Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Russian bombers ‘violated’ airspace on Venezuela-Nicaragua flight

Colombia’s government has sent a protest note to Russia over the alleged violation of the airspace by two long-range bombers on a flight from Venezuela to Nicaragua. President Juan Manuel Santos says the Russian planes should have asked for permission to enter Colombian airspace but didn’t, AP reported. He added the bombers also returned to Venezuela through Colombian airspace and were intercepted by two Colombian Kfir jet fighters. Russia’s Defense Ministry said on October 28 that two Tu-160 supersonic bombers had flown to Venezuela as part of a military exercise.




Vatican embassy in Damascus hit by mortar

6 11 2013

 

The Vatican Embassy in Damascus was hit by mortar fire on Tuesday, a Vatican spokesman said. There were no casualties, although there was damage after the attack in the wealthy Maliki area of the Syrian capital. media agencies




Serial blasts at Communist Party’s office in China

6 11 2013
 
 
1 killed in blasts at Communist Party
At least one person was killed and eight others injured on Wednesday in a series of explosions near the office of the ruling Communist Party in China’s Taiyuan city.
The explosions took place infront of the office building of the Shanxi Provincial Committee of the CPCC in Taiyuan, the provincial capital, state-run news agency reported. Among the eight injured, one was seriously wounded. Eyewitnesses said the blasts were caused by explosives placed on a minivan.
A big explosion was heard and heavy smoke and flames were seen, said Liu Guoliang, an eyewitness who was driving from west to east on the Yingze overpass.
Liu saw a minivan blasted with heavy smoke and spread a lot of debris at the scene when he waited for traffic lights in front of the office building, Xinhua said.
The accident is suspected to be caused by self-made bombs as steel beads were scattered at the scene, the report said.
The site of accident has been cordoned. Police are investigating the case.
The blasts followed 28th October suspected suicide attack at the Tiananmen square in China in which five persons including three suicide attackers from China’s Muslim Uyghur Xinijiang province were killed and 40 others injured.
Chinese police said the attack in which three members of a family drove a SUV vehicle to the highly guarded entrance of the Forbidden city in Tiananmen square was caused by East Turkistan Islamic Movement, an al-Qaeda affiliate fighting for the independent Xinjinag.
It is not yet clear whether Wednesday’s explosions were in any way related to that.




Paracetamol in pregnancy may affect child development

6 11 2013
 
 
Paracetamol in pregnancy may affect child developmentUpdated on : 31-10-2013 08:18 PM
Long-term use of paracetamol during pregnancy may increase the risk of behavioural problems, poor gross motor skills and poor communication skills in children, a new study has warned.
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is the most commonly used medicine in pregnancy, yet there are very few studies that have investigated the possible long-term consequences for the child. The new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health used data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study to investigate the effect of paracetamol during pregnancy on psychomotor development, behaviour and temperament at 3 years of age. Almost 3,000 sibling pairs were included in the study.
By comparing children who were exposed to paracetamol during pregnancy with unexposed siblings of the same sex, researchers could control for a variety of genetic and environmental factors, in addition to other important factors such as infections, fever, use of other medications, alcohol intake and smoking.
The study found that children who had been exposed to paracetamol for more than 28 days of pregnancy had poorer gross motor skills, poor communication skills and more behavioural problems compared with unexposed siblings.
The same trend was seen with paracetamol taken for less than 28 days, but this was weaker. To investigate whether the underlying illness could be the cause of the effect on the children, and not paracetamol itself, the researchers examined a different type of analgesic with another type of mechanism of action (ibuprofen).
The researchers did not find any similar long-term effects after use of ibuprofen. “The results strengthen our concern that long-term use of paracetamol during pregnancy may have an adverse effect on child development, but that occasional use for short periods is probably not harmful to the foetus,” said Professor Hedvig Nordeng at the School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo.
“Importantly, we cannot assume that there is a causal relationship between maternal use of paracetamol during pregnancy and adverse effects in children from an epidemiological study.
“Since this is the only study to show this, there is a need for further research to confirm or refute these results,” Nordeng said. The study was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.




Quake of moderate intensity rocked Assam

6 11 2013
Quake of moderate intensity on Wednesday rocked Assam.
No casualty or damage to property was reported in the quake measuring 5.5 on the Richter Scale.
The tremor at 9:46 AM lasted a few seconds, jolting doors and windows.
The epicentre of the tremor was at Karbi Anglong at a depth of 20 km with latitude 26.5 degree north and longitude 93.5 degree east, the MET office said in Guwahati.




Kin of Indira’s assassins honoured in Amritsar

6 11 2013

 

 

 
AmritsarPunjab, October 31, 2013: The kin of the two assassins of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was killed by her bodyguards Oct 31, 1984, were Thursday honoured by Sikh hardliners and some religious leaders at the Golden Temple complex here.
The kin of Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, who shot dead Gandhi in her official residence in New Delhi 29 years ago, were honoured by the head of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikh religion, and leaders of radical Sikh groups like Damdami Taksal and Dal Khalsa in the presence of officials of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
Beant Singh’s son, Sarabjit Singh was presented with a silver plaque. The son of Kehar Singh, who was convicted for the assassination conspiracy, was also honoured.
Addressing the gathering, radical leaders urged the SGPC to construct a memorial for the three at the Golden Temple complex. A resolution was passed on the occasion which was handed over to ‘Jathedar’ of Akal Takht for implementation.




Mar Thoma Bishop seeks houses for all

6 11 2013
Mar Thoma Bishop seeks houses for allKerala, November 04, 2013: Metropolitan, Philipose Mar Chrysostum of the Mar Thoma Church has called upon Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to initiative project to provide houses for the houseless in the state.
Chandy was on a visit to the bishop’s House on the banks of the Pampa at Maramon on Sunday. Continuing the “Zero Landless” project, aimed at providing land to all landless people, the government should launch another scheme aimed at making Kerala a “zero houseless” state, Mar Chrysostum said.
The Metropolitan said financial assistance should be delivered to the houseless through local self-government institutions, avoiding middlemen.
The chief minister released a tele-serial on the Metropolitan, Mar Chrysostum Speaking, by Mathew Koshy Punnackadu, former Principal of Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara.
He said the senior bishop’s criticism laced with humor had a strengthening effect on society and people seldom questioned it.
Joseph Mar Barnabas Metropolitan; P.T. Thomas, Mar Thoma Church secretary; Peelipose Thomas, former Planning Board member; Royce Mallasserry, Principal, St Thomas College, Kozhencherry; and Prof. Punnackadu were present.




World Bank opens Islamic finance centre in Istanbul

6 11 2013
World Bank opens Islamic finance centre in IstanbulIstanbul, October 31, 2013: Ali Babacan stressed that the interest-free finance system is the core of the Islamic finance system.
World Bank launched Islamic Finance Development Centre in collaboration with Turkish government Wednesday.
The centre is expected to share information on the development of Islamic finance, to give consultancy service on Islamic finance, and play the role in strengthening the institutional infrastructure
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim inaugurated the centre at Borsa Istanbul building, Xinhua reported.
World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said at the joint press conference that Turkey is taking giant steps in becoming a global financial centre and described World Bank’s cooperation with Turkey as a symbol of shared objectives and shared prosperity.
Ali Babacan stressed that the interest-free finance system is the core of the Islamic finance system, which not only contributes to financial stability but also eliminates risks.
“Because behind this kind of financing system there are real assets and real value,” he said. “Even IMF has reported the advantages of an interest system based on the Islamic principles of interest-free finance system.”
- ians




The Descent of Air India

6 11 2013

Moneylife Foundation Logo


The Descent of Air India
The Descent of Air India
An insider’s account of how an iconic brand was run to the ground by politics, apathy and corruption

By Jitender Bhargava
former executive director, Air India
A man who had a ringside view for 20 years of top management decisions

Jitender Bhargava


Dr Subramanian Swamy
Mumbai Launch by
Dr Subramanian Swamy
former minister of commerce & law

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Dr Swamy on the “Turbulence in the Indian Aviation Industry” and converse with Jitender Bhargava about all that went wrong with Air India



Friday, 8 November 2013

Registration: 6:30pm to 7:00pm

Session Time: 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Venue: Mini Theatre, 3rd Floor,
Pu La Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy
(Ravindra Natya Mandir), Sayani Road,
Prabhadevi, Mumbai – 400 025.
Landmark: Near Siddhivinayak Temple

No Admission Fee
Prior registration is a must

Contact: Seraphina / Joscelyn at 022-49205000
or email us at foundation@moneylife.in
Log on to foundation.moneylife.in



Programme Flow

7:00pm – 7:05pm (5 mins): Introduction

7:05pm – 7:10pm (5 mins): Release of the book by
Dr Subramanian Swamy

7:10pm – 7:25pm (15 mins): Author Jitender Bhargava’s remarks on what made him write the book

7:25pm – 7:50pm (25 mins): Dr Subramanian Swamy’s address on the aviation scenario in India and the way forward

7:50pm – 8:20pm (30 mins): Panel discussion:
Dr Subramanian Swamy, Jitender Bhargava,
Debashis Basu. Sucheta Dalal (Moderator)

8:20pm – 8:50pm (30 mins): Audience Interaction

8:50pm – 9:00pm: Vote of T




Genteel Vienna to attract young Indian tourists

6 11 2013
Genteel Vienna to attract young Indian tourists
Partners Thomas Cook to offer packages for young Indians
Mumbai November 6, 2013
Genteel Vienna, the Austrian capital is all set to welcome young travelers from India. The city of the legendary waltzes and historic coffee houses beckon tourists in the age group of 20 to 29 years.
Vienna Tourist Board is collaborating with Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., India’s leading travel and travel related financial services company, to focus on young travelers, beginning November 2013.
This strategic tie-up includes:
• Launch of travel packages customised to cater to the young Indian travelers by Thomas Cook India.
• Training of over a 100 travel partners and travel agents associated with Thomas Cook India to promote the Destination Vienna by Thomas Cook India’s educational arm the Centre of Learning.
Historically, travel in India has largely been the domain of the 35-60 year old age group. Thomas Cook India’s customer analysis has however, unearthed a fascinating new trend: almost 45% of their individual holiday travelers are Youth – aged between 18 to 35 years old, and this segment is poised to grow at an exponential rate of 25-30%.
For the Youth of today, travel is clearly not about traversing the distance between point A and B, but rather a voyage of discovery – of new places, and importantly – different, exciting non-traditional experiences; and Vienna offers just that.
Once in Vienna, the young generation of tourists has a lot to explore, be it the UNESCO heritage listed city center, Schönbrunn castle and its park or young and buzzing design scene. Or else, they can just unwind on the vast stretches of green and watch the undulating river Danube meander from the banks of the Danube Island – a total of 42 km of urban beach.
“We look to welcoming significantly larger inflow of younger tourists from India in the coming years. Vienna is one of the youngest cities in Europe and definitely has a lot to offer for this target group,” says Norbert Kettner, Director, Vienna Tourist Board.
Vienna, the former seat of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, has a youthful appeal. The young and spirited can enjoy a magnificent view of the city by climbing 343 steps up St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Of course, the elevator is always an option.
Mr Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. said, “While Vienna enjoys a unique positioning based on its rich heritage, culture and classical music, the Vienna of today offers impactful potential as a fresh, vibrant youthful European capital. Given that our research at Thomas Cook India, indicates the emergence of a viable new segment – Gen Y, young confident experimental Indian travelers, with rapidly growing purchasing power, we see much synergy with Vienna.“
Vienna has the ability to connect the past with the present. It encourages visitors to travel back in time and visit some of the 27 palaces and 163 other imperial residences. “Vienna is home to the world famous art galleries, grand buildings, bees and flowers. Tourists can relish some delectable Viennese cuisine with wine from vineyards just about 10 km from the Vienna State Opera,” says Mr Kettner adding that Vienna offers amazing walking experiences.
Even as tourists soak in the grandeur, Vienna keeps them hooked to the present with its sightseeing attractions like the Schönbrunn Castle or Hofburg palace, which today – amongst others – houses the office of the Austrian President, several museums, the National Library and convention. For this and many other attractions, it’s difficult for people to resist Vienna.
“Vienna offers lots for everyone: the young, mature and not-so-young. We invite larger number of tourists from India in the coming years to experience the pleasures of a city with highest quality of living and the history of a multinational empire,” says Mr Kettner who was in India last week to firm up marketing initiatives for 2014 for the Indian market.
Mr Menon added, “Our partnership with Vienna Tourism is two-pronged: training of sales and front-line teams and the launch of youthful packages via our Youth portfolio at Thomas Cook India-‘Rock On Holidays‘. This ensures that we equip the travel trade with vital destination knowledge, as also create impactful itineraries to deliver to India’s travel hungry Gen Y, a fascinating new, youthful destination – Vienna.”
Thomas Cook India’s youth focused itineraries include the following experiences:
• Discover Vienna City via fun Segway Tours
• Biking Tours along the scenic River Danube
• Donauinsel Festival to listen to some of the best international music
• Explore Vienna’s heritage music in the House of Music or try your hands at conducting an orchestra using interactive display
• Learn the graceful Viennese Waltz
Ten lesser known facts about Vienna
• Vienna is the world’s only metropolis that grows a significant number of vineyards within its city limits.
• Vienna is dotted with parks. During spring, 400 kinds of roses blossom in the Volksgarten alone.
• The Vienna State Opera offers over 50 operas and ballet works on around 300 days per season.
• The historic center of Vienna has been added to UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage list.
• Vienna is home to about 2,000 coffee houses, the traditional ones are in the old city center.
• The Wurstelprater Amusement Park’s House of Mirrors showcases Moms looking as thin as a toothpick and Dads as fat as a barrel.
• Vienna is a shopper’s paradise. Brad Pitt and Pete Doherty sport Viennese hat maker Mühlbauer’s label, Lady Gaga shows gloves of Viennese professional Nina Peter in her video The Edge of Glory.
• Homely taverns serve delicacies and wine. Vineyard tours allow a first-hand experience of vineyards and wine cellars
• Vienna has 850 parks (280 of them Imperial) and 1,730 acres of vineyards, in addition to 1,716 bridges.
Notes to the Editors:
An eight-hour direct flight connects Delhi with Vienna six times a week, operated by Austrian Airlines, which has a code share agreement with Air India. Mumbai and other Indian major cities are conveniently connected to Vienna by a one-stop connection on many international carriers.
About Thomas Cook (India) Limited
Thomas Cook (India) Ltd is the leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company in the country offering a broad spectrum of services that include Foreign Exchange, Corporate Travel, MICE, Leisure Travel, Insurance, Visa & Passport services and E-Business. The company set up its first office in India in 1881.
TCIL’s footprint currently extends to over 236 locations (including 23 airport counters) in 98 cities across India, Mauritius and Sri Lanka and is supported by a strong partner network of 135 Gold Circle Partners and 165 Preferred Sales Agents in over 150 cities across India.
Thomas Cook (India) Ltd has been voted Best Tour Operator at the Lonely Planet Travel Awards 2013, Favourite Specialist Tour Operator at the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards 2012 & 2011 and Best Tour Operator – Outbound at the CNBC AWAAZ Travel Awards 2013. In addition, TCIL has been recognized as a “Consumer Superbrand” 2012-2013 by Superbrands. At the National Tourism Awards 2011-2012, TCIL was the recipient of 3 prestigious awards.
About The Vienna Tourist Board
The Vienna Tourist Board, the official destination marketing agency for the tourism sector of the city, provides many service offerings, tips and information on Viennese tourist businesses. The Vienna Tourist Board set up in 1955 under public law as directed by the Vienna Tourist Support Law, is run like a private enterprise with flat hierarchies.
Mrs. Renate Brauner, Vice-Mayor of Vienna and Councilor of Finance and Economic Affairs, serves as the President of the Vienna Tourist Board since March 2007. The position of Director of Tourism is occupied by Mr. Norbert Kettner since September 2007. The Board of Directors (officially: The Tourism Commission) consists of the president, two vice presidents and 15 additional members, the latter mostly assigned by the City of Vienna. The Vienna Tourist Board is financed by local taxes on hotels in Vienna, the general city budget and its own revenues.
For more details, please contact:

Strategic Communications and PR Counsel

Sanjiv Kataria
phone: +91 98100 48095, e-mail: sanjiv.kataria@gmail.com
Or
Vienna Tourist Board,
Ms. Verena Hable
phone: +43-1-211 14-363, e-mail: verena.hable@vienna.info
Vienna Tourist Board, Obere Augartenstraße 40, 1020 Wien




“I SPY ETHERNET IEEE 802.3™” CONTEST

6 11 2013

IEEE STANDARDS ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES “I SPY ETHERNET IEEE 802.3™” CONTEST TO ROUND OFF THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF ETHERNET AND

30TH ANNIVERSARY OF IEEE 802.3 STANDARDS CELEBRATIONS

Historic milestones to be honored by IEEE 802® LAN/MAN Standards Committee during November 2013 IEEE 802 Plenary Session in Dallas, Texas and University Outreach Program

New Delhi, India, 4 November 2013IEEE, the world’s largest professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, today announced that the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) is commemorating the 40th anniversary of Ethernet and the 30th anniversary of IEEE 802.3™ “Standard for Ethernet” by launching its “I Spy Ethernet IEEE 802.3” contest. Open to both young and experienced technology innovators, inventors, and architects around the world, the contest seeks submissions of photographs or drawings of unique, groundbreaking, or visionary uses of Ethernet. Open for two months, contest entries can be submitted to IEEE-SA between 1 November and 31 December 2013.

To enter the “I Spy Ethernet IEEE 802.3” contest, individual contestants are asked to submit a photo or a sketch of an example of how Ethernet is being deployed presently or how it might be deployed in the future. All entries will be posted on the IEEE-SA Ethernet Anniversary Facebook page, allowing anyone with access to Facebook to “Like” the entry they think is best, most unique, or most innovative. Based on a the number of Likes, the top three entries will be judged by a panel selected from members of the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group and Dr. Robert (Bob) Metcalfe, inventor of Ethernet and 1996 IEEE Medal of Honor award winner. The winning entry will be featured in a widely publicized animated short, with the contestant being recognized in the film’s credits.

“This contest is all about the future of Ethernet and its positive impact on humanity. And there’s so much more to explore on a global scale in the areas of energy, healthcare, education and more,” said Bob Metcalfe. “The ‘I Spy Ethernet IEEE 802.3’ contest will help generate new and exciting ideas about what’s possible with Ethernet technology and get more people thinking and talking about as yet unimagined Ethernet applications that will help change our lives.”

In addition to the contest and promoting the benefits of Ethernet technology, the IEEE 802® November Plenary Session will take place in Dallas, Texas at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, 10-15 November 2013. IEEE 802 plenary sessions are held three times per year, in March, July, and November. The IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee strives to develop standards that will improve communication for communities everywhere, with many positive results including faster Internet access, longer battery life, improved health, better security, and improved energy-efficiency.

Open to all plenary session attendees and to the public, the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee is hosting an Ethernet 40th Anniversary Celebration on Monday, 11 November 2013, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. As part of the celebration, Bob Metcalfe will be the featured keynote speaker.

“Along with meetings, tutorials and networking opportunities, the IEEE 802 Plenary Session in Dallas will host study groups, working groups and committees that aim to work on furthering Ethernet’s success and bright future,” said Paul Nikolich, chair of the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee. “Having Bob Metcalfe as the keynote speaker at the Ethernet 40th Anniversary Celebration is truly an honor. I’d like to thank Bob for his continued commitment to IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standards and our collective work to further progressing the technology he created.”

Another opportunity at the IEEE 802 Plenary Session is the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee University Outreach Program, which invites students and faculty members from universities to attend the meetings and tutorials that will take place on Tuesday, 12 November. University Outreach Program participants are also invited to attend the anniversary celebration on 11 November.

The purpose of the program is to increase the understanding of the importance that IEEE standards hold within engineering technology, observe the standards development process, and encourage participation in IEEE Standards Education Committee programs, including applying for student application paper grants, and more.

“For participating university students and faculty, the day will start with a brief orientation session followed by an opportunity to observe the sessions in progress, ending with a wrap-up session providing further opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback,” said David Law, chair of the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group, and distinguished engineer for HP Networking. “We encourage all students and faculty of universities to participate in what will be a very rewarding day of observing the IEEE 802 networking standard development process.”

For more information on the “I Spy Ethernet IEEE 802.3” contest and to submit an entry, visit the IEEE-SA Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Ethernet40thAnniversaryIEEESA. For contest rules, terms and conditions, please visit http://standards.ieee.org/events/ethernet/

For more information about the IEEE 802 LAN/WAN Standards Committee, please visit http://www.ieee802.org. For more information on the IEEE 802 Plenary Session in Dallas, please visit http://802world.org/plenary/schedule.

For more information and to register for the University Outreach Program, please visit http://802world.org/plenary/university-outreach.

To learn more about IEEE-SA, visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ieeesa, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ieeesa, connect with us on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1791118 or on the Standards Insight Blog at http://www.standardsinsight.com.

About the IEEE Standards Association
The IEEE Standards Association, a globally recognized standards-setting body within IEEE, develops consensus standards through an open process that engages industry and brings together a broad stakeholder community. IEEE standards set specifications and best practices based on current scientific and technological knowledge. The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of over 900 active standards and more than 500 standards under development. For more information visit http://standards.ieee.org/.




Launch of 8th Bal Sangam

6 11 2013 Launch of
8th Bal Sangam
Featuring Traditional Performing Arts & Theatre Performances by Children from across the country
Prof Waman Kendre, director NSD ডmp; Mr. Abdul Latif Khatana T.I.E. In charge will address the Media
on

Thursday, November 7th 2013 at 3.00 pm
at
Sammukh Auditorium
National School of Drama
Bahawalpur House, Bhagwan Das Road
New Delhi-110 001

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