PM launches initiative to tap diaspora’s knowledge base

October 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday underlined the importance of developing our own skills, knowledge and capacities in the science of climate change.

October 12th, 2009 SRINAGAR - Amateur models showcased exquisite modern and traditional designer wears at a fashion show in Srinagar. The participants said such programmes should be organised regularly so that they can understand fashion.

August 4th, 2009 Defense minister: Israel should join US initiativeJERUSALEM — Defense Minister Ehud Barak says Israel should join the U.S. peace initiative for the Middle East when it's ready.

July 7th, 2009 NEW YORK - The UN Security Council has condemned the recent missile launches by North Korea and urged the communist country to fully comply with its obligations and relevant UN resolutions. The Security Council "condemned and expressed grave concern at the (missile) launches, which constitute the violation of UN Security Council resolutions and pose a threat to regional and international security," Uganda's ambassador to the UN Ruhakana Rugunda said Monday.

June 5th, 2009 BRUSSELS - Welcoming the address of President Pratibha Patil to the Indian parliament, the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) in Belgium said the importance of the Indian diaspora must not be viewed only in static economic terms but as social and cultural ambassadors of India, EuAsiaNews reported Friday. President Patil in her address to the parliament said Thursday India would deepen its ties with its 25-million diaspora in 130 countries that has emerged as an important force in respective countries of domicile.

April 23rd, 2009 AGRA - A madarsa in Agra is highlighting the importance of voting to its students. The teachers at the madarsa are trying to motivate the future voters.

April 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Department of Science and Technology (DST) Monday launched the India Innovation Initiative (i3) in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and communication analyst Agilent Technologies. Under the initiative, DST will launch a nation-wide competition of technology-based ideas in which innovators above 18 years of age can participate.

April 5th, 2009 TOKYO - North Korea launched a rocket Sunday, a South Korean foreign ministry official told Yonhap news agency. Pyongyang said it was putting a communications satellite into orbit, but Japan, South Korea and Washington believe the launch was a screen to test a long-range ballistic missile.

April 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - Rocket launches in future may require more stringent regulation to minimise damage to the ozone layer of the Earth's atmosphere, according to a new study. Today, just a handful of NASA space shuttle launches release more ozone-depleting substances in the stratosphere than the entire annual use of CFC-based medical inhalers used to treat asthma and other diseases in the US, said Darin Toohey, professor of Colorado University at Boulder (CUB) atmospheric and oceanic sciences department.

March 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India has to initiate 'structural reforms' in the educational system if it wants to reap the benefits of its 'demographic dividend', National Knowledge Commission (NKC) Chairman Sam Pitroda said here Thursday. The demographic dividend denotes a rise in economic growth due to an increasing share of working people in population.

March 20th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama announced a $2.4-billion plan Thursday to promote hybrid vehicles and reduce dependence on foreign oil. The initiative allows companies to apply for grants administrated by the Department of Energy to develop better batteries for hybrid electric vehicles and related technologies and components.

March 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Indian edition of Technology Review, the world's oldest technology magazine published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was launched here Monday. A copy of the 109-year-old magazine was unveiled at the EmTech India 2009, a two-day conference on emerging technologies, jointly organised by the MIT and technology publisher CyberMedia.

February 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Eyeing the increasing number of Indian tourists to Britain, the British tourism authority Wednesday launched a new initiative to facilitate their travel to the country. The authority, VisitBritain, launched a range of popular travel products that travellers can buy in India before flying to Britain.

January 21st, 2009 KOLKATA - Car manufacturer Fiat India is likely to double sales by 2010, a top company official said here Thursday. 'We are anticipating more than 40,000 sales in the current year (2009) and we hope to double it by 2010,' Rajeev Kapoor, president and chief executive officer of the company said on the sidelines of the launch of Fiat Linea - a sedan with diesel and petrol variants.

January 6th, 2009 CHENNAI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will Thursday launch three major initiatives to bring India closer with its 25 million diaspora in 130 countries in areas covering knowledge, investment and philanthropy. The Global Indian Network of Knowledge, or Global INK, will provide opportunity for professionals - individuals and organisations - among overseas Indians to engage as partners in development projects.