Your guide to fitness

New Delhi, Jan. 2 -- As we settle into the new year, here are some simple, sustainable methods that will bring you a year of health and happiness:

Other changes

* Aim to be positive - by being in the company of cheerful people; by reading books that force us to introspect; by getting away from people, objects or habits that bring you down.

* Accept your flaws with grace and stop the blame game. Sometimes only the deepest portion of your subconscious mind is aware of the games you play, but the ego refuses to accept that it may not be healthy for us to indulge in such actions or behaviours

* Accept yourself. Being aware about your shortcomings does not give you the right to think negatively about yourself. It is very important to respect yourself and have value for your own self.

* Make small healthy changes that are sustainable. We make large promises to ourselves, which even with the best of intentions we cannot logically achieve. The promises we make to ourselves should come from inner wisdom and not our egos.

* Make eating a joyful activity and enjoy the food you eat. Which means treating food as a way to nourish your mind and body.

* Learn new skills or sharpen existing skills - both personal and professional skills.

* Reward yourself for accomplishments.

* Look for constructive solutions rather than negative analysis.

* Aim for some silence every day. Non-stop chatter makes your intuitive capacity come down.

* Respect time. It is very difficult to compensate for lost time. Time is a currency we waste easily.

The game changers

What a way to begin! The Y2K bug did not eat up computer data after all but the dotcom bubble bursts and the information technology and services industry take the world stage. Then, an Indian company acquires a global player. The closing years were no less dramatic: A truck-maker-turnedcarmaker unveils the world's cheapest car shortly after it acquires a foreign major. The global financial system collapses but India's banking system remains unscathed. As a recession sets in, India's largest social spending scheme, based on a guarantee of work, begins to show that such things work if they are backed by law. BT profiles a handful of leaders and visionaries who defined the decade.

Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Sons

Trailblazer

He has sprung one surprise after another from mega acquisitions like that of Corus to prestige ones like Jaguar-Land Rover, to engineering dreams like the world's cheapest car. He showed Indian industry that it can buy global companies, manage them and compete with the best. He made a truck-maker produce a passenger car, the Indica. Then came the Nano, which set new standards for the auto industry. The Nano has now inspired global car companies to see the Indian market and the small car as the future.

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman & MD, Reliance Industries

Getting Real, Getting Really Big

Mukesh admitted on camera in 2004 that he had ownership issues with brother Anil following the death of their father. He was ready to split the group into two to contain the damage caused by the feud. He then went on to take India closer to energy security when his company struck gas and oil in the Krishna-Godavari basin. He might just ink the biggest outbound deal from India by buying out Lyondell-Basell. He carried forward his father's legacy of breakneck growth and rewarding shareholders.

Capt GR Gopinath, Former Chairman&MD, Air Deccan

Reach for the Sky

His low-cost carrier Air Deccan made flying affordable for the middle classes. He not only forced every airline to cut fares, even the railways started feeling the heat. He was pragmatic enough to know that he has been overtaken by the force he helped unleashed, and sold off Air Deccan to Kingfisher. He is attempting to replicate the Air Deccan model in air cargo.

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Partner, RaRe Enterprises

The Safe Bull

He believes that investment for long-term really rewards investors. He made retail investors believe that they can also make money in stock market. He made small-cap and mid-cap stocks the darling of Indian markets. Millions of retail investors believe he is India's Warren Buffett.

B Ramalinga Raju, Founder and former Chairman, Satyam Computer Services (Now Mahindra Satyam)

The Tiger Rider

His fraud sobered up the Indian IT euphoria without damaging the brand. The Satyam flaws will spur a revamp of corporate laws and governance. Corporate circles today are discussing the need for a voluntary code, having more independent directors, greater focus on disclosures. He made audit firms relook their practices.

KV Kamath, Non-Executive Chairman, ICICI Bank,

Banker of the Decade

He turned ICICI into India's second-largest bank, and groomed a young successor. He made the leap from the development finance model to a vibrant bank. He saw another big opportunity in the life insurance business, and scaled up other non-banking businesses like general insurance, mutual fund, private equity and securities. He handled the succession issue smoothly by grooming Chanda Kochhar, who has over 10 years to give to the bank.

Kishore Biyani, Group CEO, Future Group; and founder, Pantaloon Retail

Let There Be Retail

He was the first to bet on India as a big consumption country, and believed that spending by Indians will give a big boost to the economy. He brought mall culture to the doorstep of Indians and gave a better shopping environment and affordable products to the masses. Organised retail helped create more jobs and savings for consumers. Seeing his business acumen in retail, all big business houses have now entered organised retail.

Aruna Roy, Founder member, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS)

India Meets Bharat,

She has helped put in place institutional forms of governance. She was among those who spearheaded the right to information (RTI) movement. She is involved with the social audit aspects of NREGA. She represents the middle ground where India and Bharat can meet.

Jean Dreze, Honorary Professor, Delhi School of Economics

Hope for the Poor, Guaranteed

This Belgium-born Honorary Professor at Delhi School of Economics was the main architect of the NREGA, and is also one of its key observers. He is the only Indian development economist so well connected with the grassroots. He believed in inclusive growth before it became fashionable. His PROBE, or The Public Report on Basic Education (1999), remains a key reference document.

Ketan Parekh

Yesterday's Big Bull

He revealed the loopholes in the system used to manipulate stock prices. His scam caused major stock market reforms to be implemented quickly without any protest. He was responsible for the collapse of Global Trust Bank and Unit Trust of India. He showed how tax havens and foreign entities can be used to invest in Indian stock markets.

Reproduced From Business Today. © 2009. LMIL. All rights reserved.

India readying weapon to destroy enemy satellites: Saraswat

Indian defence scientists are readying a weapons system to neutralise enemy satellites operating in low-earth orbit, a top defence scientist said here on Sunday.

"India is putting together building blocks of technology that could be used to neutralise enemy satellites," Defence Research and Development Organisation Director General V K Saraswat told reporters on the sidelines of the 97th Indian Science Congress.

However, he added that the defence scientists have not planned any tests but have started planning such technology which could be used to leapfrog to build a weapon in case the country needed it.

Saraswat, who is also the Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister, said the scientists were planning to build the weapon which would have the capacity to hit and destroy satellites in low-earth orbit and polar orbit.

Usually, satellites in such orbits are used for network centric warfare and neutralising such spacecraft would deny enemy access to its space assets.

"We are working to ensure space security and protect our satellites.

At the same time we are also working on how to deny the enemy access to its space assets," he said. To achieve such capabilities, a kill vehicle needs to be developed and that process is being carried out under the Ballistic Missile Defence programme.

"Basically, these are deterrence technologies and quite certainly many of these technologies will not be used. I hope they are not used," Saraswat said. In January 2007, China had demonstrated its capability to destroy satellites by conducting an anti-satellite test. It had launched a missile that blew to smithereens an ageing weather satellite Fengyun 1C orbiting at a distance of 500 miles away from the earth.

Saraswat said the DRDO is building an advanced version of its interceptor missile with a range of 120-140 km. The missile interceptor is expected to be test fired in September.

Space security is going to be a major issue in the future and India should not be left behind in this area, the defence scientist said.

Tata Motors eye launching Nano car in U.S

New Delhi, Jan 6 (ANI): Tata Motors  may consider launching its ultra-cheap Nano car in the United States in three years, Group chairman Ratan Tata has said, following possible sales in Europe by the end of 2011.
"We also recognise there is a market (for the Nano) not only in developing countries, but possibly in the developed countries," Ratan Tata told reporters at the New Delhi auto expo show.
"For the United States we need a car which has a larger engine and we need some additional crash test modifications and we are in the process of doing it," he added.he United States is the world's largest auto market, but data this week should show China surpassed it with about 13 million vehicles sold in the Asian economic powerhouse this year.
The Nano, whose billing as the world's cheapest car gained it significant attention from across the globe, was showcased by Ratan Tata at the previous edition of the New Delhi autoshow two years ago.
Tata has said his company may produce hybrid versions of the model and that Italy's Fiat and Tata Motors plan to sell the Nano jointly in Latin America.
Analysts have fretted that Tata Motors has overstretched itself by acquiring the Jaguar and Land Rover brands in 2008, just before the global financial crisis erupted.
Tata brushed aside the concerns, saying the auto industry had taken knocks, but the acquisition should be seen in the context of long-term value it brought to the group.No one makes or should make an acquisition based on short-term opportunistic objectives," Tata said.
"We believe the integration of the two companies and, for once, giving Jaguar and Land Rover an opportunity to make their own destinies would be a change that might hopefully bring Jaguar back to the kind of company it was," he added.
Tata Motors recently reported a return to operating profit for the JLR unit, suggesting cost cuts were bearing fruit and new models were attracting buyers.
Tata also said there was no plan to acquire one of Fiat's manufacturing facilities in Italy, denying media reports.
Tata Motors, which has about 60 percent of India's truck and bus market, launched a 7-seater Multi-Purpose Vehicle named Tata Aria, an 8-seater Tata Venture and another vehicle named Magic IRIS at the show.
It also showcased the Jaguar XJ sedan for the first time in India.
Toyota and Honda launched new compact cars to tap the price-sensitive India market as they and other automakers seek to put a dire 2009 behind them.

Burj Dubai: The world's tallest tower

Thousands of people craned their necks Monday evening in Dubai to watch fireworks shoot from the sides of the world's tallest building, now called the Burj Khalifa, after United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

• Like so much in Dubai, the tower was designed by a Briton, in this case architect Adrian Smith. And like so much in Dubai, the tower was built by migrant workers, many of them from South Asia.

• Sheikh Khalifa, the ruler of the neighbouring city-state of Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, stayed close by Sheikh Mohammed's side throughout the ceremony. Seated next to his cousin, Sheikh Mohammed at one point appeared to have a tear in his eye as he watched what should have been an unqualified testament to his city-state's rise as a world financial centre.

• They toiled 22 million hours over the course of 1,325 days, pouring 330,000 cubic metres of reinforced concrete and fitting 103,000 sq metres of sheet glass nearly a kilometer off the ground to produce 1,000 luxury residences, 160 swish hotel rooms, and 37 office floors with corporate suites.
• As an orchestra played, a video screen proclaimed the building's height after years of mystery: 828 metres, a full 319 metres taller than the Taipei 101 tower, formerly the world's tallest building.

Now, a train for unemployed youth

Mumbai, Jan. 2 -- It's a special train for unemployed youth. 'Yuva Train', an air-conditioned train will ply from Mumbai Central to Delhi from January 12.

The Railway ministry will start the low-cost train (Rs 299 a ticket), which is targeted at unemployed youth. It will only have seating but no sleepers.
The brainchild of Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, Yuva train fares can be availed of by unemployed people in the age group of 15 to 45 years, provided they have a certificate issued under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or a registration card issued by a government employment exchange.
Tickets will be issued on production of original of any of the above certificates at the counter, a photocopy of which should be retained with reservation requisition as in the case with other concessions. Tatkal scheme will not be applicable in 'Yuva Trains'.
Initially, 60 per cent of coaches on such trains will be earmarked for the youth. The remaining will be set aside for other passengers, which will be reviewed after six months of introduction of these trains.
The Mumbai-Delhi service will happen next week as a pilot project. If successful, it will be extended to other areas of the country.

World's tallest tower ready

Started at the height of the economic boom and built by some 12,000 labourers, the world's tallest building will open on Monday in Dubai as the glitzy emirate seeks to rekindle optimism after its financial crisis.

Burj Dubai, whose opening has been delayed twice since construction began in 2004, will mark another milestone for the deeply indebted emirate with a penchant for seeking new records.

Dubai, one of seven members of the United Arab Emirates, gained a reputation for excess with the creation of man-made islands shaped like palms and an indoor ski slope in the desert.

With investor confidence in Dubai badly bruised by the emirate's announcement in November that it would seek a debt standstill for one of its largest conglomerates, the Burj Dubai is seen as a positive start to the year after a bleak 2009.

The project has been scrutinised by human rights groups, who have objected to its treatment of labourers, as well as by environmentalists who said the tower would act as a power vacuum, increasing the city's already massive carbon footprint.

But despite the criticism, many say the edifice, believed to have cost $1.5 billion to build, is an architectural marvel.

The tower's height has been kept a closely guarded secret until now. Developer Emaar Properties PJSC will reveal the height -- known to exceed 800 metres (2,625 feet) -- on Tuesday and Dubai's ruler will inaugurate the opening.

Experts believe Dubai's recent financial troubles have not hurt sales of approximately 1,100 residential units in the Burj -- meaning tower in Arabic -- saying they were nearly all sold.
Dubai's real estate sector crashed at the end of 2008 when the global financial crisis hit the emirate after a six-year economic boom. Thousands of jobs were slashed and projects worth billions of dollars were cancelled or delayed.

With analysts suggesting tax-free Dubai might sell some of its assets to boost revenues and slash $80 billion in debt, many wondered if the tower was on the list for grabs.

Dubai, with few natural resources of its own, expects a budget deficit of 2 percent of GDP this year. [ID:nLDE5BU07K]
In December, the emirate received a $10 billion lifeline from neighbouring Abu Dhabi to repay a $4.1 billion bond for Nakheel, a property arm of indebted Dubai World [DBWLD.UL], and other obligations.

Intel announces new Atom processors

Santa Clara (California), Jan 3 (DPA) Intel, the world's biggest manufacturer of computer chips, has announced a new line of powerful, energy-saving processors for popular mini-notebooks and starter computers.

The first devices with the new Atom platform should be available starting Jan 4, announced the company, or just before the industry-standard-setting Consumer Electronics Show, which runs Jan 7-10.


Several leading companies are already working with the new processor, though no prices were announced.


The new processors are smaller than their predecessors. Additionally, an integrated graphics processor means those functions are handled directly in the chip. That means manufacturers can make computers with smaller housings.


Additionally, the new Atom uses an average of 20 percent less energy, boosting the computer's running time. It can reach frequencies of 1.66 Gigahertz.


The original Atom was announced in mid-2008. The chips aren't the most powerful out there, but are very energy efficient, meaning they are most popular in mini-notebooks, which come packed with less hardware, but are small and light, making them ideal for mobile internet access.

It's boom time again

With slowdown now history, companies line up for campus recruitment



Unlike last year, when placement was a big worry for city colleges and institutes, this year they are making their own rules. With companies lining up for recruitment, several institutes have put a cap on minimum annual packages. This, when the annual packages have been increased.

Annual pay packagesAt University Business School (UBS), Panjab University, the highest package has been Rs 10.4 lakh per annum this year � average package has been Rs 6.8 lakh per annum.

UBS officials say as many companies are lining up for recruitment, "the highest pay package may rise further".
Prof Sanjay Kaushik, training and placement officer at UBS, said, "Placements are definitely better than last year. Also, compared to last year, a few companies have increased their annual pay packages. There is a boom like situation again."

Cap on pay packagesUBS has put a cap of Rs 4.5 lakh on pay packages � companies offering less than are not welcome. Other institutes, including University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), Panjab University and PEC University of Technology, have followed suit.

At UIET, companies offering anything below Rs 3 lakh per annum have not been invited. At PEC, Rs 3.5 lakh per annum is the lower limit.

"This year, companies have shown enthusiasm in recruiting students. There is absolutely no comparison to last year's scenario. Recession is a thing of the past. It is definitely boom time," Prof K K Garg, training and placement officer at PEC, said.

Placement no worryAt PEC, 40 per cent of students have been placed. Authorities expect the rest to be placed within a week.

"Placements in our college were put on hold for some time due to swine flu, vacations and then exams. But companies kept approaching us," Prof Garg said.

At UIET, 200 of the 300 students have been placed. Though the maximum pay package at UIET has been Rs 3.5 lakh per annum, students and teachers are happy with the way things are turning out.

"Last year, we faced bad times. Many students were not placed. Also, some were recruited, but were never called to join," Dr Gurdeep Singh, training and placement officer at UIET, said. "This year, there is no such situation. We're sure of 100 per cent placement. Also, the maximum pay package will increase for sure."
Private colleges expect 100 per cent placementEven private colleges are overwhelmed by the companies' demand. Dr Sandeep Kaura, assistant managing director, Ryat and Bahara Group, said, "Recession is over for sure. We have core companies recruiting our students. Earlier, not many core companies used to visit but this year things are different."

At Ryat and Bahara, of the 500 students, 300 have been placed, and officials expect "100 per cent placement by January 15".