Inspirational News: 24th November 2010 (Wednesday)

India's JSW buys Canadian coal company

India Inc. made yet another foray into the resource rich Canadian market with JSW Energy buying the Canadian coal company CIC Energy for $ 422 million, thereby giving it a significant foothold in the lucrative coal sector in southern Africa.

JSW joins Aditya Birla Group, Vedanta and the Tata Group in entering Canada in the past two to three years.The deal at $ 7.42 a share has been given the green signal by the board of CIC Energy, which is listed in both Toronto and Botswana in southern Africa. In Botswana, CIC Energy operates the Mmamabula coal and power station project.
More: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/indias-jsw-buys-canadian-coal-company/135760-2.html

CBI asked to state reasons for seeking Swami Asimanand's custody

A court in Hyderabad today asked the CBI to state the reasons for seeking the custody of Swami Asimanand, an accused in the 2007 Mecca Masjid bomb blast case, after the defence opposed its plea on the ground that the agency had already questioned him and did not specify any reasons for his further interrogation.

Opposing the CBI's application to further interrogate Asimanand, his advocate JB Chinna Kesava Rao told the XIV Additional chief metropolitan magistrate court that his client had already been interrogated for two days after being arrested by the CBI on November 19

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_cbi-asked-to-state-reasons-for-seeking-swami-asimanand-s-custody_1471446

Russia to spend $2 billion to clean outer space

Russia will build a special orbital pod worth $2 billion that would sweep up satellite debris from space around the Earth.

Every year, the space near Earth becomes more and more densely populated with used satellites and their debris, and the new system - estimated to cost about 60 billion rubles ($1.9 billion) - would help clean it up, Xinhua reported citing Russia's Rocket and Space Corporation, also known as Energia.

More: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/russia-to-spend-2-billion-to-clean-outer-space-68237

China shuts down 60,000 porn sites

China has shut down over 60,000 websites for their pornographic content since the government launched a crackdown in December 2009, an official statement has said.

The National Office against Pornographic and Illegal Publications said some 1.7 million websites have also been checked since the launch of the campaign, according to the China Daily.

More: http://www.zeenews.com/news670066.html

Inspirational News: 23rd November 2010 (Tuesday)

Indian scientists hoist Tricolour at South Pole

Braving sub-zero temperatures and chilly winds, a team of Indian scientists on Monday hoisted the tricolour at the South Pole after a treacherous nine-day expedition.

“We feel at the top of the world at the bottom here,” Rasik Ravindra, Director of the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), told a tele-conference from the South Pole on Monday evening.

The eight-member team of scientists and technicians raised the tri-colour at the South Pole at 0130 IST on Monday, the first Indian scientific team to do so.

MORE: http://www.dailypioneer.com/298376/Indian-scientists-hoist-Tricolour-at-South-Pole.html

It's Uttar Pradesh government’s primary duty to save Ganga from pollution: Allahabad high court

The Allahabad high court today said it was the primary duty of the Uttar Pradesh government to save river Ganga from pollution and directed it to file an affidavit on steps taken by it to make contaminated water fit for use in agriculture.

A division bench asked the state government to inform the court about the measures taken by it to purify effluents discharged from industrial units across the state, especially those located along the river Ganga.

MORE: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_it-s-uttar-pradesh-government-s-primary-duty-to-save-ganga-from-pollution-allahabad-high-court_1470572

Dalai Lama honoured with doctorate at Jamia

The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of six millions Tibetans and a global icon of peace and inter-faith harmony, was Tuesday conferred an honorary doctorate by Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia, a government-funded central university with a 90-year-old rich history. The honour had the nod of the Indian government.

The university vice chancellor, Najeeb Jung, awarded the degree to the Dalai Lama in the presence of Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and thousands of students and members of the faculty, besides diplomats and leading lights, at the university campus.

MORE: http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/Dalai-Lama-honoured-with-doctorate-at-Jamia/Article1-630063.aspx

UK to send students to India for better skills

British students could soon sit and study alongside Indians in lecture halls at universities in India as part of plans to make UK students more employable by giving them international experience of living in other countries. There is much hand-wringing among Britain's education leaders and employers who seek to expand abroad but find that students here do not know the language and other life skills to live and function outside UK.

There are several student exchange programmes allowing British students to spend a period of time to study abroad, particularly in European universities, but there is less enthusiasm among the students.
MORE: http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/europe/UK-to-send-students-to-India-for-better-skills/Article1-581177.aspx

Orissa sculptor creates 15-foot Buddha in Berlin

Orissa's Sudarsan Patnaik has created a 15 feet high image of Buddha in sand as his entry in an international sand sculpture championship in Berlin, the artist said on Friday. The artist who belongs to Orissa's Puri city, some 56 km from here created the image of the sitting Buddha for the 2nd United Sand Festival (USF) World Solo Sand Sculpture Championship 2009 held June 4-11 in the German capital.

MORE: http://www.hindustantimes.com/indians-abroad/artsandentertainment/Orissa-sculptor-creates-15-foot-Buddha-in-Berlin/Article1-420724.aspx

Inspirational News: 22nd November 2010 (Monday)

India in top 4 among B-school destinations:
That the US and the UK are the most popular destinations for management studies is not big news. But the findings of a survey conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which conducts GMAT, a B-school entrance test used globally, have thrown up some surprises. Number 4 on the list of the Top 10 preferred destinations for B-school aspirants is India, with Canada at No. 3. Israel and Spain are the other surprise entrants.

According to experts, India's foray into the elite league has a lot to do with the emergence of institutions such as the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, which was ranked No. 12 globally in the Financial Times ( London) Global MBA rankings earlier this year. The IIMs, which use GMAT as an entrance test for their executive MBA programmes, are also responsible for India's popularity.

 Full News: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-in-top-4-among-B-school-destinations/articleshow/6966636.cms


2 mountain divisions to counter China
With China's "assertive" behaviour showing no signs of abating, India is fast-tracking new troop formations for the North-East. Apart from the two new infantry divisions, this includes the interesting experiment of new Arunachal and Sikkim Scouts battalions.

Defence ministry officials said the two fresh infantry mountain divisions, with 1,260 officers and 35,011 soldiers, should be "fully-operational with specialised equipment" by next year. Similarly, the first battalion of Arunachal Scouts

Full News: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2-mountain-divisions-to-counter-China/articleshow/6966941.cms

4 Indian-Americans among 32 US Rhodes Scholars for 2011
Four Indian-American students have been selected for the Rhodes Scholarships for 2011 for studying at the University of Oxford, the award which is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship".

Full News: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/4-indianamericans-among-32-us-rhodes-scholars-for-2011/714493/

PM all praise for Sai Baba's services

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday said he was deeply impressed by the services rendered by spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba in education, healthcare, water supply and other areas.

Addressing the 29th convocation ceremony of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, the prime minister said the works undertaken at the institute were an example for others.

http://www.zeenews.com/news669720.html

 

Onam celebrated for the first time in House of Commons

Onam, Kerala's biggest festival was celebrated for the first time in Britain's House of Commons. The two-hour celebration, with a display of Kerala's art forms followed by a delicious Onam feast, was attended by several prominent people including Indian-origin Labour MP, Keith Vaz, Virendra Sharma, Labour MP, Stephen Timms, MP and Stephen Hammond, MP.

George Raju, Second Secretary (Economic) of the Indian High Commission, read out a message from the High Commissioner Nalin Surie.

Full News: http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/europe/Onam-celebrated-for-the-first-time-in-House-of-Commons/Article1-599289.aspx

 

 

Inspirational News: 19th November 2010

1200 Indian Sikh pilgrims to celebrate 541st Guru Nanak birth anniversary in Pak

About 1200 Indian Sikh pilgrims have left for Pakistan to attend the 541st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the first spiritual leader of the Sikh Community, at Nankana Sahib in Sheikhupura District, even as the Pakistan Government denied visas to 250 Sikh pilgrims.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) has sent this jatha under the leadership of Sawinder Singh Dogalia.
Around 10,000 Sikh devotees are expected to attend the anniversary celebrations

Full News: http://www.samachar.com/1200-Indian-Sikh-pilgrims-to-celebrate-541st-Guru-Nanak-birth-anniversary-in-Pak-kltmLngjiia.html

Karnataka Ayurveda University gets Centre’s nod

Union minister for medical education SA Ramadass said that the proposal had been pending for five years. “The Rajiv Gandhi University for Health Sciences already has a department for Ayurveda. This will, however, be the first time that an entire university would be dedicated to Ayurveda,” said Ramadass

Full News: http://www.samachar.com/Karnataka-Ayurveda-University-gets-Centres-nod-kltmLkhbeda.html?source=recommended_news

Ratan Tata takes part in Sai Baba 85th b'day celebrations

Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata participated in the 85th birthday celebrations of Sathya Sai Baba here, where 85 couples entered into wedlock at a mass marriage ceremony.

Full News: http://www.samachar.com/Ratan-Tata-takes-part-in-Sai-Baba-85th-bday-celebrations-klsuKuefegi.html

India can be richer than China: US economist

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/india-can-be-richer-than-china-us-economist/134189-3.html?from=tn

New Delhi: Indians could grow wealthier than the Chinese in the next 30 years if the government brings in fundamental changes, starting with clear property rights to farmers, says a renowned American economist.

"When I say India would be richer than China in 2040, I don't necessarily mean India's GDP (gross domestic product) would be bigger," said Derek Scissors, fellow at the Asian Studies Centre at The Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based conservative think tank.

"What I mean is household wealth of Indians would be bigger than that of the Chinese if the right policies are adopted," Scissors, who was here to deliver a lecture at the invitation of the Aspen Institute India, said in an interview.

The senior research fellow, who focuses his studies on the economies of China and India, said the key to increasing wealth of Indians lay in granting property rights to farmers.

"The original and vital aspect of China's economic progress was the granting of a very specific set of property rights to the farmers in the 1970s. That was the trigger. Agricultural productivity just absolutely soared," he said.

In comparison, India has about 70 per cent of its population in farms still producing much lower than potential.

"By property rights, I mean the economic definition, which is not to say that Indian farmers do not have rights, but the extent of these are totally unclear," said Scissors, also the adjunct professor at George Washington University.

"The land registration act, the state ownership of resources, the contest over title that undermines Indian agricultural productivity," he added.

Indian agriculture largely consists of small farmers, who are either working as tenants on other big farms or have marginal holdings, which curb productivity.

Scissors was also critical of some of the rural population-centric, state-run social welfare programmes like the national rural employment scheme. He said such initiatives make the beneficiaries dependent on doles rather than be independent.

"That's not the way to create wealth that is a way to perpetuate the power of the government. It may have some political advantages, but they are myopic because you are not solving the problem of rural poverty. You are just alleviating it temporarily. It's a bandage solution," said Scissors.

"These are poor substitutes. That's what you do; you make farmers into permanent dependents of the state. What you want is farmers to create wealth for themselves."

Scissors said the granting of property rights would also resolve another serious, growing concern -- the acquisition of land by companies for various industrial and infrastructure projects.

"If farmers want to take their land out of circulation because some companies have great projects, let them get paid a lot of money. Farmers own the land. Just have a bargaining process, where I own the land and you are making me an offer I want, yes, then I will take it. And if you are not, then you are out of luck," said Scissors.

The other two key areas in which Scissors would like to see changes are infrastructure and education.

"Infrastructure will develop and flourish in India, if there is a clear set of titles and a clear set of people who are to be compensated and not just everyone sticking their hands in the till."

Though India has a number of programmes to widen the reach of primary and secondary education, Scissors said, the country needs to implement and monitor these in letter and spirit to ensure their effectiveness.

"If you get people who do not have to work on the farm, because agricultural productivity is higher, give them a secondary school education, they can move into manufacturing. Their wages will rise and India will have the capacity to have a flood of export income."