Yahoo India news, 24 Feb 2012
BSNL has launched three tablets including two 7 inch resistive screen based tabs with Android 2.3 operating system while the third tablet comes with an 8 inch capacitive touchscreen.
Made by Noida based company - Pantel, the tablets will be sold with discounted data plans from BSNL. The three tablets are priced at Rs 3,250, Rs 10,999 and Rs 13,500.
The cheapest model is Panta Tpad IS 701r which is priced at Rs 3,250. Notably, Aakash is priced at just Rs 2500. However, Tpad has better specification than the Datawind's low cost tablet.
Panta Tpad is a WiFi only tablet with Android 2.3 operating system, it has a 1 GHz processor (ARM11 IMAP210) clubbed with 256 MB RAM. The tablet also offers HDMI port through which it can be connected to a TV. Its 7 inch resistive touch screen comes with 800x600 resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio.
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The tablet has a 3000 mAh battery and 2 GB internal memory which can be expanded through micro SD card. The tablet also has a VGA front facing camera for video calling. While Panta Tpad IS 701r has the BSNL branding, the other two tablets images do not have.
The second tablet is named 'Panta Tpad_ws704c'. It has the same specification as its cheapest cousin (701r) but offers added 3G connectivity which supports both CDMA/EVDO and GSM, inbuilt A-GPS, Accelerometer and Bluetooth. It also comes with a 2 megapixel rear camera and also has bigger 512 MB RAM for faster performance.
The costliest amongst the three is the Tpad WS802C which has an 8 inch capacitive screen. It comes with a faster 1.2 GHz processor and 512 MB RAM. The internal memory is also bigger at 4 GB. Rest of the features like GPS, camera and Bluetooth are same as the 704C.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Kudankulam anti-nuclear activist tells PM to prove NGO-funded charge or quit
Yahoo India news, 24 Feb 2012
Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu), Feb.24 (ANI): Anti-nuclear activist S.P. Uday Kumar on Friday criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the his statement that NGOs based in the United States and in some Scandinavian countries are fuelling the Kudankulam nuclear plant protests.
In interviews given to various television channels, Kumar asked Dr. Singh to prove his charge or quit office.
"The Prime Minister should take back his statement. If the Prime Minister can't prove his charge then he should step down. The Prime Minister is not an elected PM, but a nominated one, that's why he is insulting the people of India," claimed Kumar.
"It is nonsense to say that NGOs' from the US and Scandinavian countries are funding the Kudankulam protest," he said.
"The Prime Minister, who is the head of the country, can't make such remarks. He has no sympathy. Lakhs of people are struggling and instead of acknowledging, he is accusing us of receiving money. We are not receiving money from any NGO," said Kumar.
"His ministerial colleague Narayansamy said the same thing. Why can't he produce some evidence to prove his charge? The Prime Minister insults the people of the country," Kumar said.
Speaking to NDTV"s Science Editor Pallava Bagla during an interview for the Science magazine, Dr. Singh said: "What"s happening in Kudankulam...the atomic energy programme has got into difficulties because these NGOs, mostly I think based in the United States, don"t appreciate the need for our country to increase the energy supply."
The Prime Minister has also blamed these NGOs for opposing genetically modified foods and the use of biotechnology to increase food production in the country.
"Biotechnology has enormous potential and in due course of time we must make use of genetic engineering technologies to increase the productivity of our agriculture. But there are controversies. There are NGOs, often funded from the United States and the Scandinavian countries, which are not fully appreciative of the development challenges that our country faces," Dr Singh said.
The Rs.13, 000-crore Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) is located in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.
Being built with Russian collaboration, the plant is expected to provide energy-starved India respite from power shortage.
The Indo-Russian nuclear plant joint venture, however, has run into trouble, with activists and locals staging massive protests citing safety concerns in the wake of the Fukushima disaster that took place in Japan on March 11, 2011.
The frequent protests have stalled the commissioning of two 1000-megawatt nuclear reactors.
Several rounds of talks between a Central Government-appointed expert panel and representatives of villagers opposing the plant have failed to end the standoff.
The villagers say they fear for their lives and their safety in case of a nuclear accident, as also concerns over the long-term impact it would have on the population in the area.
Worried over the scale of protests against the plant, the PM had urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to support the project and had assured her that no safety features would be compromised at the plant.
While international experts have signed off on the facilities of the plant, deeming them strong enough to withstand an earthquake or a tsunami, the country"s nuclear watchdog - the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board - has suggested that more security checks are needed at the plant. (ANI)
Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu), Feb.24 (ANI): Anti-nuclear activist S.P. Uday Kumar on Friday criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the his statement that NGOs based in the United States and in some Scandinavian countries are fuelling the Kudankulam nuclear plant protests.
In interviews given to various television channels, Kumar asked Dr. Singh to prove his charge or quit office.
"The Prime Minister should take back his statement. If the Prime Minister can't prove his charge then he should step down. The Prime Minister is not an elected PM, but a nominated one, that's why he is insulting the people of India," claimed Kumar.
"It is nonsense to say that NGOs' from the US and Scandinavian countries are funding the Kudankulam protest," he said.
"The Prime Minister, who is the head of the country, can't make such remarks. He has no sympathy. Lakhs of people are struggling and instead of acknowledging, he is accusing us of receiving money. We are not receiving money from any NGO," said Kumar.
"His ministerial colleague Narayansamy said the same thing. Why can't he produce some evidence to prove his charge? The Prime Minister insults the people of the country," Kumar said.
Speaking to NDTV"s Science Editor Pallava Bagla during an interview for the Science magazine, Dr. Singh said: "What"s happening in Kudankulam...the atomic energy programme has got into difficulties because these NGOs, mostly I think based in the United States, don"t appreciate the need for our country to increase the energy supply."
The Prime Minister has also blamed these NGOs for opposing genetically modified foods and the use of biotechnology to increase food production in the country.
"Biotechnology has enormous potential and in due course of time we must make use of genetic engineering technologies to increase the productivity of our agriculture. But there are controversies. There are NGOs, often funded from the United States and the Scandinavian countries, which are not fully appreciative of the development challenges that our country faces," Dr Singh said.
The Rs.13, 000-crore Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) is located in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.
Being built with Russian collaboration, the plant is expected to provide energy-starved India respite from power shortage.
The Indo-Russian nuclear plant joint venture, however, has run into trouble, with activists and locals staging massive protests citing safety concerns in the wake of the Fukushima disaster that took place in Japan on March 11, 2011.
The frequent protests have stalled the commissioning of two 1000-megawatt nuclear reactors.
Several rounds of talks between a Central Government-appointed expert panel and representatives of villagers opposing the plant have failed to end the standoff.
The villagers say they fear for their lives and their safety in case of a nuclear accident, as also concerns over the long-term impact it would have on the population in the area.
Worried over the scale of protests against the plant, the PM had urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to support the project and had assured her that no safety features would be compromised at the plant.
While international experts have signed off on the facilities of the plant, deeming them strong enough to withstand an earthquake or a tsunami, the country"s nuclear watchdog - the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board - has suggested that more security checks are needed at the plant. (ANI)
Friday, February 17, 2012
Pvt Channel Cameras Banned in K'taka Assembly After Assembly Scam Expose
From yahoo news, 17 Feb 2012
Little else may bring out moments of collective hypocrisy-hysteria like our attitudes to matters of the powerful and the sexual. In other current words, politicians or porn. Are parts of this nation being remarkably consistent in the hysteria and the hype?
India banned the most recent adapatation of Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon tattoo, a film for its adult scenes of rape and torture. Now it is also keen to go ahead in the latest porngate and ban cameras of private channels inside the Soudha or State Assembly. So shooting the messenger, what in this case has arguably not come across as an irresponsible media moment ?With what rationale? So the MLAs should not feel watched while at work ? Who will catch the shirk? The state's own cameras? A case of cracking down on the cameras and the extracurricular passions of members representing the people of Karnataka ? What do you think?And this may have opened the vault of political hypocrisy but was this the worst pornographic sex on the sly type scandal in India? See this next video and decide. And in the video after that Prasoon Joshi probably hits the nail on the head about audiences while actually talking about Indian cinema here.He says what Indians are is very very confused.
Little else may bring out moments of collective hypocrisy-hysteria like our attitudes to matters of the powerful and the sexual. In other current words, politicians or porn. Are parts of this nation being remarkably consistent in the hysteria and the hype?
India banned the most recent adapatation of Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon tattoo, a film for its adult scenes of rape and torture. Now it is also keen to go ahead in the latest porngate and ban cameras of private channels inside the Soudha or State Assembly. So shooting the messenger, what in this case has arguably not come across as an irresponsible media moment ?With what rationale? So the MLAs should not feel watched while at work ? Who will catch the shirk? The state's own cameras? A case of cracking down on the cameras and the extracurricular passions of members representing the people of Karnataka ? What do you think?And this may have opened the vault of political hypocrisy but was this the worst pornographic sex on the sly type scandal in India? See this next video and decide. And in the video after that Prasoon Joshi probably hits the nail on the head about audiences while actually talking about Indian cinema here.He says what Indians are is very very confused.
Boy genius joined college at age 8, graduated at 9 and wrote book at 14
Fromm NDTV.com, 17 Feb 2012
The one thing 14-year-old Moshe Kai Cavalin dislikes is being called a genius. All he did, after all, was enroll in college at age 8 and earn his first of two Associate of Arts degrees from East Los Angeles Community College at age 9, graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Now at 14, he has also published the English version of his book "We Can Do".
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/boy-genius-joined-college-at-age-8-graduated-at-9-176566
The one thing 14-year-old Moshe Kai Cavalin dislikes is being called a genius. All he did, after all, was enroll in college at age 8 and earn his first of two Associate of Arts degrees from East Los Angeles Community College at age 9, graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Now at 14, he has also published the English version of his book "We Can Do".
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/boy-genius-joined-college-at-age-8-graduated-at-9-176566
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Here's what Hungary does with banknotes!
Banknotes, shredded and compressed into heating fuel, are distributed at the Foundation to Help Autism in Miskolc, eastern Hungary, on February 7, 2012.
Indians among world's happiest people: poll
(From Yahoo news, 11 Feb 2012)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Despite economic woes, wars, conflicts and natural disasters the world is a happier place today than it was four years ago and Indonesians, Indians and Mexicans seem to be the most contented people on the planet.
More than three-quarters of people around the globe who were questioned in an international poll said they were happy with their lives and nearly a quarter described themselves as very happy.
"The world is a happier place today and we can actually measure it because we have been tracking it," said John Wright, senior vice president of Ipsos Global, which has surveyed the happiness of more than 18,000 people in 24 countries since 2007.
But he added that expectations of why people are happy should be carefully weighed.
"It is not just about the economy and their well being. It is about a whole series of other factors that make them who they are today."
Brazil and Turkey rounded out the top five happiest nations, while Hungary, South Korea, Russia, Spain and Italy had the fewest number of happy people.
Perhaps proving that money can't buy happiness, residents of some of the world biggest economic powers, including the United States, Canada and Britain, fell in the middle of the happiness scale.
"There is a pattern that suggests that there are many other factors beyond the economy that make people happy, so it does provide one element but it is not the whole story," said Wright.
"Sometimes the greatest happiness is a cooked meal or a roof over your head," he explained. "Relationships remain the No. 1 reason around the world where people say they have invested happiness and maybe in those cultures family has a much greater degree of impact."
Regionally Latin America had the highest number of happy people, followed by North America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and Africa. Only 15 percent of Europeans said they were very happy.
On a more personal note married couples tended to be happier than singles but men seemed to be as content as women. Education and age also had an impact with more people under 35 saying they are very happy than 25-49 year olds. Higher education also equated with higher happiness.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Despite economic woes, wars, conflicts and natural disasters the world is a happier place today than it was four years ago and Indonesians, Indians and Mexicans seem to be the most contented people on the planet.
More than three-quarters of people around the globe who were questioned in an international poll said they were happy with their lives and nearly a quarter described themselves as very happy.
"The world is a happier place today and we can actually measure it because we have been tracking it," said John Wright, senior vice president of Ipsos Global, which has surveyed the happiness of more than 18,000 people in 24 countries since 2007.
But he added that expectations of why people are happy should be carefully weighed.
"It is not just about the economy and their well being. It is about a whole series of other factors that make them who they are today."
Brazil and Turkey rounded out the top five happiest nations, while Hungary, South Korea, Russia, Spain and Italy had the fewest number of happy people.
Perhaps proving that money can't buy happiness, residents of some of the world biggest economic powers, including the United States, Canada and Britain, fell in the middle of the happiness scale.
"There is a pattern that suggests that there are many other factors beyond the economy that make people happy, so it does provide one element but it is not the whole story," said Wright.
"Sometimes the greatest happiness is a cooked meal or a roof over your head," he explained. "Relationships remain the No. 1 reason around the world where people say they have invested happiness and maybe in those cultures family has a much greater degree of impact."
Regionally Latin America had the highest number of happy people, followed by North America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and Africa. Only 15 percent of Europeans said they were very happy.
On a more personal note married couples tended to be happier than singles but men seemed to be as content as women. Education and age also had an impact with more people under 35 saying they are very happy than 25-49 year olds. Higher education also equated with higher happiness.
Mount Etna volcano erupts in Italian island of Sicily
Mount Etna spews lava on the southern Italian island of Sicily February 9, 2012.Mount Etna is Europe's tallest and most active volcano。(Photo/Agencies; news accessed online at People's Daily at http://english.people.com.cn/90777/7725090.html)
Chief Election Commissioner writes to President against Union Law Minister
Here starts another constitutional crisis, with the CEC writing today to President Patil seeking urgent intervention over Khurshid's remarks about backward mulsim reservation during UP election.
Here goes the Yahoo story that just came online:
By Indo Asian News Service | IANS India Private Limited – (11 Feb 2012)
New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) Taking exception to union Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid sticking to his remarks about backward Muslims during campaigning in Uttar Pradesh despite a censure, Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi Saturday sought President Pratibha Patil's intervention so that polls in the state were conducted in accordance with law.
Quraishi wrote a letter to the president Saturday that the minister's fresh remarks had "created a disturbing situation".
"The full commission hence deliberated on the matter in an emergency meeting this (Saturday) afternoon while being concerned about the fact that Khurshid's action could vitiate free and fair poll in Uttar Pradesh," the letter said.
"The commission is perturbed because the undermining of its constitutionally mandated duties has come from the law minister who has a direct responsibility to uphold and strengthen the ECI rather than to denigrate it," Quraishi said in his letter.
"The Election Commission of India finds it necessary and unavoidable to turn to you at this juncture for immediate and decisive intervention so that the ongoing election to the Uttar Pradesh assembly is conducted, and this commission discharges its functions in accordance with the Constitution and the law," the letter said.
Khurshid triggered a fresh controversy Friday evening with his remarks that he will ensure rights to "pasmanda (backward Muslims)" even if he is "hanged" by the poll panel.
The poll panel had censured Khurshid over his promise to give nine percent quota to minorities, including backward Muslims, within 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) if the Congress is voted to power in Uttar Pradesh, saying it was violation of model code of conduct.
Here goes the Yahoo story that just came online:
By Indo Asian News Service | IANS India Private Limited – (11 Feb 2012)
New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) Taking exception to union Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid sticking to his remarks about backward Muslims during campaigning in Uttar Pradesh despite a censure, Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi Saturday sought President Pratibha Patil's intervention so that polls in the state were conducted in accordance with law.
Quraishi wrote a letter to the president Saturday that the minister's fresh remarks had "created a disturbing situation".
"The full commission hence deliberated on the matter in an emergency meeting this (Saturday) afternoon while being concerned about the fact that Khurshid's action could vitiate free and fair poll in Uttar Pradesh," the letter said.
"The commission is perturbed because the undermining of its constitutionally mandated duties has come from the law minister who has a direct responsibility to uphold and strengthen the ECI rather than to denigrate it," Quraishi said in his letter.
"The Election Commission of India finds it necessary and unavoidable to turn to you at this juncture for immediate and decisive intervention so that the ongoing election to the Uttar Pradesh assembly is conducted, and this commission discharges its functions in accordance with the Constitution and the law," the letter said.
Khurshid triggered a fresh controversy Friday evening with his remarks that he will ensure rights to "pasmanda (backward Muslims)" even if he is "hanged" by the poll panel.
The poll panel had censured Khurshid over his promise to give nine percent quota to minorities, including backward Muslims, within 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) if the Congress is voted to power in Uttar Pradesh, saying it was violation of model code of conduct.
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Giant whale shark washes up in Pakistan
A giant whale shark washed ashore near Karachi fisheries harbor and was sold for 1.7 million PKR. (Source: Yahoo.com, 9 Feb 2012)
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Nobody deserves this fate - The story of Lyvita Gomes who died after a hunger strike in an Illinois jail
From Rediff.com, 07 Feb 2012
Lyvita Gomes, the Mumbai native who died (on Jan 3, 2012) after a hunger strike in an Illinois jail, is laid to rest, but questions remain.
Here find the title link (click on the blog heading) to the first part of the three-part report by George Joseph put online at rediff.com. Follow the links to the other parts there.
Lyvita Gomes, the Mumbai native who died (on Jan 3, 2012) after a hunger strike in an Illinois jail, is laid to rest, but questions remain.
Here find the title link (click on the blog heading) to the first part of the three-part report by George Joseph put online at rediff.com. Follow the links to the other parts there.
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Police book accident victim for causing his own death
PTI, 5 Feb 2012
In an unusual development, police have booked a man on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, for causing his own death while driving a motorcycle in the early hours today.
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/police-book-accident-victim-for-causing-his-own-death-173384
In an unusual development, police have booked a man on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, for causing his own death while driving a motorcycle in the early hours today.
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/police-book-accident-victim-for-causing-his-own-death-173384
Separated at birth, united on Facebook!
NDTV (AFP), 3 Feb 2012
Twins born in Indonesia and put up separately for adoption, have been reunited after finding each other on Facebook, living just 40 kilometres apart in southern Sweden, three decades later.
Read full story here: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/separated-at-birth-united-on-facebook-173128
Another similar story may be recalled here, where four siblings of a family, including twin brothers, were finally reunited after 50 years through another social networking site Friends Reunited.
Here's that 2009 story that came on Telegraph UK: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/5153014/Friends-Reunited-unites-twins-after-50-years.html
Twins born in Indonesia and put up separately for adoption, have been reunited after finding each other on Facebook, living just 40 kilometres apart in southern Sweden, three decades later.
Read full story here: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/separated-at-birth-united-on-facebook-173128
Another similar story may be recalled here, where four siblings of a family, including twin brothers, were finally reunited after 50 years through another social networking site Friends Reunited.
Here's that 2009 story that came on Telegraph UK: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/5153014/Friends-Reunited-unites-twins-after-50-years.html
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