Special Sunday: India News Digest

As you may be aware, Special Sunday is a feature where I share with readers anything and everything that I have found interesting, not necessarily related to Business.

Pune under grips of Swine Flu

I just came back after a small drive from my home to M.G Road, Camp, generally a very busy area – but today was very different. The roads wore a deserted look, very few people on roads and most of them wearing Masks.

The situation in Pune currently has not reached epidemic proportions, but if not controlled, could soon reach that point.

Nearly all schools in Pune have been given a weeks holiday, and there is a mad rush to obtain the masks. Simple Surgical masks that usually cost Rs. 2 to Rs. 5 are being sold for Rs. 30 upwards (I just bought them today).

Yesterday, was the biggest day with highest number of swine flu cases (46 in all) being found in the city alone.

Appeal to all Puneites, Please avoid visiting public places, if you have to please ensure you wear masks all the time. Please take special care about your / children’s cleanliness.

Hope this does not reach epidemic proportions !

Bollywood reaches Times Square

Slumdog has created far more popularity in the western world that one could imagine. To cash on it, a new mini TV series has been launched in USA called “Bollywood Hero” – and what a way they let the people know about it.

Dozens of Bollywood dancers made Times Square for the promotion of the new series that suddenly seemed like a scene right out of Indian Nach Gaana movie.

I am not sure what or how good this series is, but they are sure creating a buzz !

WTF is this? – Kicking daughter-in-law or divorce threat not cruelty: SC

Verdicts like these really make my blood boil. Kicking Daughter-in-law is not cruelty… than WTF is it?

A husband and his relatives cannot be prosecuted for "cruelty" towards wife merely because the mother-in-law or other family members had kicked her or for that matter threatened her with divorce, the Supreme Court has held. Source

World’s largest solar steam system comes up in Shirdi

Not bad at all, India already has a record of having the largest solar powered cooker, and now, the world’s largest solar steam system has been installed at Shirdi, that will cook food for thousands of Sai Baba devotees.

The solar steam system can generate 3,500 kg of steam every day – enough to cook food for 20,000 people. It has been designed for cooking food for devotees visiting the shrine devoted to Sai Baba, a 19th century Sufi saint who was revered by Hindus and Muslims alike.

The total cost of the new system at Shirdi, some 90 km from Nashik, is estimated at Rs.1.33 crore for which a subsidy of Rs.58.4 lakh has been provided by the new and renewable energy ministry. [source]

Thats about it for this edition of Special Sunday…the weekend is already over :(