Month: January 2014

India needs a new electoral system, says CPI-M

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India needs a new electoral system that must be a mix of proportional representation and the existing first-past-the-post system, the CPI-M said Thursday.

An editorial in “People’s Democracy” also challenged President Pranab Mukherjee’s suggestion that coalitions cause political instability, saying such a reading was against the experiment of Indian democracy.

Pointing out that only the 1971 election produced a government commanding over 50 percent of polled votes, it said all other governments had more people voting against them than supporting them.

Three Australians of Indian origin get Australia Day honours

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Three Australians of Indian origin have received one of the Australian Government’s most prestigious honours in recognition of their exceptional contribution to Australian society.

Australian High Commissioner Patrick Suckling congratulated the three recipients of the Australia Day Honours, which were announced on January 26, the national day of Australia.

Dr Sadanandan Nambiar, Radhey Shyam Gupta and Dr Pratish Chandra Bandopadhayay have all been awarded a place in this year’s Australia Day (26 January) honours list.

Students from schools of Gulf countries call on President Mukherjee

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A group of students from various schools of Gulf countries attending the programme ‘Proud to be an Indian’ called on President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan today.

Speaking on the occasion, the President complimented Asianet News for this novel initiative aimed at familiarizing Indian students from the Gulf countries to the history and heritage of our great nation.

He said the great ancient civilization of India has survived because of the spirit of tolerance and acceptance.

Antarctica’s collapsing ice shelves to disappear in next 200 years

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A new report suggests that a number of floating ice shelves in Antarctica are at risk of disappearing entirely in the next 200 years, as global warming reduces their snow cover. Their collapse would enhance the discharge of ice into the oceans and increase the rate at which sea-level rises.

Time for Kiran to retire from politics: KTR

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TRS MLA K Taraka Ramarao has stated that the exercise in the House on the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Bill was over today.
Speaking at the Assembly media point on Thursday, KTR said there was no need to consider the Assembly proceedings occurred today. He said nothing would happen with the resolution passed by voice vote rejecting the Bill. He said the TRS leaders will meet all the leaders in Delhi, including the Prime Minister. He stated that the Bill will be passed in Parliament and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will retire from politics. (NSS)

Running lowers breast cancer mortality risk than walking

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Previous studies have shown that breast cancer survivors who meet the current exercise recommendations, which is 2.5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity per week, are at 25 percent lower risk for dying from breast cancer.

However, new research from the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), suggests that exceeding the recommendations may provide greater protection, and that running may be better than walking.

CM’s role blessing in disguise, says Kodandaram

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Telangana Political JAC chairman Prof. Kodandaram today said completion of debate in the Assembly on T Bill was one step forward for formation of Telangana State.

The hostile attitude of Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy benefited us, Prof. Kodandaram told the media. “Whatever happened in the Assembly on the last day would be considered as legislators’ views by the Centre. Telangana draft bill was sent to the Assembly just to elicit views of the members as a mere formality. But final decision would be taken by the Centre, he added.

T-bill rejection historic: APNGOs

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APNGOs president Ashok Babu today said rejection of Telangana bill in the Assembly as well as in the Council was a historical event.
Speaking to the media, he thanked the Seemandhra MLAs, who formed a human chain around the Speaker when he announced that the bill was rejected. He said they would chalk out a strategy to defeat the bill in Parliament too. “We will launch Chalo Delhi program when the bill reaches Parliament. The future course of action would be decided on February 3 at Samaikhya State Parirakshana Forum meeting. (NSS)

70 crore people should be moved to middle class: Rahul

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Seventy crore Indians – who are above poverty line but continue to be vulnerable – should be brought into the “middle class” in the next 5-10 years, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said Thursday.

Gandhi was interacting with labour representatives from the organised and unorganised sectors and street vendors to seek their feedback for the Congress party manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

He said he will push for the clearance of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill in the extended winter session of parliament next month.

Indian-origin researcher brings new twist to sodium ion battery technology

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An Indian-origin researcher and his team demonstrated that a composite paper – made of interleaved molybdenum disulfide and graphene nanosheets – can be both an active material to efficiently store sodium atoms and a flexible current collector.

The newly developed composite paper can be used as a negative electrode in sodium-ion batteries.

Gurpreet Singh, assistant professor of mechanical and nuclear engineering in Kansas State University, said that most negative electrodes for sodium-ion batteries use materials that undergo an ‘alloying’ reaction with sodium.

Salman Khan thanks fans on Twitter for watching Jai Ho

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He may have disappointed movie critics by being part of ‘Jai Ho’ which quite honestly has nothing interesting to offer, but his ardent fans continue to support him.

Unfazed by the criticism that has come his way post the release of ‘Jai Ho’, and its failure at getting a much-expected bumper opening, the star made sure he didn’t forget to thank his fans for their support.

Salman took to Twitter to praise and thank all those who watched the film and appreciated the team’s efforts.

Congress did nothing to stop pogrom of Sikhs in 1984: BJP

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Criticizing Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s statement on the 1984 anti- Sikh riots, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday asserted that Sikh community’s anger against the Congress is justified, and added that the riots was a sponsored pogrom of Sikhs. “Sikh community’s anger is justified. The whole country is agitated because of the interview, and total falsehood by Rahul Gandhi. He wants to say that they did everything possible to stem the riots? Essentially they were not riots.

Sikh groups protest outside Congress office

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Around 500 members of the Sikh community Thursday protested outside the Congress office here demanding the names of party leaders involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The protest came after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said during a TV interview that “some Congressmen were probably involved” in the anti-Sikh riots following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.

No parallel between 1984 and Gujarat riots, says Badal

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Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Thursday said it was wrong to draw a parallel between the killing of innocents in 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Talking to media persons here, over 250 km from Chandigarh, Badal said the Gujarat violence in 2002 took place after the killing of people in Godhra town whereas the Sikhs’ carnage in Delhi and other places in 1984 was at the behest of the then Congress government at the centre.