a significant facilitating factor for this lull, it cannot be the key trigger for it. The possibility of a JUI (F) brokered truce between the Army and Taliban should not be ruled out. The Army wants to preserve this truce for the present and, therefore, is reluctant to rock the boat by staging a coup at this juncture. It possibly fears that in case it ousts the Zardari government and becomes all powerful, that may have some destabilizing impact on the current truce with the Taliban. Lastly, Kayani and other senior generals may still not be out of the shock they suffered from the violent outbursts of junior officers after the Abbottabad raid. They recognize that the younger lot of Pakistan Army Officers does not come from traditional sections of the society known for its contempt for ‘civilians’ and their ways. These officers are the off-spring of former JCOs/NCOs of the military, as also the urban middle and lower middle classes, and may be harbouring a strong antipathy towards the bourgeois attitudes of their superiors.
This, however, does not mean that Kayani and company are going to let the Zardari-Gilani combine continue to spite them. Army backed judicial action against the regime is a strong possibility. For the post Zardari period, one may watch the rise of Imran Khan (despite his strong anti-Army and pro-democracy postures) and the planned return of Pervez Musharraf with interest.

Israel may be preparing to strike Iran

2012-01-14T21:41:00.000-08:00

US fears Israel may be preparing to strike Iran-

Israel is preparing a military strike against Iran over US objections, triggering Americans to step up contingency plans to safeguard its facilities in the region in case of a conflict.

President Barack Obama, defence Secretary Leon Panetta and other top US officials have delivered a string of private messages to Israeli leaders, warning about dire consequences of a strike, Wall Street Journal reported quoting Pentagon sources.
Obama spoke on phone on Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benzamin Netanyahu and Gen Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff is rushing to Tel Aviv to top meet top Israeli military officials.
"Our concern is heightened," a senior US military official said of the probability of an Israeli strike over US objections.
Tehran crossed at least one of Israel's "red lines" earlier this month when it announced it had begun enriching uranium at the Fordow underground nuclear facility near the holy city of Qom.
The planned closing of Israel's nuclear plant near Dimona this month, which was reported in Israeli media, sounded alarms in Washington, where officials feared it meant Israel was repositioning its own nuclear assets to safeguard them against a potential Iranian counterstrike.
The high-stakes planning and diplomacy comes as US officials warn Tehran, including through what administration officials described yesterday as direct messages to Iran's leaders, against provocative actions.
Tehran has warned that it could retaliate to tightened sanctions by blocking oil trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
On Thursday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to punish the perpetrators of the assassinationblamed by Iran on the US and Israelof an Iranian scientist involved in the nuclear programme.
The US denied the charge and condemned the attack.
Israel hasn't commented. Covert efforts by Israel's intelligence service to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons have been credited with slowing the programme without the high risk of military conflict that could be sparked by an airstrike.
Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful uses.
But Israel has declined to rule out a strike, as has the US.
"It is the policy of the Israeli government, and the Obama administration, that all options remain on the table. And it is crucial that the ayatollahs in Tehran take this policy seriously," said Michael Oren, Israel's ambassador to the US.
The US military is preparing for a number of possible responses to an Israeli strike, including assaults by pro-Iranian Shiite militias in Iraq against the US Embassy in Baghdad, according to US officials.
The US. believes its embassy and other diplomatic outposts in Iraq are more vulnerable following the withdrawal of U.S. forces last month.
Up to 15,000 US diplomats, federal employees and contractors are expected to remain in Iraq.
In large measure to deter Iran, the U.S. has 15,000 troops in Kuwait, and has moved a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Persian Gulf area.
It has also been pre-positioning aircraft and other military equipment, officials say.
Arms transfers to key allies in the Gulf, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, have been fast-tracked as a further deterrent, officials say

Saina enters semifinals of Malaysia Open

2012-01-14T21:09:00.001-08:00

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal on Friday reached her first semifinal of the new season after eking out a hard-fought three-game victory over Tine Baun of Denmark in the Malaysian Super Series in Kuala Lumpur.

The world number four Indian had to toil hard before prevailing over two-time All England champion Tine 21-13 21-23 21-13 in a women singles quarterfinal match which lasted a little less than an hour.

The 21-year-old Saina kept the pressure on her rival and played a lot of smashes though she gained more points with her dribbling at the net.

In the first game, Saina opened up a narrow lead after 5-5 but Tine kept breathing down her neck at 9-10 before the Indian started reeling off straight points to widen the gap and then take a 1-0 lead.

Not ready to lie low, Tine raced to a three-point lead in the second game but a straight six point helped Saina to zoom past her and take 14-10 lead.

However, the Dane was not someone to let it go so easily as she caught up with the Indian at 15-15 and held on to the fight by winning the second game and draw level.

In the decider, Tine again managed to open up a narrow two-point lead early but Saina soon gathered herself and changed the calculation by leading 9-7 and kept the pressure intact as Tine's game crumbled.

In the semifinals on Saturday, Saina will take on the winner between top seed and world number one Chinese Yihan Wang and Xuerui Li.

291 candidates in fray in Manipur elections

2012-01-14T01:00:00.000-08:00

Election office said there would be 2357 polling stations in the state and except 160 of them the rest has been declared hyper-sensitive and sensitive. Manipur has a 60-member Assembly. Over 290 candidates are in the fray for the Manipur Assembly elections scheduled on 28th January, election office said on Friday. Scrutiny of nomination papers was completed on Thursday and 291 of them were found valid after rejecting others. Withdrawal of nomination has been fixed for Saturday and the exact number of candidates who would remain in the poll fight would be known on Saturday evening if reports from concerned returning officers are received by then, the sources said.

Pakistan National Assembly meet today

2012-01-13T01:30:00.000-08:00

Pakistan National Assembly will again meet today to discuss the situation arising out of the Supreme Court order over high profile corruption cases.

An urgent meeting of the Assembly was called on Thursday, but the house was adjourned after paying obituary references to the members who passed away in the last session.

The Supreme Court will hear on Monday the high profile cases including charges of corruption against President Zardari.

The apex court also came down heavily on Prime Minister Gilani for not taking action in such cases and threatened to take action against him. President Zardari, who had flew to Dubai on Thursday, has returned to Islamabad.

Pak Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani held a key meeting with top commanders on Thursday against the backdrop of an escalating row with the civilian government over the memo scandal.

VHP thanks EC to ban Muslim Reservation

2012-01-12T09:05:00.001-08:00

VHP thanks EC to ban Muslim Reservation

New Delhi. Jan 12, 2012. Vishwa Hindu Parishad today welcome the
decission of the election commission to ban reservation to Minority in
five states and sent a letter of thanks to the cheif election
commission (CEC) today for admitting VHP demand in the interest of the
nation. In his letter of thanks VHP Central secretary Dr Surendra Jain
said that this act of EC would have historic impact and would save the
nation from divisive politics of the UPA Govt.

A high level VHP delegation comprising its Int'l Vice President shri
Om Prakash Singhal, the newly elected international Secretary General
Vishwa Hindu Parishad shri Champat Rai, secretary of the organization
Dr Surendra Jain and state Media chief Vinod Bansal meet EC on Dec 29.
The delegation elaborated the CEC that The Central Government's
decision to carve out a 4.5% sub-quota for Minorities from within the
27% reservation for OBC's, just before the announcement of the polling
dates by Election Commission five states, is a pre-poll exploitive
stunt meant to unduly influence the minority community to attract
their votes.

In its memorandum to CEC, VHP said that the religion-based reservation
is not only prohibited by Articles 15(1) and 16(2) of the constitution
and violative of articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the same too but also
divide the country. The VHP leaders requested the Election Commission
of India to take action against the Indian National Congress, the
ruling party for blatant violation of the model code of conduct for
political benefits by seeking votes on the basis of religion. The VHP
demanded to rollback the communal order and requested that party
should be debarred from fighting the elections.

VHP today said that it is high time for the congress to rethink about
its appeasement policy.

Posted 3 hours ago by Nareshkumarsagar

Kim Hyong-O Calls on Shri Mallikarjun Kharge

2012-01-12T09:03:00.001-08:00

Kim Hyong-O Calls on Shri Mallikarjun Kharge

Kim Hyong-O Calls on Shri Mallikarjun Kharge. Mr. Kim Hyong-O, former Speaker and currently Member of the 18th National Assembly of Republic of Korea today called on Union Labour & Employment Minister Shri Mallikarjun Kharge and discussed the matter of mutual bilateral interest. Speaking on this occasion the Minister said relation between India and Korea rest n strong historical ties based on a strong foundation of shared cultural heritage, commitment to democracy and desire to establish a long term cooperative partnership. Also, the two countries recognise the importance of developing an open and inclusive Asian regional architecture based on the principles of mutual benefit and shared opportunity. We need to closely cooperate in “East Asia Summit” (EAS) and ‘Asia Europe Meeting’ (ASEM) as well as in World Trade Organisation (WTO) and in matters related to Climatic Change, etc. Expressing the hope of enhanced cooperation between the two countries in future the Minister said Govt. of India attaches great importance to skill development and accordingly a National Skill Development Corporation has been set-up as a non-profit company with an appropriate governance infrastructure.

Reciprocating the sentiments Mr. Kim Hyong-O said it is due to this cooperation more than 400 Korean Companies have business ties with India. He desired for sharing of experience in the field of R&D activities. Shri Kim Hyong –O was accompanied by Ms. Kim, Chung, Member of National Assembly and Mr. Kim, Joong-Keun, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea. The Indian side besides the Minister included Dr. M.Sarangi, Secretary Labour and Employment and Shri Anoop Chandra Pande, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Labour & Employment.

Posted by Nareshkumarsagar

2012-01-11T07:56:00.000-08:00

Industrialization of Animal Agriculture Jeopardizes Food Security, says Humane Society International

NEW DELHI (January 11, 2012) —Humane Society International has released a report critical of the idea that inhumane confinement of animals in industrial production facilities somehow enhances food security. In reality, the HSI report demonstrated, the industrialization of animal agriculture does just the opposite, jeopardizing food security by degrading the environment, threatening human health, and diminishing income-earning opportunities in rural areas.

“There is strong scientific evidence of the negative impacts of these animal factories on people and animals,” said Chetana Mirle, Ph.D., director of farm animal protection for HSI. “We must do a better job of supporting small-farmer led and animal welfare-friendly agriculture, as well as implementing stronger environmental and farm animal welfare regulations.”

In India, 140 to 200 million egg-laying hens are confined to barren, wire battery cages so restrictive they cannot even spread their wings. Each bird has less living space than an A4 sheet of paper. With no opportunity to experience most natural behaviors, such as nesting, dust bathing, perching and foraging, these birds endure lives wrought with suffering. Factory farms that confine more than 50,000 birds within a single shed are increasingly common in the country.

In 2008, more than 720 million chickens were slaughtered in India for their meat. These broiler chickens also experience crowded confinement and other adverse conditions.

The HSI report, The Impact of Industrial Farm Animal Production on Food Security in the Developing World, reviews the growing body of evidence showing that industrial farm animal production fails to improve food security. Some highlights of the document are:

· Increasingly inhumane conditions for animals on farms do not benefit people. For example, the growing confinement of India’s egg laying hens in cramped battery cages has failed to significantly improve the nutritional outcomes for low-income communities.

· More humane farming practices can benefit human communities as well as animals. The report urges the government to implement progressive environmental, public health, and animal welfare regulations to minimize the negative impacts of industrial farm animal production on animals, the environment, and vulnerable human populations.

Media Contact: N.G.Jayasimha: (0)9490732614, ngjayasimha@hsi.org

World Series of Boxing by Aiba

2012-01-10T20:37:00.000-08:00

World Series of Boxing by Aiba

In an interview with SportzPower’s Javed Farooqui, Raja says 2011 has been a year of learning for the federation.we have understood what are our strength and capabilities. It has also been an eye opener from the point of view that with the introduction of World Series of Boxing by Aiba, the old style of boxing has come back into play which is more of hard punches, body movements. Boxing has become a different game altogether and if we have to be in the reckoning for the Olympics, World Championships etc we have to develop this (old style boxing) part of it so that our boxers are strong who have the courage, endurance and the hitting power. In the past 15-20 years the Aiba has brought so many rules which were more suited for ‘touch-and-go’ or the points system. The actual boxing which the likes of Muhammad Ali played was more of attacking. To bring back the beauty of the game, Aiba has brought back the scoring system. So this has been the biggest learning for us and maybe Aiba will also permit us to conduct the same (Boxing Series) for selection of people and that will help our boxers also they will become much stronger.

Other than that our juniors, youth and women boxers have also done well, four of our boxers have already qualified for the Olympics and there is one more Olympic qualifier coming up for mens' section and subsequently the womens' section. What is emerging is that it is the age of youngsters now like in the mens' section we have Vikas (Krishnan), Devendro (Singh), and now Shiva Thapa, who have done well. Similarly in the womens' section we have young girls who won during the World Championships like this girl called Sarju Bala, who is a Gold medallist in world championship. So in the next two-three months we will know whether the women in the senior section are able to maintain their position or these (Junior) girls will overtake them.

Scientific Temper Statement Revisited-2011

2012-01-10T07:47:00.000-08:00

ScientificTemper Statement Revisited-2011

ThePalampur Declaration

Recapitulation of the1980s Spirit

The concept of Scientific Temperwas articulated first by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946 in his book Discoveryof India, referring to it as "a way of life, a process of thinking, amethod of acting and associating with our fellowmen". The tradition ofskepticism and humanism is not new to Indian intellectual tradition. Suchnotions go back to antiquity – Jain, Sankya, and Buddhist traditions have repeatedlyemphasized the spirit of enquiry. During the Indian renaissance many leaderspopularised the notion of scientific enquiry and gradually it became part ofIndian ethos.

Nehru was instrumentalin laying the foundations for building the infrastructure for science andtechnology in India – the Universities, the IITs, the CSIR labs, etc. Thesebecame the 'hardware' of science and technology in India, while ScientificTemper among the people of India was to be the ‘software’. In 1976, Indiabecame the first country to include in its Constitution 'Scientific Temper withhumanism' as a fundamental duty of all citizens of the country [Article 51-A(h)].

Four years later, in October1980, a group of academicians and intellectuals deliberated for four days atCoonoor, near Ooty, on the state of Scientific Temper in the country. Out ofthose deliberations was born ‘A Statement on Scientific Temper’, which wasreleased on 19 July 1981. This document articulated the need to inculcate thevalues of Scientific Temper in the Indian Society to rid the country of itssocio-economic ills at that time. The Statement was expected to usher in amovement––a second Indian Renaissance––in India to 'provide the necessaryfillip for restructuring our country embodying the aspirations of our people'.Broadly, the statement extolled the virtues of the scientific method as anantidote to the traditional religious and/or superstitious dogmas that prevailin our country. In recent times, the hold of such antiquarian beliefs hasbecome greatly widespread in the country through television channels, andlately, through the Internet.

The preamble to the Statementnoted the continuous accumulation of knowledge by which allowed mankindexercise control over the environment. However, the spread and adoption ofmankind’s knowledge has been uneven due to prevalent schisms across the worldand control over such knowledge by the elites. In such a bleak situation,fatalism prevails, reinforcing obscurantism, irrationalism and a retreat fromreason. To advance in the scientific age, we must understand the meanings andimperatives of scientific temper – which in essence is ‘humanity’s assertion ofbeing in charge of its destiny and not a passive victim of malevolence ofstars’. Scientific Temper thus becomes an imperative for a brighter future forour country.

The Statement goes on to includein its definition of Scientific Temper as the method of science thatencompasses all human knowledge cutting across the natural sciences and thesocial sciences. ‘The spirit of inquiry and the acceptance of the right toquestion and be questioned are fundamental in scientific temper.’ It considersknowledge as open ended and ever evolving. Scientific Temper is incompatiblewith theological and metaphysical beliefs. While science is universal,religions and their dogmas are divisive. Scientific Temper cannot flourish in agrossly inegalitarian society where 50 per cent of the population lives belowthe poverty line and almost 70 per cent of our people, especially women, arefunctionally illiterate. Social justice, widespread education and unrestrictedcommunication are pre-requisites for the spread of Scientific Temper and,therefore, optimizing the results of science and technology.

The Statement called for a majorrole of Scientific Temper in reviving confidence and hope and dispelling afatalistic outlook. The campaign to promote Scientific Temper must inculcatevalues like equality and dignity of labour and social accountability of one'sactions. The Statement also cautioned against using scientific andtechnological solutions as ‘magic bullets’ for every problem in the country.‘The nature of social stratification and the power structure in a societyprevents the acceptance of such solutions. Technologically, one may be able togrow enough food for everyone, but the pattern of income distribution preventsthe benefits of increased food production reaching large segments of thepopulation. When the social structure and stratification prevent theapplication of rational and scientifically proven solutions, the role ofScientific Temper is to lay bare the anatomy of such social barriers.’

The debates and discussions onScientific Temper that the Statement initially, have not continued in Indiatowards ushering a second renaissance, at least to the extent that thesignatories wished. Scientific Temper remained largely confined to rhetoricalstatements. Sadly even social scientists did not make an effort to refine thisconcept or operationalise the concept for measuring/gauging Scientific Temper.It behoves us to retrieve this concept before it is lost in the cacophonytriggered by the changing scientific, technological and economic order. Thus,there is a need to revisit the 1981 Statement.

The intellectual space leftuntapped by academicians and the state structures has been to an extentoccupied by various voluntary organisations (also called NGOs and Civil Societyorganisations). Since the 1980s, there has been a substantial growth in thenumber of these organisations. What impact these various efforts have had onthe inculcation of Scientific Temper in the population is yet to be studied,but what is clear is that these efforts, though commendable, have not been ableto change the direction of the tide of irrationality.

Ever since the 1981 Statement wasreleased, two opposite, and yet synchronous, changes have been observed in thecountry. It should be noted with some satisfaction that the combined effect ofefforts made to propagate scientific ideas in the country, to which people’sscience movements and scientific institutions have contributed in a largemeasure, have definitely made a difference, however small it may be. Suchefforts had modest impact as in the case of bringing out large numbers ofpeople to watch the 'total solar eclipse' during 1995 or critically appraisingpublic policies as in the case of the Silent Valley Project.

But, at the same time, during thepast 30 years there has been a marked increase in public display of religiousand sectarian identities, ascendance of irrational cults, glorification ofobscurantist practices, religiosity and wielding of religious symbols. This hasprovided the ideological basis for, at times, brutal unscientific actions inboth public and personal domains. Discrimination based on caste, gender andethnic identities, perpetuated on the basis of irrational beliefs andsuperstitions are still widely prevalent, and are a blot on our society.Privatisation of electronic media has also had the undesirable effect ofproviding increased space for forces responsible for the spread ofirrationality and undermining scientific temper.

ChangingWorld Order

During the last two decades manyparts of the world also witnessed new and large scale social movements againstthe new world order––often described as neo-liberal regimes advocating marketfundamentalism and withdrawal of the state from economic and social sectors.These movements were ostensibly mobilised on the basis of rational objectiveknowledge on issues facing different sections of the populations.

The most significant developmentin the world during the past two decades has been the accelerated globalisationof trade and services aided by the extensive penetration of Information andCommunication Technologies (ICTs). The ushering in of the Internet and the WorldWide Web paved the way for consolidation of economic hegemony of transnationalcompanies (and TNCs) all over the world and its natural resources.

On the other hand, neo-liberalregimes also laid the ground for organised international resistance againstsuch hegemonies. Creation of large cyber spaces has revolutionised the storing,searching and retrieval of electronic documents, including scientificpublications. The barriers that confined scientific knowledge among a few havebeen broken, empowering researchers in developing countries by makingscientific corpora available to them with considerably reduced lag period.Today, a possibility exists for non-experts to access scientific knowledge onvaried subjects with a click of a button. This process is causing erosion ofthe ‘almost religious authority’ that science experts exercised hitherto. Thedemocratic, open, transparent and egalitarian nature of science is reassertingitself on a much bigger scale today.

It is needless to overemphasisethat this cyber space is also available to those who spread occult andunscientific ideas. In fact, using this space they are meticulously trying toenlarge their constituency. In India, efforts to counter these forces by makinguse of the same cyber space has, unfortunately, been found wanting.

Developments in biotechnologyhave also had a profound impact on all spheres of human existence. It hasstarted bringing new research insights into almost all conventional disciplinesof natural and social sciences. It has also generated heated public debates allover the globe and has given birth to resistance movements.

The above developments are likelyto have a profound impact not only on social relations but may also intenselyinfluence man-nature relationships..

CurrentState of Science and Technology (S&T)

In the last two decades there hasbeen an unprecedented increase in the World’s stocks and flows of humanresources and research output, in terms of academic publications and patents.The world has witnessed a shift from industrial economy to ‘knowledge economy’.In this changed world order, India is struggling to increase its scientific andeconomic share. However, with its still high rate of illiteracy and lack ofuniversal education the relevant questions such as ‘what constituteseducation?’, ‘what does knowledge society mean in the Indian context?’ and‘whose knowledge counts in this knowledge society?’ assume importance.

Thecharacter and nature of scientific praxis has also changed during the last 20years or so. For a long time production of scientific knowledge and itsapplication and relevance were not separated and science was expected to servethe state in respect to the security and welfare of its citizens. Thus, S&Tserved well in the growth of industrial economies of both the capitalist and thesocialist countries. Unfortunately, the neo-liberal regimes of many countries(including India) have changed this social contract of science in favour ofmarkets and corporate entities.

Theprivatization of research and academic institutions through IPRs has resultedin blurring the boundaries of basic and applied research and their relation totechnology, such as in biology. In the academic and policy circles science is beingreplaced by ‘innovation’––whichis a mix of science, technology,management, marketing, organisations, and a host of other things. It isinnovation studies or innovation policies and competition among firms andnations now dominate the intellectual and policy space. It is innovation thatis used as a benchmark of economic growth and development. For ordinarycitizens technology and gadgets are today the most tangible manifestations of‘science’.

Thefast pace of technological intrusion, without essential back-up support ofscientific knowledge base, introduces cultural and social distortions withintraditional cognitive structures. Lack of effort at providing the necessarycomplementary scientific knowledge base for the population at large isconsolidating these distortions resulting in the corrosion of democraticstructures. Moreover, technology-driven modernisation creates a cognitive gapdue to loss of traditional knowledge, which is being filled in by religiosityin new forms.

Relevance of Scientific Temper in today’sWorld

Inview of the concerns expressed above, we feel that scientific temper should bestrengthened and diffused widely in our society. In some sense, ScientificTemper can be equated to application of the scientific method based on logicand evidence. Scientific Temper in this sense is also privileged and seen asantithetical to 'revealed knowledge', evidence for which does not go beyondreligious scriptures or superstitious beliefs. Science, on the other hand,holds that life, mind and universe can be understood without invoking thesupernatural and revealed knowledge. Scientific knowledge is thus universal and isreliable in contradistinction to the so-called revealed knowledge and thediverse metaphysical interpretations of life and the universe, which form thebasis of the various religions and associated superstitious beliefs.

ScientificTemper is essentially a world-view, an outlook, enabling ordinary citizens tochoose efficient and reliable knowledge while making decisions in their individualand social domains. It is not the content or extent of knowledge base of one orother domain of scientific corpus that a citizen acquires, but rather the pursuitof rational enquiry, which is the hallmark of Scientific Temper.

Socialphenomena do not easily lend to experimentation or verification. Thus, ifScientific Temper were to be diffused to ‘solve mundane problems’ of ordinarycitizens, the methods of science would have to be enlarged and re-defined ininter-disciplinary perspectives. “The understanding of the social phenomena andhuman behavior, knowledge about the social process and its determinants, areessential for designing policies to promote social change and to produce adynamic society capable of absorbing and utilizing the scientific andtechnological developments for the welfare of human beings” (VKRV Rao)

Scienceand technology have contributed at a macro level to the socioeconomicdevelopment of India and the world at large. India could ward off famines andimport of food grains in the 1960s largely through Green Revolution, which alsohad the unfortunate effect of causing income disparities and environmentaldegradation. The solution to these problems will come from new scientific andtechnological initiatives and people-oriented policies.

Theaverage life span of Indians increased due to availability of antibioticsagainst some common diseases. Similarly, communication facilities have expandedwith the advent of the TV, mobile phones and the penetration of computers andInternet. Yet disparities in the availability and access to education continueto grow, and fruits of science and technology do not reach across the regions,religious sects, gender, and castes. It may be worth gauging how far theseeconomic and scientific achievements - and Scientific Temper - in India havepercolated down to the common man. As scientific progress outstrips scientificunderstanding, citizens that are increasingly reliant on science and technologyand yet largely ignorant of their workings, would be at a great disadvantage.Correspondingly, their participation in the democratic process would beincreasingly marginalised. The growth of Scientific Temper is a measure of theextent to which the society applies the methods of science to solve itsproblems.

Advocatesof Scientific Temper have often identified superstitions and religious beliefsas the main target of opposition. In this sense, Scientific Temper is an‘ideology’ pitted against these religio-centric ideologies. Unfortunately, inIndia this process––termedas ‘transmitter model’ in literature––could notsucceed in effecting changes in the people’s attitudes or values. In fact, overthe years, there has been an increase in the public display of religiousactivities by public figures in all walks of life.

Thissituation is made worse when even scientists actively participate in suchreligio-centric rituals in the public domain. Many scientists publicly professtheir faith in ‘gurus’ and ‘babas’ in India. With the spread of the electronicmedia––theTV and the Internet––thesepublic (and private) activities are in constant public gaze and much of thiscontent can also be stored and recalled. Such displays by scientists weakentheir position as role models for the practice of scientific temper.

Publicdisplay of religious symbols, figures, images and artefacts in governmentoffices, religious ceremonies in institutes and educational institutions andreligious invocations during inaugurations of scientific conferences, mar thesecular character of these institutions in particular and the Indian State ingeneral. A number of these acts are legitimised in the garb of ‘culture’. Inorder to secure its constitutional obligation, the state must forbid suchdisplays within government owned spaces.

Therecent spurt in providing legitimacy to the ‘occult’ by dubbing it asscientific is a disturbing phenomenon. Some may argue that it is in a wayacceptance of supremacy of science over other forms of knowledge generation,but such acts not only discredit ‘science’ they also use science as a saleablecommodity. It is necessary to create regulatory mechanisms against thedissemination of such unscientific and irrational messages and devise ways thatenable corrective measures to be taken.

Moderneducation is the strongest determinant of scientific information, knowledge andattitude. It is true that over the years scientific information base in thecountry has enlarged, but it will be far from reality to assume that thisinformation is getting transformed into knowledge and thereby bringing a changein attitude. Unfortunately, our education system is still not sufficientlyevolved to inculcate Scientific Temper in young minds.

Thegrowth of mass media as a means of transmitting science related informationstarted with the print media––academicjournals to communicate the results of scientific research, newspapers andmagazines to communicate science to citizens. Later radio broadcasts have addedto these channels of communications. The biggest impact of mass media, however, came with television. It should be notedwith utmost concern that TV has emerged as the most potent agency spreadinganti-scientific temper in India. Freedom of expression is being used as freedomof propagating irrational, outmoded and antiquated ideas. Thus, ironically thelatest technology is being used to propagate anti-science beliefs. Today, thereare a large number of religious channels but there is not a single Indianscience channel.

Fundamentalistforces selectively embrace technology and make use of these technologies topropagate outmoded ideas. It is propagation of modern scientific knowledge thathits at the core of irrationality and is therefore not acceptable to them.

A Strategy for Spread of ScientificTemper in India

ScientificTemper breeds within the confines of scientific information base, therefore, itis imperative to make relevant scientifically generated latest informationavailable to the common citizen. However, it will be erroneous to equateScientific Temper with scientific information.

Ithas been repeatedly observed through survey studies that the thought structureof a common citizen is constituted by scientific as well as extra-scientificspaces. These two mutually exclusive spaces co-exist peacefully. Act ofinvocation of one or the other is a function of social, political or culturalcalling. Those who consider spreading Scientific Temper as their fundamentalduty must aim at enlarging the scientific spaces.

We call upon the people of India to be the vanguard of the scientifictemper.

Useof religious symbols and ceremonies with religious overtones performed in thegarb of cultural activities must be stopped in government offices andinstitutions run with public funds.

Anational monitoring system with powers to issue guidelines must be set up tocontinually monitor for unscientific content in the media channels and theeducation system, particularly up to school level.

Scientistsand scientific institutions should not only function in a more transparentmanner but also reach out to the public at large with an objective to instilconfidence in science, scientists and scientific institutions.

Atelevision channel dedicated to the spread of scientific temper should beoperated with funding from the government.

Sciencecommunication activities mandated in the government agencies should focus moreon rationality, inquiry and method apart from content.

India is astratified country and cultural and religious minorities have special needs. Fundamentalist,unscientific and antiquated ideas are not prevalent only among the religiousmajority, these are also as rampant among the minority and marginalisedsections of people. On the one hand, similar unscientific beliefs govern thelives of the minority, on the other hand, they are further marginalised becauseof lack of scientific temper among the majority community. It is necessary toidentify their special needs and devise intervention policies.

Every one is born with the ScientificTemper. The child wants to touch, feel, experiment and explore everything onits own—the basic ingredients of Scientific Temper. However, somewhere down theline, owing to societal or traditional influences or due to the type ofeducation being imparted in our schools, the child loses the tendency to askquestions and explore natural phenomena, leading to accept notions forced uponit without putting them through the scientific rigour. Therefore, ScientificTemper needs to be incorporated into the school curriculum at all stages sothat the spirit of scientific inquiry can be inculcated from

Poll cash seized in UP

2012-01-09T10:00:00.000-08:00

Uttar Pradesh, more than 14 crore rupees allegedly meant for election purposes, have been seized till now by the surveillance teams deployed to check misuse of money power to influence election process.

Lucknow correspondent reports that more than 4 crore rupees has been seized on Monday in Ghaziabad , Lucknow , Kanpur , Lakhimpur Kheri, Mathura , Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar and Prabuddha Nagar districts.

Enforcement agencies have also recovered more than one lakh litres of illegal and country liquor from different districts. Several persons have also been arrested in this regard. Teams of officials have been deployed to check transportation of liquor from neighbouring states.

He said that several illegal factories for preparation of country liquor have been unearthed in many districts. He said that state Excise department and police have launched joint drive against illegal transportation and production of liquor across the state.

S.M.Krishna to meet Israeli President in Tel Aviv

2012-01-08T09:57:00.000-08:00

External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna will meet the Israeli President Shimon Peres in Tel Aviv on Monday.

The two leaders are expected to hold talks on wide ranging issues.

Focus will be on increasing co-operation in anti terror measures, trade and commerce.

Extradition treaty and transfer of sentenced persons are the two important agreements likely to be signed during the visit.The trade volume between the two countries has grown up from 2 billion to 5 billion US dollars by the end of last year.

The visit also commemorates two decades of establishing diplomatic ties between India and Israel .

MoU on Traditional Medicines Signed with Trinidad & Tobago

2012-01-06T21:18:00.001-08:00

MoU on Traditional Medicines Signed with Trinidad & Tobago
A Memorandum of Understanding for co-operation in Traditional Medicines between the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India and the Ministry of Health of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was today signed in New Delhi. Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, signed the MoU on behalf of Government of India and Minister for Foreign Affairs & Communications of Trinidad and Tobago, Shri Surujrattan Rambachan signed the MoU in presence of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister of Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Shri Azad said that India is blessed with well-developed systems of traditional medicine which hold tremendous potential in the global health scenario. “It is heartening to know about the interest of Madam Prime Minister in Ayurveda and medicinal plants. Trinidad and Tobago, which has a rich population of people of Indian origin (about 42%), will be able to easily appreciate the benefit of Ayurveda as a system for preventing and curing diseases and promoting good health”, he said. Shri Azad added that an Information Cell is being set up at the Indian High Commission at Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The Cell will help in disseminating knowledge and dealing with queries about Indian traditional systems of medicine amongst the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

The signing of the MoU provides a legal frame work for the cooperation between the two countries for the promotion of Indian traditional medicine in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The main objective of the MoU is to strengthen, promote and develop co-operation in the field of traditional systems of medicine between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The salient features of the MoU include identifying further areas of co-operation for the promotion of traditional medicine including the regulation of teaching, practice, drugs and drugless therapies of traditional systems of medicine within the scope of this MoU; Supplying all medicine materials and documents necessary for demonstration and reference in achieving the objectives specified within the framework of the MoU; Exchanging experts for training of practitioners, paramedics, scientists, teaching professionals and students in traditional medicine; Accommodating interested scientists, practitioners, paramedics and students in institutions for research, educational and training programmes on traditional medicine; Mutual recognition of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy Pharmacopeia of India and Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Mutual recognition of educational qualifications in traditional medicines awarded by Central / State recognised Universities of respective countries; Setting up of chairs on Traditional Systems of Medicine; Providing scholarships for future education in recognized institutions; etc

In order to carry forward the provisions of the MoU, the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), and University of West Indies (UWI) would sign a separate MoU for establishing an “Ayurveda Chair” in University of West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.

Not concerned about EU moves to ban Iranian oil imports: Iran

2012-01-05T19:43:00.001-08:00

Iran says it is not concerned about EU moves to ban Iranian oil imports and will withstand any such pressure as it has done in the past.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said in Teheran that Turkey is the right place to hold talks on Iran’s nuke program.

Meanwhile, Britain has said any attempt by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz would be illegal and would not succeed.

British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said in Washington that British naval forces would continue to play a part in maintaining security in the Gulf.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said that his country will survive the sanctions imposed by European Union and the other Western measures.

He was addressing a televised press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Teheran.

On Saturday, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili had urged United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany to resume talks.

The statement comes in the wake of reports that EU nations have agreed in principle to ban Iranian oil imports over its nuclear program.

The European Union is the second-biggest destination for Iranian oil after China. It accounts for around 15 percent of the 2.6 million barrel oil exported by Iran each day.

Iran relies on oil sales for 80 percent of its foreign revenues.

Nirupama Rao to inaugurate Women's Science Congress today

2012-01-04T20:39:00.001-08:00

Nirupama Rao to inaugurate Women's Science Congress today

Indian Ambassador to the United States, Nirupama Rao, will inaugurate the Women's Science Congress today at the 99th Indian Science Congress being organised in Bhubaneswar.

This year the theme of Women's Science Congress is 'Women in Science and Science for Women'. Thousands of women scientists have congregated in Odisha's capital to participate in the Congress.Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, Union Minister of State for

Human Resources Development, Dr D Purandeswari, Odisha's Minister of Textiles and Handloom and Science and Technology, Usha Devi, Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO, Dr Gretchen Kalonji and General President of 99th Indian Science Congress, Prof Geetha Bali are also likely to attend the inaugural function of the Women's Science Congress.

INDIA DIASPORA - Inter Linkage and Synergy

2012-01-03T17:57:00.000-08:00

GOPIO joins hands with the Department of Study Abroad Program at the Gujarat University to organize a conference with the theme, INDIA DIASPORA - Inter Linkage and Synergy at Gujarat University campus in Ahmedabad on January 12 and 13th, 2012. See announcement below:

The impact of Indian Diaspora has motivated its homeland to map its history and factors for migration. Concerns for economic, political, cultural and social engagements of Indian Diaspora have been widely shown in the society. It has also brought sociologists and researchers to look into the process of migration and have found themselves into pondering upon the trends of Indian Diaspora.

The considerable presence of the Indian Diaspora in almost all parts of the world and its insistence upon sending success stories back home in spheres inspired homeland India to connect India with her Diaspora with renewed passion. This conference will look into the cultural, social, economic and political spheres of India's relations with its Diaspora and map on Diaspora history and its contribution to India in IT, infrastructure, education, research and technology, finance and banking, remittances, investments and oriental arts and cultures.

The conference organizing chairs are: Dr. Neerja Arun (Study Abroad Program of Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India), Dr. Thomas Abraham (Founder President and Chairman Emeritus, GOPIO International) and Dr. Jagat Motwani (GOPIO Academic Council Chair 2004-2009).

Although, the deadline to submit an abstract was November 10th, one may contact Dr. Neerja Arun to see whether there are any slots available for presentation. Papers are invited for the following categories:

INDIA DIASPORA - Inter Linkage and Synergy

Here and there: merging spheres
Transforming the local with global initiatives
Funder's agenda: pitching ideas for development

And finally, Role of Indian Diaspora in re-conceiving and reconstituting faith in physical and virtual places of spiritualism: India and Abroad

Contact: Dr. Neerja Arun, Study Abroad Program, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India, drneerjaarun@yahoo.com or Dr. Thomas Abraham of GOPIO at gopio@optonline.net.

The International Indian Diaspora Conference

12th and 13th January, 2012, GOPIO & SAP at Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India

For a registration form, contact the Conference Secretariat. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Neerja Arun. Tel: +91-79-26303153 or +91- 9825012984 Fax: ++91-79-27910213 E-mail: drneerjaarun@yahoo.com

FICCI Technical Meet on" Industrial Fuel Switching"

2012-01-03T17:53:00.000-08:00

FICCI Technical Meet on

“INDUSTRIAL FUEL SWITCHING”

(Focus on fuel switching in equipments like industrial boiler, furnaces, ovens, dryers etc)

19-20 JANUARY 2012, NEW DELHI & 24-25 JANUARY 2012, CHENNAI

(Non-residential program))

The ever increasing prices of Industrial Fuels have been felt acutely in various industrial sectors which is directly affecting the economic competitiveness, especially energy intensive industries. Switching to alternate fuels is an important solution to this problem, both long term conversion to other fuels and short term fuel flexibility, which allows switching between fuels as and when required as per the market conditions and availability.

For various reasons like non-availability of the currently used fuel, cost of the existing fuel vs. alternate fuel, due to the economics of substituting to a cheaper fuel, many industries are looking for switching over from one fuel to other. But the technical fundamentals are less known to the industry managements like the combustion aspects, the primary and secondary air requirements, dimensioning the combustion chambers etc. In the event of the industry wanting to go for substitution, they have to only depend on the system proposed by the supplier and due to lack of knowledge the industry management is unable to evaluate the supplier’s technologies for its appropriateness.

Fuel Switching is also identified as one of the energy cost reduction scheme which the energy intensive industries should look into, especially in view of achieving the upcoming target for reducing Specific Energy Consumption initiated by Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme. In view of the above, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) proposes to conduct two seminars (2 day each) on Technical Meet on Industrial Fuel Switching with a focus on the technical issues involved in switching fuel like from coal to gas, oil to gas, coal to bio-mass, bio-mass to gas, etc. for various equipments like industrial boiler, furnaces, ovens, dryers etc during 19-20 January 2012 at NEW DELHI & 24-25 January 2012 at Chennai.

TOPICS

q Overview of Industrial Fuel Switching

q Opportunities and Impact of fuel switching in Indian Industries

q Alternate Fuels

q Opportunities for fuel switching in Process Heating equipments (Boilers, Furnaces, Dryers etc)

q Benefits of Fuel Switching

q Alternate Fuel Preparation

q Technological Developments required for Fuel Switching

q Switching of Fuel: various options

q Firing System Up gradation

q Real life Industrial Case Studies

VENUE

Prog 1: Date : 19-20 January 2012, New Delhi

FICCI, FEDERATION HOUSE, TANSEN MARG, NEW DELHI

(09.30 hrs – 17.30 hrs both days)

Prog 2: Date : 24-25 January 2012, Chennai

HOTEL Residency Towers, Sir Thiyagaraya Road, T Nagar, Chennai.

044 2815 6363

(09.30 hrs – 17.30 hrs both days)

Amnesty to Thaksin would spark conflict:Abhisit

2012-01-03T17:02:00.001-08:00

Thai Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government should instead focus on tackling corruption and reviving the economy, which has been dealt a blow by the flood. He said the prices of basic commodities and energy had gone up and needed the government's attention. The matter will be raised when the House of Representatives meets today. He warned the Yingluck Shinawatra government against amending the controversial lese-majeste law or granting amnesty to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, saying such moves would spark conflicts in society."I have always stressed that whatever issue causes conflict or is problematic should be set aside so that Thai society can have a chance to move forward. Those in politics should just remain still and do our best job. Do not think that it's bizarre because society can move by itself. The PM has said she will stay for a full term, and I think she can if she doesn't cause troubles," said Abhisit, who also cited the proposed amendment of the Constitution as one of the problematic issues.Further adds the government should pay special attention to include preparing the country to integrate with the Asean community of nations. Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut accused the government of failing to keep its campaign promise to help needy people. He cited the raising of prices of natural gas for vehicles and liquefied petroleum gas and the reduction of corporate tax from 30 per cent to 23 per cent as examples of policies that benefit the rich instead of the poor. Chavanond added that in some areas, lower-income flood victims had still not been provided with adequate assistance by the government and suggested that the government extend the period for guaranteeing the purchase price of rice. Thai flood situation in nine southern provinces remains critical, with roads closed and train services halted due to high-level inundation and many villages engulfed in mudslides. Another 84 villages, all in Ranong, are at risk of mudslides, according to the latest warning released yesterday. Twenty-one of them are located in high-risk areas in Muang, Kapoe, La-un, Suk Samran and Kra Buri districts.Media agencies

Egypt vote its final phase of polls

2012-01-03T03:16:00.000-08:00

SHARM EL-SHEIKH: Egypt goes to vote on Tuesday in the final round of a historical post-revolution election.Revolution has propelled Islamist movements into the centre stage of politics,15 million eligible voters have their chance to cast ballots for the first parliament since an uprising overthrew veteran president Hosni Mubarak last February.

Poll booths find small queues began to form outside polling stations which opened at 8:00 am in nine of the country's 27 provinces, including the Nile Delta, the south and the tourist resorts of South Sinai, with voting taking place over two days.Voters had to pass through metal detectors before entering polling stations in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, tourist mecca and site of Mubarak's second residence.

The first two rounds of voting saw Egypt's main Islamist parties claim a crushing victory, mirroring a pattern in the region since the Arab Spring uprisings overthrew authoritarian secular regimes.The powerful Muslim Brotherhood, the country's best organised political movement which was widely expected to triumph in the polls, has claimed the lead through its political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP).

But the surge of Al-Nur, which represents the ultra-conservative Salafi brand of Islam, has raised fears among increasingly marginalised liberals about civil liberties and religious freedom.The Islamists' victory has also raised concerns about the future of the country's lucrative tourism industry.Media agencies

President Patil unveils new rocket launch facility

2012-01-02T23:01:00.001-08:00

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Monday unveiled a new rocket launch facility and its mission control centre at India’s spaceport near Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

After dedicating the facility to the nation, Patil witnessed the simulation of a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket launch in the control centre and interacted with the space scientists, including state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Radhakrishnan.

“The chairman briefed the president on the Indian space programme and explained the space agency’s various activities through a powerpoint presentation,” ISRO said in a statement released here.

Patil also visited the first launch pad to witness the assembly activities of PSLV-C19 scheduled for launch early this year.

Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Minister of State for Personnel V. Narayanasamy and state officials were present on the occasion

London Fireworks on New Year's Day 2011 - New Year Live - BBC One

2012-01-01T05:33:00.000-08:00

A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Japan

2012-01-01T01:28:00.001-08:00

A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit a wide area in eastern and northeastern Japan on Sunday, rattling buildings in Tokyo and jolting the nation still recovering from last year's quake-tsunami mega-disaster.

Quake jolted downtown Tokyo, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures, the agency said.The quake struck at 10:58 IST, Japan's Meteorological Agency said, as Emperor Akihito led the country's New Year celebrations by asking people to work together in rebuilding the nation from March's disaster.

There was no immediate information about abnormalities at nuclear reactors including those of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi power plant, Kyodo News agency reported.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2011-12-31T04:35:00.001-08:00

AMC on modernization spree Rs 8100 Cr

2011-12-30T09:39:00.001-08:00

AMC on modernization spree Rs 8100 Cr

Friday, December 30, 2011

AMC on modernization spree at Estimated Cost Rs 8100 Cr

Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc: New Delhi;
Army Medical Corps, today said that modernization of 42 Army Hospitals are on the agenda to cater to meet the demands of the armed forces. Holding briefing reporters on the occasion of its 248th Anniversary, the Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services Lt. General H. L Kakria explained Corps professionalism at its best and is working for comprehensive medical faculties not only for armed forces but for Border Guards,Coastal Guards,Ex servicemen, and for people at remote places.DG Lt General further added the work of modernization will be undertaken at an estimated cost of 8100 crore rupees. He said that government has approved induction of over 10000 doctors to enhance the strength of hospitals so that more patients can be treated. He said that at present the strength of Doctors in Army Corps is about 6000 out of which 900 are women Doctors and there is no shortage of Doctors.

Lt. General Kakria said that the Army Hospital are equipped with latest and modern,with innovative technologies and providing vital facilities including diagnosis of diseases and organ transplantation. Further said 307 medical personnel including nursing staffs have been deployed in different United Nation Missions in Congo, South Sudan, Lebanon and Israel.Indian Medical Mission in Afghanistan is being conducted for common people.

Annual Survey of Industries 2009-10 and address the media

2011-12-30T09:20:00.000-08:00

Results of Annual Survey of Industries 2009-10 and address the media.

Event:The Chief Statistician of India
Secretary, Ministry of Statistics Programme Implementation,

Prof. T.C.A. will release the

Results of Annual Survey of Industries 2009-10 and address the media.

30.12.2011 (Friday)

Time:

3.00 P.M.

Venue:

Committee Room, Ground floor,
Sardar Patel Bhavan,
New Delhi-1

Rajya Sabha session ends without passing Lokpal Bill

2011-12-29T22:55:00.000-08:00

Lokpal Bill yet again failed to get Parliament's nod when Rajya Sabha was on. Wednesday night Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die abruptly amid high drama and Opposition accusing the the government of running away from a vote because it was in a minority.The Trinamool Congress, a UPA constituent which had moved a slew of amendments and gave the government torrid time when it vowed to vote against the bill, called the adjournment an "orchestrated chaos", almost echoing the Opposition view that it was "choreographed drama".

Midnight Chaos Lokpal bill in Limbo in RS _Sagar31news

2011-12-29T22:30:00.000-08:00

Sagar31news _Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011

2011-12-29T09:04:00.000-08:00

Sagar31news _Kapil's Debate on Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill 2011:

2011-12-29T05:41:00.000-08:00

Sagar31news _Leaders debate on Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill 2011:

2011-12-29T05:37:00.000-08:00

Arun Jaitley: Leader of Opposition RS-Explain Lokpal_Sagar31news

2011-12-29T05:35:00.000-08:00

Press Invitation:29/12/11

2011-12-28T06:10:00.000-08:00

Press Invitation:

VHP Delegation to Meet CEC to DebarCongres(INC) fighting elections.

New Delhi. December 28, 2011.

AHigh level Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP) delegation is scheduled to meet &submit a memorandum to the chief Election Commissioner at its head quarters in New Delhi tomorrow(29/12/11) at 12.30 Pm. The delegation will appeal the CEC to debarCongress(INC) fighting coming elections due to violation of Model code ofconduct by playing the communal card through introduction of reservation on religiousground.

The Int'l Vice President shri Om Prakash Singhal, the newly electedinternational Secretary General Vishwa Hindu Parishad shri Champat Rai &the secretary of the organisation Dr Surendra Jain may comprise the delegation.

Security, Eco ties with India: Noda

2011-12-28T03:41:00.000-08:00

India and Japan are forging ahead with collaboration on political, security and economic issues, besides regional cooperation, visiting Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said on Wednesday.

"I am convinced that we need to strengthen the partnership. India and Japan are stepping up their cooperation in areas like political, security and economic fields and also regional areas," Noda said here at a luncheon meeting with Indian chambers CII, Ficci and Assocham.
The Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between the two countries that was operationalised in August will further enhance the India-Japan economic relationship, he said.
Noda added that about 420 Japanese companies present in India have created over 1.50 lakh jobs in the country.Japanese government has committed USD 4.5 billion for the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project.
The project is aimed at creating world-class industrial infrastructure along the Delhi-Mumbai Rail Freight Corridor, which is under implementation.
India-Japan bilateral trade saw a robust increase of 24 per cent to USD 13.2 billion during January-September period on the back of the mutual free trade agreement.

CBI not in net of Ombudsman: PM

2011-12-27T09:10:00.000-08:00

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rejected demands for bringing CBI under the perview of the anti graft ombudsman.Dr Singh warned that no entity should be created inconsistent with the country's constitutional framework.
Intervening in the debate on Lokpal and Lokayukta bill, Singh dismissed opposition to the provision of setting up of Lokayuktas in the state, saying federalism cannot be an impediment in the war against corruption.
The Govt has denied violating constitution and asserts that enactment of Lokayuktas under central law is in pursuance of UN convention against corruption.
"There are some very special moments in the life of a nation. This is one such moment. The nation awaits with bated breath how the collective wisdom of this House will be reflected in the vote at the end of the debate on the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011," he said.
Noting that the broad provisions of this Bill have been vigorously debated both in the public domain and by political parties, Singh said it was his "honest belief" that the Bill before the House lived up to the promise that members collectively made to the people by way of the sense of the House at the end of the debate on August 27.
Speaking amidst animated debate that coincided with Anna Hazare's hunger strike in Mumbai, Singh underlined that the task of legislation was "very serious business and must eventually be performed by all of us who have been constitutionally assigned this duty."
He said "others can persuade and have their voices heard. But the decision must rest with us."
Rejecting demands for bringing CBI under the purview of Lokpal, he said, "I believe that the CBI should function independently of the Lokpal. We believe that the CBI should function without interference through any Government diktat."
Cautioning that in the "enthusiasm to enact this law we must not falter", the Prime Minister said, "no institution and no individual, howsoever high he may be, should be free from accountability."
Emphasising that "all institutional structures must be consistent with our Constitution", he said, "I believe that the Bill which is now before the House contains a judicious blend of functional autonomy and accountability of the CBI."
With the attack of Team Anna apparently weighing on his mind, Singh said, "Today we are given to believe that a Government that is directly elected by the people and accountable to it cannot be trusted but a body that will not derive its legitimacy from the people directly or be accountable to it could be trusted to wield its immense powers with honour and trust."
He warned that "no entity should be created inconsistent with our constitutional framework and charged with onerous executive responsibilities without any accountability... Let us not create something that will destroy all that we cherish all in the name of combating corruption. Let us remember that the road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Baisoya wins Goodricke East India Golf Championship

2011-12-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Baisoya wins Goodricke East India, Chikka is beaten

25^th December, Kolkata: Delhi’s Honey Baisoya showed his swing in Rory Mclroy’s style as he became the youngest winner of the 22^nd edition of Goodricke East India Amateur Golf Championship at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, Kolkata. The 15-year-old Baisoya, sent the opponent, The No.1 Amateur, S. Chikkarangappa home, wrapping up the match on the 34^th green to win 3 and 2. Both of them had to play 2 rounds of 36 holes as it was the final day of the tournament.

Baisoya secured a winning start after making birdies on 1^st, 4^th, 5^th, 9^th, 12^th and 15^th in the first round of 18 holes where both Baisoya and Chikka halved 11 holes. Though, Chikka won 3 matches on 7^th, 11^th and 14th, Baisoya was 2-up after the first round.

In the beginning of second round, Baisoya again took the early lead after making a birdie on the 1^st to go 3-up where Chikka’s 2^nd shot went 10 yards off the green and he made a par. Chikka, who was suffering with the pain in his foot, hit his tee shot on the left green on 2^nd and made a safe par while Baisoya double putted hole for a bogey to go one-down for 2-up. Both of them hit the center fairway on the 3^rd and then Chikka’s second shot reached the edge of the green for another safe par while Baisoya made a 1-footer bogey to remain 1-up. After halving 4^th, Chikka hit his tee shot next to the bunker on 5^th and Honey made the par to go 2-up after hitting few ups and downs. Both of them halved 6^th and then Baisoya won 7^th and 8^th after making both pars to go 4-up. An aggressive Chikka kept giving a tough competition after halving 9^th, 10^th 11^th, 12^th, 13^th, 14^th and also by making a long awaited birdie on the 15^thwhere Baisoya’s putt lipped out to go one-down again to maintain 3-up. By the time they reached 16^th, a tired Chikka hit the center fairway but his bad luck couldn’t get him a birdie while Baisoya got the advantage of a birdie on the 16^th to seal the victory.

A delighted Baisoya said, “I was very nervous throughout the round but now, I feel like I am on the cloud 9. I can’t show so much excitement as me and my dad wanted to be atleast 10-up in the first round but could only come up with 3 and 2. There is no doubt that I can’t express my feelings of winning my first amateur title from the no. 1 amateur of the country.”

A disappointed Chikka said, “I was struggling with my putting and the pain in my left foot but I played my fair game. Also, I am happy for the young Baisoya who showed me the real golf at this age which nobody else could show on the amateur circuit.”

ECE announced poll itinerary in five states

2011-12-24T08:57:00.000-08:00

Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi told at a press conference in Delhi that seven-phase polling will be held for Uttar Pradesh Assembly on 4th, 8th, 11th, 15th, 19th 23rd and 28th February next year.The Election Commission today announced a seven-phased poll in Uttar Pradesh between February 4 and 28, while assembly elections in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa will be held in a single-phase.Punjab and Uttarakhand will go to polls on January 30, while it will be held on January 28 in Manipur and on March 3 in Goa.The counting of votes in all the states will be held together on March 4.Announcing the poll schedule in five states, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi said the Model Code of Conduct comes into immediate effect in all the five states and will also apply to the Central government.Earlier, reports had it that the Mayawati government was planning to advance the school and college examinations to February to avoid an early poll. The seven-phased polling in Uttar Pradesh will be the longest in any state in the country so far.Uttar Pradesh, with 403 assembly constituencies (85 reserved for SCs), will witness polling in seven phases on February 4, 8, 11, 15, 19, 23 and 28.The term of the assembly in Punjab, with 117 constituencies of which 34 are reserved, ends on March 14, while that of Uttarakhand, which has 70 assembly seats of which 13 are reserved for SCs and 2 for STs, ends on March 12.The tenure of Manipur assembly (60 seats with one reserved for SCs and 19 for STs) ends on March 15, while that of Goa with 40 seats of which only one is reserved for SC, ends on June 14.

Meeting of PM's Council of Trade and Industries

2011-12-23T06:31:00.000-08:00

Meeting of PM Council of T&I:All is not well in economic front:

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday hit out at industry leaders for their "negative comments" on government policies, saying it has "added to the uncertainty" but admitted that evolving of consensus on issues takes longer than desired due to coalition politics.

Amidst the talk of policy paralysis in the government, he asserted the government was committed to creating a growth oriented economic environment.

growth has continued to be sluggish. In the near future we cannot hope to see the same growth impulses from the West as we saw prior to the meltdown," he said.

"I must confess that it is a little disappointing to sometimes hear negative comments emanating from our business leadership or be told that government`s policies are causing slowdown and pessimism in the industrial sector, Dr. Singh said.

"Such comments have added to uncertainty and have emboldened those who have no stake in our economic growth," Singh said at the meeting of the PM council of Trade and Industry.

Admitting that the meeting is taking place under difficult circumstances, he said the external environment poses significant challenges."We face the continued possibility of a potentially severe crisis in the Eurozone. The Coupled with this are issues of international food price volatility and the increase in oil prices are there.The situation on the domestic front is equally a matter of concern, Singh said, adding that the persistent high inflation for some time now is unacceptable.

"We have to steer the economy back to the path of fiscal consolidation," Singh said in his opening remarks.

Corporate honchos who participated in the meeting included Narayana Murthy, Rahul Bajaj, Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata, Sunil Mittal, Deepak Parekh, Jamshyd Godrej, Chanda Kochhar and Sunil Kant Munjal.

Dr. Singh said: "We have seen some easing of inflation in the last few weeks and if this is sustained, I expect that the RBI will be able to ease up on monetary tightening as well."

He said that with the policy focus on improving agricultural production and productivity, Indian economy would soon be able to step up the production of food articles, thereby controlling inflation in these products.

Dr. Singh said he is aware of the industry concern about the high interest rate which is affecting investment plans."In order to curb inflationary pressures some reduction in aggregate demand was essential," he said.Expressing concern over the sharp depreciation of the rupee, Dr. Singh said the government is watching the situation very closely and "will take whatever steps are necessary to prevent wild fluctuations".

However, the exchange rate depreciation increases the profitability of exports and Indian industry should take advantage of this development, he added.

On the industry concerns with regard to domestic policy, Dr. Singh said: "...every major government decision has to be negotiated in the larger democratic arena. This is especially true of sensitive issues like those related to acquisition of land and environmental concerns."

On such issues, he said that the industry and the government will have to work together to find solutions that are fair and equitable.

"...in a democratic polity like ours and in the era of coalition politics, it often becomes necessary for the government to build a broad consensus on major public policy issues. This may sometimes take longer than what we would like. But our direction and objectives are clear," Dr. Singh said.

"We have to combat the potential impact of the global crisis and overcome the infrastructure implementation problems at home. I look forward to your suggestions on these aspects of economic management," he added.

Meanwhile, an official statement said that most business leaders expressed the confidence in the fundamental strength of the Indian economy.

"Many them informed the Council of their plans to invest heavily in new projects and stressed the need to expedite ongoing infrastructure projects," it said.

Minister of Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan assured the business leaders that her ministry was committed to clarity, consistency, transparency and time bound environmental clearances for industry projects.

"The industry leaders were assured that a mechanism would be put in place for sorting out bottlenecks in implementing large projects," it added.

From the government side, besides Natarajan, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, along with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and PMEAC Chairman C Rangarajan took part in the discussions.

Food inflation plunges to 4-year low of 1.81 pc

Food inflation fell sharply to a near four-year low of 1.81 per cent for the week ended 10th December as prices of essential items like vegetables, onion, potato and wheat declined.
This is the lowest rate of food inflation since the week ended 9th February, 2008, when it stood at 2.26 per cent.
Food inflation, as measured by Wholesale Price Index (WPI), was 4.35 per cent in the previous week. It had stood at 13.22 per cent in the corresponding week of 2010.
According to the official data released on Thursday, onion became cheaper by 49.38 per cent year-on-year during the week under review, while potato prices were down by 34.39 per cent.
Prices of wheat also fell by 4.21 per cent.
Overall, vegetables became cheaper by 26.37 per cent.
Experts feel the sharp fall in food inflation numbers, which was in double-digit till the first week of November, comes as a big relief to both the government and the Reserve Bank who have been battling high prices for over two years.
However, other food products grew more expensive on an annual basis, led by protein-based items.
Pulses became 14.22 per cent costlier during the week under review, while milk grew dearer by 11.19 per cent and eggs, meat and fish by 9.25 per cent.
Fruits also became 8.89 per cent more expensive on an annual basis, while cereal prices were up by 1.68 per cent.
Inflation in the overall primary articles category stood at 3.78 per cent during the week ended 10th December, as against 5.48 per cent in the previous week.
Primary articles have over 20 per cent weight in the wholesale price index.
Inflation in the non-food segment, which includes fibres and oilseeds, was recorded at 1.37 per cent during the week under review, as against 2.12 per cent in the week ended 3rd December.
Fuel and power inflation stood at 15.24 per cent during the week ended 10th December, same as in the previous week.
Headline inflation, which also factors in manufactured items, has been above the 9 per cent-mark since December, 2010.
It stood at 9.11 per cent in November this year.
The RBI has hiked interest rates 13 times since March, 2010, to tame demand and curb inflation.
In its second quarterly review of the monetary policy last month, the central bank had said it expects inflation to remain elevated till December on account of the demand-supply mismatch before moderating to 7 per cent by March, 2012.

Doctors’ strike continues in Rajasthan

2011-12-23T01:00:00.000-08:00

Rajasthan, medical and health services remain paralysed throughout the state as strike by the government doctors entered third day today.

The situation may further worsen as Medical Teachers have also decided to boycott work for two hours today followed by mass leave and indefinite strike.

Meanwhile ten people have died in different parts of state for want of treatment.

AIR correspondent reports that the indoor and outdoor patients in government hospitals had to suffer the brunt of the on going doctor’s strike. The situation may further worsen as Rajasthan Medical Teachers Association has also decided to join the agitation. In view of this the state government has decided to take help of private doctors in a big way.

Meanwhile more that 200 Doctors have been arrested under RESMA and 17 have been suspended. The Cabinet Sub-Committee met yesterday evening in Jaipur to break the deadlock but could not succeed as the in-service doctors have categorically said that any talks will be held only after government decides to lift RESMA.

The Rajasthan High Court has also taken a serious view on the strike and has asked the Chief Secretary to restore normalcy.

Winter session extended by 3 days

2011-12-22T20:39:00.001-08:00

The winter session of Parliament, which was scheduled to end on Thursday, has been extended by three days from 27th December to discuss Lokpal Bill and other legislations.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said this in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday while tabling the 33rd report of the Business Advisory Committee.

The Lokpal bill is expected to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday and would be taken up for discussion when Parliament reconvenes on 27^th December after a four-day Christmas break.

Parliament is also expected to discuss the Whistleblowers Bill and the Judicial Accountability Bill during the extended session.

Opposition parties had sought discussion on the three key legislations that are part of the government's strategy to tackle corruption.

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National Seminar on Nowcasting

4th Feb Event - Kale dhan pe hulla bol...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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63rd Republic Day- 63 Things to Admire About India

63rd Republic Day- 63 Things to Admire About India

ऐसा हो गणतंत्र हमारा

Help end unfair trials in Egypt

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Egyptians fill Tahrir square on revolution anniversary

**INDIA'S THINK TANK FAILURE**

Rice Procurement Crosses 200 Lakh Tonn

1500 militants to surrender in Assam

Rajasthan retain Ranji Trophy

Rajasthan retain Ranji Trophy

PARALLEL JOURNEYS / VIAJES PARALELOS

Chinese New Year

Abdullah says municipal, national polls to be held in 2012.

REPUBLIC DAY 2012 - FLY PAST- AN IAF APPEAL

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Categorization of Central Public Sector Enterprises

PRESS INVITATION January 19, 2012

World will Regret Its Neglect of Tibet: Tibetan PM

India win over SAfrica in 2nd Test

IAC’S PLAN FOR POLL BOUND STATES

PRESS INVITATION

FUNCTION

VENUE

DATE

TIME

Kashmir Valley remains cut off from rest of the country

Pakistan Military’s Desire to Slip Into The Driving Seat Once Again

Pakistan Military’s Desire to Slip Into The Driving Seat Once Again

Israel may be preparing to strike Iran

Saina enters semifinals of Malaysia Open

291 candidates in fray in Manipur elections

Pakistan National Assembly meet today

VHP thanks EC to ban Muslim Reservation

VHP thanks EC to ban Muslim Reservation

Kim Hyong-O Calls on Shri Mallikarjun Kharge

Kim Hyong-O Calls on Shri Mallikarjun Kharge

World Series of Boxing by Aiba

World Series of Boxing by Aiba

Scientific Temper Statement Revisited-2011

Poll cash seized in UP

S.M.Krishna to meet Israeli President in Tel Aviv

MoU on Traditional Medicines Signed with Trinidad & Tobago

Not concerned about EU moves to ban Iranian oil imports: Iran

Nirupama Rao to inaugurate Women's Science Congress today

INDIA DIASPORA - Inter Linkage and Synergy

FICCI Technical Meet on" Industrial Fuel Switching"

Amnesty to Thaksin would spark conflict:Abhisit

Egypt vote its final phase of polls

President Patil unveils new rocket launch facility

London Fireworks on New Year's Day 2011 - New Year Live - BBC One

A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Japan

HAPPY NEW YEAR

AMC on modernization spree Rs 8100 Cr

AMC on modernization spree Rs 8100 Cr

Friday, December 30, 2011

AMC on modernization spree at Estimated Cost Rs 8100 Cr

Annual Survey of Industries 2009-10 and address the media

Results of Annual Survey of Industries 2009-10 and address the media.

Rajya Sabha session ends without passing Lokpal Bill

Midnight Chaos Lokpal bill in Limbo in RS _Sagar31news

Sagar31news _Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011

INDIA'S THINK TANK FAILURE