- Afghan recovery cost estimated at more than $6.5 billion
- A new website for NRIs, NriGate.com launched in Saudi Arabia
- Afghan recovery cost estimated at more than $6.5 billion
- E.U should urge India, Pakistan to include Human Rights in Summit
- Afghanistan: Northern Alliance Must Offer Surrender Option
- Israel fails to address increasing use of torture in Israel-Occupied Territories:
- Torture Not an Option Human Rights Watch
- South Africa: Stop Court Fight on AIDS Drugs
- Egypt: Overturn Boy's Conviction for Homosexuality
- U.N: Dangers in Anti-Terror Treaty
November 21, 2001
India Achieves Remarkable Progress in Cryogenics
keralamonitor.com
Indan scientists and engineers have made remarkable progress in the vital area of cryogenics, both in basic research as well as applications. There are more than a dozen centres of excellence in India in this diverse field pursuing basic research. Our future GSLV launch will be using the indigenous cryo-engine. This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Science and Technology Bachi Singh Rawat while inaugurating here today a national symposium on cryogenics organised by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Rawat said that common man in India became aware of cryogenic engine technology some years ago when it was denied to us by the West. Our scientists rose to the occasion and started developing our own cryo-technology which might prove better than the old one denied to us. Our first geo-synchronous satellite was successfully launched a few months ago, he said.
The areas of cryogenic application appears to be endless. It varies from basic research to food preservation, power generation to fishries and petro-chemical complexes, liquid natural gases to steel industries, cryo-surgery to nuclear magnetic resonance, structural studies, magnetic resonance imaging to mineral industry, cryo-preservation of human blood and other organs to high-energy physics and it goes on. A number of institutes and organisations in our country are making note-worthy progress in most of these areas, Shri Rawat said. India’s advancement in the area has made a mark in the international arena and recognising this the international cryogenic community insisted on holding the 18th International Cryogenic Engineering Conference at IIT Mumbai last year. The Minister also called for developing better mutual trust between the research and development laboratories and the industry. He urged the industry to plough back its profit to further R&D.
The area of cryogenics is a fascinating one and the quest for achieving lower and lower temperature has never stopped. Scientists have been trying to get absolute zero or 273 degree Celsius below the ice point known as zero Kelvin, which is theoretically unachievable. However, it is amazing that scientists involved research in this area have gone down to nano and pico Kelvin temperatures, which is almost, but not exactly absolute zero.
Afghan recovery cost estimated at more than $6.5 billion
keralamonitor.com
Wednesday, 21 November 2001: UNDP Administrator Mark Malloch Brown presented plans for the UN rehabilitation effort in Afghanistan in an address at a conference on Afghan recovery and reconstruction in Washington, D.C. yesterday. Mr. Malloch Brown spoke in his capacity as leader of UN recovery efforts in Afghanistan, a task assigned by Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He estimated the cost of a five-year reconstruction effort at more than $6.5 billion.
The Administrator outlined four elements of recovery: quick resumption and expansion of community development activities; help in rebuilding basic infrastructure in cities and provision of seeds and fertilizer to restore agricultural production; quick development of the 2,200 national UN staff into a force of 10,000 by mid 2002 to provide cadre for a new state administration; and re-establishment of embryonic national institutions, particularly basic services, justice and security, and revenue collection and economic governance. Women must be "directly integrated into all aspects of planning for the overall recovery effort," and Mr. Malloch Brown, and there must be a "strong focus on the critical issue of girls' education."
‘Dialogue with Afghanitan's Neighbours --Iran and Pakistan important, UK minister
London: At a press briefing on 21 November, the British Foreign Secretary, Jack straw, announced that he would be travelling to Iran and Pakistan for talks: 'It is extremely important that we remain in dialogue with both Iran and Pakistan,' Mr Straw said. These two neighbours of Afghanistan have respectively had direct connections with the non-Taliban, non-Pushtun forces and ethnic groups, and strong ethnic connections with the Pushtun and some connections in recent years with the Taliban. Mr Straw reiterated that 'all of our efforts come under the aegis, and with the authority, of the United Nations,' and he said he hoped that the meeting in Berlin on 26 November 'successfully lays down a good foundation for Afghanistan’s future'. But the Foreign Secretary expressed caution about the Berlin meeting: 'this is a preliminary meeting between the parties with the hope of laying the building blocks for an interim civil administration, but given where Afghanistan has come from, and has got to so far, it is obviously going to take some time before you can really recognise a well-functioning, organised state... but the signs are more hopeful than they were,' he said.
A new website for NRIs, NriGate.com launched in Saudi Arabia
keralamonitor.com
Riyadh: An exclusive NRI portal nrigate.com was launched on the net. A switch on ceremony was done by prominent Kerala youth leader Basheer Ali Shihab Thangal, the son of Panakkad Mohammadali Thangal, was held at the Auditorium of Safamakkah policlinic Batha in Riyadh.
In his speech, Thangal stated that Indians are leading contributors in the information technology field and have given remarkable input for the growth of Internet medium. In his speech, he also stressed the importance of a website like NRIgate for large number of Non Resident Indians living in different parts of the world. The function was presided over by Shaji , Manager, Safamakkah polyclinic. K.S. Rajan, Executive General Secretary of MADAC welcomed everybody to the ceremony. Mr. Rajan in his speech, appreciated Mr. Omer Farooq (the founder and CEO of the nrigate.com) for his new venture, a statement from the dotcom company said.
The site explanation was done by Dr. Shaheer, Mr. Abdul Kareem and Mr. Mammu (KMCC- Saudi National committee) and Mr.Koyamu (President – Riyadh, KMCC) was extended greetings for the good future of website. Mr. Omer informed that “in the new website we have combined many useful information. NriGate.com will have a comprehensive directory of NRIs with their personal data. We have made a strategic plan to make the site a complete portal for NRIs within next few months”.
He also mentioned that “there are a few websites providing informative service for NRI. However, such sites are not completely focusing on NRIs and the new portal can play a key role in this area. "We also believe our approach represents a fundamental shift in the way you acquire information and use technology”. NriGate.com currently provides directory listing of NRIs, facility for buy & sell, information about banking, VISA, Passport, embassies, stocks & mutual funds, travel, NRI education, etc, he added.The portal's ambitious future plans include daily news updating, matrimonial section, Job search and other useful services for NRIs. Vote of thanks of the ceremony done by K.Mohammed Koya.NriGate.com is an idea took shape from the discussion between a few NRIs working in Gulf area, about a website that would give the best information about the NRI investments in India, loan facilities and other topics. NriGate.com --a joint venture of NRIs, is based in Riyadh.
E.U should urge India, Pakistan to include Human Rights in Summit
keralamonitor.com
Brussels, November 21, 2001- Human Rights Watch today urged the European Union to raise pressing human rights concerns at the second annual E.U.-India summit to be held in New Delhi on November 23 and 24.
Like many nations, India is facing heightened national security concerns arising from the September 11 attacks and U.S.-led military strikes in the region. In a letter addressed to EU President and Belgian Prime Minister Verhofstadt, European Commission President Prodi, EU Foreign and Development Ministers and Commissioners Patten, Nielson and Lamy and CFSP High Representative Solana, Human Rights Watch urged the E.U. to caution the Indian government against ill-considered changes to Indian law and policy that would unnecessarily erode basic rights to personal liberty in the name of fighting terrorism.
The Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO), currently being debated in Indian parliament, gives Indian police sweeping powers of arrest and detention. POTO has been strongly criticized by leading Indian civil rights groups, academics, lawyers, opposition parties, media organizations, and the country's National Human Rights Commission.
"The time is ripe for the E.U. to urge the Indian government to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance and to support individuals and groups in the region struggling for human rights in an increasingly polarized and fragile national environment," said Smita Narula, senior researcher in the Asia division at Human Rights Watch.
In advance of the summit, more than twenty members of the European Parliament (MEPs) wrote to EU Commissioners Pascal Lamy and Chris Patten urging them to use this summit to discuss strategies to eradicate caste discrimination in the region.
"The E.U. should urge the Indian government to seek international cooperation and assistance in tackling the very immense problem of caste violence and discrimination," added Smita Narula. "Both sides must build on promises made at the last summit to coordinate efforts to promote and protect human rights."The rights group also called attention to attacks on religious minorities in the country, fueled by a rise in Hindu nationalism that is actively promoted by the current government. Developments in Kashmir were also highlighted.
- Action Against military officials mentioned in Tehelka Tapes
- NPPA Announces prices of 103 Formulation Packs
- Ram Naik Orders HIGH Level Enquiry into Gandhar oil Field Fire
- RS. 50,000 Crore food loss per year due to pests
- IT & Agro Products will Increase Sino-Indian trade
- India to host 6th International Abilympics
- US to provide assistance to the Indian Railways
- India Achieves Remarkable Progress in Cryogenics
- India is countering Terrorrist Activities in Kashmir
- Solar Energy project in Ladakh
