Australia since a spate of attacks on Indian students

This will be the first high-level visit from India to Australia since a spate of attacks on Indian students studying in that country began over a month ago, creating outrage in India and the diaspora community Down Under. Krishna will meet his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith and call on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to discuss a range of issues, including the recent attacks on Indian students that has put an otherwise growing relationship under strain. "He will visit Sydney and Melbourne to hear first-hand, about the problems being faced by Indian students and will discuss the matter of their safety and security with the state leadership," the external affairs ministry said here Friday ahead of Krishna's visit. He will "also apprise himself of the measures put in place, in this regard, by the Australian law enforcement agencies" and meet prominent members of the Indian community and Indian students, the ministry said. He will also participate in the Annual Post Forum Dialogue Meeting of the 16-nation Pacific Island Forum (PIF), at which India is a dialogue partner, in Cairns in northeast Australia.

For further details visit as : www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=c08a5321-c9e0-409a-b554-c7d3e8479b49&Headline=Krishna+heads+to+Australia+on+August+6+to+take+stock

Pakistan till it stopped exporting terror

NEW DELHI : Continuing with its attack on the Manmohan Singh government for the Sharm-El-Sheikh joint statement, BJP on Friday brought the prime minister in its firing line, blaming him for leading India to a position of weakness in its negotiations with Pakistan. Confronted with a barrage of criticism from the entire Opposition, and also from within Congress, the government on Friday repeated what it told the Lok Sabha on Thursday — that the Sharm-El-Sheikh joint statement had been buried completely, and there could be no negotiations with Pakistan till it stopped exporting terror. “Any meaningful dialogue with Pakistan can only follow the concrete fulfilment of their commitments not to allow their territory to be used for terrorist activities against India,”external affairs minister S M Krishna told the Rajya Sabha this afternoon in his reply to the debate on his ministry’s working. The government had earlier come under all-round flak for agreeing to the Sharm-El-Sheikh joint statement, described as a “monumental lapse’’ by leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley. Participating in the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the working of the external affairs ministry, the BJP leader charged the prime minister and his team of negotiators with reversing the foreign policy that has consistently been pursued by India so far. He was particularly harsh on the prime minister, accusing him of being “alarmist”. “You try and alarm the country with a new argument that there are only two options available — it’s either a dialogue or a war. The moment the prime minister limits his options to dialogue or war, he brings India to a position of weakness because the other alternative is war. And when you come down to a position of weakness and start negotiating, it is dialogue irrespective of terror,’’ the Opposition leader argued.

For further details visit as : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Sharm-ki-baat-keeps-rocking-House/articleshow/4844106.cms

Delhi won’t resume the composite dialogue in a hurry

Despite the let’s-get-talking tone of the India- Pakistan joint statement, Delhi won’t resume the composite dialogue in a hurry. Pakistani action so far – a few arrests, and charge sheets against some terrorists – isn’t enough for any substantive dialogue to begin. And even after Pakistan shows results, India might push for a format different from the composite dialogue which was suspended after the Mumbai terror attacks. That’s the message that the government will try to put out when it faces a debate in Parliament on July 29 on the joint statement. The statement, issued after the Prime Ministers of the two countries met on the margins of the NAM summit in Egypt, was seen as a climbdown. "Both Prime Ministers recognise that dialogue is the only way forward. Action on terrorism should not be linked to the composite dialogue process," the July 16 statement said. Trying to contain the fallout, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already told Parliament that the "starting point" for any "meaningful dialogue" still remains fulfilment by Pakistan of its anti-terror commitments. The government also insists now that the crucial paragraph in the statement is being "misread". What India "meant" was that Pakistan should not wait for the resumption of dialogue before taking action against terrorists. The government spin right now is that India has begun a "limited dialogue process", focusing largely on terror. The two foreign secretaries will continue to meet till it develops into something more substantive. Sources say there is skepticism about going back to the old composite dialogue format, which was based on the premise that it would be held in a violence-free atmosphere.

For further details visit as: www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=India+not+to+resume+composite+dialogue+in+hurry&artid=mEx44fKqES0=&SectionID=b7ziAYMenjw=&MainSectionID=b7ziAYMenjw=&SEO=NAM,+Manmohan+Singh&SectionName=pWehHe7IsSU=

Kalam : Haven't Received Apoloy

A day after the Continental Airlines issued a public apology for frisking Kalam at the Delhi airport. Former president A P J Abdul Kalam says he has yet to receive a personal apology from the airlines. "I have not yet received it and whatever I have to do I've said," said Kalam. When asked if he considered it an insult, the former president said," It has been discussed in the Parliament." Meanwhile, coming as it does three whole months after the incident, Continental Airlines on Wednesday said they regretted the misunderstanding or the inconvenience. The airlines called the incident a misunderstanding/inconvenience after the government filed an FIR against it for allegedly breaching Indian aviation rules. "Our intention was never to offend Dr Kalam or the sentiments of the people of India. Continental Airlines takes great pride and is honoured to have flown a respectable leader such as Dr Kalam," said the statement. Kalam was made to take off his shoes, hand over his belongings for scrutiny, and asked to wait before being frisked. Rajya Sabha MPs on Tuesday condemned the security check and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel called the incident “unpardonable”.


Source : ibnlive.in.com/news/havent-received-apology-yet-kalam/97708-3.html

Healthcare costs for the government's Medicare program

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Wednesday a broad healthcare overhaul was critical to a U.S. economic recovery and urged Congress to take advantage of momentum behind the reform package, despite doubts about the plan even among fellow Democrats. In a televised evening news conference, Obama said the biggest driving force behind the federal deficit was skyrocketing healthcare costs for the government's Medicare program of healthcare for the elderly and Medicaid for the poor. "If we do not control these costs, we will not be able to control our deficit," he said after another day when leaders in Congress struggled to find common ground on the cost and scope of a healthcare plan, Obama's top legislative priority. Hopes dimmed in Congress that lawmakers could meet Obama's goal of passing early versions by the August summer recess, but Obama said the "stars were aligned" to win the plan this year and appealed to congressional leaders to help Americans facing higher insurance premiums or lacking insurance.

For further details visit as : www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE56M0HE20090723

Airlines to issue an apology to former president APJ Abdulkalalm

NEW DELHI: Strong public outcry and censure of their actions by all political fronts forced Continental Airlines to issue an apology to former President APJ Abdul Kalam for frisking him at IGI airport in April. Till Tuesday, the airline had claimed that it had only been following the US protocol for safety and hoped that Kalam had been ‘‘pleased’’ with its services. By Wednesday, under the threat of an FIR against the airline and the matter being taken up by civil aviation minister Praful Patel with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the airline was compelled to take back its earlier statement which said that it did not feel that Kalam had been offended by its actions.



For further details visit as : timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/Airline-says-sorry-for-frisking-Kalam/articleshow/4809836.cms

Proceedings in the trial of Ajmal Amir Kasab

A special court will begin proceedings in the trial of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist involved the terror attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, on Wednesday. On Tuesday, a court had adjourned the hearing after prosecution sought time to file its reply on Kasab's confession. Confessing before the court, Kasab said that he and his slain partner Abu Ismail were directed to start firing indiscriminately at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), take hostages and attack those policemen who tried to rescue the hostages. Meanwhile, Kasab's defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi said that his client's admissions could not be treated as confession to the crime. Kasab had pleaded guilty to the offence before a Mumbai court on Monday. For the first time in his confession, Kasab said, "Mujhe mera gunha kabool hai (I plead guilty to my crime)."


Source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Kasab--s-trial-proceedings-to-begin-today/492594

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam for frisking him at the IGI Airport

US airline Continental Airlines on Wednesday issued an apology to former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam for frisking him at the IGI Airport in New Delhi on April 21. “We have tendered a formal apology and we sincerely hope he will fly with us again,” Continental Airlines said in a statement. “Our intention was never to offend the sentiments of Dr Kalam,” the airline said. “We apologise to Kalam for any inconvenience caused,” it added. “We reiterate our commitment to comply with the rules,” the airline said. Indian laws exempt dignitaries like former presidents, ex-PMs, Chief Justice of India and even Robert Vadra from being frisked at airports. Aviation authorities had on Tuesday sought an FIR against Continental for making Kalam take off his shoes and undergo a humiliating security check at Delhi airport before being allowed to board flight CO 083 to Newark on April 21. As Kalam was about to board his flight to New York around 10pm, he was put through ladder point security under which the former President was frisked completely. He was also asked to take off his shoes, despite accompanying CISF personnel protesting to the airline staff that Kalam was an ex-President and exempt from such checks. While the airline did not budge, the unassuming Kalam went through the process without any fuss. On its part, the airline earlier said US rules stipulate all passengers flying to the country must be checked just before entering the aircraft again and that there are no exceptions for VVIPs. The CISF sent a report of this protocol violation to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security. The airline was issued a showcause notice on July 9 and asked to respond within a week, something they have not done till date.

for further details visit as : timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/Continental-apologises-for-frisking-Kalam/articleshow/4805958.cms

Jakarta Hotel bomb attack-Seven foreigners were killed

JAKARTA, July 18 (Reuters) - Seven foreigners were among those killed in the bomb attacks on two luxury hotels in Indonesia's capital, the Jakarta Post newspaper reported on Saturday, citing a police official. Suicide bombers struck the JW Marriott hotel and close-by Ritz-Carlton, two luxury hotels popular with businessmen and diplomats, in Jakarta's main business district during breakfast. Police on Friday said eight people died, revising down an earlier count of nine, and over 60 were injured. On Saturday it seemed the toll had been raised again to nine, including two suicide bombers.

The blasts are a severe blow for Southeast Asia's biggest economy and for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who was re-elected earlier this month in a landslide victory on the back of restoring peace and strong growth to a country with the world's largest Muslim population. Police won't be drawn on who may be responsible for the blasts, but suspicion has fallen on remnants of Jemaah Islamiah, the militant Islamist group responsible for a string of attacks in Indonesia in the first half of the decade. East Jakarta Police Chief Hasanudin told the English language Jakarta Post that forensic experts were identifying the bodies of seven foreign nationals.
"All were foreigners," Hasanudin told the Post, adding that all were male.Police have not released the names of any of the victims yet.Tim Mackay, chief executive of cement maker Holcim Indonesia and a New Zealand national, was one of several executives attending a CastleAsia Group breakfast at one of the hotels, and was killed in the blast, Holcim said on Friday.



For further details visit as : www.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUSSP42362520090718

Construction bridge collapsed leaving six persons dead-New delhi

New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan on Monday inspected the site where an under-construction bridge collapsed leaving six persons dead even as clearing operations in the area were going on.

Mr. Sreedharan, who on Sunday resigned from the post owning moral responsibility for the mishap, visited the accident site to take stock of the situation. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has rejected his resignation.
Rains last night hampered clearing operations at the site where huge cranes are being used to clear the debris.
Water supply in neighbouring areas has been also disrupted as the pillar fell on a water pipeline.
Traffic continued to be disrupted in the busy Nehru Place area and police have advised people to avoid the Zamrudpur-Lady Shri Ram college route.
The accident took place on Sunday when a pillar of the bridge gave in during some construction work, leaving six persons dead.
DMRC set up a four-member committee to examine reasons for the accident and it would submit its report in 10 days.
Describing the accident as "more serious" than the one that happened in Laxmi Nagar last year, Mr. Sreedharan had announced his resignation, taking "full moral responsibility" for it.
However, after a high-level meeting to discuss the accident last night, Ms. Dikshit decided not to accept the resignation.


For further details visit as : www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200907130933.htm

May 7th specials

In 1984, a $180 million out-of-court settlement was announced in the Agent Orange class-action suit brought by Vietnam veterans who charged they'd suffered injury from exposure to the defoliant.
Ten years ago: NATO jets struck the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, killing three people and injuring 20; President Bill Clinton called the attack a "tragic mistake." A jury in Pontiac, Mich., ordered "The Jenny Jones Show" to pay $25 million to the family of Scott Amedure, a gay man who was shot to death after revealing a crush on Jonathan Schmitz, a fellow guest on the talk show. (However, the Michigan Court of Appeals later overturned the award, and the Michigan Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal.)
Five years ago: Army Pfc. Lynndie England, shown in photographs smiling and pointing at naked Iraqi prisoners, was charged by the military with assaulting the detainees and conspiring to mistreat them. (England was later convicted of conspiracy, mistreating detainees and committing an indecent act, and sentenced to 36 months; she served half that term.) Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld offered "my deepest apology" to abused Iraqi prisoners and warned that videos and photos yet to come could further inflame worldwide outrage.
One year ago: President George W. Bush, addressing the Council of Americas, said Cuba's post-Fidel Castro leadership had made only "empty gestures at reform" as he rejected calls for easing of U.S. restrictions on the communist island. Dmitry Medvedev was sworn in as Russia's president.
Today's Birthdays: Former Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., is 77. Singer Jimmy Ruffin is 70. Singer Johnny Maestro is 70. Actress Robin Strasser is 64. Singer-songwriter Bill Danoff is 63. R&B singer Thelma Houston is 63. Rock musician Bill Kreutzmann (The Dead) is 63. Rock musician Prairie Prince is 59. Actor Robert Hegyes is 58. Movie writer-director Amy Heckerling is 55. Actor Michael E. Knight is 50. Rock musician Phil Campbell (Motorhead) is 48. Country musician Rick Schell is 46. Rock singer-musician Chris O'Connor (Primitive Radio Gods) is 44. Actress Traci Lords is 40. Singer Eagle-Eye Cherry is 38. Actor Breckin Meyer is 35. Rock musician Matt Helders (Arctic Monkeys) is 23. Actor Taylor Abrahamse is 18.


Source : www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhZfSZI4djl_MxnRykC5lZzlBMYQD9815Q283

‘Slumdog Millionaire’ sweeps Baftas

LONDON: Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle’s plucky take on Mumbai’s slum-children, on Sunday glided over the last hump on its unstoppable march to the Oscars after it swept the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards, or Baftas. Here it won seven major awards including for best film, best direction and A.R. Rahman’s music. The Baftas are regarded as a dress-rehearsal for the big Hollywood event.

“Unbelievable again!” quipped Rahman, who won a Golden Globe for his score barely a few weeks ago.

The film, which was nominated in 11 categories, also won the Baftas for best adapted screenplay, cinematography, editing and sound. This brought its tally of international awards to nearly 50.

The only other Indian, apart from Rahman, to receive a Bafta was Resul Pookutty for sound along with Glenn Freemantle, Richard Pryke, Tom Sayers, Ian Tapp.

However, neither Dev Patel, the teenage “hero” of the film who was nominated for best actor, nor Freida Pinto, the “heroine” tipped for best supporting actress, made it. Both had their moments, though, when they were called to the stage to present the award for best costume.

Earlier, young Patel joked about having been nominated at all saying he was surprised. “I can’t believe it. Please someone slap me,” he said.

Born and brought up in Britain, he seemed happy to be simply back on his “home turf” and appeared to revel in being at the centre of so much attention.

The most important event in Britain’s movie calendar was so dominated by Slumdog Millionaire that some of Hollywood’s biggest offerings were almost reduced to the also-ran category.

Critics reckoned the film won an award every 20 minutes, and punters reportedly lost some £I million, having put money on SDM’s rivals.

One of the biggest surprises of the evening was SDM beating its strong Hollywood contender, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button starring Brad Pitt. For films like The Reader, Revolutionary Road and Doubt losing to SDM appeared unfair to some, who attributed its success to “media hype.”

Boyle called it a triumph for the spirit of the people of Mumbai. He regretted that some people in India had objected to the term “slumdog.” He added: “I’m disappointed. It was meant in an aspirational way.”

SOURCE:WWW.THEHINDU.COM

The World Cancer day

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world. WHO estimates that 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015 without intervention.

Each year on 4 February, WHO joins with the sponsoring International Union Against Cancer to promote ways to ease the global burden of cancer. Preventing cancer and raising quality of life for cancer patients are recurring themes.

Related links
- WHO guide for effective cancer control
- International Union Against Cancer
- More about cancer

New SriLankan aircraft

sriLankan’s new non-stop flight

SriLankan Airlines has become the world’s first carrier to operate non-stop return flights between London and Male. It may be noted the national airline of Sri Lanka has been the largest operator to Maldives for many years. Now SriLankan has introduced its new service from Male, the Maldivian capital, to London Heathrow from 26 October. Simultaneously, the airline has increased its existing London-Male flights from two per week to four.

SriLankan Airlines regional manager Kaushal Seneviratne said Maldives was one of the destinations of choice among holiday makers in the UK and other European nations and was a fast-growing market. ‘Sri Lanka has a traditionally close relationship with Maldives and we are happy to strengthen this further through our new Male-London service,’ he said.More than 8.50 lakh tourists visited Maldives in 2007, mainly from Europe.The Indian Ocean nation is famous for its pristine beaches, crystal clear waters and coral reefs teeming with reef fishes of every hue and colour. It is a favourite among upmarket tourists, including water sports enthusiasts and honey- mooners.Known of its warm and friendly inflight services, SriLankan would also operate its long-haul Airbus A340-300 aircraft fleet on the 11-hour route.These contain many on-board comforts such as 18-channel seatback TVs at every seat with 22 audio channels and 16 video games. The business class would have a choice of movies on video as well. Till now, UK passengers bound for the Maldives on SriLankan returned to London via Colombo. SriLankan operated eight flights from Colombo to London.SriLankan has 15 flights between Male and Colombo and also operated two return flights between Tokyo and Male. Sri Lanka’s award-winning carrier now has a network of 44 destinations in 24 countries across Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and Southeast Asia. It is operating one of largest services to Indian subcontinent where it serviced 11 destinations.

Obama

Obama: 'I screwed up' on Daschle appointment

President Barack Obama on Tuesday admitted he made a mistake in handling the nomination of Tom Daschle as his health and human services secretary, telling CNN's Anderson Cooper that Daschle's tax problems sent a message that the politically powerful are treated differently than average people. Daschle withdrew earlier Tuesday.

source:www.cnn.com

Today is International Day of Disabled Persons

Driven by determination: It is nothing but self-confidence that helps him to keep pace with others.

‘CEC has no independent power to recommend removal’

Union Law Minister H.R. Bhardwaj

New Delhi: Law Minister H.R. Bhardwaj on Monday asserted that Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami had no independent authority or power to recommend the removal of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla in the absence of a reference from the President on the advice of the Union government.

The Minister said the CEC’s report was being examined and a decision would be taken expeditiously. At the same time, he indicated that going by convention Mr. Chawla should become the next CEC on Mr. Gopalaswami’s retirement on April 20.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Bhardwaj said: “The CEC’s power under Article 324 (5) of the Constitution [Election Commissioner shall not be removed from office except on the recommendation of the CEC] is not a power to punish or get rid of other Commissioners.”

The Minister said: “The CEC has no constitutional authority to embarrass or comment upon his own colleague because they are all equals. He is only the administrative head of the Election Commission and he is not the boss.”

“In a three-member Commission, there is bound to be some controversy but you can’t remove your colleague for that. Commissioners are given protection from arbitrary removal and the CEC cannot use his power to settle personal scores. Public confidence in the institution will be eroded if such things happen,” he added.

Unfortunate row

The Minister said: “It is a surprising way of saying that ‘I am the authority to recommend the removal of an Election Commissioner.’ His [CEC’s] authority flows from the President and his opinion is sought on matters related to removal of an Election Commissioner. If the President asks for his opinion, he can give, otherwise he can’t give such an opinion. It is unfortunate that a person of such a high rank and at the end of his office has made such a recommendation and, thus, troubled the good name of the Election Commission. It was unfortunate that a controversy had been created at a time when the country was moving towards the general election.” Asked how long the government would take to decide on the CEC’s report, Mr. Bhardwaj said the file reached his office two days ago and “the Law Secretary T. K. Viswanathan is studying it and he will give his opinion to me. I will myself analyse the matter and the government’s stand on the issue is likely to be firmed up very soon.”

Convention will continue

Asked about the appointment of the next incumbent, Mr. Bhardwaj said: “As per convention, the policy of having the seniormost in the Election Commission as the next CEC will continue and we will make the recommendation to the President. The process of appointing another Commissioner would also be initiated and completed soon.”

source:http://www.hindu.com