Assam Plans to Woo BPO And Call Centres

By Malvika Sampat

Guwahati, May 26 : Assam is planning to pump in more than Rs. 300 crore to take a big leap in IT industry and attract country’s top BPO firms and call centres to the state by improving IT infrastructure and strengthening internet connectivity.

As a first move the government is setting up a State Data Centre in Guwahati which would serve as a centre of IT and communication networks in the state that has been witness to years of violence and communication backwardness. 

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi laid the foundation of the state data centre in Guwahati said the project would cost a little over Rs. 61 crore. The centre will be country’s second such data centre after Andhra Pradesh capital Hyderabad, the IT hub.

This comes at a time when the Assam government recently constituted an investment advisory committee comprising of country’s top business tycoons including Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata, Bharti chairman  Sunil Bharati Mittal and others to pep up business and investment activities.

An official of the state science and technology department said, “As the government is making all effort to woo investors in the state, improving internet connectivity and other latest communication networks is a must. Assam has sizeable number of talented young people who are suitable for the BPO and call center jobs.

Hundreds are already working in country’s top call center. If we can set up call centres here,  we can generate employment and thereby improve our economy.”

The official said that state government was gearing up to computerise all administrative activities and reduce paper works in government departments by strengthening internet connectivity across the state.

Gogoi, who is on a mission to project the state as a destination of business activity while laying the foundation of the State Data Centre said that the centre being set up with the expenditure of Rs. 61 crore would gradually help plug the communication backwardness.

The construction of the data centre would cost Rs. 12. 13 crores,  being set up inside the state secretariat while another Rs. 49.4 crore would be pumped in for the IT infrastructure of the centre.

“The state-of-the-art data centre being set up would strengthen our internet connectivity and services. This would not only benefit government and common people but would also attract BPO and call centre companies to the state,” the official said.

The state information technology minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently said the government would soon build a state online portal. Once the portal is set up, government departments would be able to download gazette notification and transfer orders online and the process would be hassle free. He said the government would spend Rs. 250 crore for the portal and would be ready by December this year.

Sarma said the bandwidth process would be changed into optical fibre mode and the band width process would be carried using electronic cables. Union IT, telecom  and communication minister Sachin Pilot recently said the centre was concentrating on improving internet and communication networks in the Northeast.

Pilot, who recently visited the NE including Assam said government was planning to wire up the entire northeast and remote border regions with telecom, Wimax and broadband connectivity and unleash an IT revolution in the region.

[ via allindiatoday ]

Nagaland Team Arrives For Talks With Manipur CM, Congress Leaders

Imphal, May 26 : A six-member Nagaland Congress team has reportedly reached Manipur capital Imphal for talks with Chief Minister O.Ibobi Singh to resolve the stand-off over the controversial visit of rebel Naga leader Thuigaleng Muivah to his ancestral village.

The team is being led by Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president I Imkong and also includes Nagaland Legislative Assembly opposition leader Apou Jamir, the son of former Nagaland Chief Minister S C Jamir.

The team travelled by road after cancelling their flight to Dimapur. They reportedly reached Mao Gate this morning and were escorted by a combined team of state IRB, Assam Rifles and CRPF from Mao gate to Imphal.

The team is expected to discuss the relationship between the two states and hold meetings with the state Congress leaders.

The Central Government is keeping a close watch on emerging developments.

Polling Began For Council Elections in Manipur

Imphal, May 26 : Polling for elections to 39 seats of three district councils of Chandel, Churachandpur and Sadar Hills in Manipur began from 7 am today, state election office said.

Sources said a little more than 2 lakh voters were exercising their franchise to elect 39 representatives to autonomous district councils (ADCs) of Chandel, Churachandpur and Sadar Hills in about 221 polling stations.

Initial reports said some miscreants set fire to Henglep and Seizang polling stations in Churachandpur district this morning but polling in the area continued after officials made arrangements.

Chandel, Churachandpur and Sadar Hills have 24 seats each but 33 candidates have already been declared elected unopposed, sources said.

The second phase polling of ADCs would be held on June 2 in Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati districts, sources said.

Some Naga organizations including All Naga Students Association Manipur are opposing the elections on the ground that enough monetary powers was not give to the ADCs, a charge strongly denied by the state government.

48 Degree C & Counting, Indian Summer Shatters Records

New Delhi, May 26 : It's the peak of summer, a time when heat waves are common in most parts of India.

But what the country is currently witnessing is killer heat that has shattered temperature records in many cities and has in its grip an entire swathe from the Jammu region through Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, west UP, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha and north Karnataka, down to Telangana.

Parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, the Met office says, are in midst of a 'severe' heat wave and temperatures have hit 48 degrees Celsius at several places.

On Tuesday, the maximum temperature in Kota was 48.4 degrees, the highest ever seen in the city in May. Hissar at 48.1 degrees and Ganganagar (also 48.1) also shattered records.


In Madhya Pradesh, Guna experienced a first-time-ever high of 48 degrees on Monday. The same day, Bhopal recorded the highest temperature since Independence when the mercury shot up to 46 degrees.

The rest of state too sizzled with temperatures staying around 47 degrees in Gwalior, Khajuraho, Bhind and Rajgarh. In Maharashtra, Wardha touched 47.7 degrees on Monday.

In Delhi, the Palam station recorded 46.3 degrees on Tuesday even as humidity levels remained above normal, making coolers less effective for this time of the season which usually sees dry heat.

Doctors in the capital said they have been getting around 10-20% more cases of heatstrokes than last year. Ridership in the air-conditioned Metro touched an all-time high of 11.34 lakh on Tuesday while power demand was at a record 4,530 MW.

While a consolidated heat toll wasn't available, it's likely to be pretty high. More than 20 deaths were reported from Rajasthan on Monday alone, while three more are believed to have succumbed to heat in Jaipur on Tuesday.

7 Fixes For Common Cellphone Troubles

Being a constant companion, our cellphone is prone to accidents. It's not tough to accidentally drop your cellphone on stairs, or from a table, or spill water on it.

Then begins the nightmare of taking it to the company's workshop. However, do you know if the damage is not much, there are some simple ways by which you can fix your mobile phone all on your own.

Forbes recently gave a list of simple quick fixes for cellphones. Here are some tips from the list.

Phone gets wet

Accidentally dropped your phone inside a water pool? It is almost dead.

Chill, there is still a chance to revive it.

Just remove the battery cover and put the phone in a plastic bag of dry rice.

This may help you soak out the water from your phone.

You can also put the bag out in sun for quick evaporation.

Trackball malfunction

Looking for an important email, and the trackball on your smartphone just refuses to scroll.

It's dust and dirt. Just like in a computer mouse, dust and dirt also make the movement of your trackball tardy.

Just soak alcohol in a cloth and rub it over and around the trackball.

Another way can be to pop out the trackball and clean it manually.

Damaged charger

An aging cellphone can often give tough time charging the device.

Also, charging connector within the phone also at times gets damaged, loose or corroded.

For mild corrosion, scrubbing the connector with a soft brush or a cloth soaked in alcohol can help.

However, for damaged or loose connector one needs to visit the repair centre.

Body scratches

Got scratches on your mobile phone's body, there is a simple way to get rid of them.

Just do a light buffing with fine sandpaper.

However, this may affect the shiny coating of your phone.

Scratched display

Scratches on your phone's screen gives you a tough time reading?

Applying metal polish with a soft cloth may help here.

Special scratch removal liquids and gels are also available.

Hangs

Your phone often hangs?

It simply refuses to respond. Here the first step is to switch off the device and power it again.

In case this does not work, remove the battery and reboot it.

Another way to restore it is to try connecting it to your computer.

Also, look for instructions in your phone's settings or menu. It might help.

Cracked case

Your phone's case got cracks. But its working, so all seems to be fine. Not really, continuing with a phone with a cracked case can be damaging for your phone in the long run as it exposes your phone to dust and water. To protect it from further damage go for a close-fitting case.

Kylie Minogue writhes among half-naked extras in sexy video for new single All My Lovers

By Sarah Bull

Her previous videos have seen her dancing on a table in gold hotpants and performing a sexy routine in a plunging white catsuit.

So it comes as no surprise to see Kylie Minogue writhing around among half-naked extras in the video for her new single All My Lovers.

Wearing a white cobweb-style T-shirt over a bra and knickers and matching white thigh high boots, the 41-year-old singer is seen with a look of ecstasy on her face as she lays on the top of her lingerie-clad co-stars.

Sensual: Kylie Minogue writhes among her half-naked co-stars in the video for new single All My Lovers

Youthful: The singer looks ultra sexy in the sheer outfit for the new video

The video - directed by Joseph Khan, who has directed videos including Britney Spears' Toxic - won't be released until next month, but fans have been teased with a taster preview.

And it isn't only Minogue who is getting sexy in the new video - her co-stars also appear to be overcome by the mood, and are seen passionately kissing and embracing throughout.

Sexy: Minogue's co-stars are seen passionately kissing throughout the video

Human mountain: Minogue stands on top of her co-stars while filming the video in Los Angeles earlier this month

The All My Lovers video also shows Kylie has no intention of covering up her figure, or her most famous asset, as she gets older.

She said recently: 'Every time I put on a pair of hotpants I think, "This is the last time." But it's not. It makes me laugh that my bum has become such an obsession!

'When it came to the video and I knew I was going to be in tiny hotpants again, I was like, "Cover my legs and bum with body make-up." It's definitely the way forward and my secret to having a great bottom!'

All My Lovers is the first track to be taken from Minogue's upcoming 11th studio album entitled Aphrodite, due for release on June 5.

Daytime casual: Minogue wore a loose vest top and skinny jeans as she visited her management offices in London yesterday

Explaining her inspiration for the track, she explained: 'The single was one of the last tracks to be written for the album.

'As I was recording it I knew that All The Lovers had to be the first single as it sums up the euphoria of the album perfectly.

'It gives me goose-bumps, so I’m really excited to hear what everyone thinks of it.'

[ via Dailymail ]

The Torrential Luxury

By Patrick Bryson

Raindrops keep falling A pragmatic pedestrian with a makeshift cover on the streets of Cherrapunji

Forget the beaches of Goa, the French architecture in Puducherry or the old school charm of Kolkata. For once, I want a week-long break where there are no photos, no tourists and no landmarks to visit. that’s my idea of bliss.

I first went up to Cherrapunji in Meghalaya when I came to Shillong to get married, five years ago. each time we come home I make the trip up there at least once.

Known in India and around the world more as a piece of trivia — as the wettest place on earth — surprisingly few visitors ever see Sohra (as Cherapunji is known to locals) in that state. the height of the tourist season in Meghalaya — the December- January period — coincides with winter. And from October through to March it actually has a shortage of water.

So the bulk of the tourists, mostly Bengalis or other northeasterners, see Sohra when it is at its driest: cue group family photos around the rusty-yellow the Wettest Place on earth sign, with blue skies and no clouds in the background. then there are the whiners; I have a good friend who said it was false advertising and still complains about the time we took him to Cherrapunji when it didn’t rain.

That’s why I prefer to time my visit with the thick of the rains. there are barely any tourists, and you get to see why Sohra is so famous. the weather is truly old testament in its magnitude. For my first time, in the monsoon, the jeep had to travel from Shillong at jogging pace — with visibility almost zero. As we inched closer the mist grew thicker, the sky got darker and then it hit us.

The sound of so much water collapsing on you like that really has to be experienced first-hand. Just when you adjust to the noise, and you think that it can’t get any louder, Mother Nature turns it up a notch, and then does so again, and again.

TRIFLES
Cherrapunji is home to a bioengineering marvel: living bridges. These are bridges built by ‘guiding’ the huge roots of rubber fig trees across chasms and streams
Nearest airport: Guwahati, Assam

When we finally made it, we headed straight for the local met office. Just stepping out of the jeep and running the few steps to the veranda soaked us, before the officer on duty said that the rain had been sheeting down like that for 17 days, without a break.

Think of the luxury a week of torrential rain like that gives you. I’d take along a well-stocked iPod — think Leonard Cohen, the Clash, some Frank Sinatra — my Kindle, and no phone. they’ve got an old government bungalow up there that would be just perfect for it.

I wouldn’t need to worry about organizing an itinerary, as we’d be staying in. the one day-trip that I might force on myself would be to some of the various waterfalls that populate the area. A glance at the tide vaulting over the cliffs is enough to confirm why flooding is such a problem for our plains-dwelling neighbors. rain that falls in Sohra is said to flow down-stream and across the border into Bangladesh within half an hour.

But on second thoughts I’d rather stay in, and spend the time with my wife. those Shillong-born, like her, absolutely adore the rain. People really do get excited here at the prospect of a good downpour. You’ll never call it gloomy weather again, after witnessing the monsoon in Sohra.

**Australian writer currently residing in Shillong, Meghalaya

[ via Tehelka ]

Selita Ebanks Maxim US June 2010

Caymanian fashion model Selita Ebanks is the Victoria’s sexiest secret on the cover page of men’s magazine Maxim US for the month of June 2010.

Selita Ebanks blesses the magazine with her heavenly body. Selita Ebanks was also part of the list of Maxim’s 100 sexiest women.