Monday, July 20, 2009

Redical Privatisation in Education as DEFENCE Pact Implemented and the Moon astronauts urge Mars mission

Redical Privatisation in Education as DEFENCE Pact Implemented and the Moon astronauts urge Mars mission

 
Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams, Chapter 291
 
Palash Biswas
 

News - India-US Defence Pact

17 Jul 2005 ... Thereafter it was another day and Indo-US Defence Pact receded from ... Three critical elements in the Indo-US Defence Pact stand out and ...
www.strategicforesight.com/sfgnews_150.htm - Cached - Similar -

Pak cries foul over Indo-US defence pact

2 Jul 2005 ... Pak cries foul over Indo-US defence pact. Press Trust of India Posted online: Saturday, July 02, 2005 at 1451 hours IST ...
www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=49912 - Cached - Similar -

India, US likely to sign defence pact today - Home - livemint.com

20 Jul 2009 ... India, US likely to sign defence pact today, According to US officials, the defence ... Indo-US strategic ties seen at a higher plane ...
www.livemint.com/.../India-US-likely-to-sign-defen.html - 14 hours ago - Similar -

Hillary-PM talks today, Indo-US defence pact likely - The Times of ...

Hillary-PM talks today, Indo-US defence pact likely · The Times of India - Submitted: 1 hour ago. Defence, terrorism and Pakistan's role are likely to top ...
in.buzz.yahoo.com/.../Hillary-PM-talks-today-Indo-US-defence-pact-likely - 13 hours ago - Similar -

NUKE Deal Implementation Linked to Defence Pact and ARMS Bargain ...

Add a custom section for Indo US Defence Relations to Google News ..... effort to arm-twist India into signing the controversial defence pact on Monday. ...
palashkatha.mywebdunia.com/.../nuke_deal_implementation_linked_to_defence_pact_and_arms_bargain_as_hillary_on_teach_india_tour_... - Similar -

Hillary-PM talks today, Indo-US defence pact likely | Al Jazeera ...

Hillary-PM talks today, Indo-US defence pact likely. Al Jazeera is not responsible for the content of external websites.
labs.aljazeera.net/console/node/21113 - 13 hours ago - Similar -

Left stand on Indo-US defence pact on July 8 - The Financial Express

New Delhi, July 4 : After the stand-off on the Bhel divestment issue, the Left is all set to nail the UPA government on the new India-US defence pact. ...
www.financialexpress.com/...indous-defence-pact.../142615/ - Cached - Similar -

India US defence pact news-India US sign defence pact; to begin ...

20 Jul 2009 ... The defence pact will help India in procuring US defence equipment. ... Clinton made it clear that it would not undermine the Indo-US civil ...
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    News - India-US Defence Pact

    17 Jul 2005 ... Thereafter it was another day and Indo-US Defence Pact receded from ... Three critical elements in the Indo-US Defence Pact stand out and ...
    www.strategicforesight.com/sfgnews_150.htm - Cached - Similar -

    Pak cries foul over Indo-US defence pact

    2 Jul 2005 ... Pak cries foul over Indo-US defence pact. Press Trust of India Posted online: Saturday, July 02, 2005 at 1451 hours IST ...
    www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=49912 - Cached - Similar -

    India, US likely to sign defence pact today - Home - livemint.com

    20 Jul 2009 ... India, US likely to sign defence pact today, According to US officials, the defence ... Indo-US strategic ties seen at a higher plane ...
    www.livemint.com/.../India-US-likely-to-sign-defen.html - 14 hours ago - Similar -

    Hillary-PM talks today, Indo-US defence pact likely - The Times of ...

    Hillary-PM talks today, Indo-US defence pact likely · The Times of India - Submitted: 1 hour ago. Defence, terrorism and Pakistan's role are likely to top ...
    in.buzz.yahoo.com/.../Hillary-PM-talks-today-Indo-US-defence-pact-likely - 13 hours ago - Similar -

    NUKE Deal Implementation Linked to Defence Pact and ARMS Bargain ...

    Add a custom section for Indo US Defence Relations to Google News ..... effort to arm-twist India into signing the controversial defence pact on Monday. ...
    palashkatha.mywebdunia.com/.../nuke_deal_implementation_linked_to_defence_pact_and_arms_bargain_as_hillary_on_teach_india_tour_... - Similar -

    Hillary-PM talks today, Indo-US defence pact likely | Al Jazeera ...

    Hillary-PM talks today, Indo-US defence pact likely. Al Jazeera is not responsible for the content of external websites.
    labs.aljazeera.net/console/node/21113 - 13 hours ago - Similar -

    Left stand on Indo-US defence pact on July 8 - The Financial Express

    New Delhi, July 4 : After the stand-off on the Bhel divestment issue, the Left is all set to nail the UPA government on the new India-US defence pact. ...
    www.financialexpress.com/...indous-defence-pact.../142615/ - Cached - Similar -

    India US defence pact news-India US sign defence pact; to begin ...

    20 Jul 2009 ... The defence pact will help India in procuring US defence equipment. ... Clinton made it clear that it would not undermine the Indo-US civil ...
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      Right to Education Bill passed in Rajya Sabha

      Livemint - Pallavi SinghSantosh K. Joy - ‎1 hour ago‎
      Rajkumar / Mint The Right to Education Bill has been in the works since 2003, when its first draft was circulated. Once it is passed by both Houses of ...

      Right to Education Bill

      Chandigarh Tribune - Neena Sharma - ‎22 hours ago‎
      Perturbed over the way the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2008, has been shaped, social workers and academicians are now imploring ...

      The wrongs in the Right to Education Bill

      Times of India - Renu Singh - ‎Jul 5, 2009‎
      The minister's promise to also enact the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, which seeks to make education a fundamental right of every ...
      Sibal learns lesson in silence Calcutta Telegraph

      Education bill gets wide support in Rajya Sabha

      Press Trust of India - ‎7 hours ago‎
      While favouring the far-reaching provisions in the Right to Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill 2008, members, however, lamented that the measure ...

      Right to Education Bill to be enacted

      Hindu - Aarti Dhar - ‎Jun 25, 2009‎
      The Right to Education Bill, pending in the Rajya Sabha, is the enabling legislation to notify the 86th Constitutional amendment, passed in December 2002. ...

      Right to education bill cleared

      Times Now.tv - ‎Jul 2, 2009‎
      The Cabinet has cleared the Right to Education bill. Right to Free Education bill has been cleared by the Union Cabinet. The bill reserves 25 per cent of ...

      Will Health Care Reform Include Taxpayer Funding for Abortion?

      ABC News - ‎5 hours ago‎
      The reason for so many abortions in this country is a lack of education. I'm not talking about sex education, but about moral education. ...

      Big Education Debate: Will Sibal's reforms work

      IBNLive.com - ‎Jul 19, 2009‎
      He wants an independent accreditation body for school education and he wants to enact the Children's Right to Free and Compulsory Education Bill. ...

      Breast cancer awareness bill for young sparks concern

      Minneapolis Star Tribune - Eric Roper - ‎32 minutes ago‎
      The bill, intended to fund a public education campaign and research on breast cancer in women younger than 45, was introduced four months ago at an ...

      Sibal urges school principals to make "some sacrifices"

      Hindu - ‎Jul 2, 2009‎
      The Right To Education Bill, which has been pending in the Rajya Sabha, seeks to reserve 25 per cent of seats for children from economically weaker sections ...
       
       

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      1. News results for Right to Education Bill


        Press Trust of India
        Right to Education Bill passed in Rajya Sabha‎ - 1 hour ago
        Rajkumar / Mint The Right to Education Bill has been in the works since 2003, when its first draft was circulated. Once it is passed by both Houses of ...
        Livemint - 22 related articles »
      2. Govt formulates provisions under 'Right to Education Bill ...

        4 Nov 2008 ... Right to Education Bill?, The Bill stipulates duties and responsibilities by parents, private schools and local communities to ensure that ...
        www.livemint.com/.../Govt-formulates-provisions-und.html - Cached - Similar -
      3. Right to Education Bill

        The CABE (Central Advisory Board of Education) committee drafted the 'Right to Education' Bill and submitted to the Ministry of HRD. ...
        www.ilpnet.org/rte/ - Cached - Similar -
      4. Centre buries Right to Education Bill - India - NEWS - The Times ...

        14 Jul 2006 ... The Centre is dropping the Right to Education Bill, citing lack of funds. Another 'excuse' is the private school lobby. ...
        timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1748745.cms - Cached - Similar -
      5. Union Cabinet clears Right to Education Bill - The Financial Express

        1 Nov 2008 ... New Delhi, November 1:: In a major boost to education sector, the Union Cabinet has cleared the long-pending Right to Education Bill, ...
        www.financialexpress.com/...right-to-education-bill/380176/ - Cached - Similar -
      6. Union Cabinet clears Right to Education Bill

        1 Nov 2008 ... Latest news, breaking news - Union Cabinet clears Right to Education Bill.
        www.indianexpress.com/...right-to-education-bill/380176/ - Cached - Similar -
      7. Cabinet approves Right to Education Bill, Today News - By ...

        3 Jul 2009 ... New Delhi: The union cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill that, ...
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      8. India Together: A Right to Education Bill, full of wrongs - 05 ...

        5 Oct 2005 ... Sadgopal, in his written note presented before the CABE right to education bill committee chairperson and Union Minister of State for ...
        www.indiatogether.org/2005/oct/edu-rightedu.htm - Cached - Similar -
      9. The Hindu : Front Page : Right to Education Bill to be enacted

        26 Jun 2009 ... The Right to Education Bill, pending in the Rajya Sabha, is the enabling legislation to notify the 86th Constitutional amendment, ...
        www.hindu.com/2009/06/26/.../2009062658120100.htm - Cached - Similar -
      10. Right to Education Bill-RS passes landmark Right to Education Bill

        20 Jul 2009 ... A landmark bill providing for free & compulsory education as a fundamental right of children in the 6-14 age group- one of the flagship ...
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      11. Finally, Cabinet clears Education Bill

        31 Oct 2008 ... In a major boost to education sector, the Union Cabinet has cleared the long-pending Right to Education Bill, which promises free and ...
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        Palash Biswas
         
        • RS passes landmark Right to Education Bill

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        STAFF WRITER 20:0 HRS IST

        New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) A landmark bill providing for free and compulsory education as a fundamental right of children in the 6-14 age group -- one of the flagship programmes in the 100-day agenda of the UPA government -- was passed by Rajya Sabha today.

        The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2008, also earmarks 25 per cent seats to weaker sections in schools and seeks to do away with the practice of schools taking capitation fees before admission and subjecting the child or parents to any screening procedure.

        Winding up a discussion on the Bill, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said it would be up to the states to implement the policy of reservation in the admission

         
        The load's now on Sibal's class

        New Delhi, July 18: Tasked with spearheading an unprecedented expansion in India's education, the human resource development ministry is fortifying itself — through its own expansion.

        Burdened with responsibility for more education institutions and programmes than ever before, Kapil Sibal's HRD ministry is beefing up its strength of bureaucrats and trained experts to pacify officials complaining about "inhuman workload".

        The ministry has approved a demand from officials for a technical support group for the school education department's landmark Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan aimed at universalising secondary education, ministry insiders said.

        And the higher education department has demanded a whole new bureau in charge of only central universities which are set to more than double under the XIth Five Year Plan, sources said.

        "It is the expansion before the expansion. And believe me, it is absolutely necessary," a source said, arguing that the ministry with its existing strength — in number of trained personnel — "simply cannot manage the inhuman workload" it is now finding itself under.

        Consider the dizzying, almost overnight, hike in the ministry's workload.

        The department of school education and literacy, one of the ministry's arms, has this entire decade focussed its energies on the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to universalise primary education and on the mid-day meal scheme.

        It also looks after adult education and general schooling. But apart from basic policy, most schemes and plans for schools are monitored by officials of autonomous school bodies that come under the ministry.

        These bodies include the Central Board of Secondary Education, the Council for Indian School Certificate Examination, the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, the Navodaya Vidyalaya Sangathan and the Central Tibetan Schools Authority.

        Last year, the mid-day meal scheme, initially started for students of Classes I to V, was extended up to Class VIII under a long-pending plan.

        And earlier this year, the RMSA — which aims at replicating the success of the SSA in secondary schooling — was launched, with the challenge of retaining in school every child who completes class V.

        But the department's biggest new challenge is on the horizon. Once the Right to Education Bill, to be tabled in Parliament next week, is passed, the department will be legally responsible for providing schooling to every child between 6 and 14.

        Higher education department officials are cringing under the XIth plan's pressure, too.

        Sixty-one years after Independence, India had seven IITs, six IIMs and 24 central universities — the country's apex higher educational institutions — till 2008.

        In a month from now, the number of IITs would become 15 — with two fresh institutes starting this year in addition to six that started last year.

        The number of IIMs, seven as of today — with an IIM in Shillong started last year — is set to go up to 14, more than doubling the number of 2008 like in the case of the IITs.

        Seven new IIMs — including the one in Shillong — had been promised under the plan, but a budget speech error has resulted in Rajasthan additionally earning an IIM.

        This year's academic session will see 15 new central universities join the 24 existing ones. These 15 include three which were state universities till recently, and have been converted.

        And the government has committed to adding another 14 central universities of "world-class standards" under the plan.

        In addition, the number of National Institutes of Technology are set to rise by 10, from 20 to 30. The department is also in charge of opening 20 new Indian Institutes of Information Technology.

         

        Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal has proposed radical changes in school education in India.

        He wants to "de-traumatise" education by making the Class 10 Board Exams optional; he wants to create a single and pan-Indian board for Class 12 exams and he wants to replace marks by grades in Classes 9 and 10 of CBSE-affiliated schools.

        He wants an independent accreditation body for school education and he wants to enact the Children's Right to Free and Compulsory Education Bill.

        He wants to encourage private investments in education; he wants to review the functioning of existing deemed universities and he wants a regulatory authority in higher education in which "there would be no political interference."

        "I am talking about 88 per cent of the people in India who are not talked about. This education reform is for them," Sibal told CNN-IBN in an interview two weeks ago.

        Are Sibal's proposals achievable and what impact they will have if they are implemented? CNN-IBN's Sagarika Ghose asked on a special panel comprising teachers, education experts and an audience of students and parents.

        The panel comprised Principal of Springdales School in New Delhi, Ameeta M Wattal; Principal of Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi, Lata Vaidyanathan; Director of the NGO Pratham, Rukmini Banerji; and Co-founder and Managing Director of IdiscoverI - a group of academics which works to revive education in India - Ashish Rajpal.

        To explain the reforms was the man who proposed them: Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal.

        Should Class 10 Board Exams Be Optional?

        Sibal clarified his "suggestion" of making Class 10 Board Exam optional applied to the schools of the Central Board of Secondary Education and not to state education boards.

        Sibal believed the education system must determine what a child's skills are and what he wants to do later in life, instead of the examination determining that. "Why should the examination result determine what career he should take? Therefore, the assessment at the Class 10 level should be through counseling, through teachers and the participation of children and parents," he said.

        The trouble is that the education system in the country has become all about "rating, testing and marks" but the picture should be bigger, said Vaidyanathan. Class 10 exams must become optional but the learning system needs to change, she said.

        Wattal called Sibal's proposals "wonderful" but wondered if making Class 10 exams would encourage students dropping out of school. And what about students who want a Class 10 Board Exam certificate?

        Sibal's suggestion was to have an assessment system in schools which doesn't puts the stress of Board Exams and yet gauges the skills of students. "For me school was till Class 11 and there was no Class 9 exam, and I am doing okay now," he said.

        "The issue is not how well you do in exams: the issue is how well educated you are and what kind of citizen you are going to be."

        Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal has proposed radical changes in school education in India.

        He wants to "de-traumatise" education by making the Class 10 Board Exams optional; he wants to create a single and pan-Indian board for Class 12 exams and he wants to replace marks by grades in Classes 9 and 10 of CBSE-affiliated schools.

        He wants an independent accreditation body for school education and he wants to enact the Children's Right to Free and Compulsory Education Bill.

        He wants to encourage private investments in education; he wants to review the functioning of existing deemed universities and he wants a regulatory authority in higher education in which "there would be no political interference."

        "I am talking about 88 per cent of the people in India who are not talked about. This education reform is for them," Sibal told CNN-IBN in an interview two weeks ago.

        Are Sibal's proposals achievable and what impact they will have if they are implemented? CNN-IBN's Sagarika Ghose asked on a special panel comprising teachers, education experts and an audience of students and parents.

        The panel comprised Principal of Springdales School in New Delhi, Ameeta M Wattal; Principal of Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi, Lata Vaidyanathan; Director of the NGO Pratham, Rukmini Banerji; and Co-founder and Managing Director of IdiscoverI - a group of academics which works to revive education in India - Ashish Rajpal.

        To explain the reforms was the man who proposed them: Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal.

        Should Class 10 Board Exams Be Optional?

        Sibal clarified his "suggestion" of making Class 10 Board Exam optional applied to the schools of the Central Board of Secondary Education and not to state education boards.

        Sibal believed the education system must determine what a child's skills are and what he wants to do later in life, instead of the examination determining that. "Why should the examination result determine what career he should take? Therefore, the assessment at the Class 10 level should be through counseling, through teachers and the participation of children and parents," he said.

        The trouble is that the education system in the country has become all about "rating, testing and marks" but the picture should be bigger, said Vaidyanathan. Class 10 exams must become optional but the learning system needs to change, she said.

        Wattal called Sibal's proposals "wonderful" but wondered if making Class 10 exams would encourage students dropping out of school. And what about students who want a Class 10 Board Exam certificate?

        Sibal's suggestion was to have an assessment system in schools which doesn't puts the stress of Board Exams and yet gauges the skills of students. "For me school was till Class 11 and there was no Class 9 exam, and I am doing okay now," he said.

        "The issue is not how well you do in exams: the issue is how well educated you are and what kind of citizen you are going to be."

         
         
         
        Commending the technical education in India as the "best in the world", US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today suggested her country and India should work together in the field to help bridge the gap betweem talent and opportunities.

        "Technical education in India was the best in the world. We need to work together in the field of educational opportunities," she said at an interactive discussion on education organised by "Teach India", a NGO which works for children's education. Actor-Filmmaker Aamir Khan who is part of the NGO shared dais with the US Secretary of State.

         

        With the government warning of "disastrous consequences" if a landmark bill for providing free and compulsory education to children aged 6-14 was not passed, the Rajya Sabha Monday gave the measure its unanimous approval — but only 56 members were present at the time of voting.
        "We are sitting on a great opportunity. We need to grasp it. If we lose it, the consequences will be disastrous," Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said while winding up the five-hour debate on The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill.
         

        "We are dealing with an issue that will determine the course of India in the 21st century," an impassioned Sibal maintained as he sought to answer criticism that the bill was high on intent but low on delivery systems.

         

        "We must move forward by sending a strong message to the world and to our children that we are determined to provide them quality education," the minister added.

         

        "We have 20 crore children in this country. Ten crore are out of the educational system. We have to get them back to school. When you have a dream, you don't build a garden so that people can walk. You look at the sky to get inspired," contended Sibal, who utilized to the hilt his eloquent skills as a renowned lawyer.

         

        "I agree it is a difficult task. Together, we have to do it, we must do it and we will do it," he added.

         

        "It is not an easy task to embark on a national enterprise but we have to do it. Is it easy to tackle climate change? Is it easy to counter the global meltdown? But we have to tackle them instead of sitting back in picking holes (in the solutions).

         

        The debate on the bill threw up the unlikely scenario in which it attracted support from across spectrum but with member after member — even from the treasury benches — finding what they termed glaring lacunae in the measure but knowing fully well that their suggestions would not be considered by the government but would only be a matter of record.

         

        The Bhartatiya Janata Party (BJP), on its part, had no option but to support the bill as it had brought a constitutional amendment in 2002 making education a fundamental right. The present bill seeks to give effect to that measure.

         

        Attendance was thin throughout the debate, with 71 MPs present when the debate began.

        At one time, the front row, which has 20 seats — had only five of these occupied — by Sibal and central minister Farooq Abdullah, D. Raja of the Communist Party of India and by Najma Heptullah and S.S. Ahluwalia of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

         

        The leader of the house, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, did not even make a brief appearance, while leader of opposition Arun Jaitley of the BJP was more often out than in.

        Sibal, of course, sat through the entire five-hour debate, except for a five-minute break at 5.45 p.m.

         

        The bill had been introduced in December 2008 by Sibal's predecessor Arjun Singh, who was dropped after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recast the government after the United Progressive Alliance's resounding victory in the April-May general elections.

         

        For Arjun Singh, it must have a bitter-sweet moment as he briefly watched the Rajya Sabha proceedings from a wheelchair stationed near the back benches.

         

        The bill, which now goes to the Lok Sabha for consideration and approval before it is sent to the president for assent, will go down in parliamentary history for more reasons than one.

         

        Apart from the railway and general budgets for fiscal 2009-10, the bill is the first legislation to be passed — and that too unanimously in the UPA's second coming.

         

        This apart, this is the first time since December 2008 that the treasury and opposition benches have been united. The last time around, they had come together to pass a bill to create a National Investigation Agency (NIA) and a bill to amend the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

         

        The government had brought the two measures in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that claimed the lives of over 170 people.

         

        Funding for the implementation of the bill's provisions will be sought outside the Rs.44,528 crore (Rs.445.28 billion) that Finance Minister Pranab Kukherjee allocated for school and higher education during fiscal 2009-10 till March 31, 2010.

         

        "As regards finances, we are on the job and will seek finances in the revised demand for grants. There is no way we will not have the required finances," Sibal maintained.

         

        "We will also work out the share of the central and state governments," he added.

         

        While four hours had originally been allotted for the debate, this eventually stretched to five hours, with another 30 minutes being taken up on procedural matters after Sabil had finished his reply and before the bill was passed.

         

        There were 28 speakers, including Sibal, during the debate. Of them, the minister quite naturally spoke the longest for 40 minutes. Following him was the BJP's Najma Heptullah, who spoke for 35 minutes. Santosh Bagrodia, the Congress' lead speaker, declaimed for 20 minutes, while P. Rajiv of the Communist Party of India-Marxist got 14 minutes.

         

        This, the remaining 24 speakers got 201 minutes among them or an average of 8.3 minutes per MP.



        Clinton said the gap between talent and opportunities among the children can be bridged through education

        He said the US has a good infrastructure for education and spends a lot of money for the sector "but we don't get the best returns for the children.
         
        Meanwhile, India on Monday approved two sites for the US nuclear reactors as the two countries launched the much-discussed third phase of their
        strategic partnership as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concluded her five-day India visit.

        The two countries also signed two critical pacts on easing high-end defence sales and the launch of civilian satellites. Both countries agreed to an expanded strategic dialogue, to be chaired by their foreign ministers, who will meet once annually in alternate capitals.

        After holding talks with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna for nearly an hour, Clinton announced that an expanded strategic dialogue will be a "signature accomplishment" of their governments in the days to come.

        The talks dwelled on bilateral ties and regional and global issues, including counter-terror cooperation, civil nuclear cooperation, climate change, non-proliferation, the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan and the Iranian nuclear issue.

        Clinton also announced the invitation by US President Barack Obama to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit him in the White House Nov 24 - the first state visit by the Indian leader under the new administration in Washington.

        "Recognising the new heights achieved in the India-US relationship over the last two Indian and US administrations, they committed to pursuing a third and transformative phase of the relationship that will enhance global prosperity and stability in the 21st century," a joint statement at the end of the talks said.

        Stressing on the US' commitment to completing the remaining steps of the India-US nuclear deal, that includes a critical agreement on reprocessing, Clinton said Manmohan Singh, with whom she held talks in the afternoon, told her that two sites have been approved by the government for US nuclear reactors.

        Clinton said that she "affirmed the Obama administration's strong commitment to completing all the remaining elements of our civil nuclear deal".

        "We have just completed a civil nuclear deal. If it is done through proper channels and safeguarded, then it is appropriate," she asserted.

        Clinton also said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had told her that sites for two nuclear parks by American companies have been "approved by the government".

        "These parks will advance the aims of the US India civil nuclear agreement facilitating billions of dollars in US reactor exports and create jobs in both countries, as well as generate much needed energy for the Indian people," she said.

        The US nuclear reactors will create jobs for Americans and provide energy security for India, Clinton said. She also urged New Delhi to approve a civil liability legislation that will exempt foreign nuclear companies from huge compensation in case of a nuclear accident.
         
        India on Monday approved two sites for the US nuclear reactors as the two countries launched the much-discussed third phase of their
        strategic partnership as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concluded her five-day India visit.

        The two countries also signed two critical pacts on easing high-end defence sales and the launch of civilian satellites. Both countries agreed to an expanded strategic dialogue, to be chaired by their foreign ministers, who will meet once annually in alternate capitals.

        After holding talks with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna for nearly an hour, Clinton announced that an expanded strategic dialogue will be a "signature accomplishment" of their governments in the days to come.

        The talks dwelled on bilateral ties and regional and global issues, including counter-terror cooperation, civil nuclear cooperation, climate change, non-proliferation, the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan and the Iranian nuclear issue.

        Clinton also announced the invitation by US President Barack Obama to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit him in the White House Nov 24 - the first state visit by the Indian leader under the new administration in Washington.

        "Recognising the new heights achieved in the India-US relationship over the last two Indian and US administrations, they committed to pursuing a third and transformative phase of the relationship that will enhance global prosperity and stability in the 21st century," a joint statement at the end of the talks said.

        Stressing on the US' commitment to completing the remaining steps of the India-US nuclear deal, that includes a critical agreement on reprocessing, Clinton said Manmohan Singh, with whom she held talks in the afternoon, told her that two sites have been approved by the government for US nuclear reactors.

        Clinton said that she "affirmed the Obama administration's strong commitment to completing all the remaining elements of our civil nuclear deal".

        "We have just completed a civil nuclear deal. If it is done through proper channels and safeguarded, then it is appropriate," she asserted.

        Clinton also said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had told her that sites for two nuclear parks by American companies have been "approved by the government".

        "These parks will advance the aims of the US India civil nuclear agreement facilitating billions of dollars in US reactor exports and create jobs in both countries, as well as generate much needed energy for the Indian people," she said.

        The US nuclear reactors will create jobs for Americans and provide energy security for India, Clinton said. She also urged New Delhi to approve a civil liability legislation that will exempt foreign nuclear companies from huge compensation in case of a nuclear accident.
         
         Church leaders have cautiously welcomed a federal move to reform India's educational system, as long as there is no undue state interference in their institutions.

        The federal Human Resources Minister, Kapil Sibal, in June proposed a series of steps to reform the Indian education system to make it more effective, economical and accessible to the poor.

        Leaders of religious minorities, including Catholics, welcomed the move at a July 11 seminar in New Delhi. The seminar, which was considering minority rights and responsibilities in education, also discussed Sibal's proposals.

        A delegation of seminar participants later submitted a memorandum to Sibal's office, said Father Kuriala Chittattukalam, executive secretary of Indian bishops' commission for education. He said Sibal's proposals could improve the educational system but the Church is "anxious" about its implementation.

        The memorandum calls for the establishment of an independent education board to oversee Catholic schools without undue state interference.

        Sibal's plan, unveiled on June 26, includes setting up a national autonomous educational board to bring uniformity to the educational system. Currently all the 28 Indian states have separate educational boards as well as different educational standards.
        minister proposed a law to provide free and compulsory education to children aged 6-14 and to allow foreign direct investment in education, aimed at improving school infrastructure and curricula.

        According to a survey by a Hong Kong-based brokerage firm in 2008, the private education market in India could be worth US$40 billion and would be attractive to foreign investors.

        Father Chittattukalam said the Church welcomes the idea of overseas investment in education but insists that this should be done with "regulatory government control."
         
        In Mumbai a different scene
         

        Mumbai: Though the education system in the U.S. is good, its reach is not entirely inclusive, visiting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said here on Saturday.

        "We have great universities but not for everyone and not for students who fall behind."

        Ms. Clinton said education was an issue "very near and dear" to her heart.

        The occasion was a discussion at St. Xavier's College, on the state of education in India and the U.S., where she had for company Bollywood actor Aamir Khan. She praised him for being an "advocate for education."

        To make education more inclusive, Ms. Clinton said, India could experiment and see if imparting education in Indian languages helped students instead of laying emphasis on English.

        However, bilingual education was difficult. "In New York, there are many students wanting to learn in Spanish, Chinese and Russian. But there is a shortage of teachers, leave alone bilingual teachers."

        Mr. Khan spoke of his film 'Taare Zameen Par,' in which he addressed the lack of inclusiveness in education.



        Ms. Clinton with a Self Employed Women's Association member during her visit to the Hansiba SEWA Trade Facilitation Centre in Mumbai.

        Ms. Clinton said she did not believe children's capacities were limited, though opportunities given to them were. Poverty had a huge role in the denial of opportunities, she said.

        To make education effective, it was necessary to lay emphasis on training teachers. She pointed out that she had taken many initiatives in the U.S. to promote education, for instance, a test she introduced for teachers in Arkansas. This test weeded out teachers who were not made for teaching.

        On the other hand, Ms. Clinton said, there were teachers who spent $400 annually out of their pockets to buy additional material to assist in teaching. Training and equipping teachers was a pre-condition for producing excellent students.

        Mr. Khan elaborated on her point in the Indian context. In order to produce good teachers, he said, India would have to give "top priority to education so that one day the top jobs that people vie for are in the field of education."

        As a society, "our emphasis" should be on enlightening children and not on rote learning, so that "tomorrow's children can take humanity forward in ways we can't even imagine today."

        Ms. Clinton said there was a lot of competition for children's attention in today's world. Interacting with volunteers of education initiatives, Teach India and Teach for India, she said: "There is so much else going on in the culture that the importance of education goes down from a child's point of view."

        "Let's be creative"

        Sharing his experience, one volunteer said children would tell her point blank if her lessons got boring.

        To keep students constantly engaged, Ms. Clinton said, it was important to use technology effectively. "Let's be creative."

        PTI reports:

        Ms. Clinton visited a trade outlet of the Gujarat-based NGO, Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), in South Mumbai and interacted with its 1,000 shareholders through 'Skype' (an Internet visual communication mode).

        Ms. Clinton emphasised the role of women for inclusive and sustainable economic progress of the world.

        The world could not progress if women were left behind in development, as they were key to economic progress and social stability. "If we leave women behind, we will simply not progress." she said.

        "At this time of global economic turmoil, we see disproportionate impact on women and the SEWA represents the innovative and successful approach to sustainable and inclusive development."

        Ms. Clinton lauded the skilled artisans of the NGO for using communication technology effectively.

         
         
        Monday, July 20, 2009

        Obama invites Manmohan to be 1st state guest of his admn on Nov 24

        New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been invited to Washington by President Barack Obama for the first state visit of his Administration and he will be there on November 24 in a sign of "importance" the US attaches to its ties with India.

        Obama's invitation to Singh - the first foreign leader to get the honour in the new presidency - was extended by visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when she met the Prime Minister here Monday afternoon on the fifth and concluding day of her visit to India. Obama assumed  office on January 20 this year.

        "As a sign of importance of this relationship(with India) to the US, I was pleased to extend an invitation to Prime Minister Singh from President Obama inviting Prime Minister Singh to Washington on November 24 for the first state visit of our new administration," Hillary told a press conference here flanked by External Affairs Ministrer S. M. Krishna.

        "At a time when the headlines are filled with challenges the relationship between US and India is a good news story. In our new administration its going to get even better," she added.

        hillary said the invitation demonstrated that the US was committed to a strong relationship with New Delhi.

        Former Indian Ambassador to the US Lalit Mansingh said Obama's invitation to anmohan to be the first state guest of his administration was a "major development.

        Agree on end user monitoring pact

        In a significant step forward in bilateral relationship, India and the US tonight agreed to enter into an understanding on end-use monitoring agreement that will pave the way for greater defence cooperation as New Delhi conveyed its decision to locate two nuclear parks for American companies.

        After a hectic day of meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the two countries have agreed to enter into a strategic dialogue based on five pillars of cooperation.

        "We share a common trait by rolling up our sleeves and get things done. We have shown progress also by finalising important agreements today including the end user agreement that will pave the way for greater defence cooperation between our countries and technology safeguards agreement," Hilary told a joint press conference with Krishna.

        In his remarks, Krishna said that the two countries have agreed on the end use monitoring arrangements that will henceforth be referred to in the letters of acceptance in procurement of defence equipment and technologies.

        Chidambaram invited:
        The US Monday extended an invitation to Home Minister P Chidambaram to visit Washington and discuss measures to combat terrorism.

        The invitation was extended by Hillary.
        "Secretary Clinton invited Home Minister Chidambaram to visit Washington in the near future," said a joint statement issued after a meeting of Krishna and Clinton here.

        The statement said both New Delhi and Washington share the common desire to increase mutual security against the common threats posed by international terrorism.

        The two leaders also reaffirmed the commitment of both the governments to build on the recently increased coordination in counter-terrorism, it said.

        Source: PTI


        Sunday, July 19, 2009

        Maya hits back at Rahul 'the Prince of Congress'

        Lucknow: A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi dubbed her government as "non-operational", Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today hit back accusing the UPA government of being responsible for the state's dismal power scenario and released a "white paper" on the issue.

        Answering Rahul's dig at installation of statues and memorials by her government, she claimed the money spent for them had not affected development work and the expenditure for these constructions was just a "fraction" of what was spent for Raj Ghat, memorial for Mahatma Gandhi, in Delhi.

        On the charge of lack of development specially those levelled by Rahul Gandhi, Mayawati told reporters here that she has asked her officials to send a copy of a booklet containing details of development works undertaken by her govenment to all Congress MP's and MLA's starting from "the prince of Congress".

        Source: PTI



        Moon astronauts urge Mars mission

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        Neil Armstrong: 'The ultimate peaceful competition'

        Two of the astronauts who took part in the first Moon landing 40 years ago have called for renewed efforts to send a manned mission to Mars.

        At a rare public reunion of the Apollo 11 crew, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins said Mars instead of the Moon should be the focus of exploration.

        Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon, said the race to get to the Moon had been the ultimate peaceful contest.

        He said it was an "exceptional national investment" for the US and ex-USSR.

        The trio spoke at an event at Washington DC's National Air and Space Museum to mark the 40th anniversary of their mission.

        Mr Armstrong told the audience: "It was the ultimate peaceful competition: USA vs USSR.

        "I'll not assert that it was a diversion which prevented a war, nevertheless it was a diversion.

        Sometimes I think I flew to the wrong place. Mars was always my favourite as a kid and it still is today
        Michael Collins
        Apollo 11 crew

        "Eventually, it provided a mechanism for engendering co-operation between former adversaries. In that sense, among others, it was an exceptional national investment for both sides."

        Fellow astronaut Mr Aldrin spoke of the inspiration provided by then-President John F Kennedy which led to the "betterment of America, and ultimately the ending of the Cold War".

        "Apollo 11 is a symbol of what a great nation and a great people can do if we work hard, work together and have strong leaders with vision and determination," he said.

        But he also pushed for a mission to Mars: "The best way to honour and remember all those who were part of the Apollo programme is to follow in our footsteps; to boldly go again on a new mission of exploration."

        Mr Collins, who circled the Moon alone while Mr Armstrong and Mr Aldrin walked on it, said Mars was more interesting than the Moon.

        "Sometimes I think I flew to the wrong place. Mars was always my favourite as a kid and it still is today."

        HAVE YOUR SAY
        Man's first crossing to the Red Planet should be undertaken as a team effort
        Yvonne Miranthis, Cyprus

        He urged further exploration, saying: "I worry that the current emphasis on returning to the Moon will cause us to become ensnared in a technological briar patch needlessly delaying for decades the exploration of Mars - a much more worthwhile destination."

        The US space agency's currently stated aim is to return astronauts to the Moon by 2020. But that vision is under review, along with the space vehicles that would get them there.

        Nasa is due to retire its space shuttles next year and replace them with the Orion spacecraft, an Apollo-like capsule that would launch on a new rocket called Ares 1.

        Another rocket, Ares V, would have the capability to launch heavy payloads - service and cargo modules - that would be needed to service Moon missions.



        APOLLO ESSAYS
        Moon (Nasa) The magic of Apollo
        VIDEO AND ARCHIVE REPORTS
        Neil Armstrong Armstrong: Apollo's peace 'investment'
        Footage from the Apollo 11 moon landing Enhanced Moon footage revealed
        Don Eyles 'Beatnik' who put first men on Moon
        John Olson, Nasa Nasa on return to Moon and Mars
        Journalists in the Apollo 11 newsroom Moon-landing madness among media
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        FROM OTHER NEWS SITES
        Mail Online UK Neil Armstrong makes rare public appearance as the three Apollo 11 astronauts are reunited - 1 hr ago
        The Independent Astronauts urge Mars leap new - 1 hr ago
        Boston Globe Apollo 11 crew: Moon less interesting than Mars - 3 hrs ago
        Al Jazeera Apollo astronauts urge Mars leap - 4 hrs ago
        Times Online Armstrong steps cautiously into Moon debate - 5 hrs ago

         
        Monday, July 20, 2009

        Nano likely to worsen the traffic problem: HC

        New Delhi: The much-acclaimed low-cost car Nano, which recently hit the roads, could worsen road traffic by adding to the growth of private vehicles in the coming days, a Delhi High Court JudgeM onday said.

        "All Indian cities are already struggling with traffic flow problem due to various types of vehicles on the road, lack of need-based road and traffic design and engineering and the unchecked growth of private vehicles and with the entry of the new cheap car Nano on the road, the situation is likely to get worsen," Justice Kailash Gambir said.

        The Court made the remarks while delivering its verdict in the BMW hit-and-run case involving Sanjeev Nanda in which his sentence was reduced to two years from five years for mowing down six persons 10 years ago.

        The Court also pulled up the Centre for its "apathy" towards public safety on roads and made a slew of recommendations for road safety.

        "There are no stop signs, no speed limits and as heavy vehicles go zig-zak on the roads, it is hard to ignore the disturbing reality that many commercial and private drivers are drunk and no one checks them," the court said.

        While referring to a report, the court pointed out that India road mishaps account for ten percent of the toll, which is three times higher than that prevailing in developed countries despite having less that one percent of the world vehicle population.

        "The statistics clearly denote that government has not taken road safety very seriously so far and does not have a comprehensive policy on road safety. Public safety is the last in the list of the priorities of the governmenmt," the court said.

        It said road accidents cause an annual loss of Rs 55,000 crore to the country, which is three percent of GDP.

        "Slayer BRT corridors, Killer blueline buses and slaughterer Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and very recently unfortunately Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, for which every citizen is most proud of, has joined the list of state apathy towards the citizens," the court said.

        The court passed a slew recommendations to the government to ensure proper road safety which included installation of CCTVs cameras on major roads.

        It said there should be proper and strict implementation of laws for minimum age of consumption of liquor and proper light on the streets and better maintenance of roads to reduce accidents on roads.

        The court also said there was a need for introspection for the judicial system so that the justice delivery system was not interrupted by people with doubtful integrity.

        Source: PTI

        Monday, July 20, 2009

        Deora hits out at Ambanis, says people own gas

        New Delhi: Amidst the legal battle between RIL and and RNRL over gas from Kaveri basin, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora Monday hit out at the Ambani brothers for fighting over a natural resource that belongs to the government and the people of the country.

        "I am personally appalled and disgusted at how these two brothers are fighting over something that belongs to the government and the people of India, Deora said, adding, "It does not belong to them."

        Incidentally, Anil Ambani has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh virtually accusing virtually the Oil Ministry of doing a volte-face on gas pricing, saying its stand in the Supreme Court was in total variance with what it had said in Parliament.

        Seeking protection against what he called the overt and covert attempts and "partisan and biased approach" of the Petroleum Ministry to intervene in a commercial dispute with RIL, Anil wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh offering to meet and explain the issues.

        The government in a separate petition filed last week in the Supreme Court has asserted its rights to fix gas prices and its utilisation.

        Source: PTI

        Monday, July 20, 2009

        Ordnance Factory celebrates 25th anniversary; to enhance ICVs production

        Ordnance Factory celebrates 25th anniversary; to enhance ICVs production

        People look at the bullet-proof Ambassador car displayed at the Ordnance Factory in Medak district, about 60km from Hyderabad on Sunday on the occassion of their Silver Jubilee celebrations. Ordnance Factory, Medak produces an array of mine and bullet proof vehicles including the Ambassador car, Maruti Gypsy, TATA-407 and Tata Safari for use by State Police and Paramilitary Forces and also produces Infantary Combat Vehicles (ICVs) for the Indian Army.

        Hyderabad: The Ordnance Factory Board would enhance production capacity of the factories to meet the increasing demand from the Army for the defence equipment, the Board's Chairperson Saroj Vinayek said on Sundday.

        The current production capacity of the Ordnance Factory in Medak, near here, is 125 BMPs (called as Infantry Combat

        Vehicles-ICVs) and it will be enhanced, she told reporters here.


        Monday, July 20, 2009

        10 years after Kargil, Bofors upgrade hangs fire

        New Delhi: On the tenth anniversary of the Kargil conflict, the gun that did so much to facilitate that victory — the 155 mm Bofors FH-77B — could be staring at a major setback. With India's artillery modernisation programme already stalled, the plan to refurbish and upgrade India's old 155 mm FH-77B Bofors guns also seems headed for failure.

        The reason: the Indian Army, long accused of framing its equipment requirements unrealistically, apparently wants the upgraded Bofors gun to deliver better performance than new guns in the market today.

        The company that made the guns — Sweden's Bofors AB, now owned by British multinational BAE Systems — has examined the army's technical demands and decided not to bid, since the demands are unrealistic. Industry sources close to the tender describe it as "a high-tech wish list" that fails to recognise the limitations in upgrading a 20-year-old gun.


        According to this source, "Some of the requirements in the upgrade for these 20-year-old guns are more extreme than the requirements for new builds of the FH-77B."

        The tender for modernising the Bofors FH-77B, involves overhauling the gun, fitting a state-of-the-art sighting system, and upgrading the barrels from 39 calibre to 52 calibre. The barrel upgrade will allow the guns to fire heavier ammunition, inflicting heavier damage on targets.

        Brigadier Khutab Hai, Chief Executive of Mahindra Defence Systems (MDS), which partners BAE Systems in India, confirms, "It is true that we didn't respond. We have given the MoD (Ministry of Defence) our reasons. I would not like to comment on why we are not participating, other than to say that some of the specifications asked for by the army cannot be met technically." BAE Systems India declined to comment.

        Undeterred by Bofors' withdrawal, the MoD-owned Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) and the Tata group have stepped forward and bid for the Bofors upgrade programme. Neither has ever developed an artillery gun earlier. The OFB, however, has the technical drawings of the Bofors FH-77B gun, which were handed over by Bofors when India signed the contract in the mid-1980s.

        In an interview in September 2007, then OFB Chairman Sudipta Ghosh — currently in CBI custody in a corruption investigation — had told this correspondent, "The Bofors gun has not been productionised (sic) here, but [Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur] has all the drawings…. and based on those, we have indigenised [some parts of the Bofors gun].


        Allegations of kickbacks in the 1986 Bofors deal had made it politically difficult to manufacture the guns in India. Eventually, the US $1.4 billion contract ended with the purchase of 410 "made-in-Sweden" guns. The part that was really advantageous for India — the indigenous manufacture of another 1170 guns under transfer of technology (ToT) — never took place.

        Attempts to fill the resulting shortfall of artillery guns have been stymied over the last decade by erratic procurement practices and unrealistic technical demands. Since 2003, through several rounds of trials, the guns offered by three of the world's leading artillery manufacturers — Bofors of Sweden, Denel of South Africa and Soltam Systems of Israel — have repeatedly failed to meet Indian Army expectations.

        For BAE Systems, the decision not to bid was a difficult one. It had set up a JV with MDS — with BAE Systems holding a 26% stake, the maximum permissible — primarily to build artillery systems in India. Last year the JV had written to the MoD offering a sweetener: if it won artillery deals like the Bofors upgrade, it would give the Indian defence production establishment a share of the work.
        The OFB would be given the work of manufacturing the gun barrels; public sector Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) could make the sighting systems; while the gun trails and gun carriages (on which the guns rest, fire and move) would be built in the new BAE-MDS factory in Faridabad.

        Despite all this, BAE Systems has not bid. Industry sources say BAE is confident that the OFB and the Tatas will prove technically unable to upgrade the Bofors guns. Their bids have been resting in the MoD since early 2009.  

        Source: Business Standard

         
        Sunday, July 19, 2009

        ISRO to study in detail July 22 solar eclipse

        Thiruvananthapuram/Kolkata/Bhopal: G Madhavan Nair, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has said that India plans to study in detail the effects of total solar eclipse on July 22.

        "We are trying to see the effect on the ionosphere and the atmosphere when the solar eclipse takes place. So, we have to collect the data during this period and then one has to go through the details," Nair said in Thiruvananthapuram.

        India will witness a total solar eclipse on July 22, the last of the kind to be visible in the country for the next 105 years.

        A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and the earth, blocking out the sun from the areas in the moon''s shadow. Without the sun''s light, the sky darkens enough for stars to be seen and the corona makes a spectacular halo around the moon.

        The upcoming solar eclipse has roused interest in astronomy leading to a heavy rush in planetariums across the country.

        In Kolkata, people flocked to the MP Birla Planetarium to watch a special show on solar eclipse.

        "I have come here to see a special show on solar eclipse," said Manjunath, a visitor.

        Temples in Bhopal are also witnessing a heavy rush of devotees, as most of them believe that offering prayers and rituals can ward off the possible ill effects of the eclipse.

        "We are all informed about the solar eclipse that will take place on July 22 morning. If we pray to God, we are sure we will get rid of all obstacles and ill effects," said Bhagwandas Sabnani, an organiser.

        After the solar eclipse on July 22, the next one will be visible in the Indian sub-continent only 105 years later, on June 3, 2114.

        The total duration of the eclipse will be six minutes thirty-nine seconds, visible over the Pacific Ocean.

        Source: ANI

        Monday, July 20, 2009

        How, where, when ... Kasab tells all in confessional statement

        Mumbai: Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, the main accused in the Mumbai terror attacks, Monday confessed to his role, admitted he was a Pakistani and narrated in chilling detail the events leading to the killing spree that left 180 people dead in the boldest terror assault India has seen.

        In a dramatic twist to the 26/11 case, Kasab also recounted how he and his associates undertook the sea voyage from Karachi to Mumbai to strike at 13 locations here on the night of Nov 26, 2008.
        His sudden and unexpected confession took Special Judge M.L. Tahilyani and others by surprise. Kasab started by addressing Tahilyani in Urdu: "Sir, I want to make a confession in the court. I plead guilty to the crimes for which I have been charged."

        The confession, which comes as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in India for a five-day visit, could prove to be a boost for India's stand vis-?-vis Pakistan on the issue of terror.

        Kasab's confession included minute details of his role in the attacks on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Cama Hospital nearby.

        He revealed in the court names of his Pakistani handlers, including Abu Hamza, Abu Jindal, Abu Kafa and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who saw them off when they boarded a ship at Karachi.

        Hamza, who Indian intelligence agencies believe was behind the attack on the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore in December 2005, advised them on how to go about the terror attacks, said Kasab. He also described how he placed a bomb in a taxi that later exploded at Mazagaon, a south Mumbai area.

        Naming Lakhvi of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as "the mastermind" behind the Mumbai mayhem, Kasab recounted how he and his associate Abu Ismail (who was shot by the police) went to a CST public toilet and assembled one of the bombs by installing a timer on it for use later.
        He stunned the courtroom by giving details of his encounters with then Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare and his associate Vijay Salaskar inside Cama Hospital and how he finally killed him.

        It was in the same firefight that the terror duo killed another senior police official, Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte, before hijacking a police jeep and escaping toward Girgaum Chowpatty.

        Kasab was arrested by a group of police who had set up a road block there on the morning of Nov 27. The siege of the city that began Nov 26 night finally ended on the morning of Nov 29.
        Kasab described how the entire journey from Karachi to Mumbai was completed in four different boats at various locations in the Arabian Sea and how they finally landed in South Mumbai's Colaba in an inflatable rubber dingy, opposite Badhwar Park, the residence of top railway officials.
        Finally, they hailed public taxis to go to different locations that night (Nov 26) to carry out the biggest terror strikes on the country.

        Kasab interspersed his shocking confessional with the statements given by several of the 124 witnesses already examined by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam to prove his point.
        All through his confession, he kept naming his handlers and his associate Abu Ismail, who gave detailed instructions, maps, weapons and other equipment to the 10-member group for the terror attacks.

        According to Nikam, Kasab's confession came after he discussed the entire issue with his government-appointed lawyer S.G. Abbas Kazmi.

        "This is a victory of truth, and a victory for the prosecution. His confession came all of a sudden and he has admitted to all the crimes against him," Nikam said.

        Source: IANS

        Monday, July 20, 2009

        The smile is back: Indian economy starts looking up

        India Inc has something to cheer about

        India Inc has something to cheer about

        The first sign that the Indian economy is slowly recovering from the fallouts of global recession has come from the Q1 results of companies. The operating margins of the early birds — 118 companies that have declared their first quarter results so far — improved sharply, backed by a healthy increase in net profit.

        The encouraging sign is that their operating margins went up 17.9 per cent, which is higher by 200 basis points year-on-year and 290 basis points over the sequential quarter.

        The software companies, which were hard hit by recession, showed signs of recovery.  India's largest IT services provider, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), reported a net profit of Rs 1,534 crore -- up 19 per cent year-on-year (YoY) for the first quarter ended June 30, 2009. Its revenue for the same period stood at Rs 7,207 crore -- up 12 per cent YoY. Infosys Technologies, India's second largest software exporter, beat market expectations to post a 17.3 per cent rise in first quarter net profit to Rs 1,527 crore. The 6 per cent appreciation of the rupee helped software companies post gains on hedged export revenue.

        The manufacturing sector too posted impressive results. Almost all front-line and mid-size companies led by Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Auto, Crompton Greaves, Exide Industries, Kirloskar Brothers and Jubilant Organosys reported a decent increase in margins.

        The quarter saw a sharp decline in operating costs, higher price realisation owing to the decline in global commodity prices and greater operational efficiencies and changes in the accounting policy on mark-to-market losses.

        As many as 65 companies reported increase in net profit, with Jubilant Organosys, Infotech Enterprises, VST Industries and JK Tyre reporting over 100 per cent jump.

        L&T did well with a 15 per cent rise in net profit while Crompton Greaves reported 29 per cent rise despite a single digit growth in sales.

        Bajaj Auto did well posting 67.6 per cent rise in net profit on almost flat sales. Dhampur Sugar Mills reported net profit of Rs 11.14 crore against net loss of Rs 23.54 crore in the same quarter of last year. The early trend indicates that cement, foods processing, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals and two-wheeler companies will do much better than in previous quarters.



        Commending the technical education in India as the "best in the world", US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today suggested her country and India should work together in the field to help bridge the gap betweem talent and opportunities.

        "Technical education in India was the best in the world. We need to work together in the field of educational opportunities," she said at an interactive discussion on education organised by "Teach India", a NGO which works for children's education. Actor-Filmmaker Aamir Khan who is part of the NGO shared dais with the US Secretary of State.

        Clinton said the gap between talent and opportunities among the children can be bridged through education

        He said the US has a good infrastructure for education and spends a lot of money for the sector "but we don't get the best returns for the children.
        SEE ALSO
        US and India agree defence pact
        20 Jul 09 |  South Asia
        Clinton seeks goodwill in India
        18 Jul 09 |  South Asia
        Clinton seeks to deepen Indian ties
        17 Jul 09 |  Americas
        Diplomatic test for Clinton in India
        17 Jul 09 |  South Asia
        Obama pledges 'close' India ties
        12 Nov 08 |  South Asia
        A win-win situation for India
        09 Oct 08 |  South Asia
        Indian joy over US nuclear deal
        02 Oct 08 |  South Asia

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        Teaching good regulation
         
        The recent indictment of education regulators on corruption charges makes it imperative to translate noises about reforming higher education into action
         
        Human resource development minister Kapil Sibal has made some good noises in the past few weeks about reforming higher education. The recent indictment of education regulators makes it imperative for these noises to translate into actions soon.
        The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) late last week took action against a number of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) members on charges of corruption. CBI said it found assets worth around Rs2 crore with AICTE chairman Ram Avatar Yadav and adviser H.C. Rai, while it arrested member secretary K. Narayana Rao and S.B. Subba Rao for accepting a bribe from an engineering college in Andhra Pradesh.
        Fingers have been pointed at AICTE for years now, but this is perhaps the first time that regulators have been caught red-handed. Mint had reported in December 2007 that Yadav drew both an AICTE salary and a separate pension from the University of Delhi. Corruption goes hand in hand with the kind of regulations AICTE imposes: from deciding the number of seats per institution to the number of books in the library.
        This makes deregulation all the more necessary, and how Sibal acts is key. He said last month that he would try to implement the recommendations of the Yash Pal committee within 100 days. Yet, as far as changing the regulatory regime goes, that may bring us back to the same problem we face with AICTE here.
        The committee has suggested that AICTE and the University Grants Commission (UGC) be abolished. That's well and good, but the corollary to this recommendation is replacing AICTE and UGC with a single, powerful super-regulator.
        In AICTE's case, the issue is that it is the same regulator that sets standards, rates institutions, recommends penalties and then enforces them—for fields as diverse as engineering and business. Such concentration of power is a perfect recipe for the egregious rent seeking and absurd regulatory norms we see—power that will only be magnified with Yash Pal's regulator. A super-regulator also isn't the best bet for promoting educational diversity—an important concern, given India's size and educational needs.
        Regulation in education suffers simply because this sector has not benefited from liberalization yet. It is time these regulators learnt a thing or two about reform.
        How should India regulate higher education? Tell us at views@livemint.com
         
         

        Text of India - US Joint Statement (July 20, 2009)

        Hindu - ‎44 minutes ago‎
        External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today committed to building an enhanced India- US strategic partnership that seeks to advance solutions to the defining challenges of our time.

        Shock and surprise in Mumbai court

        BBC News - Prachi Pinglay - ‎1 hour ago‎
        The shock came on Monday morning, when the court was in the process of recording evidence. The suspect told the judge he wanted to say something.
        Indian taught us Hindi, says Ajmal Daily News & Analysis

        When the sunlit sky goes dark...

        Deccan Herald - Kenath Arun - ‎35 minutes ago‎
        ASTRONOMY: The solar eclipse will last six minutes and forty five seconds, close to the maximum. The theoretical maximum duration is about seven and a half minutes.

        Family hopes Nanda's term will be waived for good behaviour

        Times of India - Dwaipayan Ghosh - ‎50 minutes ago‎
        NEW DELHI: It was a moment they had waited for over 10 years. As the Delhi High Court commuted the sentence of Sanjeev Nanda in the BMW hit-and-run case on Monday, the Nandas couldn't hide their relief and joy (in that order).

        Mamata criticises Congress for Bangla bandh

        Economic Times - ‎53 minutes ago‎
        KOLKATA: Railway minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday criticised her election partner Congress without naming it for holding a Bangla bandh on July 17 and said her party did not favour holding such wildcat bandhs and strikes ...

        Govt's view on gay sex before SC at appropriate time: Moily

        Hindu - ‎1 hour ago‎
        New Delhi (PTI): Government will reflect its views on Delhi High Court judgement legalising gay sex among consenting adults at an "appropriate time" before the Supreme Court, Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said here.

        RS clears Education Bill

        Central Chronicle - ‎2 hours ago‎
        In a historic move, the Rajya Sabha today passed The Right of Children to free and Compulsory Education Bill 2008 with minor amendments making it obligatory on the Government to ensure a system to make this a reality.

        Orissa flood situation grim, toll rises to 36

        Economic Times - Nageshwar Patnaik - ‎2 hours ago‎
        BHUBANESWAR: Torrential rain, triggered by a low pressure over the Bay of Bengal, has caused second flood in the state in less than a fortnight taking the toll to 36 and marooning hundreds of villages, officials said here on Monday.

        Fear, frustration, hypocrisy in Mayawati action: Cong

        Press Trust of India - ‎3 hours ago‎
        New Delhi, July 20 (PTI) Congress today launched a blistering attack on UP chief minister Mayawati and BSP saying fear, frustration and hypocrisy writ large on the actions and reactions of the state government in the wake of the controversial statement ...

        Top Article: Left-hand Drive To Nowhere

        Times of India - ‎44 minutes ago‎
        Barely days after the CPM central committee's decision to sack Kerala chief minister V S Achuthanandan from the apex decision-making body the politburo clashes have been reported between supporters of the chief minister and Pinaryi Vijayan, ...

        Pak owns up to two more Mumbai attackers

        Times of India - ‎Jul 19, 2009‎
        NEW DELHI: Islamabad has acknowledged that besides Ajmal Kasab, two more of the ten terrorists who attacked Mumbai on 26/11-- Imran Babar and Abdur Rahman Chota -- were Pakistani nationals.

        Asian Forest was intact:Commander

        Times of India - ‎2 hours ago‎
        MANGALORE: Large pieces of metal washing ashore at Someshwar Uchil near here on Monday set off speculation that MV Asian Forest, iron-ore laden ship, which went down in the Arabian Sea on Saturday, had broken up.

        Rebirth of Kashmir militancy?

        Rising Kashmir - ‎2 hours ago‎
        A new phase of deadly militancy is most likely to hit Kashmir again. This is not to press the panic button but to understand the outcome of fresh geopolitics in South and West Asia.

        Oz minister assures of safety to immigrants, Indian students

        Hindu - ‎3 hours ago‎
        New Delhi (PTI) Facing the prospect of slump in migration of Indians, who significantly contribute to the economy, Australia on Monday sought to reaffirm safety and security to all immigrants and international students there.

        Lawyers asks Centre to establish SC bench in South

        Press Trust of India - ‎59 minutes ago‎
        Chennai, Jul 20 (PTI) Advocates in Tamil Nadu have requested the Centre to establish a Supreme Court Bench in the state headquarters of one of the Southern states, preferably Chennai.

        Palar issue unites DMK, AIADMK in Lok Sabha

        Hindu - ‎8 hours ago‎
        New Delhi (PTI): Members from DMK and AIADMK, bitter rivals in Tamil Nadu, today came together in the Lok Sabha to demand that the Centre intervene and stop the checkdam being built by Andhra Pradesh on Palar River.

        Green police to help tourists

        Times of India - ‎17 minutes ago‎
        BANGALORE: Travellers can take pictures, go on long walks and relax a bit more on holidays, for they will have the `green police' with them to keep away touts and the potential muggers.

        WB govt asks GJM to maintain peace

        Press Trust of India - ‎2 hours ago‎
        Kolkata, Jul 20 (PTI) The West Bengal government today welcomed the recess granted by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) during its indefinite bandh in Darjeeling hills and appealed to it to maintain peace before the tripartite talks.

        Akshardham attack suspect arrested in Hyderabad

        Daily News & Analysis - ‎15 hours ago‎
        Ahmedabad: A suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba operative, Shaukatullah Ghouri, allegedly involved in the terror attack on the Akshardham temple in 2002, was arrested by the counter-intelligence cell and the Cyberabad police in Hyderabad on Saturday night.

        217 'rail-rokos' in Orissa in 9 yrs

        Press Trust of India - ‎2 hours ago‎
        Bhubaneswar, July 20 (PTI) As many as 217 rail blockades and 928 road blockades took place in Orissa in a span of nine years, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told the assembly today.
        Zee News - Express Buzz - Orissadiary.com - KalingaTimes

        Text of India - US Joint Statement (July 20, 2009)

        Hindu - ‎44 minutes ago‎
        External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today committed to building an enhanced India- US strategic partnership that seeks to advance solutions to the defining challenges of our time.

        Shock and surprise in Mumbai court

        BBC News - Prachi Pinglay - ‎1 hour ago‎
        The shock came on Monday morning, when the court was in the process of recording evidence. The suspect told the judge he wanted to say something.
        Indian taught us Hindi, says Ajmal Daily News & Analysis

        When the sunlit sky goes dark...

        Deccan Herald - Kenath Arun - ‎35 minutes ago‎
        ASTRONOMY: The solar eclipse will last six minutes and forty five seconds, close to the maximum. The theoretical maximum duration is about seven and a half minutes.

        Family hopes Nanda's term will be waived for good behaviour

        Times of India - Dwaipayan Ghosh - ‎50 minutes ago‎
        NEW DELHI: It was a moment they had waited for over 10 years. As the Delhi High Court commuted the sentence of Sanjeev Nanda in the BMW hit-and-run case on Monday, the Nandas couldn't hide their relief and joy (in that order).

        Mamata criticises Congress for Bangla bandh

        Economic Times - ‎53 minutes ago‎
        KOLKATA: Railway minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday criticised her election partner Congress without naming it for holding a Bangla bandh on July 17 and said her party did not favour holding such wildcat bandhs and strikes ...

        Govt's view on gay sex before SC at appropriate time: Moily

        Hindu - ‎1 hour ago‎
        New Delhi (PTI): Government will reflect its views on Delhi High Court judgement legalising gay sex among consenting adults at an "appropriate time" before the Supreme Court, Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said here.

        RS clears Education Bill

        Central Chronicle - ‎2 hours ago‎
        In a historic move, the Rajya Sabha today passed The Right of Children to free and Compulsory Education Bill 2008 with minor amendments making it obligatory on the Government to ensure a system to make this a reality.

        Orissa flood situation grim, toll rises to 36

        Economic Times - Nageshwar Patnaik - ‎2 hours ago‎
        BHUBANESWAR: Torrential rain, triggered by a low pressure over the Bay of Bengal, has caused second flood in the state in less than a fortnight taking the toll to 36 and marooning hundreds of villages, officials said here on Monday.

        Fear, frustration, hypocrisy in Mayawati action: Cong

        Press Trust of India - ‎3 hours ago‎
        New Delhi, July 20 (PTI) Congress today launched a blistering attack on UP chief minister Mayawati and BSP saying fear, frustration and hypocrisy writ large on the actions and reactions of the state government in the wake of the controversial statement ...

        Top Article: Left-hand Drive To Nowhere

        Times of India - ‎44 minutes ago‎
        Barely days after the CPM central committee's decision to sack Kerala chief minister V S Achuthanandan from the apex decision-making body the politburo clashes have been reported between supporters of the chief minister and Pinaryi Vijayan, ...

        Pak owns up to two more Mumbai attackers

        Times of India - ‎Jul 19, 2009‎
        NEW DELHI: Islamabad has acknowledged that besides Ajmal Kasab, two more of the ten terrorists who attacked Mumbai on 26/11-- Imran Babar and Abdur Rahman Chota -- were Pakistani nationals.

        Asian Forest was intact:Commander

        Times of India - ‎2 hours ago‎
        MANGALORE: Large pieces of metal washing ashore at Someshwar Uchil near here on Monday set off speculation that MV Asian Forest, iron-ore laden ship, which went down in the Arabian Sea on Saturday, had broken up.

        Rebirth of Kashmir militancy?

        Rising Kashmir - ‎2 hours ago‎
        A new phase of deadly militancy is most likely to hit Kashmir again. This is not to press the panic button but to understand the outcome of fresh geopolitics in South and West Asia.

        Oz minister assures of safety to immigrants, Indian students

        Hindu - ‎3 hours ago‎
        New Delhi (PTI) Facing the prospect of slump in migration of Indians, who significantly contribute to the economy, Australia on Monday sought to reaffirm safety and security to all immigrants and international students there.

        Lawyers asks Centre to establish SC bench in South

        Press Trust of India - ‎59 minutes ago‎
        Chennai, Jul 20 (PTI) Advocates in Tamil Nadu have requested the Centre to establish a Supreme Court Bench in the state headquarters of one of the Southern states, preferably Chennai.

        Palar issue unites DMK, AIADMK in Lok Sabha

        Hindu - ‎8 hours ago‎
        New Delhi (PTI): Members from DMK and AIADMK, bitter rivals in Tamil Nadu, today came together in the Lok Sabha to demand that the Centre intervene and stop the checkdam being built by Andhra Pradesh on Palar River.

        Green police to help tourists

        Times of India - ‎17 minutes ago‎
        BANGALORE: Travellers can take pictures, go on long walks and relax a bit more on holidays, for they will have the `green police' with them to keep away touts and the potential muggers.

        WB govt asks GJM to maintain peace

        Press Trust of India - ‎2 hours ago‎
        Kolkata, Jul 20 (PTI) The West Bengal government today welcomed the recess granted by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) during its indefinite bandh in Darjeeling hills and appealed to it to maintain peace before the tripartite talks.

        Akshardham attack suspect arrested in Hyderabad

        Daily News & Analysis - ‎15 hours ago‎
        Ahmedabad: A suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba operative, Shaukatullah Ghouri, allegedly involved in the terror attack on the Akshardham temple in 2002, was arrested by the counter-intelligence cell and the Cyberabad police in Hyderabad on Saturday night.

        217 'rail-rokos' in Orissa in 9 yrs

        Press Trust of India - ‎2 hours ago‎
        Bhubaneswar, July 20 (PTI) As many as 217 rail blockades and 928 road blockades took place in Orissa in a span of nine years, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told the assembly today.
        Zee News - Express Buzz - Orissadiary.com - KalingaTimes

        Google Earth Now Takes You to the Moon

        PC World - Jared Newman - ‎1 hour ago‎
        Google Earth users can now keep a watchful eye on the moon as part of the program's latest update. One small step for Google Earth is one giant step for moon buffs.

        Mobile phones Review HTC Hero review

        TechRadar UK - ‎3 hours ago‎
        HTC takes aim at the iPhone again - but is the Hero a hit or a miss? At last the phone we've been waiting for has finally arrived.

        ISRO should mull putting man on the moon: ISRO chief

        domain-B - ‎6 hours ago‎
        New Delhi: ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair has said the organisation is planning its first manned flight around 2015. "There would be two men in a manned capsule on a seven-day mission.

        Google's Voice Search App for BlackBerry

        Techtree.com - ‎7 hours ago‎
        Google India has introduced voice-based search and maps in new Google Mobile page for BlackBerry owners. A large number of BlackBerry phone users will be delighted to have this Google Mobile built by Google India's software engineering team.

        Palm's webOS SDK Seen As Weak On Games

        InformationWeek - Marin Perez - ‎2 hours ago‎
        Developers say the SDK for Palm's mobile platform doesn't provide enough hooks into the hardware for high-end gaming like the iPhone SDK does.

        Surat agog about solar eclipse

        Times of India - Himanshu Bhatt - ‎1 hour ago‎
        SURAT: The city is abuzz with one of the most awaited celestial events of the century set to take place on the morning of July 22.

        Bose brings forth new music solution

        Little About - ‎2 hours ago‎
        New wireless music solution for the home, called the SoundLink, has been announced by the Bose Corporation and it will be available from August 27th for the serious-commitment price of $549.95.

        BSNL Brings Affordable Music Hungama

        Techtree.com - ‎10 hours ago‎
        In an effort to curb piracy of music, state-owned telecom service provider BSNL has collaborated with Hungama.com to offer music services to the telecom operator's broadband customers.

        Toshiba Introduces Satellite M500 in India

        enterpriser.in - ‎7 hours ago‎
        By Enterpriser Staff | Jul 20, 2009 1656 hrs IST Toshiba (India) has announced the availability of its latest inclusion to its premier series of laptops, with the Satellite M500.

        Space DIY on Moon landing anniversary

        BBC News - ‎1 hour ago‎
        Astronauts on board the space shuttle Endeavour marked the 40th anniversary of the moon landing by performing some DIY. In the second outing of their mission, David Wolf and Thomas Marshburn emerged from the International Space Station 220 miles above ...

        D-Link introduces the DIR-600 Wireless Router to Indian markets

        PC World India - ‎9 hours ago‎
        By PC World Team According to a press release, the DIR-600 includes an Installation Wizard CD-ROM, which makes it easy to set up your wireless network and Internet connection.

        Unitech Wireless bags NLD, ILD licences

        TeleGeography - ‎9 hours ago‎
        Yet-to-launch mobile operator Unitech Wireless has been awarded national long distance (NLD) and international long distance (ILD) concessions, the Economic Times reports.

        Who's climate-culpable?

        Livemint - William Antholis - ‎2 hours ago‎
        As the world community gears up for another round of climate change talks—and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton begins meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh—a central issue will be how to bring developing countries into a climate change pact.
        India's ugly climate belly Calcutta Telegraph

        Optima OP5-E 4.3-inch touchscreen MID

        Ub News - Neelam Singh - ‎Jul 19, 2009‎
        Optima OP5-E 4.3-inch touchscreen MID: China based technology firm, Optima has introduced OP5-E MID, a new mobile internet device powered by the Maemo operating system.

        Solar spectacle tomorrow, capital set to zoom in

        Times of India - Deeksha Chopra - ‎39 minutes ago‎
        NEW DELHI: The much-awaited `solar eclipse of the century' on Wednesday morning will only be partial over Delhi, but the excitement is total at many spots in the city.

        Expectations high for Apple quarterly results

        Reuters - Gabriel Madway - ‎1 hour ago‎
        SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Expectations are high for Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) quarterly results next week, in the wake of strong early sales for its new iPhone and improved sentiment on the PC market after Intel's (INTC.

        Developing "Dark" Flash for Better Night Pictures

        Mobile Magazine - Michael Kwan - ‎Jul 17, 2009‎
        When you try to take pictures under lower light conditions, you are largely left with one of two options. You can use the flash and get all sorts of unnatural and uneven lighting.

        'Anytime upgrade' could be 'never' for Windows 7 netbook users

        TECH.BLORGE.com - John Lister - ‎1 hour ago‎
        Microsoft is including all editions of Windows 7 on an installation disc to encourage users to pay an extra fee to upgrade from their original choice.
        Lost in the Cloud New York Times

        LG to bring Chocolate Touch to Verizon?

        CNET News - Nicole Lee - ‎1 hour ago‎
        We've seen quite a few rumors of a new touch screen version of the LG Chocolate floating around the Internet, and most of them have to do with the Black Label version of the phone, the LG BL40, that's slated to come out for Europe and ...

        Microsoft Submits Code To Speed Linux VMs

        InformationWeek - Charles Babcock - ‎49 minutes ago‎
        Withholding the 20000 lines of code for the Linux kernel would have put Linux virtual machines at a disadvantage. By Charles Babcock In a move that helps it in its competition with VMware, Microsoft is contributing three Windows operating system ...

        Google Earth Now Takes You to the Moon

        PC World - Jared Newman - ‎1 hour ago‎
        Google Earth users can now keep a watchful eye on the moon as part of the program's latest update. One small step for Google Earth is one giant step for moon buffs.

        Mobile phones Review HTC Hero review

        TechRadar UK - ‎3 hours ago‎
        HTC takes aim at the iPhone again - but is the Hero a hit or a miss? At last the phone we've been waiting for has finally arrived.

        ISRO should mull putting man on the moon: ISRO chief

        domain-B - ‎6 hours ago‎
        New Delhi: ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair has said the organisation is planning its first manned flight around 2015. "There would be two men in a manned capsule on a seven-day mission.

        Google's Voice Search App for BlackBerry

        Techtree.com - ‎7 hours ago‎
        Google India has introduced voice-based search and maps in new Google Mobile page for BlackBerry owners. A large number of BlackBerry phone users will be delighted to have this Google Mobile built by Google India's software engineering team.

        Palm's webOS SDK Seen As Weak On Games

        InformationWeek - Marin Perez - ‎2 hours ago‎
        Developers say the SDK for Palm's mobile platform doesn't provide enough hooks into the hardware for high-end gaming like the iPhone SDK does.

        Surat agog about solar eclipse

        Times of India - Himanshu Bhatt - ‎1 hour ago‎
        SURAT: The city is abuzz with one of the most awaited celestial events of the century set to take place on the morning of July 22.

        Bose brings forth new music solution

        Little About - ‎2 hours ago‎
        New wireless music solution for the home, called the SoundLink, has been announced by the Bose Corporation and it will be available from August 27th for the serious-commitment price of $549.95.

        BSNL Brings Affordable Music Hungama

        Techtree.com - ‎10 hours ago‎
        In an effort to curb piracy of music, state-owned telecom service provider BSNL has collaborated with Hungama.com to offer music services to the telecom operator's broadband customers.

        Toshiba Introduces Satellite M500 in India

        enterpriser.in - ‎7 hours ago‎
        By Enterpriser Staff | Jul 20, 2009 1656 hrs IST Toshiba (India) has announced the availability of its latest inclusion to its premier series of laptops, with the Satellite M500.

        Space DIY on Moon landing anniversary

        BBC News - ‎1 hour ago‎
        Astronauts on board the space shuttle Endeavour marked the 40th anniversary of the moon landing by performing some DIY. In the second outing of their mission, David Wolf and Thomas Marshburn emerged from the International Space Station 220 miles above ...

        D-Link introduces the DIR-600 Wireless Router to Indian markets

        PC World India - ‎9 hours ago‎
        By PC World Team According to a press release, the DIR-600 includes an Installation Wizard CD-ROM, which makes it easy to set up your wireless network and Internet connection.

        Unitech Wireless bags NLD, ILD licences

        TeleGeography - ‎9 hours ago‎
        Yet-to-launch mobile operator Unitech Wireless has been awarded national long distance (NLD) and international long distance (ILD) concessions, the Economic Times reports.

        Who's climate-culpable?

        Livemint - William Antholis - ‎2 hours ago‎
        As the world community gears up for another round of climate change talks—and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton begins meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh—a central issue will be how to bring developing countries into a climate change pact.
        India's ugly climate belly Calcutta Telegraph

        Optima OP5-E 4.3-inch touchscreen MID

        Ub News - Neelam Singh - ‎Jul 19, 2009‎
        Optima OP5-E 4.3-inch touchscreen MID: China based technology firm, Optima has introduced OP5-E MID, a new mobile internet device powered by the Maemo operating system.

        Solar spectacle tomorrow, capital set to zoom in

        Times of India - Deeksha Chopra - ‎39 minutes ago‎
        NEW DELHI: The much-awaited `solar eclipse of the century' on Wednesday morning will only be partial over Delhi, but the excitement is total at many spots in the city.

        Expectations high for Apple quarterly results

        Reuters - Gabriel Madway - ‎1 hour ago‎
        SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Expectations are high for Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) quarterly results next week, in the wake of strong early sales for its new iPhone and improved sentiment on the PC market after Intel's (INTC.

        Developing "Dark" Flash for Better Night Pictures

        Mobile Magazine - Michael Kwan - ‎Jul 17, 2009‎
        When you try to take pictures under lower light conditions, you are largely left with one of two options. You can use the flash and get all sorts of unnatural and uneven lighting.

        'Anytime upgrade' could be 'never' for Windows 7 netbook users

        TECH.BLORGE.com - John Lister - ‎1 hour ago‎
        Microsoft is including all editions of Windows 7 on an installation disc to encourage users to pay an extra fee to upgrade from their original choice.
        Lost in the Cloud New York Times

        LG to bring Chocolate Touch to Verizon?

        CNET News - Nicole Lee - ‎1 hour ago‎
        We've seen quite a few rumors of a new touch screen version of the LG Chocolate floating around the Internet, and most of them have to do with the Black Label version of the phone, the LG BL40, that's slated to come out for Europe and ...

        Microsoft Submits Code To Speed Linux VMs

        InformationWeek - Charles Babcock - ‎49 minutes ago‎
        Withholding the 20000 lines of code for the Linux kernel would have put Linux virtual machines at a disadvantage. By Charles Babcock In a move that helps it in its competition with VMware, Microsoft is contributing three Windows operating system ...

        Ousted Honduran leader pushes for more sanctions

        The Associated Press - Morgan Lee - ‎34 minutes ago‎
        MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Aides to ousted President Manuel Zelaya pushed Monday for international sanctions against Honduran officials who took power in a coup and foreign nations stepped up pressure after negotiations for his return reached a deadlock.

        Obama urges action on healthcare

        BBC News - ‎20 minutes ago‎
        US President Barack Obama has called on Congress to "act now" to pass a healthcare reform bill. "We've talked this problem to death year after year," Mr Obama said.

        Sri Lanka agrees $2.5bn IMF loan

        BBC News - ‎39 minutes ago‎
        Sri Lanka has agreed a $2.5bn (£1.5bn) loan accord from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to the help it weather the global economic crisis.

        Campaigners for evicted Palestinians call on Barack Obama to intervene

        guardian.co.uk - ‎2 hours ago‎
        Campaigners protesting at the eviction of two Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem to make way for a Jewish development today appealed to President Barack Obama to stop the settlement going ahead.

        Four US troops die in Afghanistan

        BBC News - ‎22 minutes ago‎
        Four US soldiers have been killed by a roadside bomb in eastern Afghanistan, the Nato-led international force says. US military spokesman Lt Robert Carr confirmed the four were American soldiers.

        Crews plan aggressive attack on BC wildfires

        Reuters - Peter Galloway - ‎1 hour ago‎
        VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Calm overnight winds aided Canadian firefighters on Monday as they struggled to control forest fires that have displaced thousands of people in British Columbia.

        China Says Its Forces Killed 12 During Xinjiang Mayhem

        New York Times - Edward Wong - ‎4 hours ago‎
        BEIJING - Twelve of the nearly 200 people killed during a deadly ethnic riot in the city of Urumqi were shot by Chinese security forces, the state news agency reported over the weekend.

        Security Tight for ASEAN Meetings

        Voice of America - Daniel Schearf - ‎4 hours ago‎
        Security is tight on Thailand's resort island of Phuket this week as foreign ministers from 25 countries gather for meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their dialogue partners.

        Pentagon mulls overhaul of Bagram prison

        AFP - ‎39 minutes ago‎
        WASHINGTON - The US military is considering overhauling the US-run Bagram prison in Afghanistan in a bid to stem abuses, officials said Monday.

        Iran Leader Warns Detractors on Post-Election Unrest

        New York Times - Robert F. Worth - ‎59 minutes ago‎
        BEIRUT, Lebanon - Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned political leaders on Monday to be cautious in addressing the country's recent unrest, in an apparent rebuke to two former presidents who have openly criticized ...

        Southeast Asia's most wanted militant at large

        The Associated Press - Anthony Deutsch - ‎1 hour ago‎
        JAKARTA, Indonesia - Southeast Asia's most wanted Muslim militant is said to be a masterful bomb-maker and aspiring regional commander for al-Qaida, who has eluded capture for nearly a decade.

        20 dead in clashes in troubled northwest Pakistan

        The Associated Press - Riaz Khan - ‎4 hours ago‎
        PESHAWAR, Pakistan - Clashes between security forces and militants have left 20 people dead in northwest Pakistan over the past 24 hours, officials said Monday, in the latest violence in the troubled region.

        Somalia's al-Shabab Names 3 UN Agencies 'Enemies of Islam'

        Voice of America - Alisha Ryu - ‎1 hour ago‎
        Somalia's extremist insurgent group, al-Shabab, says three UN agencies working with the country's UN-backed transitional government have been declared "enemies of Islam" and their operations in Somalia have been shut down.

        Debate Over Afghanistan Rages in Britain as Casualties Rise

        Voice of America - Sonja Pace - ‎2 hours ago‎
        Another British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, the 17th this month. Rising casualties have sparked a political debate about the country's involvement in Afghanistan and why more and more of its soldiers are dying.

        Iraqis restrict US operations in Baghdad

        The Associated Press - Qassim Abdul-ZahraDeb Riechmann - ‎1 hour ago‎
        BAGHDAD - The Iraqi military has turned down several requests from American forces to move unescorted through Baghdad and conduct a raid since the transition of responsibility for urban security at the end of last month, an Iraqi military commander ...

        Slain Russian activist's group pulls out of Chechnya

        Reuters - Amie Ferris-Rotman - ‎4 hours ago‎
        MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian rights group where slain activist Natalia Estemirova worked said Monday it has suspended operations in Chechnya because of safety fears for her co-workers.

        Pope Benedict's call for a civil economy

        guardian.co.uk - ‎3 hours ago‎
        Publication of the long-awaited papal encyclical Caritas in Veritate on 29 June has re-ignited the struggle for the soul of Roman Catholicism.

        Berlusconi: the 'escort' tapes

        guardian.co.uk - ‎2 hours ago‎
        An escort, Patrizia D'Addario, is about to enter Berlusconi's Palazzo Grazioli. She asks a man who accompanies her how to behave with Berlusconi.

        Aziz Completes Military-to-Civilian Transition

        Voice of America - Scott Stearns - ‎43 minutes ago‎
        This time last year, Aziz was Chief of Staff to Mauritania's first freely-elected leader. But when President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi moved to sack Aziz last August, the general responded by taking power in a military coup that ...

        Pakistan asks EU for weapons to fight Taliban

        AFP - ‎6 hours ago‎
        ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday asked the European Union for immediate weapons and training for security forces to help the insurgency-wracked nation drive out the Taliban.

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