IIT Kharagpur creates record, more than 1,000 students get jobs

Kolkata: IIT Kharagpur has set a record among all IITs with more than a thousand of its students securing cushy jobs in the first phase of campus placements, officials said today.

Around 1,010 students of the Kharagpur campus accepted job offers in the first round of placements, which ended in December. At IIT Mumbai, there were 900 offers while IIT Delhi got about 750 offers and IIT Kanpur had around 700 offers.

IIT officials said, Kharagpur has achieved a new record with the maximum number of students getting jobs in the IIT system in one phase. In addition to big names like Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Shell, Deutsche Bank, ITC, Schlumberger, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Abbott and EXL, start-ups like Flipkart and Housing.com were the ones who made multiple offers in dual figures.

The highest package offered was from a US-based company which has signed an IITian for an annual salary of USD 1.25 lakh (around Rs. 77 lakh). The highest domestic package was of Rs. 37 lakh. Two new dual degree programs - Financial Engineering and Engineering Entrepreneurship - proved to be a big hit with 85 per cent students from those courses being placed.

'The programs not only demonstrated acceptability by the industries, but projected the vision of IIT-Kharagpur for launching novel initiatives,' said Professor Sudhir Kumar Barai, in-charge of training and placement, of the institute.

The number of companies offering placements have also increased this year with 195 organisations coming this time. Barai said another 79 engineering students have accepted pre-placement offers from other companies.

IIT Kharagpur creates record, more than 1,000 students get jobs

Kolkata: IIT Kharagpur has set a record among all IITs with more than a thousand of its students securing cushy jobs in the first phase of campus placements, officials said today.

Around 1,010 students of the Kharagpur campus accepted job offers in the first round of placements, which ended in December. At IIT Mumbai, there were 900 offers while IIT Delhi got about 750 offers and IIT Kanpur had around 700 offers.

IIT officials said, Kharagpur has achieved a new record with the maximum number of students getting jobs in the IIT system in one phase. In addition to big names like Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Shell, Deutsche Bank, ITC, Schlumberger, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Abbott and EXL, start-ups like Flipkart and Housing.com were the ones who made multiple offers in dual figures.

The highest package offered was from a US-based company which has signed an IITian for an annual salary of USD 1.25 lakh (around Rs. 77 lakh). The highest domestic package was of Rs. 37 lakh. Two new dual degree programs - Financial Engineering and Engineering Entrepreneurship - proved to be a big hit with 85 per cent students from those courses being placed.

'The programs not only demonstrated acceptability by the industries, but projected the vision of IIT-Kharagpur for launching novel initiatives,' said Professor Sudhir Kumar Barai, in-charge of training and placement, of the institute.

The number of companies offering placements have also increased this year with 195 organisations coming this time. Barai said another 79 engineering students have accepted pre-placement offers from other companies.

Two killed, 29 injured in Quetta bus attack

Islamabad: At least two people were killed while 29 injured in Pakistan's Balochistan province when a pilgrims' bus was attacked in Quetta city Wednesday evening.

"So far, there have been two deaths, while the count of the injured has risen to 31," reported Geo TV citing Abdul Raheem, the information minister for Balochistan.

As per initial reports the target of this sectarian terrorist act was a bus full of pilgrims coming from Iran. The blast struck the bus at the city's Akhtarabad bypass. 

The bus had just entered Quetta after crossing Pakistan-Iran border carrying about 30 to 35 pilgrims who were coming back home after visiting holy places in Iran, said a police official Abdul Razzaq Cheema.

Gunshots were also fired after the bomb went off, a source said. The bus caught fire after the explosion.

After conducting initial investigation, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) declared it was a suicide attack.

"About 80-100 kg of explosive was used in the bomb. It is surmised that a suicide-car-bomber rammed into the fateful bus and blew it up," a BDS official said.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain strongly condemned terrorist attack.

Sharif, in his condolence message, said the perpetrators of such heinous crimes were doing no service to Islam and the country. "My sympathies are with the families of the victims. I pray for the departed souls and for early recovery of those injured in the tragic incident".

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali also decried the attack in the strongest of words.

(IANS)

Two killed, 29 injured in Quetta bus attack

Islamabad: At least two people were killed while 29 injured in Pakistan's Balochistan province when a pilgrims' bus was attacked in Quetta city Wednesday evening.

"So far, there have been two deaths, while the count of the injured has risen to 31," reported Geo TV citing Abdul Raheem, the information minister for Balochistan.

As per initial reports the target of this sectarian terrorist act was a bus full of pilgrims coming from Iran. The blast struck the bus at the city's Akhtarabad bypass. 

The bus had just entered Quetta after crossing Pakistan-Iran border carrying about 30 to 35 pilgrims who were coming back home after visiting holy places in Iran, said a police official Abdul Razzaq Cheema.

Gunshots were also fired after the bomb went off, a source said. The bus caught fire after the explosion.

After conducting initial investigation, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) declared it was a suicide attack.

"About 80-100 kg of explosive was used in the bomb. It is surmised that a suicide-car-bomber rammed into the fateful bus and blew it up," a BDS official said.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain strongly condemned terrorist attack.

Sharif, in his condolence message, said the perpetrators of such heinous crimes were doing no service to Islam and the country. "My sympathies are with the families of the victims. I pray for the departed souls and for early recovery of those injured in the tragic incident".

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali also decried the attack in the strongest of words.

(IANS)

Kerala launches lottery to fund poor women's marriages

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As a New Year gift to poor women in Kerala, the state government Wednesday launched a special lottery where the revenue will go to a fund that will provide a marriage aid of Rs.30,000 each to 
"This programme was announced in the last state budget and the entire revenue generated through the Mangalaya Lottery would go to every women in the below poverty line category when she gets married," Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting.

The programme would also cover families in the above poverty line category but whose annual income does not exceed Rs.1 lakh.

The government decided to go ahead with this new scheme after the success of a similar scheme named Karunya Lottery launched in 2011 by the Chandy government.

The Karunya Benevolent Fund has so far funded the medical expenses of around 22,000 patients to the extent of Rs.286 crore.

The fund is providing financial assistance to underprivileged people suffering from cancer, haemophilia, kidney and heart diseases.

The state-owned lottery in Kerala has never made a loss since its inception in 1967. The total revenue from lottery sales then was Rs.20 lakh.

The total sales of the lottery in the last fiscal stood at Rs.2,778.80 crore, with a profit of Rs.681.76 crore.

Currently, there are more than 35,000 authorised agents and over 100,000 retail sellers in the state who sell lottery tickets.

Kerala launches lottery to fund poor women's marriages

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As a New Year gift to poor women in Kerala, the state government Wednesday launched a special lottery where the revenue will go to a fund that will provide a marriage aid of Rs.30,000 each to 
"This programme was announced in the last state budget and the entire revenue generated through the Mangalaya Lottery would go to every women in the below poverty line category when she gets married," Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting.

The programme would also cover families in the above poverty line category but whose annual income does not exceed Rs.1 lakh.

The government decided to go ahead with this new scheme after the success of a similar scheme named Karunya Lottery launched in 2011 by the Chandy government.

The Karunya Benevolent Fund has so far funded the medical expenses of around 22,000 patients to the extent of Rs.286 crore.

The fund is providing financial assistance to underprivileged people suffering from cancer, haemophilia, kidney and heart diseases.

The state-owned lottery in Kerala has never made a loss since its inception in 1967. The total revenue from lottery sales then was Rs.20 lakh.

The total sales of the lottery in the last fiscal stood at Rs.2,778.80 crore, with a profit of Rs.681.76 crore.

Currently, there are more than 35,000 authorised agents and over 100,000 retail sellers in the state who sell lottery tickets.

Make your fitness resolution a success

London: The most common New Year resolution is to focus on fitness. Here's how you bring about a positive change. Joe Turner, personal trainer and lead tutor at www.thetrainingroom.com shares tips to help you materialise your New Year fitness resolutions: * Ask a personal trainer to prepare a realistic programme for you.

* Change your programme every four to six weeks. * Set precise goals. For instance, "I want to lose 10 kg in four weeks". It shouldn't be "I want to lose weight". * Take an expert's advice on the right nutrition. The best exercise routine will fail if your diet lacks healthy food items. * Find a training buddy and commit to get fit together. 
* Tell others what you are doing--in person and on social networking sites. This makes you accountable.

Make your fitness resolution a success

London: The most common New Year resolution is to focus on fitness. Here's how you bring about a positive change. Joe Turner, personal trainer and lead tutor at www.thetrainingroom.com shares tips to help you materialise your New Year fitness resolutions: * Ask a personal trainer to prepare a realistic programme for you.

* Change your programme every four to six weeks. * Set precise goals. For instance, "I want to lose 10 kg in four weeks". It shouldn't be "I want to lose weight". * Take an expert's advice on the right nutrition. The best exercise routine will fail if your diet lacks healthy food items. * Find a training buddy and commit to get fit together. 
* Tell others what you are doing--in person and on social networking sites. This makes you accountable.

Kolkata to host intl kite festival on Jan 5

Kolkata: Hundreds of giant fancy kites of myriad shapes and sizes, crafted by Indian and international kite-flyers will dot the city skyline on Jan 5 at the Vokatta International Kite Festival 2014. "Woh katta" refers to downing a rival's kite. Shapes ranging from giant wheels with spikes to psychedelic patterns, and cartoon figures will be seen in the sky Jan 5 morning at the sprawling 480-acres Eco Park here.  After sunset, special kites that can be flown in darkness will carry on the day-long aerial display.

Headlined by Barbara Meyer, the president of the American Kite Association, the event will bring renowned flyers from Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Britain, France, Indonesia, and enthusiasts from across India. The 2014 edition is the second such. "As many as 50 well-known kite flyers will join the locals this year. Last year we started off at the national level whereas this year it is international...a first for eastern India," founder of the festival Santosh Kumar Jaiswal says.

With each participant bringing their special kites to the city, Jaiswal said the emphasis this year would be on fancy kites. "They would be judged on the best aerial fancy kite display," he said. The kites to look out for include the 10m by 5m Inflatable Delta by Johan Van Eeckhout from Belgium, the 30m circular rotating kites by Edo Borghetti from Italy as well as the spectacular designs by British avionics engineer Bob Cruikshanks 
Hot air balloon rides have been arranged for children below 14 years at the festival.

(IANS)

Kolkata to host intl kite festival on Jan 5

Kolkata: Hundreds of giant fancy kites of myriad shapes and sizes, crafted by Indian and international kite-flyers will dot the city skyline on Jan 5 at the Vokatta International Kite Festival 2014. "Woh katta" refers to downing a rival's kite. Shapes ranging from giant wheels with spikes to psychedelic patterns, and cartoon figures will be seen in the sky Jan 5 morning at the sprawling 480-acres Eco Park here.  After sunset, special kites that can be flown in darkness will carry on the day-long aerial display.

Headlined by Barbara Meyer, the president of the American Kite Association, the event will bring renowned flyers from Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Britain, France, Indonesia, and enthusiasts from across India. The 2014 edition is the second such. "As many as 50 well-known kite flyers will join the locals this year. Last year we started off at the national level whereas this year it is international...a first for eastern India," founder of the festival Santosh Kumar Jaiswal says.

With each participant bringing their special kites to the city, Jaiswal said the emphasis this year would be on fancy kites. "They would be judged on the best aerial fancy kite display," he said. The kites to look out for include the 10m by 5m Inflatable Delta by Johan Van Eeckhout from Belgium, the 30m circular rotating kites by Edo Borghetti from Italy as well as the spectacular designs by British avionics engineer Bob Cruikshanks 
Hot air balloon rides have been arranged for children below 14 years at the festival.

(IANS)