Starting a weekly roundup of news and interesting events from around the world.
Here’s edition number one.
The week started with this CAG report on how Assam police personnel carried their fancy AK-47 assault rifles for two years, without any bullets. Looks like we need a law enforcement agency to take care of these law enforcers.
There was drama earlier as some Gandhi memorabilia was scheduled to be auctioned in New York. Indian government talked a lot about getting them back, but eventually Vijay Mallya bought the items for $1.8 million. Things got more interesting when the minister for culture, Ms Ambika Soni claimed that Mallya was representing the Indian government, and he denied that anybody from the government had ever contacted him.
It’s not over yet. James Otis, the owner of these 5 items now wants to file a case to get them back!
The elections are coming up in a few months, and things are getting exciting. The third front was formed this week, and if she has her way, Mayawati is going to be their Prime Ministerial candidate.
Naveen Patnaik divorced the BJP in Orissa, ending a long standing alliance, and potentially inflicting another blow to the BJP’s chances in the upcoming general elections. He went on to win the trust vote in the Orissa assembly.
In the US, we saw another Indian named to the Obama administration. Vivek Kundra was appointed as the US Chief Information Officer (CIO) by President Obama. There was some drama to follow as the FBI raided his former office in Washington DC, following which he has taken leave from his white house job.
Anoop Desai is the latest singing sensation on American Idol. He escaped elimination this week despite a harsh judgment from the judges, including Simon Cowell, who called his performance ‘horrible’. We expect him to go on for at least a few more weeks, unless the Indian support carries him further!
In India, a world record of sorts was created when 25 lakh (2.5 million) women turned up for the annual ‘pongala’ ritual at Attukala Devi Temple in Trivandrum.
This week we celebrated the festivals of Eid and Holi, with the usual enthusiasm. Happiness, in what would be called bleak times.
In cricket, India won yet another one day series, this times inflicting a lot of pain on New Zealand. Virender Sehwag broke the record for the fastest Indian ODI century, getting to three digits in just 60 balls.
In the world of business, the famous IIMs are also facing the heat of the ongoing economic slowdown. IIM Calcutta reported placing all students but with lower salaries as compared to last year. The average domestic salary dropped as much s 23% to Rs 12.7 lakhs. IIM Bangalore took 9 days to place all students, much longer than the usual.
Where the IIM salaries are going down, the fees keep increasing. Calcutta increased the fees for the two year program to Rs 9 lakh. Lucknow and Kozhikode are also considering increasing the fees. Finally, quality education for a quality price.
Rounding off with this very interesting video produced by Israeli defense company Rafael for the recently held Aero India 2009 in Bangalore. Just what were these guys thinking?
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Thats some summary ! Man !
Dont tell me you are so glued into the news !! I can save so much of my TV time, and just go through such posts !!
Thanks !
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@Kavi – Thanks!
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Do wait for more drama….there are one and a half months more for the elections.
and of course there will be more antics after the results come in…
I wish I could vote this year, but I do not have six month residency in India to register…. but next election…. may be I will file a candidature….
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Title reminded me of my fav. DD 2 show
Aah! this election scares me. Say no to Elephants!
I saw that video on another blog. Dinga dinga dinga…Ha..ha.
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Goodness Gracious me !!!! What exactly is this video supposed to be ‘for’.. The two counteries?? What is with all these Indian ‘God’ posters, and these funny dancers!!!
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i saw that video made by Rafael industries. Seriously, what were the guys thinking. Looks like the snake charmers and elephants, Bollywood is another branding we can do without
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AD, this was brilliant
Thanks and I echo, with @ravi, if you are doing these posts I am not even bother looking at the news 
Thanks Man.
I would hate Mayawati for becoming a PM. IIM salaries, should be corrected, I mean i know they are smarter than me but for the same work there should a salary difference of 300%???
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That was certainly a great round up of news.
Funniest one was about Gandhi item auction, I followed it with interest.
Now, he wants it back, what grounds? Seeking publicity, is he?
Ok, what’s this fuss about Indians (who are actually Americans) being inducted into cabinet? Itna hull machate hain hum har baar.
And IIM’s are over-hyped and over-priced, honestly
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Haha… Did the Assam police really go around with no bullets for two years? That’s funny and dangerous.
Then, the auction…Mallya’s gotten Tipu Sultan’s cherished items too a few yrs back. Beer power is sheer power, looks like:)
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@Saachi – I wasnt aware of any residency requirements for voting for Indian citizens. Of course, i am taking the liberty of assuming that you are a citizen!
@Solilo – Yea, i remember that show! Elephants are such wonderful elephants…see what they have come to signify
Makes me sad some days.
@mesingh – Yes, they are talking about the two countries forging a life long alliance! Super corny video with super shady dancers and lyrics!
@Chirag – Thanks. That was the idea…stop watching news. Read Amreekandesi
The IIM fees remind me of my engineering days where the fees in my college (a ‘premier’ college) were a pittance in comparison. I just read that the fees at ISB is Rs 20 lakhs. That’s a huge sum of money for India! In dollar terms, it is just about half the salary of Harvard Business School (HBS)! In Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms it would probably be twice the HBS fees. I find that hard to digest. It is ironical that now the fees are increasing, and salaries are coming down!
@Poonam – Thanks.
In the post i read, it wasnt clear why he was claiming the items back. Need to check for updates on that.
About Desi people in Obama’s cabinet, it just points to the increasing stature of the Indian community. Understandably, media in India goes crazy trying to claim these people as their own!
@Naperville Mom – Yes, the Assam police report was scandalizing. I dont think they went around completely hapless. I guess they had some older guns. Just that their ‘modern’ weaponry was useless for them!
Mallya is turning out to be India’s Richard Branson. Super rich and not afraid to use his money. Very flamboyant. And always finding ways to be in the news!
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nice round up of news..elections and IPL , there is no dearth of ‘news’ that is not really news now-a-days
P.S: your site is an exception!!
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Brilliant post, dude…
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@Rahul and @Nikhil – Thanks! I am flattered
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OMG THAT VIDEO!!!!!
I pinched myself! I would pretend that I never saw that! It was embarrassing just to watch it.
And Mayawati! If she becomes the PM, I’ll go to the Himalayas.
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AD,
For registering into the voter’s list, one has to have physically been in an address for six months. So…. we are going to have to wait till the next elections.
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