Friday, January 29, 2010

London conference on Afghanistan

In London leaders from more than 60 nations are holding conference from Thursday get over the violence and bring peace ,to quell Afghanistan Taliban-led violence in recent months to bring peace.
India's presence with high-level delegation led by External affairs minister Mr. S. M. Krishna. Eminent leaders participating in the conference to be chaired by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and UN Secretary General Ban-ki- Moon, to seek way to bring stability in Afghanistan by reconciliation program with Taliban-led groups and gradual transition of security responsibility to Afghan forces.
Mr. Karzai has said he will unveil a program to attract militants for joining the mainstream if they renounce violence and accept Afghan constitution. Taliban has dismissed the conference, saying it will produce no more results than previous gatherings adding they are not fighting for money, property and position.
Western nations including US and Britain have promised to fund the program, while some other nations are expected to announce for sending additional forces.US-led NATO countries are stressing for a timetable to hand over security to Afghan forces starting from this year and begin withdrawal of their forces from the war-torn country.
US President Barack Obama has already announced for withdrawal of troops from July next year while committing for 30 thousand extra troops.The conference, to be followed by another such conference at Kabul after few months, will also renew international commitment for reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. Some nations have advocated greater role for India in reconstruction of Afghanistan citing its success so far but Pakistan is opposed to allowing India giving greater influence in the war-torn country.Taliban are warning that a meeting in London on Thursday will do nothing to help Afghanistan.A statement posted on a Taliban Web site Wednesday dismissed the one-day international donor conference as a "waste of time." Reports VOA Asia
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Sunday, January 24, 2010

Himalayan glaciers blunder

Chairman of Inter governmental Panel on Climate Change Dr.R K Pachauri admits the mistake in the panel's report that the Himalayan glaciers will disappear by 2035 due to global warming. Terming the mistake as unfortunate, he said it is a human error and he will do everything possible to see that such mistakes are not repeated.He, however ruled out his resignation over the issue.
He said the next COP is due to be held in Mexico City at the end of this year.
BASIC group and the US agreed on
an accord, the major features of which are:Recognition that the world must not exceed a 2° Celsius warming above preindustrial level.Developed countries to formalise their reduction pledges and for developing countries to state their proposed efforts by February 1,
2010.Provision for the mitigation actions to be monitored nationally and reported in line with guidelines to be worked out.An assessment of the implementation of the accord to be completed by 2015.Establishment of a new Copenhagen Green Climate Fund — to be set up by developed countries by 2012 for mitigation and adaptation in developing countries (EU pledged
$10.6 billion, Japan $11 billion and the US $3.6 billion), and for $100 billion a year to be made available by 2020.Thus Authorises the long awaited forest protection mechanism

The Indian official correspondent says the report became a point of discussion after its findings were challenged. Noted Geologist V K Raina while dismissing the findings of the panal sought an apology from Dr. Pachuri for debunking his findings. PCC had warned that climate change was likely to melt most of the Himalayan glaciers by 2035 - an idea considered ludicrous by most glaciologists.

University of Iceland in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Carnegie Corporation of New York have joined hands to work in the fields of glaciology and soil science, and will enable Indian scientists and students to seek training in Iceland and the United States. The purpose of this joint effort is to improve understanding of the effects of climate change on the Himalaya and the manifold consequences that follow for the possibilities of water management and food production on the plains below.

Present on the occasion was the President of Iceland HE Dr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Dr R K Pachauri, Director-General TERI, and the joint teams from - University of Iceland, Ohio State University and the TERI Glaciology team, headed by Prof Syed Iqbal Hasnain.

Speaking on research and collaboration in the field of glaciers, HE Dr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, said, “There is an immediate need to enhance the knowledge of receding glaciers, which will have a major impact on ecology and social security. Consequently, the potential impacts of climate change in the Himalayan region are very likely to have a strong influence on food and water security. Hence it is important to bring the scientists from India and Iceland on a common platform and discuss on the future framework of research cooperation.”

Elaborating on the collaboration, Dr R K Pachauri, said, “The presence of Iceland as a country makes this initiative of great value as Iceland has a great understanding of this issue, which goes back a century. Scientific data assimilated by IPCC is very robust and it is universally acknowledged that glaciers are melting because of climate change. The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI) in its endeavor to facilitate the development of an effective policy framework and their strategic implementation for the adaptation and mitigation of climate change impacts on the local population is happy to collaborate with the University of Iceland, Ohio State University and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, under the leadership of HE Dr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson. ”
Sagar Media reports that the official correspondent says the report became a point of discussion after its findings were challenged. Noted Geologist V K Raina while dismissing the findings of the panal sought an apology from Dr. Pachuri for debunking his findings.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Jyoti Basu dies

17Jan:Kolkata:Veteran CPM leader Jyoti Basu been West Bengal CM for 23 years as he became chief minister of West Bengal June 21, 1977,headed the Left Front government till Nov 6, 2000, straddled Indian politics for over six decades,died at AMRI hospital in Salt Lake City, Kolkata today 17 Jan 2010,where he was admitted with pneumonia on January one died here today of multi-organ failure.

The former West Bengal Chief Minister was 95 and is survived by son Chandan,who is an industrialist. His wife Kamal pre-deceased him four years ago.He Graduated from Presidency College with honours in English. He did his Bar at Law from London during study law, was drawn to the communist movement, which he formally joined following his return to India in 1940,reached pinnacle of his political career in 1996,when he was coalition choice of prime minister of India could not make it after his party's veto. He later called the party decision a "historic blunder".

Hamid Ansari has deeply condoled the death of veteran CPIM leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said he had turned to the veteran Marxist leader on many occasions for his advice on important issues and the response was always pragmatic.Singh said the death of the 95-year-old CPI(M) leader marked the end of an era in the annals of Indian politics.He was a man of great integrity with a deep commitment to secular values, the Prime Minister said in his condolence message."I have personally had a very long association with Shri Basu. On many occasions in my career, I turned to him for his sagacious advice on all matters, whether they related to West Bengal or to issues of national importance."Singh said he was "a powerful regional voice in the national political scene and helped to strengthen Indian federalism.""Shri Basu will be remembered by the people of West Bengal for bringing stability and order to the State after the turbulent period of the early 70s and for the rural transformation he brought about through his visionary land reforms and his style of democratic and decentralised governance," Singh said.

Home Minister P Chidambram was in the city rushed to hospital to offer condolences."I offer my sincere condolence to his family and the people of West Bengal", P Chidambaram said.

Dr Ajit Kumar Maity said that the veteran leader breathed his last at 11:47 am at the AMRI Hospital.Biman Bose, the Chairman of the Left Front coordination committee, announced to reporters a little around 1230 hrs.PM sends condolences message to the departed leader.As the news of departed leader spread the condolence message shall pour from India and abroad.

BJP today condoled the death of veteran Marxist patriarch Jyoti Basu, describing him as one of the tallest contemporary leaders of Indian politics.Senior BJP leader and leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said Basu was a man "committed to the service of his people, his ideology and a sense of idealism".

Congress condoled his demise."It's a very sad development not only for West Bengal or CPI-M but for the country as a whole. The country has lost one of its worthiest sons," party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmad said.Basu stood for simplicity and firmness at the same time in public life and "his death is a loss for the nation," he said.

NDTV tweet message informs that Jyoti Basu's cremation on Tuesday,Jyoti Basu's eyes will be donated.Delhi CM Shiela Dikhshit described Basu death an end of an era.
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee seeks 3-day state mourning to regret the death of Basu.Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today described Marxist icon Jyoti Basu as a "great political figure" and called for a 72-hour state mourning."I think we all should observe a three-day state mourning across the country to pay homage to such a great political figure of Indian politics," the Trinamool Congress leader told reporters here.

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters he had lost a great well-wisher with the demise of Communist veteran Jyoti Basu."In his death, I lost a great well wisher, the country has lost an able administrator, an outstanding parliamentarian and a charismatic political leader,"today afternoon.Mukherjee further adds he was the "architect of the first UPA-United Progressive Alliance government in 2004 that had been supported by the Left parties from outside".

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader A B Bardhan said Basu was the "tallest leader"."He also fought to the end. We express our heartfelt sadness on his demise," Bardhan said."Basu fought for the poor and the downtrodden," he said.As condolences poured from all over, the All India Forward Bloc described the passing away of Basu as a "a big and irreparable loss... for the entire Left, working class and progressive movement of the country".

Saturday, January 16, 2010

USNS Comfort in service of Haitian

The hospital ship Comfort will leave its home port in Baltimore early Saturday to arrive in Haiti Thursday, delivering medical and surgical services

(live-PR.com) - US despatched the hospital ship, USNS Comfort to the stricken Haitians in the Caribbean country.Haitians who are without medical help, food, water, blankets, and power.Painkillers, syringes, sterile bandages, sutures, gloves, masks, and as many more doctors and surgeons as possible are needed in Haiti to cope with Tuesday's calamitous earthquake.The list of medical needs seems endless for the emergency health professionals working around the clock to treat innumerable injuries.

“This is a moment when we feel we can have a huge impact,” along with other military medical providers already on the ground, as well as those from nongovernmental organizations and the international community, the ship's captain, Navy Capt. James Ware, said Friday. “Our hope is to work with those individuals, side by side, to truly help the people of Haiti.”

The hulking hospital ship, three football fields long and one wide, has 250 hospital beds and a 550-person medical team that includes trauma surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, head and neck surgeons, eye surgeons and obstetricians and gynecologists.

The team will also include medical professionals from the Navy, Army, Air Force and U.S. Public Health Service, as well as nongovernmental organizations.

Ware said he expects his staff to initially see about 500 patients a day when it arrives in Haiti, working up to 750 or more, and to conduct 20 to 25 surgical procedures a day.Haitinewsnet


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Indo-French civil nuke in force

Indo-French agreement on the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy enters into force on Friday,a multiform civil nuclear cooperation and paving way for companies to build atomic power plants in India.Indo-French nuclear agreement allows for reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from French atomic reactors under safeguards, and gives an assurance of lifetime supply of nuclear fuel for these reactors.It does not bar the transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technologies.
France becomes the second country after Russia to give unconditional rights to reprocess spent nuclear fuel to India.The agreement makes it mandatory that reprocessing be done under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).The pact came into force after Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont exchanged the instruments of ratification of the agreement between the two governments signed in Paris on September 30, 2008.

"In accordance with the provisions of the Agreement, it enters into force on the same day," a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said in New Delhi.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Pravasi Film Festival 2010

Pravasi film festival 2010 is first of its kind organized by the Pravasi Today group in association with the Mauritius government at India Habitate centre from Jan 3 to Jan 6 and forty three films and docuementaries were showcased from different countries and most of the film makers were present in festival to witness respond to their performance.Festival with six panel discussions on various aspects of NRI cinema stretched to threadbare discussion reagrding marketing and fiscal two key aspects of film making.
NRI Star of India diaspora to glitter the occasion were Deepa Mehta from Canada,Pooja Kumar of USA,Nasreen Munni Kabir and Sangeeta Dutta from United Kingdom,Aruna Vasudeva as festival advisors.Cinestar heading the jury for best feature film,best documentary and best short film was headed by veteran film director Basu chaterjee heading feature film jury and Latika Padgoankar,lead Non-feature jury others members were Rahul Rawail and Sanjay Singh,Aruna Vasudev and Namrata Joshi.Veteran actor Saeed Jaffrey was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in absentia,Sharmila Tagore and Soha Ali Khan starrer Life Goes On has been declared the Best Film at the Pravasi Film Festival.The short fiction ‘Shor’ by D K Krishna and Raj Nidimoru received the best short fiction award,the film ‘Flying Sikh’ by Navdeep Kandola got the best short non-fiction award.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Indian science needs autonomy

04.01.2010 05:55:30 Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has called for liberating Indian science from the shackles of bureaucracy and in-house favouritism.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said that Nuclear supplier Group waiver has paved the way for an accelerated nuclear power development programme.

(live-PR.com) - Prime Minister Dr Man Mohan Singh said their is need for greater autonomy for scientific institutions, he regretted that red tape, political interference and lack of proper recognition of good work has led to regression in Indian science in some sectors.

Prime Minister said, special effort must be made to encourage scientists of Indian origin currently working abroad to return to


India.Inaugurating the 97th Indian Science Congress in Thiruvanthapuram, he called for special incentives to turn brain drain into brain gain for the future.Holding that time has come to give a "new boost" to science and technology, he asked Indian scientists working abroad to return to the country to convert the "brain drain" to "brain gain".

Dr Singh announced that the government was considering revision of the value of doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships as well as formulation of schemes that would cover all research scholars with some funding support.He also pointed to the challenges before the scientific community on the front of food and energy security and climate change mitigation.Further Singh aded India must achieve energy efficiency and shift to renewable energy. He underlined the need for a plan for accelerated nuclear power
. Referring to the Copenhagen summit on climate change, the Prime Minister said there was a limited success as nobody was satisfied with the outcome.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Congress, India's top Defence Scientist said that a weapons system is being readied to neutralise enemy satellites operating in low-earth orbit.

Defence Research and Development Organisation Director General V K Saraswat told reporters that India is putting together building blocks of technology that could be used to neutralise enemy satellites.

He however added that the defence scientists have not planned any tests but have started planning such technology which could be used to leapfrog to build a weapon in case the country needed it.

Competitiveness, climate, security Finn’s priorities Ministry of Finance release Finnish road map of EU presidency. Finland is set ...