BRICS moves ahead
The Sanya Declaration by the heads of state and government of Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) marks a strengthening of this emerging country partnership on the world stage in at least two significant respects. First, BRIC has become BRICS with South Africa — a rainbow nation of 50 million people, abundant natural resources, a middle income economy, and tremendous potential — joining the forum as a full member. Secondly, the grouping has gained coherence as well as confidence in articulating forward-looking positions on global economic and, to an extent, political issues. The formulation of an Action Plan at Sanya to enhance existing cooperation programmes, engage in new areas, and explore new proposals for working together indicates increased commitment. The global financial crisis brought BRIC to the fore and gave its emerging common positions salience; and on the trade and economic front and also on climate change, BRICS solidarity has been real and quite robust. Further, the Sanya declaration sends out a message on what is badly needed in international relations: a greater role and voice for developing countries — and specifically these five rising powers, which have a combined population of three billion, that is, more than 40 per cent of the global population — on issues of “world peace, security and stability, boosting global economic growth, enhancing multilateralism, and promoting greater democracy in international relations.”
However, the reality is that each of the five countries regards its ties with the United States as its most important bilateral relationship and is excessively wary of displeasing Washington. How else to explain their attitude to the indefensible military attacks, from the air, on Libya by the United Kingdom, France, and the U.S.? The BRICS stance, formulated in the Sanya declaration, is disapproval of external military intervention in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and West African regions; thus, “we share the principle that the use of force should be avoided...[and] we maintain that the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of each nation should be respected.” How to square this stance with the vote of each of the five BRICS members — despite their concurrent presence in the United Nations Security Council in 2011 — on Resolution 1973, which provided cover for the western military attacks? The two permanent members, Russia and China, failed to veto the resolution but abstained; South Africa voted for the resolution; and India and Brazil equivocated by abstaining. There is a moral here. BRICS has made real progress since Brazil, Russia, India, and China held the grouping's first summit in June 2009 at Yekaterinburg in Russia and issued a declaration calling for the establishment of an equitable, democratic, and multi-polar world order. Now they need to put more sincerity and substance into this very worthwhile coming together.
However, the reality is that each of the five countries regards its ties with the United States as its most important bilateral relationship and is excessively wary of displeasing Washington. How else to explain their attitude to the indefensible military attacks, from the air, on Libya by the United Kingdom, France, and the U.S.? The BRICS stance, formulated in the Sanya declaration, is disapproval of external military intervention in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and West African regions; thus, “we share the principle that the use of force should be avoided...[and] we maintain that the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of each nation should be respected.” How to square this stance with the vote of each of the five BRICS members — despite their concurrent presence in the United Nations Security Council in 2011 — on Resolution 1973, which provided cover for the western military attacks? The two permanent members, Russia and China, failed to veto the resolution but abstained; South Africa voted for the resolution; and India and Brazil equivocated by abstaining. There is a moral here. BRICS has made real progress since Brazil, Russia, India, and China held the grouping's first summit in June 2009 at Yekaterinburg in Russia and issued a declaration calling for the establishment of an equitable, democratic, and multi-polar world order. Now they need to put more sincerity and substance into this very worthwhile coming together.
Largest waste-to-power plant in China to start soon
The largest waste-to-power plant in China, the Hangu waste-to-power plant, located in the country's northern coastal city of Tianjin, will begin operations before June, according to a spokesman for the Tianjin Electric Power Corporation.
Located in the Binhai new district of Tianjin, the plant, spread over an area of 13.2 hectares, is expected to consume 2,000 tonnes of trash and waste daily.
On completion, it will be able to treat 6,67,000 tonnes of trash and generate 146 million kwh of electricity each year. The waste-to-energy plant has the largest complete sealed trash tank in China, which can keep 20,000 tonnes of waste in storage.
With an advanced incineration system, the emission targets of the power plant meet European Union standards, the spokesman said. Along with fast economic development and a quick rise in urban population, Tianjin, like many other Chinese cities, has been plagued by the issue of growing waste.
Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2011
Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2011, including (Body Beautiful, Miss No Marks, Miss Ramp Model, Miss Water Baby, Veet Femina Miss Beautiful Legs) Kanishtha Dhankhar
| Miss India Earth 2011 | Hasleen Kaur |
| Miss India International 2011 | Ankita Shorey |
| People's Choice Miss Indiatimes including Miss Fresh Face, Miss Talented, Miss Beautiful Smile, Miss Beautiful Eyes | Rakul Preet Singh |
| RMKV Femina Miss Photgenic | Dayana Erappa |
| Kaya Femina Miss Radiant Skin | Purva Rana |
| Femina Miss Divine Thoughts | Surabhi Rao |
| HP Femina Miss Digital Diva | Deepika Bajwa |
| Femina Miss Iron Maiden and Tissot Femina Miss Perfect Time | Asmita Sood |
| Femina Miss Beautiful Lips | Ankita Shorey |
| Novotel Femina Miss Congeniality | Aditi Mishra |
| Sunsilk Femina Miss Perfect Hair and Lavasa Femina Miss Vivacious | Aparajita Sharma |
| Femina Miss Bollywood Diva and Forever Femina Miss Traditional | Ankita Mohapatra |
| Pantaloons Beauty for a Cause | Kriti Kapoor |
| Miss India South 2011 | Shweta Dolli |
| Miss India South 2011 1st Runner Up | Apoorva Mittra |
| Miss India South 2011 2nd Runner Up | Nidhi Sunil |
| Miss India East 2011 | Ankita Mohapatra |
| Miss India East 2011 1st Runner Up | Ruhi Singh |
| Miss India East 2011 2nd Runner Up | Smrity Singh |
2011 YFLO ZOYA Young Women Achievers Award
Bollywood actor Rani Mukherjee receives the 2011 YFLO ZOYA Young Women Achievers Award from Union Minister for Culture, Kumari Selja, organised by Young FICCI Ladies Organisation in
India, Kazakhstan ink nuke, oil pacts
Embarking on an ambitious roadmap to consolidate their strategic partnership, India and Kazakhstan on Saturday signed seven pacts, including a framework agreement in civil nuclear field and a stake-sharing accord in oil sector, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying there was “vast potential” for cooperation in all areas.
At wide-ranging talks between Dr. Singh and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev, the two sides also decided to work for pushing the bilateral trade, which was currently as low as $300 million, through engagement of governments and business communities and diversifying to non-oil sectors like pharma, agriculture and IT.
The two leaders discussed a host of issues during their talks. The delegation level meeting covered bilateral matters and international issues like developments in Libya and other North African countries and Afghanistan.
Summing up the talks, Dr. Singh said in a statement to the press that there was “solid and substantive outcome” that will help build on the strategic partnership forged during the visit of Nazarbaev to India in January 2009.
The two sides signed an inter-governmental agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, that envisages a legal framework for supply of fuel, construction and operation of atomic power plants, exploration and joint mining of uranium, exchange of scientific and research information, reactor safety mechanisms and use of radiation technologies for healthcare.
After the talks, the Kazakh President announced that his country would supply India with 2100 tonnes of uranium and was ready to do more.
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