A stream of mourners lined up before the CPI-M headquarters and the Indira Bhavan, official residence of Jyoti Basu, here to pay their last respect to the departed leader as West Bengal observes a two-day state mourning beginning today.
A holiday has been declared in the state government offices as a mark of respect to the veteran communist leader.
A portrait of Basu has been placed on a pedestal in front of the party headquarters on Alimuddin Street to enable mourners to pay floral tributes.
Mourners with bouquets and garlands also gathered in front of the Indira Bhavan at Salt Lake.
Basu's body has been kept at the private funeral parlour 'Peace Haven' from where it would be taken tomorrow in a procession first to the state secretariat, then the Assembly building and finally to the state-run SSKM Hospital for handover to the hospital authorities.
Across the state silent mourning processions were taken out today with placards reading "Jyoti Basu Amar Rahe". CPI-M flags were flown in half mast in different party offices across the state.
CPI-M sources said that Nepalese Premier Madhav Kumar Nepal and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez may visit the city to pay their last respects to Basu.
"We are also yet to get confirmation of the arrival of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi to attend the Marxist leader's last journey," they said.
The sources said Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to arrive tomorrow and so is veteran BJP leader L K Advani.
Basu's body will be kept for four hours at the state Assembly tomorrow to enable mourners to pay respect.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Thursday, June 12, 2008
A little more sleep improves concentration
An extra hour in bed not only improves performance and enhances concentration, but also helps a person get rid of daytime sleepiness.
According to a study conducted by researchers at Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic and Research Laboratory on swimmers, a considerable amount of improvement was observed in their performances after their sleep hours were extended to ten hours a day.
"These results begin to elucidate the importance of sleep on athletic performance and, more specifically, how sleep is a significant factor in achieving peak athletic performance," lead author of the Lab Cheri Mah said.
During the study, the participants were made to follow their normal sleep pattern for the first two weeks and then their sleep hours were increased.
The team noted that after getting an extended sleep athletes swam a 15-meter meter sprint 0.51 seconds faster, reacted 0.15 seconds quicker off the blocks, improved turn time by 0.10 seconds and increased kick strokes by 5.0 kicks.
They also noted a decrease in tendency of sleeping during the day hours among the performers.
Also, after getting a sound and complete night sleep, the sign of tiredness in the athletes disappeared and they appeared full of vigour, energy and force.
According to a study conducted by researchers at Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic and Research Laboratory on swimmers, a considerable amount of improvement was observed in their performances after their sleep hours were extended to ten hours a day.
"These results begin to elucidate the importance of sleep on athletic performance and, more specifically, how sleep is a significant factor in achieving peak athletic performance," lead author of the Lab Cheri Mah said.
During the study, the participants were made to follow their normal sleep pattern for the first two weeks and then their sleep hours were increased.
The team noted that after getting an extended sleep athletes swam a 15-meter meter sprint 0.51 seconds faster, reacted 0.15 seconds quicker off the blocks, improved turn time by 0.10 seconds and increased kick strokes by 5.0 kicks.
They also noted a decrease in tendency of sleeping during the day hours among the performers.
Also, after getting a sound and complete night sleep, the sign of tiredness in the athletes disappeared and they appeared full of vigour, energy and force.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Tata world's 6th most reputed company
Diversified Indian conglomerate Tata group has emerged as the world's sixth most reputed company, but the country's most valued firm Reliance Industries failed to make the grade.
Tata group leapfrogged over 100 positions from last year's 124th rank in the annual "Global 200: The World's Best Corporate Reputations" list, compiled by US-based Reputation Institute.
The global list, which includes 10 other Indian companies, has been topped by Japanese auto maker Toyota, followed by US-based internet search giant Google, Sweden's Ikea, Italy's Ferrero and another American firm Johnson & Johnson.
The Ratan Tata-led group is joined by India's second largest software exporter Infosys Technologies in the Top-50 league at 14th position.
However, at least nine other Indian firms, which were among 600 companies considered in a survey to prepare the list, could not make it to the final 200. These firms include Mukesh Ambani-led RIL, the country's biggest by revenue among private sector firms and overall largest in terms of market value.
Other Indian companies that were considered for the list, but failed to make the cut include the biggest private sector lender ICICI Bank, top private and public sector telecom firms Bharti Airtel and BSNL, IT giant Wipro, Birla group's Grasim Industries, tobacco-to-consumer goods conglomerate ITC as well as two state-run firms -- oil refining and marketing major BPCL and national carrier Air India Ltd.
While releasing its latest Global Pulse report, Reputation Institute said that Tata group and Air India have the strongest and weakest corporate reputations respectively among the companies from India.
Tata group leapfrogged over 100 positions from last year's 124th rank in the annual "Global 200: The World's Best Corporate Reputations" list, compiled by US-based Reputation Institute.
The global list, which includes 10 other Indian companies, has been topped by Japanese auto maker Toyota, followed by US-based internet search giant Google, Sweden's Ikea, Italy's Ferrero and another American firm Johnson & Johnson.
The Ratan Tata-led group is joined by India's second largest software exporter Infosys Technologies in the Top-50 league at 14th position.
However, at least nine other Indian firms, which were among 600 companies considered in a survey to prepare the list, could not make it to the final 200. These firms include Mukesh Ambani-led RIL, the country's biggest by revenue among private sector firms and overall largest in terms of market value.
Other Indian companies that were considered for the list, but failed to make the cut include the biggest private sector lender ICICI Bank, top private and public sector telecom firms Bharti Airtel and BSNL, IT giant Wipro, Birla group's Grasim Industries, tobacco-to-consumer goods conglomerate ITC as well as two state-run firms -- oil refining and marketing major BPCL and national carrier Air India Ltd.
While releasing its latest Global Pulse report, Reputation Institute said that Tata group and Air India have the strongest and weakest corporate reputations respectively among the companies from India.
India, fourth most attractive business location
India is the fourth most attractive business location for European business houses, the fifth annual European attractiveness survey carried out by global consultancy firm Ernst & Young has said. Of the 834 decision-makers who responded to the survey, 30 per cent found India gaining investor confidence and growing as a better business destination than US and Russia.
China was rated as the most attractive business destination with 47 per cent votes followed by Central Europe (42 per cent) and Western Europe (33 per cent). The US and Russia was preferred by 21 per cent. Termed as "an open world", the European attractiveness survey sought to identify the prospects of alternative business locations and the criteria that drive the perceptions of the respondents.
According to E&Y, the survey findings underscored that the most important driving force for foreign direct investors is to access new markets and as Europe's economy slows, investors are increasingly looking to thriving economies and competitiveness elsewhere. "The survey findings further highlighted that business leaders today see the investment world as multi-polar, with destinations such as China, India, Russia and the West Asia. These relatively recent global players now present really viable competition to the developed world in the eyes of potential investors in search of investment locations", it stated.
"The world is becoming a level playing field when it comes to businesses' perceptions of their cross-border investment options," said Marc Lhermitte, Partner, Ernst & Young, France, who led the European attractiveness survey.
China was rated as the most attractive business destination with 47 per cent votes followed by Central Europe (42 per cent) and Western Europe (33 per cent). The US and Russia was preferred by 21 per cent. Termed as "an open world", the European attractiveness survey sought to identify the prospects of alternative business locations and the criteria that drive the perceptions of the respondents.
According to E&Y, the survey findings underscored that the most important driving force for foreign direct investors is to access new markets and as Europe's economy slows, investors are increasingly looking to thriving economies and competitiveness elsewhere. "The survey findings further highlighted that business leaders today see the investment world as multi-polar, with destinations such as China, India, Russia and the West Asia. These relatively recent global players now present really viable competition to the developed world in the eyes of potential investors in search of investment locations", it stated.
"The world is becoming a level playing field when it comes to businesses' perceptions of their cross-border investment options," said Marc Lhermitte, Partner, Ernst & Young, France, who led the European attractiveness survey.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Woman to head missile project for first time
After rising to the ranks of Lt Generals in the army and Air Marshals in the IAF, a woman is now set to head the country's key missile project.
45-year-old Dr Tessy Thomas, one of the around 200 women scientists and technicians working for the DRDO, has been cleared to be appointed to the post of project director of the upgraded version of the 2000 km-long nuclear capable Agni-II missile.
Thomas is presently the associate project director of the 3,000 km range Agni-III missile project.
Asked about the new version of Agni-II being planned, Thomas, who was honoured along with the entire team of Agni-III by the Prime Minister, said that "It is still a confidential project. It will be called Agni-II A (2)".
"I like my job. I feel I am contributing to my nation's security," Thomas, who has named her son after the country's light combat fighter Tejas, said. A BTech from Thrissur Engineering College, Calicut, and M.Tech from Pune, she is an expert on all solid system propellant.
Thomas, who did the post analysis of the failure of the first Agni-III missile, said there were some shortcomings in the test of the missile which were overcome for a smooth flawless test flight on May seven.
45-year-old Dr Tessy Thomas, one of the around 200 women scientists and technicians working for the DRDO, has been cleared to be appointed to the post of project director of the upgraded version of the 2000 km-long nuclear capable Agni-II missile.
Thomas is presently the associate project director of the 3,000 km range Agni-III missile project.
Asked about the new version of Agni-II being planned, Thomas, who was honoured along with the entire team of Agni-III by the Prime Minister, said that "It is still a confidential project. It will be called Agni-II A (2)".
"I like my job. I feel I am contributing to my nation's security," Thomas, who has named her son after the country's light combat fighter Tejas, said. A BTech from Thrissur Engineering College, Calicut, and M.Tech from Pune, she is an expert on all solid system propellant.
Thomas, who did the post analysis of the failure of the first Agni-III missile, said there were some shortcomings in the test of the missile which were overcome for a smooth flawless test flight on May seven.
Monday, May 5, 2008
ELCOT allots land for TNEB at proposed IT park
The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) has allotted land to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) for installing power infrastructure at the proposed information technology park at Ilandhaikulam near here.
“Two 10 MVA (Mega Volt Amperes) capacity transformers will be erected at the 1.17 acres allotted along with one 110 kilo volt substation initially. Depending on the power requirement of entrepreneurs, either one or both will be enhanced to 16 MVA,” K. Balasubramanian, Chief Engineer (Distribution) of Madurai region, told The Hindu here on Monday.
The TNEB was awaiting detailed information regarding the number of units and their individual power requirements from ELCOT.
The power requirement of Ilandhaikulam IT Park would be lesser compared to the one at Vadapalanji, which was expected to occupy over 230 acres.
The Ilandhaikulam IT Park would occupy around 30 acres.
“We estimate that Vadapalanji IT Park would require a 230 kV substation along with one or two 50 MVA transformers,” he said.
The TNEB had asked for 15 acres at Vadapalanji which would include around 6 acres for the substation and rest for residential quarters for staff and other purposes. “While Ilandhaikulam does not require staff quarters in its vicinity, the Vadapalanji substation requires one,” he said.
“Two 10 MVA (Mega Volt Amperes) capacity transformers will be erected at the 1.17 acres allotted along with one 110 kilo volt substation initially. Depending on the power requirement of entrepreneurs, either one or both will be enhanced to 16 MVA,” K. Balasubramanian, Chief Engineer (Distribution) of Madurai region, told The Hindu here on Monday.
The TNEB was awaiting detailed information regarding the number of units and their individual power requirements from ELCOT.
The power requirement of Ilandhaikulam IT Park would be lesser compared to the one at Vadapalanji, which was expected to occupy over 230 acres.
The Ilandhaikulam IT Park would occupy around 30 acres.
“We estimate that Vadapalanji IT Park would require a 230 kV substation along with one or two 50 MVA transformers,” he said.
The TNEB had asked for 15 acres at Vadapalanji which would include around 6 acres for the substation and rest for residential quarters for staff and other purposes. “While Ilandhaikulam does not require staff quarters in its vicinity, the Vadapalanji substation requires one,” he said.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Saab Gripen to tie up with Tata, HAL
To ink contracts with Indian companies for the $10 billion IAF jet deal.
Saab Gripen, one of the six contenders in the $10-billion medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal, is looking to sign up Indian companies for components.
On the back of a flurry of deals signed by Boeing IDS and Lockheed Martin during the DefExpo 2008, Saab Gripen now wants to grab a slice of the pie. It plans to sign up Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and the Tata Group for offsets for its Gripen fighter aircraft.
Saab Gripen, one of the six contenders in the $10-billion medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal, is looking to sign up Indian companies for components.
On the back of a flurry of deals signed by Boeing IDS and Lockheed Martin during the DefExpo 2008, Saab Gripen now wants to grab a slice of the pie. It plans to sign up Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and the Tata Group for offsets for its Gripen fighter aircraft.
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