September 09 — The divide between rural India and urban population is very vast. It is well known also. The gap is in terms of economy, technology, literacy, development, and more. Now, according to research, it is with Internet also.

Research conducted jointly by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IMRB finds that 84 percent of rural Indians are unaware of the Internet.

According to the research, 38 percent of rural population do not feel the need for internet and 31 percent of them do not have any access point to the internet.

22 percent of rural India has no electricity and 25 percent of the population has no internet connection.

The research also found that the internet penetration lacks in rural India because of lack of personal ownership of digital gadgets. Currently the rural population can only access internet through either cyber cafes or through common service centers (CSCs) and the percentage is seventy.

President of IAMAI Dr. Subho Ray said, “The high percentage of people in rural India who are not aware of Internet underlines the need for better infrastructure and schemes like CSCs and SWAN. Such schemes will go a long way in increasing the Internet penetration in rural areas.”

September 09 — Mullah Omar, the elusive Afghan Taliban leader, claimed Islamist militants are near victory over Nato forces and has asked US President Barack Obama to withdraw the troops “unconditionally and as soon as possible.”

Omar, believed to be hiding in Pakistan, has not been in public since 2001. According to BBC, in a rare statement he said that the campaign by US and NATO forces has been a “complete failure” in Afghanistan. His statement came as a mark to the end of the Muslim month of fasting Ramadan and it was posted on jihadist websites.

The statement read, “The victory of our Islamic nation over the invading infidels is now imminent and the driving force behind this is the belief in the help of Allah and unity among ourselves… In the time to come, we will try to establish an Islamic, independent, perfect and strong system.”

He said that those behind the invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow Taliban in 2001 “admit themselves that all their strategies are nothing but a complete failure.”

The US troops are scheduled to march away Afghanistan in July 2011, but Obama administration said this would be only a token withdrawal and their forces will remain on Afghan soil till threat from the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

Ranchi, September 09 — BJP’s Arjun Munda to be sworn as Jharkhand’s chief minister Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and in seven days he has to prove his majority in the Assembly. Sudesh Mahato and Hemant Soren will serve the state as deputy chief ministers.

The Union Cabinet on Thursday recommended revocation of President’s rule in the state.

This is the third time Arjun Munda, 42, is getting the CM post and in ten years since the state was carved out of Bihar on November 15, 2000, he will be the eighth chief minister of the state.

Jharkhand Governor, M O H Farooq invited Munda to take oath at Raj Bhavan, said sources in Ranchi. Two days before Munda staked claim. He claimed the support of 45 MLAs with an effective strength of 81. Those are BJP (18), JMM (18), All Jharkhand Student’s Union (5), JD-U (2) and two Independents.

Once again the BJP and JMM came back together after parting for about three months leading to imposition of President’s rule. The present suspended Assembly was constituted on December 30 last year.

In New Delhi, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said to the media, “The Cabinet has made appropriate recommendation to the President based on Governor’s recommendation. You will have to wait for the President’s decision.”

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the inclusion of caste in census to be implemented through a separate house-to-house enumeration from June to September next year in a process separate from Census 2011.

“After considering various options, the option that we have approved is, based on the responses of various political parties, that caste must be canvassed and the integrity of the headcount must not be affected,” Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired the Cabinet meeting.

The caste enumeration will be conducted in a phased manner after the population enumeration, which will include biometric capture and headcount, is completed by March next year, he said.

This came after leaders of BJP,JD(U),BSP and Samajwadi Party wanted to know as to what happened to the government’s promise to carry out a caste census.

“New industries and infrastructure cannot be built without acquiring land,” clarifying  that  “land acquisition would be done which does not result into the loss of large tracts of fertile and productive agriculture land,” said Sonia Gandhi at a public function on Thursday.

Gandhi was speaking to the national stage II of the National Thermal Power Project (NPTC) at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh. The stage II project of 2 x 490 MW power plant will supply power to the Commonwealth Games.

Her statement was significant in the context of the recent debate over land acquisition. Meanwhile Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and assuring that the government would bring new legislation on acquiring farmers’ land.

Some states like Haryana have made progress over this legislation and other states still have to follow.

Sonia Gandhi also emphasized that farmers must be provided “adequate compensation and an alternative occupation” where lands are acquired.

Talking about environment, Congress party president said, “ we definitely need to generate more power” for our farmers’ needs, factories and industries, “at the same time we must protect environment to ensure a sustainable development.”

“In whatever we do, we must not forget that our lush forest, mountains are necessary… we have a responsibility to protect them,” she said adding that there is a need to “sustain and nurture” the river and clean air.

September 09 — Google unveiled Wednesday at the IFA show in Berlin, Google Instant. An amazing product of Google that serves up searching results in “real-time” as one types.

If user types “w” in Google Instant, the search results for “weather” and if one types “new” and give a space after it, the result shown is for “New York Times.”

Google bets that today’s world is of nearly instant communication and the Google Instant search gives results instantly with each keystroke.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt said, “We’re trying very hard to get you something fast… Never underestimate the power of fast. Quick, quick, quick-we want to help you right now.” Later in the speech, he also spoke of Google understanding what users want before they’ve even asked for it, in almost psychic-like fashion: “We can understand things like what you really meant.”

Google Instant is the unquestionable amazing search innovation that may give a difficult competitin to duplicate it for other search engines. This is a new era of searching over Internet.

Google has reinvented the wheel as always and this is the fact that Google has dominated the search market for yeares.

Sergy Brin, Co-founder of Google Inc., says that Google Instant will draw more users to its search engine.

New Delhi, September 08 — Supreme Court permitted an American couple in the city on Wednesday to adopt a slow-learner child Anil after the confirmation from expert committee of doctors that the prospective parents were eminently suitable for adoption.

According to the expert committee, the couple, Craig Lallen Coates and Cynthia Ann Coates, were economically and financially sounds and Anil would be comfortable with the prospective parents.

The expert committee was appointed after a suggestion was submitted to the court by solicitor general and amicus curae Gopal Subramanium in the course of August 30 hearing.

The committee said to the apex court bench of Justice Markandey Katju and Justice T.S. Thakur that the prospective parnets were completely aware of what the family required for the upbringing of the child.

It also noted that Cynthia Ann Coates was suitable for the upbringing of Anil because her husband Craig Lallen Coates is also a slow-learner by birth and she knew it before their marriage. The committee said she took good care of her husband.

Florida, September 08 — On Tuesday, a Christian minister in Florida vowed to go forward with his Quran burning plans to portest the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The White House had earlier warned, including the top US general in Afghanistan, saying this act of the minister would endanger overseas American troops.

Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center said though he understands the concerns of the US government, but he still plans to go ahead Saturday’s burning which will mark the 9th anniversary of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.

However, Jones has left the doors open to change his mind. He said he is still praying about his decision.

News agency The Associated Press received a warning e-mail from Gen. David Petraeus saying, “images of the burning of a Quran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan – and around the world – to inflame public opinion and incite violence.”

PJ Crowley, spokesman of State department, said: “While it may well be within someone’s rights to take this action, we hope cooler heads will prevail.”

In a telephonic interview, Jones said that he is also concerned. He also adds further that how many times United States can back down.

Jones said, “We think it’s time to turn the tables, and instead of possibly blaming us for what could happen, we put the blame where it belongs – on the people who would do it… And maybe instead of addressing us, we should address radical Islam and send a very clear warning that they are not to retaliate in any form.”

The report said that Anantnag district and adjadent Bijbehara town in south Kashmir were also brought under curfew. Stone pelting incidents were  reported from in the entire city.The situation in Kashmir has got worsen.

“ Stone pelting incidents on the security forces continued  till late last night  at many places”, police said.

Four persons were injured last night in the clash between the security forces and the protestors.

Police has also imposed restrictions on the movement of people in nine districts of the Valley as a precautionary measure. The incident of stone pelting were reported in Batmaloo, Karan and Chota Bazar area in the city.

There was also report of mob ransacking the police station at Karan Nagar. Several shots fired in the air to disperse them.

The police is investigating the case.

The Valley was rocked by violence following the death of a teenager on June 11 after he was allegedly hit by a tear smoke shell near Rajouri Kadal area of the old city.

Sixty-nine people have been killed in the ongoing unrest in the valley.

Bangalore, September 07 — On his proposed visit in November to India, US President Barack Obama preferred Mumabi over Bangalore.

Obam will be visiting Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, which was badly damaged during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks of 2008.

The president is expected to hold interactive meeting with leaders of industry and business.

A senior Maharashtra government official said, “We have received intimation about Obama’s visit from the Centre. However, a formal communication is awaited. What we also learnt is that President Obama has selected Mumbai and not Bangalore.”

Reasons of opting for Mumbai instead of Bangalore is not known.

In recent past former US President Bill Clinton spent a day in Mumbai, said official.

Post 26/11 incidence, the Prince and Princess of Spain, the President of Argentina, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and South African President Jacob Zuma have visited Mumbai’s Taj hotel and paid tribute to those who were killed in the attacks.