AXN Channel Banned
It had come to the notice of the Central Government that some cable operators in the country through their Cable Television Networks are transmitting /re-transmitting a satellite channel namely “AXN” which is reportedly telecasting programmes such as ‘World’s Sexiest Advertisements’ that are against good taste or decency and are likely to adversely affect public morality. Therefore, the Central Government thinks it necessary to prohibit transmission or re-transmission of the said channel in the country. As such the Central Government in exercise of the power conferred by sub-section (2) of Section 20 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, has taken decision to prohibit the transmission/re-transmission of this channel on all platforms.
IITTM to start a new Campus at Noida
It is a multi-campus Institute functioning from its centers at Gwalior, Bhubaneswar, Goa and a new center being set up at Noida. The Minister of Tourism & Culture Smt. Ambika Soni will lay the foundation stone of the new campus at Sector-62, Noida on 18th January, 2007. IITTM has been a pioneer in the field of education, training, research and consultancy in the highly dynamic travel and tourism sector. The Institute has been designated as the International focal point of the Asia Pacific Educational and Training Institutes in Tourism (APETIT) with an objective of strengthening the quantitative and qualitative need for training, education and research in Asia-Pacific countries. The institute offers both post-graduate and under-graduate programmes in tourism and travel. The Institute also conducts short term Management Development Programme (MDP) on various aspects of tourism and travel apart from sponsored programmes for different states and central government and autonomous bodies. IITTM through its programmes, has upheld its objective in achieving excellence in developing human resources in tourism & travel & allied sectors.
Owing to the phenomenal growth of the tourism industry and the necessity for grooming world class manpower. Government of India has decided to set up another center of IITTM at Delhi/NCR. Five acres of land have been allotted in Noida and 14.52 crores have been sanctioned by Ministry of Tourism for the construction of the campus. Proposed courses to commence are:
Two Year Post Graduate Diploma in Tourism & Leisure Management
Management Development Programmes (MDPs), Capacity Building for Service Provider (CBSP) and other short term programmes on tourism travel and allied sectors like other centers.
Baba Ramdev’s claims to Cure HIV by Yoga
A section of the media has reported the claim made by Baba Ramdev that yoga can cure AIDS. He is also reported to have claimed that AIDS cannot be prevented by using condoms.
While Yoga and regular exercise certainly help people including those who are HIV positive to be healthier, it would be far-fetched to claim that a cure for AIDS will be found through yoga in the next couple of years. The reported statement may mislead the masses and undo the immense efforts that countless social activists, volunteers and organizations have rendered over the years to check the spread of the epidemic by promoting safe behavioural practices.
National AIDS Control Organization, through its partners, public and private sector organizations, NGOs/CBOs, faith based organizations, media and other stakeholders has been at the forefront of the battle against HIV/AIDS, promoting the ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful & using Condoms) strategy for HIV prevention. Condom is the only prophylaxis against the transmission of the virus apart from giving protection from STIs and unwanted pregnancies.
Further, the reported suggestion by Baba Ramdev to do away with sex education among youngsters will be a retrograde step. Sex education helps the new generation to gain knowledge on this vital aspect in a scientific manner, instead of relying on half-cooked and wrong information from peers and other sources. The demand of the time is to open up discussions on the issues of sex and sexuality and break the silence surrounding HIV/AIDS. Information and knowledge is the only way of saving the lives of our youths.
Banglore: 25% Annual Traffic Growth
It has been forecasted that annual air traffic growth in Bangalore upto the year 2011-12 would be about 25%. This information was given by Shri Praful Patel, Minister for Civil Aviation in the Parliament today.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) has collected data on the international passenger traffic of Bangalore, International Airport , Karnataka. The growth of international passenger traffic at Bangalore Airport during 2004-05 and 2005-06 was 42% and 27% respectively.