Tuesday, 29 April 2014

Russia assures America, not to invade Ukraine

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Apr 29,  11:07 AM
Russia has assured America that it will not invade Ukraine, with the US warning that continued aggression would isolate the country further and result in more diplomatic and economic pressure.
US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, who made a call to his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoygu yesterday, also emphasised that any diplomatic engagement must include the government of Ukraine.
Pentagon Press Secretary, Rear Admiral John Kirby said, Hagel repeated his call for an end to Russia’s destabilising influence inside Ukraine and warned that continued aggression would further isolate Russia and result in more diplomatic and economic pressure .
According to Kirby, Shoygu reiterated his assurance that Russian forces would not invade Ukraine to Hagel.
Earlier in the day, Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham said the Obama Administration’s latest round of sanctions is days late and dollars short.


 

Five rail ticketing solutions of the future

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Total Rail
DearN.K,

What we’re talking about this week:

  • Frontman James Murphy Subway Symphony campaign
  • How customer feedback can develop operations 
  • How will the future tube strikes cope without Bob Crow?
  • Guest post: Will HS2 ruin the UK rail network?
  • Five rail ticketing solutions of the future 
LCS Soundsystem James Murphy Subway Symphony campaign

Frontman James Murphy Subway Symphony campaign

Fifteen years ago former lead singer of LCD Soundsytem, James Murphy, found himself inspired to revolutionise the sound of the Subway in New York, after becoming some what disgruntled with the generic beeping…
customer feedback develop operations

How customer feedback can develop operations

 How can customer feedback develop and grow rail operations?
Our guest blogger, Kevin McNally, Director of Driven Transport Solutions Ltd tells us what he found out at a roundtable at this year’s Metro Rail event…
Bob Crow

How will the future tube strikes cope without Bob Crow?

 Londoners face even more disruption to their travel in the coming weeks, as RMT union members hold future tube strikes. The union plan to walk out tonight at 9 pm, and shall return, hopefully, on Thursday morning. A second strike has also been proposed for May …
hs2 full line map uk network

Guest Post: Will HS2 ruin the UK rail network?

Will HS2 mean billions more rail funding for the UK rail network or the closure of many lines and stations?
As the DfT must well know HS2 will be such a leach on the existing network that either billions more subsidy will be …
Future ticketing solutions

Five rail ticketing solutions of the future

The rail industry is an established field, which has meant that development and key changes have sometimes taking longer to come through. However, there has been a recent influx of new ideas, which has made way for future rail ti cketing solutions. We have explored the top five changes…


 

News Box

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LS polls: 89 seats in 7th phase to go to polls tomorrow
 

LS polls: 89 seats in 7th phase to go to polls tomorrow<br />
7th phase of polling with 89 Lok Sabha constituencies across 7 states and two union territories to vote tomorrow. Voting will also take place in 119 Assembly Constituencies in Andhra Pradesh simultaneously. Polling will begin at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm except in some sensitive areas in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh where it will end at 4 pm. In some other areas in Andhra Pradesh, polling will end at 5 pm.

Of the Lok Sabha contituencies going to the polls tomorrow, 26 are in Gujarat, 17 in Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, all 13 constituencies in Punjab, 9 in West Bengal, 7 in Bihar and one each in Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

Political fortune of over 1,000 candidates will be decided at the hustings. Prominent among them are Sonia Gandhi, Madhusudan Mistry, Capt Amarinder Singh, Sriprakash Jaiswal and Shankarsinh Vaghela all Congress, Narendra Modi, L.K. Advani, Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti of BJP, Sharad Yadav of JDU and Farooq Abdullah of National Conference. 

With this, only two more phases of polling is left to complete the election process. 64 Lok Sabha constituencies in 7 states and 175 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh will vote on May 7 and the remaining 41 Lok Sabha constituencies in 3 statates will vote on May 12. Counting will be taken up on May 16.

In Andhra Pradesh, all arrangements are in place for tomorrow’s polling in 17 Lok Sabha and 119 Assembly Constituencies in Telangana region. About 2 crore 82 lakh voters will vote at 30 thousand 518 polling stations set up in 10 districts of the region.

Arrangements have been made for live-webcasting from 17 thousand polling stations located at difficult and sensitive areas.

Screens have been arranged at all important places including major Panchayats to maintain transparency of poll process.
Tornadoes in US kills at least 29

Violent weather in US kills at least 29
Tornadoes in US kills at least 29
Americans in the southern and eastern US braced for more violent weather on Tuesday after a string of tornadoes and other storms killed at least 29 people, news reports said
Some 75 million people were at risk from storms that could unleash hail, winds and twisters on the affected regions, according to the National Weather Service.The toll from two days of violent weather reached at least 29 yesterday in at least six states, the news channel and other media reported.
After violent weather on Sunday that killed 17, most of them in Arkansas, the new deaths included eight in Mississippi on Monday, the news channel reported, quoting the state emergency management agency.
The governors of Alabama and Georgia declared state-wide emergencies. In the Mississippi town of Louisville, the storm snapped trees in half and stripped them of their branches.
Sheet metal twisted itself around road signs and tree trunks, the news channel reported.
Mississippi Senator Giles Ward hunkered down in a bathroom with his wife, four other family members and their dog Monday as a tornado destroyed his two-story brick house and flipped his son-in-law’s SUV upside down.
“It’s about as awful as anything we’ve gone through,” the network quoted Ward as saying.
In the hardest-hit parts of Arkansas, emergency crews intensified their search for survivors of Sunday’s twisters.
Dozens of Arkansas National Guard troops were assisting local authorities with medical evacuations, fresh water deliveries and search and rescue operations.
In the town of Vilonia, police chief Brad McNew said the town of 4,000 had been rendered unrecognisable.
“It’s houses completely down to the foundations,” he told NBC television. Rescuers used searchlights in blacked-out areas Sunday night, sifting through mountains of rubble in the hopes of finding someone alive.
The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management said 14 people had been killed in the state.
McNew said more would have been killed if not for emergency sirens that warned people the twister was about to hit.

Macedonia’s disputed elections ‘efficient and orderly’


European election monitors on Monday described Macedonia’s parliamentary and presidential elections as “efficient and orderly,” but said campaigning before the vote did not create a level playing field for all. The ruling conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, led by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, won both votes held in the ex-Yugoslav republic on Sunday. The main opposition party, the center-left SDSM party, said it would not recognize the results, Reuters reported. Its leader, Zoran Zaev, said there were “threats and blackmails and massive buying of voters.” The ruling party said the allegations were an attempt by the opposition to manipulate public opinion.

Top British diplomat arrives in Iran for talks


The most senior British diplomat to visit Iran since the sacking of Britain’s embassy in 2011 arrived in Tehran on Monday, the Foreign Office said. Political director Simon Gass would discuss bilateral and international issues with Iranian officials, AFP reported. Gass, who is Britain’s lead negotiator in talks on Iran’s nuclear program, was Britain’s ambassador in Tehran between 2009 and 2011. As ties between the two states recently warmed, the newly-named non-resident charges d’affaires made a series of trips between Tehran and London.

UK, France send 8 fighter jets for NATO patrols over Baltic


Britain and France deployed eight fighter jets on Monday to reinforce NATO air patrols over the Baltics, AFP reported. Four British Typhoon jets arrived in Lithuania to start their mission while four French Rafale jets touched down in Malbork, northeast Poland. The move will “provide reassurance to our NATO allies in eastern Europe and the Baltic states” in the wake of recent events in Ukraine, British Defense Minister Philip Hammond said. Around 70 French military personnel have been deployed to Malbork in support of the new planes.

Romania to raise defense ministry budget by $217mn


Romania will raise the defense ministry’s 2014 budget by $217.41 million, or 0.2 percent of national output, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said Monday. As tensions continue to build in neighboring Ukraine, Romania has agreed a fiscal budget deficit target of 2.2 percent of gross domestic product this year under the terms of a 4-billion-euro aid deal led by the International Monetary Fund, Reuters said. Higher defense spending would raise the ceiling, as would government plans to slash employer taxes to the social insurance budget.

9 terror suspects detained in Malaysia


Nine suspected Malaysian militants were detained Monday for allegedly planning to carry out terrorist acts in the country and abroad, AP reported. The nine, aged between 25 and 55, were arrested Monday in several locations near Kuala Lumpur and in northern Kedah state bordering Thailand, according to national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar. They are believed to have links with terrorist cells abroad.

3 boys killed in blast in Pakistan’s Karachi


A blast killed three boys aged between 10 and 12 at a religious seminary in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi on Monday, AFP reported. The explosion, which targeted a Sunni Muslim seminary in the impoverished western district of Orangi also wounded six others, said a senior local police official, Javed Alam Odho. The police were trying to ascertain whether it was a planted bomb or a hand grenade that had been thrown. Nobody has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

Assad to run for third term as Syria president


Syrian President Bashar Assad has formally submitted his nomination to seek a third term in office, the speaker of parliament said on Monday. In a letter submitted to the constitutional court, Assad said he wished to nominate himself for the post of president of the republic, hoping that parliament will endorse it, Reuters reported. The election is due to be held in early June.

22 killed in attack on C.Africa MSF hospital – reports


At least 22 people including three staff members of medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres were reportedly killed during a weekend attack by gunmen on a Central African hospital. “Armed men from the ex-Seleka [rebel group] and of Fula ethnicity on Saturday afternoon attacked a hospital supported by MSF in the region of Nanga Boguila, killing at least 22 people,” an officer from the MISCA peacekeeping force told AFP on Monday. Those killed included three Central African employees of MSF. The attack also left a dozen wounded.

Taiwan police uses water cannon against anti-nuclear protesters


Taiwan police on Monday used water cannon to disperse hundreds of overnight sit-in demonstrators, demanding the scrapping of a nearly completed nuclear power plant, AFP reported. Tens of thousands of demonstrators blockaded one of the busiest streets in the capital Sunday, forcing the ruling Kuomintang party to yield and halt construction work at the plant as the issue has gripped the island for 30 years. The concession by the government led to a large number of demonstrators leaving the area in Taipei, but hundreds remained. A Kuomintang spokesman said Sunday that reactor one would be sealed for storage, and construction of reactor two would be terminated.

Bangladesh storm leaves at least 9 dead


A severe storm left at least nine people dead and about 1,000 homeless after hitting northern Bangladesh overnight, AFP reported. The storm destroyed homes and wrecked rice paddy fields in northern Netrokona district close to the border with India. Up to 20 people were injured, including one whose condition is very critical, officials said.

IAEA experts to visit Iran nuclear sites next week – reports


A team of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts will visit two of Iran’s nuclear sites within the next week, as part of a monitoring process, AFP said. Inspectors will travel to the Ardakan yellow-cake production plant and the Saghand uranium mine, located close together around 450km from Tehran, IRNA news agency reported Tuesday. The trip is in line with a seven-step plan agreed between Iran and IAEA in February to increase transparency over Tehran’s nuclear activities.

Turkey to seek extradition of cleric Gulen from US


Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday Turkey will begin a legal process for the extradition of US-based Islamic cleric, Fethullah Gulen, Reuters said. Erdogan accuses his former ally and now arch-foe of orchestrating a campaign to unseat him. Asked if a legal process would be launched for the extradition of Gulen, Erdogan said: “Yes, it will begin.”

Islamic State of Iraq claims attack that killed 25 in Kurdish town


An Al-Qaeda spin-off group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in a Kurdish town that killed at least 25 people the previous day, AP reported. The Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) claimed the attack in a post on one of its Twitter accounts. The bombing in the town of Khanaqin in the Diyala province northeast of Baghdad also wounded 35 people. The bomber blew himself up among a group of Kurds celebrating the appearance on local TV of Iraq’s ailing president, Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, who has been in Germany since 2012.

Yemen launches major offensive ‘to uproot Al-Qaeda’ from 2 provinces


Yemeni forces have launched an operation to drive Al-Qaeda fighters out of southern towns, the military said on Tuesday. Last week, air strikes killed nearly 60 militants in the area. After being forced out from major cities in Abyan in 2012, Al-Qaeda jihadists established strongholds in the Arabian Peninsula, in the provinces of Abyan and Shabwa. Government forces clashed on Tuesday with Islamist gunmen in the Lahmar area and near Al-Saeed as militants confronted advancing government forces. “There has been an official decision to uproot Al-Qaeda from Abyan and Shabwa,” said Hussein al-Wuhayshi, a leader of the Popular Committees armed groups that fought alongside government forces.

Egypt: Brotherhood chief, 682 others sentenced to death
 
Egypt: Brotherhood chief, 682 others sentenced to death
Muslim Brotherhood chief Mohamed Badie and his 682 Islamist supporters were on Monday sentenced to death by an Egyptian court in one of the country’s largest mass trials, raising fears of tension ahead of next month’s crucial Presidential elections.
The convicts were accused of involvement in killings and attempted murder of policemen in the southern Minya province on August 14, the day when security forces violently disbanded sit-ins held by ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi’s supporters and killed hundreds of them in clashes in Cairo.In a separate case, the same court in Minya today reversed 492 death sentences out of 529 it passed last month, commuting most of the death penalty to life in prison. Judge Said Youssef referred his ruling on the 683 death sentences to the Grand Mufti, Egypt’s top Islamic authority.
Under Egyptian law, the verdicts must be ratified by the Grand Mufti before they can be carried out. The court has set June 21 for the final verdict after the Grand Mufti’s decision, a move widely considered a formality. The law allows the verdicts to be appealed.
If 70-year-old Badie’s sentence is confirmed, it would make him the most senior Brotherhood figure sentenced to death since one of the group’s leading ideologues, Sayed Qutb, was executed in 1966.
Badie, a white-bearded professor, became supreme guide of Egypt’s largest movement in 2010. He had condemned the removal of president Morsi by the Egyptian military in July last year.
Of the 683 accused sentenced today, about 50 are in custody while the rest are either out on bail or on the run. A lawyer said the hearing lasted only eight minutes. Defence lawyers branded the hearing “farcical”. Several woman relatives of the accused waiting outside the courtroom fainted on hearing news of the death penalty. A large crowd chanted: “Where is the justice?”, BBC reported.
Morsi belongs to the Brotherhood, an Islamist movement which swept all elections in Egypt following the fall of military dictator Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Morsi’s term was marked with political uncertainty and violence in a deeply polarised country that ultimately led to his ouster by the powerful military.
Some 16,000 people have been arrested since the military ousted Morsi, including most of the Brotherhood’s top leaders. Brotherhood has been designated a terrorist group by Egypt’s military-backed regime, blaming it for a series of bombings and attacks. The group has denied the accusations.
Egypt has been in political turmoil since the overthrow of Mubarak during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. Analysts said today’s verdict could raise tension as Egypt heads to presidential polls on May 26-27 in which former Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is the leading contender.


 

INDIA SPORTS 2014 6-8 Nov, 2014

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INDIA SPORTS 2014
6-8 Nov, 2014
Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi

We are pleased to inform you that the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports along with FICCI would be organizing the first edition of INDIA SPORTS from 6-8 Nov, 2014 at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi. India Sports 2014 would be organized as a Sports Festival in New Delhi and will have the following activities under the India Sports 2014 banner:

1.       INDIA SPORTS EXPO 2014: An International exhibition on Sports goods, Fitness equipment’s, Sports apparels & Shoes etc
2.       INDIA SPORTS TURF: An International Conference on the Sports sector
3.       BUYER SELLER MEET: Organized by Sports Goods Export Promotion Council, Ministry of Commerce.
4.       INDIA SPORTS CUP 2014: A Sports Tournament to be organized
5.       INDIA SPORTS Fashion Show: A Fashion Show to be organized for the Sports Apparel. To be organized either at exhibition venue or at the Networking Dinner in the evening for exhibitors, buyers.
6.       Product Launch Forum- Exhibitors can Launch their products at the Product Launch Forum at the exhibition
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
The event is shaping up really well with respect to keen interest shown by the Indian and International Sports equipment manufacturers. We are hopeful that the event would create a benchmark and would be established as an event of world class level. India Sports 2014 would be one of its kind event in India which would not only help in uplifting the Indian Sports goods manufacturers who can showcase their products to the Indian & International Buyers but also would be a platform where the Sportsperson will get to see the best Sports & Fitness equipment’s & apparel, best International practices, with which the level of performance can be enhanced.

We look forward to your participation at this mega event and block the prime exhibition spaces available at the earliest.

with warm regards,

ficci new logo.JPGRavi Verma | Research Associate
Industry’s Voice for Policy Change



 

Change.org

29042014
From your friends
Your Facebook friends are creating change by supporting petitions from around the world. Join them.
raymond fernandez
raymond fernandez, anirudh NG and 1 other friend signed:
Bhupinder Singh Hooda: Stop the persecution & harassment of Dr Ashok Khemka!!

Bhupinder Singh Hooda: Stop the persecution & harassment of Dr Ashok Khemka!!

by Sucheta Dalal | 19,597 supporters
Make your voice heard!  Tell the Haryana Government that you will not allow an honest IAS officer to be persecuted! Drop the dubious chargesheet and CAG inquiry immediately. Dr Ashok Khemka has remained dedicated to the task of serving the people of…
Sign this petition


 

Morning Post

29042014

गुजरात से सबसे अधिक रेवन्यू मिलने के बावजूद DD ने मुझे ब्लैकआउट किया था: मोदी

भारतीय जनता पार्टी की ओर से प्रधानमंत्री पद के उम्मीदवार नरेंद्र मोदी का इंटरव्यू यूं तो एक के बाद एक निजी चैनल पर दिखाया जा रहा है…


सहारा ने मिंट के पत्रकार पर दायर 200 करोड़ का केस वापस लिया
हिन्दुस्तान टाइम्स  के बिजनेस अखबार मिंट के पत्रकार तमल बंधोपाध्याय की किताब ‘सहाराः द अनटोल्ड स्टोरी’के खिलाफ सहारा ग्रुप ने अपना केस वापस ले लिया है।


वृंदावन की कंपनी लॉन्च करेंगी चैनल ‘न्यूज 30′, मीडियागुरु से लिया लाइसेंस
भक्ति चैनल चलाने वाले स्नेह ब्रॉडकास्टिंग नेटवर्क्स ने अब खबरों की दुनिया में भी उतरने का मन बनाया है…


डेन में पहुंचे गौरव टिकू, बने जनरल मैनेजर-ब्रेंड
डिजिटल केबल और ब्रॉडबेंड कंपनी डेन नेटवर्क्स लिमिट़िड ने  बी2बी बिजनेस से लीडिंग कंज्यूमर फेसिंग कंपनी बनने की दिशा में कार्य को तेजी देने के लिए कंपनी में जनरल मैनेजर, ब्रेंड के पद पर गौरव टिकू को नियुक्त किए जाने की घोषणा की है।


जल्द ही लॉन्च होगा ‘न्यूज फर्स्ट टीवी’, रवि शर्मा-चंदन प्रताप सिंह-सलीम सैफी जुड़े

जल्द ही लॉन्च होने वाले नए चैनल ‘न्यूज फर्स्ट टीवी’ में भर्तियों का सिलसिला जारी है। इसी ताजा क्रम में वरिष्ठ टीवी पत्रकार सलीम सैफी ने न्यूज फर्स्ट टीवी को जॉइन किया है…


‘ये रिश्ता क्या कहलाता है’ के ‘महाराज’ की मोटापे के चलते हुई मौत

टीवी सीरियल ‘ये रिश्ता क्या कहलाता है’ में महाराज, ‘रामायण’ में कुंभकर्ण और ‘अलीफ-लैला’ में जिन्न की भूमिका निभाने वाले मशहूर टीवी कलाकार राकेश दीवाना का निधन हो गया है…


इंग्लिश मूवीज के मामले में सोनी पिक्स ने दूसरों को पछाडा
टैम की इस साल 16वें हफ्ते की रेटिंग के मुताबिक इंग्लिश मूवी चैनल सोनी पिक्स टॉप पर रहा। 16वें हफ्ते में चैनल को 19.8 रेटिंग प्राप्त हुईं।



 

Sustainability Linked to Responsible Governance

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WW Color Logo_Green Blue
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, April 28, 2014
 
Contact: Supriya Kumar, skumar@worldwatch.org, (+1) 202-745-8092, ext. 510
 
          Sustainability Linked to Responsible Governance
        
State of the World 2014 
calls for bottom-up pressure and greater government accountability 
Washington, D.C.—Citizens who expect their governments to lead on sustainability have been badly disappointed in recent years. From largely ineffectual international climate conferences to the failure to pass meaningful U.S. climate legislation, governments’ progress has often been lackluster. Leadership has come from the bottom up rather than the top down. Action on climate change, species loss, inequity, and other crises is being driven by citizens’, women’s, and grassroots movements around the world, often in opposition to the agendas pursued by governments and big corporations.

State of the World 2014, which marks the Worldwatch Institute’s 40th anniversary, examines what Governing for Sustainability really means. Contributing authorshighlight the responsibility of political and economic actors to achieve sustainability, emphasizing the strength of citizens to make significant sustainability changes and showing why effective governance systems need to be inclusive and participatory, allowing members to have a voice in the collective decision making.

“Governments today cannot consistently control themselves because they are decimated by a plague of corruption that devours the public interest in virtually every political system,” says David Orr, Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics at Oberlin College and State of the World 2014 contributing author. “Effective government, in its various forms, will require an alert, informed, ecologically literate, thoughtful, and empathic citizenry.”

In this edition, contributing authors examine the potential for improving governance by analyzing a variety of trends, such as local and regional climate initiatives, energy democracy, and corporate responsibility. They argue that sustainability depends on action in both the economic and political spheres. Financial industries need to serve as public stewards again. Unions can help ensure that the transition to sustainability is socially just. Most importantly, citizens must take responsibility and empower themselves.

“Ultimately, it seems to us, all governance begins with individuals in communities. Humans are no more isolated actors in politics than they are the independent molecules of mainstream economic theory,” says State of the World 2014 co-director Tom Prugh.

“Pressure to improve governance, at every level, can come only from awakened individuals, acting together, dedicated to making their communities sustainable places,” adds State of the World 2014 co-director Michael Renner. “From there, it may be possible to build communities in a way that affords every person on Earth a safe and fulfilling place to live, and offers future generations the same prospect.”

State of the World 2014‘s findings are being disseminated to a wide range of stakeholders, including government ministries, community networks, business leaders, and the nongovernmental environmental and development communities. For more information on the project, visit


 

Rotary Club supports ‘Knowledge Without Boundaries’ project

29042014

Galvanizes eminent partners—Britannica, Tree of Knowledge, The Hindu, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan—to prepare school students for the 21st Century
Chennai April 29, 2014 
Five leading organisations have joined hands to launch a nation-wide program for significantly enriching and improving learning outcomes of school students in India and preparingthem to be a part of the global, knowledge-based, economy.
‘Knowledge without Boundaries’, the program galvanized by Rotary Club of Madras East, brings together knowledge providers – Encyclopaedia Britannica India, Tree of Knowledge,The Hindu – and schools run by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
The program targets Corporations and Government schools so that the children in these schools also benefit. Schools under Bhavan’s Chennai Kendra will also be part of the programme.
Rotarian N Sudhakar, President, Rotary Club of Madras East said, “Rotary is known for its path breaking community services and literacy projects. Our team felt the need for comprehensive development in today’s children through General Knowledge, Debating Skills and Quiz Programs. We are touched by the offers from like-minded organizations, for pooling strengths and resources, to improve knowledge and communication beyond learning in the class room.”
Rotarian S. S. Rajsekar, Coordinator, “Knowledge without Boundaries” said, “Today India needs leaders who can become role models for the younger generation. Rotary has always acted as a catalyst in such pursuits while involving credible and capable partners to achieve such objectives. The coming together of credible partners will help bridge the gap and nurture the future leaders.”
Mr. Jorge Cauz, President of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc, was present at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between The Hindu and Encyclopaedia Britannica as well as the Letter of Understanding, by five organisations, in Chennai last week.
As a part of the ‘Knowledge without Boundaries’ program aseries of knowledge enhancement initiatives including introduction of quiz programs, induction of computer aided games for building vocabulary, knowledge and laboratory sessions to improve spoken English will be undertaken.
To empower teachers extensive teacher-training programmes are envisaged, that will improve the all-round development of students. Encyclopaedia Britannica India will provide inputs that will enable teachers to introduce inquiry-based learning and new pedagogy techniques.
Encyclopaedia Britannica Managing Director South Asia Mr. Sarvesh Shrivastava said, “Knowledge without boundaries is all about providing students and teachers with resources that promote exploratory and experiential learning, evoke interest, and develop critical thinking skills amongst young learners.”
To enhance the reach and to widen the impact of this initiative, Britannica has agreed to allow the translation of its ‘Know for Sure’ general knowledge book series authored by the ace quiz master Siddhartha Basu for class I to VIII,in various Indian languages.
Well known quiz master and ‘Tree of Knowledge’ founder Mr. Siddhartha Basu said, “The inclusion of a general knowledge component, that goes beyond textbooks and rote learning, to spark an enthusiasm for better all round awareness among young learners, during their formative years in school, is indeed laudable.”
Extending his support to the program The Hindu Editor-in-Chief Mr N Ravi said, “The Hindu kindles the quest for knowledge among young readers. Children have a widespread yearning to know. There has to be an exposure to different approaches to learning.”
The Hindu and the Encyclopaedia Britannica also entered into a MoU for content syndication and leveraging each other’s strengths across India.
Britannica, known for producing trustworthy and safe content for over 246 years, shall also make available its extensive digital knowledge repositories and solutions for promoting general knowledge, soft skills including communication skills in English, and supportinquiry based learning in PreK-12 education.
Mr. L. Sabaretnam Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai Kendra said that the Bhavan engaged in promotion of education and culture, shall expand the reach of this program through itseducation centres.
The Bhavan runs 90 schools, 8 Management Institutes and over 20 units of Rajendra Prasad Institute of Communication and Management, 54 units of Gandhi Institute of Computer Education (GICE). GICE provide free computer education to educated unemployed youth belonging to the needy sections of the society.
About Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan 
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB) is a reputed Indian educational trust, which runs schools, colleges and other professional institutes all over India. BVB is involved in promotion of education and culture, possesses significant reach in the field of Education through its schools. 
About Encyclopaedia Britannica 
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. is a global educational publisher with products that promote knowledge and learning. The company provides timely, relevant, and trustworthy information and instructional products used in schools, universities, homes, libraries, and workplaces throughout the world.
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The Hindu is an English-language Indian daily newspaper. Headquartered at Chennai, The Hindu was launched in 1878. According to the Indian Readership Survey in 2012, it was the third most widely-read English newspaper in India. The Hindu has its largest base of circulation in southern India, and is the most widely-read English daily newspaper in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. 
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About Tree of Knowledge 
Tree of Knowledge (TOK), headed by Siddhartha Basu, develops and organizes multi-level, real-time quiz based shows, as live on ground events. TOK organizes quiz shows regularly for high-profile clients such as Tata Steel, Birla Group, Nestle, Taj Group of Hotels, Microsoft, etc.
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Mihir Mishra – The Mystery Man on Ek Hasina Thi

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Mihir Mishra is set to make a grand comeback on the small screen in Star Plus’ latest offering ‘Ek Hasina Thi’. This time, he will essay the role of Akash, an advisor and ally of the rich and powerful Rajnath Goenka. The show’s unconventional and interesting storyline with its power packed star cast, consisting of Sanjeeda Sheikh, Vatsal Seth, Ayub Khan and Simone Singh in pivotal roles had already made it the talk of town. Mihir seems to be the latest feather in the hat of this blockbuster show from Cinevistaas.
Like Vatsal, Mihir too began his acting career in television. He first appeared on Sanjivani as Dr. Rahul. Post that there was no looking back for the talented actor who eventually became a part of popular shows like Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan and Nach Baliye. His previous ventures with Star Plus have been very successful and this time he is set to recreate the magic with ‘Ek Hasina Thi’.
On the show Mihir plays the character of Akash. What the character has in store for the viewers is something to watch out for. Will we see Mihir as the good guy among bad company or see him join the gang with a dark and mean streak for the first time will unfold soon!

To know how the mystery unfolds please tune into Star Plus and watch ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ Monday to Saturday at 8.00 pm.


 

Cultural Agenda May 2014 Instituto Cervantes

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From: Instituto Cervantes Nueva Delhi Comunicaci n <icndcom@gmail.com> Mon, 28 Apr ’14 7:22p
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Show full Headers
1 attachment
Dear friends,
Attached you can find the information of our upcoming events.
​​
 ​
Next month we will open a new photo exhibition entitled Indian PALabras, in which the artist and journalist Rafa Gassó explores the pictorial possiblities of photography with a smartphone and the expressionism of words. This work try to record, in a personal way and through the point of view of portrait, the Indian geography and instants (Pal) that will never be published on the media, but can be found on social networks… Also related to India, the conference From India to Spain: Gypsy Language and Literature, will show us the links between India and Spain, through the gypsy language and culture.

The Women X Women project keeps on playing on scene contemporary Spanish women play´s by young indian director woman. On this occasion three pieces by Paloma Pedrero are played on scene by directorManjari Kaul.

On our Sunday movies we will screen Cuban films about the role of this country on contemporary African history (Kangamba and Cuito Cuanavale). And on the ocassion of the International Day of Families we will screen the Spanish movies Héctor and The Grandfather. Meanwhile, in Chennai a Spanish film series Made by Women will be on show , as well as the movie Don´t be afraid in Mumbai and Jodhpur, within the EU Film Festival.

​Please, do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

​Warmest regards,
 
– 
Jesús Clavero-Rodríguez
Cultural Manager
Instituto Cervantes Nueva Delhi
Hanuman Road 48, New Delhi 110001


 

“IHGF DELHI FAIR AUTUMN 2014”

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EPCH INTRODUCING NEW LOOK TO INDIAN HANDICRAFTS & GIFTS FAIR AS “IHGF DELHI FAIR AUTUMN 2014” VIGOROUS PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN IN PROGRESS

New Delhi – April 28, 2014 — The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts [EPCH], organizers of Asia’s largest fair known as Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair, has decided to introduce a new look to its 18 years old Handicrafts & Gifts fair as  “IHGF-Delhi Fair –Autumn 2014“ with new addition of product categories and larger area.   This show, the only one of its type held in Asian Continent has been known as “One Stop Sourcing Event” for International buyers, said Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director – EPCH.

Another uniqueness on this show will be that all exhibitors are manufacturers and exporters from Pan India basis.   Visitors are from all continents of the world.  These trade visitors are predominantly buyers, buying houses, departmental stores, chain stores, designers, interior decorators, retailers, importers, distributors, mail order houses, wholesalers, boutique owners, fashion designers etc. and Indian big retail houses.
  
EPCH has launched publicity campaign in overseas markets like USA, Canada, Europe and Asian Continents to create awareness amongst overseas community worldwide.  Apart from releasing advertorials in leading magazines across the globe, publicity campaign in different way has also been initiated by the Council as stated by Mr. Kumar, Executive Director – EPCH.  

Promotion during International exhibitions and fairs is one of the strategies of publicity campaign.   Hong Kong is known gate way to source products by the importers worldwide.  A large number of importers, wholesalers are travelling  to Hong Kong and China from 20th to 30th April, 2014.  To create awareness of new look of IHGF – Delhi Fair Autumn 2014, EPCH has launched publicity campaign at Hong Kong and China during above period, elaborated by ED – EPCH.

EPCH is expecting a huge impact of the publicity campaign being undertaken in terms of increase in visit of  buyers during “IHGF Delhi Fair – Autumn 2014” to be held from 14 – 18 October, 2014 at India Expo Mart & Centre, Greater Noida.  

Though the name of the show sounds to be general in nature yet for the last few years, show has been re-segmented into large  product categories of Home + Fashion and Life styles products.  The widened product categories are Houseware, Bathroom, Garden Ornaments, Lamps and Lighting, Furniture, Home Furnishing, Carpets, Fashion Jewellery, Festive Décor, Spa and Wellness, Decorative Articles & Giftware, Sports Goods, Sustainable products, stationary, Luggage, Pet Accessories, Ethnic crafts, Arts and Frames, Home Textiles and Visual Merchandising Articles.

The leading buyers from America, Europe, Far East, Central Asia, Africa, Latin America, China will be sourcing their requirement at this fair.    Regular buyers  will find most of the products distinctive and popular and are of the view that Indian products have a ready demand in their country. 

Handicrafts exports registered an increase of 38.22% in Rupee terms and 24.25% in dollar terms during 2013-14 over the previous year.  The exports during the financial year 2013-14 is Rs. 24,837.48  crores, said Mr. Rakesh Kumar, ED-EPCH.

EPCH — an apex body for promotion and export of handicrafts products from India to the world market – has since evolved an integrated and comprehensive policy which revolves around development of new product lines, new designs, improvement in technology and aggressive marketing as well as exploration of new markets.
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For more information, please contact :
Mr. Rakesh Kumar – Executive Director – EPCH – 9818272171


 

Rahul’s Adani attack mere shadow boxing 

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Rahul’s Adani attack mere shadow boxing
From: Media Cell AAP  Mon, 28 Apr ’14 5:57p
Monday, April 28

Congress vice-president Mr Rahul Gandhi’s half-hearted attacks on BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Mr Narendra Modi’s links with businessman Gautam Adani have exposed the selective shadow boxing between the Congress and the BJP.
More than two months after the Aam Aadmi Party had revealed the largescale favours given by the Modi government of Gujarat to the Adani group, Mr Gandhi is now speaking about it, but is totally silent on his own UPA government’s undue favours to the Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) of Mr Mukesh Ambani.
It is equally surprising that the BJP is now talking about the illegal land deals of Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of the Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi, more than 18 months after the AAP had exposed Vadra’s shady deals in Haryana and Rajasthan, but the BJP is completely silent on whether its own state government of Rajasthan will probe the allegations against Vadra.
The ongoing election campaign has made it clear that the Congress and the BJP both, favour a steep in the prices of natural gas with the sole intention of allowing Mukesh Ambani’s RIL to make huge profits at the cost of common man’s miseries.
The Congress, which is fearing its worst election defeat has already informed the Supreme Court through its central government that the RIL should be allowed to double the gas prices, in a clear indication that it has received huge undisclosed election funds from this group.
What is shocking, however, that the BJP is ready to go many steps further to please the RIL and is ready to raise the prices by four times, without bothering to even think about the miseries it will heap on the common man.
The criticism of the Election Commission’s decision to defer the gas price hike by the Congress and the BJP’s silence provides the crystal clear evidence of both these parties being hand-in-glove to promote corporate interests.
Behind the pointless sound and fury of the selective shadowboxing between the Congress and the BJP lies their real agenda of not allowing the election campaign to focus on real issues concerning the people.
How is it the Congress leadership is raising the issue of illegal snooping of a young woman by Narendra Modi’s Gujarat government in 2009, but is silent on why the UPA government made a u-turn and abandoned its cabinet decision to set-up a commission of inquiry to probe this scandal, in which Modi’s close aide Amit Shah was directly involved.
Equally shocking is the BJP reluctance to take a clear stand on the Vadra probe issue, but both these parties are mistaken in assuming that the people will not understand their match fixing.

Regards
AAP Media Cell
Posted just now by Naresh Kumar Sagar


 

Attack on Shabnam Hashmi

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We condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack on Shabnam Hashmi , Pratap Singh Negi in Rai Barley. They were attacked at about 12.30 on April 28 while she with her associates were distributing leaflets brought out by JAVAB- Janvadi Vichar Andolan Bharat barely 100 metres from the Gadaganj Police Station in side the Rai-Barely constituency.
Shabnam Hashmi and Pratap Singh Negi were attacked by a gang of about 20 hoodlums who snatched all the Javab Leaflets while pushing and abusing Shabnam Hashmi in the most foul and sexist terms.
At the police station Shabnam had to argue with the SHO, telling him that no one can be stopped from exercising their right to free expression and that he had to file an FIR against the attack on her and the threats of rape and sexist abuses. The SHO did not register an FIR and did not give her a copy of her complaint.
We demand that the hoodlums are immediately apprehended and coercive tactics of the BJP not be allowed by the local administration.
Ashok
SAHMAT
SAHMAT29 Ferozshah Road, New Delhi-110001


 

‘Why So Few Women in Politics? Evidence from India’

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Centre for Policy Research is delighted to invite you to a talk by 
Prof. Shamika Ravi
Fellow, Brookings Institution India Center
& Assistant Professor of Economics, Indian School of Business   
                                                                                       on
 ‘Why So Few Women in Politics? Evidence from India’ by 
                                                                Mudit Kapoor & Shamika Ravi
Date: Friday, 2 May 2014
 Time: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Venue: Conference Room, Centre for Policy Research, Dharam Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021
Abstract: This paper analyzes women as political candidates in a representative democracy. Using 50 years of assembly elections data at the constituency level from the Indian states, the authors show that women are more likely to contest elections in those constituencies where gender ratio of the electors is less in favor of women. For example, women are more likely to contest elections in backward states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh where the gender ratio of electors is in favor of men than in socially developed states like Kerala where the gender ratio of electors is more in favor of women. The authors present a citizen candidates model of representative democracy and show that empirical results are consistent with the theoretical predict ions of this model. These results challenge existing policy of random reservation of seats for women.
Presenter’s Bio: Shamika Ravi is a Fellow, Brookings Institution, India Center and Assistant Professor of Economics at Indian School of Business.  Her research is in the area of Development Economics with a focus on gender inequality and democracy, financial inclusion and health. She is also a Faculty Affiliate at the Financial Access Initiative of New York University. She is part of the Enforcement Directorate of Microfinance Institutions Network in India and has served as a director on boards of several microfinance institutions. Professor Ravi has published extensively in academic journals and writes regularly in leading newspapers. Some of her previous works are on NREGA, corruption, entrepreneurship development, female empow erment, and farmer suicides in India. Her academic papers may be viewed at http://papers.ssrn.com/author=812932. 
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We look forward to welcoming you to CPR for what promises to be an interesting discussion. Please feel free to share this invitation with friends and colleagues who may be interested.
A line of confirmation will be highly appreciated.
With regards,
Navroz Dubash
Officiating as Chief Executive

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