Monday, August 30, 2010

Nokia Launches dual SIM 'C' Series Mobile

Nokia Launches dual SIM 'C' Series Mobile

2010-08-30 16:48:25 - Nksagar-Sagar Media-New Delhi-August 30,2010 :
In order to cover rural segments,lower middle class,Nokia a pioneer in mobile phones and telecommunications,introduced new phones under Nokia C series,offer consumer an affordable way to connect in upswing competition.

Nokia 'C' Series for wider Indian Market is launched in New Delhi with two models when many mobile companies are on way to dwell in India market which is swelling every year for their sustain growth.

Nokia India today launched economical series with its long awaited 2-in-1 dual SIM solution - the Nokia C1 and Nokia C2 at affordable price of
former model for Rs 1999/- and the later model still not priced on query from the media.

Mary Mcdowell,Executive Vice President,Mobile Phones,Nokia said,"As per our deep consumer insights,entry level consumers need dual SIMs for various reasons including economizing time and cost,improving efficiency and for increased convenience.To address these consumers requirements,Nokia has launched these two devices that offer multiple SIM capabilities with a balanced features set and "relevant innovations" at affordable price points."

Nokia started its India operations in 1995, and presently operates out of offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata,Jaipur,Lucknow,Chennai, Bangalore, Pune and Ahmedabad. The Indian operations comprise of the handsets business; R&D facilities in Bangalore and Mumbai; a manufacturing plant in Chennai and a Design Studio in Bangalore.

Over the years, the company has grown manifold with its manpower strength increasing from 450 people in the year 2004 to over 15000 employees in March 2008 (including Nokia Siemens Networks). Today, India holds the distinction of being the second largest market for the company globally.
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Thursday, August 26, 2010

CWG Delhi plans medical management

CWG Delhi plans medical management
2010-08-26 17:32:38 - Nksagar- Sagar Media -New Delhi: The Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi planned arrangements to ensure a safe and healthy Delhi 2010 for athletes and spectators alike, with a multi-faceted medical programme in place.

Medical Programme has an array of facilities, from three designated hospitals, a Polyclinic at the Games Village, Medical Centres at all stadia, competition and training venues and road races, first aid posts for spectators at competition venues and round-the-clock cover at the Main Press Centre and International Broadcasting Centre at Pragati Maidan.The three designated hospitals are the G.B.Pant Hospital, JPN
Apex Trauma Centre (AIIMS) and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, all of which are ready.The Polyclinic at the Games Village will be handed over on September 7. While the Medical Centres at the stadia are all ready.

A total of 1882 dedicated members identified from various governments will be there as part of specialized medical workforce for Delhi 2010. Total 386 doctors, 262 nursing staff, 103 physiotherapists from ISIC, Jamia University and GGD University, 95 message therapists sourced from Government of Kerala will be the part of medical workforce along with 179 medical students as volunteers.There will be 64 ambulances with 857 support staff of ambulance crew and first aid staff to offer round the clock ambulance services.

The Polyclinic in the Residential Zone of the Games Village is a multi-disciplinary medical facility, which shall provide specialised support to all training venues, all other village Medical services and will also liaise with offsite services.It will have 24-hour Emergency Medicine and Emergency Dental Care and also provide specialist care by appointment for General Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Gynecology, ENT, Eye, Sports Medicine, Physiotherapy and Massage, Psychological Counseling, Pharmacy, Dietetics. It will also have Imaging and lab diagnostic services, along with round-the-clock ambulance services. The medical equipments for Games Village Polyclinic have already been procured.

The centres at the venues will be equipped with medical and physiotherapy rooms at competition venues along with spectator first aid posts.There will be an ambulance with dedicated parking along with marked ‘in-and-out’ path for those. There will also be separate marked positions for patient pick-up points for athletes, accredited personnel and spectators.Special arrangements have also been made for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to meet specific requirements of general public and performers.

All the doctors have undergone Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Advanced Trauma Life Support training at AIIMS Trauma Centre and RML Hospital. These skills will have a lasting effect as these would help the citizens of Delhi in future too.Spectator first-aid posts will have doctor, nurse and stretcher teams at every competition venue.

For non-competition venues like the Games Family Hotel and Technical Officials’ Hotel, there will be one doctor and a nurse morning and evening for two hours on appointment basis and on call during emergencies and covered by ambulance 24x7.The Media Centre will have one doctor with a nurse round-the-clock facility for first aid, with ambulance facilities.The Noida Road Race will be covered by Noida Administration. Fortis Hospital Noida is the designated hospital for that.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Justice eldue to victims of Kandhamal

Nksagar -Sagar Media -New Delhi -25 August. Kandhamal violence against the minority Christian community beginning on Christmas-eve 2007, which was considerably aggravated in August 2008, following the killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmananda. Officials understate its magnitude, testify to an unacceptable level of violence against the religious minority, who are mostly of dalit and adivasi origin. The National People’s Tribunal (NPT) on Kandhamal recorded cases cover a range of gross violations of human rights, particularly the right to life and security.Javed Akhtar Inaugurating National Peoples's Tribunal on Kandhamal said we ,Indian must not forget the violence and at the backdrop people who organized such violence has no caste,religion or creed but are those who divided the gap between rich and poor thus making vertical split in Indian society for their immediate benefit. NPT heard testimonies of murder, torture and sexual
assault. Many of the victims have suffered displacement from their places of residence and have had their homesteads and means of livelihood destroyed. Many of them have been coerced into repudiating their faith as the price for returning to the villages that they were supplanted from.
The NPT has concluded on the basis of the testimonies of 43 victim-survivors of Kandhamal that the violence there was the consequence of the subversion of constitutional governance in which state agencies were complicit. The NPT has found evidence of a shocking level of institutional bias on the part of the state agencies, leading to their collusion in the violence and connivance in efforts to block the subsequent processes of justice and accountability.
Witness and victim testimonies have shown that women and children have been especially vulnerable in recent outbreaks of violence. The continuing failure of the state and district administration to provide redress for the violence suffered, puts India in default on constitutional guarantees and commitments made under international covenants.
The NPT has recommended among other things
* · that all officials who held positions of authority in Kandhamal during the violence, should have their records scrutinized and strict disciplinary action taken where they have been found wanting;
* · The continuing programme of communal provocation that the groups and organizations of the Hindutva ideology have been engaged in should be ended forthwith through strict administrative action.
* · Legal aid procedures should be instituted to help the victim survivors seek justice and to identify the many roadblocks that have been placed in their way;
* · A special investigation should be undertaken into the accuracy of the First Information Reports (FIRs) that have already been filed;
* · Where trial procedures have been compromised by weak and ineffective prosecution and willfully recording crimes of lesser magnitude in the FIRs, these should be reopened with fresh charges instituted under applicable provisions of the law;
* · The state government greatly increase the scope of the compensation packages offered, that rehabilitation of victims be done on an accelerated time frame and security threats they face be dealt with.
A.P. Shah, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, presided over the NPT.
“The incidents of Kandhamal are a national shame and a complete defacement of humanity”, said Justice Shah.
Mahesh Bhatt, eminent filmmaker, also a member of the NPT, adds: “Preventing, stopping and punishing the guilty of Kandhamal is in all our interests; it is in fact a matter of urgent national importance”.
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Jimena Navarrete crowned 2010 Miss Universe

Nksagar -Sagar Media - Mexican beauty Jimena Navarrete 22-year-old crowned 2010 Miss Universe. She highlighted how important it is to teach children about family values.Presidency reports that on behalf of all Mexicans, President Felipe Calderón congratulated Jimena Navarrete Rosete on becoming Miss Universe 2010.The President wished her every success during this new phase, when she will be Miss Universe. Her victory is a source of pride and satisfaction for Mexicans, who see the fruits of perseverance in achieving our goals reflected in her.

Navarrete, of Guadalajara, beat out the last of 83 standing at the 59th annual pageant held at Las Vegas on Monday night and watched by millions of people in almost 200 countries.She was followed by Miss Jamaica Yendi Philipps on the second place while Miss Australia Jenista Campbell was the second runner-up.

Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska got fourth place while Miss Philippines Venus Raj rounded up the top five.Miss India Ushoshi Sengupta failed to even make it to the top 15.Donning a flowing red gown, Navarrete was the first contestant to answer an interview question onstage and she highlighted how important it is to teach children about family values. Asked by Olympic gold-medal figure skater Evan Lysacek how she felt about unsupervised Internet use, Navarrete said the Internet is important but parents need to be careful and watch over their kids.

"I do believe that Internet is an indispensable, necessary tool for the present time. We must be sure to teach them the values that we learned as a family," she said.

Navarrete replaces Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela who won the title in 2009.As part of her winning she will get a luxury New York apartment with living expenses, a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy, jewellery, clothes, shoes and an undisclosed sum of money."I want to give my parents a big hug. There was a lot of effort and a lot of sacrifice," she said at a press conference after winning the title.Navarrete has been a model since she was just 15-years-old and is only the second Mexican beauty after Lupita Jones (1991) to win the title of Miss Universe.

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Manage Disaster, SDF, SAFTA agenda of SAARC

Nksagar-Sagar Media -24th August 2010-New Delhi: 2010-08-24 07:16:17 - Finance Minister SAARC nations will be attending a three day conference in Thimpu from Tuesday. The conference will draw consensus for the newly operational SAARC Development Fund (SDF), and second main point to discuss regarding implementation of the South Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) plus regional connectivity projects, among participating nations.

Finane Ministers of State or Government of BANGLADESH
, BHUTAN, INDIA, MALDIVES, NEPAL, PAKISTAN and SRI LANKA are meeting for objectives of SAARC
Desirous of promoting peace, stability, amity and progress in the region through strict adherence to the principles of the UNITED NATIONS CHARTER and NON-ALIGNMENT, particularly respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, national independence, non-use of
force and non-interference in the internal affairs of other States and peaceful settlement of all disputes;

On the agenda is finalizing the basic guidelines of the SDF and its funding modalities.The issues of increasing the current size of the SDF capital of USD 300 million will also be discussed.So far, only India and Bhutan have contributed to the SDF.India has chipped in another USD 100 million as a voluntary contribution for social development programs.

The SDF was launched at the 16th SAARC summit back in April with the aim of assisting social, economic and infrastructure growth of the members nations.

Currently, the only social window of the SDF is in operation with projects like poverty alleviation and child and maternity health.The conference will also discuss financial issues related to the road map of the SAARC Economic Union and regional capital market.

South Free Trade Agreement too forms the main agenda but SAARC chair has indeed no official statement on flood situation in Pakistan the current chair of SAARC has not yet any programme to mobilize funds for a member country but at this point the natural disaster sufferings to member country close co-operation is needed hence the point of cooperation could emerge in this meet the Minister of State for Finance, Namo Narain Meena will represent India in the-summit.

SAARC has The objectives of the ASSOCIATION shall be:
Article I of SARC is to promote the welfare of the peoples of SOUTH ASIA and to improve their quality of life; clause b to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realise their full potentials;

SAARC has a Disaster Management Centre that was approved by the Heads of states in its 13th summit. At the sixteenth SAARC Summit meeting held in Thimpu, the leaders of the region emphasized the “need for more efficient, focused, time-bound and people-centric activities�� However the current inaction of SAARC reflects the fact that it has again failed to rise to the occasion. writes Smruti S. Pattanaik in website IDSA ,'Time to Redeem SAAR

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Friday, August 20, 2010

OC-CWG Delhi finalizes catering services

OC-CWG Delhi finalizes catering services
2010-08-20 20:10:37 - Nksagar - Sagar Media - New Delhi - : All agencies involved in the preparation of the Commonwealth Games were on Friday directed by a Group of Ministers to hand over the venues to the Organising Committee by 31st August. The testing of various equipment and networks to be installed will commence from 1st September, the GoM decided.

The Organizing Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi has finalized the contracts for the catering services for the October 3-14 Games.The catering for the lounges has been divided into total of eight clusters. Two clusters have been awarded to Graviss Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. for Rs. 5.94 crore, while IRCTC has got the contract for Rs. 1.70 crore for one cluster and
remaining five have been awarded to Seven Seas Pvt. Ltd. for Rs. 6.29 crore.

Food packets for Organising Committee workforce, volunteers and security personnel will be taken care of by AFP Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd. at a cost of Rs. 8.75 crores.To ensure high quality and hygiene, the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi has proactively engaged TQS Global Manufacturing Systems and TUVSUD, South Asia for Food Safety and Audit. These firms will supervise and ensure safety audit checks for the entire food, production and distribution process including the kitchen distribution mechanism. This contract is worth Rs. 88.24 lakh.

All the catering contracts have been awarded to the lowest bidder in respective categories.The catering for the Games Village has already been awarded to an Australian firm Delaware North, which has the Taj SATS as its consortium partner. The kitchen at the Village is under installation and will be functional by the first week of September.

Commonwealth Games tickets will be available in retail outlets across Delhi and the National Capital Region from Wednesday. Apart from the Indian market, Australia leads the tally with maximum number of buyers for tickets followed by New Zealand and Britain.

Tickets can be bought from 20 selected Central Bank of India branches, seven nominated Hero Honda showrooms and the IRCTC outlet in Central Delhi. All the ticket related information regarding list of the outlets and booking is available on www.tickets.cwgdelhi2010.org.

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PGTI signs strategic partnership with LG

Nksagar - Sagar Media - New Delhi - :LG comes on board as the “Official Technology Partner” of the PGTI.LG to support the development of the PGTI through sponsorship of programmes and contact events.LG to own Title Rights for the PGTI Tour Championship 2010 "LG Masters of PGTI". Announces Rupee 10 million prize money Tour Championship.
LG to own Title Rights for PGTI Race to Ireland pro-am "LG Race to Ireland ". Announces Rupee 5 million Unique format Pro-Am.LG to be partner sponsor at the 2011 Avantha Masters, PGTI tri-sanctioned 1.5 million Euro prize purse European Tour event in India .

The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the official sanctioning body of professional golf in India , today announced the signing of a key strategic partnership with LG. With this agreement, LG now comes on board the PGTI as the “Official Technology Partner”.The announcement was made by Mr. L K Gupta, Chief Marketing Officer, LG India and Mr. Padamjit Sandhu,
Director, PGTI.

Speaking at the announcement, Mr. L K Gupta, Chief Marketing Officer, LG India, said, “Globally LG is committed to premium sports and this is another step forward recognising PGTI as a premium body, we believe in talent and opportunity for brand to build itself. Supporting the growth of sports has always been a key focus area at LG. We have seen the consolidation and growth of professional golf in India over the last three years and are committed to partnering with the PGTI to take it to the next level. The PGTI is working with the right fundamental approach and we believe there is great potential and talent in the country. We will work closely with the PGTI to create better and stronger playing opportunities for professional golf in the region and are confident our partnership will add value. We look forward to exciting times with the PGTI over the years to come. LG is the leader in the technology space and PGTI is the premier body in golf.”

Mr. Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI, said, “It has always been our endeavour to partner with organizations who bring depth of understanding & commitment to the table. We see synergies in thoughts and objectives with LG and are confident the LG - PGTI partnership will grow stronger over the years. We are proud to have LG come on board as the "Official Technology Partner", and I am confident that this partnership will add immense value to professional golf in India .”For 2010, LG will take on the Title rights for the flagship rupee 10 million prize purse PGTI year ending Tour Championship "LG Masters of PGTI" and the inaugural rupee 5 million prize purse Race to Ireland PGTI Pro-Am "LG Race to Ireland ". LG will also be the official technology partner for the 2011 tri-sanctioned Euro 1.5 million prize purse European Tour event "Avantha Masters".

LG Electronics , India :
LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of LG Electronics, South Korea was established in January 1997 in India . It is one of the most formidable brands in Consumer Electronics, Home Appliances, IT hardware and Mobile Communications space. In India for over a decade, LG has earned a premium brand positioning and is the acknowledged trendsetter for the industry.
LGEIL has achieved a turnover of Rs 13,089 crores in 2009. LGEIL's manufacturing unit at Greater Noida is one of the most eco-friendly units among all LG manufacturing plants in the world. The second Greenfield facility is located at Ranjangaon; Pune has the capacity to manufacture LCD TV, GSM Phones,Washing machines, Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, Optical Disc Drives and Colour Televisions. This is India 's first mobile phone manufacturing unit and also Asia 's largest Optical Disc Drive manufacturing plant.

PGTI:
Formed in 2006, the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is recognized as the official body governing professional golf in India . The PGTI’s objective is to promote professional golf in the country by conducting prize-money tournaments through sponsorships, as well as giving players an opportunity to be involved in decision making for all aspects of the game. The PGTI currently has over 300 members.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Delhi CWG 2010 in corruption scandals

Aug 18 (PTI) With just 45 days left for the Commonwealth Games and many key projects yet to be completed, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit tonight said she was still "nervous" about the preparations."It is normal to be nervous till completion of all the works related to the event," Dikshit said when asked whether she was still nervous about the Games.She said some works have been affected due to rains in the last few days.

Dikshit also took a pot shot at the media for portraying a negative picture of the preparations."If you find something wrong then you keep showing them repeatedly," she said, pointing towards the electronic media.On several occasions in last few months, she had said that she was "nervous" about preparations for the mega event.
Dikshit has been under attack from various quarters for the delay in completion of key projects.PTI Reports, Already caught in corruption scandals, the Commonwealth Games faced another controversy with reports today claiming that original bid documents of the Delhi event were allegedly tampered with to help Suresh Kalmadi become chairman of the Organising Committee (OC).

A CNN-IBN report while raising questions over the legitimacy of the OC headed by Kalmadi, who is the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President, claimed that the original bid documents submitted to 72 Commonwealth countries in 2003 were allegedly tampered with.

The report said that in the original bid cleared by the Vajpayee government in 2003, the Chairman of the CWG OC was to have been nominated by the government, while the IOA president's position was to be that of Vice Chairman.

PTI reports In the wake of the controversy surrounding the forthcoming Commonwealth Games (CWG), an Olympian has suggested that the October 3-14 megaevent's theme song should be alike the popular song of late 1980's "Mile sur mera tumhara".

The multi-lingual unity song composed by Ashok Patki and lyricist Piyush Pandey was developed by Lok Seva Sanchar Parishad and promoted by Doordarshan in 1988.

It was not only popular but also generated patriotism among the Indians, felt Harbhajan Singh, who was the first Indian to have the distinction of representing the country in two disciplines (basketball and handball) in international meets meet, including the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
BJP demand resignation of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit
BJP workers staged a demonstration close to the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday demanding resignation of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for the alleged corruption in the Commonwealth Games, demonstration led by the BJP Delhi president Vijender Gupta and Leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly V. K. Malhotra.To disperse and stop the workers police used water cannons as they broke through two police barriers.Delhi BJP unit reports said about 100 party workers were injured. BJP level charges that police lathi-charged the women in the crowd, demonstrators assembled with the intention of gheraoing the Delhi Assembly, where the monsoon session has begun on Tuesday.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Fennell visits CWG stadiums

Fennell visits CWG stadiums
2010-08-18 17:22:13 - Nksagar - Sagar Media - New Delhi - : Common Wealth Games Federation President Mike Fenell is reviewing the arrangements for the Games on his two day visit to New Delhi.Mr. Fenell today visited several games venues to assess the readiness of the stadia including the Games Village. He took stock of the security arrangements and will also get security clearance certificates from the concerned authorities for the Games venues. Mr. Fenell is likely to meet the Sports Minister Mr. M.S.Gill during his stay in New Delhi.

Delhi CWG engulfed with the backdrop of a spate of controversies surrounding inspection of , CGF president Michael Fennell today on Wednesday to a few stadiums to check their facilities and take stock of the progress made in completing all the work at the venues assumes significance.

Fennell began his inspection tour with the net-ball venue Thyagaraj Stadium in South Delhi
and then went straight to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies.Fennell, who arrived in the city on Tuesday night, is on a two-day visit to the country.

The CGF chief, accompanied by CEO Mike Hooper, also visited Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Indira Gandhi Stadium and the Games Village.
During his two-day visit, he is scheduled to meet Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy and hold a meeting of the Organising Committee's executive board.

Fennell's visit has come at a time when a spate of controversies have marred the build-up to the 3rd-14th October Games.Fennell's visit also gains importance because a few of the Commonwealth nations have raised doubts about security during the event and they would be eagerly waiting for a report from the CGF chief to take a final decision.

During his visit to the capital in March earlier this year, Fennell had said that he was satisfied with preparations but with just 44 days to go for the Games, it remains to be seen how he reacts this time around.He was also very concerned after a spate of corruption charges were levelled on the organising committee, especially its chairman Suresh Kalmadi and the CGF chief is expected to seek a lot of answers from the OC in this regard.

Fennell and Hooper themselves came under the scanner when a CAG report claimed that they had played a part in finalisation of a few deals related to the Games but Hooper had later denied any wrongdoing.

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94.3 Radio One: One - Delhi, One Music

94.3 Radio One: One - Delhi, One Music
Nksagar -Sagar Media - New Delhi - : 94.3 Radio one is a joint venture between Midday Multimedia and BBC worldwide.94.3 RADIO ONE -present in seven cities with its colors - only station, that does not repeat songs in the entire day.Radio One plays in MUMBAI DELHI BANGALORE CHENNAI AHMEDABAD PUNE AND KOLKATA! India's most music passionate STATION todaay announced the launch of its landmark offering,"One Delhi,One Music,aimed at providing listeners,the chance to experience music across all genres and beyond the film music genre under one unique plaform.With phenomenal success of Delhi's favorite on - air properities ' Play Your Music Day",listeners can now turn up their music senses with this musical masterpiece. 94.3 Radio one offers musical rostrum for both established and new genre artist too to interface and go beyond Bollywood music alone with vibrant musical dynamics of classical, Ghazal, Sufi,Punjab Folk,English and India Rock,Fusion,Indipop,Dance n Funk...All under One well in built promoted platform. A maximum 13 songs with maximum choice guaranteed every hour and music related content that comes straight from the heart.

"Lafengey Parindey" Deepika - Neil Nitin Mukesh

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Asia with half of the top 10 most global cities

Asia with half of the top 10 most global cities
Foreign Policy together with management consulting firm A.T. Kearney and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the cities ranking based on a study of 65 cities with more than 1 million people and is measured by business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience and political engagement. "Asia now boasts half of the top 10 most global cities (though New York and London still rule). But many of the fastest-growing places are far down on the list, proving the point that it's a lot easier to grow big than it is to grow smart," the Foreign Policy magazine said.New Delhi and Mumbai occupy 45th and 46th position while Kolkata is placed at 63rd spot in a list of rankings of the top 65 global cities. Paris and Hong Kong have been ranked fourth and fifth respectively, while Chicago has been placed at sixth spot, followed by Los Angeles (7), Singapore (8), Sydney (9), Seoul (10), Brussels (11), San Francisco (12), Washington (13) and Toronto (14).New York, London and Tokyo are the top three cities in the list, a survey has said.On the 2010 Global Cities Index, New York ranked 1st; Hong Kong, 5th; Beijing, 15th and Taipei, 39th. In addition, Shanghai ranked 20th; Guangzhou, 57th; Shenzhen, 62nd and Chongqing, 65th.Karachi, the only Pakistani metropolis was ranked 60, Dhaka was placed at 64 while Beijing which suddenly caught the imagination of the world by successfully hosting the Olympics has been ranked 15th. "So what makes a Global City? Not size alone, that's for sure; many of the world's largest megalopolises, such as Karachi (60), Lagos (59), and Kolkata (63), barely make the list. Instead, the index aims to measure how much sway a city has over what happens beyond its own borders -- its influence on and integration with global markets, culture, and innovation," the report said. The seats of traditional political power aren't necessarily the most global. Only four of the top 10 cities are national capitals. Washington comes in at No 13. Beijing (15) edges out Berlin (16), which trounces Moscow (25), Magazine said. "The 21st century will not be dominated by America or China, Brazil or India, but by the city," said the report released by the prestigious Foreign Policy magazine in collaboration with A T Kearney and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Ban Ki Moon tours Pakistan flood-affected

Nksagar - Sagar Media - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Pakistan on Sunday to boost relief efforts as concerns grew about the 20 million people made homeless in one of the worst disasters to hit the country.Pakistan has is worst flood swollen by torrential monsoon rains, rivers have flooded mountain valleys fertile plains, wiping out villages and destroying bridges and roads. UN aid of quarter of the $US459 million aid needed for initial relief has arrived.

(live-PR.com) - Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Federal Interior Minister Rehman A Malik received the UN’s top official at Chaklala airport of federal capital.Talking to media, Ban started his conversation with As-Salam-o-Alaikum. Ban said he came to Pakistan to express solidarity with the flood-affected people and the UN will tap into all possible resources for the succor of the flood affected.


Floof Authorities said more flood surges were coursing down the River Indus and other waterways in southern Sindh province and were expected to peak later Sunday, causing fresh deluges. The river, which in better times irrigates the crops of millions of farmers, is 15 miles (25 kilometers) wide at some points — 25 times wider than during normal monsoon seasons.The United Nations said the rate of diarrheal disease continued to increase among survivors. Cholera, which can spread rapidly after floods and other disasters, had also been detected in the northwest, where the floods first hit more than two weeks ago.

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has cautioned against any hindrance in the formation of the body and said the nation cannot afford “any delay in the setting up of the commission. Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Ishaq Dar have been assigned the task of working out modalities for the formation of an independent commission to oversee relief and rehabilitation operations in the flood-hit areas.The two parties agreed on Saturday to set up the commission. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had declared at a news conference with the PML-N chief on Saturday that the government had agreed to Mr Sharif’s proposal for setting up an independent body comprising men of integrity to collect and distribute relief funds among the flood-affected people in a transparent manner.

Mr Gilani held a meeting with Dr Sheikh on Sunday and “directed him to work expeditiously” on the plan which, according to him, would help win the confidence of the people of Pakistan and foreign donors.About 1,500 people have died in the disaster and more than 7.9 million acres (3.2 million hectares) of cotton, sugar cane and wheat crops destroyed. The International Monetary Fund has warned of dire economic consequences in a country already reliant on foreign aid to keep its economy afloat and one key to the U.S.-led war against al-Qaida and the Taliban.

U.N. chief Ban was to visit flood-devastated areas Sunday and meet with government officials, a spokesman said.

The United States has so far donated the most to the relief effort, at least $70 million, and has sent military helicopters to rescue stranded people and drop off food and water. Washington hopes the assistance will support a pivotal regional ally and help improve its image in the country — however marginally — as it seeks its support in the battle against militancy,

"So far, if anyone has practically given us maximum help, it is America," Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said when a Pakistani reporter suggested the U.S. has done little since the crisis started.

Two additional U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters arrived in Pakistan on Saturday to support flood relief efforts, the U.S. State Department said. That brings to seven the total number of aircraft in Pakistan from the USS Peleliu, which is positioned in international waters in the Arabian Sea.

In the northwest of the country, U.S. missiles killed 12 people Saturday in a Pakistani tribal region filled with insurgents bent on pushing Western troops out of neighboring Afghanistan. The strike was the first in several weeks.

The Pakistani government's reputation — already shaky to begin with — has suffered during the crisis, especially after the president decided to visit Europe as the crisis was unfolding. President Asif Ali Zardari has tried to make up for that public relations gaffe by meeting with flood victims in hard-hit areas since returning.

"We are with you. Pakistan is with you, and the people of Pakistan are with you," he told survivors at a relief camp in the northwest's Nowshera city Saturday. He promised the government would rebuild victims' homes.

The 220 KVA grid station at Lodra tripped on Sunday, causing suspension of power supply to more than 20 districts in Sindh and Balochistan.The tripping occurred after water from a number of breaches in the Begari canal inundated the power station.

The floodwater washed away paddy and other crops on thousands of acres but irrigation officials and local administration have managed to save Shikarpur city and gas transmission station after digging ducts under the Shikarpur-Jacobabad railway line near Lodra village.The station supplies power to 14 grid stations in Sindh and three in Balochistan.The water is now moving to Golodero forest area and villages in Garhi Yasin, Khanpur, Shikarpur and Lakhi talukas.
Media agencies


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Sunday, August 15, 2010

Delhi CWG lick's dust

Nksagar - Sagar Media New Delhi -CWG

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 14 August 2010 Saturday gave overriding powers to a committee headed by Cabinet Secretary, bringing into its ambit the Organising Committee that has been tainted by corruption charges

No toilets around Commonwealth Games venues? With severe delays plaguing streetscaping works around CWG venues, authorities are now facing this embarrassing prospect.The city Government had given contract to four firms to install street furnitures like toilets, kiosks, information boards, iron chairs and benches on a BOT (build, operate, transfer) basis in areas around the Games venues.However, the companies are yet to start the work as the streetscaping projects are yet to be completed around most of the venues.

The Government had, in fact, planned to install street furniture in all the areas across Delhi where streets caping has been carried out but due to time constraints the plan was shelved and instead it was decided to put up the facilities around the venues.Reports PTI

With incessant rain gives water clogging in Delhi an outstretch of poor drainage plus lack of facilities of rainwater harvesting may keep the Delhi dynamics of CWG game in utterly shabby state inspite of government making its gala efforts.
Mismanagement of building infra for the CWG games and taking its lightly correlating with a marriage event spiraling cost dearly to the nation pride added stigma on the system in which the nation runs. Initial budget for hosting the Games were inflated to `345 crore, but with ants creeping budgets has now swelled to Ruppes `85,000 crore, compelling all to ask games rational and its decision to go for such huge investment with no returns in future leading it to inflated infructuous expenses.

Dr Singh directed that thorough probe should be held by the ministries concerned into complaints of "procedural and other irregularities" and "those found guilty should face severe and exemplary punishment".He instructed that all pending works should be completed expeditiously in a time-bound manner and decided to visit select venues of the Games in the last week of this month.

Dr Singh reviewed preparations for the October event at a meeting with Union Ministers concerned, Delhi Lt Governor Tejender Khanna, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Organising Committee (OC) Chairman Suresh Kalmadi, Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekhar and Home Secretary G K Pillai against the backdrop of intense controversies surrounding the conduct of the event.
"The Committee of Secretaries will continue to review implementation and it will have the status of an Empowered Committee. It will have jurisdiction over matters relating to the Organising Committee," said a PMO statement after the 90-minute meeting.

The decision to bring OC in the ambit of Committee of Secretaties is significant as questions have been raised over functioning of the Organising Committee and charges of corruption against its top brass, including Kalmadi."A Secretary-level officer of the Cabinet Secretariat will liaise with the Organising Committee on a daily basis," the statement said.The Cabinet Secretary was also directed to liaise closely with the Group of Ministers, which is already in place, to ensure "effective coordination" among all the authorities concerned.Kalmadi said the controversies surrounding the CWG Organising Committee had demoralized officials who were not even ready to sign papers, the sources said.
Kalmadi and some other top officials of the OC have been mired in allegations of corruption and other irregularities, prompting the Prime Minister to step in and review the preparedness for the event starting on October 3.

The GoM, headed by Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, was empowered to take all decisions necessary for the smooth conduct of the Games and refer any matter that may require further consideration to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for a final decision.The GoM was directed to meet immediately and frequently thereafter, the PMO statement said.

"All the facilities must meet international standards," the Prime Minister underlined and expressed confidence that the ongoing preparations supervised directly the GoM would enable the Games to be conducted smoothly and in a befitting manner.The Cabinet will be briefed on the state of preparations on a weekly basis.

The Organising Committee would take appropriate steps urgently to conclude all pending preparations. The Senior Management Committee would meet daily and be chaired by the CEO in the absence of the Chairman or Vice-Chairman, Organising Committee.Additional senior and experienced officers from the central government would be deputed as required.

Dr Singh asked all concerned to work single-mindedly so that the Games could be held in a manner the nation could be justifiably proud of.In the wake of charges of corruption and other wrongdoings, Dr Singh directed the Ministries concerned to conduct "thorough investigations into all the complaints that have been received of procedural and other irregularities."

Noting that the eyes of the world were on India with regard to the Games, he said that in the run up to the event, it was important to gain public confidence by instilling order and carrying out effective supervision of the preparation works.

The public has a right to know the facts and the GoM will ensure that timely and authentic information on the status of preparations and in particular on the remaining tasks at hand is released to the public.The promotional campaign of the various events should be stepped up to generate enthusiasm among sports-lovers in the largest sporting event the country has held in many years.

Union Minister Kapil Sibal has said that all works related to the mega sporting event will be completed in time. Sibal said that the entire infrastructure will be in place within the six weeks left for the Games."Will you not wait for six weeks to pass judgement. Let's not degenerate India. Let's not destroy India's credibility," Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal told.
"Perhaps the stadiums you will see, will be the better than any stadium in the world," he claimed.There are certain Games-related issues which could have been addressed earlier, Sibal said, on the allegations of corruption will be looked into.
Fiscal scams tumbling out from CWG every day criticism of CWG has reached its crescendo -Soli J. Sorabjee write in one daily newspapers column In the interest of the nation, in the interest of the Games and in his own interest Kalmadi should temporarily step down without any admission of guilt. If he is exonerated, he can return as a hero. I am sure Times Now will be the first to do him the honour. Former Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar "I am delighted in a way because rains are causing difficulties for the Commonwealth Games. Basically, I will be very unhappy,"

Delhi finance minister A K Walia, a member of the Commonwealth games Co-ordination Committee expressed fears about the Games that he was not sure if all stadia would be ready by the August 15 deadline.Mr Walia visited the Yamuna Sports Complex in East Delhi ng, venue will host archery and table tennis events. “The way the work is going on, I have doubts over some of the Games venues but I hope that they will be ready in time,” Mr Walia said. Waterlogging was reported from Yamuna Sports Complex last week after heavy rains lashed the capital.

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Friday, August 13, 2010

Cameron : Online easier visas Indian Tourists

Nksagar-Sagar Media -: British Prime Minister David Cameron said the travel industry, which contributed 115 billion pounds to the national economy annually, was "fundamental to the rebuilding of our economy" given its potential to generate jobs and revenue.

Prime Minister David Cameron has delivered a speech in central London on the challenges and opportunities that tourism presents. 'I wanted to do it here, at the heart of the most internationally visited city in the world and I’m delighted that you’re all able to come.I want to talk about just how incredibly important I think our tourism industry is and what we need to do now to make the most of it not just here in London but right across our country.

For too long tourism has been looked down on as a second class service sector. That’s just wrong. Tourism is a fiercely competitive market, requiring skills, talent, enterprise and a government that backs Britain. It’s fundamental to the rebuilding and rebalancing of our economy.'

It’s one of the best and fastest ways of generating the jobs we need so badly in this country. And it’s absolutely crucial to us making the most of the Olympics and indeed a whole decade of great international sport across Britain. One of the ways to boost tourism in the coming years will be to ease the process of issuing visitors visas to people from India and China.He said: "Were going to remove some of the obstacles that put people off coming here, for example, by working more closely with our international partners to improve the local delivery of visa services in key markets like China and India."

Cameron further adds online applications for visas will be increased from one third to 75 percent by 2011, with 100 percent coverage by 2014.The government will also give more power to local authorities to set tourism policy and remove bureaucracy that discourages small businesses, he said.

Cameron's visa announcement comes amidst new figures that reveal a record number of Indian shoppers scoured London's West End and other stores across Britain for luxury goods between June 2009 and June 2010.

Figures released reveal the growing international mobility of Indian tourists, whose number jumped by a record 89 per cent during the period, according to research by financial services company Global Blue.The analysis was collected from over 15,000 stores in Britain.

Cameron said UK tourism must focus on "heritage" and urged people to be more "proud" of the UK and its history.The country was not "doing enough" to break into the top five most-visited destinations in the world, he added.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Delhi CWG 2010 :No centralised monitoring agency

Nksagar- Sagar Media - New Delhi-:
Shivani Chaudhry, Associate Director, Housing and Land Rights Network highlighted irregularities in financial disclosure and problems of accountability and governance due to the lack of a centralised monitoring agency for the Games. “There is a continuous deception of the public in the name of the Games.

Miloon Kothari, Executive Director, Housing and Land Rights Network and former United Nations Special Rapporteur stated that, “even if miraculously the Games are a success, it is already evident from the situation on the ground that serious human rights violations affecting thousands of people across the city are leaving behind a debilitating social legacy for Delhi and a permanent disfiguring
of Delhi’s urban fabric. The Games are a clear step in the direction of Delhi becoming an apartheid city.” He asked for an honest reassessment by government authorities as to whether India is in a position to host the Games given the multiple crises that continue to plague the CWG.

Shivani Chaudhry, Associate Director, Housing and Land Rights Network further highlighted irregularities in financial disclosure said “There is a continuous deception of the public in the name of the Games. Competing facts and figures are being proclaimed, even in Parliament. Despite filing several RTI applications, clarity on the total cost of the Games is missing. Apart from a negative social legacy, the Games are likely to result in a severe economic legacy and national debt that will take a long time to repay.”

Speakers stressed that while the attention of the media and concerned agencies must pursue the corruption allegations and probe and investigate the guilty officials, the broader and more severe impacts of the CWG on the people of Delhi must not be ignored. They demanded that concerned government agencies must act responsibly to ensure that there is an immediate halt to the ongoing violations. In particular, they called for:
1) Halt to evictions in Delhi, and payment of adequate compensation and rehabilitation for the already displaced families.
2) Immediate implementation of the recommendations of the special committee and interim orders of the High Court on labour issues at CWG sites.
3) Investigations by the Central Vigilance Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, and relevant Parliamentary Committees, into the issue of diversion of funds from the Special Component Plan for the welfare of Dalit families in Delhi.
4) Immediate return of appropriated funds to social sector and development projects in Delhi.
5) Commonwealth Games authorities to set up information, surveillance and support centres at the popular sex sites like GB Road, railway stations, bus stops, airports, and metro stations, and make provisions for young women to go back home safely, including providing tickets.

'Rights of workers' - Delhi CWG 2010
Shashi Saxena of Peoples Union for Democratic Rights. These include denial of minimum wages, overtime and weekly off days; irregular payment of wages; failure to provide identity cards, proof of employment, wage slips, safety equipment and travel allowance to migrant workers; failure to register workers with the welfare board; use of child labour; non-maintenance of muster rolls and other records as required under the law, payment of lower wages to women workers; failure to provide adequate residential and living facilities in accordance with law. All these acts are also violations of various labour laws. Despite a hard hitting report by a special committee appointed by the High Court of Delhi in response to public interest litigation, and interim orders by the Court to implement the committee’s recommendations, not much has changed for workers at CWG construction sites. Workers continue to be exploited, by being made to engage in forced labour and being paid less than two third of the minimum wages almost at every site. Half-hearted attempts are being made to register the workers with the welfare board, but the exercise has not gone beyond tokenism.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlkiu9ZMiSA

India China Economic & Cultural Panel Discussion

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Leh cloudburst kills 165 search on 500 missing

9 th August 2010 -:Nksagar-Sagar Media:-

A fresh cloudburst in Kargil area Saturday has cut off many villages. The IAF tried to airdrop essential items including tents and clothing in the villages affected by the cloudburst as roads were badly damaged.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Karan Singh has suggested that flash floods in Leh be treated as a national calamity so that MPs from all over the country can contribute towards and relief and the rehabilitation from their MPLADS fund.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today visited Leh for the second time after the tragedy struck. He directed the Border Roads Organisation to clear the Manali-Leh highway within next three days. He asked the officials engaged in relief work to ensure that procedural formalities do not delay the operation.

War footing rescue work at Leh struggled through piles of mud and slush looking for over 500 people missing in the Friday's devastating cloudburst that flattened villages and snapped power and communication links even as the death toll in the tragedy on Saturday mounted to 165.ITBP is helping plug the breaches to make National Highways between Srinagar-Kargil and Kargil-Leh functional. The Jammu and Kashmir Government has re-started Short Message Service (SMS) in Leh, to help in relief and rescue operations in the region. The SMS was banned in the state few months ago due to security reasons.

Leh, where several government agencies geared-up the relief and rescue operations. State Government, Army, Air Force, National Response Force (NDRF), Police and Centeral Para-military Forces, are engaged in the operation. Leh once picturesque landscape has turned into a disaster zone, with tossed up vehicles lying scattered and mounds of silt and slush burying houses made of mud called 'gomfa' and
shops.

Walking on the layers of unstable mud in one of the worst-hit Choglusmar village, you could find the high tension wires hanging right next to you. Rescuers waded through knee-deep mud to extricate trapped people.Rescue workers struggled through piles of mud and slush looking for hundreds of people missing in the Friday's devastating cloudburst as the death toll in the tragedy mounted to 145.

The biggest roadblock that rescue workers are facing is communication breakdown as the BSNL office was severely damaged in the deluge."The major problem is due to the communication breakdown. If communication is restored it will help in co-ordination of rescue operations in a better way," Pashi Tsetan, deputy director with the development wing of the local administration, said.The district hospital building had been inundated by the swirling waters forcing the administration to move to an under-construction building. Hundreds of people with bandages crowd the building.

According to Leh Deputy Commissioner, six bodies of foreign tourists who had been washed away in the flood recovered from different tracking routes of Leh. Scores of houses in areas adjoining Leh, particularly in Choglamsar, are currently buried under several feet of mud, dimming chances of people being rescued alive.

Rescuers waded through knee-deep mud to extricate trapped people. Jawans of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Army and General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) ploughed through the silt and boulders with earth movers, cranes and other machines, tourists were seen giving a helping hand. ITBP is helping plug the breaches to make NH1A between Srinagar-Kargil and Kargil-Leh functional.Both the ITBP and the Army have set up various camps to look after hundreds of injured. The ITBP had also set up community kitchens along the roads which are feeding the homeless.The biggest roadblock that rescue workers are facing is communication breakdown as the BSNL office was severely damaged in the deluge.

In a bid to restore vital communication links the Indian Air Force has transported BSNL equipment from New Delhi and Chandigarh to the affected area. According to a office release, the IAF has also airlifted a heavy duty bulldozer from Chandigarh to clear the debris there. Three IL-76 and four AN-32 Aircrafts have been pressed into service for this purpose.
As many as 1,314 passengers, mostly Indian and foreign tourists, were airlifted from Leh and brought to Delhi, Aviation Ministry said.JET airways and Air India operated four flights each and Kingfisher three to carry medical and other relief material, doctrors and para medics to help affected people in Leh, they said.Three IL-76 and four AN-32 aircraft carrying relief material reached Leh on Sunday morning.

ITBP is helping plug the breaches to make NH-1A between Srinagar-Kargil and Kargil-Leh functional Faced with an acute shortage of clean drinking water, the ITBP has dispatched tankers containing drinking water to the affected areas, Deepak Pandey spokesperson for the border guarding force said.

The force has also established a medical camp in Saboo village, which is located above Chuglumsar village, Pandey said.Bodies of eleven persons were on Sunday flown in an IAF plane to Udhampur in Jammu region from where they were sent to Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan, police said.

Relief material, medical items and 5,000 blankets were airlifted from Delhi.More than 1,300 persons, mostly Indian and foreign tourists, were airlifted from Leh and brought to Delhi. Air India has decided to operate four special flights on Delhi-Leh-Delhi sector on Monday and one each additional flight on Jammu-Leh-Jammu sector and Srinagar-Leh-Srinagar sector. The Jammu and Kashmir Government has re-started Short Message Service (SMS) in Leh, to help in relief and rescue operations in the region. The SMS was banned in the state few months ago due to security reasons.


Leh Administration has set up a 24 hour helpline to provide any information about the incident. The telephone numbers are 09906990787 and 09906990835.
Media gencies

Sunday, August 8, 2010

OC CWG Delhi unveils medals for the Games

Nksagar-Sagar Media - New Delhi - 2010-08-08 15:30:40 - Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi Friday unveiled the victory medals for the Games.The victory medals were unveiled by OC CWG Delhi 2010 Chairman, Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP and Dr. Lalit K. Bhanot, Secretary General, here at the OC headquarters

The medals for Delhi 2010 are a product of excellence and reflect the spirit of the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi, a testament to brilliance and success of the athletes.Indian athletes won 50 medals in the 2006 Games. We hope 70 of these wonderful medals will be won by Indian athletes. India finished fourth in the medal tally at Melbourne. We’re hopeful of moving to the third place this time.” said Mr. Kalmadi.“The Prime Minister has given us Rs 700 crore for training of athletes, I am confident that will reflect in India’s medal tally,” added Mr. Kalmadi.

The medal design is clean and simple and the dominant form that gives it dynamism is a rising upward spiral that starts taking shape from the plain textured base, gradually becoming the highlight of the medal. It represents the rise to glory for each athlete from struggle to their moment of glory.

The front of the medal has the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi logo and dates. The back has the emblem of the Commonwealth Games Federation.The medal is 6 mm thick with a diameter of 63.5 mm. The signature element’s starting fin is raised by 1 mm and it rises up to 3 mm on the last fin. The embossed logo and date is raised by 1mm.The lanyard of the medal carries all six Games colors (pink, purple, green, red, yellow and blue) blending into each other. It is created with Delhi2010 brand and design elements.

The medal case is clean and simple with black background enhancing the logo embossed on top in Gold, Silver or Bronze - matching the medal inside. The colour and simplicity of the box is keeping with the significance of the product it carries. The black base provides an appropriate background to the multi-hued lanyard and the medal itself.

OC CWG Delhi 2010 has ordered a total of 1,408 medals, which includes multiple medals for team events. The cost of producing each gold medal is Rs 5,539, while every silver medal costs Rs 4,818 and a bronze medal Rs 4,529. The total cost of producing these medals is Rs 81, 08,566 including the price of the boxes and lanyards.

Considering the various constraints in medal manufacture, Tombac Bronze (92% copper, 6% zinc and 2% nickel) was selected as base metal. This metal has the ability to flow under compressive force and allow formation of sharp and firm features in design.

The India Government Mint, Kolkata, was entrusted with the design, development and manufacture of the medals. The Image & Look Functional Area of the OC CWG Delhi 2010 has created 4 design options for victory medals. After sampling the existing design was selected for final prototype.

The authorities had prepared 4 photographic perspective views of the medals. State of the art CNC Engraving Machines are being used for manufacturing. Sample medals took almost a month to manufacture to match the conceptual view.

Due to high projection the life of each die was very short which meant that total number of dies required for manufacture of medals are very high.

The manufacture of the medals is in full swing. The medals will be subjected to a very special process called ‘Frosting’ for generation of matte surface on the base and top surface of the letters and main design will be polished to a glossy finish. Each medal requires manual and intricate finishing bringing the conceptual artwork to reality.

Friday, August 6, 2010

CWG axe three officials - Topix

CWG axe three officials - Topix

CWG scandal: OC to hold Board meeting

CWG scandal: OC to hold Board meeting
05.08.2010 04:05:25 5 th Aug 2010 - Nksagar-Sagar Media -New Delhi Commonwealth Games Organisng Committee will hold an emergency meeting of its Executive Board in New Delhi on Thursday amid indications that a clean-up process could be started.
(live-PR.com) - The meeting was called by the OC's embattled chairman Suresh Kalmadi following a demand from some of his own influential colleagues, including IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh who said the allegations of financial irregularities were "grave".CWG is under Public scanner with media playing aggressive role CWG is rocked by allegations of wide scale corruption with more and more scandals coming out in the past few days, there is intense pressure on Kalmadi to start the cleansing operation.Thus a process of clean up the mess is on the anvil of Organizing committee thus hurriedly convened an emergency meeting of its Executive Board in New Delhi on Thursday 5th Aug 2010.

IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh who is also the OC Vice-Chairman wrote in a letter to Kalmadi, the meeting should be called immediately considering the gravity of the allegations."In pursuance to media reports about financial irregularities alleged in the Queen's Baton Relay at the Buckingham Palace, since the situation is grave, the discussion should be held immediately," Randhir had said in his letter.Randhir was supported by OC treasurer Anil Khanna and IOA vice-president V K Malhotra, who also wanted an immediate meeting to discuss all the unsavoury developments.

Kalmadi's own image has taken a hit after the Ministry of External Affairs revealed that the e-mail from the Indian High Commission he made public to justify payments to a UK-based company was 'doctored'.Kalmadi met External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and was confronted with the genuine e-mail from the High Commission in UK which did not mention the name of the company, A M Films, which was given a sum of over Rs three crore for providing services during the Queen's Baton Relay in London.Under intense pressure from the government, the Organising Committee formed a three-member panel to probe the allegations of irregular financial transactions.The panel comprises Jarnail Singh (OC Chief Executive Officer), G C Chaturvedi (Special Director General- Finance), and Gurjyot Kaur (Chief Vigilance Officer).The Committee will submit its report by Thursday.

Sports minister Dr. M.S. Gill today refused to comment on alleged financial irregularities in the organising committee for Commonwealth Games. He said that the issue will be discussed in Parliament. Dr. Gill, with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit by his side, was inaugurating the Jamia Sports Complex in New Delhi this morning.

The sports minister said the issue of alleged financial irregularities in the Commonwealth Games organising committee will be discussed in the Rajya Sabha. He said that the issue may come up in the house tomorrow. He added that the Organising Committee is doing its duties and the common target is to properly organise the Games.

Meanwhile Congress party sources said that Party MP's have appealed to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to intervene to save the Commonwealth Games. This is important to protect the country's honour and prestige before the global community.

The appeal was made by the Congress MPs, who attended a sub-committee meeting of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee yesterday. Official sources said that a senior government official attached to the Organising Committee briefed the committee on the actual tender procedures and the firms hired to supply state-of-the-art equipment

The former Sports Minister and Congress Parliament Member Manishankar Aiyyar today demanded constitution of a special committee to oversee the functioning of Commonwealth Organising Committee in the wake of allegations of corruption. He was talking to reporters outside Parliament today.

The CPI(M) has also asked the Centre to take immediate steps to check alleged irregularities in the Commonwealth Games projects. In a related development, Delhi High Court today declined to hear a PIL seeking direction to Centre to avail assistance from technocrats for timely completion of Games projects. The Court dismissed the PIL saying it is not their domain.


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Thursday, August 5, 2010

"India without Barriers" ITTA Convention 5 August

New Delhi:NKsagar-Sagar Media :-Notwithstanding the magnificence,glory uniqueness and the wonder that India is,the flow of tourism to the country is getting hampered by man made problems.. Indian Tourist Transporters Association (ITTA), is one of the apex association representing tourist transport service providers involved to promote tourism in India,to hold its annual ITTA convention on August 5, 2010 at Hotel Ashok, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.The theme for the third conventions is India without Barriers: A New Beginning to take up issue on abolition of multiple octori taxes road, toll and passenger tax on tourist vehicles to be main agenda of the discussion at the convention. .

India suffers from an image problem,where foreigners complain of the dirt in public places,poor maintenance of public utilities,and travel which becomes a les pleasurable acitivity because of barriers involved in movement from one state to the other.

A traveler in Europe often does not even come to know when he has moved from one country to another,so seamless are the borders
in the European Union.
"Foreigners are often puzzled as to whether India is one country,or is many nations.While some of these problems are inherent in a country of continental sized dimensions,for the geography,climate and food habits are so very different,but others are issues like multiple tax barriers which become all so apparent while moving over from one state to another." says Mr Sarabji Singh,president of ITTA, the apex body of tourist transport service providers."Imagine the image that a tourist forms when he sees bribes being given and taken at the interstate barriers,Mr Sarabjir Singh says.

Notwithstanding the magnificence,glory uniqueness and the wonder that India is,the flow of tourism to the country is getting hampered by man made problems,some of which are administrative in nature and others entailing interstate resolutions.Hence Convention to discuss on issues pertaining to traffic police and need of fitness certificate for brand new commercial cars and MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) parking tax on tourist vehicles.

The association is expecting Rahul Gandhi, at Convention and other eminent personality, a keynote speaker. Kumari Selja, Union Minister for Tourism to inaugurating the convention. Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister, Delhi along with state ministers and officials from tourism, transport department, tourist transport service providers to attend convention. ITTA will also bring out 'ITTA Convention Manual' at the convention.

The Conference is to organising four business sessions during the one-day convention. The first session titled- 'Is your business profitable? Find Out' will have presentations made by their knowledge partner Mr Bharat Chadha, Financial and banking professional on business viability 0and ICICI Lombard on insurance issues.

The second session titled-'The Way Forward' will have Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister, Delhi, A K Walia, Finance Minister, Government of NCT of Delhi; Arvinder Singh Lovely, Transport Minister, Government of NCT of Delhi; Sarab Jit Singh, President, ITTA, Rajesh Loomba, Chairman, Convention Committee, ITTA; Sanjay Kothari, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and RK Verma, Secretary cum Commissioner - Transport, Government of New Delhi as speakers.

The third session titled-Seamless Travel - Removing the bottlenecks' will have Devesh Chaturvedi, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and Anand Prakash, Director, Ministry of Surface Road Transport as speakers.

The fourth session titled- 'Strengthening the Partnership' will be an interactive session during the convention. Referring to the association's other plans; Singh informed that ITTA is planning to provide feeder bus services at metro stations in New Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) to offer better travel convenience for metro passengers. However, planning of the same is under process and the association is intending to send a proposal immediately to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for this purpose.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Suresh Kalmadi ready to face scrutiny by CAG

Nksagar - Sagar Media - New Delhi - Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP, Chairman, Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi said During the last week, Media has come out with various stories regarding the irregularities in the orders / procurement etc. of QBR Launch Function at London / Overlays and association of M/S Sports Marketing and Management (SMAM) in obtaining the Sponsorship for the games.Suresh Kalmadi said," I have taken a serious note of these reports and appointed a three member committee headed by Mr. Jarnail Singh, the Chief Executive Officer and two members, Mr. G. C. Chaturvedi (IAS), Special Director General and Ms. Gurjot Kaur (IDAS) Chief Vigilance Officer of Organising Committee to look into all the details of QBR Launch Function, Overlays and SMAM issues. The Committee has been asked to submit its report by August 5, 2010.

The financial procedures at the Organising Committee are well laid down and transparent. Any proposal that is prepared by the Functional Area Head first gets vetted by the O. C. Finance Committee which has two representatives of Government of India, and after that it is referred to Finance Sub-Committee, comprising of three Senior representatives of Government of India. There after, the proposals are submitted to the Executive Board for its final approval. Chairman O.C., in his individual capacity does not have any financial powers.

Suresh Kalmadi said, "I, as Chairman of the Organising Committee, am prepared to face any scrutiny by CAG or even a judicial probe for all financial transactions being reported by the Media. And all those found guilty will be brought to book."

Sixty days are left for the start of XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 to be held in New Delhi and 43 days for Games Village to open when about 8000 athletes and Officials from all continents of the world start arriving to participate in the Games.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Kalmadi on CWG Money laundering

- Nksagar - Sagar Media - New Delhi -:Organising Committee CWG chairman Suresh Kalmadi on Saturday said that there was total transparency in all the deals and "every pie is accounted for".

A day after the OC was rocked by an alleged scam involving a little known UK-based company, Kalmadi held a lengthy press conference to dismiss all allegations as "totally unfounded and baseless" and threatened to initiate legal action against those who have maligned the OC's image."We have nothing to hide. There is total transparency in OC and our conscience is
clear. All the headlines about money trail story is false. Every pie is accounted for. We are hurt by this allegations," Kalmadi said.

"I am deeply pained by these unfounded and baseless allegations. I totally deny this malicious broadcast. It is bad for the morale of the Games which is in such an important phase. I will like to deny everything which is coming in the news channel. There is nothing against us in the Central Vigilance Commission report," he said."I am thinking of legal action, including defamation against the channel. It is such a malicious reporting which is far from truth," Kalmadi added.The Delhi Games were hit by a major scam after the British Government raised questions about a substantial sum of money which was transferred to A M Films from the OC.

Reports claimed that over 4.50 lakh pounds were transferred through a British bank to the company, which was also said to be receiving 25,000 pounds a month for costume designing.Clarifying the position, Kalmadi admitted that there was no contract between the OC and A M Films and they roped in the company at the last minute only on the recommendation of the Indian High Commission in London.
"There are two sides of the story. Whole thing has come out because of the VAT refund we have asked from the company. They (British authorities) might have gone to the office of the company but if there is something wrong there, I am not responsible for it. If we were wrong, why would we ask for VAT refund," he said.

Kalmadi denied that the CWG Organising Committee transferred 25,000 pounds every month to AM Films for costume design and said the OC made a one-time payment of two lakh and 38 thousand pounds in October last year."Neither we paid money for costume designing nor paid any monthly amount to A M films. The whole amount of 2 lakh 38 thousand pounds was paid one-time in October 2009," he said."The budget for QBR function in London was dully approved by the executive committee of OC as Rs 13 crore and we spent only six crores. All the money was taken with RBI permission," said Kalmadi.He explained that the High Commission had recommended two firms AM Cars & Vans and A M Films for the additional job as demanded by the London authorities to hold the QBR as the main event management company Jacks and Morton Worldwide said their hands were full."AM Cars and Vans a company compelled by the High Commission of India in London was appointed for all the transportation requirement on the rates approved by the High Commission. Since AM Films was a sister company of AM Cars and Vans we went for it and that also on the rates recommended by the High Commission," he said waving the letter issued by High Commission on October 13, 2009.
He said the money to AM Films Ltd was paid through bank transfer from Delhi with due approvals.The other items like mobile toilets, barricades etc were got through AM Cars and Vans, he said.Regarding the CVC report on construction of stadiums, Kalmadi said the OC was not in the picture.

Kalmadi challenged the news channels to prove any transaction that the Organising Committee transfers 25 thousand Pounds every month to AM Films for costume design. He said that the Organising Committee agreed to arrange all items suggested by the London based civic and Royal authorities during the Queen's Baton Relay launch ceremony there on 23rd March 2009 and procured them from AM Films Limited at the cost of One lakh 46 thousand 8 hundred 86 point eight zero Pounds after due approvals. He said that all transactions by the Organising Committee are transparent and they have followed all the appropriate financial procedures.

"All the 16 points in the CVC report has nothing to do with the OC. We have yet to get the possession of all the venues which we are going to do tomorrow. You can now ask the venue owners about it," he retorted.

CWG 2010 is mega event, seventy one nations to participate with best of International standards infra for sports the most expensive CWG,infrastructure and organising budget of $2.22 billion) and the official estimates say the Indian Sports Minister M. S. Gill in the parliament on Friday the cost of organising the Games had risen by a factor of 17 since the bid was made in 2003.

Sports Minister M S Gill on Saturday promised to take "prompt and appropriate" against corruption cases in the Commonwealth Games and said all deals related to the sporting extravangza should be be tabled in Parliament.Gill said that if any irregularities related to 3rd-14th October mega event were brought to his Ministry's notice, it would deal with it seriously and swiftly."Anything that needs to be looked at must be looked at and it will continue even after the Games. I believe that we must put forward everything before the Parliament and the people," he told reporters in New Delhi."I am closely following whatever has been reported in the media related to various issues of the Games, preparations as well as other issues. Whatever they be, the clear policy and duty of the Ministry is that if anything comes to our notice which needed to be dealt with, then the officers must make sure that they deal with it promptly and appropriately."
"I believe that in our country which is a very powerful and vibrant democracy with a very strong press, we need to support the democracy and the people's right to know," the Minister said.

Reports claimed that over 4.50 lakh pounds were transferred through a British bank to the company, which was also said to be receiving 25,000 pounds a month for costume designing.Gill said financial bungling may be making headlines, but at this crucial juncture hosting a successful Games should be the priority of all the parties concerned.
"I think for all of us the prime focus has to be that in a little over 2 months we will be hosting the Commonwealth Games, which were taken in 2003 by the contry's government and continued by the successor governments."
"The major parties support the necessity to conclude the Games in a successful manner for the honour and the good of the country and now it should be the prime duty for all of us," he said.
"We (ministry) have to make sure that we complete all the stadiums on time and keep on supporting the athletes. We should not lose focus of the necessity of delivering a good Games for the honour of the country," the Minister reiterated.

CVC official reveal all the construction quality certificates inspected so far had been fake or "suspect", raising serious concerns for athletes' and spectators' safety during the 12- day sporting extravaganza.
"Fake certificates were routinely issued to pass substandard work and material," an official of the Central Vigilance Commission told daily newspaper.
Other certificates were "suspect", the official said and "We have not yet been able to gauge the financial implications, but it is certain to have led to very big gains for vendors and contractors."

Construction agencies responsible for the creating the Games infrastructure are going to hand them over to the Organising Committee today on Sunday 1 August 2010

“The organising committee will take over the games facilities tomorrow completed in all respects only. Mr Kalmadi asserted that the fields of play in all the stadia are of the world class and are in excellent condition. looking to the fact that these games are going to be viewed by about 3 billion people all over the globe, Mr Kalmadi's appeal to stand united to make it a big success comes at no less an appropriate time when the mega event is just over two months away.”
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