Kishanji killed in police gunbattle

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4842" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Top Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao, alias Kishanji, is believed to have been killed in a joint operation by the CRPF and West Bengal police in West Midnapore.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Kishanji, who was from Karimnagar in Andhra Pradesh but was looking after the CPI (Maoist) operations in the Eastern region, is believed to be number three in the outfit's hierarchy after general secretary Ganapathy alias Mupalla Laxman Rao and Kishenda alias Prashant Bose. He was one of the eight members on the CPI (Maoist) polit bureau and also part of its 23-member central committee</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Kishanji was killed in a gunbattle deep inside the dense Burishole forest of West Midnapore. The gunbattle that waged for a few hours between a fairly big gang of Maoists and some 200 plus personnel of the 207 Cobra battalion and 184 CRPF, left a dead body among others, which had an AK-47 beside it and a hearing aid. Kishanji was known to carry both. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

Kishanji killed in police gunbattle

Top Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao, alias Kishanji, is believed to have been killed in a joint ope...

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Morocco votes for first time after constitutional reform

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4843" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Moroccans go to the polls in the first legislative elections since the approval of a reform of the constitution in July which strengthens the role of parliament and the prime minister.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The election comes less than five months after a new constitution which had been proposed by King Mohamed VI as regimes in neighbouring countries were being swept away by the Arab Spring uprisings. It was approved in a July 1 referendum.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The amended constitution gives parliament a greater role in the legislative process and strengthens the role of prime minister, who now must be appointed by the king from the party which wins the most seats in the assembly.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Morocco's complex proportional representation system lends itself to fractured parliaments and no party is expected to obtain an absolute majority on its own. The winning party will have to govern in a coalition.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

Morocco votes for first time after constitutional reform

Moroccans go to the polls in the first legislative elections since the approval of a reform of ...

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Unesco heritage sites on J&K stamps

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4844" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Department of Posts in Jammu and Kashmir is contemplating bringing out stamps on all the 24 world heritage sites in India as listed by Unesco.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">This was disclosed by Chief Post Master General Jammu and Kashmir Circle John Samuel at the inauguration of a four-day Philatelic Exhibition and Post Office Festival ‘Jammu Stamp Show 2011' in Jammu on Wednesday. The focus of the festival is on heritage.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Jammu and Kashmir was the first state in India where the ‘My Stamp' programme was launched. Under it, a customer can personalise the stamps and other postal stationery</span></span></li> </ul></div></div>

Unesco heritage sites on J&K stamps

The Department of Posts in Jammu and Kashmir is contemplating bringing out stamps on all the 24...

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Award for C.N. Manjunath

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4848" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Renowned cardiologist and Director of the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research C.N. Manjunath has been selected for the prestigious Dr. P.S. Shankar Vaidyashree Award for 201</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The award, which includes a purse of Rs. 10,000, a plaque and a commendation certificate, will be presented to Dr. Manjunath in Gulbarga city on January 1, 2012 during the 12th anniversary of Dr. P.S. Shankar Pratishthan.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Dr. Manjunath was selected for the award for his contribution to the field of medicine, particularly cardiology. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

Award for C.N. Manjunath

Renowned cardiologist and Director of the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and...

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Aamir Khan to be Unicef national ambassador

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">After actors Amitabh Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra, Aamir Khan will be the latest celebrity face of Unicef in India.</span></span></div></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The 46-year-old actor will be appointed the national ambassador of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund on November 30.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Aamir Khan to be Unicef national ambassador

After actors Amitabh Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra, Aamir Khan will be the latest celebrity face of Unicef in India. The 46-year-old acto...

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India inks pact with EAG to combat money laundering

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4850" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">India on Thursday inked an agreement with the Eurasian Group (EAG), a group that enforces anti-money-laundering standards in the region.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The pact was signed by Department of Economic Affairs Joint Secretary (Capital Markets) Thomas Mathew, who is heading a six-member Indian delegation at the 15th plenary meeting of the EAG on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism being held at Xiamen in China.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">India also offered assistance to member nations in enhancing their technical skill for establishing better financial systems, capital market monitoring and surveillance through sophisticated IT tools. Help was also offered in drafting legislation and law enforcement techniques.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The EAG is a FATF- (Financial Action Task Force) styled regional body with nine members, including India, Russia and China, and 29 observers, of which 12 are countries and 17 are international organisations. India was accorded membership in the EAG in December 2010.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

India inks pact with EAG to combat money laundering

India on Thursday inked an agreement with the Eurasian Group (EAG), a group that enforces anti-...

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Malaysia moves to lift 40-yr-old emergency decrees

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Malaysia on Thursday moved to lift three 40-year-old emergency decrees that allowed detention without trial, with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak saying the situation that had threatened public order no longer exists.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Najib tabled a motion in the parliament seeking lifting of the three emergency proclamations that were enforced in the 1960s and 70s after the country witnessed widespread race riots.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The motion seeks to lift the emergency proclamations that were issued by the King in 1969 following the May 13, 1969 racial riots in this multi-ethnic country. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> It is also to lift the emergency proclamations of 1966 and 1977 aimed at resolving political disputes in Sarawak and Kelantan.</span></span></li> </ul></div>

Malaysia moves to lift 40-yr-old emergency decrees

Malaysia on Thursday moved to lift three 40-year-old emergency decrees that allowed detention without trial, with Prime Minister Najib Tun...

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Pak naval ship on Sri Lanka visit

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4852" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">A Pakistani naval ship will arrive on a goodwill visit to Sri Lanka as both the countries step up efforts for stronger maritime ties</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Pakistani High Commission "the Ship SAIF will be in Colombo from 26-29 November as both Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy warm diplomatic and strong military ties".</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> The Pakistani Navy Ship SAIF will also be visiting Malaysia and Maldives after conclusion of its visit in Sri Lanka as a part of its visit to the other friendly regional countries.</span></span></li> </ul></div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.tippani.in/blog/xbusiness.php?submit=showComments&id=4852"> </a></span></div>

Pak naval ship on Sri Lanka visit

A Pakistani naval ship will arrive on a goodwill visit to Sri Lanka as both the countries step u...

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Pak girl who stood up to Taliban awarded

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">A Pakistani girl Malala Yousufzai, who spoke out for children's rights in the restive Swat valley when it was controlled by the Taliban was conferred the nations new National Peace Prize.</span></span></div></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced that 13-year-old Yousufzai would be conferred the National Peace Prize and a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" height="260"><tbody> <tr> </tr> </tbody> </table><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The government made the decision after Yousufzai was nominated for the International Peace Prize for Children in recognition of her services for peace and education. </span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">She was a victim of the ban imposed by the Taliban on education for girls in the troubled Swat region over two years ago. She wrote about her pain and anguish in a diary for BBC Urdu. Asked why she started her campaign for girls' rights, Yousufzai said the violence in Swat had "a huge impact" on her mind.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">She said she wanted the rest of the world to stop describing the people of Swat as terrorists as they were peaceful and loving.</span></span></li> </ul></div>

Pak girl who stood up to Taliban awarded

A Pakistani girl Malala Yousufzai, who spoke out for children's rights in the restive Swat valley when it was controlled by the Talib...

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Nairobi: Kannada Cultural Association Organizes International Cultural Extravaganza

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4854" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Under the joint aegis of the local Kannada Cultural Association and Mangalore-based Kannada monthly journal ‘Hradayavahini’, the 56th Kannada Rajyotsav and 4th International Cultural Extravaganza was held at Nairobi recently. Karnataka legislative council member D S Veerayya inaugurated the programme.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Kannada Sahitya Parishat honorary secretary Sangamesh Badavadagi, was the chief guest.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

Nairobi: Kannada Cultural Association Organizes International Cultural Extravaganza

Under the joint aegis of the local Kannada Cultural Association and Mangalore-based Kannada mon...

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India-Pakistan reach broad pact on easy business visas

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4855" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">India has reached a broad agreement with Pakistan on liberalising visa regime for their business persons</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Under the proposal, India and Pakistan should grant multiple entry visas to businessmen of the two sides</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

India-Pakistan reach broad pact on easy business visas

India has reached a broad agreement with Pakistan on liberalising visa regime for their business ...

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Government tightens immigration rules for women for jobs in Gulf

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4856" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Government has tightened immigration rules for women seeking employment in labour- intensive Gulf region to protect them from harrasment and exploitation.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Overseas Indian affairs minister Vayalar Ravi told Rajya Sabha that government has taken a series of measures to protect interest of women including imposing age restriction of 30 years for allowing them to go to the Gulf region and some other countries for employment under ECR (Emigration Check Required) category.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The ministry has also made it mandatory for attestation of employment contract of women under ECR category by Indian missions. The missions will also have to identify the foreign employer before allowing any woman to go the region for work.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">As per the guidelines of the ministry, a pre-paid mobile phone will have to be given to every household worker by the employer.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">If the foreign employer recruits the worker directly, he is required to deposit a security of $2,500 (Rs 1.3 lakh) with the Indian Mission</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

Government tightens immigration rules for women for jobs in Gulf

Government has tightened immigration rules for women seeking employment in labour- intensive Gul...

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Egypt’s Cabinet Offers to Quit as Activists Urge Wider Protests

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The cabinet offered its resignation to Egypt’s transitional military rulers as security forces carried out an increasingly lethal crackdown on three days of violent street protests, reviving the uncertainty about Egypt’s future that marked the earliest days of the Arab Spring.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><br /> </span></span><br /> </li> <li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; text-align: justify;">The culture minister, Emad Abu Ghazi, has already resigned in protest over the demonstrators’ brutal treatment at the hands of security forces</span></span></li> </ul></div>

Egypt’s Cabinet Offers to Quit as Activists Urge Wider Protests

The cabinet offered its resignation to Egypt’s transitional military rulers as security forces carried out an increasingly lethal crackdo...

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Iran blasts new Western sanctions

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Iran and its powerful ally Russia slammed new Western sanctions imposed on Tehran over its susect nuclear programme, saying they were illegal and futile.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The unilateral measures against Iran's financial, petrochemical and energy sectors announced Monday by the United States, Britain and Canada amounted merely to "propaganda and psychological warfare.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Russia -- which with China had blocked any possibility of the Western steps going before the UN Security Council for approval -- took a sterner view, saying in a foreign ministry statement the sanctions were "unacceptable and against international law. </span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Iran, which has dismissed the IAEA report as "baseless" and biased, insists its nuclear programme is for exclusively peaceful, civilian purposes.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The country is already subject to four sets of UN sanctions designed to force it to give up uranium enrichment, along with additional, unilateral sanctions by the United States and the European Union.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">London said it was "ceasing all contact" between its financial system and that of Iran.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Canada said it was halting "virtually all transactions" with Iran.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">France said it, too, was "in favour of new unprecedented sanctions.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Iran's economy, worth an estimated $480 billion according to the International Monetary Fund, is highly dependent on oil sales, which make up around 70 percent of government revenues. The country is the second-biggest producer in OPEC, after Saudi Arabia.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Iran blasts new Western sanctions

Iran and its powerful ally Russia slammed new Western sanctions imposed on Tehran over its susect nuclear programme, saying they were ill...

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Syria Slams UN Draft Resolution

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Syria's envoy to the United Nations has harshly criticized a draft resolution submitted by Germany to the General Assembly's human rights committee, which condemns the eight-month-long crackdown on opposition protests.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari said the document, crafted by Germany, Britain and France, was introduced "in the context of declaring a political, media, and diplomatic war on Syria." </span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Germany's U.N. Ambassador Peter Wittig, who introduced the nonbinding resolution, said 60 countries are co-sponsoring the document, including Syria's fellow Arab nations of Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.  Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country that has become increasingly critical of Damascus, is also co-sponsoring it.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The General Assembly's human rights committee is scheduled to vote on the document Damascus has been facing mounting international pressure to end the unrest. The United Nations says the crackdown has resulted in more than 3,500 deaths..</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Damascus has been facing mounting international pressure to end the unrest. The United Nations says the crackdown has resulted in more than 3,500 deaths.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Syria Slams UN Draft Resolution

Syria's envoy to the United Nations has harshly criticized a draft resolution submitted by Germany to the General Assembly's huma...

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Jordan's king meets Abbas on rare West Bank visit

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Jordan's King Abdullah II held talks in Ramallah on Monday with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on his first visit to the West Bank in more than a decade.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The rare visit came just days ahead of a key summit between the rival Palestinian movements Fatah and Hamas, which are looking to cement a stalled unity deal that has drawn fierce opposition from Israel and Washington.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Jordan's king meets Abbas on rare West Bank visit

Jordan's King Abdullah II held talks in Ramallah on Monday with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on his first visit to the West Ban...

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Seawalls can worsen erosion

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Karnataka's coastline is being threatened by the very edifice that was designed to protect it.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Granite seawalls, constructed unscientifically along large sections of the State's 320-km coast to ostensibly protect the shore from erosion, are threatening the livelihoods of fishing communities and destroying coastal ecosystems, says the latest State of Environment Report for Karnataka, 2010-11.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Seawalls can worsen erosion

Karnataka's coastline is being threatened by the very edifice that was designed to protect it. Granite seawalls, constructed unsci...

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Award for C.N.R. Rao

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">C.N.R. Rao, Honorary President of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, has been awarded the Ernesto Illy Trieste Science Prize for 2011 in recognition of his contributions to materials research.  </span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The award, instituted by the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, was presented in Trieste, Italy. </span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">It comprises a cash prize of $100,000, a medal and citation.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Award for C.N.R. Rao

C.N.R. Rao, Honorary President of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, has been awarded the Ernesto Illy Trieste Sci...

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BioAsia-2012 to focus on vaccines, IPR, CROs and investments

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4799" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The ninth edition of the annual global event, ‘BioAsia-2012' to be held here in February next, is set to focus on vaccines, Intellectual Property Rights, Contract Research Organisation and Investments.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">More business support elements like workshops, company presentations, luncheons and BioBazaar would be part of ‘BioAsia 2012'. For the first time, Sri Lanka would participate as a ‘partner country'.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">In another new initiative, the organisers have decided to sponsor the visit of top regulator in the life-science field from SAARC countries like Nepal, Maldives and Bangladesh.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The global event will be held in Hyderabad.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Genome Valley Excellence Awards 2012 will be given.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; text-align: justify;">The Awards would be conferred on Dr. Seth Berkeley, CEO, GAVI Alliance, Geneva, for his extra-ordinary contributions to the vaccine sector and Merck & Co. for its ‘Patient & Health Vaccine Research' in addition to its support and backing to the initiatives focussed on cancers in women. Dr. Kevin Ali, president (emerging markets), Merck & Co., would receive the award on the company's behalf during Bio-asia 2012</span></span></li> </ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div></div></div>

BioAsia-2012 to focus on vaccines, IPR, CROs and investments

The ninth edition of the annual global event, ‘BioAsia-2012' to be held here in February ne...

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Air Vice-Marshal first to be awarded Ph.D

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Air Vice-Marshal Arjun Subramaniam, serving at the Air Headquarters here, has been awarded a Doctorate by the University of Madras for his thesis on “Aerospace Warfare in Fourth Generation Warfare.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">This was the first time, he said, that an officer who had enrolled for a Ph.D. while serving as a faculty member was given an opportunity to defend his thesis at DSSC, which has been designated by the University as a centre for research</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Air Vice-Marshal first to be awarded Ph.D

Air Vice-Marshal Arjun Subramaniam, serving at the Air Headquarters here, has been awarded a Doctorate by the University of Madras for hi...

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SEWA to provide solar lanterns and energy-efficient stoves to its members

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4803" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is helping India’s Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) provide energy-efficient cook stoves and solar lanterns to more than 200,000 of its members in Rajasthan and Gujarat over the next three years.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">IFC will guarantee a loan from local banks to SEWA members by signing a memorandum of understanding with SEWA. The project is subject to regulatory approvals. It is in line with IFC’s clean-growth strategy and will also help to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. It will also serve to demonstrate a self-sustaining business model that could also be introduced in other parts of Asia and in Africa.</span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">“This is one of the world’s largest clean-energy projects aimed at the $5 trillion market of consumers, distributors, and entrepreneurs that forms the base of the economic pyramid,”</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

SEWA to provide solar lanterns and energy-efficient stoves to its members

International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is helping India’s S...

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Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former Philippine president, arrested

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was arrested on Friday for electoral fraud, which carries a life sentence, at aManila hospital, preventing her departure from the country to seek medical treatment. </span></span><br /> <br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">President Benigno Aquino and his government have long accused Arroyo of corruption during her two terms in office, from 2001-2010, though until Friday, authorities had not formally charged her. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former Philippine president, arrested

Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was arrested on Friday for electoral fraud, which carries a life sentence, at aManila...

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Nepal awaits Pranab Mukherjee’s visit

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">After  Nepal's Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai's official visit to India, New Delhi is sending its finance ministerPranab Mukherjee to Kathmandu to sign aDouble Taxation Avoidance Agreement</span></span></div>

Nepal awaits Pranab Mukherjee’s visit

After  Nepal's Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai's official visit to India, New Delhi is sending its finance ministerPranab Muk...

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HONOURS AND AWARDS

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">a.<strong>NATIONAL:</strong></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">1.Jnanpith Award 2009 and 2010 announced : Eminent Hindi authors Mr. Amar Kant and Mr. Shrilal Shukla were chosen for India’s highest literary honour Jnanpith Award for the year 2009, while renowned Kannada writer Mr. Chandrashekar Kambar won it for the year 2010. The selection board chaired by noted writer and Jnanpith Award winner Dr. Sitakant Mahapatra made the selections for the 45^th and 46^th Jnanpith Awards.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">86-year-old Kant is a leading author whose famous novel Inbin Hathiyaron Se earned him Sahitya Akademi Award in 2007. His short stories like Hatyare, Dopahar Ka Bhojan and Diptee Kalaktari have found place in the syllabi of several Indian Universities. Mr. Shukla, born in 1925 in Uttar Pradesh, is an eminent novelist and a satirist whose works threw light on the falling moral values of the Indian society in the post Independence era. His noted works include Raag Darbari, Makaan, Sooni Ghaati Ka Sooraj, Pehla Padaav, Agyatvas, and Bisrampur Ka Sant. He is winner of several awards which included Sahitya Akademi Award and Vyas Sammaan. In 2008, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Indian literature and culture. 74-year-old Kambar, who won the Jnanpith for the year 2010, is a novelist and playwright.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">2.Eleven scientists selected for Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award : Eleven scientists have been selected for the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology this year. The award was announced by director general of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Mr. Samir Brahmachari, at the foundation day celebration of CSIR at Vigyan Bhavan on September 27, 2011. It will be given away by the Prime Minister later.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The award for Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences category went to Mr. Shankar Doraiswamy of National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, In the Engineering Sciences category, Mr. Sirshendu De of IIT-Kharagpur and Mr. Upadrasta Ramamurty of Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, were nominated for the award. Mr. Mahan Maharaj of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Howrah and Mr. Palash Sarkar of Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata were picked for the award in Mathematical Sciences category. In the Medical Sciences category,  Mr. Kithiganahalli N. Balaji of IISc, Bangalore, was nominated while the award for Physical Sciences category went to Shiraz Minwalla of Tata of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">3.Dadasaheb Phalke Award : Mr. K. Balachander, doyen of Tamil cinema, was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award by Hon’ble President Ms. Pratibha Patil at the National Film Awards 2010 ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan on September 9, 2011. A frail but spirited-looking Mr. Balachander, who walked up to the podium to collect the highest award in cinema, received a standing ovation from the gathering. Describing Mr. Balachander as a film-maker of distinction, Ms. Patil said that he has made mainstream films with an artistic sensibility that has touched upon social, political and middle class issues.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">4.IGNOU award : Indira Gandhi National Open University honoured the Azim Premji Foundation with the Rajiv Gandhi International Prize for Technology in Education and Development on September 28, 2011 for its significant contributions to education, particularly to educational technology, in developing countries across the world.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">5.First Hridayanath Award goes to Lata Mangeshkar : Bollywood super star Mr. Amithabh Bachan presented the first Hridayanath Award  to Ms. Lata Mangeshkar on her 82^nd birthday in Mumbai on September 28, 2011.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">6.Indian Football Awards : East Bengal’s Mehtab Hussain won a double at the Indian Football Players Association of India, in a glitzy ceremony in Kolkata on September 26, 2011. The midfielder won the Best Indian Player Award and also the Fans Player of the Year Award through online voting. Mehtab was instrumental in East Bengal’s stupendous success last season in which the club won the Federation Cup, local league and finished runner-up in the I-League.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The other awardees were as follows : Best Foreign Player: Roberto ‘Beto’ Mendes Silva (Dempo SC); Best Coach: Karim Benchirifa (Salgocar SC); Best Young Player: Jeje Lalpekhula (Pune FC) ; Fans Player of Asian Cup (online voting): Subrata Paul (Pune FC); Fans Player of the Year (online voting): Mehtab Hussain (East Bengal).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">b.INTERNATIONAL</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">1.Angolan beauty crowned Miss Universe : Angola’s Ms. Leila Lopes became the new Miss Universe, edging out beauties from from Ukraine, Brazil, Philippines and China as the Miss Universe beauty pageant marked its 60^th anniversary on September 15, 2011. Ninety-eight young women took part in the contest – in South America’s largest city, Brazil’s industrial hub of Sao Paulo – watched by an estimated one billion people around the world.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">2.ICC Awards: The Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni won the ‘Spirit of Cricket Award ‘ at the annual International Cricket Council (ICC) Awards function in London on September 12, 2011. Meanwhile, West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo was chosen the ICC Emerging player of the year award and Aleem Dar was again chosen as the ICC Umpire of the year.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Other awardees were: LG People’s Choice Award: Kumar Sanghakara.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">ICC Associate Cricketer : Ryan ten Doeschate.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">ICC T20 Performance of the Year : Tim Southee.</span></span></div></div>

HONOURS AND AWARDS

a. NATIONAL: 1.Jnanpith Award 2009 and 2010 announced : Eminent Hindi authors Mr. Amar Kant and Mr. Shrilal Shukla were chosen for India’...

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Places in news

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><strong>a.Kabul (Afghanistan) : </strong>The place made the headlines when a Taliban suicide bomber assassinated the former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani on September 20, 2011. He was attacked at his Kabul residence, because he was leading government peace efforts through the Afghan High Peace Council.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><strong>b.Mangan (Sikkim) :</strong> The place hit the headlines due to being the most-badly-affected area of the earthquake which was felt in the most part of north India on September 9, 2011. Around 60 people were dead in Sikkim while many casualties were reported from Bhutan, Nepal, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand on September 20, 2011. Mangan is 65 km from Gangtok, closest to 6.8-scale quake’s epicenter.</span></span></div></div>

Places in news

a.Kabul (Afghanistan) : The place made the headlines when a Taliban suicide bomber assassinated the former Afghan President Burhanuddin Ra...

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Space Research

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">a.Astronomers discover a new planet</strong></span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Astronomers, using National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Kepler planet-hunting spacecraft announced on September 15, 2011 that they had discovered a new planet. On this planet, from double sunrise to double sunset, the show goes on, always changing. Sometimes the orange sun rises first. Or the red one, though they are never far apart and one can see them moving around each other, casting double shadows across the firmament and periodically crossing right in front of each other.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The official name of the new planet is Kepler 16b, but astronomers are already referring to it informally as Tatooine, after the home planet of Luke and Anakin Skywalker, in the George Lucas “ Star Wars” movies, which also had two Suns.</span></span></li> </ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><strong>b.India to have one more satellite launch site :</strong></span></span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Amid reuests from various countries for launch of their satellites, India has decided to set up one more launch site to expand its capacity in this aspect. At a meeting held by the Prime Minister’s Prinicipal Secretary Mr. T.K.A. Nair on September 11, 2011 to review performance of the Department of Space, it was decided that feasibility study would be conducted for a new site, souces said, The decision to find a new site was taken after the meeting was told that </span><strong style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">ISRO </strong><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">has only two satellite launch pads, both of which are affected during the cyclone season</span></span></li> </ul></div>

Space Research

a.Astronomers discover a new planet Astronomers, using National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Kepler planet-hunting spacec...

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Limca record holder Chikka Bhanu Prakash hoping for Guinness World Record

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKovVW3s2tiw-e2BYT8eh7A0skYNp76EqRzoLXs1-yKqoKeM5Xev_VF9wjc71RhroMASG5MlGrJiSeUOmUTDOGM7kNmBN0Sz4cXqBO5mCfDTqRg78AzR3KfJAXCL8-kFqGO3rEJcc2AE/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKovVW3s2tiw-e2BYT8eh7A0skYNp76EqRzoLXs1-yKqoKeM5Xev_VF9wjc71RhroMASG5MlGrJiSeUOmUTDOGM7kNmBN0Sz4cXqBO5mCfDTqRg78AzR3KfJAXCL8-kFqGO3rEJcc2AE/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="articleLead" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /> </div><div> </div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;"> The string broke off and the first attempt went wrong. Though visibly nervous, the 26-year-old marshalled his resolve and with his thumb nail tried again, pulling off a feat which he hopes would fetch him a Guinness World Record. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;"> Chikka Bhanu Prakash, a software engineer on Sunday afternoon lifted 8.668 kgs weight with his left thumb nail and the effort would be sent to the Guinness World Record for appropriate documentation. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;"> According to Prakash, the ‘Heaviest Weight Lifted By Fingernail' was in the open record category with Guinness Records and it meant there was no previous record documented. “I will be sending this record for documentation and hope it will be accepted,” said the MCA graduate presently employed with Innobox Systems. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;"> V. Sreenathachary, a triple Guinness World Record holder himself, acted as witness and guided the event to ensure all the prescribed steps were in place for making the claim. “In this category, the weight should be lifted using nail at least to 10 cms from ground and held thus for five seconds,” he said. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;"> Today at the event organised by the Greater Hyderabad Padmashali Sangham, Prakash who hails from Jablekpally village of Bhudan Pochampally, lifted 8.688 kgs weight till 26 cms from the ground and held it for 28 seconds. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;"> “This is a record and with appropriate documentation, the effort will be forwarded for consideration,” Dr. Sreenathachary said. For the purpose of creating a record, a hole was drilled into the thumb nail and a string was used to tie the weights and lift them. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;"> Born in a weaver's family, Prakash had already made it to the Limca Records for his work in nail art and also tried his nail for lifting weights at his native Bhudan Pochampally and also in Jaipur once. “But today, I followed the guidelines for an entry into Guinness Records and feel elated at having succeeded,” he added. </div></div>

Limca record holder Chikka Bhanu Prakash hoping for Guinness World Record

The string broke off and the first attempt went wrong. Though visibly nervous, the 26-year-old marshalled his resolve and with his thum...

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Spanish conservatives party win general elections

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78Boqyk55q_wqUCGvfwijglZ2wt48pn1_qD-tD69aUGieqYVoZTWlDoLMbJUM2fEQVAo-wODQSBiEpLG-1cJSeGuJ214EN0TtCO382ns39JjMsxeafSmTy8Iq3KbpCEaRngnPS0dQNo0/s1600/4693238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78Boqyk55q_wqUCGvfwijglZ2wt48pn1_qD-tD69aUGieqYVoZTWlDoLMbJUM2fEQVAo-wODQSBiEpLG-1cJSeGuJ214EN0TtCO382ns39JjMsxeafSmTy8Iq3KbpCEaRngnPS0dQNo0/s320/4693238.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spain's opposition conservatives swept commandingly into power and into the hot seat Sunday as voters enduring a 21.5 percent jobless rate and stagnant economy dumped the Socialists the third time in as many weeks Europe's debt crisis has claimed a government.<br /> <br /> As thousands of jubilant, cheering supporters waving red-and-yellow Spanish flags and blue-and-white party ones gathered outside Popular Party headquarters, their leader and future Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy thanked Spaniards for their support, then sounded a somber note of warning.<br /> <br /> "It is no secret to anyone that we are going to rule in the most delicate circumstances Spain has faced in 30 years," he said. "For me, there will be no enemies but unemployment, the deficit, excessive debt, economic stagnation and anything else that keeps our country in these critical circumstances."<br /> <br /> Other than promise tax cuts for small- and medium-size companies that make up more than 90 percent of all firms in Spain, the 56-year-old Rajoy has not specified how he will tackle Spain's unemployment nightmare.<br /> <br /> Rajoy faces the towering task of restoring investor confidence and lowering Spain's soaring borrowing costs with deficit-reducing measures, while not dragging an already moribund economy into a double-dip recession. It only just climbed out of one last year that was prompted by the bursting of a real estate bubble.<br /> <br /> With 97 percent of the votes from the election counted, the Popular Party won 186 seats compared to 154 in the last legislature. The Socialists plummeted from 169 to 110, their worst performance ever.<br /> <br /> The PP thus won an absolute majority and resounding mandate from a deeply troubled electorate. It needed 176 votes for such a cushion in the lower chamber of Parliament, the main one.<br /> <br /> Rajoy said he has not promised miracles and there will be none, but that the PP has shown in the past it ruled from 1996 to 2004 and got Spain into the euro along the way it gets things done. He appealed to Spaniards to join together and resurrect the economy.<br /> <br /> "We stand before one of those crossroads that will determine the future of our country, not just in the next few years but for decades," said Rajoy, loser of the previous two elections.<br /> <br /> Earlier, as he waited for Rajoy to speak, one supporter, David Cordero, said he was happy with the prospect of change so as to create jobs and protect social services like state-paid health care and education.<br /> <br /> "This is what this country needs right now," he said.<br /> <br /> The conservatives won roughly 45 percent of the votes and the Socialists took 29 percent, according to official election results. In the last elections in 2008, the latter won by about 4 points.<br /> <br /> The new numbers show Spanish voters have shifted decidedly to the right as they confront their worst economic crisis in decades and choose new leaders to pull them out of it.<br /> <br /> As part of that mess, the country is also at the forefront of Europe's sovereign debt crisis, with the Spanish government's borrowing costs rising last week to levels near where other eurozone countries such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal had to request huge bailouts from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.<br /> <br /> Besides the recent changes in which Greece and Italy replaced their governments with teams made up of technocrats, Ireland and Portugal which also required huge bailouts to avert default also saw their governments change hands.<br /> <br /> Spanish Socialist party candidate Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba conceded defeat. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, whose popularity plummeted as the crisis deepened and enacted austerity measures that doomed him among supporters, did not seek a third term in office, or speak publicly Sunday night.<br /> <br /> But Perez Rubalcaba said his party would fight to protect the welfare state from social spending cuts that Rajoy will almost certainly make to meet EU-mandated deficit reduction cuts his party has pledged to fulfill.<br /> <br /> In the Senate, with 58 percent of the votes counted, it was 134 for the PP and 50 for the Socialists. Another few dozens seats in that chamber are not elected directly.<br /> <br /> One surprise outside the economic realm is that a new pro-independence Basque coalition called Amaiur won seven seats and now outnumbers the region's traditionally strongest party, the moderate Basque Nationalist Party, with five.<br /> <br /> This comes about a month after the armed Basque separatist group ETA declared an end to its armed campaign, saying it would seek independence through strictly peaceful means. </span></div></div>

Spanish conservatives party win general elections

Spain's opposition conservatives swept commandingly into power and into the hot seat Sunday as voters enduring a 21.5 percent jobless ra...

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Now IFFI to have section on 3D movies

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxCYOjXZyiAjqsDNoxV1QJbnhh5xg__vNPq0PLbsQYdpDpk49AxA92bZSzHoWzflKNcyOrYx-JnFgQuYY87bnfzn48GfRhzWuB-VUhmt1qwXIK3Xbj_HqOEDpU_C-louzGA9IR_S9s6E/s1600/IFFI_B_13_11_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxCYOjXZyiAjqsDNoxV1QJbnhh5xg__vNPq0PLbsQYdpDpk49AxA92bZSzHoWzflKNcyOrYx-JnFgQuYY87bnfzn48GfRhzWuB-VUhmt1qwXIK3Xbj_HqOEDpU_C-louzGA9IR_S9s6E/s1600/IFFI_B_13_11_2011.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Giving a new technology boost to this year's festival, the 42nd International Film Festival of India will showcase 3D stereoscopic movies which are chosen not only for their content but also for the excellence in handling the medium.<br /> <br /> The section which brings together 3D cinema classics from across the world includes movies like 'The Cave of Forgotten Dreams' directed by Werner Herzog, 'Pina' from Germany directed by Wim Wenders, 'Hara Kiri: The Death of Samurai' (Japan) directed by Takashi Miike and 'Toomelah' (Australia) directed by Ivan Sen.<br /> <br /> At the other extreme of the festival is the old world charm of classic films from Soviet Russia. Archival prints provided by the 'Mos Film Cinema Concern', the largest and oldest film company in Russia and Europe whose output includes most of the widely-acclaimed Soviet films, ranging from the works by Tarkovsky and Eisenstein, form a part of this specially curated package.<br /> <br /> The films which will be showcased as part of the 'Russian Classics' section include 'Uncle Vanya' directed by Andrei Mikhalov-Kochalovsky, 'The Mirror' directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, 'Go And Look' directed by Elim Klimov and 'The Day of the Full Moon' directed by Karen Shaknazarov.<br /> </div></div>

Now IFFI to have section on 3D movies

Giving a new technology boost to this year's festival, the 42nd International Film Festival of India will showcase 3D stereoscopic movie...

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Karnataka opts out of 2012 medical entrance test

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Karnataka has decided to remain out of the all-India common entrance examination to be conducted by the Medical Council of India (MCI) in 2012.</span></span></li> </ul><div> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Stating that the State syllabus is not on a par with that of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Higher Education Minister V S Acharya said making the students appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) would be unfair as they were not equipped to face such examinations.</span></span></li> </ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">In 2012, the State will bring the syllabus of the first year Pre-University Course (PUC) on a par with that of the CBSE. And in the subsequent year, the II year PU syllabus will be revised. By 2014, Karnataka will join the NEET</span></span></li> </ul></div>

Karnataka opts out of 2012 medical entrance test

Karnataka has decided to remain out of the all-India common entrance examination to be conducted by the Medical Council of India (MCI) in ...

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Singapore PM backs India for permanent UN seat

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: x-small;">Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong  pitched for its permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council</span></div></div>

Singapore PM backs India for permanent UN seat

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong  pitched for its permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council

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Palestinian president to seek unity government deal with Hamas

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4759" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, will meet the Hamas leader, Khaled Mashal, in Cairo to agree details of a new unity government, hoping to close a six-year schism between the political factions that has separated the West Bank from Gaza.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The meeting is scheduled to take place in Cairo.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Israel and the United States greeted news of the meeting with trepidation. Israel has warned that an agreement with Hamas would have grave consequences for its relations with the Palestinian Authority, both in terms of security and the transferral of funds.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

Palestinian president to seek unity government deal with Hamas

The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, will meet the Hamas leader, Khaled Mashal, in Cairo t...

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Honour for Nehru is honour for India

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Singapore's decision to honour India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru with a bronze bust in the city-state was like honouring India.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> Jawaharlal Nehru was prescient when he said in 1946 that Singapore will become the city where Asian unity is forged.</span></span></li> </ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.tippani.in/blog/xbusiness.php?submit=showComments&id=4760"> </a></span></div></div>

Honour for Nehru is honour for India

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Singapore's decision to honour India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru with a bronze bust...

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India, China Annual Defence Dialogue in december

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">India and China will hold their Annual Defence Dialogue (ADD) here starting December 9 during which they will discuss resumption of joint Army exercises and border issues between the two sides.</span></span></div></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The ADD will be held  in Delhi.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The last round of Sino-Indian defence dialogue had taken place in Beijing in January 2010.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">New Delhi had suspended military exchanges with China in August 2010 after it refused to grant permission to a senior Indian Army Commander to proceed on an official trip to Beijing.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The first two editions of the Army to Army exercise had taken place in Kunming in China in 2007 and in Belgaum in 2008.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Putting an end to the strained military relations, India had sent its first military delegation to Beijing in June 2011.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> National Security Advisor Shivsankar Menon will be leading the Indian delegation during these talks.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

India, China Annual Defence Dialogue in december

India and China will hold their Annual Defence Dialogue (ADD) here starting December 9 during which they will discuss resumption of joint...

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India donates USD 1 mln to Palestinian refugees

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Reaffirming its firm support to the Palestinian cause, India has donated USD one million to UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to provide daily supplement of food to thousands of Palestinian children in camps in Gaza Strip.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Minister of State for External Affairs and Human Resources Development E Ahamed handed over a cheque of USD one million to UNRWA Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">UNRWA is the main provider of basic services, education, health, relief and social services, to five million registered Palestinian refugees in the Middle East.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">India has been contributing annually to the UN welfare agency's budget and since 2009-10 enhanced its annual contribution to USD one million.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Ahamed, who is here on a two-day visit to the Palestinian territories, will also participate in the inauguration of the India-Brazil-South Africa Multipurpose Sports Centre that was constructed in Ramallah with the funding of IBSA Forum.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The IBSA Sports Centre is the first project completed by IBSA funding to be donated as a gift from people of IBSA countries to the people of Palestine. This also happens to be the first IBSA project in the entire Middle East.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The grouping is also supporting the rehabilitation of the "Al Quds Hospital" in Gaza and the construction of a "Centre for People with Special Needs" in Nablus in the West Bank.</span></span></li> </ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><br /> </span></span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Foreign Minister Riyad Malki.</span></span></li> </ul></div>

India donates USD 1 mln to Palestinian refugees

Reaffirming its firm support to the Palestinian cause, India has donated USD one million to UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to provide ...

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Indo-American awarded with Guyana's top award

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4763" style="display: block; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Indian-American Yashpaul Soi has been awarded with one of the highest civilian honours of Guyana in recognition of his role in strengthening the democracy in this country. </span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The award was presented to Soi, who is based in New York, by Guyanese Indian-origin President Bharat Jagdeo at a special ceremony in the countries capital Georgetown early this month.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Soi, an eminent Indian-American community leader and one of the promoters of Bollywood in the US, was presented the award for his outstanding role in the struggle for free and fair elections and development of Guyana and generally contributing to the national interests of that country.</span></span></li> </ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Previously Jimmy Carter was honoured by Guyana, also for his role in the restoration of democracy in the country.</span></span></li> </ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> Along with Soi, four other non-resident Guyanese were presented with the award - Pandit Ramlall, Ramesh Kalicharran, both settled in New York, and scientist Suresh Narine of Torontoa</span></span></li> </ul></div></div>

Indo-American awarded with Guyana's top award

Indian-American Yashpaul Soi has been awarded with one of the highest civilian honours of Guyan...

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Ela Bhatt selected for Indira Gandhi Prize

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Renowned social activist Ela Bhatt was selected for the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2011 for her lifetime achievements in empowering women through grassroots entrepreneurship.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Bhatt, who is the founder of NGO Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), was selected for the award constituted by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust by an international jury headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">A labour lawyer by training, Bhatt founded the SEWA in 1972 and under her leadership, the NGO has grown into a 13 lakh strong organisation playing a pioneering role in socio-economic and political empowerment of women.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> Bhatt, founder of the SEWA Cooperative Bank, the first women's bank in India, is also one of the dozen global leaders who constitute 'The Elders', set up at the initiative of Nelson Mandela in 2007 to promote human rights and peace. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Ela Bhatt selected for Indira Gandhi Prize

Renowned social activist Ela Bhatt was selected for the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2011 for h...

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Govt notifies rules: N-supplier liability to be ‘limited in time’

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4697" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The foreign suppliers of nuclear material to Indian nuclear power plants would not be held liable for accidents caused by defective or faulty equipment supplied by them if the accident takes place after a guarantee period specified by them. </span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">According to the Rules of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act, which was made public today, suppliers of nuclear material would be allowed to specify a ‘product liability period’ beyond which they would not be held liable for any accident. </span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The operator of the nuclear power plant concerned would therefore have no ‘right of recourse’ against the suppliers after this period is over. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> “The provision for right of recourse... shall be for the duration of initial licence issued under the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004, or the product liability period, whichever is longer,” the Rules say. All licences issued under the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004, are valid for an initial period of five years</span></span></li> </ul></div></div>

Govt notifies rules: N-supplier liability to be ‘limited in time’

The foreign suppliers of nuclear material to Indian nuclear power plants would not be held liab...

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Yousaf Raza Gilani says MFN decision on India not yet taken

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Pakistan has once again sent out confusing signals on granting most favoured nation (MFN) status to India, with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani telling lawmakers that a decision is "yet to be taken" on the issue for which bilateral negotiations would be held. </span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Responding to points raised by lawmakers in the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament, Gilani said the people and Parliament would be taken into confidence on the issue of giving MFN status to India</span></span></li> </ul></div>

Yousaf Raza Gilani says MFN decision on India not yet taken

Pakistan has once again sent out confusing signals on granting most favoured nation (MFN) status to India, with Prime Minister Yousaf Raz...

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Water found on Jupiter moon

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4700" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">NASA's Galileo spacecraft has found evidence of water beneath the icy surface of Jupiter's moon Europa, researchers said. </span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The data suggest there is significant exchange between Europa's icy shell and the ocean beneath.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">NASA's Galileo spacecraft has found evidence of water beneath the icy surface of Jupiter's moon Europa, researchers said. </span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The data suggest there is significant exchange between Europa's icy shell and the ocean beneath.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Europa's ice shell is about 10 km thick and within it are giant pockets of water, lying at depths as shallow as three kilometers. Warm water from these sub-surface lakes wells up in plumes, causing the ice to become brittle, crack and collapse.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

Water found on Jupiter moon

NASA's Galileo spacecraft has found evidence of water beneath the icy surface of Jupiter'...

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China donates $1 mn for Nalanda University revival

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Efforts to revive the Nalanda University got a major boost when China gave a cheque of USD 1 million for building a Chinese-type library, marking the first donation for the ambitious project.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Piloted by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Nalanda University revival project has been gaining steam in the past few years with the enactment of a law to give the varsity a stand-alone status with special provisions. </span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Chinese Premier had announced in  2010 that the country would provide USD one million for building a Chinese-type library at the proposed varsity.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

China donates $1 mn for Nalanda University revival

Efforts to revive the Nalanda University got a major boost when China gave a cheque of USD 1 million for building a Chinese-type library,...

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India developing UAV similar to US Predator drone

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4705" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">India is developing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) similar to American Predator drones with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore and planning an unmanned combat vehicles, a key official involved in the project</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">UAV Rustom-2 project is spread over 66 months.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Rustom-2 would have a wing-span of 21-odd metres and an endurance of 24-hours-plus, as against seven-odd metres and 12-15 hours of Rustom-1, which has already completed five flights. ADE is the nodal lab for these projects</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Rustom-2 would have new payloads such as synthetic aperture radar, maritime patrol radar and collision avoidance system, among others.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">With its capability and the amount of payload it can carry, it (Rustom-2) compares well with (American) Predator (drones) and other class of vehicles</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Predator is a nickname given to one in a series of UAVs, or pilotless drones, operated by the Pentagon, the CIA and, increasingly, other agencies of the US federal government such as the border patrol. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

India developing UAV similar to US Predator drone

India is developing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) similar to American Predator drones with a...

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New Kyrgyz Prez to take office in Dec

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Kyrgyzstan says President-elect Almazbek Atambayev will take office on Dec. 1 in a ceremony that will mark the first ever peaceful handover of power in the former Soviet republic's two decades of independence.</span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Kyrgyzstan's first two presidents were overthrown in public uprisings. Current president Roza Otunbayeva, who wrested power from Bakiyev, earned international plaudits for agreeing to relinquish power.</span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Atambayev claimed  62.5 percent of the vote.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

New Kyrgyz Prez to take office in Dec

Kyrgyzstan says President-elect Almazbek Atambayev will take office on Dec. 1 in a ceremony that will mark the first ever peaceful handov...

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US, Germany, Japan, India as major donors to Afghan

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">India, which has made a financial aid contribution of USD 2 billion to Afghanistan, has been identified by people of the war-torn country as their fourth major donor after the US, Germany and Japan.</span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The  poll entitled "Afghanistan in 2011: A Survey of the Afghan People, which was conducted by the Washington-based think-tank Asia Foundation</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

US, Germany, Japan, India as major donors to Afghan

India, which has made a financial aid contribution of USD 2 billion to Afghanistan, has been identified by people of the war-torn country...

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Ghaziabad world’s 2nd fastest growing city

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4708" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Excessive urbanisation due to fast paced development and improvement in basic infrastructure has catapulted several Indian cities to the list of top 100 fastest-growing cites in the world.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The top 100 cities list, which has been prepared by City Mayors, a global think-tank that studies urban affairs to promote good governance, ranks Ghaziabad on the second spot followed by Surat on the fourth and Faridabad on the eighth slots respectively.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">National capital Delhi occupies the 28th position and Bangalore ranks at the 67th place in the list. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

Ghaziabad world’s 2nd fastest growing city

Excessive urbanisation due to fast paced development and improvement in basic infrastructure ha...

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Afghan, Palestinian win UN award in honour of Gandhi

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">United Nations award on tolerance and non-violence instituted in memory of Mahatma Gandhihas been instituted by renowned Indian writer and diplomat Madanjeet Singh.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Anarkali Honaryar of Afghanistan and Khaled Abu Awwad of Palestine have been awarded the USD 100,000 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence.</span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Honaryar has been honoured for her commitment to improve conditions of women and minority groups in Afghanistan and to promote the ideals of human dignity, human rights, mutual respect and tolerance.</span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Awwad is cited for his efforts to promote tolerance, peace and non-violence through his work as a peace activist and leader in the reconciliation process between Palestinians and Israelis. </span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The award ceremony will be held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on December 9 during which a special tribute will also be paid to Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi </span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Burmese democracy icon was awarded the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize in 2002.</span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize is awarded every two years to individuals or institutions for their contributions to the promotion of tolerance and non-violence.</span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The award was created in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi by Singh, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and Founder of the South Asia Foundation</span>.</span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Afghan, Palestinian win UN award in honour of Gandhi

United Nations award on tolerance and non-violence instituted in memory of Mahatma Gandhihas been instituted by renowned Indian writer an...

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European chief of IMF resigns

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Amidst deepening European economic crisis, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Europe has resigned citing personal reasons. </span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Mr. Borges, who took up his current IMF post in November 2010, will relinquish his responsibilities immediately.</span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">British-Iranian Reza Moghadam, currently Director of the Strategy, Policy, and Review Department, has been appointed as Borges successor.</span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Mr. Moghadam is being succeeded by Siddharth Tiwari, who is currently the IMF Secretary.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

European chief of IMF resigns

Amidst deepening European economic crisis, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Europe has resigned citing personal reaso...

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Top Indian players sign up for WSH despite Hockey India warning

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4711" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Notwithstanding Hockey India's diktat asking players to either stay away from the World Series Hockey or risk losing their place in the national side, the current Indian team members have signed on and received advanced payments to play in the league</span></span><br /> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> WSH is a lucrative franchise—based event organised by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Nimbus Sports. IHF is not affiliated to the FIH and the world body recognises Hockey India (HI) as the national federation</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

Top Indian players sign up for WSH despite Hockey India warning

Notwithstanding Hockey India's diktat asking players to either stay away from the World Ser...

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IBPS CLERKS BANKING AWARENESS PRACTICE MCQs

1.In context with the Banking Industry, which among the following was not a promise made by India’s Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Union Budget 2010-11?<br /> (A)To provide a sum of Rs.16,500 crore to ensure that the Public Sector Banks are able to attain a minimum 8 per cent Tier-I capital by March 31, 2011<br /> (B)To provide further capital to strengthen the RRBs<br /> (C)To give additional banking licenses to private sector players, provided they fulfill RBI requirements<br /> (D)To continue the Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme for Farmers<br /> (E)All of the above were promised<br /> Ans(D)<br /> <br /> 2.Bring out the incorrectly mentioned location:<br /> (A)Pasteur Institute of India: Coonoor<br /> (B)National TB Training Institute – Bangalore<br /> (C)Central leprosy Training & Research institute – Chengalpattu<br /> (D)Kasturba Health Society – Ahamadabad<br /> (E)National institute of Biological standardization and Quality Control, Noida<br /> Ans(D)<br /> <br /> 3.Which among the following is the most correct statement in context with Carbon footprint?<br /> (A)It is a measure of Green house gas emissions by a product<br /> (B)It is a unit under the Kyoto Protocol representing a reduction of greenhouse gases under the Joint Implementation mechanism<br /> (C)It is a administrative approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollution<br /> (D)All of above are correct<br /> (E)None of them is correct<br /> Ans(A)<br /> <br /> 4.Which among the following personalities of France had played a very important role in formation of the European Economic Community?<br /> (A)Michel Aglietta<br /> (B)Robert Marjolin<br /> (C)Daniel Cohen<br /> (D)Étienne Mantoux<br /> (E)Jean Orry<br /> Ans(B)<br /> <br /> 5.From which of the following countries, Spain has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in January 2010?<br /> (A)Denmark<br /> (B)Germany<br /> (C)Poland<br /> (D)Sweden<br /> (E)Netherlands<br /> Ans(D)<br /> <br /> 6.Who among the following was the unsuccessful challenger to Vishwanathan Anand in The World Chess Championship 2010?<br /> (A)Rustam Kasimdzhanov<br /> (B)Veselin Topalov<br /> (C)Ruslan Ponomariov<br /> (D)Vladimir Kramnik<br /> (E)None of the above<br /> Ans(B)<br /> <br /> 7.Which among the following tournament is also known as World Team Championships for Women?<br /> (A)Thomas Cup<br /> (B)Uber cup<br /> (C)Helvetia Cup<br /> (D)Spanish Open Badminton<br /> (E)None of the above<br /> Ans(B)<br /> <br /> 8.For which of the following professions National Florence NightingaleAward is conferred?<br /> (A)Architecture<br /> (B)Nursing<br /> (C)Airhostess<br /> (D)Teaching<br /> (E)None of the above<br /> Ans(B)<br /> <br /> 9.Which among the following is the core theme of Mahila Samakhya programme?<br /> (A)Health and wellness of women<br /> (B)Financial Independence of Women<br /> (C)Health and wellness adolescent girls<br /> (D)Education and empowerment of women<br /> (E)all of above<br /> Ans(D)<br /> <br /> 10.Which among the following is the objective of Mill Gate Price Scheme (MGPS)?<br /> (A)To provide all types of yarns to the handlooms weavers Organizations at the Mill Gate price<br /> (B)To provide all types of yarns to the selected large handlooms exporters at the Mill Gate price<br /> (C)To provide all types of yarns to the handlooms weavers Organizations above the Mill Gate price<br /> (D)To provide all types of assistance to the small handlooms weavers organizations to upgrade their facility to a mill<br /> (E)None of the above<br /> Ans(A)<br /> <br /> 11.Maternal Mortality Ratio is the ratio of the number of maternal deaths per ________?<br /> (A)1000 pregnant women<br /> (B)100,000 pregnant women<br /> (C)1000 live births<br /> (D)100,000 live births<br /> (E)10,000 pregnant women<br /> Ans(D)<br /> <br /> 12.By what fraction, the disbursement of credit to the agricultural sector exceeded the target in 2008-9 as per the latest economic survey 2009-10?<br /> (A)1%<br /> (B)2%<br /> (C)3%<br /> (D)4%<br /> (E)5%<br /> Ans(D)<br /> <br /> 13.Which among the following companies, will be the first to convert their opening balance sheet in compliance with the converged Indian Accounting Standards as a sequel to convergence of Indian Accounting Standards with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) from the year 2011?<br /> (A)Insurance Companies<br /> (B)All scheduled commercial banks and those urban co-operative banks (UCBs) which have a net worth in excess of Rs. 300 Crores<br /> (C)Urban co-operative banks which have a net worth in excess of Rs. 200 Crores but not exceeding Rs. 300 Crores<br /> (D)Urban co-operative banks which have a net worth not exceeding Rs. 200 Crores<br /> (E)Urban co-operative banks which have a net worth not exceeding Rs. 100 Crores<br /> Ans(A)<br /> <br /> 14.How many rivers are currently being coveredin the National River Conservation Plan?<br /> (A)22 rivers<br /> (B)26 rivers<br /> (C)33 rivers<br /> (D)38 rivers<br /> (E)42 rivers<br /> Ans(D)<br /> <br /> 15.Which among the following is not correctly matched?<br /> (A)My Truth : Indira Gandhi<br /> (B)My Days: Sunil Gavaskar<br /> (C)My India: Nihal Singh<br /> (D)My Presidential years – R Venkatraman<br /> (E)My Life My Times: V V Giri<br /> Ans(B)My Days was a book of R K Narayan<br /> <br /> 16.Which of the following dates was observed recently as National Panchayati Raj Day 2010?<br /> (A)10 April<br /> (B)14 April<br /> (C)24 April<br /> (D)30 April<br /> (E)1 May<br /> Ans(C)<br /> <br /> 17.For how many years, the Banks have been directed by the Reserve bank of India to maintain records relating to suspicious transactions?<br /> (A)5 years<br /> (B)6 years<br /> (C)8 years<br /> (D)10 years<br /> (E)12 years<br /> Ans(D)<br /> <br /> 18.At which of the following places , Bank of Baroda (BOB) established its first international branch?<br /> (A)Nairobi<br /> (B)Dar-es-Salaam<br /> (C)Kampala<br /> (D)Mombasa<br /> (E)London<br /> Ans(D)<br /> <br /> 19.In which year the Bank of Baroda entered the capital market with an Initial Public Offering (IPO)?<br /> (A)1992<br /> (B)1996<br /> (C)1997<br /> (D)1998<br /> (E)1999<br /> Ans(B)<br /> <br /> 20.Recently a joint venture between BOB, Bank of Maharastra (BOM), and Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) to set up a bank in a foreign country was in news. Which among the following is that country?<br /> (A)Singapore<br /> (B)Malaysia<br /> (C)New Zealand<br /> (D)Australia<br /> (E)South Africa<br /> Ans(B)

IBPS CLERKS BANKING AWARENESS PRACTICE MCQs

1.In context with the Banking Industry, which among the following was not a promise made by India’s Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the...

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Oman, IOR sign fishery unit pact

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Oman and the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) group signed an agreement to set up the Fisheries Support Unit (FSU) center in Muscat. </span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">On behalf of the government of Oman, Dr Hamed bin Said Al Oufy, under secretary of Fisheries Wealth at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, signed the pact while Talib bin Miran Al Raissy, chief of economic affairs, represented IOR at the signing ceremony. </span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The headquarters of the FSU will be in Muscat and it will be based in the coastal town of Al Bustan. Presently, the activities of the FSU will be conducted at the Marine Science and Fisheries Center.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Oman, IOR sign fishery unit pact

Oman and the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) group signed an agreement to set up the Fisheries Support Unit (FSU) center in Muscat. On behalf of...

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Afghan jirga

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody> <tr></tr> <tr><td colspan="2"> <div id="4680" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">President Hamid Karzai convenes a <em>loya jirga</em>,a traditional meet of elders from across Afghanistan to discuss long-term relations with the U.S. and efforts to broker peace amid the threat of violence.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Some 2,000 Afghan elders are set to gather in a giant tent for several days of talks on two of the most sensitive issues in Afghan politics, as U.S.-led combat troops start leaving before a full withdrawal in 2014 & Afghan –U.S relationships after the withdrawal of troops .</span></span><br /> </li> </ul><span style="font-size: small;">   </span></div></td></tr> </tbody></table></div>

Afghan jirga

President Hamid Karzai convenes a loya jirga ,a trad...

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Kosovo Serbs seek security under Russian umbrella

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">More than 20,000 Kosovo Serbs have asked for Russian citizenship, seeking Moscow's protection from Kosovar authorities.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> Russia, traditional Serb ally, condemned the NATO-orchestrated secession of Kosovo from Serbia and blocked a U.N. Security Council resolution in support of Kosovo's independence.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">An estimated 200,000 Serbs have fled Kosovo since it was put under U.N. control in 1999 and the remaining 100,000 Kosovo Serbs have refused to recognise the independence of Kosovo. They have been complaining of constant harassment and persecution by ethnic Albanian Kosovars.</span></span></li> </ul></div>

Kosovo Serbs seek security under Russian umbrella

More than 20,000 Kosovo Serbs have asked for Russian citizenship, seeking Moscow's protection from Kosovar authorities. Russia, tradi...

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Kvitova crowns golden year with WTA awards

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Czech Republic tennis star Petra Kvitova's astonishing year ended with her being voted by the press as the WTA player of the year on Monday.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The 21-year-old — also voted Most Improved Player — won six titles in all including Wimbledon, her first Grand Slam crown, and the end of season WTA championships and also led her country to the Fed Cup trophy at the expense of Russia.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The awards: Player Of The Year: Petra Kvitova (Cze), Doubles Team Of The Year: Kveta Peschke (Cze)/Katarina Srebotnik (Slo), Comeback Player Of The Year: Sabine Lisicki (Ger), Most Improved Player Of The Year: Petra Kvitova (Cze), Newcomer Of The Year: Irina-Camelia Begu (Rom) .</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Kvitova crowns golden year with WTA awards

Czech Republic tennis star Petra Kvitova's astonishing year ended with her being voted by the press as the WTA player of the year on ...

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National Krishi Mela begins at UAS

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The country's biggest farmers' event, the National Krishi Mela organised by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.</span></span></div></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The five-day event, in which about 10 lakh farmers are expected to participate</span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Though the Krishi Mela is organised every year, this is the first time the event is being held on a national scale.</span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The participation of all nationalised banks along with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has added a new dimension to the mela as they are set to create awareness among farmers on loan facilities available under various farm projects. </span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">As many as 236 innovative farmers will be honoured during the mela.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

National Krishi Mela begins at UAS

The country's biggest farmers' event, the National Krishi Mela organised by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. T...

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Children can claim right to education

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4685" style="display: block;"> <ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Tamil Nadu government has finally notified the rules under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.</span></span></li> </ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">With this, the State has taken an important milestone in ensuring education for all children between six and 14 years of age</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Activists , non-government organisations and members of civil society came forward with suggestions, some of which have been incorporated. These include giving more teeth to the School Management Committee and local bodies, defining ‘children belonging to disadvantaged groups and weaker sections' and providing clarity on school mapping, which is essential to identify neighbourhood schools where children can be admitted. There was some disappointment, however, that the rules do not specify the manner in which schools ought to select students from the disadvantaged groups and weaker sections in their neighbourhood, to the extent of 25 per cent of the strength of their Class I or pre-school, as required under Section 12 of the Act.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">At least 20 States have already notified their draft rules, including Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan and Delhi.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

Children can claim right to education

The Tamil Nadu government has finally notified the rules under the Right of Children to Free and C...

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Australia agrees US Marine deployment plan

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Australia has agreed to host a full US Marine task force in the coming years, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced at a news conference with US President Barack Obama in Canberra.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Abou t 250 US Marines would arrive next year, eventually being built up to 2,500 personnel.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The deployment is being seen as a move to counter China's growing influence.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Australia agrees US Marine deployment plan

Australia has agreed to host a full US Marine task force in the coming years, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced at a news confere...

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China welcomes entry of Russia, U.S. into East Asia Summit

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">China welcomes the official entry of Russia and the United States into the EAS(East Asia Summit)</span></span><br /> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The 16-member EAS was founded in 2005 and included ten countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The 6th EAS will be held in Bali, Indonesia.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

China welcomes entry of Russia, U.S. into East Asia Summit

China welcomes the official entry of Russia and the United States into the EAS(East Asia Summit) The 16-member EAS was founded in 2005 ...

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World Diabetes Day

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">As  many as 366 million people the world over suffer from diabetes.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> This disease is claiming one life every seven seconds.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">There are three main types of diabetes: </span></span><br /> <ul><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Type 1 diabetes: results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject insulin. (Also referred to as <em>insulin-dependent</em> diabetes mellitus, <em>IDDM</em> for short, and <em>juvenile</em> diabetes.)</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Type 2 diabetes: results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency. (Formerly referred to as <em>non-insulin-dependent</em> diabetes mellitus, <em>NIDDM</em> for short, and <em>adult-onset</em> diabetes.)</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Gestational diabetes: is when pregnant women, who have never had diabetes before, have a high blood glucose level during pregnancy. It may precede development of type 2 DM.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Other forms of diabetes mellitus include congenital diabetes, which is due to genetic defects of insulin secretion, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, steroid diabetes induced by high doses of glucocorticoids, and several forms of monogenic diabetes.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">All forms of diabetes have been treatable since insulin became available in 1921, and type 2 diabetes may be controlled with medications. Both type 1 and 2 are chronic conditions that usually cannot be cured. Pancreas transplants have been tried with limited success in type 1 DM; gastric bypass surgery has been successful in many with morbid obesity and type 2 DM. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after delivery. Diabetes without proper treatments can cause many complications. Acute complications include hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, or nonketotic hyperosmolar coma. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, retinal damage.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></li> </ul></div>

World Diabetes Day

As  many as 366 million people the world over suffer from diabetes.  This disease is claiming one life every seven seconds. Diabetes ...

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c. Russia's Soyuz spacecraft docks safely at International Space Station

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4689" style="display: block;"> <ul><li> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">A Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut has docked at the International Space Station.</span></span></div></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The capsule was carrying American Dan Burbank and Russians Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin, who are joining the three crew on board the ISS.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The current ISS crew of American Mike Fossum, Japan's Satoshi Furukawa and Russia's Sergei Volkov will return to Earth on November 22 and a new crew will head up from Baikonur on December 21</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

c. Russia's Soyuz spacecraft docks safely at International Space Station

A Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut has docked at the In...

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75 years on, Jim Corbett National Park goes online

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Jim Corbett National Park opened its gates to wildlife enthusiasts for a landmark season, having turned 75. To mark the platinum jubilee, a function was organised at the park’s Aam Danda gate, where Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri inaugurated a newly introduced online reservation system for visitors</span></span></div>

75 years on, Jim Corbett National Park goes online

The Jim Corbett National Park opened its gates to wildlife enthusiasts for a landmark season, having turned 75. To mark the platinum jubil...

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PM to meet Wen at ASEAN

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Ahead of the Special Representative-level talks on boundary issues ,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is set to meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Bali, Indonesia, on the sidelines of the ASEAN and East Asia summits.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The two leaders had met on the sidelines of the East Asia and Asean summits in Hanoi in 2010 </span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The meeting, which follows the first India-China strategic economic dialogue in September 2011, assumes significance in the wake of recent war of words between New Delhi and Beijing over joint oil exploration projects of India and Vietnam in the South China Sea. Then there were reports of INS Airavat being confronted by Chinese navy.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

PM to meet Wen at ASEAN

Ahead of the Special Representative-level talks on boundary issues ,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is set to meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiab...

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Rs 1 cr fine for demanding capitation fee under proposed law

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4692" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The government approved amendments to a proposed Bill to curb unfair practices in higher technical education institutes, which include raising to Rs 1 crore the fine for demanding capitation fee and provisions for grievance redressal mechanism. </span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The amendments to the Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical Educational Institutions, Medical Educational Institutions and Universities Bill, 2010 were given the nod by the Union Cabinet along with a change in the title of the Bill. </span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Bill, which was introduced in Lok Sabha in March2010, was referred to the Parliament Standing Committee on HRD, which submitted its recommendations in May 2011.The accepted ones included raising penal provisions for charging capitation fee from Rs 50 lakh to Rs one crore.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

Rs 1 cr fine for demanding capitation fee under proposed law

The government approved amendments to a proposed Bill to curb unfair practices in higher techni...

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Mamata appoints panel to bridge Teesta dispute

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4693" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Teesta water sharing problem would be solved soon, Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal, on Wednesday said that the state has appointed a committee 20 days back under water expert Kalyan Rudra, to find a solution to the issue.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Banerjee made the announcement after meeting Bangladesh foreign minister Dipu Moni.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

Mamata appoints panel to bridge Teesta dispute

The Teesta water sharing problem would be solved soon, Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West ...

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Green Infra Limited sets up its first 10 MW solar photovoltaic power plant in Gujarat

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Green Infra Limited, a renewable energy-focused power generation company owned by IDFC Private Equity has set up its first 10 MW solar photovoltaic power plant in Gujarat with an investment of Rs 130 crore.</span></span></div></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">This solar plant is expected to generate 16 million units of energy annually, supplying electricity to over 4,000 homes and saving 12,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Green Infra Limited sets up its first 10 MW solar photovoltaic power plant in Gujarat

Green Infra Limited, a renewable energy-focused power generation company owned by IDFC Private Equity has set up its first 10 MW solar p...

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Hamas and Fatah 'agree to hold elections May,2011

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="4695" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Azzam al-Ahmad, a top Fatah official, says the sides agreed to form a caretaker government to prepare for the elections. He said Salam Fayyad, the prime minister, will probably not stay in office.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The <strong>Palestinians</strong> have been divided between two governments since Hamas overran the Gaza Strip in 2007. The Fatah-led Palestinian Authority has governed only the West Bank since then.</span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Israel at the time attacked the agreement as a "great victory for terrorism". </span></span><br /> </li> <li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Fatah and Hamas, its Islamist rival, fought a brief civil war in 2007 that left deep scars on Palestinian politics. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Hamas and Fatah, the rival Palestinian factions, defied Israel on Wednesday by signing a power-sharing deal to seal a unity pact after a violent four-year feud.</span></span></li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> When it was over, the two components of the Palestinian territories effectively became separate entities, divided ideologically as well as geographically, with Gaza under Hamas and control and the West Bank in the hands of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority.</span></span></li> </ul></div></div>

Hamas and Fatah 'agree to hold elections May,2011

Azzam al-Ahmad, a top Fatah official, says the sides agreed to form a caretaker government to p...

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