Thursday 31 May 2012

Bihar News, Latest News from Bihar, News of Bihar, Biharprabha News

Bihar News, Latest News from Bihar, News of Bihar, Biharprabha News


IIT Fraternity discerned with new Entrance Test Pattern

Posted: 31 May 2012 06:11 PM PDT

IIT Alumni, Professor and Alumni are not able to digest the changing pattern of the Entrance Test. They fear that the new pattern would erode the autonomy of the elite institutions.

As far as holding the test is concerned, the new format will erode the autonomous status enjoyed by IITs,” said President of Faculty Federation of IIT Delhi, Sanjeev Sanghi, adding they have written a letter to Prime Minister Manmonhan Singh today in this regard.

Sanghi also regretted the decision to hold the test under the new format from 2013, saying their plea to hold it from 2014 has been rejected. “This will create a big problem because the IITs will be left with no time to conduct a dry run to assess the new format,” he said.

The HRD Ministry had recently announced a new format for the IIT entrance under which the plus two Board results of the candidates will also be taken into consideration. Under the prescribed format, for admission to all centrally-funded institutes, there would be 40 percentage weightage for performance in Class XII (after normalisation of marks), 30 per cent weightage to performance in main and 30 per cent in the advanced test. In case of IITs, there would be a filtering process involved. The Board results and the main test will be given 50 per cent weightage each. Only the top 50,000 students will be selected for the advance test after taking into account their performance in the board results and the main result.

President of IIT Delhi Alumni Association (IITDAA) Somnath Bharti said the step diluted the vision of the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru about the IITs, and added that the association may go to court to get a stay on the government decision "if required".

"This is dilution of the IIT envisioned by Pt. Nehru," said Bharti.

"We will have a meeting soon and, if required, we will approach the court," Bharti, who is also a Supreme Court advocate and a former member of IIT Delhi senate, told.

A senior professor from IIT Delhi, who did not wish to be named, echoed Bharti's views saying that the procedure has several loop holes.

"This pattern cannot stop coaching institutions, because the problem is lack of proper training in school. Students will keep going to coaching centres till the government does something about quality of education in schools," he said.

The professor also expressed apprehensions about the step being more political than beneficial to students.

Petrol may get 150 paise cheaper from Today

Posted: 31 May 2012 05:04 PM PDT

Petrol prices may be revised tomorrow with companies talking about a scope of cutting rates by Rs 1.50-1.60 a litre. On a day when BJP-led NDA and the Left parties called a Bharat Bandh or a nationwide street protests against petrol price hike, the government appeared in no mood to announce a cut.

“To my mind, there will be no revision in rates tonight,” a senior official at one of the three state-run fuel retailers said. Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum had over the past one week indicated of a scope of reducing rates from June 1.

The three firms, as per practice, were to revise rates of petrol today based on average international oil price and rupee-US dollar exchange rate in the previous fortnight.

With international gasoline rates, against which petrol is benchmarked, falling to USD 114-115 from USD 124 (that was taken into account for the steep Rs 7.54 a litre hike effected from May 24), there existed a scope for reducing prices by Rs 1.50-1.60 a litre.

“If they (oil companies) would have reduced rates today, the Opposition would have gone to town claiming that their Bharat Bhandh was successful which forced the government to cut prices,” an industry official said.

Sources said the oil companies may take a call tomorrow on the quantum of reduction considering that rupee has depreciated further against the US dollar – from Rs 53.17 to a dollar to Rs 55.30.

Rupee depreciation raises cost of imports. Every dollar fall in oil price should translates into a cut in product price by 33 paisa. But every time rupee depreciates against US dollar by Re one, it translates into a requirement to raise prices by 77 paisa.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar terms Bharat Bandh as grand Success

Posted: 31 May 2012 04:00 PM PDT

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar  described  the  ’Bharat bandh’ called by NDA to protest against petrol price hike, as total success.

Demanding the Centre roll back hike in the prices of petrol immediately, Kumar told reporters at Bhagalpur, “The success of the bandh reflected people’s anger against the Centre for its failure to curb price rise.” Kumar, who claimed the shutdown was total, had cancelled all his official programmes in Bhagalpur because of the bandh.

Police said that more than 1,000 workers and leaders of the NDA and Left parties have been arrested since the shutdown came into effect.

Senior Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader and NDA convenor Sharad Yadav was arrested in Saharsa district along with JD-U MP from Khagaria parliamentary constituency Dinesh Chandra Yadav, while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Shahnawaz Hussain was arrested in Bhagalpur where he was leading protestors.

According to police, over a dozen legislators of the JD-U and BJP have been arrested.

BJP state president C.P. Thakur claimed that the response to the shutdown was near total in the state. Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) leader Kunal said that people were supporting the shutdown as they were fed up with hike in fuel prices.

Hundreds of workers of the JD-U and the BJP forced shops and commercial establishments to close down for the day in the state.

Protestors damaged a number of vehicles in state capital Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga to enforce the shutdown, a police official said.

A group of ruling NDA activists also ransacked the Mairwa railway station in Siwan district.

At Patna's busy Dak Bungalow crossing, JD-U and CPI-ML workers clashed over burning of an effigy of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Air India employees to be paid less due to on going Strike

Posted: 31 May 2012 03:48 PM PDT

Air IndiaAir India has suffered lossees to the tunes of Rs 330 Crores in last 25 days of  Pilot sstrike and its effect has been negative on the salaries of  its other employees.  They will draw less in salaries for the month of May on account of the ongoing pilots strike.

“May is the peak season for any airline. Generally, our employees production-linked-incentive (PLI) is highest in this season. But due to the strike, May salaries of majority of our employees in the operations side is going to tank,”  an Air India official told IANS from Mumbai.

According to the official, the employees who are hit hard by the agitation are the cabin crew (CCs), aircraft assistants (AAs), engineers and international operations staff.

The official said the employees have not yet received salaries for March and April. The salary for March was supposed to have been given by May 15.

“The delay in our two-month old salary is due to the ongoing pilots strike. As under the new arrangement no industrial dispute was supposed to have taken place until the airlines’ financial position stabilises.”

Inflight service providers say they have been the hardest hit. “Our CCs and AAs are sitting at home as there is no flight operation taking place. Our flying hours are down which will hurt our May salaries,” a cabin crew in charge (CCI), who manages the inflight services, said.

The Air India pilots’ strike continued for the 24th day Thursday, mounting the national carrier’s losses to Rs.340 crore.

“We have lost nearly Rs.330 crore on account of ticket cancellation, unused labour and bulk of Boeing 777 fleet being grounded. We expect to stabilise our operations and cut the losses to less than Rs.5 crore a day from June 2,” an Air India official told IANS in New Delhi.

Dhoni ready to play bilateral Series with Pakistan

Posted: 31 May 2012 02:42 PM PDT

DhoniCaptain Cool of Team India M S Dhoni that his team is ready to play Bilateral Series with Pakistan  if the boards of two Nation agree .

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf, who was invited to watch the IPL final between the Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, had fruitful talks with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials to revive cricket ties between the two countries.

An elated Dhoni said India-Pakistan series at home would be the best thing to have. India have suspended bilateral sporting ties with pakistan since the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai by Pakistani nationals.

“Pakistan if they come here and play us, nothing better than that. We are open for it. But according to schedule, I don’t know where it will fit,” said Dhoni, on the sidelines of the inauguration of his chain of gyms, Sportsfit.

Dhoni also paid rich tributes to Indian chess legend Vishwanathan Anand, who Wednesday won the world title for the fifth time in Moscow. Dhoni said Anand was an idol for all sportspersons.

“Anand is an inspiration for all sportsperson. I had a rare opportunity to meet him once and found he was extremely humble and down to earth. What he has done recently is simply incredible. And what he has been doing consistently is marvellous,” said Dhoni.

Dhoni was also taken aback when he heard the news of retirement of England batsman and former skipper Kevin Pietersen from ODIs and Twenty20.

“I am surprised with his decision. He has been a great cricketer in both the formats of the game. We have all enjoyed his batting and he had a great impact in this year’s IPL as well. He will be sincerely missed in this years World Twenty20. It is good that he will carry on playing in Test cricket and I wish him luck in his career,” said Dhoni.

The India captain also said that he wants to make the best use of the one-and-half month’s break from international cricket.

“The break is very important for me. But there are lot of prior commitments. I have to do some work with the ‘Territorial Army’ and ‘Save the Tiger’ campaign. We have been playing without a break for the last four years and now hopefully I can spend some quality time with my family. I may even go for a vacation,” he said.

Egypt gets Free from Emergency rule after 31 Years

Posted: 31 May 2012 01:33 PM PDT

Through a declaration, Egypt’s ruling military council Thursday lifted a state of emergency that existed for decades in the country.

Egypt’s emergency laws, widely used under the rule of ousted President Hosni Mubarak to silence political opponents, have expired for the first time in 31 years, the country’s ruling military council announced on Thursday.

The stifling effect of the laws, implemented after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat in 1981, were one of the key drivers of the uprising that forced Mubarak from power.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said in a statement that obliquely mentioned the end of the state of emergency that it would continue to take responsibility for the nation’s security “in deference to the national, political and popular desire”.

The military stated that its responsibility would end when power is transferred to civilian rule, a process set to finish when a new president assumes office following a runoff election in June.
The Emergency  Law was lifted after its last renewal expired and the council pledged to continue securing the state until the end of the transitional period, Xinhua reported.

The announcement caused a wave of anxiety among political circles as the country’s toppled leader Hosni Mubarak’s trial is to be held Saturday during which a final verdict will be delivered. Also, the run-off of presidential elections is set to kick off June 16-17.

The state of emergency had been existing since 1981 in Egypt and was being renewed every three years.

 

 

CBSE to announce AIEEE 2012 Results Today

Posted: 31 May 2012 01:08 PM PDT

AIEEE 2012Central Board of Secondary Education  will declare the All India Engineering Entrance Examination 2012  (AIEEE 2012) Results on Friday June 1 2012, according to confirmed sources.

Over 11 Lakh students appeared  for AIEEE this time aiming to seek admission to various prestigious Colleges of the country including NITs and IIITs and DCE for BE, B. Tech and B. Arch Courses

The Results can be viewed online at  following website.

http://aieee.nic.in

http://cbseresults.nic.in/

The Answer Sheet for 2012 AIEEE Offline Examination can be viewed here

If you are not sure about your marks, you can predict it using this tool.

This year for the first time AIEEE  was conducted both Online and offline. While Offline test was held on April 29 the  online exams were conducted between May 7- May 26.

After the paper leak in 2011 the board is strict this time and none of the examination has unfavourable conditions or any kind of discomfort zone.

This year 1053807 candidates appeared, out of 11,14,541 candidates registered, for the examination at 1685 centres located in 86 cities.

Approximately, 34311 seats for BE/B.Tech & 1070 seats for B.Arch/B.Planning in various institutions, namely National Institutes of Technology, IIITs, Deemed Universities, Technical Institutions, Delhi Technological University, Delhi and other Govt. funded Institutions will be offered through this examination.

A centralized online counselling will be organized for filling up the All India seats by the Central Counselling Board. The States/Institutes listed below will also use AIEEE-2012 ranks to fill seats through their own counselling:- West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab University, Chandigarh, Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, Delhi Technological University, Delhi and N.S.I.T, Delhi under Delhi University.

The Counselling will be conducted online at following website http://ccb.nic.in/ccb2012/Home.htm

 

Air India to wet lease Aircrafts and Pilots from other Airlines

Posted: 31 May 2012 12:26 PM PDT

Air India has decided to lease Pilots and Cabin crew from other Airlines  as part of its Interim plans which would be executed from Today, also it plans to cut the number of Daily Flights to 38.

We have finished work on our interim plan and it will be implemented from June 1. Under the new plan, several destinations where the load factors are quite low might be dropped for the time being,” an Air India official told IANS.

The airline is expected to fully shift to the truncated interim schedule from June 1, dropping seven international destinations including Hong Kong, Osaka, Seoul and Toronto.

The airline will operate only 38 services instead of the regular 45.

According to the airline official, bookings for international destinations have been tweaked. The interim plan will come into effect on the day when Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh is expected to unveil some of the major suggestions of the Justice C.S. Dharmadhikari Committee.

The committee was constituted to recommend measures that will amend the integration barrier between Air India and the erstwhile Indian Airlines cadre, including that of pay scale and promotion.

Currently, the carrier is operating through a contingency plan under which a bare minimum number of flights are maintained by clubbing operations to various destinations in Europe and the US.

The interim plan comes a day after the strike by pilots of national carrier continued for the 24th day Thursday, pushing up its losses to more than Rs.330 crore.

“We have lost nearly Rs.330 crore on account of ticket cancellation, unused labour and bulk of Boeing 777 fleet being grounded.

“We expect to stabilise our operations and cut the losses to less than Rs.5 crore a day from June 2,” he said.

Air India has maintained that it has enough executive pilots to operate services to long-haul destinations in the US and Europe on some of the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft.

The airline is said to be examining several proposals to restore the international operations which includes wet leasing aircraft from other airlines.

The proposal, according to officials, will include renting of aircraft with pilots and cabin crew.

“There is a proposal to wet lease at least five aircraft with pilots and crew. We require pilots and crews to maintain operations to key destinations in Europe, the US and Southeast Asia,” said an official.

The airline’s performance was also reviewed by the Civil Aviation Secretary Nazim Zaidi, who met key Air India officials.

Trouble for the national carrier started May 8 when pilot-members of the Indian Pilots Guild took mass sick leave, protesting the move to provide Boeing-787 Dreamliner training to pilots from the erstwhile Indian Airlines.

Samsung Galaxy S3 finally launched in India

Posted: 31 May 2012 11:25 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S3Samsung  Galaxy S3 which was supposed to be launched on June 5, was pre-launched today in India.  The phone is priced at Rs 43,180. Read Technical Specifications and Review of  Samsung Galaxy S3

The youngest member of the Samsung's Galaxy range with the third generation model expected to be even more successful than its predecessor, helped the South Korean company topple Apple Inc as the world’s top smartphone maker

Samsung also  targets 60 percent share of the Indian smartphone market in 2012. ”According to third party data, we have almost 46 percent share in the Indian smartphone market. We are confident of increasing this to 60 percent this year,” Ranjit Yadav, India Head – Mobile and IT, Samsung told in an exclusive Interview.

The Indian smartphone market is expected to grow to about 18 million units in 2012.

Apart from Galaxy S III, Samsung has launched over dozen smartphones in the country this year including Galaxy Y Duos and Galaxy Y Pro Duos.

Galaxy S III is priced at Rs.43,180 and is powered by Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich. It has an 8 megapixel camera along with a zero-lag shutter speed, which allows users capture moving objects without delay.

“Galaxy S III is inspired by nature and human capabilities. It is effortlessly smart and intuitively simple by design,” B.D. Park, president and chief executive officer, South West Asia said.

Women comes alive after 24 years in Rohtas

Posted: 31 May 2012 03:38 AM PDT

A Woman in Bihar who was declared dead 24 years ago has come out alive. Asharfi Devi ran from pillar to post for 24 years to get a certificate to prove that she is still alive.

A resident of Barun village in Rohtas district, the woman in her mid-40s is happy like never before.

“In 1988 my husband Ramjanam Singh declared me dead and married another woman. He also managed to get made my death certificate so that I don’t claim his property,” she said.

Asharfi told IANS that she approached police, courts, the district police chief and district magistrate seeking justice but nothing happened.

“Finally, I approached the Suryapura panchayat for a certificate to prove that I am alive. A woman sarpanch, Sandhya Sinha, helped me.”

Early this week, Asharfi was declared “alive” at a crowded meeting of the panchayat.

Wednesday 30 May 2012

Bihar News, Latest News from Bihar, News of Bihar, Biharprabha News

Bihar News, Latest News from Bihar, News of Bihar, Biharprabha News


Watch the First looks of movie Cocktail starring Saif and Deepika

Posted: 30 May 2012 09:34 AM PDT

Cocktail Movie Wallpapers Cocktail is a Love Triangle based Bollywood movie  to be released  on 13 July this year starring  Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone .   It is  directed by Homi Adajania under Saif Ali Khan’s banner Illuminati Films.

The film will be based on a love triangle with debutante Diana Penty also starring opposite Khan in a lead role.Randeep Hooda, Dimple Kapadia and Boman Irani will feature in key roles.

The first teaser of the movie was released this week, you can view the song Tumhi Ho bandhu,  in the trailer below. The song has been sung by Neeraj Sridhar and Kavita Seth

PLOT 

Gautam (Saif Ali Khan) is an incorrigible flirt, who runs after every girl he sees. Meera (Diana Penty) is a pretty girl with desi values and attire, who comes to London from Delhi for a fresh start. Veronica (Deepika Padukone) is the spoilt bombshell who loves partying and drinking. Though different from each other, these three are perfect friends staying under one roof until friendship becomes confusing, and love becomes complicated.

 According to the Film Producer Dinesh Vijan, “The film is for people aged between 12 and 50. It is about friendship, love, romance and has something for all kinds of audience. It is a love story. The designing of the three characters Gautam (Saif), Veronica (Deepika), Meera (Diana), the cool and contemporary look of the film and its music are its USP

Bihar bans Manufacture and Sale of Gutka and Paan Masala

Posted: 30 May 2012 09:09 AM PDT

Nitish Kumar led Bihar government has  imposed a ban on the manufacture, sale and storage of Gutka and Paan Masala in the state for one year, with immediate effect.

Officials in the chief minister’s office said the health department had issued a notification to this effect.

As per an order issued by the commissioner of food safety-cum-secretary, health, the manufacture, sale, distribution and storage of all the gutka and paan masala containing tobacco and nicotine would be banned in the state for the next one year under the Food Safety and Standards (Regulation) Act 2011 “in the public interest”.

The health department has asked all the district magistrates, superintendents of police and civil surgeons to enforce the ban in the areas under their jurisdiction.

The order said that the commissioner of food safety was empowered under Section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 to issue the ban order in this regard. The government decision to enforce the ban was welcomed by the people in general.

Bihar has become the third state after Kerala and Madhya Pradesh to ban paan and gutka products.

Earlier  such a ban was in place from 2000 to 2005, but illegal smuggling of Gutkhas from neighboring state forced Government to withdraw the ban.

Uttar Pradesh government is also planning to ban gutka and paan masala. The state's legal department has been asked to work on the proposal.

 

List of Titles won by Viswanathan Anand

Posted: 30 May 2012 08:53 AM PDT

Viswanathan Anand, the 42 year old Indian Grandmaster has been the sole representative of India in World Chess Tournaments for the past 3 decades. Starting from 1986, he has brought hundreds of Widely acclaimed titles for the Country and kept its Flag high.   Today  again,  he clinched World Chess Championship title after beating  Boris Gelfand  of Israel in a tough Competition.

Notable Wins
1986: Arab-Asian International Chess Championship
1987: Sakthi Finance Grandmasters Chess Tournament
1988: 5 Hoogovens Chess Tournament
1989: 2nd Asian Active Chess Championship, Hong Kong
1990: Gold Medal in Asian Zonal Championship
1990: Manchester Chess Festival, Manchester
1990: Triveni Super Grandmasters Tournament, Delhi Joint
1991: World Chess Championship, Brussels Quarter Finalist
1992: Reggio Emilia Chess Tournament, Reggio Emilia
1992: Goodrich Open International Tournament, Calcutta
1992: Alekhine Memorial, Moscow
1993: PCA Interzonal, Groningen
1994: Melody Amber Tournament, Monaco
1994: World Championship Candidates Cycle, Linares
1994: PCA Grand Prix, Moscow
1995: PCA Candidates Final, Las Palmas
1996: Dortmunder Schachtage, Dortmund
1996: Credit Swiss Rapid Chess Grand Prix, Geneva
1996: Torneo Magistral de Ajedrez, Leon
1997: Torneo de Ajedrex, Dos Hermanes
1997: Melody Amber Tournament, Monaco
1997: Aegon Man vs Computers Chess Event
1997: Chess Classic Rapid Tournament, Frankfurt
1997: Invesbanka Chess tournament, Belgrade
1997: Credit Suisse Classic Tournament, Biel
1997: Knock-Out Championship, Groningen
1998: FIDE World Chess Championship (Finalist)
1998: 60th Hoogoven’s Schaak Tornoi, Wijk Aan Zee
1998: Torneo International De Ajedrez, Linares
1998: Torneo Magitral Communidad De Madrid, Madrid
1998: Siemens Nixdorf Duell (Rapid), Frankfurt
1998: Fontys-Tilburg International Chess Tournament
1999: Wydra Memorial Chess (Rapid), Haifa
1999: Torneo Magistral de Ajedrez, Leon
2000: Wydra International Tournament (Rapid), Haifa
2000: Torneo Magistral de Ajedrez, Leon
2000: Fujitsu Siemens Giants Chess (Rapid), Frankfurt
2000: Corsica Masters (Rapid), Corsica
2000: Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund (Joint with Kramnik)
2000: FIDE World Cup, Shenyeng
2000: FIDE World Chess Championships, Teheran and New Delhi
2001: 2nd Torneo Magistral, Mexico
2001: Torneo Magistral de Ajedrez, Leon
2001: Duel of the Champions (Rapid)
2001: FIDE World Chess Championship, Moscow (Semi Finalist)
2001: Corsica Masters (Rapid), Corsica
2002: Eurotel World Chess Trophy, Prague
2002: Chess Classic (Rapid), Mainz
2002: FIDE World Cup, Hyderabad
2002: Corsica Masters (Rapid), Corsica
2003: Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk Aan Zee
2003: Melody Amber Tournament, Monaco
2003: Chess Classic (Rapid), Mainz beat Judith Polgar 5.0:3.0
2003: Corsica Masters, Bastia
2004: Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk Aan Zee
2004: Dortmunder Schachtage, Dortmund
2004: Chess Classic (Rapid), Mainz beat Alexei Shirov 4.5:2.5
2004: Corsica Masters, Bastia
2005: 18th Magistral Ciudad de Leon Chess, Leon
2005: Chess Classic, Mainz
2005: FIDE World Chess Championship Tournament, San Luis (Runner-up to Topalov)
2006: Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk Aan Zee (jointly with Veselin Topalov)
2006: Melody Amber Tournament, Monaco (jointly with Alexander Morozevich)
2006: 19th Magistral Ciudad de Leon Chess, Leon
2006: Chess Classic (Rapid), Mainz
2006: Mikhail Tal Memorial Blitz Tournament, Moscow
2007: Morelia-Linares Super Grandmaster Tournament, Linares
2007: 20th Magistral Ciudad de Leon Chess, Leon beat Topalov
2007: Chess Classic (Rapid), Mainz
2008: Morelia-Linares Super Grandmaster Tournament, Linares
2008: Chess Classic (Rapid), Mainz
2011: Leon Chess Tournament, Leon
2011: Botvinnik Memorial, Moscow
2011: Corsica Masters Knockout (Rapid), Corsica
2012: FIDE World Chess Championship, Moscow

Viswanathan Anand wins World Chess Championship for 5th Time

Posted: 30 May 2012 08:45 AM PDT

Viswanathan AnandIndian Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand has won the World Chess Championship Title for the Fifth Time consecutively at Moscow. He defeated  Israeli challenger Boris Gelfand by 2.5-1.5 in the four-match tie breaker at Moscow’s State Tretyakov Gallery.
The tournament went into the tie-breakers after Anand and Gelfand drew the 12th game, Monday. They were tied 6-6 after the final round.

Anand went ahead in the tie-breaker after winning the second game in 77 moves following a draw in the first. The first game ended in a draw in 33 moves. The remaining two games ended in draws.

Anand will receive $1.5 million, while challenger Gelfand bags $1 million.

Anand, 42, has held the undisputed World Chess Champion title since October 2008, when he defeated Russia’s Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn, Germany. He defended his title in 2009 by beating Bulgarian opponent Veselin Topalov 6.5-5.5 in Sofia.

Gelfand, 43, gained the right to be contender for the world title after a win last May against Russia’s Alexander Grischuk at a contenders’ tournament in Kazan, Russia.

Russian billionaire and Gelfand’s school friend Andrey Filatov paid $7 million from his own pocket to hold the event in one of the halls of the renowned State Tretyakov Gallery.
Game one was a tense start. It was a long and tough match. The match was very intense, I am relieved. I was better for most part in the second game. It was a back and forth game,” Anand told reporters after winning his third straight title at the renowned State Tretyakov Gallery.
Anand admitted that Gelfand was a tough competitor.
I am too tense to be happy, right now now I am relieved. Gelfand was playing well, the match was very even,” he said.

The 42-year-old Indian said losing the seventh game had put him on the back-foot and he felt fortunate to defend the crown.

It was a huge blow for me to lose the seventh game. It was very critical moment for me. I was extremely fortunate that I was able to come back the next day. Given that we drew our first 12 games, deciding the match by tie-break is quite a reasonable situation,” he said.

Kerala High Court Grants bail to Italian Marines

Posted: 30 May 2012 06:35 AM PDT

The Kerala High Court today granted bail to two Italian marines in the Feb 15 fishermen shooting case.

The marines, Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone, were granted bail on the conditions that each of them would deposit Rs.1 crore as personal bond and provide two Indian sureties.

The court asked  the two marines to surrender their passports and asked them not to leave the area falling under the jurisdiction of Kochi police commissioner. They were told to report to the police commissioner everyday between 10-11 a.m.

Two Indian fishermen — Ajesh Binki, 25, and Gelastine, 45 — were allegedly mistaken as pirates and shot dead off Alappuzha in Kerala by the marines, who were serving as the security crew aboard Italian cargo vessel Enrica Lexie.

The two accused have been in judicial custody since Feb 20.

Last week, the two were shifted from jail to a Borstal School near Kochi after their pleas were allowed by the trial court in Kollam, some 120 km from here.

Italian Marines Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone were first sentenced by a court in Kollam to 14 days' custody Feb 20 after they shot dead two Indian fishermen, Ajesh Binki, 25, and Gelastine, 45, allegedly mistaking them as pirates. The two Marines were serving as the security crew on cargo vessel Enrica Lexie Feb 15, when the shooting took place off Alappuzha in Kerala.

After being released on bail, the two are likely to move into a hotel.

Venna Malik caught dancing Salsa on the steps of Madonna

Posted: 30 May 2012 04:51 AM PDT

Veena Mallik SalsaPakistani Diva Veena Malik has been spotted dancing to the steps of Madonna.  In a commercial  for Stay On she would be performing Madonna Salsa .

Excited Veena Malik Said, "Dancing is my passion. I love Dance and a Salsa is a new thing for me. I am quite nervous and excited about this project. Salsa is like good music, it elevates the spirit and it’s an exhilarating freedom".

Oscar Award winning colossus of choreography, Longinus Fernandes, who choreographed the dance for the song 'Jai Ho' from the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire' is choreographing Salsa Dance for Veena Malik.

Longinus Fernades said, "Veena is crazy about dancing. She is a good dancer and has a skill to adapt a dance move and present it beautifully. She is dancing star."

We seen Veena as channo where she had shown her Latka Jhatkas in the song and now she is ready to give a new taste of dance. Veena has completed her upcoming movies Mumbai 125 kms, Dal main Kuch Kala Hai and now she is busy shooting for an ad of Stay on. She has shown her dancing skills in this ad.
Veena Mallik Salsa
Veena Mallik Salsa

Couples tie knots at Inter Religion Marriage at Jaipur

Posted: 30 May 2012 04:40 AM PDT

Couples At Samu Vivah SammelanPink City Jaipur recently hosted Inter-religion and Inter-Caste Marriage Ceremony. Hindu-Muslim and people from other castes gathered at one place to find their soul mate in Samu Vivah Sammelan which organized by the "Help People Foundation", a local NGO.

Help People foundation chairman Afreen Ritu Rajwat Said, "It was first time this kind of marriage happening in Jaipur and I think if this kind of trend people follow so there will be no discrimination on caste and creed. Citizen Feel saves and there will be a peace everywhere."

Many Bollywood Celebrities including Devshi Khanduri (Heroin of Chargesheet), singer and musician Anup Jalota attended Marriage ceremony and blessed the couples for their successful future.

Devshi Khanduri said, "I enjoyed this unique kind of marriage ceremony and I appreciate the initiative took by the help foundation and I am glad that person like Afreen Ritu has done a great job which is an example for us to make a unity in our country."

Singer and Musician Anup Jalota by sharing his experience said, "It was great full movement were I have seen a new think which is happening in India and I think It should be followed by every citizen in good manner."

The Fate of Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange

Posted: 30 May 2012 03:49 AM PDT

Julian AssangeBritish Supreme Court today ruled the extradition of  WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange  to Sweden over alleged sex crimes.

The 40-year-old Australian is accused of raping one woman and “sexually molesting and coercing” another in Stockholm in August 2010, but he claims that the allegations against him are politically motivated.

Julian Assange was first arrested in the UK in December 2010 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Sweden. He was granted bail.

The judgment, which dismissed Assange’s appeal against extradition, was reached by a majority of five to two, the court’s president, Lord Phillips, told the hearing, as the court ruled the extradition request had been “lawfully made”, BBC reported.

According to FairTrials, a plethora of incidents can happen to Mr Assange once he reaches Sweden.  Below we present the various possibilities of his trails in Sweden as reported by FairTrials.

 

Could Julian Assange still avoid extradition?
He could try and take his case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, but the chances of his extradition being stopped on human rights grounds are slim.

So, what happens next?
The extradition should be carried out within 10 days of the Supreme Court ruling. The exact date will be agreed between the extradition unit at Scotland Yard and their Swedish counterparts. On the agreed day, Mr Assange will be taken to a named airport where he will be handed over to Swedish authorities who will accompany him on a flight to Sweden.

What will happen to Mr Assange when he gets to Sweden?
Mr Assange will be arrested on his arrival in Sweden and taken to a Swedish police station. Within 96 hours of being detained he will be brought to court, for a decision as to whether he should be remanded in custody until trial (see further below). This hearing is normally in private, unlike in many other countries, including the UK, where such hearings are normally in open court.
As soon as the investigation is over, a decision will be taken about whether to formally charge him. Swedish law requires a person to be physically present before charges can be laid, so this can only happen once Mr Assange is on Swedish territory. Alternatively, prosecutors may decide not to charge Mr Assange and to release him.
He was on bail here – is the system the same in Sweden?
Mr Assange has been on bail in the UK and has had to stay at an agreed address (a house in Suffolk owned by a friend), report daily to local police and wear an electronic tag, but has had free access to the internet, telephone and visitors. In the UK, there is a presumption in favour of bail unless the prosecution can show that there is a need for the person to be held on remand.
The system in Sweden is very different. Effectively, the presumption is in favour of detention and restrictions usually apply to the person's activities and contact with the outside world

Do people ever get bail in Sweden?
Hardly ever, especially if they are not Swedish nationals or residents. Sweden does have alternatives to custody, including travel bans and an obligation to report to a police station, but these are only used for vulnerable people (including minors) or in cases where the alleged offence is not punishable by a prison sentence. This might explain why, in 2010/2011, 24% of the total prison population in Sweden was awaiting trial, compared to 10% in England and Wales.

Does this mean Julian Assange won't get bail?
His chances of doing so are slim. The alleged offences are rape (as defined under Swedish law), unlawful coercion and two cases of sexual molestation. All of these offences carry a maximum sentence of more than one year in prison under Swedish law. Coupled with the fact that he is not a Swedish national or resident, Julian Assange is unlikely to get bail in Sweden. This is despite the fact that he has observed all his bail conditions in the UK for over a year.
What sort of conditions could he be held in pre-trial?
Mr Assange could be held in isolation and barred from communicating with anyone other than his lawyers. He may be subjected to a range of restrictions such as:

 

  • isolation: meaning that he is held in his cell for up to 23 hours a day;
  • no visits from anyone other than his lawyer or a priest;
  • restrictions on phone calls and written correspondence;
  • limited contact with other detainees; and
  • lack of access to newspapers, radio and television.

There has been international criticism of these conditions. The Council of Europe has reported ongoing concerns about remand conditions in Sweden and that many people feel that they are prevented from contacting family members to 'break' them. The US State Department has also noted that people are often subject to extended isolation and severe restriction on their activities whilst awaiting trial.
How likely is he to have these restrictions imposed on him?

The above restrictions are only meant to be used if the Swedish court believes the suspect will contact associates who might tamper with evidence or impede the investigation. Given that the evidence in Mr Assange's case has been secured, there should be no such risk.

In practice, however, these restrictions are routinely imposed without any clear or transparent reasons given for them. In the Stockholm prison of Kronoberg, for example, they apply to around 70% of remand prisoners.

Could he appeal against these restrictions?
It is possible to appeal to the court against restrictions imposed. However, this right of appeal was only introduced in April 2011 and it is rarely used.
How long could Mr Assange be held for before trial?
There is no maximum period of pre-trial detention in Sweden, though in practice average periods are short compared to many EU countries. Guidelines suggest that an individual cannot be held for longer than the length of sentence they are likely to receive. Until it is known exactly what charges, if any, Mr Assange will face, it is difficult to know what this period would be in his case.

After charge, detention periods are in practice fairly short due to a legal requirement that a trial must be held within two weeks of charge (though this can be extended if the prosecution require more time). However, there is no time limit in which the charges themselves must be brought.
Is there a regular review of detention by the court?
Before the suspect is charged, the court must hold a hearing to review the decision to detain every 14 days. However, the process has been criticised by defence lawyers as a rubber-stamping exercise because the court does not require the prosecution to give evidence of why detention is necessary and decisions to continue holding the person in custody are not taken in open court.
How easy would it be for Mr Assange to prepare his defence from behind bars?
Mr Assange should have unrestricted access to his lawyer: something that is not guaranteed in many other EU countries. However, he will not be able to see any evidence in the case against him until the investigation has formally closed. Swedish law usually requires a trial to be held within two weeks of the closing of an investigation, so this gives him very little time to go through the evidence and prepare his defence, unless the court agrees to an extension of time for the trial date.

IIT Professors feel cheated with new pattern of IIT JEE

Posted: 30 May 2012 03:23 AM PDT

Even as the government has decided to go ahead with a new pattern for the joint entrance exam for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT-JEE), the teachers and alumni of the IITs are not happy, some even planning to approach the courts.

According to sources, as many as five out of seven senates of the IITs had expressed opposition to the idea but the government chose to proceed regardless.

President of IIT Delhi Alumni Association (IITDAA) Somnath Bharti said the step diluted the vision of the country’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru about the IITs, and added that the association may go to court to get a stay on the government decision “if required”.

“This is dilution of the IIT envisioned by Pt. Nehru,” said Bharti.

“We will have a meeting soon and, if required, we will approach the court,” Bharti, who is also a Supreme Court advocate and a former member of IIT Delhi senate, told IANS.

He added that they felt cheated as the HRD minister had assured them that the government would not proceed with any change if there is dissent. According to sources, except for the senates of IIT Roorkee and Chennai, all others were adverse to the proposal.

The new pattern of engineering entrance to be implemented from 2013 will have single engineering entrance for the IITs, National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) and other Central Educational Institutions, merging the JEE and AIEEE (all-India engineering entrance examination).

The exam will have two papers, one ‘main’ and the other ‘advance’ entrance. The final marks will be calculated on the basis of the scores of these two exams, along with a fixed “weightage”, or percentage, from the marks scored in the school board exam.

However, as scores vary in different school boards, the Class 12 board marks will first be “normalised”, which is a process of equalising marks from different state and central boards.

Bharti, however, was of the view that the formula to normalise marks from different boards was faulty and it would only bring loss to students.

“Normalising scores is absolutely not possible. There have been reports from various agencies, including from the computer science department of IIT Delhi which says the formula is faulty and would rather do injustice,” he said.

A senior professor from IIT Delhi, who did not wish to be named, echoed Bharti’s views saying that the procedure has several loop holes.

“This pattern cannot stop coaching institutions, because the problem is lack of proper training in school. Students will keep going to coaching centres till the government does something about quality of education in schools,” he said.

The professor also expressed apprehensions about the step being more political than beneficial to students.

“I wonder if the step is for the benefit of students, or politically motivated to show the government is working,” he added.

The government has announced that the new pattern would come into force in 2013, and the next Lok Sabha elections are scheduled in 2014.

Anand Kumar, the founder of Super 30 — a one-of-its-kind IIT entrance coaching institution for underprivileged students, said the new common admission examination would further complicate the problem and make it more difficult for students, especially those studying in rural areas with poor school infrastructure.

“This new process will be cumbersome, and will add to the confusion and pressure on the students,” Kumar told IANS.

Kumar also said that the new pattern of ‘main’ and ‘advance’ entrance exams on the same day will add to the psychological burden on the students and also give the exam an “elitist” look as it may end up “excluding rural students”.

Vice president at IIT-JEE coaching centre TIME institute Ajay Antony, however, said the new pattern will not make much difference and it is like old wine in a new bottle. 

“All the difference is that they will now include board exam marks. Other than that, it is the same entrance exam if you see it closely,” said Antony. 

Girls bag Top 3 ranks in Bihar Board Class 10 Examination

Posted: 30 May 2012 03:12 AM PDT

Bihar School Examination Board Results were declared last night and for the first time, top three ranks have been bagged by Girls. The fourth position was jointly secured by two boys.

The results are as follows:

Rank 1: Babita Devi of Dhanushdhari Sarvodaya High School, Bihta,

Rank 2:  Preeti Soni  of N C S Girls High School, Ara,

Rank 3:  Radha Kumari Verma N C S Girls High School, Ara,

Rank 4:  Robin Kumar of Raj High school, Bettiah, and Alok Kumar of Gandhi Inter School, Nawada, (Jointly)

18 students are  in top 10, of whom 11 are girls and 7 are boys.

The examinees securing first division were 17.59%, second division 37.06% and third division 16.36%.

The percentage of students securing first division rose to 17.59% this year as against 15.56% last year, while 71.03% examinees passed the examination as against 67.21% last year.

The 10th Class Results can be viewed  on BSEB Website www.biharboard.net by entering  Roll Code and Roll Number.

If you are not able to open the official Website, Please try this link to see the results

Students can get Results on their Mobile also.  BSNL subscribers can get the results by sending  follwing via  SMS  to 54333.

bb rollcode rollnumber

Students can also  download BSEB Class 10th marks statement in PDF format at Board's Official Website

Tuesday 29 May 2012

Bihar News, Latest News from Bihar, News of Bihar, Biharprabha News

Bihar News, Latest News from Bihar, News of Bihar, Biharprabha News


Bihar Board declares Class 10 Matric Examination Results for 2012

Posted: 29 May 2012 11:11 AM PDT

Bihar School Examination Board BSEB has declared the results of Matriculation Examination 2012 today at 6PM. The 10th Class Results are available on BSEB Website www.biharboard.net by entering  their Roll Code and Roll Number.

If you are not able to open the official Website, Please try this link to see the results

The BSEB Matric Examination 2012 were held during March and April 2012.

Students can get Results on their Mobile also.  BSNL subscribers can get the results by sending  follwing via  SMS  to 54333.

bb rollcode rollnumber

Students can also  download BSEB Class 10th marks statement in PDF format at Board’s Official Website

Other Websites which are expected to host the Bihar Board Results are  results.bihareducation.net and www.indiaresults.com

Bihar School Examination Board conducts Secondary School Examination twice every year i.e. Annual/Supplementary examinations. The Annual examination is normally conducted in the month of February/March.

Supplementary Examination is generally conducted in the month of July/August. Two categories of students appear at the Supplementary examination i.e. ‘A’ & ‘C’. ‘A’ means all subjects. ‘C’ means compartmental i.e. students who want to clear their subjects in which they failed at the annual examination, appear as compartmental examinees.

The Board also conducts departmental examinations such as Diploma in Physical Education, Certificate in Physical Education and Teachers Training Examination on terms and condition as laid down by the State Government.

Zarine Khan becomes ambassador of Education

Posted: 29 May 2012 09:29 AM PDT

Zarine KhanAfter working in the successful fun-filled film “Housefull 2″, actor Zarine Khan will soon be seen promoting education.

Samalkha Group of Institution (SGI) has roped Zarine as their brand ambassador and the actress says that she finds the goal of the SGI and her life the same.

“As a person I have always worked towards excellence. In SGI group, I see the same commitment towards their students, faculty and external stake holders,” the 25-year-old said in a statement.

“Moreover, I relate to their Mission, to serve every segment of the society and improve the quality of life through excellence and leadership in engineering and management education” she added.

Zarine, who made her debut in 2010 with “Veer”, will soon be seen in “Partner 2″, a sequel to 2007 film “Partner”.

An Interview with CBSE Class 12 Exam Topper Mohammad Ismat

Posted: 29 May 2012 08:25 AM PDT

Manipuri boy Mohammad Ismat, who scored the highest marks in this year’s All India Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (AISSCE), says the word impossible does not cross his mind.

“I have a strong conviction that everything is possible when a man is determined,” Ismat said Tuesday, a day after he scored 99 percent marks in the Class 12 science stream examination conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE).

He secured 100 marks each in Mathematics, Chemistry, Home Science and Fine Arts, and 97 in Physics and 98 in English, scoring 495 out of 500.

“It is indeed great. I proved myself and confirmed that the northeast India has more such brilliant students. They sould be properly nourished,” the 21-year-old student of Manipur’s Zenith Academy said.

He noted his family’s poverty, and said: “After passing Class 10 examination, I planned to study in a good school in Imphal… but I could not, because of the financial difficulties faced by my family.”

Ismat, a Meitei Pangal (Manipuri Muslim), has now become the first student in the entire northeastern region to top the AISSCE examination.

A resident of Manipuri Muslim-dominated Lilong Haoreibi village in Thoubal district, Ismat is the only boy and the youngest of seven children of Mohammad Bashirur Rahman, a government primary school teacher.

The boy began his primary education in a local English medium school before switching over to a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Imphal where he studied up to Class 8. Later, he joined the Sainik School Imphal where he scored 94.2 percent marks in the Class 10 CBSE examination.

Expressing his gratitude for his school teachers, he said: “Sir S.M. Singh, the management secretary of Zenith Academy, accepted my request to (let me) study in the school at a minimum fee, and with his kind guidance and advice I have come out with flying colours.”

Besides scripting history in the entire northeast, Ismat is now looking forward to set another record in the civil services exams. “I want to be an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer.”

“I’m planning to study at St. Stephen’s College in New Delhi and work hard to top the civil services exams too,” said Ismat, who considers books his best friends.

Expressing happiness over his son’s achievement, an excited Bashirur Rahman said, “My happiness knew no bounds. My son Ismat has done it and I think he would definitely become a leader to guide thousands of poor students to become great personalities.”

The school — Zenith Academy — also went into celebrations over Ismat’s success.

Manufacturing Sector rejoices on depreciating Rupee

Posted: 29 May 2012 07:36 AM PDT

While the depreciating rupee is giving sleepless nights to many, it is a huge opportunity for India’s manufacturing exporters as their goods are now cheaper in dollar terms, the Federation of Indian Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME) says.

The currency of India’s major competitor China is getting stronger by the day which means their goods are becoming costlier in terms of dollars,” FISME President V.K. Agarwal told IANS.

“The currencies of other competing countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia have also depreciated but much less than what the Indian rupee has done, thus adding to Indian competitivenes,” he added.

According to Jagannadham Thunuguntla, strategist and head of research in brokerage firm SMC Global, while firms importing components are having a tough time, this is a boon for SMEs exporting products.

“The problem lies in import, but small enterprises who are into exporting will benefit almost by 20 to 22 percent due to the rupee depreciation,” Thunuguntla told IANS.

He also said that the rupee, which is currently trading at over 55 against the US dollar, will go over 60 in the coming days.

The rupee fell to a record low of 56.40 against dollar last week owing to the high inflation and huge current account and fiscal deficits. The currency however has recovered since then and was trading at 55.60 in the early trade Tuesday.

Economic Advisor in Ministry of Finance Kaushik Basu has also called depreciation “an opportunity” to export more.

FISME feels that Indian manufacturers must exploit this currency-generated price advantage to penetrate new geographies such as the ASEAN group of countries, Africa or Latin America.

Since the 1990s, Indian manufactured goods have been facing intense competition from Chinese goods in domestic as well as in global markets. Indian manufacturers have often pointed out that the key reasons for the dominance of Chinese products were export subsidy and currency manipulations in China.

Over the last 13 months, however, the Indian currency has depreciated by around 27 percent against the US dollar while the Chinese renminbi has appreciated continuously – by 40 percent since 2005 and by 12 percent since June 2010.

At the same time, the currencies of competing economies have depreciated only marginally – the Vietnamese dong by 0.4 percent, the Malaysian ringgit by four percent, the Thai baht by four percent and the Indonesian ruppiah by eight percent.

Suu Kyi is also an style icon in Myanmar

Posted: 29 May 2012 06:37 AM PDT

Suu KyiAt 66, Aun San Suu Kyi is not just an enduring inspiration for millions in Myanmar but also a style icon with her elegance and sheer simplicity.

The pro-democracy leader, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here Tuesday, has been the picture of grace through her years of house arrest and personal tragedy – losing her husband to cancer and being unable to visit him while he was ailing.

A gentle smile, flowers tucked in her hair tied in a bun and dressed in the traditional blouse (anyi) and sarong (longyi) with just the slightest hint of makeup, the willowy Suu Kyi has aged little over the years.

The Irrawaddy magazine’s website recalled how the Suu Kyi fever first took root in the 1990s with Myanmarese women showing support to their icon by ordering their tailors to copy her clothes.

An “Aung San Suu Kyi-style front-fastening tunic” and a “Daw Suu-inspired neckline” were requests that were heard.

According to an estimate, just over half of Myanmar’s population of over 54 million are women.

Suu Kyi, who spent 15 out of 21 years under house arrest, reportedly received many gifts of clothes but mostly ordered fabrics from Yangon’s Scott Market, and designed the patterns herself.

On the day she was set free from house arrest in November 2010, she wore a light plum-coloured outfit. The pink-purple combination soon caught on.

Always in the public eye, the Nobel laureate who won the April 1 by-election campaign that her party swept, has been meeting a galaxy of world leaders who have been frequenting the country.

She has shown her openness for a rich variety of colours, and Myanmar’s many women have been quick to take tips from her impeccable style statement.

She also promised to deliver a lecture in India after an invite from Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. Manmohan Singh met Suu Kyi here on the third and final day of his official visit to Myanmar – a dozen agreements were inked between the two countries Monday. And in a measure of how she feels, Suu Kyi came to Manmohan Singh’s hotel although other world leaders have always called on her.

“…India and Burma have been particularly close over the years not just because of our geographical positions but because we have shared deep ties of friendship for many, many long years,” the Nobel Laureate told the media after their over 45-minute meeting.

“The struggle for India’s independence took place at the same time as the struggle for Burma’s independence. My parents were great admirers of (India’s first prime minister) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and other Indian leaders, but we were particularly close to Panditji as I was taught to call him from a very young age,” said a smiling Suu Kyi, who leaves Tuesday night for Thailand on her first overseas trip in nearly 25 years.

Wearing a purple dress embellished with flowers, the National League for Democracy leader said: “I am very happy at the prospect of closer ties with India because I think we have much to learn from one another and we have much to contribute to peace and stability in this region, because our goals, our democratic goals, work on the basis of peace and stability, and these are what we shall aim towards.”

Responding to a request from Manmohan Singh to visit India, Suu Kyi said: “I am very gratified by the invitation to deliver the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Lecture, and I hope I will take up this invitation before too long.”

She hoped for greater exchanges “between our two peoples”.

As I said to the prime minister, true friendship between the countries can be based only on friendship between our peoples, and this is what I hope we will be able to achieve,” she added.

Manmohan Singh, who spoke first after their meeting, said: “We in India are very proud of our longstanding association with her and members of her family including her parents.

“I sincerely hope that she will find it possible to visit India soon,” he said.

Manmohan Singh said it had been a privilege to have met Suu Kyi, a democracy crusader who studied in New Delhi’s Lady Shri Ram College before pursuing higher studies in Oxford.

In a break from her previous meetings, Suu Kyi came to the Sedona Hotel to meet the prime minister. Other world leaders including Hillary Clinton have called on her at her lakeside villa where she spent long years under house arrest.

Manmohan Singh said he had handed over an invitation letter from Sonia Gandhi to deliver the annual Jawaharlal Nehru memorial lecture.

He lauded Suu Kyi and said her life was one of “struggle and determination (which) has inspired millions of people all over the world”.

He added that the she will play “a defining role” in the process of national reconciliation launched by President Thein Sein.

Suu Kyi took oath as a parliamentarian May 2.

Many world leaders are now visiting Myanmar following dramatic reforms initiated by the military junta. Myanmar has been under military rule for five decades.

The reforms are being powered by President Sein, who shed the uniform to play a key role in the formation of the Union Solidarity and Development Party. Manmohan Singh met the former general Monday.

Suu Kyi, who didn’t leave Myanmar even when her huband was dying of cancer as she feared she won’t be allowed to return, is an iconic symbol of democracy in Myanmar, a country of over 54 million.

Born in June 1945, she was barely two when her father, independence hero Gen Aung San, was assassinated. She won the Nobel Peace prize in 1991.

Bill Gates to meet Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav

Posted: 29 May 2012 06:13 AM PDT

Microsoft Founder and Chairman of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates will meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday to discuss healthcare in the state.

The 56-year-old Gates is likely discuss a host of healthcare programmes that the Bill and Melinda Foundation plans to take up in the state.

An advance team from Gate’s office has met senior officials in the state last week and done the ground work for the Gates-Akhilesh meeting.

Gates is likely to present a five-point programme that his foundation plans to unveil in UP to enhance healthcare in sectors like neo-natal care, maternity, nutrition, family planning and child health.

Under the schemes Gates proposes to suggest and fund include compulsory immunization, timely and extensive care of a would-be-mother and her nutrition.

Gates is also understood to be particularly interested in taking up drives like polio eradication and other vaccinations, which are in poor state in UP.

Central Asian Antique tapestries to be auctioned in India

Posted: 29 May 2012 05:44 AM PDT

A selection of antique carpets, rugs, kilims, runners, tapestries and fragments from the famous weaving regions around Central Asia – known for their ancient wool weaving traditions – will be auctioned in Bangalore on June 11 by Indian auction house Bid & Hammer.

The auction will be the company’s first sale of antique textiles. The 120 lots on sale are estimated between $280 and $22,500. Most of the collectibles that will go under the hammer are more than 100 years old, a statement from the auction house said Monday.

The auction house said the collection includes tribal carpets from regions like the Caucasian mountains, located between the Black and Caspian seas, which have nations like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Dagestan (Russia); the Persian Zagros mountains area; the Kurdish enclaves of Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria; the high and middle Atlas mountains of Morocco; and republics of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Almost all of the weaving groups from these regions were nomadic and migrated to other regions for climatic reasons. Their weaves reflect a potpourri of diverse ethnicities, tribal lifestyles and indigenous customs, the auction house said.

The material used for Central Asian carpets is a predominantly high mountain wool with some exceptions containing a little cotton. The colours are natural in the older 19th century samples. The new carpets of the early 20th century use inorganic colours.

The condition of the carpets varies from some seemingly untouched pristine antiques to those that have worn out and may have been repaired or left in their genuine used condition, the auction house said.

Chairman of Bid & Hammer M. Maher Dadha said, “The focus is on Central Asian tribal carpets. They are spontaneous and are personal expressions of the weavers.”

He added that the carpets on sale have been procured from private collectors from the US, Europe and Central Asia.

Describing one of the exhibits, Dadha said,”"One good example is the Karabagh rug which was woven in the southern Caucasus region in the last quarter of the 19th century”.

“It has unusual dyes and field patterns,” Dadha explained.

Other textiles accessories include a hand-woven woollen Amritsari carpet created in 1900 (estimated at Rs.1,30,000), a French Aubusson-style carpet (estimated at Rs.90,000) and a 19th Century Flemish tapestry of a landscape (estimated at Rs.2,50,000).

Historical accounts say the carpets in central Asia were woven by the Turkmen, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Karakalpaks, Kirghizs and Kazakhs; in northern and northeastern Persia; and in the Uighur areas of Sinkiang in China.

The oldest well-preserved knotted pile carpets and flat woven rugs were excavated at Pazyryk in southern Siberia by Russian archaeologist Sergei Rudenko.

Hindu Muslim Unity depicted at Mata Khir Bhawani Temple in Kashmir

Posted: 29 May 2012 04:53 AM PDT

Scores of Kashmir Pandit devotees thronged the Khirbhawani temple shrine in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday amid emotional scenes of Hindu-Muslim amity.

Using buses, taxis and even two-wheelers, Hindus paid obeisance at the holiest Hindu shrine of Mata Khirbhawani in Tullamulla village, 24 km from summer capital Srinagar in Ganderbal district.

Elaborate security arrangements had been made by the authorities as most devotees arriving at the shrine were Hindus who had left the Kashmir Valley in the early 1990s with the outbreak of separatist violence.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also paid obeisance at the shrine and interacted with the devotees who gathered around to speak to him.

Rare scenes of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood were witnessed as locals in Tullamulla village served milk in earthen pots to the Pandits, keeping up the centuries old local tradition.

“It is precisely due to the devotion to Mata and love for our Muslim brothers that I have been coming here regularly all these years,” said Ashok Koul, 42, who came from Jammu with his family.

Muhammad Shafi Baht, 52, a local Muslim, said: “The scene at the Mela has remained unchanged despite the political upheavals. Muslims in Tullamulla have always eagerly waited for the festival each year to be of some help to the Pandit brothers.

“This is what keeps the basic fabric of our eclectic society alive.”

Till midday Tuesday, more than 20,000 devotees had prayed at the temple shrine.

“My prayers now go out for our future generations. They must not lose sight of the great culture and heritage Kashmir has been famous for. Our generation is irrelevant anyway,” said B.L. Zutshi, 75, who came from Dehra Dun in Uttarakhand.

The Jammu and Kashmir Dharmarth Trust, which manages the shrine affairs, had set up free kitchen for the devotees. The departments of public health engineering, electricity, and food and supplies set up camps to facilitate the passage of the devotees.

Political Parties Unite over Bharat Bandh on May 31st

Posted: 29 May 2012 04:47 AM PDT

Political Parties seem to get united over the Recent Petrol Price Hike and are vehemently supporting Bharat Bandh led by Bharatiya Janta Party on May 31st
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has declared its support for the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by NDA on May 31 in protest against steep hike in petrol prices.

“The bandh will be observed in a peaceful manner and all commercial establishments, markets and road transport will remain closed and only emergency services will be exempted from the bandh,” party spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said in a statement here.

The SAD appealed to all trade organisations, industrial organisations, transport bodies and people of the state to fully support the bandh call by voluntarily closing their commercial establishments including shops, business houses, markets and transport services.

Janta Dal United has appealed to chief minister Nitish Kumar to postpone his Seva Yatra on May 31 and instead lead the Bharat bandh called by the NDA against the recent steep hike in the price of petrol and the runaway inflation.

State JD (U) president Vashisht Narayan Singh told mediapersons here on Monday that as per the schedule, the CM would undertake his three-day ‘Seva Yatra’ of Bhagalpur from May 30. “Our party has fully supported the bandh call and our workers will participate in it to make it a success from state to district level,” he said while appealing to people to take part in the nationwide protest on Thursday.

Left Parties havenot given any clear indication on whether or not they support the BJP led Bandh, they have decided to observe an ‘All India Protest Day’ on the very day the BJP has planned its Bharat Bandh.

It is a very casual approach toward the solution of the problem, but it may work if the general public will cooperate. The actual problem is that the opposition is not strong enough to protest on any matter related with fuel hike and other strong issue on which public opinion can easily be obtained.

Mohammad Ismat from Manipur is CBSE Class 12 Examination Topper

Posted: 29 May 2012 04:16 AM PDT

For the first time a boy from North Eastern State has topped the CBSE Class 12 Examination. Mohammad Ismat, who hails from Manipur scored 99 percent in AISSCE 2012 conducted by CBSE New Delhi.

He got a total of 495 out of 500 with 98 in English core, 100 in mathematics, 97 in physics, 100 in chemistry and 100 in painting. In fact, even in the additional subject Ismat scored a perfect 100.

He comes from a very poor background and is the only male child among 7 siblings of a family. In an interesting turn of event he nearly missed out filling his registration forms for his class XII because of Financial Constraints.

He studied at Zenith Academy and would spend most of his time in school as his place gets just two to three hours of electricity in a day. His 75-year-old father Bashirur Rahman was a primary school teacher.

I really had to work hard. I belong to a very poor family. Moreover getting even the most common reading material itself is a challenge. In addition, the state is in turmoil. However, I still managed to put in eight to ten hours of study every day and thanks to the support of my school I managed to emerge successful in the exams,” said Ismat.

He is a resident of Lilong Haoreibi village in Thoubal distric, around 20km from Imphal, Manipur. After his University degree he aims to join Civil Services and make a difference for his home state.

He studied till class VIII at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Imphal, before joining Sainik School. He scored 94.2% in his class X CBSE examination, but could not continue in Sainik School as his parent could not afford the fees.