News about Swine flu - the red Alert

Do You Need to be Worried

*(Collected News)

The swine flu does not have any preventive vaccine for humans, although timely medication can cure it. The medicine advised is Tamiflu and Relenza. Fortunately for India, it already has a stockpile of one million doses of Tamiflu. The government is now planning to double its buffer stock by ordering another million doses of the drug."These drugs have a shelf live of five years. So we may increase our buffer stock," said a top health official.

Alarm bells in India

There are no suspected cases of swine flu in India till now. But the govt has ordered screening of all passengers arriving from US, UK, Canada, Mexico, France and New Zealand, while advising to avoid ``non-essential travel'' to these flu-affected countries. Given that these are fairly common symptoms for all kinds of ailments, expect some confusion at the airports, especially in Delhi and Mumbai.

Why is it dangerous?

Scientists say it's a rogue form of the H1N1 virus that has mutated into a never-before-seen mixture of viruses from pigs, birds and humans. What's really worrying scientists is that the new strain has killed people, mostly young adults - the hallmark of pandemic flu. What's most worrying about the present outbreak is the swift human-to-human transmission of this virus.

'Significant' risk of pandemic

The World Health Organisation has raised its flu pandemic alert level from three to four, signalling a "significant increase in risk of a pandemic" under its criteria. The WHO's two-year-old alert system has six levels, and level four means the organisation sees a "significant increase in risk of a pandemic."

The other view

US President Barack Obama, however, said while there was cause for concern, there was no need for alarm. The decision by his administration to declare a US public health emergency was a 'precautionary tool' that would give health officials the resources needed to respond quickly and effectively to the flu threat, he said.

Vote and the Nation

Know the Stregnth oh ONE

One Vote of yours can Change Fortune of INDIA

UNESCO presents exhibition on reconstruction of Aksum obelisk

UNESCO presents exhibition on reconstruction of Aksum obelisk

Child Holding the model of Aksum obeliskbi hiowt gebre geziabeher (9 years Old) for UNESCO

(COllected News)An exhibition - photographs and a video installation - at UNESCO will celebrate the reinstallation of the Aksum obelisk. The show will give visitors a chance to learn about the history of the Ethiopian site and to view the key stages of reinstalling the monument, 24 metres high and weighing 150 tons. Open to the public from 4 to 15 May (9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.), the exhibition will be inaugurated on 23 April by Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director-General of UNESCO, in the presence of the Ethiopian and Italian ambassadors to UNESCO, Adelech Haile Mikael and Giuseppe Moscato.

The artists in the show, who are from Ethiopia, Belgium, France and Italy, were invited by UNESCO to visit Aksum and to express their vision of the restoration of the obelisk, a symbol of Ethiopian culture.

Their works highlight the uniqueness and magnitude of the project. The monument's history has been eventful: erected in the 4th century then vandalized in the 7th, the obelisk was hauled off to Rome at Mussolini's orders and set up near the Circus Maximus, finally returning to Aksum in 2005.

The artists - Tito Dupret, Theo Eshetu, Hiwot Gebre Geziabeher, Michael Tsegaye and Paola Viesi - give their personal interpretations of these events. The gigantic, 15-screen video installation by Theo Eshetu benefits from the dual perspective of the artist, born in Ethiopia and living in Rome. Hiwot Gebre Geziabeher, a schoolgirl from Aksum who learned photography from Michael Tsegaye, takes the local inhabitants' point of view. Included in the show are films and photos depicting the extraordinary reinstallation work and Aksum's lifestyle and culture. For an even better sense of the project's scope, a 360°* projection offers visitors a simulated tour of the Aksum archaeological site and works. With this exhibition, UNESCO is celebrating the successful reinstallation and showing how a cultural project can help bring about reconciliation between two countries with conflict in their past.

This project and this exhibition were made possible thanks to the generous contribution of the Italian Government.

Join hands to save the Tiger

Join hands to save the Tiger

India has been home to Tigers for a very long time. If one has seen a Tiger they are just awed by the beauty, power and aura of the magnificent beast. Tigers were found all over India and still as many as 16 States of India are home to the Tigers.

The latest census report released on 12th. February, 2008 by the Government of India reports that there are only 1411 tigers left. The population of the Tiger has been reduced by nearly 50% and that too in a period of 6 to 7 years.It is time that emergency and drastic steps are taken to save the pride of jungle and pride of India from becoming extinct.

The causes of the fast decrease in the Tiger population are well known both by the government and common people. The increasing pressure on Tiger habitats due to agriculture, industrialization and degradation and fragmentation of natural habitats, forests and natural grasslands are one of the main reasons for the decrease of Tiger population and for that matter all wildlife in India. The immediate effect of this is lack of natural food and habitat causes the wild animals to come out of the forest area. This tends to increase the conflicts between the humans and animals. The other reason for the population decrease is Poaching, which has been on rise recently. There is a slogan I have been hearing for quit some time, ” If the buying stops, the selling will stop”.

I think the rich people who are the only one who can afford buying the skins for their fancies are probably deaf, as they cannot seem to hear the slogan. The poaching problem should be dealt with strictly by the Government of India and the concerned State Governments. The Forest Department of India is severely understaffed and they do not have the modern weapons and technology to protect the Forest areas. The laws for the animal protection should be revised. The poachers should be shot dead on sight. How can a forest guard armed with a stick [danda] or an outdated rifle fight the heavily armed poachers to protect the animals. It is time the Government of India acts urgently.

The people of India should also join hands to save the Tiger.

Hidden Truth about Taj Mahal

Hidden Truth - Never say it is a Tomb

BBC says about Taj Mahal

Aerial view of the Taj Mahal

The interior water well


Frontal view of the Taj Mahal and dome




Close up of the pinnacle





Inlaid pinnacle pattern in courtyard



Close up of the dome with pinnacle

Red lotus at apex of the entrance

Rear view of the Taj & 22 apartments

View of sealed doors & windows in back

Typical Vedic style corridors

The Music House--a contradiction

A marble apartment on ground floor

The OM in the flowers on the walls

Staircase that leads to the lower levels

300 foot long corridor inside apartments

One of the 22 rooms in the secret lower level

Interior of one of the 22 secret rooms

Interior of another of the locked rooms

Vedic design on ceiling of a locked room

Huge ventilator sealed shut with bricks

Secret walled door that leads to other rooms

Secret bricked door that hides more evidence

Palace in Barhanpur where Mumtaz died

Pavilion where Mumtaz is said to be buried

NOW READ THIS........
No one has ever challenged it except Prof. P. N. Oak, who believes the whole world has been duped. In his book Taj Mahal: The True Story, Oak says theTaj Mahal is not Queen Mumtaz's tomb but an ancient Hindu temple palace of Lord Shiva (then known as Tejo Mahalaya ) . In the course of his research O ak discovered that the Shiva temple palace was usurped by Shah Jahan from then Maharaja of Jaipur, Jai Singh. In his own court ch ronicle, Badshahnama,Shah Jahan admits that an exceptionally beautiful grand mansion in Agra was taken from Jai SIngh for Mumtaz's burial .. The ex-Maharaja of Jaipur stillretains in his secret collection two orders from Shah Jahan for surrendering the Taj building. Using captured temples and mansions, as a burial place fordead courtiers and royalty was a common practice among Muslim rulers.
For example, Humayun,Akbar, Etmud-ud-Daula and Safdarjung are all buried in such mansions. Oak's inquiries began with the name of Taj Mahal. He says the term " Mahal " has never been used for a building in any Muslim countries from Afghanisthan to Algeria . "The unusual explanation that the term TajMahal derives from Mumtaz Mahal was illogical in atleast two respects.
Firstly, her name was never Mumtaz Mahal but Mumtaz-ul-Zamani ," he writes. Secondly, one cannot omit the first three letters 'Mum' from a woman's name to derive the remainder as the name for the building." Taj Mahal, he claims, is a corrupt version of Tejo Mahalaya, or Lord Shiva's Palace . Oak also says the love story of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan is a fairy tale created by court sycophants, blundering historians and sloppy archaeologists Not a single royal chronicle of Shah Jahan's time corroborates the love story.
Furthermore, Oak cites several documents suggesting the Taj Mahal predates Shah Jahan's era, and was a temple dedicated to Shiva, worshipped by Rajputs of Agra city. For example, Prof. Marvin Miller of New York took a fewsamples from the riverside doorway of the Taj. Carbon dating tests revealed that the door was 300 years older than Shah Jahan. European traveler Johan Albert Mandelslo,who visited Agra in 1638 (only seven years after Mumtaz's death), describes the life of the city in his memoirs. But he makes no reference to the Taj Mahal being built. The writings of Peter Mundy, an English visitor to Agra within a year of Mumtaz's death, also suggest the Taj was a noteworthy building well before Shah Jahan's time.
Prof. Oak points out a number of design and architectural inconsistencies that support the belief of the Taj Mahal being a typical Hindu templeratherthan a mausoleum.. Many rooms in the Taj ! Mahal have remained sealed since Shah Jahan's time and are still inaccessible to the public . Oak asserts they contain a headless statue of Lord Shiva and other objects commonly used for worship rituals in Hindu temples Fearing political backlash, Indira Gandhi's government t ried to have Prof. Oak's book withdrawn from the bookstores, and threatened the Indian publisher of the first edition dire consequences . There is only one way to discredit orvalidate Oak's research.
The current government should open the sealed rooms of the Taj Ma hal under U.N. supervision, and let international experts investigate.

Curtesy : (Collected News)

World Heritage in Danger

The List of World Heritage in Danger

Armed conflict and war, earthquakes and other natural disasters, pollution, poaching, uncontrolled urbanization and unchecked tourist development pose major problems to World Heritage sites. Dangers can be ‘ascertained’, referring to specific and proven imminent threats, or ‘potential’, when a property is faced with threats which could have negative effects on its World Heritage values.
Under the 1972 World Heritage Convention, the World Heritage Committee can inscribe on the List of World Heritage in Danger properties whose protection requires ‘major operations (…) and for which assistance has been requested’.
Inscribing a site on the List of World Heritage in Danger allows the World Heritage Committee to allocate immediate assistance from the World Heritage Fund to the endangered property. It also alerts the international community to these situations in the hope that it can join efforts to save these endangered sites. The listing of a site as World Heritage in Danger allows the conservation community to respond to specific preservation needs in an efficient manner. Indeed, the mere prospect of inscribing a site on this List often proves to be effective, and can incite rapid conservation action.
Inscription of a site on the List of World Heritage in Danger requires the World Heritage Committee to develop and adopt, in consultation with the State Party concerned, a programme for corrective measures, and subsequently to monitor the situation of the site. All efforts must be made to restore the site's values in order to enable its removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger as soon as possible.
Inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger is not perceived in the same way by all parties concerned. Some countries apply for the inscription of a site to focus international attention on its problems and to obtain expert assistance in solving them. Others however, wish to avoid an inscription, which they perceive as a dishonour. The listing of a site as World Heritage in Danger should in any case not be considered as a sanction, but as a system established to respond to specific conservation needs in an efficient manner.
If a site loses the characteristics which determined its inscription on the World Heritage List, the World Heritage Committee may decide to delete the property from both the List of World Heritage in Danger and the World Heritage List. To date, this provision of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention has never had to be applied.
Some illustrative cases of sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
Iranian city of Bam:

The ancient Citadel and surrounding cultural landscape of the Iranian city of Bam, where 26,000 people lost their lives in the earthquake of December 2003, was simultaneously inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2004. Important international efforts are mobilized to salvage the cultural heritage of this devastated city.
Bamiyan Valley in Afghanistan:

This cultural landscape was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2003 simultaneously with its inscription on the World Heritage List. The property is in a fragile state of conservation considering that it has suffered from abandonment, military action and dynamite explosions. Parts of the site are inaccessible due to the presence of antipersonnel mines. UNESCO, at the request of the Afghan Government, coordinates all international efforts to safeguard and enhance Afghanistan’s cultural heritage, notably in Bamiyan.
Walled City of Baku in Azerbaijan:

Representing an outstanding and rare example of medieval architecture at the crossroads of the many different cultures in the region, the Walled City of Baku sustained significant damage during the earthquake of November 2000 and has been increasingly affected by the pressure of urban development, the absence of conservation policies and by questionable restoration efforts. For these reasons it was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2003. Since then, UNESCO has been working with the State Party and the Advisory Bodies to set up a plan of action to address the conservation issues as well as with stakeholders to coordinate the implementation of safeguarding measures.
Historic Town of Zabid in Yemen:

The outstanding archaeological and historical heritage of Zabid has seriously deteriorated in recent years. Indeed, 40% of its original houses have been replaced by concrete buildings. In 2000, at the request of the State Party, the Historic Town of Zabid was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. UNESCO is helping the local authorities to develop an urban conservation plan and to adopt a strategic approach for the preservation of this World Heritage site.
The National Parks of Garamba, Kahuzi-Biega, Salonga, Virunga and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo:

Since 1994, all five World Heritage sites of the DRC were inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger as a result of the impact of the war and civil conflicts in the Great Lakes region. In 1999, an international safeguarding campaign was launched by UNESCO together with a number of international conservation NGOs to protect the habitat of endangered species such as the mountain gorilla, the northern white rhino and the okapi. This resulted in a 4-year US$3.5 million emergency programme to save the five sites, funded by the United Nations Foundation and the Government of Belgium. In 2004, international donors, non-governmental organizations and the governments of Belgium and Japan pledged an additional US$50 million to help the Democratic Republic of the Congo rehabilitate these World Heritage parks.
How to help?
The States Parties to the Convention should inform the Committee as soon as possible about threats to their sites. On the other hand, private individuals, non-governmental organizations, or other groups may also draw the Committee's attention to existing threats. If the alert is justified and the problem serious enough, the Committee may consider including the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

To inform the World Heritage Committee about threats to sites, you may contact the Committee's Secretariat at:

World Heritage CentreUNESCO7, place de Fontenoy75352 Paris 07 SPFrance
Tel.: 33 (01) 45 68 18 71Fax: 33 (01) 45 68 55 70E-mail: wh-info@unesco.org

Salary & Govt. Concessions for a Member of Parliament (MP)

Have a look at this Salary & Govt. Concessions for a Member of Parliament (MP)

Monthly Salary : 12,000Expense for Constitution per month : 10,000

Office expenditure per month : 14,000

Traveling concession (Rs. 8 per km) : 48,000 ( eg.For a visit from kerala to Delhi & return: 6000 km)Daily DA TA during parliament meets : 500/day Charge for 1 class (A/C) in train: Free (For any number of times) (All over India )

Charge for Business Class in flights : Free for 40 trips / year (With wife or P.A.)
Rent for MP hostel at Delhi : Free
Electricity costs at home : Free up to 50,000 units
Local phone call charge : Free up to 1 ,70,000 calls.

TOTAL expense for a MP [having no qualification] per year : 32,00,000 [i.e. 2.66 lakh/month]
TOTAL expense for 5 years : 1,60,00,000 For 534 MPs, the expense for 5 years : 8,54,40,00,000 (nearly 855 crores)

AND THE PRIME MINISTER IS ASKING THE HIGHLY QUALIFIED, OUT PERFORMING CEOs TO CUT DOWN THEIR SALARIES…..

This is how all our tax money is been swallowed and price hike on our regular commodities....... And this is the present condition of our country: 855 crores could make their life livable !!Think of the great democracy we have............. PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO ALL REAL CITIZENS OF INDIA .. but,STILL Proud to be INDIAN
i know hitting a delete button is easier.......bt.......try 2 press fwd button 2 make people aware of it!

TV9 just wonder

TV9 launching New chennel which created a wave in south india today.

Adding to the crowded airwaves, Hyderabad-based Associated Broadcasting Co. Pvt. Ltd (ABCL), which runs news channels in Telugu, Kannada and Gujarati under the TV9 brand, included an English news ­channel.

ABCL is funded by SriniRaju, who was previously a director of Satyam Computer Services Ltd and founder-CEO of Satyam Enterprise Solutions Ltd. Raju declined to elaborate on the new ventures beyond saying he isn’t making any additional investments into the English channel. Mahendra Mishra, channel head editorial of TV9 Karnataka, said he would be the editor of the new English channel as well. He said: “Our challenge is to create a channel with an international look, but with a local flavour.” Mishra did say that ABCL has plans to launch news channels in Delhi and Chennai and is looking to launch at least five channels.

“Today, there are more than 50 news channels in India which is probably the only country with so many,” notes Siddhartha Mukherjee, vice-president (communications) with TAM Media Research Pvt. Ltd. He added that news has been one of the categories, apart from children’s channels and regional channels, which have been creating some pressure on the general entertainment category.

Satyam Become real night mare for the Investor

The release submitted by Satyam Comp to the BSE
"It is with deep regret, and tremendous burden that I am carrying on my consciencel that I would like to bring the following facts to your notice:1. The Balance Sheet carries as of September 3D} 2008

a. fnflated (non-existent) cash and bank balances of Rs.5,040 crore (as against Rs. 5361 crore reflected in the books)b. An accrued interest of Rs. 376 crore which is non-existentc. An understated liability of Rs. 11230 crore on account of funds arranged by med. An over stated debtors position of Rs. 490 crore (as against Rs. 2651 reflected in the books)

2. For the September quarter (Q2) we reported a revenue of Rs.2,700 crore and an operating margin of Rs. 649 crore (24% of revenues) as against the actual revenues of Rs. 2,112 crore and an actual operating margin of Rs. 61 Crore (3% of revenues). This has resulted in artificial cash and bank balances going up by Rs. 588 crore in Q2 alone.

The gap in the Balance Sheet has 'risen purely on account of inflated profits over a period of last several years (limited only to Satyam standalone, books of subsidiaries reflecting true performance). What started as a marginal gap between actual operating profit and the one reflected in the books of accounts continued to grow over the years. It has attained unmanageable proportions as the size of company operations grew significantly (annualized revenue run rate of Rs. 11,276 crare in the September quarter, 2008 and official reserves of Rs. 8,392 crore).

The differential in the real profits and the one reflected in the books was further accentuated by the tact that the company had to carry additional resources a"nd assets to justify higher level of operations -thereby significantly increasing the costs.

Every attempt made to eliminate the gap failed. As the promoters held a small percentage of equity, the concern was that poor performance would result in a take-over, thereby exposing the gap. It was like riding a tiger, not knowing how to get off without being eaten.

The aborted Maytas acquisition deal was the last attempt to fill the fictitious assets with reaJ ones. Mavtas' investors were convinced that this is a good divestment opportunity and a strategic" fit. On'ce Satyam's problem was solved, it was hoped that Maytas' payments can be delayed. But that was not tacbe. What followed in the last several days is common knowledge.
I would like the Board to know:1. That neither myself, nor the .Managing Director (including our spouses) sold any shares in the last eight years - excepting for a small proportion declared and sold for philanthropic purposes.

2. That in the last two years a net amount of Rs. 1,230 crore was arranged to Satyam (not reflected in the books of Satyam) to keep the operations going by resorting to pledging all the promoter shares and raising funds from known sources by giving all kinds of assurances (Statement enclosed, only to the members of the board). Significant dividend. payments, acquisitions, capital expenditure to provide for, growth did not help matters. Every attempt was made to keep the wheel moving and to ensure prompt payment of salaries to the associates. The last straw was the selling ofmost of the pledgeq share by the lenders on account of margin triggers.

3. That neither me, nor the Managing Director took even one rupee/dollar from the company and have not benefitted in financial terms on account of the inflated results.

4. None of the board members, pastor present, had any knowledge of the situation in which the company is placed. Even business leaders and senior executives in the companv,. such as, Ram Mynampati, Subu D, T.R. Anand} Keshab Panda,VirenderAgarwal, A.S. Murthy, Hari T, V Krishnan, ViJay Prasad, Manish Mehta, Murali V, Sriram Papanij Kiran Kavale, Joe. Lagioia, Ravindra Penumetsa, Jayaraman andPrabhakarGupta are unaware of the real situation as against the books of accounts. None of my or Managing Director's immediate or extended family members has any idea about these issues.

Having put these facts before you~ I leave it to thewisdom of the board to take the matters forward. Howeverl I am also taking the liberty to recommend the following steps:

1. A Task Force has been formed in the last few days to address the situation arising out of the failed Maytas acquisition attempt. This consist$ of some of the most accompHshed leaders of Satyam: Subu D/T.R. Anand, Keshab Panda and Virender Agarwal I representing business functions,· and A.S. Murthy, Hari T and Murali V representing support functions. I suggest that Ram Mynampati be made the Chairman of this Task Force to immediately address some of the operational matters on hand, Ram can also act as an interim CEO reporting to the boa rd.

2. Merrill Lynch can be entrusted with the task of quickly exploring some Merger opportunities.

3. You may have a 'restatement of accounts' prepared by thi2 auditors in light of the facts that f have placedbefbre you. have promoted and have·· beenq$sociated·with Satyam for well oVer twenty years now. I have seen it grow from few people to 53,000 people, with 185 Fortune 500 companies as customers and operations in 66 countries. Satyam has established an excellent leadership and competency base at all levels. I 'sincerely apologize to all Satyamites and stakeholders, who have made Satyam a special organization, for the current situation. I am confidentthey will stand by the company in this hour of crisis.

In light of the abovel I fevently appeal to the boa rd to hold together to take some important steps. Mr. T.R. Prasad is well placed to mobilize support from the government at this crucial time. With the hope that members of the Task Force and the financial advisor, Merrill lynch (now Bank of America) will stand by the company at this crucial hour, I am marking copies of this statement to· them as well. Under the circumstances, I. am tendering my resignation as the chairman of Satyam and shall continue in this position only till such time the current board is expanded. My continuance is just to ensure enhancement of the board over the next several days or as early as possible. Am now prepared to subJect myself to the laws of the land and face consequences thereof.

Ramalinga Raju"