WHO Declares India To Be Polio Free

It is really so heartening that World Health Organization (WHO) has declared India and 10 other Asian countries to be Polio free. This recognition comes after a long phase of hard work, with the countries concerned deserving a huge applause.

The other Asian countries that received this long cherished recognition include Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

It may be noted that now virtually all the countries from the Indian Sub Continent have officially become polio free, with only two countries from that region that still await that achievement are Pakistan and Afghanistan. 

The Occasionally Populist Stand Taken By The Indian Media

I mean no offence. But I feel (I may be wrong) that our media (both national and regional) sometimes behaves like a cheap politician. While covering a sensational issue it first tries to guess the popular view on the same, and then covers that issue exactly in the way people want it to be covered, telling readers/audience exactly those things which are in sync with their view. And the media does not mind toeing the popular view even if that dilutes the neutrality and even accuracy of the news coverage.

Our media must always remember that it is supposed to educate and enlighten people, rather than behaving like a grocery store aimed at supplying people exactly what they demand.

Nevertheless, at the end of the day I perceive our media as one of the best in the world, and carry huge respect for certain publications, TV channels and online news portals, which I consider to be really high class (if not world class).

Sikkim Declared "The best region to visit in 2014" by "Lonely Planet"

It was thrilling to know that Sikkim - the picturesque north eastern state of India - has been declared "The best region to visit in 2014" by "Lonely Planet", the prominent global travel guide followed by travel enthusiasts across the world.

Sikkim is fortunate to be blessed with a heavenly beauty (like many other states and regions of India). But tapping that beauty in a smart and innovative manner is a different thing, which requires passion, imagination and dedication. The Sikkim Govt has done it successfully, and it deserves hearty congrats from everybody. This honour has come as a result of Sikkim’s strong focus on developing its tourism sector, with its dedication being reflected from facts, such as being the first Indian state to espouse a proper eco-tourism policy formulated by US and Japanese experts.

It may be mentioned that while making its selection, “Lonely Planet” has expressed appreciation for the community-based tourism model successfully developed by the state.  

Nokia Launches Lumia 2520 - Its First, And Probably The Last, Tablet

Nokia has launched Lumia 2520, its first Windows tablet.

Incidentally, it may be the Finnish major’s last tablet as well, as its hardware unit is going to be taken over by Microsoft.

In this context it may appear a bit surprising that Nokia’s Lumia 2520 poses a direct competition to Microsoft’s Surface 2 tablet.

The event that entailed the launch of Lumia 2520 also witnessed the launch of two six inch phablets named the Lumia 1520 and the Lumia 1320, and three handsets under the Asha range, named the Asha 500, Asha 502 and the Asha 503.

India’s TERI Gets Ranked By ICCG As The World’s Best Institution In The Field Of Climate Change Studies

New Delhi-based TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) has been ranked by the International Centre for Climate Governance as the world’s best institution in the field of climate change study. 

This is just one of the various developments that highlight TERI's quality, level and standard as a research institution in the field of environment and climate studies.

In fact there is nothing to get surprised with this elevation that is enjoyed by TERI. After all it is led by a towering personality like Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, the Chairperson of Nobel Peace Prize winner Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). With such a person at its helm, it is little wonder that TERI has become such a prominent organization in its field. 

TERI personifies India’s sincerity in studying the global climate problem and addressing the same, and also reflects our country’s ability to achieve this objective.

The Experience of Handling Banga Bhawan Control Room for Uttarakhand Floods

Today (3rd July 2013) I am back to my normal office duty after being a part of the " Banga Bhawan Control Room" from 19th June to 2nd July. This control room was set up at the "Banga Bhawan", West Bengal Govt's state guest house, to monitor the search and rescue operation of the tourists from West Bengal who were stranded in Uttarakhand. Some of us from the Office of the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi were handling the control room, while of number of other people, including our Principal Resident Commissioner Sir, had gone to Uttarakhand to handle the ground level situation there.

It was a first-of-its-kind experience for me to be a part of the control room, which I worked for while handling the VIP Protocol duties that came my way. It was a mixed experience. It was a touching and charming experience when I would call up somebody and told him that we could trace his relative/friend in Uttarakhand, and he would be so happy and elated, and would thank us so profusely. And at the same time I had the painful experience of answering the call of an anxious person only to tell him that there was still no news about his friend or relative.

The assignment was demanding, but I loved being a part of it. It was so different from my usual job profile of providing protocol service to dignitaries.

I congratulate from my heart those families who have got back their loved ones. And my heartfelt condolences for the families whose loved ones have fallen victims to the devastation that will haunt our nation as a nightmare for many years.

WWW.FLIGHTSTATS.COM – A GREAT WAY FOR A FLYER TO KEEP TRACK OF THE FLIGHT SCHEDULE

If you are a frequent flyer, then www.flightstats.com is a great and effective way (if not the best way) for you to keep a track of the flight schedules, i.e. the Scheduled Time of Arrival/Departure and Expected Time of Arrival/Departure. www.flightstats.com keeps making a real time tracking of every flight, and keeps informing people about any change (delay, etc.) in a flight's Scheduled or Expected Time of Arrival/Departure. The updating takes place at an interval of virtually a couple of minutes. 

All you have to do is to just log on to www.flightstats.com and type the flight name, like 6E 206, AI 701, etc. Or you can just type the flight name in Google (by accessing the Internet through any device including your mobile handset), and the www.flightstats.com information will appear at the very top. 

The best thing of www.flightstats.com is that you do not have to call up the office of the concerned airlines again and again, and at the same time you will get an information that may be more accurate than the one provided by the airlines people.

Last but not the least, I have not been paid by anybody to advertise www.flightstats.com As a Protocol Officer I often have to keep track of airlines schedules. I have personally found www.flightstats.com to be very helpful in this regard, and wanted to share it with you people as I felt many of you would benefit from this information.