A trip to Tihar

After his arrest by the CBI in the Commonwealth Games Scam, Suresh Kalmadi may very soon find himself amongst familiar faces in the country's largest jail. The Tihar Jail complex houses ten prisons and 12,000 prisoners against the sanctioned capacity of 6,250. Here are the top 10 high profile Tihar inmates.



A Raja

The most high-profile of all the high-profile Tihar inmates, is a former Union Cabinet Minister and also a leader of DMK. He is in jail following his arrest in the 2G Spectrum Scam.



RK Sharma

Former IPS Officer RK Sharma is serving a life term in Tihar for his involvement in the mirder of journalist Shivani Bhatnagar.




Lalit Bhanot

Known as Suresh Kalmadi's right hand man, Lalit Bhanot was the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Secretary-General and was arrested by the CBI in connection with the CWG Scam.



Manu Sharma

Siddharth Vashisht aka Manu Sharma, son of senior Congress leader Venod Sharma, is serving a life term for the murder of model Jessica Lall.



Santosh Singh

Santosh Kumar Singh, son of former IPS officer JP Singh, was awarded a death sentence in the rape and murder of Delhi college student Priyadarshini Mattoo. His sentence was latter commuted to life imprisonment.




Vinod Goenka

The billionaire behind bars, Vinod Goenka is the managing director and co-founder of the real estate company DB Realty. He was arrested by the CBI for his alleged involvement in the 2G Spectrum Scam.



Sanjay Chandra

Unitech managing director Sanjay Chandra is in custody for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore 2G Spectrum Scam.



Gautam Doshi

Another high-profile 2G Scam accused lodged in Tihar is the group managing director of Reliance – Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, Gautam Doshi, Group



VK Verma

VK Verma was the director general of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee and is lodged in Tihar following his arrest in the CWG Scam.



Who's next?

If the series of high-profile arrests continue, who will be Tihar's next very important prisoner? Watch this space.

NASA's twin Voyager probes were launched in the late 1970s to explore the outer planets in our solar system. But now, nearly 34 years later, the two spacecraft are on their way out of our cosmic neighborhood, knocking on the door of interstellar space.

The spacecraft, called Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, were built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, which continues to operate both. Here are five facts about the two Voyager probes, the longest continuously operating spacecraft in deep space:

1. They're marathon runners

Voyager 2 launched on Aug. 20, 1977, and Voyager 1 launched about two weeks later, on Sept. 5. Since then, the spacecraft have been traveling along different flight paths and at different speeds.

Now about 10.8 billion miles (17.4 billion kilometers) from the sun and hurtling toward interstellar space, Voyager 1 is the farthest human-made object from Earth. Voyager 2 is about 8.8 billion miles (14.2 billion km) from the sun.

2. It takes a while to get ahold of them

Both spacecraft are still sending scientific information about their surroundings through NASA's Deep Space Network. A signal from the ground, traveling at the speed of light, takes about 13 hours one way to reach Voyager 2, and 16 hours to reach Voyager 1.

3. They started out on a grand planetary tour

The primary five-year mission of the Voyagers included the close-up exploration of Jupiter and Saturn, Saturn's rings and the larger moons of the two planets. The mission was extended after a succession of discoveries.

Between them, the two spacecraft have explored all the giant outer planets of our solar system -- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune -- as well as 49 moons, and the systems of rings and magnetic fields those planets possess.

The current mission, the Voyager Interstellar Mission, was planned to explore the outermost edge of our solar system and eventually leave our sun's sphere of influence to enter interstellar space -the space between the stars.

4. They're carrying messages to aliens

Both Voyager spacecraft carry recorded messages from Earth on golden phonograph records -- 12-inch, gold-plated copper disks. A committee chaired by the late astronomer Carl Sagan selected the contents of the records for NASA.

The records are cultural time capsules that the Voyagers bear with them to other star systems. They contain images and natural sounds, spoken greetings in 55 languages and musical selections from different cultures and eras.

5. The Voyagers are blazing new trails

Voyager 1 has reached a distant point at the edge of our solar system, where the outward motion of solar wind ceases. The event is the latest milestone in Voyager 1's passage through the heliosheath, the outer shell of the sun's sphere of influence, before entering interstellar space. Interstellar space begins at the heliopause, and scientists estimate Voyager 1 will cross this frontier within the next five years.

What makes technology so treacherous a business is that everything changes very rapidly, markets are often winner take all, and the future is especially hard to predict. So plenty of companies do deals and acquisitions that, in retrospect, are monumentally stupid.
Here are some of them.

News Corp buying MySpace



Cost: $530 million.
When News Corp bought MySpace for $580 million, that looked like an extremely savvy play by the old media company. But due to mismanagement and Facebook, MySpace stopped growing and then kept faltering. News Corp would be lucky to get $50 million for MySpace now

AOL buying Bebo
Cost: $840 million.



AOL makes more than one appearance on this list. While News Corp's acquisition of MySpace was a good bet that went wrong, there's no serious explanation for AOL's acquisition of Bebo or how much it spent.
AOL bought Bebo for $850 million and then sold it for $10 million.

Google buying Dodgeball (and shutting it down)
Cost: $1 billion--and counting.



The story is worn by now: Dodgeball was a popular check-in app before check-ins were popular. Google bought it. Google shut it down. Foursquare's founder Dennis Crowley left Google to start Foursquare, which is basically Dodgeball 2.0. Foursquare is reportedly raising money at a $500 million valuation. So Google is probably going to have to spend twice that to get Foursquare back into its fold. Even though all of this would probably already be theirs if they'd only given Crowley free rein.

Google buying Jaiku (and shutting it down)
Cost: $2 billion--and counting.



Remember Jaiku? What people don't remember about this microblogging service is that it was actually growing much faster than Twitter for a while. To compete with Twitter, Google bought Jaiku. And then shut it down.

Telefonica buying Lycos for $5.4 billion
Cost: $5.4 billion



Lycos was huge in its day, about as huge as Yahoo. It sold at the top of the bubble to the Spanish telecom conglomerate for $5.4 billion. Telefonica sold it a few years later for a handful of million.

These books are all about leadership. True leaders – those with vision and passion, those who inspire and innovate and those who are able to learn from mistakes made – are currently in short supply. But we believe they’re out there.

The books we’ve picked are about those who lead in many unique ways and are found in many different environments; a drought stricken African village, the jungles of the Amazon, the world’s deepest caves, sitting in the toughest boardrooms and of course those inside the Oval Office.

1. The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

For those looking for inspiration, passion and hope, “The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind” delivers.

It’s the story of a young boy from the African country of Malawi who overcomes all odds to realize a dream that changes his life and those who live in his tiny village.

The story’s protagonist, William, is an industrious youth with a great imagination. The story follows his struggles with poverty and a lack of education and shows how one idea can change an entire society.

2. Rework

“Rework” by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson is most definitely not like most of the business books you’ve read before.

This book is fun, inspiring and very easy to read – perfect for anyone on a plane, beach or stuck in a rut. The authors offer logical ideas that are instantly applicable, helping you to “rework” your way of thinking, rework your business plan, rework your life.

3. The Upside of Irrationality



In his newest book, “The Upside of Irrationality: The Unexpected Benefits of Defyling Logic at Work and at Home, ” Dan Ariely digs even deeper, explaining how all too often we make decisions that seem contrary to our best interest.

The book is full of experiments that tackle things like physical pain, online dating, getting even and procrastination. It seems, according to Ariely, that our decisions are driven by so-called unseen forces like emotions, stress, pride and revenge.

4. The End of Wall Street



The “End” of Wall Street in Roger Lowenstein’s book does not refer to the end of a place or for a group of financial firms. Instead, it refers to the end of a philosophy and way of life that embraced, championed and even bred greed.

By now we all know pretty much what happened with the financial crisis. But what makes this book so unique is Lowenstein’s storytelling and the nearly 200 interviews he conducted with insiders both on Wall Street and in Washington.

5. Adventures Among Ants

Summertime reading is about escaping from the real world. This book—with its 67,000,000,000,000,000 residents—really takes you away.

This is an adventure book full of glorious color photographs that shrink us down to ant-size so we can see the ants in their roles as leaders, warriors, hunters even slave owners. The author explains how ants create marketplaces and assembly lines and how they deal with issues uniquely human like hygiene, recycling, warfare and leadership.

6. The Big Short

Few writers are better able to tell the stories of Wall Street and beyond than Michael Lewis. He’s the best-selling author behind “Moneyball,” “Liar’s Poker” and “The Blind Side.”

In “The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine,” Lewis takes the reader on a thrilling ride into the near abyss — as our economy teetered on collapse. His book is a brilliant account of what happened and full of villains, heroes, fools and plenty of good ol’ fashioned greed.

Few share Lewis’ gift of storytelling or his ability to take the most complex and make it riveting read.

7. Blind Descent

In “Blind Descent: The Quest to Discover the Deepest Place on Earth ,” our world is turned upside down by another set of extreme adventurers. James M. Tabor takes us to the bottom of the world in search of the world’s deepest supercaves.

Although on the surface this may not be your typical “business” book, the leadership and teamwork inspired by its pages have a real translation into the corporate world.

8. Delivering Happiness




For some, happiness means getting a little white box. A company delivering just such a box is Zappos, the online shoe marketplace that has found explosive success in recent years.

The CEO of Zappos, Tony Hsieh, is telling his—and his company’s—story in “Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose.” It seems the “Purpose” for Hsieh and his company begins with serving the customer—truly serving, not just offering lip service.

9. On The Brink

The ultimate ‘insider,’ is former Treasury secretary Henry Paulson, who tells his story in “On the Brink Inside the Race to Stop the Collapse of the Global Financial System.”

Paulson lays out the decisions and reasoning for sacrificing Fannie and Freddie, bailing out Wall Street financial firms and the controversial rescue of AIG – a company who’s seemingly incompetent management perplexed and frustrated so many, including then-President Bush.

10. Multipliers

These books are all about leadership. True leaders – those with vision and passion, those who inspire and innovate and those who are able to learn from mistakes made – are currently in short supply. But we believe they’re out there.
 

 
The books we’ve picked are about those who lead in many unique ways and are found in many different environments; a drought stricken African village, the jungles of the Amazon, the world’s deepest caves, sitting in the toughest boardrooms and of course those inside the Oval Office

Prince William and Kate Middleton lead the five horse-drawn carriage procession following their marriage at Westminster Abbey on Friday in London, England.

The newlywed couple traveled in the 1902 State Landau along the Processional Route to Buckingham Palace.

The price of gold reached an all-time high of $1432 per ounce in December, rising 29% in 2010 following uncertainty in the equity markets and European sovereign debt problems.

The biggest individual holders of gold - Central banks, International entities and governments - are believed to account for approximately 16.5 percent of the world's gold

15. Venezuela



Value of Reserves: $17.33 billion
Holdings Total: 401.1 tons

Banco Central de Venezuela manages the 401.1 tons of gold in the country’s reserves, which amount to approximately $17.33 billion, representing 52.4 percent of the country's foreign reserves.

Although Venezuela currently has the fifteenth


14. Portugal



Value of Reserves: $18.21 billion
Holdings Total: 421.6 tons

The westernmost nation in mainland Europe is home to the fourteenth largest gold reserve in the world. At 421.6 tons, Portugal’s holdings are overseen by Banco de Portugal and are worth roughly $18.21 billion, accounting for 81.1 percent of the country’s foreign reserves

13. Taiwan



Value of Reserves: $20.17 billion
Holdings Total: 466.9 tons

Renowned for its technology industry and robust economic growth, Taiwan also boasts one of the largest gold reserves in the world.

The Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) manages the island nation’s foreign reserves, which have been reported at 466.9

12. European Central Bank (ECB)




Value of Reserves: $23.88 billion
Holdings Total: 522.7 tons

Established in 1998 by the European Union, the European Central Bank is responsible for the monetary policy of the member nations of the Eurozone and is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany.

The ECB's 522.7 tons of gold accounts for 25.2

11. India



Value of Reserves: $26.56 billion
Holdings Total: 614.8 tons

Shooting up in the rankings in the past years is India. The second most populous nation in the world maintains the eleventh largest gold reserves. The size of India's holdings were bolstered in November 2009 by a $6.9 billion purchase of 200 tons of gold from the IMF.

10. Netherlands




Value of Reserves: $29.67 billion
Holdings Total: 675.2 tons

The Netherlands has the tenth largest reserve on the list with 675.2 tons of gold. The Netherland Bank manages the country’s national finances, including the gold reserves, which amount to approximately $26.67 billion and account for 57.5 percent of the country's foreign reserves.

9. Japan





Value of Reserves: $36.43 billion
Holdings Total: 843.5 tons

Although Japan is ninth on the list, its 843.5 tons of gold account for only 3 percent of total foreign reserves. On the open market, Japan's gold reserves are worth around $36.43 billion, and are overseen by the Bank of Japan

8. Russia



Value of Reserves: $36.91 billion
Holdings Total: 854.5 tons

The Central Bank of the Russian Federation is in charge of the country’s 854.5 tons of gold, which are valued at $36.91 billion and comprise 6.7% of the country’s foreign reserves.

In 2009 Russia increased its gold production by 21%, due in part to the launch of several new

7. Switzerland



Value of Reserves: $49.53 billion
Holdings Total: 1,146.5 tons

The Swiss National Bank conducts Switzerland's monetary policy and manages the country's 1,146.5 tons of gold.

With the world's seventh largest reserve of the precious metal, Switzerland's supply is worth approximately $49.53 billion in today's gold


6. China



Value of Reserves: $50.19 billion
Holdings Total: 1,161.9 tons

At 1,161.9 tons, the world's most heavily populated country has the world's sixth largest gold reserve. Expect it to be higher? Well, bear in mind that China's gold only accounts for 1.7 percent of its foreign reserves. With a population of 1.34 billion, the country holds about $37.45 worth of gold per person,


5. France



Value of Reserves: $115.97 billion
Holdings Total: 2,684.6 tons

The French National Bank, Banque De France, is home to the country's gold holdings, which comprise 67.2 percent of its foreign reserves. With 2,684.6 tons of gold in reserve, France's holdings are worth approximately $115.97 billion.

4. Italy



Value of Reserves: $116.75 billion
Holdings Total: 2,702.6 tons

The Banca D'Italia manages Italy's foreign reserves, which have been reported at 2,702.6 tons by the World Gold Council and comprise the fourth largest gold reserve in the world.

These holdings are worth $116.75 billion and account for 68.6 percent of the country's

3. International Monetary Fund (IMF)



Value of Reserves: $135.56 billion
Holdings Total: 3,137.9 tons

The IMF oversees international economic operations of 185 member countries. Its gold policies have changed in the last 25 years, but the reserves remain to stabilize international markets and aid national economies.


2. Germany



Value of Reserves: $161.99 billion
Holdings Total: 3,749.8 tons

The Deutsche Bundesbank, Germany's central bank, has 3,749.8 tons of gold reserves, which are valued at about $161.99 billion. According to the World Gold Council, Germany’s gold coffers account for 70.3 percent of total foreign reserves.

1. United States



Value of Reserves: $387.32 billion
Holdings Total: 8,965.6 tons

The United States Bullion Depository in Kentucky — otherwise known as Fort Knox — is the most famous gold stockpile in the world. It holds the majority of the nation’s gold reserves, the remainder of which is held at the Philadelphia Mint, the Denver Mint, the West Point Bullion Depository and the San Francisco Assay Office.

Altogether, the total gold reserves of the United States equal 8,965.6 tons and would be valued at approximately $387.32 billion in today's market.