India Art fair in bigger avatar next year

The Hindu A visitor seen at the India Art Summit in New Delhi last year. File Photo: S. Subramanium

The India Art Summit is set to get bigger in its third year with more countries expected to participate and the number of exhibiting galleries doubling from previous year in the event scheduled to be held here in January 2011.

Held annually in August since 2008, the third edition of the art fair would take place in the national capital from January 21-23 next year. This, organisers say was done to enable India find a permanent slot on the global art fair map.

With 84 galleries shortlisted out of 150 for the edition, and the inclusion of 34 leading international galleries (double the number that participated in 2009), India’s importance as an emerging global centre for art is further confirmed, organisers said in a statement.

Top galleries from around the world will include Lisson Gallery (UK), Sundaram Tagore Gallery (Hong Kong), Galerie Kashya Hildebrand (Switzerland), Aicon Gallery (US) Grosvenor Gallery (UK), Thomas Erben Gallery (US), Galerie Frank Elbaz (France), Die Galerie (Germany), The Drawing Room (The Philippines), Greenaway Gallery (Australia), and others.

“We are thrilled to be back at this exciting event and privileged to play a role in the internationalisation of the Indian art world,” says Michelle D’Souza, Director, Lisson Gallery which is returning for the third time.

At the last fair there were over 40,000 visitors and a total sales of Rs 260 million according to estimates given by the organisers.

The total area of the art fair has increased almost two-fold to approximately 8000 sq metre of exhibition space, and the total number of galleries has increased by 55 per cent from the previous edition.

“We’re very pleased with the quality of galleries that have been selected and the breadth of Modern and Contemporary Art that will be presented at the upcoming fair” says Neha Kirpal, Director, India Art Summit.

“India has never seen this selection of art and galleries come together from around the world, I’m very excited to see that our country’s art fair is shaping up to be of a truly international standard,” says Shireen Gandhy, Gallery Director, Mumbai.

The third edition would see a greater curatorial focus in the gallery booth plans with strong group shows in the general exhibition section, and individual artist displays in the new solo projects section of the art fair.

Further, an extended sculpture park surrounding the entire art fair venue at the Pragati Maidan here and the dedicated spaces for video and performance art is expected to give galleries a much wider stage to present an array of art practices and mediums.

Reference Link
http://www.thehindu.com/arts/art/article529894.ece?homepage=true

Courtesy
The Hindu

India unveils Rs 1,500 tablet PC

New Delhi: India unveiled a Rs 1,500 (around $ 30) tablet PC designed specifically for students.

“If more companies decide to manufacture a similar device, prices will come down automatically,” Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said after unveiling the low cost-access-cum computing device here.

The device would be made available to students in 2011.

When the ministry floated the concept of a low cost laptop some years ago, officials said it would cost Rs 500 ($ 10). It will now cost about three times the initial projections.

The ministry expects the prices to drop to Rs 1,000 ($ 20) and reach Rs 500 ($ 10) as innovations are introduced.

The device, no bigger than a conventional laptop, is a single unit system with a touch screen and a built in keyboard along with 2GB RAM, Wi-Fi connectivity, USB port and powered by a 2-watt system to suit poor power supply areas.

“This is real and tangible and we will take it forward. Sun will rise for the Indian students in 2011,” he said.

The ministry also invited private players to produce similar low cost computers.

“When we started the project, the response from the private sector was lukewarm. Now many are willing to join the innovation,” Sibal said.

The ministry started its efforts by holding discussions on this concept with a group of experts at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras and IIT Bombay, a ministry official said.

The low cost tablets will be distributed in institutions by the HRD ministry. The final price will depend on the transportation cost.

“We will give some subsidy on the device. As far as transport is concerned, if the transport cost in less, the government can bear that as well,” Sibal added.

Reference Link
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/india-unveils-rs-1500-tablet-pc/127289-11.html?from=tn

Courtesy
IBNLive.com India

Israel's alternative 'world cup'

While all eyes were on the World Cup in South Africa, a football tournament of another type was being played on pitches across Israel. (Images courtesy of jenswenzel-photography.com)

The Football 4 Peace tournament brings together children from Arab and Jewish families, most of whom have never met a child from the other community.

The project began in 2001 with 100 children from two communities. Today, it involves 24 communities and over 1,000 boys and girls.

During the two weeks of activities, a team of 40 volunteers from the UK and Germany were on hand to support local coaches and the young participants.

The children are all aged nine to 13. Half are Arab and other half are Jewish.

Some were initially reluctant to shake their counterparts’ hands, but by the end were playing as a team, the coaches said.

This year, Football 4 Peace celebrates ten years of activities in Israel.

The tournament culminated in a final in the northern Israeli town of Nazareth Elite, which has strained relations with its Arab neighbour, Nazareth. Many children had never played with a child from the other community before.

The project aims to build greater co-operation and understanding on both sides and to provide the skills to create life-long positive relationships.

The project was originally developed by the UK’s Brighton University and is supported by the British Council, the Sports University in Cologne and the Israeli Sports Authority.

Reference Link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10610622

Courtesy
BBC News

Nigeria's President Jonathan signs 'bad' bank bill

Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan has signed into law a new agency that will take over bad debts from the banking system.

The Nigerian president hopes the new agency will help ‘rejuvenate the economy’

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (Amcon) will attempt to draw the poison out of the country’s banks, after a $4bn (£2.6bn) rescue of the nine biggest banks last year.

The banks will be able to replace dud loans with government-guaranteed bonds.

A leader and key staff for Amcon have yet to be appointed.

“The establishment of Amcon is a reflection of the government’s commitment to safeguard the interests of depositors, creditors and other stakeholders in the Nigerian financial system, and in doing so rejuvenate the domestic economy,” said the president.

The Nigerian government is treading a well worn path, with many governments having set up similar government-backed “bad” banks to help clean up their banking systems.

It is hoped that, with toxic debts off their balance sheets, the Nigerian bank will be able to attract new investors in the private market, and will be better placed to recommence fresh lending to support the economy.

Markets will be keen to discover who will run the agency, as well as the total size of bad debts it will go on to buy from the banks, and what valuation it puts on those debts.

Reference Link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10697718

Courtesy
BBC News

Honda: China, eco-cars in focus

Jul.20 – The head of Honda Motors apologized for strikes at parts factories in China, saying it has taught Japan’s No. 2 the importance of communication. Dan Sloan reports.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Honda: China, eco-cars in focus, posted with vodpod

Reference Link
http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=122338339&feedType=nl&feedName=usbusinessearly&videoChannel=5

Courtesy
Thomson Reuters

Doing their bit for society

Uniform, stationery items distributed to 28 tribal children from Chamanahalli Hundi

A group of like-minded students have set up Varadham Charitable Association

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MYSORE: They brought smiles on the faces of poor tribal children with their gesture.

Varadham Charitable Association, formed by a group of like-minded students studying engineering, management, science and humanities in Mysore, distributed notebooks, uniform, stationery items and other essentials items to 28 tribal children of the Government Lower Primary School, Chamanahalli Hundi in H.D. Kote taluk, at a function held at Ganabharati here on Sunday.

The school headmaster and parents of the children participated in the event and appreciated the students’ gesture. “We had been to Chamanahalli Hundi during a medical camp conducted by the association. After seeing the condition of these children, we decided to do help them in our own way by distributing items necessary for their schooling,” said Amritha Shandilya, a Varadham volunteer. The children were brought to the city a day before the function. They and their parents were educated on personal hygiene such as taking bath every day, cutting nails regularly, etc. “We even taught them alphabets,” said Ms. Shandilya, a final year environment engineering student.

There are many young students in the association like Ms. Shandilya who are passionate about doing their bit for the good of society and for people in need by contributing Rs. 50 a month towards the activities of the association. At present, the association has 137 members. Young working professionals have also shown interest to join them in their activities. The association, which was registered two years ago, conducts activities such as medical camps and book distribution camps every month. The association has conducted several activities in H.D. Kote taluk, one the most backward taluks in the State and dominated by tribal communities.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/21/stories/2010072157960200.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

City boy bags silver in international olympiad

Hashmi among 4-member Indian team which won one gold and three silver medals — Photo: NAGARA GOPAL

Keep it up: Syed Mustafa Hashmi with the silver medal he won at the 21st International Biology Olympiad held in Korea.

Hyderabad: Perseverance and hardwork never go unpaid. You only have to be focussed on your goal and work towards it. Perhaps, 17 year-old Hyderabadi boy Syed Mustafa Hashmi knew this when he started preparing for the 21 {+s} {+t} International Biology Olympiad which was held in Changwon, Korea from July 11 to 15.

And it paid off. Mr. Hashmi, who was among the four member team from India, won a silver medal in the international Olympiad, making his parents, relatives and teachers proud. In all, the Indian team won one gold and three silver medals.

The phone has not stopped ringing ever since at his residence in Masab Tank and the bright young boy cannot hold back his grin.

“There were over 240 students from different countries participating in the five day event. It was a wonderful experience interacting and competing with them. The Olympiad had theory and practical. Though the theory part was easy, it was the practical which was difficult yet we pulled through,” says an exuberant Hashmi.

“But, I feel that Indian students are good at theory and lag behind in practicals. We were given a task to analyse DNA finger-printing. Though we completed it somehow, we saw other students were pretty comfortable,” says the 17 year-old

Proud parents

His parents – S. Khalid Hashmi and Asima Hashmi proudly show his accomplishments, which is a cupboard full of medals, mementoes and certificates that the young boy won in several academic competitions.

“We are really proud and happy for him. He has been an outstanding student through out and is an inspiration to his siblings. Though he has got through most of the entrance exams, he still wants to study in Hyderabad and is keen on pursuing MBBS from Osmania Medical College,” says S. Khalid Hashmi.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/21/stories/2010072159290300.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Bank adopts girl students

It extends financial aid up to higher education level

For bright future: S.Jeyaram Moorthy, Assistant General Manager, SBI, Regional Business Office, Puducherry, giving away assistance at Manjakuppam branch in Cuddalore on Tuesday.

CUDDALORE: The State Bank of India has been extending financial assistance up to higher education level under the Girl Students Adoption Scheme, according to S. Jeyaram Moorthy, Assistant General Manager, SBI, Regional Business Office, Puducherry.

Class I to Plus-Two

He was speaking at a function organised at the Manjakuppam branch of SBI here on Tuesday to give away cheques to 20 girls studying from Class I to Plus-Two. It was in keeping with the vision of SBI Chairman O.P. Bhatt that banking practices should be combined with social responsibilities the bank had launched the scheme, he said.

As per the dictum that “educating a girl was equivalent to educating the entire family,” the bank was supporting girls in their education. With proper encouragement, girls could excel in their chosen fields and win laurels, Mr. Moorthy said.

During a recruitment for clerical posts in the bank held recently, women candidates constituted 70 to 80 per cent of interviewees. It indicated that given a chance women can outnumber men in all spheres, he said.

R. Nandini, a beneficiary, said that but for the bank’s help, she would not have continued her studies. She vowed to obtain State rank in Plus-Two examinations to make the bank proud.

N. Selvam, a parent, said that when he was finding it difficult to meet the educational expenses of his daughter, the bank extended timely help. Sivakumar, Correspondent of Saraswathi Vidyalaya, said that many girls were dropping out of school owing to financial constraints. The SBI’s gesture would help them stay on course to complete their schooling and even go for higher studies.

Senior Branch Manager of the Manjakuppam branch K. Govindarajan said the scheme that made its advent in Kolkata in 2007 was extended all over the country in 2008.

Mandatory

It was mandatory that every SBI branch adopts at least one girl student and the maximum number of beneficiaries was left to the discretion of the branch manager concerned.

The bank would monitor the educational performance of the students but not stop the aid if anyone of them did not make the grade. The three branches—Manjakuppam, Thirupadiripuliyur and Old Town—were thus extending assistance to the tune of Rs. 1 lakh to the students, Mr. Govindarajan said.

K. Venugopal and K.Chelladurai, Senior Managers of Thirupadiripuliyur and Old Town branches, were present.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/21/stories/2010072151130300.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Dreamers: The Digg Idea

How one man parlayed a childhood fascination with computers into one of the nation’s most-visited news websites.

By Petra Guglielmetti

For two months after he launched digg.com, Kevin Rose didn’t need an alarm clock. “By 6 a.m., I was up and on the computer,” he recalls. “It was the sheer fear of not knowing what was on my own home page.”

Here’s why: Seasoned editors do not deliberate over Digg’s front page. It’s strictly a popularity contest. Users post news stories and images—found anywhere from the websites of big newspapers to small blogs—and with the click of a button, other users either “digg” the items (meaning they like them) or “bury” them (meaning they don’t). On a given day, you can find breaking news about Iraq next to such headlines as “Bacon Flavored Jelly Beans!” and “Another Road Sign Warns of Zombies.” “Sometimes you’ll look at two headlines and say, No sane editor would ever put these next to each other,” says Rose, 32. “That’s part of the charm.”

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Photographed by Michael Sexton

Kevin Rose started Digg as an “experiment.” But he quit his day job within months.

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Today, the site gets 35 million different visitors a month. One link from Digg’s home page can produce a tsunami of traffic that can turn a Web newcomer into a real player—or crash an ill-equipped smaller site. And investors are banking on the idea’s value; just last September, Digg secured $28.7 million in new venture-capital funding. Many believe Digg is worth much more: Last summer, Google was reportedly in talks to buy it for $200 million. (Neither company will comment.)

Rose says a big cash-in was never part of his plan. When he started Digg, he thought, “If this can pay my rent and I can chill in my apartment and drink my tea and have an awesome little office, that’d be more than I could ask for.” It’s the kind of dream you’d expect from a Web wunderkind. As a child in Las Vegas, Rose was “the most unpopular kid in school,” who at age eight spent hours on his family’s Commodore 64, typing code to summon an animated balloon. In the early ’90s, he persuaded his parents to buy him his own computer, which he used to talk tech with other “nerds” in chat rooms.

Rose’s passion sometimes took precedence over schoolwork, prompting his mother to confiscate his keyboard when bad report cards arrived. “I drilled a hole in my desk and put a chain through it so she couldn’t take it again,” Rose says. At 15, he was repairing computers. By 19, he had a computer-support job at the Department of Energy’s Nevada Test Site while he was going to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. And by 21, he’d dropped out and moved to Silicon Valley.

Rose came up with the idea for Digg in 2004 while hosting a cable news show about tech trends. Social networking sites like Facebook had just taken off, drawing users who could post photos, links, and video and then talk about them. Rose created a site that would take that approach to news. It debuted in November 2004. “It was an experiment,” he says. “I wanted to see what kind of news would surface and whether it would be of good quality.” But when the number of people visiting Digg reached a few thousand a month—enough to garner ads—Rose quit his day job. By 2005, Digg’s monthly traffic had hit 200,000, and he’d hired a CEO and a staff and raised $2.8 million. Today, Digg is among the most-visited sites in the United States.

Like many sites, Digg hasn’t yet figured out how to transform its traffic into profit. Nonetheless, it continues to evolve. Digg now recommends stories to users based on other stories they like. It also lets them vote on questions they want to ask politicians and celebrities.

In the meantime, Rose is sleeping through the night. He still checks the home page every morning when he gets up. But he makes a cup of tea first, then sits back to enjoy the mutiny.Getting Ahead with Kevin Rose

Q. Is starting an Internet business as easy as it seems?
A. Oh, absolutely. Back in 2000, just to get a site off the ground, you had to buy expensive servers. There weren’t as many freelance developers. Now you can get a rented server for $100 or less per month and hire a freelance coder for 10 to 12 bucks an hour and get off the ground for a few thousand dollars.

Q. What’s your advice for someone who wants to launch a site?
A. People spend too much time planning and trying to get everything perfect before they launch. You’re never going to know what users think until you get a site into their hands. Get something out there, find out what the community thinks, then refine and rerelease, refine and rerelease. You’re going to get a lot of things wrong, and that’s okay. You can always kill anything you don’t like. Other than that, hold off as long as possible before taking investments, because the longer you wait, the higher your valuation and the less of your company you’ll have to give away.

Q. Are you ever off the computer?
A. It’s easy to get lost in the computer; I probably spend 12 to 14 hours a day on it. But on the weekends, I need to unplug. As I get older, I realize I can’t live online. It’s going to burn me out or kill me. I also just got glasses for the first time in my life.

Q. What’s the best business advice you’ve ever gotten?
A. You don’t have to work for other people; you can do your own thing and it can work out. Also, do something you love. In my family, we’ve each followed our passions in life. That’s the most important thing.

Q. Are there certain entrepreneurs or businesspeople who’ve inspired you?
A. Growing up, it was Bill Gates for sure. And of course, Steve Jobs. I love the fact that he pays extreme attention to detail in his products. There’s something about opening an Apple product and everything from the lettering on the manual to the way it’s packaged is perfect—that means a lot.

Reference Link
http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/dreamers-the-digg-idea/article148085.html

Courtesy
Readers Digest

SEDS: story of a green revival

ANANTAPUR: The once bald mountains and barren valleys in the five Mandals of Roddam, Penukonda, Chillamathur, Gorantla and Somandepalli in Anantapur district are now teeming with greenery and life. More than 20 years of sincere effort in the direction has paid rich dividends.

Dense forests have been raised and massive shade giving and fruit bearing trees developed into a canopy covering thousands of hectares in what were once forest lands devoid of greenery. As one traverses through the length and breadth of the five mandals adopted by Social, Education and Development Society (SEDS) in the Penukonda revenue division, it is unbelievable that such massive forestation work has been done by a low profile NGO founded by Rajan Joshuva from Kerala and Manil Jayasena Joshuva from Malaysia.

They both met in Anantapur district and by providence got married. Soon after their marriage, they settled in a remote village called Anandapuram in Penukonda mandal and by their hard work and sheer dedication they built a set-up which uplifted the underprivileged on the educational, social and environmental front.

“We faced stiff resistance and blind opposition to the forestation drive from the locals. They cut down the trees planted by us and offered no cooperation as we opposed tree felling by the locals; but our persistence, perseverance and patience paid off and ultimately they began to understand the seriousness of our cause,” said Rajan Joshuva, executive director of SEDS.

Environmental police

SEDS was not only able to successfully raise 2.2 million living trees in the five mandals, but were able to transform every villager into an environmental policeman. Today if any outsider came with any ulterior motive , the villagers act as policemen and drive them away, Mr. Joshuva remarked.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/20/stories/2010072053000200.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu