CCI imposes a fine of Rs. 1 Crore upon Google for failure to supply information/ documents in the investigations.

The Competition Commission of India(CCI)has imposed a fine of Rs. 1 Crore upon Google for failure to comply with the directions given by the Director General(DG)seeking information and documents.

The order was passed on a reference made by the DG to CCI alleging inter alia non-cooperation by Google in the pending investigations.

The DG was investigating the informations filed by M/s Matrimony com private limited and Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) against Googlefor alleged abuse of market power in the relevant markets of online search and search advertising.

CCI also directed Google to cooperate with the investigations by furnishing such other informations/ documents which may be required by the DG during the course of further investigations.

The common order of the Commission was passed in Case Nos. 07and 30 of 2012. 

WHO Certifies India as Polio Free

• Sh Ghulam Nabi Azad Receives Certificate of India as a Polio Free Nation 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) today presented official certification to India for its ‘Polio Free’ status. India is among other countries in its South East Asian region which have been certified as being free of the wild polio virus. The Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Sh Ghulam Nabi Azad received the official certificate at a function, here today. This achievement makes the South-East Asia Region, the fourth WHO Region to be certified as polio-free, after the Region of the Americas in 1994, the Western Pacific Region in 2000 and the European Region in 2002.

Speaking at the function, Sh Azad stated that India has been polio free since January 2011. Speaking on the historic occasion on behalf of all South-East Asian Health Ministers, Shri Azad expressed happiness and satisfaction at the historic public health achievement which seemed impossible with India having the highest burden of Polio cases in the world.

The Health Minister stated that India embarked on the programme to eradicate the nation of polio 19 years ago in 1995, when the disease used to cripple more than 50,000 children in the country every year. He stated that this achievement has been possible with resolute will at the highest levels, technological innovations like the indigenous bivalent polio vaccine, adequate domestic financial resources and close monitoring of polio programme, with which immunization levels soared to 99% coverage and India achieved polio eradication. He stated that this unbelievable operational feat has been possible due to the tireless efforts of over a million ASHAs and ANMs who gave a new momentum to polio rounds. A 2.3 million strong team of polio volunteers and 150, 000 supervisors worked day and night to reach every child. The Health Minister expressed gratitude towards WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others stakeholders, including the parents of the children, for their strong technical and operational support to this collective effort in this region.

Also present at the certification ceremony were representatives from the WHO’s SEARO countries, senior officers from the Ministry of Health and family Welfare and representatives of partner agencies such as Rotary International, UNICEF, and DFID. 

Search for Missing Malaysian Airliner MH 370

In continuation of the search for the Malaysian Airliner MH 370, the Indian Navy has deployed four warships viz. IN Ships Satpura, Sahyadri, Saryu and Batti Malv in the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Sea & West of Andaman Islands. In coordination of the surface search by ships, extensive air searches are also being conducted. One P 8I with Electro Optics/Infra Red (EO/IR) pods, one C 130J Hercules aircraft (of IAF) and one Dornier aircraft are undertaking searches in the area. Additionally, one P 8 I along with one C 130 J aircraft are being deployed to Malaysia. These aircraft would be joining the International Search Force by noon 21 Mar 14. The Indian forces are in continuous touch with the Royal Malaysian Navy and Air Force from its Maritime Operations Centre at New Delhi and all possible help is being rendered towards SAR operations for MH 370.

Government To Appeal Against Italian Court Decision On Encashment of Bank Guarantees in AWIL Contract

The Government of India will be filing an appeal against the order of the Italian Court in Milan in the case relating to encashment of bank guarantees in the contract for the procurement of 12 VVIP/VIP helicopters from AgustaWestland International Ltd. (AWIL). Simultaneously, the Government will vigorously pursue all options for encashment of the bank guarantees.

Vasa Museet

My uncle's Gift

Vasa Museet

I love to have gifts, like everyone. Miniature of Vasa ship gifted by my beloved Bau Bau uncle (Sunil Uncle). He bought it from Sweden.  He asked me to write the history of the ship. It was an interesting task to findout details of a warship, which is more than 400 year old. 

The ship sank after sailing about 1,300 meters into her maiden voyage on 10 August 1628. There was 64 guns on it. It was raised up in 1990, and made a maritime museum, that is the world famous Vasa Museet or Vasa Museum. The ship sunk due to lack of stability. 

Vasa Museum

Vasa Museum (Vasa museet) is a maritime museum in Stockholm, Sweden. Located on the island of Djurgården, the museum displays the only almost fully intact 17th century ship that has ever been salvaged, the 64-gun warship Vasa that sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. The Vasa Museum opened in 1990 and, according to the official web site, is the most visited museum in Scandinavia.