Friday, October 31, 2008
The first successful and versatile music director duo in history of Bollywood
Shankar-Jaikishan were the first big successful music director duo in history of Bollywood.Their versatility and creative genius had a lasting impact on the music of the Hindi films.
Who can forget immortal compositions like Awara hoon, Ghar aya mera pardesi and Mera joota hai japani?
Shankar-Jaikishan understood the taste of the masses, were able to cater to them, as well as moulded their tastes. No wonder then that during their tenure as music directors, they were exceedingly popular and 75 per cent of the films for which their scores were hits - many having celebrated silver jubilees.
They are said to be the first music-composers to understand, realize and demonstrate the important role which the orchestra can play in enhancing the overall impact of the song.
They revolutionized the use of orchestra and interlude music of songs and made these as integral and inseparable parts of their compositions rather than using these as mere fillers, as was the practice before their advent on the horizon of Hindi film music.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Who can forget immortal compositions like Awara hoon, Ghar aya mera pardesi and Mera joota hai japani?
Shankar-Jaikishan understood the taste of the masses, were able to cater to them, as well as moulded their tastes. No wonder then that during their tenure as music directors, they were exceedingly popular and 75 per cent of the films for which their scores were hits - many having celebrated silver jubilees.
They are said to be the first music-composers to understand, realize and demonstrate the important role which the orchestra can play in enhancing the overall impact of the song.
They revolutionized the use of orchestra and interlude music of songs and made these as integral and inseparable parts of their compositions rather than using these as mere fillers, as was the practice before their advent on the horizon of Hindi film music.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: compositions, fillers, Hindi films, masses, music, Shankar-Jaikishan, silver jubilees, songs
Thursday, October 30, 2008
41% favor Obama, 24 % support McCain, 34% are undecided
A national survey of Asian American voters done jointly by four universities says a sizable section of this group remains undecided, a factor that sets them up to play a 'pivotal' role in the outcome of the election.
The study, released October 6 in Washington, was conducted by researchers from four leading universities: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside)and University of Southern California (USC).
The 2008 National Asian American Survey (NAAS) shows that 41 percent of Asian Americans are likely to favor Sen. Barack Obama, while 24 percent support Sen. John McCain.
In battleground states, where either candidate could win on Election Day, Obama leads with 43 percent of Asian Americans supporting him and 22 percent favoring McCain.
The study shows a high proportion of undecided Asian American likely voters at 34 percent, way above the national average of 8 percent.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
The study, released October 6 in Washington, was conducted by researchers from four leading universities: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside)and University of Southern California (USC).
The 2008 National Asian American Survey (NAAS) shows that 41 percent of Asian Americans are likely to favor Sen. Barack Obama, while 24 percent support Sen. John McCain.
In battleground states, where either candidate could win on Election Day, Obama leads with 43 percent of Asian Americans supporting him and 22 percent favoring McCain.
The study shows a high proportion of undecided Asian American likely voters at 34 percent, way above the national average of 8 percent.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Asian American voters, Barack Obama, John McCain, NAAS, national survey, The State University of New Jersey, undecided, University of California, US Presidential Elections, voters, Washington
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
'Election Fellows' from 76 countries, invited by State Department to watch American political process
Several South Asians have been invited by the State Department to watch the American political process unfurl as things go into full gear for the November 4 general election.
One hundred 'Emerging Leaders' called 'Election Fellows' from 76 countries, handpicked by U.S. ambassadors around the world, are here as part of the I-VOTE 2008 program. Between October 26 and November 8, these emerging leaders, aged 30 - 50, who are involved in promoting democracy in their countries, will observe the U.S. political system during the final countdown to Election Day 2008. Arranged by Meridian International Center, this exchange initiative is part of the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' International Visitor Leadership Program.
A State Department official told News India Times they could not yet reveal the names of the Fellows but there were 3 from India and 2 from Pakistan. Fellows from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan are also in the group.
To read the full article, click here..
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One hundred 'Emerging Leaders' called 'Election Fellows' from 76 countries, handpicked by U.S. ambassadors around the world, are here as part of the I-VOTE 2008 program. Between October 26 and November 8, these emerging leaders, aged 30 - 50, who are involved in promoting democracy in their countries, will observe the U.S. political system during the final countdown to Election Day 2008. Arranged by Meridian International Center, this exchange initiative is part of the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' International Visitor Leadership Program.
A State Department official told News India Times they could not yet reveal the names of the Fellows but there were 3 from India and 2 from Pakistan. Fellows from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan are also in the group.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: American political process, Election Fellows, emerging leaders, general election, I-VOTE 2008 program, invited, Nepal, political system, promoting, South Asians, Sri Lanka, U.S. ambassadors
Monday, October 27, 2008
World watches as America holds 56th quadrennial Presidential Election
The U.S. Presidential Election on Tuesday, Nov. 4, is undoubtedly an event that will have a far greater influence on the subsequent course of human events than any other - man made, or natural, acts of terrorism or border wars, hurricanes or tsunamis. This will be the 56th consecutive quadrennial U.S. Presidential Election - a feat unparalleled in the annals of democracy. The 2008 election is particularly notable because it is the first time in U.S. history that two sitting senators will run against each other for president, and because it is the first time an African American is a presidential nominee for a major party, as well as the first time both major candidates were born outside the continental United States.
Also, for the second time (Geraldine Ferraro was the first, in 1984), a woman is running for Vice President. So, whether the Democrats win, or the Republicans, the ticket will be historic. Also, were he to win, John McCain, will be the oldest first-term President in American history. If the Democratic ticket triumphs, Joe Biden will be America's first Roman Catholic VP .
Apart from these interesting items for the record book, Election 2008 is important for the huge issues looming above it - two unfinished wars, the housing crisis, health care, the recession, the awesome budget deficit! Whatever nitpickers might say, it is still a unipolar world.
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Also, for the second time (Geraldine Ferraro was the first, in 1984), a woman is running for Vice President. So, whether the Democrats win, or the Republicans, the ticket will be historic. Also, were he to win, John McCain, will be the oldest first-term President in American history. If the Democratic ticket triumphs, Joe Biden will be America's first Roman Catholic VP .
Apart from these interesting items for the record book, Election 2008 is important for the huge issues looming above it - two unfinished wars, the housing crisis, health care, the recession, the awesome budget deficit! Whatever nitpickers might say, it is still a unipolar world.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: American history, border wars, democracy, election, human events, hurricanes, Joe Biden, John McCain, presidential nominee, senators, terrorism, US Presidential Elections, Watches, World
Friday, October 24, 2008
Catholics celebrate first woman saint, Sister Alphonsa
Pope Benedict created India's first woman saint on October 12 and appealed for an end to anti-Christian violence there that has claimed dozens of lives since August.
Church bells rang and firecrackers went off as India's faithful followed the Vatican ceremony on television from Kerala, where Sister Alphonsa had lived as a nun until her death more than six decades ago.
"As the Christian faithful of India give thanks to God for their first native daughter to be presented for public neration, I wish to assure them of my prayers during this difficult time," Pope Benedict said in Rome.
Alphonsa is credited with curing illness and disease after her death in 1946, with the Vatican approving the reported miracle cure of Genil Joseph, a congenitally deformed child, in 1999.
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Church bells rang and firecrackers went off as India's faithful followed the Vatican ceremony on television from Kerala, where Sister Alphonsa had lived as a nun until her death more than six decades ago.
"As the Christian faithful of India give thanks to God for their first native daughter to be presented for public neration, I wish to assure them of my prayers during this difficult time," Pope Benedict said in Rome.
Alphonsa is credited with curing illness and disease after her death in 1946, with the Vatican approving the reported miracle cure of Genil Joseph, a congenitally deformed child, in 1999.
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Labels: anti-Christian, Church bells, firecrackers, India's first woman saint, Kerala, nun, Pope Benedict, Rome, Sister Alphonsa, Vatican ceremony, violence
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Inaugural ‘Green India Summit' in Washington, D.C.
Over the last few years India has managed to control energy use even while maintaining a high growth rate said India's Minister of Power Sushil Kumar Shinde at the ‘Green India Summit' held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. October 15.
The event attended by scores of business representatives and officials, including U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen, and former U.S.Defense Secretary Bill Cohen, was jointly sponsored by the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
"For us in India, sustainable development is an article of faith. We intend to use all available energy resources towards the well being of the people of India: a large percentage of whom have remained deprived from access to commercial energy," Shinde pointed out.
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The event attended by scores of business representatives and officials, including U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen, and former U.S.Defense Secretary Bill Cohen, was jointly sponsored by the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
"For us in India, sustainable development is an article of faith. We intend to use all available energy resources towards the well being of the people of India: a large percentage of whom have remained deprived from access to commercial energy," Shinde pointed out.
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Labels: CII, commercial energy, Green India Summit, India's Minister of Power, Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen, Sushil Kumar Shinde, USIBC, Washington
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Diversity Lottery application deadline December 1
The Congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is inviting applications. The deadline for receipt is December 1.
The program makes available 50,000 permanent resident visas annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Winners of the lottery have a chance to apply for an immigrant visa, which can be used to enter the U. S. Winners are selected randomly, and there is no fee to enter the lottery.
The immigration department cautioned applicants there have been instances of fraudulent websites posing as official U.S.Government sites. Some companies posing as the U.S. Government have sought money in order to "complete" lottery entry forms. There is no charge to download and complete the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
The program makes available 50,000 permanent resident visas annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Winners of the lottery have a chance to apply for an immigrant visa, which can be used to enter the U. S. Winners are selected randomly, and there is no fee to enter the lottery.
The immigration department cautioned applicants there have been instances of fraudulent websites posing as official U.S.Government sites. Some companies posing as the U.S. Government have sought money in order to "complete" lottery entry forms. There is no charge to download and complete the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: applications, deadline, Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form, eligibility, immigration, receipt, United states, Visa Lottery, visas
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Myanmar, Afghan woman journalists to get courage awards
The International Women in Media Foundation (IWMF) is giving its 2008 Courage in Journalism Award to Burmese journalist Aye Aye Win, and Afghan journalist Farida Nekzad.
The awards were scheduled to be present ed at a gala luncheon at the Waldorf Astoria in New York October 21. Every year, IWMF gives out three such awards. 56 women journalists have received Courage Awards since the IWMF launched the program in 1990. Sponsored by media outlets and other corporate sponsors, the awards ceremony is usually attended by some 700 people. Last year actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie was one of the presenters, and this year Mayor Michael Bloomberg is among several presenters of the award.
Aye Aye Win, 54, a correspondent for the Associated Press in Myanmar, is one of the only women journalists in her country, says IWMF, and her movements are closely monitored by the military junta ruling that country. "She has been called "the axe-handle of the foreign press" by other media in Myanmar because she has helped foreign journalists to report on the country. Win's courage has put her high on the "watch list" of the authorities.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
The awards were scheduled to be present ed at a gala luncheon at the Waldorf Astoria in New York October 21. Every year, IWMF gives out three such awards. 56 women journalists have received Courage Awards since the IWMF launched the program in 1990. Sponsored by media outlets and other corporate sponsors, the awards ceremony is usually attended by some 700 people. Last year actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie was one of the presenters, and this year Mayor Michael Bloomberg is among several presenters of the award.
Aye Aye Win, 54, a correspondent for the Associated Press in Myanmar, is one of the only women journalists in her country, says IWMF, and her movements are closely monitored by the military junta ruling that country. "She has been called "the axe-handle of the foreign press" by other media in Myanmar because she has helped foreign journalists to report on the country. Win's courage has put her high on the "watch list" of the authorities.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: 2008 Courage, Afghan journalist Farida Nekzad, Angelina Jolie, Burmese journalist Aye Aye Win, International Women in Media Foundation, Journalism Award, New York, Waldorf Astoria, women journalists
Monday, October 20, 2008
Tendulkar rescues India after claiming record
Sachin Tendulkar eclipsed Brian Lara's world record for most test runs on October 17 to help India reach 311 for five on the first day of the second test against Australia.
Tendulkar passed his target with three runs after tea to beat the 11,953 West Indian Lara scored before he retired from international cricket in 2007.
Tendulkar went on to hit 88 after Australian left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson led a splendid fightback on a good batting pitch.
India, who began well after winning the toss, wobbled after Johnson's double strike before tea contributed to three wickets tumbling for 17 runs. Tendulkar shared in a 142run fifth wicket partnership with Saurav Ganguly to rescue the innings from 163 for four and go past 12,000 runs in tests.
He eventually fell when he edged debutant paceman Peter Siddle to Matthew Hayden at slip off the second new ball late in the day.
Ganguly was 54 not out at the close with Ishant Sharma on two.
Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir scored 67 and added 70 runs with Virender Sehwag (35) for the first wicket and 76 with Rahul Dravid (39) for the next.
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Tendulkar passed his target with three runs after tea to beat the 11,953 West Indian Lara scored before he retired from international cricket in 2007.
Tendulkar went on to hit 88 after Australian left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson led a splendid fightback on a good batting pitch.
India, who began well after winning the toss, wobbled after Johnson's double strike before tea contributed to three wickets tumbling for 17 runs. Tendulkar shared in a 142run fifth wicket partnership with Saurav Ganguly to rescue the innings from 163 for four and go past 12,000 runs in tests.
He eventually fell when he edged debutant paceman Peter Siddle to Matthew Hayden at slip off the second new ball late in the day.
Ganguly was 54 not out at the close with Ishant Sharma on two.
Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir scored 67 and added 70 runs with Virender Sehwag (35) for the first wicket and 76 with Rahul Dravid (39) for the next.
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Labels: Austalia Cricket Players, Australian bowlers, Brian Lara, Indian Cricket Players, Mitchell Johnson, rescue, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Test series, wickets, world record
Friday, October 17, 2008
Father kills family, himself, despondent over financial losses
Karthik Rajaram had fallen hard. The 45year-old Porter Ranch financial manager who once made more than $1.2 million in a London-based venture fund had lost his job. His luck playing the stock market ran out.
On September16, he bought a gun. He wrote two suicide notes and a last will and testament. And then, sometime between Saturday (October 4) night and Monday (Oct. 6) morning, he killed his wife, mother-in-law and three sons, and took his own life.
"This is a perfect American family behind me that has absolutely been destroyed, apparently because of a man who just got stuck in a rabbit hole, if you will, of absolute despair, somehow working his way into believing this to be an acceptable exit," said LAPD Deputy Chief Michel Moore. "It is critical to step up and recognize. We are in some pretty troubled times."
In a letter addressed to police, Rajaram blamed his actions on economic hardships. A second letter, labeled "personal and confidential," was addressed to family friends, the third contained a last will and testament, Moore said.
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On September16, he bought a gun. He wrote two suicide notes and a last will and testament. And then, sometime between Saturday (October 4) night and Monday (Oct. 6) morning, he killed his wife, mother-in-law and three sons, and took his own life.
"This is a perfect American family behind me that has absolutely been destroyed, apparently because of a man who just got stuck in a rabbit hole, if you will, of absolute despair, somehow working his way into believing this to be an acceptable exit," said LAPD Deputy Chief Michel Moore. "It is critical to step up and recognize. We are in some pretty troubled times."
In a letter addressed to police, Rajaram blamed his actions on economic hardships. A second letter, labeled "personal and confidential," was addressed to family friends, the third contained a last will and testament, Moore said.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: American family, destroyed, economic hardships, financial losses, Karthik Rajaram, kills, london, stock market, Suicide notes, testament
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Sensex tumbles, biggest weekly fall in 18 years
The Sensex tumbled 7 percent on October 10 and posted its biggest weekly fall in nearly 18 years as panicky investors joined a global selloff on recession worries, with weak industrial data adding to the gloom.
ICICI Bank plunged as much as 28 percent to its lowest in almost four years, before trimming losses after the No. 2 lender's joint managing director said the bank's exposure to the global financial crisis was small and it had sufficient liquidity.
Sliding stocks sent the rupee to an all-time low against the dollar, while a cash crunch lifted overnight cash rates to their highest in 19 months.
Alarmed by the turn of events, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) slashed its cash reserve requirement for banks to free up some $12 billion in funds, but the move failed to calm jittery nerves.
"Investors confidence has been shattered by the kind of falls we have seen. Global markets are playing havoc and nobody is sure how much pain is still left," said K.K. Mital, head of portfolio management Services at Globe Capital.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
ICICI Bank plunged as much as 28 percent to its lowest in almost four years, before trimming losses after the No. 2 lender's joint managing director said the bank's exposure to the global financial crisis was small and it had sufficient liquidity.
Sliding stocks sent the rupee to an all-time low against the dollar, while a cash crunch lifted overnight cash rates to their highest in 19 months.
Alarmed by the turn of events, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) slashed its cash reserve requirement for banks to free up some $12 billion in funds, but the move failed to calm jittery nerves.
"Investors confidence has been shattered by the kind of falls we have seen. Global markets are playing havoc and nobody is sure how much pain is still left," said K.K. Mital, head of portfolio management Services at Globe Capital.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: BSE, collapse, dollar, funds, Globe Capital, ICICI Bank, Lehman Brothers, RBI, Sensex, Shares, stocks
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
India to react swiftly if needed, economy strong
India is watching the global financial crisis closely, and will react swiftly to the needs of the market and will take steps to pump in cash if required, its finance minister said on October 8.
The statement was the latest attempt by Indian policymakers to calm rattled markets, with the benchmark share index down 44 percent this year and the rupee at its weakest in six years as investors pull funds from higher risk emerging markets amid fears of a global recession.
The comments, issued by the cabinet of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after a meeting to review the financial situation, came just hours after the U.S. Federal Reserve led central banks in a round of rate cuts aimed at staving off economic contraction.
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The statement was the latest attempt by Indian policymakers to calm rattled markets, with the benchmark share index down 44 percent this year and the rupee at its weakest in six years as investors pull funds from higher risk emerging markets amid fears of a global recession.
The comments, issued by the cabinet of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after a meeting to review the financial situation, came just hours after the U.S. Federal Reserve led central banks in a round of rate cuts aimed at staving off economic contraction.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: benchmark index, Europe economies, finance minister, financial crisis, financial turmoil, india, Indian policymakers, market, rupee, share, Trade Minister Kamal Nath
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
170 finds of Roman coins in India reported so far, how many more went unreported?
What heart doesn't beat faster at the thought of digging up lost treasure? Yet, the frequency with which hoards of Roman coins have been dug up in India has made news of such discovery commonplace, and the news rarely find a place in the media.The Hindu of Chennai is an exception, as it is on many other counts. On Sunday, June 20, 1998, it carried a story by its Staff Reporter in Madurai:
"A team of archaeologists, which examined the Roman gold coins found recently at Nathampatti village near Srivilliputhur, was able to assess the exact date of the coins and the kings who issued them. According to a press release from Mr. C. Santhalingam, the Archaeological Officer of Tirumalai Naicker Mahal in Chennai, the three-member team comprising Mr. V.Vedachalam, Mr. C. Santhalingam and Mr. C.Chandravanan, under the directions of Mr. Natana. Kasinathan, Director of Archaeology, examined the coins.
"The coins were unearthed when the local people were engaged in laying water pipes. They (obviously, the coins - not the pipe-layers) were handed over to the police.
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Labels: archaeologists, chennai, coins, discovery, india, Madurai, media, Nathampatti village, Roman gold coins, Srivilliputhur, treasure, water pipes
Monday, October 13, 2008
President Bush invites hundreds to formal signing of law on nuclear deal
President Bush invited more than 100 Indian Americans plus a host of business representatives and others to the White House October 8, to witness his triumphant signing into law of the U.S.-India civil nuclear cooperation agreement. He called the two countries "natural partners" that fought colonialism to establish vibrant democracies, encourage private enterprise, and now, to jointly fight terrorists. He offered a Diwali prayer for expanding bilateral relations before signing the dotted line.
The President also countered critics in India who have said external clauses Congress had inserted would jeopardize India's independence.
The bill, H.R. 7081, United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act, establishes the legal framework for the 123 Agreement to come into effect. The 123 Agreement lays out the details and obligations of the nuclear trade relationship ."The bill makes clear that our agreement with India is consistent with the Atomic Energy Act and other elements of U.S. law," the President emphasized before the signing.
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The President also countered critics in India who have said external clauses Congress had inserted would jeopardize India's independence.
The bill, H.R. 7081, United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act, establishes the legal framework for the 123 Agreement to come into effect. The 123 Agreement lays out the details and obligations of the nuclear trade relationship ."The bill makes clear that our agreement with India is consistent with the Atomic Energy Act and other elements of U.S. law," the President emphasized before the signing.
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Labels: agreement, Atomic Energy Act, bill, Diwali prayer, india, Indian Americans, invites, nuclear deal, President George W. Bush, signing of law, United states, White House, witness
Friday, October 10, 2008
Ex-Gurkha soldiers win right to retire in Britain
Former Gurkha soldiers who fought alongside British troops won a long-running battle on September 30 for the right to retire in Britain.
Waving their regiment's flag outside London's High Court, members of the unit which has fought for Britain since 1815 welcomed the decision to overturn a ruling that meant those who retired before 1997 had no automatic right to live in Britain.
All other foreign soldiers in the British Army can settle in the country after four years' service anywhere in the world. About 2,000 Gurkhas are affected by the current rules.
High Court judge Justice Nicholas Blake ruled that instructions given by the Home Office to immigration officials were unlawful and must be changed.
Dozens of Gurkhas and their supporters cheered outside court, waving the regiment's green flag, which bears two kukris, a traditional Nepalese curved knife.
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Waving their regiment's flag outside London's High Court, members of the unit which has fought for Britain since 1815 welcomed the decision to overturn a ruling that meant those who retired before 1997 had no automatic right to live in Britain.
All other foreign soldiers in the British Army can settle in the country after four years' service anywhere in the world. About 2,000 Gurkhas are affected by the current rules.
High Court judge Justice Nicholas Blake ruled that instructions given by the Home Office to immigration officials were unlawful and must be changed.
Dozens of Gurkhas and their supporters cheered outside court, waving the regiment's green flag, which bears two kukris, a traditional Nepalese curved knife.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: battle, Britain, British Army, British troops, curved knife, foreign soldiers, Former Gurkha soldiers, London's High Court, traditional Nepalese, won
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Truman Scholarship Foundation: application deadline, February 3, 2009
The Truman Scholarship Foundation is a very competitive national scholarship which is inviting applications. You may be among the more than 600 applicants from around the country if the Faculty Representative for Truman on your campus selects you and recommends your application to the Foundation.
Only 60 to 65 Scholarships are awarded annually. The first thing to do is to find your Faculty Rep and your university's deadline because it may be earlier than the February 3 deadline the Foundation has.
Among the most prestigious scholarships, the Truman Scholarship is the official federal memorial to our 33rd president. The Foundation is a federal executive branch agency that administers the Truman Scholarship program. The agency is governed by a board of trustees appointed by the President of the United States and Congress, endowed by a $55 million trust,
Eligibility
1. You have to be a U.S. citizen or a U.S.national from a Pacific Island, or you could be in line for your citizenship by the time the Scholarship is awarded.
2. You should be a full time student pursuing a bachelor's degree. Students who have completed their bachelor's degree or are already attending graduate school are not eligible for the Truman Scholarship.
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To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Only 60 to 65 Scholarships are awarded annually. The first thing to do is to find your Faculty Rep and your university's deadline because it may be earlier than the February 3 deadline the Foundation has.
Among the most prestigious scholarships, the Truman Scholarship is the official federal memorial to our 33rd president. The Foundation is a federal executive branch agency that administers the Truman Scholarship program. The agency is governed by a board of trustees appointed by the President of the United States and Congress, endowed by a $55 million trust,
Eligibility
1. You have to be a U.S. citizen or a U.S.national from a Pacific Island, or you could be in line for your citizenship by the time the Scholarship is awarded.
2. You should be a full time student pursuing a bachelor's degree. Students who have completed their bachelor's degree or are already attending graduate school are not eligible for the Truman Scholarship.
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To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: applicants, applications, deadline, national scholarship, prestigious, scholarship, Truman Scholarship Foundation
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Blasts kill at least two, wound 100 in Agartala
At least two people were killed and about 100 wounded when four bombs exploded in Agartala on October 1, police said.
Police said they suspected Muslim militant groups, based in neighboring Bangladesh, were behind the blasts in the Radhanagar and Gulbazar areas of Agartala - capital of Tripura.
"Two people have died and several of the injured are in critical condition in hospital," police spokesman Nepal Das said from Agartala by phone.
One of the bombs went off at a bus stand while the remaining three exploded in and around a market in quick succession during the evening rush-hour.
Sanjiv Sen, a witness, told Reuters by phone from Agartala: "There is total chaos. There were people out shopping when the explosions occurred." He said many of the wounded were women.
The state, bordering Bangladesh, was on alert for possible attacks ahead of a major Hindu festival.
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Police said they suspected Muslim militant groups, based in neighboring Bangladesh, were behind the blasts in the Radhanagar and Gulbazar areas of Agartala - capital of Tripura.
"Two people have died and several of the injured are in critical condition in hospital," police spokesman Nepal Das said from Agartala by phone.
One of the bombs went off at a bus stand while the remaining three exploded in and around a market in quick succession during the evening rush-hour.
Sanjiv Sen, a witness, told Reuters by phone from Agartala: "There is total chaos. There were people out shopping when the explosions occurred." He said many of the wounded were women.
The state, bordering Bangladesh, was on alert for possible attacks ahead of a major Hindu festival.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Agartala, alert, Bangladesh, bomb blasts, explosion, Gulbazar, killed, Muslim militant groups, Radhanagar, security, Tripura
Monday, October 6, 2008
Rice, Zardari, European Union formally launch Friends of Pakistan
Countries of the South Asia can make a positive contribution to solving Pakistan's problems indicated President Asif Ali Zardari.
He was responding to questions after the lengthy meeting of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband, and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdallah bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan and other European Union representatives at the United Nations, where they launched the Friends of Pakistan as a formal organization.
"The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Turkey, and representatives of China, the European Union and the United Nations met under the co-chairmanship of President Zardari of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Foreign Ministers of United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States, to launch the Friends of Pakistan Group in New York on September 26," said a statement released by the Washington based Friends of Pakistan.
"We've had a very constructive day today, and we've all revisited - thought about revisiting it, and making it (Friends of Pakistan) a permanent body as such," Zardari said.
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He was responding to questions after the lengthy meeting of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband, and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdallah bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan and other European Union representatives at the United Nations, where they launched the Friends of Pakistan as a formal organization.
"The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Turkey, and representatives of China, the European Union and the United Nations met under the co-chairmanship of President Zardari of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Foreign Ministers of United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States, to launch the Friends of Pakistan Group in New York on September 26," said a statement released by the Washington based Friends of Pakistan.
"We've had a very constructive day today, and we've all revisited - thought about revisiting it, and making it (Friends of Pakistan) a permanent body as such," Zardari said.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Abdallah bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan, Condoleezza Rice, David Miliband, Friends of Pakistan, launch, Pakistan's problems, President Asif Ali Zardari, South Asia, UAE Foreign Minister, UN
Saturday, October 4, 2008
At least 168 dead in stampede at Rajasthan temple
At least 168 people were trampled to death and more than 425 were injured in a massive stampede at a Hindu temple in Jodhpur city, officials said, the third such tragedy in India in three months.
With no crowd control, more than 12,000 people had gathered at dawn to celebrate Navratra, a nine-day Hindu festival to honor the Mother Goddess, Jodhpur Police Superintendent Malini Agarwal told reporters. Witnesses said the early morning stampede began as false rumors of a bomb spread among the crowd.
"Everyone was yelling, `there's a bomb, there's a bomb,' then I heard horrible screaming. It was the sound of total panic," said Vikki Koshi, who manages Yogi's Guest House very close to the temple.
The temple's floor had become slippery when devotees in a male-only line broke hundreds of coconuts for offerings, officials said.
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To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
With no crowd control, more than 12,000 people had gathered at dawn to celebrate Navratra, a nine-day Hindu festival to honor the Mother Goddess, Jodhpur Police Superintendent Malini Agarwal told reporters. Witnesses said the early morning stampede began as false rumors of a bomb spread among the crowd.
"Everyone was yelling, `there's a bomb, there's a bomb,' then I heard horrible screaming. It was the sound of total panic," said Vikki Koshi, who manages Yogi's Guest House very close to the temple.
The temple's floor had become slippery when devotees in a male-only line broke hundreds of coconuts for offerings, officials said.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Chamunda Devi temple, crowd control, Hindu temple, Jodhpur city, Navratra, Rajasthan, Rajasthan temple, trampled
Friday, October 3, 2008
Developing wheelchair responding to verbal commands
Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers led by Assistant Professor Nicholas Roy, are developing an autonomous wheelchair that can respond to verbal commands and learn the locations in a building.
A wheelchair occupant just has to say "take me to the cafeteria" or "go to my room," and relax in the chair as it maneuvers from one place to another based on a map stored in its memory, the MIT news reported on September 19.
"It's a system that can learn and adapt to the user," said Nicholas Roy, assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics and co-developer of the wheelchair. Each chair could be personalized by the user, he said, based on what the per son wants to feed into the computerized chair.
Previous attempts to program wheelchairs and other mobile instruments have used intensive manual detailed mapping the chair being developed by Roy etal can learn about its environment almost like a human by being taken around on a guided tour and talking to it about the various landmarks.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
A wheelchair occupant just has to say "take me to the cafeteria" or "go to my room," and relax in the chair as it maneuvers from one place to another based on a map stored in its memory, the MIT news reported on September 19.
"It's a system that can learn and adapt to the user," said Nicholas Roy, assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics and co-developer of the wheelchair. Each chair could be personalized by the user, he said, based on what the per son wants to feed into the computerized chair.
Previous attempts to program wheelchairs and other mobile instruments have used intensive manual detailed mapping the chair being developed by Roy etal can learn about its environment almost like a human by being taken around on a guided tour and talking to it about the various landmarks.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Assistant Professor Nicholas Roy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, mobile instruments, program, researchers, respond, verbal commands, wheelchair
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Amar Seva Sangam in Tirunelveli empowering the disabled
Amar Seva Sangam, a non-profit established in 1981 by S. Ramakrishnan in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, helps the disabled help themselves. It does so by using state-of-the-art technology and building an almost self-sustaining campus that manufactures orthotics and conducts research and providing rehabilitation, vocational training, as well as nursery school, library, and not least, medical care. In addition, it helps women with special programs and takes part in relief work in natural calamities. (For more details or to contribute visit www.amarseva.org).
Ramakrishnan became a quadriplegic following an accident in 1975 when he was in his fourth year of engineering studies. After intense self- rehabilitation, he turned to helping others in his situation.
The organization has been headed since 1992, by S. Sankara Raman, a young accountant affected by muscular dystrophy and a wheel chair user, who left his lucrative practice at Chennai, and joined Ramakrishnan.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Ramakrishnan became a quadriplegic following an accident in 1975 when he was in his fourth year of engineering studies. After intense self- rehabilitation, he turned to helping others in his situation.
The organization has been headed since 1992, by S. Sankara Raman, a young accountant affected by muscular dystrophy and a wheel chair user, who left his lucrative practice at Chennai, and joined Ramakrishnan.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Amar Seva Sangam, chennai, disabled, natural calamities, rehabilitation, S. Ramakrishnan, Tamil Nadu, Tirunelveli, vocational training
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