The US president expressed annoyance over ISI-terrorists nexus (Agencies)
ISLAMABAD: An "annoyed" US president, George Bush, has confronted Pakistan's PM over ISI leaking intelligence, shared by Washington, to militants and quizzed him on who was controlling the spy agency.
Pakistan, which has reacted angrily to recent calls for direct US military strikes or "hot pursuit" of militants thriving in its tribal areas, has been harping on the need for the American intelligence agencies to share information so that it can carry out operations against the extremists.
However, Bush during his meeting with prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said that Washington is reluctant to share intelligence with Islamabad because people in ISI are passing on such information to militants, Pakistan's defence minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar was quoted as saying by Pakistani newspapers on Thursday.
Bush told Gilani and his delegation that the US believed ISI had established deep ties with militants operating in Pakistan's tribal areas, some officials present in the meeting said.
Bush expressed "concern and some annoyance" about ISI's role, the minister told the News. "President Bush also asked who is controlling ISI?" Mukhtar said.
This was apparently a reference to the recent controversy over a move to place the spy agency under the interior ministry. The government notification in this regard was withdrawn after the powerful army and the presidency objected to the move.
The US president complained that intelligence shared with Pakistan was leaked by "certain elements" in ISI to terrorists much before they could be attacked by American or Pakistani forces. This was a cause of concern for the US, Bush was quoted as saying by Mukhtar.
However, during his appearance on a Public Broadcasting Service, Gilani rejected as "not believable" assertions about ISI's links with militants. "We would not allow that," he said.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tips and tricks for the ultimate orgasm revealed!
Thu, Jul 31 11:05 AM
London, July 31 (ANI): Is your sex life more of a snooze than sizzle? Well, don't fret it, for a group of experts have come up with an ultimate 'orgasm guide', that is, wholesomely dedicated to pleasure of the naughty variety.
Tracey Cox, sex author and presenter; Sarah Hedley, editor of 'Scarlett' magazine; Dr Petra Boynton, sex and relationship expert and Katherine Hoyle, owner of 'Sh! Women's Erotic Emporium' share their expert knowledge for achieving the 'Big O'
"The biggest misconception is that women can have orgasms through intercourse. But 70percent of women don't, and that's totally normal. Guys don't just lie back hoping to have an orgasm - they pick a thrusting style to suit them. Women need to do the same and take control," The Sun quoted Tracey, as saying.
"The trick to achieving orgasm is to put pressure on your clitoris by rotating your pelvis during sex.
"Good positions for this are with the woman on top or with the man behind - and if you tighten your pelvic muscles, your orgasm will be more intense.
"These positions are also great for hitting the G spot, which is around the urethra tissue - the part you can feel through the vaginal wall. It's not miles in like we all previously thought.
"Another good orgasm tip is to give up on trying to climax simultaneously," Tracey added.
She said: "Much better to take it in turns so you're not distracted by what the other person is doing - that's why a 69er is always better in fantasy!
"And stop thinking of sex having a start, middle and end. You could orgasm from an oral sex session or a quickie against the bathroom wall.
"Keep your mind in the moment and feel rather than think - it will make climaxing much easier. If you want more than one orgasm, my best tip is to use different forms of stimulation, otherwise you get desensitised. So orgasm through oral sex, then through your G spot.
"Remember, having sex when you're drunk means your senses are dulled and your orgasm won't be as good."
Sarah Hedley says: "The key to having a great orgasm is to get your mind 'in orgasm mode' way before you take your clothes off."
Dr Petra Boynton said: "All orgasms are great. Thinking of them as brilliant or boring just puts pressure on us. The trick is not to strive for something better - we all feel orgasms in different ways. My advice is to set aside time to explore orgasms on your own. It's rare to be unable to orgasm through masturbation.
"A lot of women think it's cheating to do it in a relationship, but it's not; it helps you know what you like. Then why not try masturbating in front of your partner? If you feel embarrassed, then ask him to do it first."
Katherine Hoyle says: "Breathing can really affect an orgasm. As you start having sex, your breathing rate increases and we often hold our breath. This means you tense up and climaxing is more difficult. If you're aware of your breathing and try to regulate it, you'll let go quicker and orgasm." (ANI)
London, July 31 (ANI): Is your sex life more of a snooze than sizzle? Well, don't fret it, for a group of experts have come up with an ultimate 'orgasm guide', that is, wholesomely dedicated to pleasure of the naughty variety.
Tracey Cox, sex author and presenter; Sarah Hedley, editor of 'Scarlett' magazine; Dr Petra Boynton, sex and relationship expert and Katherine Hoyle, owner of 'Sh! Women's Erotic Emporium' share their expert knowledge for achieving the 'Big O'
"The biggest misconception is that women can have orgasms through intercourse. But 70percent of women don't, and that's totally normal. Guys don't just lie back hoping to have an orgasm - they pick a thrusting style to suit them. Women need to do the same and take control," The Sun quoted Tracey, as saying.
"The trick to achieving orgasm is to put pressure on your clitoris by rotating your pelvis during sex.
"Good positions for this are with the woman on top or with the man behind - and if you tighten your pelvic muscles, your orgasm will be more intense.
"These positions are also great for hitting the G spot, which is around the urethra tissue - the part you can feel through the vaginal wall. It's not miles in like we all previously thought.
"Another good orgasm tip is to give up on trying to climax simultaneously," Tracey added.
She said: "Much better to take it in turns so you're not distracted by what the other person is doing - that's why a 69er is always better in fantasy!
"And stop thinking of sex having a start, middle and end. You could orgasm from an oral sex session or a quickie against the bathroom wall.
"Keep your mind in the moment and feel rather than think - it will make climaxing much easier. If you want more than one orgasm, my best tip is to use different forms of stimulation, otherwise you get desensitised. So orgasm through oral sex, then through your G spot.
"Remember, having sex when you're drunk means your senses are dulled and your orgasm won't be as good."
Sarah Hedley says: "The key to having a great orgasm is to get your mind 'in orgasm mode' way before you take your clothes off."
Dr Petra Boynton said: "All orgasms are great. Thinking of them as brilliant or boring just puts pressure on us. The trick is not to strive for something better - we all feel orgasms in different ways. My advice is to set aside time to explore orgasms on your own. It's rare to be unable to orgasm through masturbation.
"A lot of women think it's cheating to do it in a relationship, but it's not; it helps you know what you like. Then why not try masturbating in front of your partner? If you feel embarrassed, then ask him to do it first."
Katherine Hoyle says: "Breathing can really affect an orgasm. As you start having sex, your breathing rate increases and we often hold our breath. This means you tense up and climaxing is more difficult. If you're aware of your breathing and try to regulate it, you'll let go quicker and orgasm." (ANI)
Sabarmati Jail prisoners called Pak after blasts: Cops
CNN-IBN
TimePublished on Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 20:40, Updated at Thu, Jul 31, 2008 in Nation section
TagsTags: Ahmedabad Blasts, Terror Attack , New Delhi
E-mail this report | Print this report
PAK HAND? Police say the men who made the calls are linked to Dawood aide, Rasool Patti, a Pakistani.
PAK HAND? Police say the men who made the calls are linked to Dawood aide, Rasool Patti, a Pakistani.
People who read this also read:
What made Surat's bomb squad tick the last two days
The four men who defused the Surat bombs are the talk of the town.
* Mumbai police question American over terror e-mail
* Japan embassy shuts consular section after terror e-mail
Featured Blog
Suhasini Haidar
It's our Retaliation They Want
Featured Slideshows
Related Headlines
powered by
* What made Surat's bomb squad tick the last two days
* Mumbai police question American over terror e-mail
* Japan embassy shuts consular section after terror e-mail
Keywords: Jaipur, Bangalore
New Delhi: Four days after the blasts that ripped through Ahmedabad killing 49 people and injuring 180 others, the investigators have claimed a breakthrough in the case.
They said that a single terror organisation was responsible for the Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Jaipur blasts as well as the 21 live bombs that were found and defused in Surat.
And though the Gujarat Police didn't name any organisation, investigations point to a Pakistan hand behind the terror plots.
Seven men accused under POTA are being questoined in Sabarmati Jail. All of them are linked to Dawood Ibrahim aide, Rasool Patti, who is a Pakistan national. Investigators say that there were calls made to Pakistan from the jail immediately after 18 blasts rocked Ahmedabad on Saturday. The police have seized three mobile phones from Sabarmati Jail.
Meanwhile, Surat Police Commissioner RMS Brar confirmed that the Bangalore and Ahmedabad serial blasts as well as the failed attack in Surat, have several similarities.
TimePublished on Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 20:40, Updated at Thu, Jul 31, 2008 in Nation section
TagsTags: Ahmedabad Blasts, Terror Attack , New Delhi
E-mail this report | Print this report
PAK HAND? Police say the men who made the calls are linked to Dawood aide, Rasool Patti, a Pakistani.
PAK HAND? Police say the men who made the calls are linked to Dawood aide, Rasool Patti, a Pakistani.
People who read this also read:
What made Surat's bomb squad tick the last two days
The four men who defused the Surat bombs are the talk of the town.
* Mumbai police question American over terror e-mail
* Japan embassy shuts consular section after terror e-mail
Featured Blog
Suhasini Haidar
It's our Retaliation They Want
Featured Slideshows
Related Headlines
powered by
* What made Surat's bomb squad tick the last two days
* Mumbai police question American over terror e-mail
* Japan embassy shuts consular section after terror e-mail
Keywords: Jaipur, Bangalore
New Delhi: Four days after the blasts that ripped through Ahmedabad killing 49 people and injuring 180 others, the investigators have claimed a breakthrough in the case.
They said that a single terror organisation was responsible for the Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Jaipur blasts as well as the 21 live bombs that were found and defused in Surat.
And though the Gujarat Police didn't name any organisation, investigations point to a Pakistan hand behind the terror plots.
Seven men accused under POTA are being questoined in Sabarmati Jail. All of them are linked to Dawood Ibrahim aide, Rasool Patti, who is a Pakistan national. Investigators say that there were calls made to Pakistan from the jail immediately after 18 blasts rocked Ahmedabad on Saturday. The police have seized three mobile phones from Sabarmati Jail.
Meanwhile, Surat Police Commissioner RMS Brar confirmed that the Bangalore and Ahmedabad serial blasts as well as the failed attack in Surat, have several similarities.
Opium trafficking in Afghanistan
Tuesday Jul 29 2008 13:25
At least one part of the Afghan economy is doing well. Unfortunately, it is the part involved in the illegal production of opium and related narcotics. In the latest sign of just how entrenched the business has become, the United Nations has warned that drug traffickers are now importing chemists from surrounding countries to produce heroin inside the country.
Afghanistan now supplies more than 90 per cent of the world's heroin, according to the UN, and if production falls modestly this year it will have nothing to do with the policy of the Afghan government or of its international partners. In fact, there is no policy - or, to be more precise, there are 100 policies barely co-ordinated among the myriad foreign and local actors there.
Certainly the foreign military contingents in the country want nothing to do with counternarcotics. With the US and its Nato partners engaged in a programme to win hearts and minds, the last thing they want is to alienate people by eradicating the source of their livelihoods. Yet there is no doubt that the poppy trade is an important source of revenues for the Taliban and other insurgents trying to overthrow the elected government of President Hamid Karzai.
Bookmark and Share
At least one part of the Afghan economy is doing well. Unfortunately, it is the part involved in the illegal production of opium and related narcotics. In the latest sign of just how entrenched the business has become, the United Nations has warned that drug traffickers are now importing chemists from surrounding countries to produce heroin inside the country.
Afghanistan now supplies more than 90 per cent of the world's heroin, according to the UN, and if production falls modestly this year it will have nothing to do with the policy of the Afghan government or of its international partners. In fact, there is no policy - or, to be more precise, there are 100 policies barely co-ordinated among the myriad foreign and local actors there.
Certainly the foreign military contingents in the country want nothing to do with counternarcotics. With the US and its Nato partners engaged in a programme to win hearts and minds, the last thing they want is to alienate people by eradicating the source of their livelihoods. Yet there is no doubt that the poppy trade is an important source of revenues for the Taliban and other insurgents trying to overthrow the elected government of President Hamid Karzai.
Bookmark and Share
Saudi vice squad member held for having six wives
Thursday, 31 July , 2008, 18:56
Riyadh: A member of Saudi Arabia's religious police was arrested for having six wives, two more than allowed under Islamic law, a local newspaper reported on Thursday.
The 56-year-old man, who is an employee of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, is under investigation in Jazan province, south-west of the kingdom, according to the Saudi daily al-Watan.
The Commission is in charge of enforcing the strict Wahabi version of the Islamic sharia law.
The man denied the charges and said he had divorced two spouses, and was only keeping four wives, which is allowed under sharia.
The sixth wife, who was arrested along with her husband, said she was not aware that he had five other wives.
Riyadh: A member of Saudi Arabia's religious police was arrested for having six wives, two more than allowed under Islamic law, a local newspaper reported on Thursday.
The 56-year-old man, who is an employee of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, is under investigation in Jazan province, south-west of the kingdom, according to the Saudi daily al-Watan.
The Commission is in charge of enforcing the strict Wahabi version of the Islamic sharia law.
The man denied the charges and said he had divorced two spouses, and was only keeping four wives, which is allowed under sharia.
The sixth wife, who was arrested along with her husband, said she was not aware that he had five other wives.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Voice of India 2007 winner Ishmeet dies in Maldives
IANS
TimePublished on Tue, Jul 29, 2008 at 20:56, Updated at Tue, Jul 29, 2008 in Entertainment section
Ludhiana: Voice of India singing contest winner Ishmeet Singh Tuesday died under mysterious circumstances by drowning in a swimming pool in Male, the capital of the Maldives.
The 19-year-old singer hailing from a middle-class of this industrial city of Punjab had gone to Maldives for a promotional event with the music company with which he had a contract.
Relatives at his residence here said the family was informed telephonically by the music company officials that Ishmeet died while swimming in a hotel pool in the Maldives.
"We are too shocked to react. We have no other information so far," a shocked relative said here while confirming the tragic news.
Relatives, friends and admirers of the singer made a beeline to his house even as his shocked parents tried to come to terms with the untimely tragedy. A pall of gloom descended on the locality.
The singer left here Tuesday morning for Maldives from Mumbai.
Ishmeet had November 26 last year won the Voice of India singing contest, pipping his closest rival Harshit from Uttar Pradesh in a keen contest. He was given the winner's trophy by melody queen Lata Mangeshkar.
Supporters of the singer voted heavily for him from Punjab during the finals of the contest. Even though Harshit led the votes tally in most regions of the country, the final count went in Ishmeet's favour due to heavy voting from Punjab.
"He was like a brother to me. I cannot even comment on what has happened. I cannot believe that he is no longer with us," fellow contestant Harshit told a TV news channel.
TimePublished on Tue, Jul 29, 2008 at 20:56, Updated at Tue, Jul 29, 2008 in Entertainment section
Ludhiana: Voice of India singing contest winner Ishmeet Singh Tuesday died under mysterious circumstances by drowning in a swimming pool in Male, the capital of the Maldives.
The 19-year-old singer hailing from a middle-class of this industrial city of Punjab had gone to Maldives for a promotional event with the music company with which he had a contract.
Relatives at his residence here said the family was informed telephonically by the music company officials that Ishmeet died while swimming in a hotel pool in the Maldives.
"We are too shocked to react. We have no other information so far," a shocked relative said here while confirming the tragic news.
Relatives, friends and admirers of the singer made a beeline to his house even as his shocked parents tried to come to terms with the untimely tragedy. A pall of gloom descended on the locality.
The singer left here Tuesday morning for Maldives from Mumbai.
Ishmeet had November 26 last year won the Voice of India singing contest, pipping his closest rival Harshit from Uttar Pradesh in a keen contest. He was given the winner's trophy by melody queen Lata Mangeshkar.
Supporters of the singer voted heavily for him from Punjab during the finals of the contest. Even though Harshit led the votes tally in most regions of the country, the final count went in Ishmeet's favour due to heavy voting from Punjab.
"He was like a brother to me. I cannot even comment on what has happened. I cannot believe that he is no longer with us," fellow contestant Harshit told a TV news channel.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Energy Drinks Lead To Aggressive Behaviour In Teens
by Jaspreet Kaur
Published on July 27, 2008 - 0 comments
Energy Drinks Lead To Aggressive Behaviour In Teens
If the aggressive behaviour of your teenage child is irking you, then watch out for his/her intake of energy drinks. According to a latest study, energy drinks are actually promoting substance abuse and risk-taking behaviour amongst college-goers.
RIA Research Scientist Kathleen E Miller, PhD, led two studies which tried to establish a connection between energy drinks and public health concerns like substance abuse and risky behaviour. The researchers found out that energy drinks typically contain triple the amount of caffeine found in soft drinks, and in some cases, up to ten times as much.
The study was done by collecting data involving 795 Western New York male and female undergraduate students. It was observed that frequent energy drink consumers were approximately three times more likely to have smoked cigarettes, abused prescription drugs and been in a serious physical fight than less-frequent energy drink consumers or non-consumers.
Miller said, “Energy drink consumption is correlated with substance abuse, unsafe sexual activity and several other forms of risk-taking.” She further added, “For parents and college officials, frequent energy drink consumption may be a red flag or warning sign for identifying a young person at higher risk for health compromising behaviour.”
In the second study, Miller looked at energy drink consumption and an excessive concern for machismo. Some people are not happy just being athletes. They link sports with hyper-masculinity and a willingness to take excessive risks. This is termed as “toxic jock identity”.
The study, whose first set of results have been published online in the ‘Journal of Adolescent Health’ and the second in March/April issue of ‘Journal of American College Health’, showed that undergraduates who consumed energy drinks more often were also more likely to develop a jock identity and engage in risk-taking behaviours.
Published on July 27, 2008 - 0 comments
Energy Drinks Lead To Aggressive Behaviour In Teens
If the aggressive behaviour of your teenage child is irking you, then watch out for his/her intake of energy drinks. According to a latest study, energy drinks are actually promoting substance abuse and risk-taking behaviour amongst college-goers.
RIA Research Scientist Kathleen E Miller, PhD, led two studies which tried to establish a connection between energy drinks and public health concerns like substance abuse and risky behaviour. The researchers found out that energy drinks typically contain triple the amount of caffeine found in soft drinks, and in some cases, up to ten times as much.
The study was done by collecting data involving 795 Western New York male and female undergraduate students. It was observed that frequent energy drink consumers were approximately three times more likely to have smoked cigarettes, abused prescription drugs and been in a serious physical fight than less-frequent energy drink consumers or non-consumers.
Miller said, “Energy drink consumption is correlated with substance abuse, unsafe sexual activity and several other forms of risk-taking.” She further added, “For parents and college officials, frequent energy drink consumption may be a red flag or warning sign for identifying a young person at higher risk for health compromising behaviour.”
In the second study, Miller looked at energy drink consumption and an excessive concern for machismo. Some people are not happy just being athletes. They link sports with hyper-masculinity and a willingness to take excessive risks. This is termed as “toxic jock identity”.
The study, whose first set of results have been published online in the ‘Journal of Adolescent Health’ and the second in March/April issue of ‘Journal of American College Health’, showed that undergraduates who consumed energy drinks more often were also more likely to develop a jock identity and engage in risk-taking behaviours.
Indian Mujahideen a cover for international groups
VK Shashikumar / CNN-IBN
COVERING UP? Experts say Indian Mujahideen is a cover to deflect attention from internation terrror outfits.
New Delhi: November 23, 2007: Serial blasts in Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow killed 13 people. A mail was sent from the email ID guru_alhindi@yahoo.fr indicating the involvement of an unknown terror group called the Indian Mujhaideen. The email was sent to a private news channel just minutes before the blast.
May 8, 2008: Serial bombing in Jaipur City killed 63 people. A day after, an email was recieved from guru_alhindi_jaipur@yahoo.co.uk which too pointed to the involvement of Indian Mujhaideen.
July 26, 2008: 18 serial blasts in Ahmedabad killed 46 people and once again, a familiar name is doing the rounds through an email sent minutes before the blasts from the email ID, alarbi_gujarat@yahoo.com.
The Indian Mujhaideen has also claimed responsiblity for the Ahmedabad blasts, but is it a real organisation or just a name being used to deflect attention from internation terrror outfits?
Union Home Minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal says, "The idea is to disturb peace. The name of Indian Mujhaideen has cropped up earlier too, but it's just a cover organisation."
Intelligence officials say that the Indian Mujhaideen is just a front to deflect attention from international terror groups as well as an effort to show that terrorism in India is now home grown and localised.
Former RAW Official Colonel RSN Singh says, "Be it HUJI, or the HUm or the Indian Mujhaideen, they are all the same. There is a lot of coordination between them and they work with the help of local people."
According to intelligence sources different sleeper cells are doing different tasks. One purchases materials required in making explosives, while the other manufactures the bombs and a third group is involved in doing a recce of the location and placing the bombs in pre-determined locations.
Intelligence sources have informed CNN-IBN that the 408 Detachment of ISI based in Karachi - which oversees terror operations in Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat - is behind the floating of Indian Mujhaideen.
So, while local terror agents did the job, the planning and nerve control may have happened from the 408 Detachment of ISI in Karachi.
Read Comment | Post Comment
Related Headlines
powe
COVERING UP? Experts say Indian Mujahideen is a cover to deflect attention from internation terrror outfits.
New Delhi: November 23, 2007: Serial blasts in Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow killed 13 people. A mail was sent from the email ID guru_alhindi@yahoo.fr indicating the involvement of an unknown terror group called the Indian Mujhaideen. The email was sent to a private news channel just minutes before the blast.
May 8, 2008: Serial bombing in Jaipur City killed 63 people. A day after, an email was recieved from guru_alhindi_jaipur@yahoo.co.uk which too pointed to the involvement of Indian Mujhaideen.
July 26, 2008: 18 serial blasts in Ahmedabad killed 46 people and once again, a familiar name is doing the rounds through an email sent minutes before the blasts from the email ID, alarbi_gujarat@yahoo.com.
The Indian Mujhaideen has also claimed responsiblity for the Ahmedabad blasts, but is it a real organisation or just a name being used to deflect attention from internation terrror outfits?
Union Home Minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal says, "The idea is to disturb peace. The name of Indian Mujhaideen has cropped up earlier too, but it's just a cover organisation."
Intelligence officials say that the Indian Mujhaideen is just a front to deflect attention from international terror groups as well as an effort to show that terrorism in India is now home grown and localised.
Former RAW Official Colonel RSN Singh says, "Be it HUJI, or the HUm or the Indian Mujhaideen, they are all the same. There is a lot of coordination between them and they work with the help of local people."
According to intelligence sources different sleeper cells are doing different tasks. One purchases materials required in making explosives, while the other manufactures the bombs and a third group is involved in doing a recce of the location and placing the bombs in pre-determined locations.
Intelligence sources have informed CNN-IBN that the 408 Detachment of ISI based in Karachi - which oversees terror operations in Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat - is behind the floating of Indian Mujhaideen.
So, while local terror agents did the job, the planning and nerve control may have happened from the 408 Detachment of ISI in Karachi.
Read Comment | Post Comment
Related Headlines
powe
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Experts see Wahabis in garb of Indian Mujahideen
MUMBAI: The intelligence community believes the serial blasts of Bangalore and Ahmedabad were executed by a network of Wahabi fundamentalists masquerading as Indian Mujahideen.
This terror network started by organizing blasts at holy places of rival Barelvi Muslims like the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, Rajasthan. Over the past five years the Wahabis, who are heavily funded by religious puritans in Saudi Arabia, have been conducting a high-intensity propaganda war within the Muslim community against so-called un-Islamic practices.
Thousands of publications have been brought out by them to convince Muslims to follow the path of "true Islam". Members of several front organizations also visit homes to convince people to abandon "non-Islamic rituals".
Sources said predictably these activities have been vehemently opposed by the Barelvis who also brought out publications countering the Wahabi ideology, which is believed to provide a theological justification for terror.
A Barelvi publication titled ‘Gair Mokallidon ke Akeede’ quotes chapter and verse from Wahabi publications, which are against Islam. In Mumbai maulanas like Saeed Noori have been in the forefront of the campaign to counter Wahabism.
The proverbial last straw was the blast at Ajmer sharif. It provoked widespread reaction among the Barelvis against Wahabi fanaticism, which had backed the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), police sources said.
"Fearing their isolation, the Wahabi elements are now trying to project themselves as people fighting against injustice to Muslims as a whole. The decision to organize serial blasts in Ahmedabad, including four in Narendra Modi’s constituency, was clearly aimed at getting the sympathy of the Muslim masses," a senior intelligence official observed.
"There is a big vacuum in Muslim leadership and the Wahabis are planning to fill the gap with their violent deeds, he added. However, a majority of Muslims have condemned the blasts and they say that a "big injustice" is being done to the community by those sponsoring such terror strikes.
National secretary of the Nationalist Congress Party and noted advocate Majeed Memon said: "The blasts can have no place in Islam. But if the Indian Mujahideens have any grievance then it should appoint a committee to have a dialogue with the government.
Meanwhile, the Intelligence Bureau is reported to be close on the heels of the mastermind behind the blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad. The bureau is convinced that Indian Mujahideen has been trained by the ISI, which was why the blasts could be executed with professional precision.
It is feared that the next targets could be in Maharashtra where the police force is at its demoralised worst.
This terror network started by organizing blasts at holy places of rival Barelvi Muslims like the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, Rajasthan. Over the past five years the Wahabis, who are heavily funded by religious puritans in Saudi Arabia, have been conducting a high-intensity propaganda war within the Muslim community against so-called un-Islamic practices.
Thousands of publications have been brought out by them to convince Muslims to follow the path of "true Islam". Members of several front organizations also visit homes to convince people to abandon "non-Islamic rituals".
Sources said predictably these activities have been vehemently opposed by the Barelvis who also brought out publications countering the Wahabi ideology, which is believed to provide a theological justification for terror.
A Barelvi publication titled ‘Gair Mokallidon ke Akeede’ quotes chapter and verse from Wahabi publications, which are against Islam. In Mumbai maulanas like Saeed Noori have been in the forefront of the campaign to counter Wahabism.
The proverbial last straw was the blast at Ajmer sharif. It provoked widespread reaction among the Barelvis against Wahabi fanaticism, which had backed the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), police sources said.
"Fearing their isolation, the Wahabi elements are now trying to project themselves as people fighting against injustice to Muslims as a whole. The decision to organize serial blasts in Ahmedabad, including four in Narendra Modi’s constituency, was clearly aimed at getting the sympathy of the Muslim masses," a senior intelligence official observed.
"There is a big vacuum in Muslim leadership and the Wahabis are planning to fill the gap with their violent deeds, he added. However, a majority of Muslims have condemned the blasts and they say that a "big injustice" is being done to the community by those sponsoring such terror strikes.
National secretary of the Nationalist Congress Party and noted advocate Majeed Memon said: "The blasts can have no place in Islam. But if the Indian Mujahideens have any grievance then it should appoint a committee to have a dialogue with the government.
Meanwhile, the Intelligence Bureau is reported to be close on the heels of the mastermind behind the blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad. The bureau is convinced that Indian Mujahideen has been trained by the ISI, which was why the blasts could be executed with professional precision.
It is feared that the next targets could be in Maharashtra where the police force is at its demoralised worst.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Meditation slows AIDS progression
WASHINGTON: Meditation may slow the worsening of AIDS in just a few weeks, perhaps by affecting the immune system, US researchers reported.
If the findings are borne out in larger studies, it could offer a cheap and pleasant way to help people battle the incurable and often fatal condition, the team at the University of California Los Angeles said on Thursday.
They tested a stress-lowering program called mindfulness meditation, defined as practicing an open and receptive awareness of the present moment, avoiding thinking of the past or worrying about the future. The more often the volunteers meditated, the higher their CD4 T-cell counts - a standard measure of how well the immune system is fighting the AIDS virus. The CD4 counts were measured before and after the two-month programme.
"This study provides the first indication that mindfulness meditation stress-management training can have a direct impact on slowing HIV disease progression," said David Creswell, who led the study.
His team tested 67 HIV-positive adults from the Los Angeles area, 48 of whom did some or all of the meditation. Most were likely to have highly stressful lives, Creswell said.
"The average participant in the study was male, African American, homosexual, unemployed and not on ARV (antiretroviral) medication," they wrote in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
The meditation classes included eight weekly two-hour sessions, a day-long retreat and daily home practice. "The people that were in this class really responded and just really enjoyed the program," Creswell said.
"The mindfulness program is a group-based and low-cost treatment, and if this initial finding is replicated in larger samples, it’s possible that such training can be used as a powerful complementary treatment for HIV disease, alongside medications," he added.
He said it was unclear how the stress-reducing effects of meditation work. It may directly boost CD4 T-cell levels, or suppress the virus, he said.
If the findings are borne out in larger studies, it could offer a cheap and pleasant way to help people battle the incurable and often fatal condition, the team at the University of California Los Angeles said on Thursday.
They tested a stress-lowering program called mindfulness meditation, defined as practicing an open and receptive awareness of the present moment, avoiding thinking of the past or worrying about the future. The more often the volunteers meditated, the higher their CD4 T-cell counts - a standard measure of how well the immune system is fighting the AIDS virus. The CD4 counts were measured before and after the two-month programme.
"This study provides the first indication that mindfulness meditation stress-management training can have a direct impact on slowing HIV disease progression," said David Creswell, who led the study.
His team tested 67 HIV-positive adults from the Los Angeles area, 48 of whom did some or all of the meditation. Most were likely to have highly stressful lives, Creswell said.
"The average participant in the study was male, African American, homosexual, unemployed and not on ARV (antiretroviral) medication," they wrote in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
The meditation classes included eight weekly two-hour sessions, a day-long retreat and daily home practice. "The people that were in this class really responded and just really enjoyed the program," Creswell said.
"The mindfulness program is a group-based and low-cost treatment, and if this initial finding is replicated in larger samples, it’s possible that such training can be used as a powerful complementary treatment for HIV disease, alongside medications," he added.
He said it was unclear how the stress-reducing effects of meditation work. It may directly boost CD4 T-cell levels, or suppress the virus, he said.
Udupi: Rama never demolished Sethu: Pejawar seer
Udupi July 27: Pejawar Pontiff Sri Vishveshatheertha alleged that the latest misconception of the epic Ramayana as interpreted by the Central Governments Counsel Pali Nariman in the Supreme Court is an absurd and skillful deception of the scripture.
Speaking to the media prior to his journey to Mumbai to perform Chaturmasa, the Seer said that Lord Rama has nowhere suggested the demolition of Ram sethu as argued by the Counsel. The sacred epic Ramayana clearly indicates that Lord Rama has ordered for three divisions in the ritualistic maintenance and conservation of the Sethu and that this has been further testified in Skanda Purana as well as Sethu Yatra, Sethu Darshan and Sethu Pooja, the three cardinal rituals suggested by the Lord himself, he added.
The Seer also lauded the Supreme Court order for exploring alternative alignment of Ram Sethu and the Sethusamuudram project.
He also alleged that one of the testimonial historical bequests Hampi is now housing illegal activities threatening the sanctity and security of the place and urged the State government to seize an action plan to preserve the affluence of the land. The Seer threatened to take up agitation if the government failed to do so.
The Seer informed he would support the cause against SEZ and coal based Nagarjuna thermal power project and added that if the proposed nuclear deal causes no harm to the sovereignty and the development of the nation, it is healthier for UPA government to go ahead with the deal. He also expressed his inadequate knowledge regarding the issue and declined to comment on MP Manorama Madhvarajs decision to abstain from the confidence motion.
DHNS
Speaking to the media prior to his journey to Mumbai to perform Chaturmasa, the Seer said that Lord Rama has nowhere suggested the demolition of Ram sethu as argued by the Counsel. The sacred epic Ramayana clearly indicates that Lord Rama has ordered for three divisions in the ritualistic maintenance and conservation of the Sethu and that this has been further testified in Skanda Purana as well as Sethu Yatra, Sethu Darshan and Sethu Pooja, the three cardinal rituals suggested by the Lord himself, he added.
The Seer also lauded the Supreme Court order for exploring alternative alignment of Ram Sethu and the Sethusamuudram project.
He also alleged that one of the testimonial historical bequests Hampi is now housing illegal activities threatening the sanctity and security of the place and urged the State government to seize an action plan to preserve the affluence of the land. The Seer threatened to take up agitation if the government failed to do so.
The Seer informed he would support the cause against SEZ and coal based Nagarjuna thermal power project and added that if the proposed nuclear deal causes no harm to the sovereignty and the development of the nation, it is healthier for UPA government to go ahead with the deal. He also expressed his inadequate knowledge regarding the issue and declined to comment on MP Manorama Madhvarajs decision to abstain from the confidence motion.
DHNS
‘Indian Mujahideen’ claims responsibility
Praveen Swami
Reprisal for 2002 riots, say suspected SIMI-Lashkar front organisations
NEW DELHI: In a 14-page manifesto e-mailed to the media minutes before Saturday’s serial bombings, an organisation calling itself the “Indian Mujahideen” has claimed responsibility for the Ahmedabad attacks.
Titled “The Rise of Jihad”, the manifesto says the bombings were carried out to avenge the 2002 anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat. “In the light of the injustice and wrongs on the Muslims of Gujarat,” it says, “we advance our jihad and call all our brethren under it to unite and answer these irresolute kafireen [infidels] of India.”
It warns of future attacks, complaining that the police “disturbed us by arresting, imprisoning, and torturing our brothers in the name of SIMI [Students Islamic Movement of India].”
In a similar document sent minutes before May’s serial bomb strikes in Jaipur, the IM had said such bombings were intended “to clearly give our message to Kuffar-e-Hind [the infidels of India] that if Islam and Muslims in this country are not safe then the light of your safety will also go off very soon.”
Near-identical language had been earlier used by the IM in a document e-mailed to television stations minutes before the bombing of three trial-court buildings in Uttar Pradesh last year. In its e-mail, the IM said it was retaliating against “wounds given by the idol worshipers of India.”
Investigators belive the IM is a loose coalition of elements from the Students Islamic Movement of India, the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Harkat ul-Jihad-e-Islami.
Police were able to determine that the explosive used in the Uttar Pradesh bombings was supplied by a Jammu and Kashmir-based Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami unit. Jaunpur-based SIMI activist Mohammad Khalid Mujahid and Azamgarh Unani doctor Mohammad Tariq were held for their alleged role in planning two of the three court bombings, However, the members of the third cell, who are also thought to have sent out the e-mail, remain untraced.
While military-grade plastic explosive was used in Jaipur and Uttar Pradesh, the bombs used in Ahmedabad appear to have been constructed with ammonium nitrate, a widely-available chemical with a range of industrial applications. Police sources said the bombs resembled the devices used in Bangalore on Friday.
Reprisal for 2002 riots, say suspected SIMI-Lashkar front organisations
NEW DELHI: In a 14-page manifesto e-mailed to the media minutes before Saturday’s serial bombings, an organisation calling itself the “Indian Mujahideen” has claimed responsibility for the Ahmedabad attacks.
Titled “The Rise of Jihad”, the manifesto says the bombings were carried out to avenge the 2002 anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat. “In the light of the injustice and wrongs on the Muslims of Gujarat,” it says, “we advance our jihad and call all our brethren under it to unite and answer these irresolute kafireen [infidels] of India.”
It warns of future attacks, complaining that the police “disturbed us by arresting, imprisoning, and torturing our brothers in the name of SIMI [Students Islamic Movement of India].”
In a similar document sent minutes before May’s serial bomb strikes in Jaipur, the IM had said such bombings were intended “to clearly give our message to Kuffar-e-Hind [the infidels of India] that if Islam and Muslims in this country are not safe then the light of your safety will also go off very soon.”
Near-identical language had been earlier used by the IM in a document e-mailed to television stations minutes before the bombing of three trial-court buildings in Uttar Pradesh last year. In its e-mail, the IM said it was retaliating against “wounds given by the idol worshipers of India.”
Investigators belive the IM is a loose coalition of elements from the Students Islamic Movement of India, the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Harkat ul-Jihad-e-Islami.
Police were able to determine that the explosive used in the Uttar Pradesh bombings was supplied by a Jammu and Kashmir-based Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami unit. Jaunpur-based SIMI activist Mohammad Khalid Mujahid and Azamgarh Unani doctor Mohammad Tariq were held for their alleged role in planning two of the three court bombings, However, the members of the third cell, who are also thought to have sent out the e-mail, remain untraced.
While military-grade plastic explosive was used in Jaipur and Uttar Pradesh, the bombs used in Ahmedabad appear to have been constructed with ammonium nitrate, a widely-available chemical with a range of industrial applications. Police sources said the bombs resembled the devices used in Bangalore on Friday.
Ill-fitting bra can harm your breasts
New Delhi, Sat, 26 Jul 2008 Shivani Gupta
An ill-fitting bra can prove harmful for your breasts leading to many serious problems like discomfort and pain in breasts, pensive psychological effect, body pain (i.e. Neck, back and shoulder pain) and even breast cancer in the later stages of life.
Researchers from the University of Portsmouth, England have emphasisingly stated that many women across the world, who are either ignorant of their true bust size or are embarrassed to wear the right one, damage their breasts in the process.
The report published on the website of the University of Portsmouth, stated that wearing the wrong size bra can irreparably stretch fragile ligaments and damage the breasts. Over 50 bra designs were tested over 100 women for almost three years by the researchers lead by Dr Joanna Scurr.
It was found through a treadmill test that breasts move up to 21 cm during exercise, and they move not only up and down but also from side to side, yet most bras are designed in a way that they only allow vertical movement.
One of the researchers, Wendy Hedger, said that many women have strong preferences for certain styles of bra and won't buy anything else. They won't even look at anything that doesn't look like the sort of bra they are used to wearing.
It’s amusing to know the philosophy of women who adhere to sports bra only. They believe that a perfect and in fact a real sports bra is the one which they can wear like a crop top, i.e. that doesn't fastens at the back.
However, Hedger proved it wrong by stating that many sports bras fasten at the back like a traditional bra, and they are very good at supporting the breasts.
There appears to be a certain social stigma regarding certain size bras which leads the ladies to buy a bra that is not comfortable and cause them breast pain.
Many women delude themselves by buying a normal size bra as they don't want to be seen as too small or too big and buy a bra that doesn't fit well in order to be what they consider to be a normal size.
Some women continue wearing the same sized bras for years irrespective of the fact that their bodies may undergo certain changes in shape and size, especially after delivery during breastfeeding and menopause.
An ill-fitting bra can prove harmful for your breasts leading to many serious problems like discomfort and pain in breasts, pensive psychological effect, body pain (i.e. Neck, back and shoulder pain) and even breast cancer in the later stages of life.
Researchers from the University of Portsmouth, England have emphasisingly stated that many women across the world, who are either ignorant of their true bust size or are embarrassed to wear the right one, damage their breasts in the process.
The report published on the website of the University of Portsmouth, stated that wearing the wrong size bra can irreparably stretch fragile ligaments and damage the breasts. Over 50 bra designs were tested over 100 women for almost three years by the researchers lead by Dr Joanna Scurr.
It was found through a treadmill test that breasts move up to 21 cm during exercise, and they move not only up and down but also from side to side, yet most bras are designed in a way that they only allow vertical movement.
One of the researchers, Wendy Hedger, said that many women have strong preferences for certain styles of bra and won't buy anything else. They won't even look at anything that doesn't look like the sort of bra they are used to wearing.
It’s amusing to know the philosophy of women who adhere to sports bra only. They believe that a perfect and in fact a real sports bra is the one which they can wear like a crop top, i.e. that doesn't fastens at the back.
However, Hedger proved it wrong by stating that many sports bras fasten at the back like a traditional bra, and they are very good at supporting the breasts.
There appears to be a certain social stigma regarding certain size bras which leads the ladies to buy a bra that is not comfortable and cause them breast pain.
Many women delude themselves by buying a normal size bra as they don't want to be seen as too small or too big and buy a bra that doesn't fit well in order to be what they consider to be a normal size.
Some women continue wearing the same sized bras for years irrespective of the fact that their bodies may undergo certain changes in shape and size, especially after delivery during breastfeeding and menopause.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Having Fat Friends May Make You Fat as Well: Study
Written by Sapna Mhatre
Friday, 25 July 2008
FRIDAY, July 25, (News Locale) - The adage "You are known by the company you keep" seems to apply to obesity and overweight as well. Researchers have found that people who have fat friends are more likely to put ion some unwanted pounds as compared to people who have leaner friends.
The study by researchers from the University of Warwick, Dartmouth College, and the University of Leuven analyzed data on 27,000 people from across Europe. The findings suggest if you have overweight friends it is acceptable if you are fat as well.
"Rising obesity needs to be thought of as a sociological phenomenon not a physiological one," said co-researcher Professor Andrew Oswald at the University of Warwick.
The researchers feel people are subconsciously influenced by the weight of people around them. In what they called "imitative obesity," the researchers said hefty people tended to have heavier friends as compared to people having normal weight.
The findings of this international study are due to be presented at the National Bureau of Economic Research conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Obesity is a dangerous condition which is linked to the so-called lifestyle diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, heart disease, poor self-esteem, and a lower health-related quality of life.
Sedentary lifestyle practices coupled with a shift in diet to junk foods are the main reason behind this explosion of overweight or obese populations. The World Health Organization has declared obesity as a global epidemic having major health implications in 1997. It estimated that some 2 billion people worldwide are obese or overweight.
If the above study is true, then consumers may derive some benefit by keeping company with slim friends!
Friday, 25 July 2008
FRIDAY, July 25, (News Locale) - The adage "You are known by the company you keep" seems to apply to obesity and overweight as well. Researchers have found that people who have fat friends are more likely to put ion some unwanted pounds as compared to people who have leaner friends.
The study by researchers from the University of Warwick, Dartmouth College, and the University of Leuven analyzed data on 27,000 people from across Europe. The findings suggest if you have overweight friends it is acceptable if you are fat as well.
"Rising obesity needs to be thought of as a sociological phenomenon not a physiological one," said co-researcher Professor Andrew Oswald at the University of Warwick.
The researchers feel people are subconsciously influenced by the weight of people around them. In what they called "imitative obesity," the researchers said hefty people tended to have heavier friends as compared to people having normal weight.
The findings of this international study are due to be presented at the National Bureau of Economic Research conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Obesity is a dangerous condition which is linked to the so-called lifestyle diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, heart disease, poor self-esteem, and a lower health-related quality of life.
Sedentary lifestyle practices coupled with a shift in diet to junk foods are the main reason behind this explosion of overweight or obese populations. The World Health Organization has declared obesity as a global epidemic having major health implications in 1997. It estimated that some 2 billion people worldwide are obese or overweight.
If the above study is true, then consumers may derive some benefit by keeping company with slim friends!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Why India Will Beat China
An entrenched and vibrant democracy will ultimately drive India to outperform China socially and economically
by William Nobrega
Authoritarian regimes often yield impressive short-term economic results, as seen in Germany in the 1930s, the Soviet Union in the 1950s, Brazil in the 1960s, and China in the 1990s. Unencumbered by such things as property rights, legal recourse, and public debate, the authoritarian regime can harness significant economic and political resources to create impressive industrial and economic feats.
Conversely, democratic regimes tend to be sloppy affairs with loud public discourse, a vocal press, stubborn land owners, and a myriad of civil liberties. Far from being able to harness economic resources, the government often must act more as a regulator. The result is that there are very few grandiose government-sponsored projects. Instead, there are countless private-sector initiatives driven by the invisible hand of the market. While the authoritarian regime is envied by some, the fact is that longer term, this type of socioeconomic model has typically led to economic and social distortions.
That is the dilemma that China faces today. Since the 1980s, the Chinese government has focused on developing an export-driven economy supported by an artificially undervalued currency. Foreign direct investment was encouraged while domestic consumption was limited. Massive infrastructure projects were initiated, fueled by a growing trade surplus, with cities sprouting up in the hinterlands like some mythical phoenix. For years, the Chinese economy benefited from these policies with double-digit gross domestic product growth, vast foreign currency reserves, and ever increasing capital inflows.
Inflation Could Spark Social Unrest
But now the economic and social distortions have begun to appear with rising inflation rates, numerous asset bubbles, looming overcapacity, and rampant institutionalized corruption. The Chinese government finds itself in a quandary. If the government allows its currency to rapidly appreciate to reduce inflation it will drive down exports and fuel unemployment. If it fails to quell inflation, social unrest will quickly unfold.
But even if the hare is running into obstacles of its own design, how will it give India the competitive edge? The advantage comes in the form of an entrenched and vibrant democracy that will ultimately drive India to outperform China socially and economically. Messy, frustrating, and more often than not agonizingly slow, India's democracy would seem to be chaotic at the surface. But if you look deeper you will quickly see why the tortoise will win this race. Let's take a look at two of the major advantages that India's democracy provides:
• Property Rights: As India becomes urbanized many families will choose to sell or borrow against their land so that they can start businesses, buy apartments, or provide education opportunities for their children. India is at the beginning of a gradual migration that is being driven by the development of high-end manufacturing and other sunrise industries that will require a vast pool of semiskilled and skilled labor. This migration will create an increasingly urban India that is expected to attract more than 200 million rural inhabitants to urban centers by 2025, primarily in what are known as secondary or "B & C" cities.
This transition will facilitate the sale of land holdings by an estimated 30 million farmers and 170 million other individuals indirectly tied to the agricultural sector. The sale of these holdings is expected to generate more than $1 trillion in capital by 2025. This capital will have a multiplier effect on the Indian economy that could exceed $3 trillion. The development of the mortgage-backed security and asset-backed security markets, driven by financial institutions like Citigroup (C), will create the liquidity required to free up this capital.
by William Nobrega
Authoritarian regimes often yield impressive short-term economic results, as seen in Germany in the 1930s, the Soviet Union in the 1950s, Brazil in the 1960s, and China in the 1990s. Unencumbered by such things as property rights, legal recourse, and public debate, the authoritarian regime can harness significant economic and political resources to create impressive industrial and economic feats.
Conversely, democratic regimes tend to be sloppy affairs with loud public discourse, a vocal press, stubborn land owners, and a myriad of civil liberties. Far from being able to harness economic resources, the government often must act more as a regulator. The result is that there are very few grandiose government-sponsored projects. Instead, there are countless private-sector initiatives driven by the invisible hand of the market. While the authoritarian regime is envied by some, the fact is that longer term, this type of socioeconomic model has typically led to economic and social distortions.
That is the dilemma that China faces today. Since the 1980s, the Chinese government has focused on developing an export-driven economy supported by an artificially undervalued currency. Foreign direct investment was encouraged while domestic consumption was limited. Massive infrastructure projects were initiated, fueled by a growing trade surplus, with cities sprouting up in the hinterlands like some mythical phoenix. For years, the Chinese economy benefited from these policies with double-digit gross domestic product growth, vast foreign currency reserves, and ever increasing capital inflows.
Inflation Could Spark Social Unrest
But now the economic and social distortions have begun to appear with rising inflation rates, numerous asset bubbles, looming overcapacity, and rampant institutionalized corruption. The Chinese government finds itself in a quandary. If the government allows its currency to rapidly appreciate to reduce inflation it will drive down exports and fuel unemployment. If it fails to quell inflation, social unrest will quickly unfold.
But even if the hare is running into obstacles of its own design, how will it give India the competitive edge? The advantage comes in the form of an entrenched and vibrant democracy that will ultimately drive India to outperform China socially and economically. Messy, frustrating, and more often than not agonizingly slow, India's democracy would seem to be chaotic at the surface. But if you look deeper you will quickly see why the tortoise will win this race. Let's take a look at two of the major advantages that India's democracy provides:
• Property Rights: As India becomes urbanized many families will choose to sell or borrow against their land so that they can start businesses, buy apartments, or provide education opportunities for their children. India is at the beginning of a gradual migration that is being driven by the development of high-end manufacturing and other sunrise industries that will require a vast pool of semiskilled and skilled labor. This migration will create an increasingly urban India that is expected to attract more than 200 million rural inhabitants to urban centers by 2025, primarily in what are known as secondary or "B & C" cities.
This transition will facilitate the sale of land holdings by an estimated 30 million farmers and 170 million other individuals indirectly tied to the agricultural sector. The sale of these holdings is expected to generate more than $1 trillion in capital by 2025. This capital will have a multiplier effect on the Indian economy that could exceed $3 trillion. The development of the mortgage-backed security and asset-backed security markets, driven by financial institutions like Citigroup (C), will create the liquidity required to free up this capital.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Lord Rama destroyed the bridge, Centre tells SC
New Delhi, July 23: The Supreme Court favoured exploring the possibility of scientifically and ‘politically’ viable solution to the controversial Sethusamudram project but the Centre questioned the religious grounds being raked up to block the venture.
Attacking the opponents of the project for raising matters of religion and faith to opapose it, senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for the Centre, said those who have relied on scriptures of faith in their attempt to block the venture should also consider other aspects of faith.
He referred to Kamba Ramayana and Padma Purana to draw a point that Lord Rama himself had destroyed the Rama Sethu so that nobody should come from Lanka.
"Lord Rama destroyed the bridge and details are there in the scriptures. You cannot worship something which has been destroyed," Nariman asserted before a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan.
The senior advocate, who was countering the arguments of anti-project petitioners, said that destruction of Rama Sethu would affect the faith of people, said, "we are not destroying any bridge. Everything on the project is being done with great circumspection."
"If we have gone wrong we will correct it. The idea is to go ahead with the project. We have to see there is no violation of law," the noted jurist said.
Though the Bench clarified that at the moment it was averse to entering into any debate whether Rama Sethu or Adams Bridge was man-made or not, Nariman said, "if you are going to rely on faith, go into other aspects of the faith also."
Nariman said that those who for centuries and years never bothered to declare Rama Sethu as monument of archaeological importance should know that according to Kamba Ramayana Lord Rama took a bow and broke the bridge and divided it into three parts.
"We are concerned that it was not a man-made structure but it was a superman-made structure which was destroyed by Lord Rama," he said before the Bench, also comprising Justices R V Raveendran and J M Panchal.
The senior advocate said the controversial affidavits questioning the existence of Ramayana and Ram Sethu as man-made structure was withdrawn under extraneous circumstances.
Before Nariman had entered into the issue of destruction of the bridge by Lord Rama, the Bench wanted that the Centre should explore the possibility of accommodating faith with environment concern to arrive at a balanced solution.
"A scientifically, technically and politically feasible alternate alignment can be considered", the Bench said adding that the economic aspects should also be kept in mind as dredging activity was a continuous process.
Nariman, who replied in positive to the Bench's remarks that issue of faith has to be accommodated in going ahead with the project, however, was not in agreement with the opponents that alignment number 4 (from Rameswaram to Dhanushkodi) was a viable alternative.
"The suggestion to go for alignment 4 is a self-defeating argument. Alignment number 4 has been suggested as an alternative. If it will be so, there will be no way to go to worship near alignment number 6 (Rama Sethu)," he said.
Attacking the opponents of the project for raising matters of religion and faith to opapose it, senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for the Centre, said those who have relied on scriptures of faith in their attempt to block the venture should also consider other aspects of faith.
He referred to Kamba Ramayana and Padma Purana to draw a point that Lord Rama himself had destroyed the Rama Sethu so that nobody should come from Lanka.
"Lord Rama destroyed the bridge and details are there in the scriptures. You cannot worship something which has been destroyed," Nariman asserted before a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan.
The senior advocate, who was countering the arguments of anti-project petitioners, said that destruction of Rama Sethu would affect the faith of people, said, "we are not destroying any bridge. Everything on the project is being done with great circumspection."
"If we have gone wrong we will correct it. The idea is to go ahead with the project. We have to see there is no violation of law," the noted jurist said.
Though the Bench clarified that at the moment it was averse to entering into any debate whether Rama Sethu or Adams Bridge was man-made or not, Nariman said, "if you are going to rely on faith, go into other aspects of the faith also."
Nariman said that those who for centuries and years never bothered to declare Rama Sethu as monument of archaeological importance should know that according to Kamba Ramayana Lord Rama took a bow and broke the bridge and divided it into three parts.
"We are concerned that it was not a man-made structure but it was a superman-made structure which was destroyed by Lord Rama," he said before the Bench, also comprising Justices R V Raveendran and J M Panchal.
The senior advocate said the controversial affidavits questioning the existence of Ramayana and Ram Sethu as man-made structure was withdrawn under extraneous circumstances.
Before Nariman had entered into the issue of destruction of the bridge by Lord Rama, the Bench wanted that the Centre should explore the possibility of accommodating faith with environment concern to arrive at a balanced solution.
"A scientifically, technically and politically feasible alternate alignment can be considered", the Bench said adding that the economic aspects should also be kept in mind as dredging activity was a continuous process.
Nariman, who replied in positive to the Bench's remarks that issue of faith has to be accommodated in going ahead with the project, however, was not in agreement with the opponents that alignment number 4 (from Rameswaram to Dhanushkodi) was a viable alternative.
"The suggestion to go for alignment 4 is a self-defeating argument. Alignment number 4 has been suggested as an alternative. If it will be so, there will be no way to go to worship near alignment number 6 (Rama Sethu)," he said.
Blame your hubby for your being fat!
Thursday, 24 July , 2008, 02:49
Melbourne: Tried everything but can’t seem to get rid of your post-marriage love handles? Well, don’t question your determination for the failed plan, for the real culprit behind all weight worries is your hubby.
Yes, you heard it right. According to health experts, a husband is more of a hindrance than help in a wife's battle with the bulge.
"For some women, marriage definitely can be fattening," the Courier Mail quoted Dr Brian Steadman, a leading British authority on nutrition, as saying.
"It's hard enough for them to stick to good eating habits when they're single, but they can find it impossible after they're married.
"For a start, they've got to prepare food for two people, and it gets worse when children come along. Suddenly, she is constantly thinking about food - buying it, cooking it, fixing snacks and meals at different times of the day.
More offbeat stories | Health facts
“And if the husband doesn't need to diet, then with all the best intentions in the world, the poor woman is going to find it very tough preparing big wholesome meals for the family and low-calorie snacks for herself,” he added.
Dr Richard B Stuart, an American authority on slimming and nutrition, and former psychological director of Weight Watchers International, the author of Act Thin, Stay Thin, agrees.
"If a woman can't stay on a diet, it could easily be her husband's fault," he said.
"In fact, a husband might subconsciously be encouraging his wife to remain fat, and make it harder for her to lose weight,” he added.
Dr B Stuart has given some reasons as to why this could be so: if he feels in any way insecure in his relationship, then he reasons that a plump wife is less likely to leave him or make other men jealous, if he has a low sex drive then having a fat wife is a very good excuse for lack of interest or potency.
If he's the kind who isn't prepared to put a lot of effort into the marriage, then it will be much easier for him to keep her "fat" than "happy", Dr B Stuart said.
If his wife is a failure as a dieter, it "allows" him to have his workaholic schedule or an affair and there are many other ways that a husband, perhaps unwittingly, can hinder his wife's ambitions to keep her weight down, the health expert added.
Melbourne: Tried everything but can’t seem to get rid of your post-marriage love handles? Well, don’t question your determination for the failed plan, for the real culprit behind all weight worries is your hubby.
Yes, you heard it right. According to health experts, a husband is more of a hindrance than help in a wife's battle with the bulge.
"For some women, marriage definitely can be fattening," the Courier Mail quoted Dr Brian Steadman, a leading British authority on nutrition, as saying.
"It's hard enough for them to stick to good eating habits when they're single, but they can find it impossible after they're married.
"For a start, they've got to prepare food for two people, and it gets worse when children come along. Suddenly, she is constantly thinking about food - buying it, cooking it, fixing snacks and meals at different times of the day.
More offbeat stories | Health facts
“And if the husband doesn't need to diet, then with all the best intentions in the world, the poor woman is going to find it very tough preparing big wholesome meals for the family and low-calorie snacks for herself,” he added.
Dr Richard B Stuart, an American authority on slimming and nutrition, and former psychological director of Weight Watchers International, the author of Act Thin, Stay Thin, agrees.
"If a woman can't stay on a diet, it could easily be her husband's fault," he said.
"In fact, a husband might subconsciously be encouraging his wife to remain fat, and make it harder for her to lose weight,” he added.
Dr B Stuart has given some reasons as to why this could be so: if he feels in any way insecure in his relationship, then he reasons that a plump wife is less likely to leave him or make other men jealous, if he has a low sex drive then having a fat wife is a very good excuse for lack of interest or potency.
If he's the kind who isn't prepared to put a lot of effort into the marriage, then it will be much easier for him to keep her "fat" than "happy", Dr B Stuart said.
If his wife is a failure as a dieter, it "allows" him to have his workaholic schedule or an affair and there are many other ways that a husband, perhaps unwittingly, can hinder his wife's ambitions to keep her weight down, the health expert added.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
US poised to bomb Pakistan: Reports
LONDON/ISLAMABAD: US troops in Afghanistan are massing close to the border with Pakistan, poised to launch bombing raids on suspected terrorist bases in the North Waziristan region, British and Pakistani newspapers reported on Wednesday.
Nine American soldiers were killed and 15 wounded on Sunday in an attack by militants on a US base in Kunar province, close to the Pakistani border.
The Times said troops have been airlifted from the village of Lowara Mandi and that heavy artillery and armoured vehicles were also being moved into position for possible cross-border attacks on Pakistan.
The paper said US admiral Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a visit to Islamabad at the weekend, had told Pakistan's top civil and military leadership that the US could take unilateral military action if Pakistan were unable to stop cross-border attacks in Afghanistan. Mullen also said some elements within Pakistani security agencies could be helping insurgents operate from their bases in the border region; the paper quoted well-placed sources as saying.
The Times quoted an influential Pakistani army official as saying there were strong indications the US was ready to launch bombing raids against suspected Al-Qaida and Taliban camps inside Pakistan.
NATO denies Afghan troop buildup, urges Pakistan to act
The NATO military alliance denied that it was massing troops on the Afghan side of the border with Pakistan but urged Islamabad to do more to stop Taliban militants taking refuge.
"There is not, nor is there going to be, an incursion of NATO troops into Pakistan. There is no planning for that, there is no mandate for that, and there is no troop movement in that direction," a spokesman said in Brussels on Wednesday.
Pakistani tribal elders raised the alarm on Tuesday over what they said was a build-up of hundreds of NATO-led troops on the Afghan side of the border.
It came as Islamabad was under growing pressure from the United States to curb cross-border attacks by Taliban militants, with the US military chief flying into Pakistan at the weekend for urgent talks.
Reports said some 300 NATO soldiers equipped with tanks, armoured vehicles and heavy weaponry had been moved very close to Lwara Mundi, a border village in North Waziristan.
"There is no unusual military activity in that region," said the NATO spokesman, James Appathurai.
While he insisted that the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was not gathering at the border, he underlined that they did have permission to shoot into Pakistan if fired upon.
"They have the right to fire back if they are fired upon, and there should be no doubt that they do it," he said.
Nine American soldiers were killed and 15 wounded on Sunday in an attack by militants on a US base in Kunar province, close to the Pakistani border.
The Times said troops have been airlifted from the village of Lowara Mandi and that heavy artillery and armoured vehicles were also being moved into position for possible cross-border attacks on Pakistan.
The paper said US admiral Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a visit to Islamabad at the weekend, had told Pakistan's top civil and military leadership that the US could take unilateral military action if Pakistan were unable to stop cross-border attacks in Afghanistan. Mullen also said some elements within Pakistani security agencies could be helping insurgents operate from their bases in the border region; the paper quoted well-placed sources as saying.
The Times quoted an influential Pakistani army official as saying there were strong indications the US was ready to launch bombing raids against suspected Al-Qaida and Taliban camps inside Pakistan.
NATO denies Afghan troop buildup, urges Pakistan to act
The NATO military alliance denied that it was massing troops on the Afghan side of the border with Pakistan but urged Islamabad to do more to stop Taliban militants taking refuge.
"There is not, nor is there going to be, an incursion of NATO troops into Pakistan. There is no planning for that, there is no mandate for that, and there is no troop movement in that direction," a spokesman said in Brussels on Wednesday.
Pakistani tribal elders raised the alarm on Tuesday over what they said was a build-up of hundreds of NATO-led troops on the Afghan side of the border.
It came as Islamabad was under growing pressure from the United States to curb cross-border attacks by Taliban militants, with the US military chief flying into Pakistan at the weekend for urgent talks.
Reports said some 300 NATO soldiers equipped with tanks, armoured vehicles and heavy weaponry had been moved very close to Lwara Mundi, a border village in North Waziristan.
"There is no unusual military activity in that region," said the NATO spokesman, James Appathurai.
While he insisted that the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was not gathering at the border, he underlined that they did have permission to shoot into Pakistan if fired upon.
"They have the right to fire back if they are fired upon, and there should be no doubt that they do it," he said.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
‘Excessive weight loss can affect women’s ability to conceive’
New Delhi, July 15: If you are a woman obsessed with having rail-thin figures like fashion models and cine celebrities, take a pause, as it can cost you the ability to become a mother.
Experts warn that gymming and dieting more than one’s capacity in a bid to have a size-zero figure can affect the menstrual cycle among females up to the extent of complete loss of periods and ability to become pregnant.
“Possibilities of premature delivery, birth of low-weight babies and malnourishment are much prevalent in such women, even if they conceive after medical treatment,” Jyoti Sharma, gynaecologist, Umkal hospital said.
“Women doing extra gymming and dieting can suffer from Amenoria (Abnormal Menstruation) and loss of libido due to suppression of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and other secondary sex hormones in brain,” says gynaecologist and infertility specialist Dr Shibani Sachdev Gaur.
The medics also warn against the pills taken by several women for sudden weight reduction. “Most of the pills, even in the guise of herbal formulations, contain certain amount of oestrogen similar to contraceptive pills which restrict pregnancy”.
In acute cases, ovaries stop producing eggs that means complete loss of one’s ability to conceive,” adds Dr Gaur citing the example of one of her patients who was losing weight to become an air hostess.
Gaur said, “even though her menstrual cycle resumed, the lady is still undergoing treatment for irregular periods for more than seven years”.
“Too much physical work can suppress the Hypothelemo pituitary axis responsible for the release of sex hormones.
When the hormones are unable to send signal to ovaries, the release of oestrogen get disturbed,” she reasons.
Beside Amenoria, another threat for skin-slim obsessed girls is anorexia, which leads to osteoporosis.
“Now-a-days, teens are getting bones like 80-year old.
Deficiency of nutrition due to restricted diet weakens bones to such extent that it cause fracture and death”, Dr Gaur says.
“Anorexia Nervosa which is caused due to abnormal intake of food affects all organs including bones, brains and glands, agrees Dr Jyoti who suggests Liposuction -- a less harmful method of weight loss -- but prefers only Yoga and moderate exercises.
Fashion models, however, disagree that being thin and super slim are in for the glamour world.
“It’s all myth that models are anorexic. What modelling requires is that one should be toned. It’s always good to be healthy and fit,” says model Anousha.
Quick-fix artificial methods of weight loss are also not preferable for models.
“Fitness depends upon one’s body type- some people are genetically blessed, some can remain fit by a little bit of swimming and some people have to go to gym,” she says.
Experts warn that gymming and dieting more than one’s capacity in a bid to have a size-zero figure can affect the menstrual cycle among females up to the extent of complete loss of periods and ability to become pregnant.
“Possibilities of premature delivery, birth of low-weight babies and malnourishment are much prevalent in such women, even if they conceive after medical treatment,” Jyoti Sharma, gynaecologist, Umkal hospital said.
“Women doing extra gymming and dieting can suffer from Amenoria (Abnormal Menstruation) and loss of libido due to suppression of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and other secondary sex hormones in brain,” says gynaecologist and infertility specialist Dr Shibani Sachdev Gaur.
The medics also warn against the pills taken by several women for sudden weight reduction. “Most of the pills, even in the guise of herbal formulations, contain certain amount of oestrogen similar to contraceptive pills which restrict pregnancy”.
In acute cases, ovaries stop producing eggs that means complete loss of one’s ability to conceive,” adds Dr Gaur citing the example of one of her patients who was losing weight to become an air hostess.
Gaur said, “even though her menstrual cycle resumed, the lady is still undergoing treatment for irregular periods for more than seven years”.
“Too much physical work can suppress the Hypothelemo pituitary axis responsible for the release of sex hormones.
When the hormones are unable to send signal to ovaries, the release of oestrogen get disturbed,” she reasons.
Beside Amenoria, another threat for skin-slim obsessed girls is anorexia, which leads to osteoporosis.
“Now-a-days, teens are getting bones like 80-year old.
Deficiency of nutrition due to restricted diet weakens bones to such extent that it cause fracture and death”, Dr Gaur says.
“Anorexia Nervosa which is caused due to abnormal intake of food affects all organs including bones, brains and glands, agrees Dr Jyoti who suggests Liposuction -- a less harmful method of weight loss -- but prefers only Yoga and moderate exercises.
Fashion models, however, disagree that being thin and super slim are in for the glamour world.
“It’s all myth that models are anorexic. What modelling requires is that one should be toned. It’s always good to be healthy and fit,” says model Anousha.
Quick-fix artificial methods of weight loss are also not preferable for models.
“Fitness depends upon one’s body type- some people are genetically blessed, some can remain fit by a little bit of swimming and some people have to go to gym,” she says.
To match China, IAF upgrades bases in east
CHABUA (ASSAM): Worried at the increase in Chinese airfields along the border, the Centre is upgrading its infrastructure and fleet strength at all Air Force stations under the Eastern Air Command.
"AFS Chabua is surrounded by 14 airfields on the Chinese side. Not all of them are now being used, but they can be made operational within a week," Commanding Officer of the Chabua airbase, Group Captain M S Venkateswara told a group of visiting newspersons here.
Pointing out that the border with China was 170 km north and that with Myanmar 80 km south of Chabua airbase, he said, "This calls for an increase in air defence mechanism."
Though the situation at present was not alarming, there was a threat perception from the Chinese side as the position of their airfields make a multi-directional approach possible during operations, he said, adding that China could also use Myanmarese air space against India given the good relations between the two countries.
In view of the threat perception, air force bases at Dibrugarh, Mohanbari, Jorhat, Guwahati, Tezpur, Hasimara and Bagdogra were being upgraded.
According to Venkateswara, the Chinese have SU-27s, SU-30s, J-8s and J-10s deployed at these airbases. While they were not likely to deploy GF-17s, but the possibility exists.
Chabua, which now has two squadrons of MiG-27s, will get Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Multi-Modal Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) as part of the upgrade programme.
The Operations Conversion Unit (OCU) of AFS Chabua was conducting round-the-clock sorties to maintain vigil on the airspace, he said.
"AFS Chabua is surrounded by 14 airfields on the Chinese side. Not all of them are now being used, but they can be made operational within a week," Commanding Officer of the Chabua airbase, Group Captain M S Venkateswara told a group of visiting newspersons here.
Pointing out that the border with China was 170 km north and that with Myanmar 80 km south of Chabua airbase, he said, "This calls for an increase in air defence mechanism."
Though the situation at present was not alarming, there was a threat perception from the Chinese side as the position of their airfields make a multi-directional approach possible during operations, he said, adding that China could also use Myanmarese air space against India given the good relations between the two countries.
In view of the threat perception, air force bases at Dibrugarh, Mohanbari, Jorhat, Guwahati, Tezpur, Hasimara and Bagdogra were being upgraded.
According to Venkateswara, the Chinese have SU-27s, SU-30s, J-8s and J-10s deployed at these airbases. While they were not likely to deploy GF-17s, but the possibility exists.
Chabua, which now has two squadrons of MiG-27s, will get Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Multi-Modal Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) as part of the upgrade programme.
The Operations Conversion Unit (OCU) of AFS Chabua was conducting round-the-clock sorties to maintain vigil on the airspace, he said.
Shahid and Sania...What's cooking?
Is it Vidya Balan or Sania Mirza?
The plot thickens about the woman in Shahid Kapur’s life after the exit of Kareena Kapoor. According to reports, Shahid and Sania are getting closer. The two of them are spending a lot of quality time together.
Sania and Shahid decided not to bother about gossip-mongers, and spent nearly eight hours with Shahid Kapur on the sets of director Vishal Bharadwaj’s Kaminay, which also stars Priyanka Chopra and Amol Gupte.
Says a source from the sets of Kaminay, “It was a 7 am shift. Sania and Shahid did not come together, but once Sania dropped by, Shahid and Sania were almost inseparable. What was surprising was that they were very open about their relationship. Their body language said it all. When Shahid was not facing the camera, he spent all his time with Sania. Sania spent a lot of time with Shahid in his vanity van.”
“Sania was cheering Shahid all the time. What raised more eyebrows was Sani’s interest in Shahid’s scenes. She made it a point to check out all the scenes with him on the monitor,” our source adds.
The rumours of Shahid and Sania’s relationship have been doing the rounds for a long time, and these rumours gained momentum when the two were seen together at a Bangalore hotel last year, when Sania apparently spent a long time in Shahid’s room.
Reportedly, the hotel bellboy had leaked out news of the two spending time with each other. After that, they have been spotted at many food joints and restaurants, engrossed in each other.
The plot thickens about the woman in Shahid Kapur’s life after the exit of Kareena Kapoor. According to reports, Shahid and Sania are getting closer. The two of them are spending a lot of quality time together.
Sania and Shahid decided not to bother about gossip-mongers, and spent nearly eight hours with Shahid Kapur on the sets of director Vishal Bharadwaj’s Kaminay, which also stars Priyanka Chopra and Amol Gupte.
Says a source from the sets of Kaminay, “It was a 7 am shift. Sania and Shahid did not come together, but once Sania dropped by, Shahid and Sania were almost inseparable. What was surprising was that they were very open about their relationship. Their body language said it all. When Shahid was not facing the camera, he spent all his time with Sania. Sania spent a lot of time with Shahid in his vanity van.”
“Sania was cheering Shahid all the time. What raised more eyebrows was Sani’s interest in Shahid’s scenes. She made it a point to check out all the scenes with him on the monitor,” our source adds.
The rumours of Shahid and Sania’s relationship have been doing the rounds for a long time, and these rumours gained momentum when the two were seen together at a Bangalore hotel last year, when Sania apparently spent a long time in Shahid’s room.
Reportedly, the hotel bellboy had leaked out news of the two spending time with each other. After that, they have been spotted at many food joints and restaurants, engrossed in each other.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Desi products now score over Chinese
City-based industry houses have cut down on their sourcing from China in the last eight months; say that sourcing cost from India is now almost same as that from the neighbouring country
Mumbai: Check out one of the huge suitcases for sale along the footpaths of Crawford Market in Mumbai, and you’ll be urged by the luggage vendor with a “China-make hain, baap!”
But if you’re expecting a bargain, forget it…
From being priced at one-third the cost of Indian-make luggage about two years back, the price difference between Chinese and Indian-make suitcases today would be less than 5 per cent.
So, what really happened to China’s low-wage manufacturing prowess?
“It’s not just suitcases imports, but even textile costs from China have considerably increased in recent times,” said Vijay Kalantri, President of the All India Association of Industries.
According to him, the key reason for the decline in the Red Dragon’s low-cost manufacturing prowess is the increasing labour cost. But what worsens the deal is lack of clarity in taking orders.
“There are a lot of problems with Chinese imports. You order a container of terrywool, but end up receiving tons of terry viscose, and the customs department books you for under-invoicing the consignment,” said Kalantri.
The problem holds true for large businesses too.
In fact, quite a few city-based industry houses have cut down their sourcing from China in the last eight months – and, instead, have started looking at domestic companies.
“China is no more a lucrative option. We have substantially cut our textiles imports from China and are sourcing it locally now as the cost of manufacturing a product in China is on par with India,” said Kishore Biyani, the CEO of Future Group, the largest retailer in the country.
According to industry body Assocham, India’s imports from China in silk, silk yarn and fabric had begun to decrease from 2005-2006 onwards. Silk imports alone had declined by 13 per cent from $233 million in 2005 to $203 million 2006.
Industry veterans cite that China’s dramatic rise as the ‘factory of the world’ was made possible because of its flexible labour markets, exports-encouraging subsidies and business-friendly policies – such as two-year visa permits.
“The China government recently hived off the export subsidies, which makes sourcing a lot dearer,” said Sunil Pathare, CEO of Maxwell Industries, a leading manufacturer of cotton yarn manufacturer for hosiery industry in India.
Until eight months ago, Maxwell sourced raw material such as laces, elastics and frill fabric like nets from China. Presently, the company sources them locally.
And if things continue to deteriorate, the Red Dragon could find its claws completely pried off Indian markets.
Mumbai: Check out one of the huge suitcases for sale along the footpaths of Crawford Market in Mumbai, and you’ll be urged by the luggage vendor with a “China-make hain, baap!”
But if you’re expecting a bargain, forget it…
From being priced at one-third the cost of Indian-make luggage about two years back, the price difference between Chinese and Indian-make suitcases today would be less than 5 per cent.
So, what really happened to China’s low-wage manufacturing prowess?
“It’s not just suitcases imports, but even textile costs from China have considerably increased in recent times,” said Vijay Kalantri, President of the All India Association of Industries.
According to him, the key reason for the decline in the Red Dragon’s low-cost manufacturing prowess is the increasing labour cost. But what worsens the deal is lack of clarity in taking orders.
“There are a lot of problems with Chinese imports. You order a container of terrywool, but end up receiving tons of terry viscose, and the customs department books you for under-invoicing the consignment,” said Kalantri.
The problem holds true for large businesses too.
In fact, quite a few city-based industry houses have cut down their sourcing from China in the last eight months – and, instead, have started looking at domestic companies.
“China is no more a lucrative option. We have substantially cut our textiles imports from China and are sourcing it locally now as the cost of manufacturing a product in China is on par with India,” said Kishore Biyani, the CEO of Future Group, the largest retailer in the country.
According to industry body Assocham, India’s imports from China in silk, silk yarn and fabric had begun to decrease from 2005-2006 onwards. Silk imports alone had declined by 13 per cent from $233 million in 2005 to $203 million 2006.
Industry veterans cite that China’s dramatic rise as the ‘factory of the world’ was made possible because of its flexible labour markets, exports-encouraging subsidies and business-friendly policies – such as two-year visa permits.
“The China government recently hived off the export subsidies, which makes sourcing a lot dearer,” said Sunil Pathare, CEO of Maxwell Industries, a leading manufacturer of cotton yarn manufacturer for hosiery industry in India.
Until eight months ago, Maxwell sourced raw material such as laces, elastics and frill fabric like nets from China. Presently, the company sources them locally.
And if things continue to deteriorate, the Red Dragon could find its claws completely pried off Indian markets.
Idle brains shrink faster
A study conducted by Australian researchers has revealed that people who do not engage in complex mental activity over their lifetime have twice the shrinkage in a key part of the brain in old age.
Michael Valenzuela of the school of psychiatry at the University of New South Wales has revealed that the finding results from an analysis of the brain scans used during the study.
He says that the finding sheds more light on the link between lifestyle and dementia.
The results of the study also add strength to the evidence that mental exercises, like puzzles and new languages, stave off ageing diseases.
“We’ve got strong evidence here that people who use their brains more have less brain shrinkage,” said Valenzuela.
“I hope people take this as a further call to arms to get out there and use their brains, get engaged in anything from tai chi to world travel, in the knowledge that it may help delay or prevent the onset of dementia,” he added.
Michael Valenzuela of the school of psychiatry at the University of New South Wales has revealed that the finding results from an analysis of the brain scans used during the study.
He says that the finding sheds more light on the link between lifestyle and dementia.
The results of the study also add strength to the evidence that mental exercises, like puzzles and new languages, stave off ageing diseases.
“We’ve got strong evidence here that people who use their brains more have less brain shrinkage,” said Valenzuela.
“I hope people take this as a further call to arms to get out there and use their brains, get engaged in anything from tai chi to world travel, in the knowledge that it may help delay or prevent the onset of dementia,” he added.
Beijing 2008: China invites Sonia, not PM or Prez
14 Jul 2008, 0001 hrs IST,TNN
Print EMail
Discuss New
Bookmark/Share
Save Write to Editor
NEW DELHI: Eighty heads of state and government will grace the Beijing Olympics in August but PM Manmohan Singh will not be among them.
Not because he is too busy, but because he was not invited. In fact, neither India's head of state nor government have been invited, with the invitation going to its most important politician, Sonia Gandhi.
The Congress chief is unlikely to attend, leaving that job to sports minister M S Gill. But even if you are really charitable, it can't be denied that it's yet another Chinese snub of pretty large proportions, and no amount of earnest protestations from government functionaries about the wonderful state of Sino-Indian relations will change that.
In October 2007, when Sonia visited Beijing, she received a welcome fit for a head of state. It raised eyebrows in India because it showed where the Chinese government was focusing its attention. It was then that the Chinese leadership first extended an invitation to her to attend the Bejing Olympic Games.
Although the government was the first to deny it, the scale of Sonia's visit prompted a delay in the prime minister's visit to Beijing. He was initially supposed to make his summit visit at the end of 2007, but this had to be pushed to the new calendar year. In 2008, the Beijing Olympics acquiring a distinct political hue with the Tibetan protests. Consequently, India-China ties took on a strained look, made worse by China's repeated incursions in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
China's internal troubles did not stop it from keeping the Indian government is a state of permanent squirm — first with repeated claims to Arunachal and then by incursions into Sikkim. In fact, foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee was faced with a sudden cancellation of his meeting with Chinese premier Wen Jiabao.
Also by this time, China had invited pretty much every world leader to the Olympics, but maintained a silence on India. India wasn't on the first list, or the second. While the Chinese government has invited the who's who in terms of heads of government to the Games, in the case of India, it made a clear distinction between the head of government and the most powerful political leader in the ruling combine. When Mukherjee visited Beijing in June, the formal invitation was finally made — to Sonia. Officials, when questioned, evaded the issue.
The PM would not have gone, said officials trying to defend the lack of an invitation. In October, Singh will be in Beijing for the ASEM summit, which officials say will be his second visit there this year. So a third visit during the Olympics was not on his radar. But as with much of India-China thorny issues, this too is looking more and more like a post-facto justification. Sources requesting anonymity said the Chinese leadership, which also derives its strength from the party, merely looked at the Indian leadership through that perspective.
However, seen in almost any light, the Chinese decision is little short of a snub to the PM personally and his office.
Print EMail
Discuss New
Bookmark/Share
Save Write to Editor
NEW DELHI: Eighty heads of state and government will grace the Beijing Olympics in August but PM Manmohan Singh will not be among them.
Not because he is too busy, but because he was not invited. In fact, neither India's head of state nor government have been invited, with the invitation going to its most important politician, Sonia Gandhi.
The Congress chief is unlikely to attend, leaving that job to sports minister M S Gill. But even if you are really charitable, it can't be denied that it's yet another Chinese snub of pretty large proportions, and no amount of earnest protestations from government functionaries about the wonderful state of Sino-Indian relations will change that.
In October 2007, when Sonia visited Beijing, she received a welcome fit for a head of state. It raised eyebrows in India because it showed where the Chinese government was focusing its attention. It was then that the Chinese leadership first extended an invitation to her to attend the Bejing Olympic Games.
Although the government was the first to deny it, the scale of Sonia's visit prompted a delay in the prime minister's visit to Beijing. He was initially supposed to make his summit visit at the end of 2007, but this had to be pushed to the new calendar year. In 2008, the Beijing Olympics acquiring a distinct political hue with the Tibetan protests. Consequently, India-China ties took on a strained look, made worse by China's repeated incursions in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
China's internal troubles did not stop it from keeping the Indian government is a state of permanent squirm — first with repeated claims to Arunachal and then by incursions into Sikkim. In fact, foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee was faced with a sudden cancellation of his meeting with Chinese premier Wen Jiabao.
Also by this time, China had invited pretty much every world leader to the Olympics, but maintained a silence on India. India wasn't on the first list, or the second. While the Chinese government has invited the who's who in terms of heads of government to the Games, in the case of India, it made a clear distinction between the head of government and the most powerful political leader in the ruling combine. When Mukherjee visited Beijing in June, the formal invitation was finally made — to Sonia. Officials, when questioned, evaded the issue.
The PM would not have gone, said officials trying to defend the lack of an invitation. In October, Singh will be in Beijing for the ASEM summit, which officials say will be his second visit there this year. So a third visit during the Olympics was not on his radar. But as with much of India-China thorny issues, this too is looking more and more like a post-facto justification. Sources requesting anonymity said the Chinese leadership, which also derives its strength from the party, merely looked at the Indian leadership through that perspective.
However, seen in almost any light, the Chinese decision is little short of a snub to the PM personally and his office.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Iran to "cut hands" off any attacker, president says
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's president said that even before its enemies "get their hands on the trigger" the country's military would cut them off, media said on Sunday, in a growing war of words that has intensified Middle East tension.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made the comment a day after a senior Iranian official said Iran would strike Israel and U.S. bases in the region if the Islamic Republic was attacked over its disputed nuclear programme.
U.S. leaders have not ruled out military options if diplomacy fails to assuage fears about Iran's nuclear activities, which the world's fourth-largest oil producer says are intended only to produce electricity.
Washington and other powers have offered negotiations to end the dispute but say Iran must first halt sensitive atomic work, a demand Iran has rejected. Ahmadinejad said that, if anyone sets conditions for talks, it should be Tehran.
"Before the enemies get their hands on the trigger the armed forces will cut off their hands," the official IRNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as telling reporters.
Israel, long assumed to have its own atomic arsenal, has sworn to prevent Iran from emerging as a nuclear-armed power.
Last month it staged an air force exercise that aroused speculation about a possible assault on Iranian nuclear sites.
Iran has vowed to strike back at Tel Aviv, as well as U.S. interests and shipping, if it is attacked, asserting that missiles fired during war games last week included ones that could hit Israel and U.S. bases in the region.
A SMALL PART
Ahmadinejad said the weaponry displayed in the Revolutionary Guards' missile exercise, which was condemned by Western powers, was only a small part of Iran's defence capability.
"In the event of necessity, additional parts of our defence capability will be put on display for the world to see."
As part of a new diplomatic effort to end the row, the United States and five other powers last month offered Iran economic and other benefits if it halts its most sensitive atomic activities, something Tehran says it will not do.
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili is expected to meet European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Geneva on July 19 for talks on the long-running dispute.
"The negotiations ... must lead to the defining of the framework of the main negotiations," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said, according to the state broadcaster.
Washington cut ties with Iran after the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution, but Ahmadinejad expressed willingness to hold direct talks with U.S. President George W. Bush.
The United States says Iran must suspend uranium enrichment, which can have both civilian and military uses, before they can sit down and talk about the nuclear and other issues.
"As I have already said, we have absolutely no need for an intermediary in negotiations with others ... I am ready to hold direct negotiations with Mr Bush," Ahmadinejad said.
However, he added, "if anyone should want to set conditions (for entering talks) it would be us".
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made the comment a day after a senior Iranian official said Iran would strike Israel and U.S. bases in the region if the Islamic Republic was attacked over its disputed nuclear programme.
U.S. leaders have not ruled out military options if diplomacy fails to assuage fears about Iran's nuclear activities, which the world's fourth-largest oil producer says are intended only to produce electricity.
Washington and other powers have offered negotiations to end the dispute but say Iran must first halt sensitive atomic work, a demand Iran has rejected. Ahmadinejad said that, if anyone sets conditions for talks, it should be Tehran.
"Before the enemies get their hands on the trigger the armed forces will cut off their hands," the official IRNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as telling reporters.
Israel, long assumed to have its own atomic arsenal, has sworn to prevent Iran from emerging as a nuclear-armed power.
Last month it staged an air force exercise that aroused speculation about a possible assault on Iranian nuclear sites.
Iran has vowed to strike back at Tel Aviv, as well as U.S. interests and shipping, if it is attacked, asserting that missiles fired during war games last week included ones that could hit Israel and U.S. bases in the region.
A SMALL PART
Ahmadinejad said the weaponry displayed in the Revolutionary Guards' missile exercise, which was condemned by Western powers, was only a small part of Iran's defence capability.
"In the event of necessity, additional parts of our defence capability will be put on display for the world to see."
As part of a new diplomatic effort to end the row, the United States and five other powers last month offered Iran economic and other benefits if it halts its most sensitive atomic activities, something Tehran says it will not do.
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili is expected to meet European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Geneva on July 19 for talks on the long-running dispute.
"The negotiations ... must lead to the defining of the framework of the main negotiations," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said, according to the state broadcaster.
Washington cut ties with Iran after the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution, but Ahmadinejad expressed willingness to hold direct talks with U.S. President George W. Bush.
The United States says Iran must suspend uranium enrichment, which can have both civilian and military uses, before they can sit down and talk about the nuclear and other issues.
"As I have already said, we have absolutely no need for an intermediary in negotiations with others ... I am ready to hold direct negotiations with Mr Bush," Ahmadinejad said.
However, he added, "if anyone should want to set conditions (for entering talks) it would be us".
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Smoke at home only if your wife permits
Special Correspondent
PATNA: Come October, a man can smoke at home only if his wife allows him to do so, Union Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss has said.
Necessary rules had been framed for the enforcement of the law to ban smoking inside a private or public building from Gandhi Jayanti. It would be a cognisable offence. One could smoke only in open spaces such as roads and parks, the Minister said at a function on the occasion of the World Population Day. Even homes would come under barred zones to check passive smoking.
Mr. Ramadoss said the war against tobacco had to be dealt with an iron fist, given that it claimed more than 10 lakh lives annually and 14 per cent of school children were its victims. He was confident that the National Tobacco Preventive Mission would achieve its objective of bringing down the number of those affected. Awareness campaign would be launched in all schools and it would be backed by clinics in all the districts.
Dr. Ramadoss was particularly severe on a multinational soft drink. He appealed to school children attending the function to avoid drinking it, pointing out that each can contained seven teaspoons of sugar. He also advised them to keep off junk food, burgers and chips. It was imperative that policies were devised to put down obesity, juvenile diabetes and a host of other health problems.
Dr. Ramadoss, however, ruled out banning such soft drinks.
PATNA: Come October, a man can smoke at home only if his wife allows him to do so, Union Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss has said.
Necessary rules had been framed for the enforcement of the law to ban smoking inside a private or public building from Gandhi Jayanti. It would be a cognisable offence. One could smoke only in open spaces such as roads and parks, the Minister said at a function on the occasion of the World Population Day. Even homes would come under barred zones to check passive smoking.
Mr. Ramadoss said the war against tobacco had to be dealt with an iron fist, given that it claimed more than 10 lakh lives annually and 14 per cent of school children were its victims. He was confident that the National Tobacco Preventive Mission would achieve its objective of bringing down the number of those affected. Awareness campaign would be launched in all schools and it would be backed by clinics in all the districts.
Dr. Ramadoss was particularly severe on a multinational soft drink. He appealed to school children attending the function to avoid drinking it, pointing out that each can contained seven teaspoons of sugar. He also advised them to keep off junk food, burgers and chips. It was imperative that policies were devised to put down obesity, juvenile diabetes and a host of other health problems.
Dr. Ramadoss, however, ruled out banning such soft drinks.
That ISI caused Kabul blasts is established: India
ISI needs to be destroyed, says India's National Security Advisor, adding that Afghanistan Government has sufficient proof of involvement of 'regional intelligence service' in the Kabul blasts
New Delhi:The government for the first time said on Saturday that it had “pretty good evidence” about the involvement of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, in the suicide attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul that killed 54 people.
“There is a pretty good evidence on this,” said National Security Advisor MK Narayanan on the sidelines of a government briefing on the nuclear deal. He was responding to specific questions on the ISI’s role.
“The ISI needs to be destroyed. We made this point, whenever we have had a chance... There might have been some tactical restraint for some time, obviously that restraint is no longer present,” he told TV channels earlier in the day according to the Press Trust of India.
The Afghan government had in fact hinted on the day of the attack at the involvement of the Pakistani intelligence service. Officials had said they suspected a “regional intelligence service” was behind it.
Though Pakistan was not named by anyone, Islamabad reacted angrily. On Friday, its foreign minister Shah Mahmood Quereshi, on a visit to the United States, said, “We are telling our friends in Afghanistan that the disturbances they are seeing and the increase in violence is not of Pakistan’s creation.”
Fifty-four persons including two Indian diplomats died when a suicide bomber drove his car into their car outside the Indian embassy in Kabul on July 7. Two Indian security personnel were also killed.
Earlier on Saturday, the NSA told TV channels, “We have no doubt that the ISI is behind this….people of the country deserve to know the facts.” Echoing the NSA’s views, a senior government official said India would take up the matter soon with Pakistan. “There has been evidence regarding the involvement of ISI in acts of terror in India. Now it chose to attack our mission abroad. We would be taking up the matter with Pakistan soon,” the official said.
New Delhi:The government for the first time said on Saturday that it had “pretty good evidence” about the involvement of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, in the suicide attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul that killed 54 people.
“There is a pretty good evidence on this,” said National Security Advisor MK Narayanan on the sidelines of a government briefing on the nuclear deal. He was responding to specific questions on the ISI’s role.
“The ISI needs to be destroyed. We made this point, whenever we have had a chance... There might have been some tactical restraint for some time, obviously that restraint is no longer present,” he told TV channels earlier in the day according to the Press Trust of India.
The Afghan government had in fact hinted on the day of the attack at the involvement of the Pakistani intelligence service. Officials had said they suspected a “regional intelligence service” was behind it.
Though Pakistan was not named by anyone, Islamabad reacted angrily. On Friday, its foreign minister Shah Mahmood Quereshi, on a visit to the United States, said, “We are telling our friends in Afghanistan that the disturbances they are seeing and the increase in violence is not of Pakistan’s creation.”
Fifty-four persons including two Indian diplomats died when a suicide bomber drove his car into their car outside the Indian embassy in Kabul on July 7. Two Indian security personnel were also killed.
Earlier on Saturday, the NSA told TV channels, “We have no doubt that the ISI is behind this….people of the country deserve to know the facts.” Echoing the NSA’s views, a senior government official said India would take up the matter soon with Pakistan. “There has been evidence regarding the involvement of ISI in acts of terror in India. Now it chose to attack our mission abroad. We would be taking up the matter with Pakistan soon,” the official said.
India says loud and clear: time to destroy ISI
Agencies
TimePublished on Sat, Jul 12, 2008 at 20:11, Updated at Sat, Jul 12, 2008 in Nation section
TagsTags:
E-mail this report | Print this report
BACK AT WORK: Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Jayant Prasad speaks to journalists.
BACK AT WORK: Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Jayant Prasad speaks to journalists.
Other stories in the section:
Kabul attack: Govt was warned about terror strike
Intelligence sources say information was specifically related to an attack on a consulate.
* Yechury says there's no difference in Left on N-deal
* Congress, SP using CBI against me: Mayawati
Featured Blog
Weekend Edition with Rajdeep Sardesai
In the Name of Arushi!
Featured Slideshows
Ads by Google
Calls to India - 6.9¢/min
Buy one, Get 50% extra free minutesAvailable this week only. Hurry up!
www.trueroots.us
Unlimited Calls To India
Just $34.95 p.m. India/US/Canada30 day risk-free trial.Sign up now
optima24x7.com/Mpingi_India_Hotline
Related Headlines
powered by
* Kabul attack: Govt was warned about terror strike
* Yechury says there's no difference in Left on N-deal
* Congress, SP using CBI against me: Mayawati
Keywords: Suicide Bombers, Terrorism
New Delhi: India has “no doubt” that Pakistan's spy agency the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was involved in the bomb attack on its embassy in Kabul, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan said on Saturday.
"We not only suspect but we have a fair amount of intelligence (on Pakistan’s involvement). We have no doubt that the ISI is behind this," Narayanan told TV channels.
"The ISI needs to be destroyed. We made this point, whenever we have had a chance, to interlocutors across the world. There might have been some tactical restraint for some time (but) obviously that restraint is no longer present," said Narayanan.
"The people of this country deserve to know the facts rather than being carried away by people who make statements that these are insinuations. There are no insinuations.
"I think we need to pay back in the same coin. We are quite clear in our mind," he said. Asked who should be paid back, he replied: "Those who are responsible."
TimePublished on Sat, Jul 12, 2008 at 20:11, Updated at Sat, Jul 12, 2008 in Nation section
TagsTags:
E-mail this report | Print this report
BACK AT WORK: Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Jayant Prasad speaks to journalists.
BACK AT WORK: Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Jayant Prasad speaks to journalists.
Other stories in the section:
Kabul attack: Govt was warned about terror strike
Intelligence sources say information was specifically related to an attack on a consulate.
* Yechury says there's no difference in Left on N-deal
* Congress, SP using CBI against me: Mayawati
Featured Blog
Weekend Edition with Rajdeep Sardesai
In the Name of Arushi!
Featured Slideshows
Ads by Google
Calls to India - 6.9¢/min
Buy one, Get 50% extra free minutesAvailable this week only. Hurry up!
www.trueroots.us
Unlimited Calls To India
Just $34.95 p.m. India/US/Canada30 day risk-free trial.Sign up now
optima24x7.com/Mpingi_India_Hotline
Related Headlines
powered by
* Kabul attack: Govt was warned about terror strike
* Yechury says there's no difference in Left on N-deal
* Congress, SP using CBI against me: Mayawati
Keywords: Suicide Bombers, Terrorism
New Delhi: India has “no doubt” that Pakistan's spy agency the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was involved in the bomb attack on its embassy in Kabul, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan said on Saturday.
"We not only suspect but we have a fair amount of intelligence (on Pakistan’s involvement). We have no doubt that the ISI is behind this," Narayanan told TV channels.
"The ISI needs to be destroyed. We made this point, whenever we have had a chance, to interlocutors across the world. There might have been some tactical restraint for some time (but) obviously that restraint is no longer present," said Narayanan.
"The people of this country deserve to know the facts rather than being carried away by people who make statements that these are insinuations. There are no insinuations.
"I think we need to pay back in the same coin. We are quite clear in our mind," he said. Asked who should be paid back, he replied: "Those who are responsible."
A balanced diet can improve your thinking
WASHINGTON: A balanced diet and regular exercise not only protects one from heart disease and cancer, it also helps insure the brain against mental disorders. “Food is like a pharmaceutical compound that affects the brain,” said Fernando Gsmez-Pinilla, University of California LA and professor of neurosurgery and physiological science.
“Diet, exercise and sleep have the potential to alter our brain health and mental function, said Gomez-Pinilla. He has spent years studying the effect on food, exercise and sleep on the brain. “This raises the exciting possibility that changes in diet are a viable strategy for enhancing cognitive abilities, protecting the brain from damage and counteracting the effects of ageing.”
Gsmez-Pinilla who analysed more than 160 studies about food’s affect on the brain, said that Omega-3 fatty acids — found in salmon, walnuts and kiwi fruit — provide many benefits, helping fight mental disorders like depression and mood disorders, schizophrenia, and dementia.
“Dietary deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids in humans has been associated with increased risk of several mental disorders, including attention-deficit disorder, dyslexia, dementia, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia,” he said, reports Eurekalert.
Children who had increased amounts of omega-3 fatty acids performed better in school, in reading and in spelling and had fewer behavioural problems, he said. In an Australian study, 396 children aged between six and 12 years, who were given a drink with omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients showed higher scores on tests measuring verbal intelligence and learning and memory after six months and one year than a control group of students.
This study was also conducted with 394 children in Indonesia. The results showed higher test scores for boys and girls in Australia, but only for girls in Indonesia. These findings have been published in the July issue of the journal Nature Reviews Neuroscience.
“Diet, exercise and sleep have the potential to alter our brain health and mental function, said Gomez-Pinilla. He has spent years studying the effect on food, exercise and sleep on the brain. “This raises the exciting possibility that changes in diet are a viable strategy for enhancing cognitive abilities, protecting the brain from damage and counteracting the effects of ageing.”
Gsmez-Pinilla who analysed more than 160 studies about food’s affect on the brain, said that Omega-3 fatty acids — found in salmon, walnuts and kiwi fruit — provide many benefits, helping fight mental disorders like depression and mood disorders, schizophrenia, and dementia.
“Dietary deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids in humans has been associated with increased risk of several mental disorders, including attention-deficit disorder, dyslexia, dementia, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia,” he said, reports Eurekalert.
Children who had increased amounts of omega-3 fatty acids performed better in school, in reading and in spelling and had fewer behavioural problems, he said. In an Australian study, 396 children aged between six and 12 years, who were given a drink with omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients showed higher scores on tests measuring verbal intelligence and learning and memory after six months and one year than a control group of students.
This study was also conducted with 394 children in Indonesia. The results showed higher test scores for boys and girls in Australia, but only for girls in Indonesia. These findings have been published in the July issue of the journal Nature Reviews Neuroscience.
Friday, July 11, 2008
China tells restaurants to take dog meat off the menu
Beijing, July 11 (PTI) Restaurants and hotels in the Chinese capital have been asked to take dog meat off the menu during Olympics and Paralympics due to concerns that the canine dishes might be offensive to Westerners and animal rights activists.
"Gourmets with a special predilection for dog meat will be disappointed if they come to the Chinese capital in the coming two months," a Beijing Tourism Bureau official said.
The Beijing Catering Trade Association (BETA) has issued a circular forbidding all the 112-designated restaurants from providing dog meat dishes during Olympics and strongly advised other establishments to suspend serving the canine delicacy until September.
"If a customer orders dog meat, the restaurant staff should patiently suggest another entree," Xiong Yumei, the Bureaus Vice-Director, was quoted as saying by official Xinhua news agency. "Conflicts should be avoided." Canine dishes are popular among the Korean community in Beijing, as also in Yunnan and Guizhou restaurants.
Apart from being a delicacy, dog meat is also believed by many Chinese to be an effective element to lower blood pressure. Some also think it boosts "sexual prowess".
Animal rights and environmental activists claim dogs are brutally killed with clubs and knives in China's dog meat industry.
As for dog meat for medicinal purposes, the circular said the ingredient should be listed clearly. PTI
"Gourmets with a special predilection for dog meat will be disappointed if they come to the Chinese capital in the coming two months," a Beijing Tourism Bureau official said.
The Beijing Catering Trade Association (BETA) has issued a circular forbidding all the 112-designated restaurants from providing dog meat dishes during Olympics and strongly advised other establishments to suspend serving the canine delicacy until September.
"If a customer orders dog meat, the restaurant staff should patiently suggest another entree," Xiong Yumei, the Bureaus Vice-Director, was quoted as saying by official Xinhua news agency. "Conflicts should be avoided." Canine dishes are popular among the Korean community in Beijing, as also in Yunnan and Guizhou restaurants.
Apart from being a delicacy, dog meat is also believed by many Chinese to be an effective element to lower blood pressure. Some also think it boosts "sexual prowess".
Animal rights and environmental activists claim dogs are brutally killed with clubs and knives in China's dog meat industry.
As for dog meat for medicinal purposes, the circular said the ingredient should be listed clearly. PTI
Hi-tech remake of Hindu epics flood television
MUMBAI: Two of India's best loved epics about gods, demons and cataclysmic wars are making a comeback on Indian television, hoping to recreate with snazzy visual effects the magic they wove on TV two decades ago.
The "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata", two of Hinduism's crucial texts, are regarded as allegorical lessons in righteous living integral to much of Hindu-majority India's cultural consciousness.
While "Ramayana" is the story of warrior-god Ram, who defeats a demon-king to free his wife with the help of an army of monkeys, "Mahabharata" deals with a dynastic struggle for power that ends in victory for the righteous.
Such was the appeal of the epics that when they were adapted for the small screen in the 1980s they managed to empty city streets, forced changes in train timings and got their actors elected as members of parliament. Some people even prayed in front of their television screens while the shows were on.
Now, the makers of the new "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata" series say they could top the success of the cult series with high-tech techniques such as those used in "The Lord of the Rings" films.
"The special effects, the costumes and the whole treatment of the story is such that younger audiences will be attracted to the shows," Bobby Bedi, producer of one of the new versions of "Mahabharata", told Reuters. "There is a huge market for mythological serials in India."
The "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata", two of Hinduism's crucial texts, are regarded as allegorical lessons in righteous living integral to much of Hindu-majority India's cultural consciousness.
While "Ramayana" is the story of warrior-god Ram, who defeats a demon-king to free his wife with the help of an army of monkeys, "Mahabharata" deals with a dynastic struggle for power that ends in victory for the righteous.
Such was the appeal of the epics that when they were adapted for the small screen in the 1980s they managed to empty city streets, forced changes in train timings and got their actors elected as members of parliament. Some people even prayed in front of their television screens while the shows were on.
Now, the makers of the new "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata" series say they could top the success of the cult series with high-tech techniques such as those used in "The Lord of the Rings" films.
"The special effects, the costumes and the whole treatment of the story is such that younger audiences will be attracted to the shows," Bobby Bedi, producer of one of the new versions of "Mahabharata", told Reuters. "There is a huge market for mythological serials in India."
100 mystery men pay for Brit woman's boob job!
Saturday, 12 July , 2008, 00:01
London: A Brit mum had a boob job paid by 100 men she doesn't know – thanks to social networking site.
Karen Fielding, 23, put out a plea on a social networking website set up to help women fund implant procedures.
News home | All latest news about Indian politics
Anonymous donations from men poured in, and in just three months they had pledged the 2,500 pounds needed.
“It was an amazing feeling when I logged on and found out I’d raised enough,” The Sun quoted Karen, as saying.
London: A Brit mum had a boob job paid by 100 men she doesn't know – thanks to social networking site.
Karen Fielding, 23, put out a plea on a social networking website set up to help women fund implant procedures.
News home | All latest news about Indian politics
Anonymous donations from men poured in, and in just three months they had pledged the 2,500 pounds needed.
“It was an amazing feeling when I logged on and found out I’d raised enough,” The Sun quoted Karen, as saying.
Number of Indians seeking US citizenship decreases
Press Trust of India
Friday, July 11, 2008 (Washington)
The number of Indians adopting US citizenship has decreased though they are the second biggest ethnic group to acquire the green cards.
According to the Annual Flow Report issued by Department of Homeland Security, the total number of people becoming naturalised US citizens was 6,60,477 in 2007.
The leading countries of origins of new citizens were Mexico with 122,258 followed by India at 46,871. Philippines, China and Vietnam took the third, fourth and fifth places respectively.
In 2005, the number of Indians who took citizenship was 35,962 or 6 per cent of the total; in 2006, the number rose to 47,542 or 6.8 per cent; and in 2007, it was 46,871 or 7.1 per cent.
The largest number of people naturalising lived in California followed by New York and Florida.
The DHS has pointed out that until the 1970s, majority of people naturalising were from European countries but with increased immigration from Asia, the arrival of Indo-Chinese refugees in the 1970s, and the historically higher naturalisation rate of Asian immigrants, the regional origin of new citizens shifted from Europe to Asia.
''Asia was the leading region of origin of new citizens in every year from 1976 to 2006, except 1996-2000 when IRCA legalisation immigrants, 90 per cent of whom were from North American countries, naturalised in large numbers. In 2007, however, the number of naturalisations of immigrants from North American countries slightly exceeded those of Asian immigrants'', the report says.
Statistics show that North America and Asia were each the regions of origin of 36 per cent of people naturalising in 2007, followed by Europe with 13 per cent.
Friday, July 11, 2008 (Washington)
The number of Indians adopting US citizenship has decreased though they are the second biggest ethnic group to acquire the green cards.
According to the Annual Flow Report issued by Department of Homeland Security, the total number of people becoming naturalised US citizens was 6,60,477 in 2007.
The leading countries of origins of new citizens were Mexico with 122,258 followed by India at 46,871. Philippines, China and Vietnam took the third, fourth and fifth places respectively.
In 2005, the number of Indians who took citizenship was 35,962 or 6 per cent of the total; in 2006, the number rose to 47,542 or 6.8 per cent; and in 2007, it was 46,871 or 7.1 per cent.
The largest number of people naturalising lived in California followed by New York and Florida.
The DHS has pointed out that until the 1970s, majority of people naturalising were from European countries but with increased immigration from Asia, the arrival of Indo-Chinese refugees in the 1970s, and the historically higher naturalisation rate of Asian immigrants, the regional origin of new citizens shifted from Europe to Asia.
''Asia was the leading region of origin of new citizens in every year from 1976 to 2006, except 1996-2000 when IRCA legalisation immigrants, 90 per cent of whom were from North American countries, naturalised in large numbers. In 2007, however, the number of naturalisations of immigrants from North American countries slightly exceeded those of Asian immigrants'', the report says.
Statistics show that North America and Asia were each the regions of origin of 36 per cent of people naturalising in 2007, followed by Europe with 13 per cent.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Terror threat to Games: China shuts mosques
11 Jul 2008, 0101 hrs IST, Saibal Dasgupta,TNN
Print EMail
Discuss New
Bookmark/Share
Save Write to Editor
BEIJING: Chinese authorities have replaced top police and security officials in the Muslim dominated Xinjiang province, which is the hotbed of separatism and political violence. They have also closed down 41 "illegal" places of worship.
These places of worship were used as training ground for conducting a "holy war", Chen Zhuangwei Chen, the police chief of Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang province, said. Xinjiang, which borders central Asia and Pakistan, has been the scene of a pro-independence movement by a section of the eight million Uighurs living there for a long time.
The authorities also announced they have detained 82 "suspected terrorists" in the past six months in view of fears that they might disrupt the Olympic Games. They belong to five groups that "allegedly plotted sabotage against the Beijing Olympics", the official Xinhua news agency quoted the police chief in Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital, as saying.
The government has annouced the replacement of army and security officials in the ranks of three deputy core commanders, political commissars and the head of the Communist Party organisation department in the army. The replacement suggests that the central government has been unhappy about the inability of local officials to put down the surging separatist movement in the province.
The new head of the organisation department is Liu Xiang Song, the government announced. One of the three new core commanders is Hanabati Sabukhaya, an officer from the Kazak race. Xinjiang borders Kazakisthan and several other countries including Pakistan and Russia. "From now, all police officers must act urgently, get involved once more in Olympic security, to make sure large and small incidents alike do not happen," Chen was quoted by official media as saying.
Print EMail
Discuss New
Bookmark/Share
Save Write to Editor
BEIJING: Chinese authorities have replaced top police and security officials in the Muslim dominated Xinjiang province, which is the hotbed of separatism and political violence. They have also closed down 41 "illegal" places of worship.
These places of worship were used as training ground for conducting a "holy war", Chen Zhuangwei Chen, the police chief of Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang province, said. Xinjiang, which borders central Asia and Pakistan, has been the scene of a pro-independence movement by a section of the eight million Uighurs living there for a long time.
The authorities also announced they have detained 82 "suspected terrorists" in the past six months in view of fears that they might disrupt the Olympic Games. They belong to five groups that "allegedly plotted sabotage against the Beijing Olympics", the official Xinhua news agency quoted the police chief in Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital, as saying.
The government has annouced the replacement of army and security officials in the ranks of three deputy core commanders, political commissars and the head of the Communist Party organisation department in the army. The replacement suggests that the central government has been unhappy about the inability of local officials to put down the surging separatist movement in the province.
The new head of the organisation department is Liu Xiang Song, the government announced. One of the three new core commanders is Hanabati Sabukhaya, an officer from the Kazak race. Xinjiang borders Kazakisthan and several other countries including Pakistan and Russia. "From now, all police officers must act urgently, get involved once more in Olympic security, to make sure large and small incidents alike do not happen," Chen was quoted by official media as saying.
US poised for ‘hot pursuit’ raids in Pak: Report
Font Size -
-A +A
Agencies
Posted online: Thursday , July 10, 2008 at 05:38:32
Updated: Thursday , July 10, 2008 at 05:38:32
Print Email To Editor Post Comments
Washington, July 10: US commandos “are poised” to carry out “hot pursuit” raids into Pakistan’s restive tribal areas to stem mounting Taliban attacks against US troops in Afghanistan, a media report said on Thursday.
Three Texas congressmen briefed during a trip to the region said the “plans for stepped-up US military operations are in response to Pakistan’s failure to disrupt terrorist training camps and cross-border attacks from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas,” the Houston Chronicle reported.
The Bush administration is recalibrating US operations in the region because of the increase in violent attacks against US-led forces in Afghanistan that have pushed US casualties for the month of June beyond the monthly toll in Iraq, the lawmakers-- Gene Green, Henry Cuellar (Democrats) and Michael McCaul (Republican) told the Chronicle.
Cuellar said that “either Pakistan does more or we will be taking things into our own hands,” adding: “If our troops are fired on, there will be hot pursuit into that territory.” The State Department did not respond to a request for comment, the Chronicle said.
Pakistan’s ineffective campaign makes it “imperative that US forces be allowed to pursue the Taliban and al-Qaida in tribal areas inside Pakistan,” McCaul insisted.
“If we don’t do something now, they’re going to strike us again (in the United States) and it is going to be out of this area.” U.S. Predator aircraft, pilotless drones, have reportedly carried out at least four missile strikes against suspected terrorists inside Pakistan so far this year, killing at least 45 people.
The Congressmen said their delegation met President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani last week urging additional action against Islamic militants in the tribal territories.
-A +A
Agencies
Posted online: Thursday , July 10, 2008 at 05:38:32
Updated: Thursday , July 10, 2008 at 05:38:32
Print Email To Editor Post Comments
Washington, July 10: US commandos “are poised” to carry out “hot pursuit” raids into Pakistan’s restive tribal areas to stem mounting Taliban attacks against US troops in Afghanistan, a media report said on Thursday.
Three Texas congressmen briefed during a trip to the region said the “plans for stepped-up US military operations are in response to Pakistan’s failure to disrupt terrorist training camps and cross-border attacks from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas,” the Houston Chronicle reported.
The Bush administration is recalibrating US operations in the region because of the increase in violent attacks against US-led forces in Afghanistan that have pushed US casualties for the month of June beyond the monthly toll in Iraq, the lawmakers-- Gene Green, Henry Cuellar (Democrats) and Michael McCaul (Republican) told the Chronicle.
Cuellar said that “either Pakistan does more or we will be taking things into our own hands,” adding: “If our troops are fired on, there will be hot pursuit into that territory.” The State Department did not respond to a request for comment, the Chronicle said.
Pakistan’s ineffective campaign makes it “imperative that US forces be allowed to pursue the Taliban and al-Qaida in tribal areas inside Pakistan,” McCaul insisted.
“If we don’t do something now, they’re going to strike us again (in the United States) and it is going to be out of this area.” U.S. Predator aircraft, pilotless drones, have reportedly carried out at least four missile strikes against suspected terrorists inside Pakistan so far this year, killing at least 45 people.
The Congressmen said their delegation met President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani last week urging additional action against Islamic militants in the tribal territories.
Want a Healthy Heart? Increase Potassium/Sodium In Diet
by Abby Kapoor
Published on July 10, 2008 - 0 comments
Want a Healthy Heart? Increase Potassium/Sodium In Diet
Your eating habits affect your heart! How true. A new study found that eating a healthy diet with high level of minerals such as potassium, magnesium and calcium can slash down the risk of heart diseases, stroke and high blood pressure -- in short it can increase one’s life expectancy.
The best way to fight heart disease is to keep a check on the high blood pressure, also known as hypertension which is one of the main causes of coronary diseases. Eating diet rich in minerals magnesium, potassium and calcium such as fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, low fat milk, low fat yogurt or low fat cheese can do the trick.
The experts says that people who are solely vegetarian or those who include high amount of minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium and low amount of sodium in their diet have lesser kidney and cardiovascular diseases. This may be due to the reason that magnesium, potassium and calcium are known to lower the blood pressure.
Lead author of the study, Mark C. Houston, M.D. said, “If we were to achieve the correct potassium/sodium ratio through dietary means, there would be less hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the population as a whole."
The diet of Americans contain high amount of sodium and consume double the sodium and about half of the potassium that is recommended by current guidelines.
The study says if people in US start following the diet which includes more potassium intake; the total number of people with known high blood pressure-- levels higher than 140/90 mm Hg might come down by more than 10% and would also increase the life expectancy.
In the same way, research shows that having magnesium rich-diet, at least 500 to 1,000 mg/d and calcium more than 800 mg/d may also be related with both a decrease in blood pressure and risk of developing hypertension. The information regarding these minerals, however are though not definitive.
The American Heart Association, the World Health Organization, the British Hypertension Society and the European Society of Hypertension have recommended diets that lay more importance on fresh fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products, including the landmark DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) trial.
The findings of the study appear in the July issue of The Journal of Clinical Hypertension.
Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in the arteries (blood vessels). An individual is said to have high blood pressure or hypertension when he has the blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or above each time it is taken.
Approximately 70 million people in United States and nearly half of people above 65 years and 1 in three middle-aged people in UK have high blood pressure, which leads to increased risk of heart failure or heart related diseases. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease claims life of an individual in every 37 seconds and is the leading cause of death in the US.
Another 70 million American people have the condition of “high-normal” or “pre-hypertensive” blood pressure levels (120/80 mm Hg to 130/85 mm Hg) and 90% of these people will develop hypertension by age 65.
High Blood pressure is also known as a "silent killer" as many people may have no noticeable symptoms. The best way to treat and prevent high blood pressure is by making few lifestyle changes such as shedding extra pounds if you are overweight, exercising regularly, cutting down on salt, stopping smoking, moderate alcohol consumption and eating a well balanced diet. If needed, medication can lower blood pressure. One must go for regular check ups.
This week only, twin studies conduced separately -- one by the Alzheimer's Society and another by an Imperial College London team showed that by controlling high blood pressure in middle years, one can reduce his chances of developing dementia in older age.
Another twin studies found that increased consumption of the omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish and vegetable cooking oils appear to help prevent heart attacks, while the omega-6 fatty acids in vegetables and nuts help keep blood pressure low.
Published on July 10, 2008 - 0 comments
Want a Healthy Heart? Increase Potassium/Sodium In Diet
Your eating habits affect your heart! How true. A new study found that eating a healthy diet with high level of minerals such as potassium, magnesium and calcium can slash down the risk of heart diseases, stroke and high blood pressure -- in short it can increase one’s life expectancy.
The best way to fight heart disease is to keep a check on the high blood pressure, also known as hypertension which is one of the main causes of coronary diseases. Eating diet rich in minerals magnesium, potassium and calcium such as fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, low fat milk, low fat yogurt or low fat cheese can do the trick.
The experts says that people who are solely vegetarian or those who include high amount of minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium and low amount of sodium in their diet have lesser kidney and cardiovascular diseases. This may be due to the reason that magnesium, potassium and calcium are known to lower the blood pressure.
Lead author of the study, Mark C. Houston, M.D. said, “If we were to achieve the correct potassium/sodium ratio through dietary means, there would be less hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the population as a whole."
The diet of Americans contain high amount of sodium and consume double the sodium and about half of the potassium that is recommended by current guidelines.
The study says if people in US start following the diet which includes more potassium intake; the total number of people with known high blood pressure-- levels higher than 140/90 mm Hg might come down by more than 10% and would also increase the life expectancy.
In the same way, research shows that having magnesium rich-diet, at least 500 to 1,000 mg/d and calcium more than 800 mg/d may also be related with both a decrease in blood pressure and risk of developing hypertension. The information regarding these minerals, however are though not definitive.
The American Heart Association, the World Health Organization, the British Hypertension Society and the European Society of Hypertension have recommended diets that lay more importance on fresh fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products, including the landmark DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) trial.
The findings of the study appear in the July issue of The Journal of Clinical Hypertension.
Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in the arteries (blood vessels). An individual is said to have high blood pressure or hypertension when he has the blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or above each time it is taken.
Approximately 70 million people in United States and nearly half of people above 65 years and 1 in three middle-aged people in UK have high blood pressure, which leads to increased risk of heart failure or heart related diseases. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease claims life of an individual in every 37 seconds and is the leading cause of death in the US.
Another 70 million American people have the condition of “high-normal” or “pre-hypertensive” blood pressure levels (120/80 mm Hg to 130/85 mm Hg) and 90% of these people will develop hypertension by age 65.
High Blood pressure is also known as a "silent killer" as many people may have no noticeable symptoms. The best way to treat and prevent high blood pressure is by making few lifestyle changes such as shedding extra pounds if you are overweight, exercising regularly, cutting down on salt, stopping smoking, moderate alcohol consumption and eating a well balanced diet. If needed, medication can lower blood pressure. One must go for regular check ups.
This week only, twin studies conduced separately -- one by the Alzheimer's Society and another by an Imperial College London team showed that by controlling high blood pressure in middle years, one can reduce his chances of developing dementia in older age.
Another twin studies found that increased consumption of the omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish and vegetable cooking oils appear to help prevent heart attacks, while the omega-6 fatty acids in vegetables and nuts help keep blood pressure low.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
From bull semen to bras, Iran still buys American
Wednesday, 09 July , 2008, 21:49
Last Updated: Thursday, 10 July , 2008, 01:14
Washington: Nuclear weapons? No way. But there are plenty of items on Iran's shopping list the United States is more than happy to supply: cigarettes, brassieres, bull semen and more.
US exports to Iran grew more than tenfold during President Bush's years in office even as he accused it of nuclear ambitions and sponsoring terrorists. America sent more cigarettes to Iran — at least $158 million worth under Bush — than any other product.
Other surprising shipments during the Bush administration: fur clothing, sculptures, perfume, musical instruments and military apparel. Top states shipping goods to Iran include California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin, according to an analysis by The Associated Press of seven years of US government trade data.
Despite increasingly tough rhetoric toward Iran, which Bush has called part of an "axis of evil," US trade in a range of goods survives on-again, off-again sanctions originally imposed nearly three decades ago. The rules allow sales of agricultural commodities, medicine and a few other categories of goods. The exemptions are designed to help Iranian families even as the United States pressures Iran's leaders.
"I understand that these exports have increased. However, we believe that they are increasing to a segment of the population that we want to reach out to, we want to know and understand that the US government, the US people want to be friends with them, want to work with them to integrate them into the world economy and become partners in the future," Gonzalo Gallegos, a State Department spokesman, said on Tuesday when asked by reporters about AP's findings.
Last Updated: Thursday, 10 July , 2008, 01:14
Washington: Nuclear weapons? No way. But there are plenty of items on Iran's shopping list the United States is more than happy to supply: cigarettes, brassieres, bull semen and more.
US exports to Iran grew more than tenfold during President Bush's years in office even as he accused it of nuclear ambitions and sponsoring terrorists. America sent more cigarettes to Iran — at least $158 million worth under Bush — than any other product.
Other surprising shipments during the Bush administration: fur clothing, sculptures, perfume, musical instruments and military apparel. Top states shipping goods to Iran include California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin, according to an analysis by The Associated Press of seven years of US government trade data.
Despite increasingly tough rhetoric toward Iran, which Bush has called part of an "axis of evil," US trade in a range of goods survives on-again, off-again sanctions originally imposed nearly three decades ago. The rules allow sales of agricultural commodities, medicine and a few other categories of goods. The exemptions are designed to help Iranian families even as the United States pressures Iran's leaders.
"I understand that these exports have increased. However, we believe that they are increasing to a segment of the population that we want to reach out to, we want to know and understand that the US government, the US people want to be friends with them, want to work with them to integrate them into the world economy and become partners in the future," Gonzalo Gallegos, a State Department spokesman, said on Tuesday when asked by reporters about AP's findings.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Afghan Bombing Sends Stark Message to India
By SOMINI SENGUPTA
Published: July 9, 2008
NEW DELHI — The suicide bombing on Monday outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul was the latest and most audacious attack in recent months on Indian interests in Afghanistan, where New Delhi, since helping to topple the Taliban in 2001, has staked its largest outside aid package ever.
The body of India’s defense attaché in Afghanistan, Brig. Ravi Datt Mehta, arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday. He was one of four Indians killed in Kabul on Monday.
Related
Suicide Car Blast Kills 41 in Afghan Capital (July 8, 2008)
Times Topics: India
India has poured unprecedented amounts of money and people into the reconstruction of Afghanistan, a vital passage into resource-rich Central Asia. It has spent more than $750 million, building a strategic road across the country’s southwest, training teachers and civil servants, and working on erecting a new seat of the national Parliament.
That engagement has come at a mounting cost to the 4,000 Indian citizens working in Afghanistan. In the last two and a half years, an Indian driver for the road reconstruction team was found decapitated, an engineer was abducted and killed, and seven members of the paramilitary force guarding Indian reconstruction crews were killed.
Last year alone, the Indian Border Roads Organization came under 30 rocket attacks as it built the 124-mile stretch of road across Nimroz Province that will ultimately link landlocked Afghanistan to a seaport in Iran.
The embassy bombing on Monday seems to have been the most effective strike: a bomber blew himself up as two Indian diplomats drove into the embassy early in the morning, reducing the compound to rubble and blood. Four Indians, including the two diplomats, were killed. The bulk of the 41 dead were Afghan civilians who had come for embassy services, like visas.
To much of the world, the bombing may have appeared to be another in a series of escalating attacks by militants looking to destabilize the American-backed administration of President Hamid Karzai.
Here in the Indian capital the message of the bombing was explicit: India, get out of Afghanistan.
“It is a notice saying you quit or we are going to hit you,” said Lalit Mansingh, a retired Indian diplomat who served in Kabul in the 1970s.
In condemning the attack, the Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, sent a plain message that his country would not quit, and that the Indian engagement in Afghanistan would “continue with renewed commitment.”
Not surprisingly, Pakistan was swiftly blamed for the bombing, and just as swiftly, denied having a hand in it.
But the attack also set off a lively policy debate, first over whether India should complement its reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan with military boots on the ground, and then whether Pakistan, and its backers in Washington, would allow India to play a more robust military role.
Pakistan has long been nervous about India’s penetration into Afghanistan, including its five consular missions there, along with an air base in Tajikistan, across Afghanistan’s northern border.
C. Raja Mohan, an Indian foreign policy analyst who teaches at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said the time had come for India and Pakistan to look beyond their traditional rivalries and fuse a joint strategy to confront extremists operating on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Such an initiative, he argued, would be to both countries’ advantage.
“Whatever problems we had with Pakistan, Pakistan had been a buffer between India and the badlands,” he said. “Now the buffer is falling apart. Afghanistan needs to be stabilized. Pakistan needs to be stabilized. This requires more drastic remedies.”
The attack on the embassy in Kabul has also stirred a simmering debate about whether India, as a rising economic power in the world, ought to also flex its muscle in areas of strategic interest.
The United States, for instance, long ago leaned on India to send troops to Iraq and to use its influence on Myanmar to push for democracy. India refused both requests. Sri Lanka invited India to mediate in its long-running ethnic war, but India’s intervention there 20 years ago left the Indian military with a bloody nose, and it has since refused to meddle.
“I don’t know where is an example of India punching its weight,” said K. Subrahmanyam, a defense analyst. “It is India that is keeping a restrained posture. It goes back to how India became free and what kind of state India is.”
Indian newspaper editorials on Tuesday urged the government not to buckle under the new threats in Afghanistan. “As India mourns the murder of its two diplomats in Kabul, it must brace itself up to a new burden that comes with increasing global weight,” The Indian Express wrote. “New Delhi cannot continue to expand its economic and diplomatic activity in Afghanistan while avoiding a commensurate increase in its military presence there.”
Afghanistan is in some ways the test case of the extent to which India is willing to use its hard power to advance its strategic and commercial interests.
“As India’s influence grows it will become increasingly involved in the local politics of a foreign country,” said Rahul Roy-Chowdhury, a research fellow at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. “It cannot afford to see itself as an innocent bystander anymore.”
Gurmeet Kanwal, head of the Center for Land Warfare Studies, said that Indian paramilitary troops were ill prepared to face the insurgents in Afghanistan, and that India’s development aid to that country needed to be secured by a military presence.
“I wouldn’t use the expression flex its muscles,” he said. “I would say the time has come to live up to our responsibility. If it involves military intervention, so be it.”
Published: July 9, 2008
NEW DELHI — The suicide bombing on Monday outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul was the latest and most audacious attack in recent months on Indian interests in Afghanistan, where New Delhi, since helping to topple the Taliban in 2001, has staked its largest outside aid package ever.
The body of India’s defense attaché in Afghanistan, Brig. Ravi Datt Mehta, arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday. He was one of four Indians killed in Kabul on Monday.
Related
Suicide Car Blast Kills 41 in Afghan Capital (July 8, 2008)
Times Topics: India
India has poured unprecedented amounts of money and people into the reconstruction of Afghanistan, a vital passage into resource-rich Central Asia. It has spent more than $750 million, building a strategic road across the country’s southwest, training teachers and civil servants, and working on erecting a new seat of the national Parliament.
That engagement has come at a mounting cost to the 4,000 Indian citizens working in Afghanistan. In the last two and a half years, an Indian driver for the road reconstruction team was found decapitated, an engineer was abducted and killed, and seven members of the paramilitary force guarding Indian reconstruction crews were killed.
Last year alone, the Indian Border Roads Organization came under 30 rocket attacks as it built the 124-mile stretch of road across Nimroz Province that will ultimately link landlocked Afghanistan to a seaport in Iran.
The embassy bombing on Monday seems to have been the most effective strike: a bomber blew himself up as two Indian diplomats drove into the embassy early in the morning, reducing the compound to rubble and blood. Four Indians, including the two diplomats, were killed. The bulk of the 41 dead were Afghan civilians who had come for embassy services, like visas.
To much of the world, the bombing may have appeared to be another in a series of escalating attacks by militants looking to destabilize the American-backed administration of President Hamid Karzai.
Here in the Indian capital the message of the bombing was explicit: India, get out of Afghanistan.
“It is a notice saying you quit or we are going to hit you,” said Lalit Mansingh, a retired Indian diplomat who served in Kabul in the 1970s.
In condemning the attack, the Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, sent a plain message that his country would not quit, and that the Indian engagement in Afghanistan would “continue with renewed commitment.”
Not surprisingly, Pakistan was swiftly blamed for the bombing, and just as swiftly, denied having a hand in it.
But the attack also set off a lively policy debate, first over whether India should complement its reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan with military boots on the ground, and then whether Pakistan, and its backers in Washington, would allow India to play a more robust military role.
Pakistan has long been nervous about India’s penetration into Afghanistan, including its five consular missions there, along with an air base in Tajikistan, across Afghanistan’s northern border.
C. Raja Mohan, an Indian foreign policy analyst who teaches at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said the time had come for India and Pakistan to look beyond their traditional rivalries and fuse a joint strategy to confront extremists operating on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Such an initiative, he argued, would be to both countries’ advantage.
“Whatever problems we had with Pakistan, Pakistan had been a buffer between India and the badlands,” he said. “Now the buffer is falling apart. Afghanistan needs to be stabilized. Pakistan needs to be stabilized. This requires more drastic remedies.”
The attack on the embassy in Kabul has also stirred a simmering debate about whether India, as a rising economic power in the world, ought to also flex its muscle in areas of strategic interest.
The United States, for instance, long ago leaned on India to send troops to Iraq and to use its influence on Myanmar to push for democracy. India refused both requests. Sri Lanka invited India to mediate in its long-running ethnic war, but India’s intervention there 20 years ago left the Indian military with a bloody nose, and it has since refused to meddle.
“I don’t know where is an example of India punching its weight,” said K. Subrahmanyam, a defense analyst. “It is India that is keeping a restrained posture. It goes back to how India became free and what kind of state India is.”
Indian newspaper editorials on Tuesday urged the government not to buckle under the new threats in Afghanistan. “As India mourns the murder of its two diplomats in Kabul, it must brace itself up to a new burden that comes with increasing global weight,” The Indian Express wrote. “New Delhi cannot continue to expand its economic and diplomatic activity in Afghanistan while avoiding a commensurate increase in its military presence there.”
Afghanistan is in some ways the test case of the extent to which India is willing to use its hard power to advance its strategic and commercial interests.
“As India’s influence grows it will become increasingly involved in the local politics of a foreign country,” said Rahul Roy-Chowdhury, a research fellow at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. “It cannot afford to see itself as an innocent bystander anymore.”
Gurmeet Kanwal, head of the Center for Land Warfare Studies, said that Indian paramilitary troops were ill prepared to face the insurgents in Afghanistan, and that India’s development aid to that country needed to be secured by a military presence.
“I wouldn’t use the expression flex its muscles,” he said. “I would say the time has come to live up to our responsibility. If it involves military intervention, so be it.”
Monday, July 7, 2008
Denying Hindus space
7 Jul 2008, 2250 hrs IST, Tarun Vijay
Print EMail
Discuss New
Bookmark/Share
Save Write to Editor Single page view
The Amarnath land row in Kashmir has proved that if Muslim politicians of the valley feel strongly about something they can make the government bend and accept their demands. So it is hypocrisy when they complain in some summits in London that Delhi doesn't heed them or they have less power to rule the valley 'appropriately' and hence need more autonomy. They fought on the streets and denied a piece of land to Hindu pilgrims to be used for facilitating a night's stay and food in that snowy area just for two months. The land was barren; not a single tree grows there and not one person was to be stationed there permanently. Yet the votaries of Kashmiriyat, who would announce day and night how keen they are to see Kashmiri Hindus return to their localities and how their religion stands for love, compassion and peace, stood firm, spreading lies to ensure that Hindus do not get an inch of space for a temporary shelter.
They said it is a place which will be used to reduce Muslims in the valley to a minority. The land is forest area, Hindus will destroy the environment, they said. It's a plot by Indians to assault Muslims of the valley. Hence, land will not be given at any cost, the politicians said.
They won. And they knew what they are saying to defend their indefensible position are all lies.
The first thing the new governor N N Vohra was made to do was to take back the proposal on behalf of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board for the acquisition of approximately 100 acres of land. He didn't begin his tenure trying to see Kashmiri refugee Hindus are returned with honour and safety to their homes. Nor could Vohra hold any meeting to ensure the valley is free from jihad and that developmental plans are executed to benefit all patriotic citizens. The first move that a Hindu majority country's constitutional appointee took was against the interests of Hindus.
I am sending this column from Kolkata where, being involved in a seminar on security, I saw a message from the then Governor General Sinha wishing that the seminar goes off well. It is the kind of message that holders of gubernatorial posts often send but there is a difference: while all constitutional authorities use just one symbol of the state insignia - that is, the replica of the Sarnath pillar with four faces of the lion - in Jammu and Kashmir, another state insignia is used parallel to the Indian one, representing Jammu-Kashmir.
The only state in India which has a separate flag and a special power bestowed on it by the constitution is Jammu and Kashmir. On an average it gets 10 times more grants compared to any other Indian state yet it complains a hundred times more about Delhi's discrimination and prejudice. The jawan who protects the people and the territory with his sweat and blood is not allowed to buy an inch of land in the state due to the constitutional provision of Article 370 which bars any Indian from settling down in Kashmir.
Dr Syamaprasad Mookerjee, who became the youngest vice-chancellor of Calcutta University at the age of 34 and later founded the Bharatiya Janasangh, fought against the special powers bestowed upon Jammu & Kashmir that separated it from the rest of the country and paid for his patriotism with his life. He began a movement in 1953 opposing the state's separate entity, was arrested at the state's border on May 11, 1953 and kept under house arrest in Srinagar. He was brought dead to Kolkata, his hometown, on June 24, 1953 (he breathed his last under mysterious circumstances in custody of the Jammu & Kashmir govt on June 23). Born on July 6, 1901, he was barely 52 when his death shook the nation. Prime Minister Nehru refused an inquiry and while Syama Prasad's mother Jogmaya Devi wrote a poignant letter which drew a rude reply. Kolkata was up in protest and even Somnath Chatterjee, the current Speaker of the Lok Sabha, wrote a letter of protest which was published in the Manchester Guardian. Syamaprasad's martyrdom made a difference in the sense that the provision of having two heads of the state was abolished and the sadar-e-riyasat (head of state) system was replaced with the usual governorship in vogue elsewhere.
'They have killed him'
Was Syamaprasad killed? Yes, said the Mother in Pondicherry. He was an ardent devotee of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother had great hopes from him to change the politics of India. In a book written by an ardent devotee of Sri Aurobindo, Manoj Dasgupta (Dr Syamaprasad Mookerjee "a pure and manly life", pp:52,53,) he has described a conversation which is quit revealing. He writes: 'I may add here a personal note in this context (death of Dr.Mookerjee while in detention in Kashmir). It was during the 'de facto' transfer of Pondicherry [1954] the Ashram was invited to participate in a cultural programme. One evening when the Mother came out of the interview room in the playground (of the Ashram), she began to talk to Debu and me about the preparations for the programme. In course of the conversation the question of the present political situation in India came up. I told Mother that in earlier times we had such great leaders, today we have none. She said that politics was always steeped in falsehood and that was one of the reasons why Sri Aurobindo left politics. Among the present leaders, she said that she had reposed great hope on Syamaprasad, but: "Ils l'ont tue ' They have killed him. (The entire conversation was in French). When I looked at her with surprise, she said, "My child, you don't know, that there are many ways of killing with slow poison."
Why was Syamaprasad denied a space and life in Kashmir for his just and patriotic demands? My friends tirelessly write about Kashmir's patriotic past and how during Pakistan's surprise attack in 1947, Kashmiri Muslims had raised the slogan - 'Hamlawar khabardar, hum Kashmiri hain taiyyar (Attackers beware, we Kashmiris are ready to face you)". If Kashmiri Muslims were so patriotic, why was Syama Prasad not given a place of honour in the valley for his efforts to bring Kashmir at par with other Indian states?
Like Amarnath yatris have been denied space by the present Kashmiri Muslim politicians, patriots like Syamaprasad were denied a space by the secular media and politicians of the same ilk.
In fact the socio-political space for assertive nationalists is sought to be reduced in every sphere of life. It's difficult to publish your views in the so called 'free, objective and independent' media and even if some space is given, the seculars frown upon it as if an anti-national act has been committed. The entire coverage of the Amarnath land row proves it. The slant is too visible against one set of people and favouring the prophets of denial. Why is this so?
Watch the well-orchestrated denial of space to India since the Shaikhs and Muftis have ruled Kashmir. The region got its name from Rishi Kashyap. This legend is sought to be denied or underplayed so much that it's almost invisible now in any contemporary note on Kashmir's history. Kashmir's legacy of a citizen King, Lalitaditya, is denied and dustbinned and the language of the land, the base of any variety of Kashmiriyat, i.e. Kashmiri is denied a rightful place of honour in state affairs. Yes, the state language of Kashmir is not Kashmiri, but Urdu! Because the Shaikhs in their progressivism, reinforced by their leftist supporters, thought that Urdu belongs to Muslims and Jammu and Kashmir, being a Muslim-dominated area, must have Urdu as its state language. And yet they talk of some Kashmiriyat.
They saw their Hindu neighbours being killed, raped and maimed and yet, not a single Muslim Kashmiri took out the kind of protest demonstrations which were done to protest the sanction of a piece of land for the Amarnath pilgrimage.
And yet they say Kashmiriyat means love, peace and harmony.
Print EMail
Discuss New
Bookmark/Share
Save Write to Editor Single page view
The Amarnath land row in Kashmir has proved that if Muslim politicians of the valley feel strongly about something they can make the government bend and accept their demands. So it is hypocrisy when they complain in some summits in London that Delhi doesn't heed them or they have less power to rule the valley 'appropriately' and hence need more autonomy. They fought on the streets and denied a piece of land to Hindu pilgrims to be used for facilitating a night's stay and food in that snowy area just for two months. The land was barren; not a single tree grows there and not one person was to be stationed there permanently. Yet the votaries of Kashmiriyat, who would announce day and night how keen they are to see Kashmiri Hindus return to their localities and how their religion stands for love, compassion and peace, stood firm, spreading lies to ensure that Hindus do not get an inch of space for a temporary shelter.
They said it is a place which will be used to reduce Muslims in the valley to a minority. The land is forest area, Hindus will destroy the environment, they said. It's a plot by Indians to assault Muslims of the valley. Hence, land will not be given at any cost, the politicians said.
They won. And they knew what they are saying to defend their indefensible position are all lies.
The first thing the new governor N N Vohra was made to do was to take back the proposal on behalf of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board for the acquisition of approximately 100 acres of land. He didn't begin his tenure trying to see Kashmiri refugee Hindus are returned with honour and safety to their homes. Nor could Vohra hold any meeting to ensure the valley is free from jihad and that developmental plans are executed to benefit all patriotic citizens. The first move that a Hindu majority country's constitutional appointee took was against the interests of Hindus.
I am sending this column from Kolkata where, being involved in a seminar on security, I saw a message from the then Governor General Sinha wishing that the seminar goes off well. It is the kind of message that holders of gubernatorial posts often send but there is a difference: while all constitutional authorities use just one symbol of the state insignia - that is, the replica of the Sarnath pillar with four faces of the lion - in Jammu and Kashmir, another state insignia is used parallel to the Indian one, representing Jammu-Kashmir.
The only state in India which has a separate flag and a special power bestowed on it by the constitution is Jammu and Kashmir. On an average it gets 10 times more grants compared to any other Indian state yet it complains a hundred times more about Delhi's discrimination and prejudice. The jawan who protects the people and the territory with his sweat and blood is not allowed to buy an inch of land in the state due to the constitutional provision of Article 370 which bars any Indian from settling down in Kashmir.
Dr Syamaprasad Mookerjee, who became the youngest vice-chancellor of Calcutta University at the age of 34 and later founded the Bharatiya Janasangh, fought against the special powers bestowed upon Jammu & Kashmir that separated it from the rest of the country and paid for his patriotism with his life. He began a movement in 1953 opposing the state's separate entity, was arrested at the state's border on May 11, 1953 and kept under house arrest in Srinagar. He was brought dead to Kolkata, his hometown, on June 24, 1953 (he breathed his last under mysterious circumstances in custody of the Jammu & Kashmir govt on June 23). Born on July 6, 1901, he was barely 52 when his death shook the nation. Prime Minister Nehru refused an inquiry and while Syama Prasad's mother Jogmaya Devi wrote a poignant letter which drew a rude reply. Kolkata was up in protest and even Somnath Chatterjee, the current Speaker of the Lok Sabha, wrote a letter of protest which was published in the Manchester Guardian. Syamaprasad's martyrdom made a difference in the sense that the provision of having two heads of the state was abolished and the sadar-e-riyasat (head of state) system was replaced with the usual governorship in vogue elsewhere.
'They have killed him'
Was Syamaprasad killed? Yes, said the Mother in Pondicherry. He was an ardent devotee of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother had great hopes from him to change the politics of India. In a book written by an ardent devotee of Sri Aurobindo, Manoj Dasgupta (Dr Syamaprasad Mookerjee "a pure and manly life", pp:52,53,) he has described a conversation which is quit revealing. He writes: 'I may add here a personal note in this context (death of Dr.Mookerjee while in detention in Kashmir). It was during the 'de facto' transfer of Pondicherry [1954] the Ashram was invited to participate in a cultural programme. One evening when the Mother came out of the interview room in the playground (of the Ashram), she began to talk to Debu and me about the preparations for the programme. In course of the conversation the question of the present political situation in India came up. I told Mother that in earlier times we had such great leaders, today we have none. She said that politics was always steeped in falsehood and that was one of the reasons why Sri Aurobindo left politics. Among the present leaders, she said that she had reposed great hope on Syamaprasad, but: "Ils l'ont tue ' They have killed him. (The entire conversation was in French). When I looked at her with surprise, she said, "My child, you don't know, that there are many ways of killing with slow poison."
Why was Syamaprasad denied a space and life in Kashmir for his just and patriotic demands? My friends tirelessly write about Kashmir's patriotic past and how during Pakistan's surprise attack in 1947, Kashmiri Muslims had raised the slogan - 'Hamlawar khabardar, hum Kashmiri hain taiyyar (Attackers beware, we Kashmiris are ready to face you)". If Kashmiri Muslims were so patriotic, why was Syama Prasad not given a place of honour in the valley for his efforts to bring Kashmir at par with other Indian states?
Like Amarnath yatris have been denied space by the present Kashmiri Muslim politicians, patriots like Syamaprasad were denied a space by the secular media and politicians of the same ilk.
In fact the socio-political space for assertive nationalists is sought to be reduced in every sphere of life. It's difficult to publish your views in the so called 'free, objective and independent' media and even if some space is given, the seculars frown upon it as if an anti-national act has been committed. The entire coverage of the Amarnath land row proves it. The slant is too visible against one set of people and favouring the prophets of denial. Why is this so?
Watch the well-orchestrated denial of space to India since the Shaikhs and Muftis have ruled Kashmir. The region got its name from Rishi Kashyap. This legend is sought to be denied or underplayed so much that it's almost invisible now in any contemporary note on Kashmir's history. Kashmir's legacy of a citizen King, Lalitaditya, is denied and dustbinned and the language of the land, the base of any variety of Kashmiriyat, i.e. Kashmiri is denied a rightful place of honour in state affairs. Yes, the state language of Kashmir is not Kashmiri, but Urdu! Because the Shaikhs in their progressivism, reinforced by their leftist supporters, thought that Urdu belongs to Muslims and Jammu and Kashmir, being a Muslim-dominated area, must have Urdu as its state language. And yet they talk of some Kashmiriyat.
They saw their Hindu neighbours being killed, raped and maimed and yet, not a single Muslim Kashmiri took out the kind of protest demonstrations which were done to protest the sanction of a piece of land for the Amarnath pilgrimage.
And yet they say Kashmiriyat means love, peace and harmony.
Suicide attack on Indian embassy kills 41 in Afghanistan
4 hours ago
KABUL (AFP) — A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into the Indian embassy in Kabul on Monday, killing 41 people and wounding nearly 150 others in the deadliest attack here since the 2001 fall of the Taliban, officials said.
The blast in the heart of the city scattered human flesh and severed limbs in front of the embassy compound, tearing down an outside security office and part of a wall. Charred and bloodied bodies littered a road outside.
"The toll of casualties we have so far is 41 martyred and 147 wounded. Among those killed are six policemen," Afghan interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary told AFP. Many of the dead were Afghans collecting Indian visas.
The Indian embassy's military attache and a political counsellor were killed along with two Indian guards. The body of one of the diplomats was flung onto the roof of the embassy and only found hours later, officials said.
Indian ambassador Jayan Prasad, who was not hurt in the explosion heard across the city centre, told AFP the suicide attacker rammed the diplomats' vehicle as it was entering through the gates of the embassy compound.
"The embassy has been blown up badly, the outer structures," another embassy official said on condition of anonymity. "We are walking on rubble."
Five Afghan security guards and two Indonesian diplomats were hurt at the nearby Indonesian embassy, which was also damaged, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was quoted as saying in Jakarta.
The blast was the worst in Kabul since the start of an Islamist insurgency launched after the hardline Taliban were toppled from government by US-led forces for harbouring the Al-Qaeda network after the 9/11 attacks.
The Taliban have carried out a wave of suicide bombings across the country in the past seven years, but a spokesman for the movement denied his group was involved in the Indian embassy attack.
"We have not done it," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said.
The militants have previously denied involvement in attacks with high civilian casualties but authorities often blame them, pointing to their record of suicide bombings.
The Afghan interior ministry said "terrorists" had carried out the attack "in coordination and with advice from regional intelligence circles."
Asked if this was a reference to Pakistan, Bashary declined to comment.
The Afghan government has repeatedly accused elements in Pakistan's army and its shadowy intelligence service of supporting to Taliban and other extremists for strategic interests. Pakistan denies the accusation.
President Hamid Karzai blamed the "enemies" of the good relationship between Afghanistan and India, one of the country's staunchest allies as the war-torn country battles the increasingly bloody Taliban insurgency.
He telephoned Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to offer his condolences and said his government would do all it could to find the attackers, his office said in a statement.
India has provided significant support to Afghanistan's efforts to restore order after the ouster of the Islamic extremist Taliban movement, which seized power in 1996.
"Such acts of terror will not deter us from fulfilling our commitments to the government and people of Afghanistan," the Indian government said in a statement.
The United States and European Union led international condemnation of the blast, pledging to stand by Afghanistan as it battles a growing wave of extremist violence in the region that has also seen a wave of deadly attacks in neighbouring Pakistan.
The international community has sent about 70,000 troops to Afghanistan to help them fight the militants but the insurgency has only gained pace, notably over the past two years.
In other violence Monday, a Canadian soldier died after being badly hurt in a bomb blast in the southern province of Kandahar, a Canadian commander said.
A roadside bomb similar to those used by the Taliban killed three Afghan police in the same province and a separate one killed four more in the neighbouring province of Uruzgan, government officials said.
KABUL (AFP) — A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into the Indian embassy in Kabul on Monday, killing 41 people and wounding nearly 150 others in the deadliest attack here since the 2001 fall of the Taliban, officials said.
The blast in the heart of the city scattered human flesh and severed limbs in front of the embassy compound, tearing down an outside security office and part of a wall. Charred and bloodied bodies littered a road outside.
"The toll of casualties we have so far is 41 martyred and 147 wounded. Among those killed are six policemen," Afghan interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary told AFP. Many of the dead were Afghans collecting Indian visas.
The Indian embassy's military attache and a political counsellor were killed along with two Indian guards. The body of one of the diplomats was flung onto the roof of the embassy and only found hours later, officials said.
Indian ambassador Jayan Prasad, who was not hurt in the explosion heard across the city centre, told AFP the suicide attacker rammed the diplomats' vehicle as it was entering through the gates of the embassy compound.
"The embassy has been blown up badly, the outer structures," another embassy official said on condition of anonymity. "We are walking on rubble."
Five Afghan security guards and two Indonesian diplomats were hurt at the nearby Indonesian embassy, which was also damaged, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was quoted as saying in Jakarta.
The blast was the worst in Kabul since the start of an Islamist insurgency launched after the hardline Taliban were toppled from government by US-led forces for harbouring the Al-Qaeda network after the 9/11 attacks.
The Taliban have carried out a wave of suicide bombings across the country in the past seven years, but a spokesman for the movement denied his group was involved in the Indian embassy attack.
"We have not done it," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said.
The militants have previously denied involvement in attacks with high civilian casualties but authorities often blame them, pointing to their record of suicide bombings.
The Afghan interior ministry said "terrorists" had carried out the attack "in coordination and with advice from regional intelligence circles."
Asked if this was a reference to Pakistan, Bashary declined to comment.
The Afghan government has repeatedly accused elements in Pakistan's army and its shadowy intelligence service of supporting to Taliban and other extremists for strategic interests. Pakistan denies the accusation.
President Hamid Karzai blamed the "enemies" of the good relationship between Afghanistan and India, one of the country's staunchest allies as the war-torn country battles the increasingly bloody Taliban insurgency.
He telephoned Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to offer his condolences and said his government would do all it could to find the attackers, his office said in a statement.
India has provided significant support to Afghanistan's efforts to restore order after the ouster of the Islamic extremist Taliban movement, which seized power in 1996.
"Such acts of terror will not deter us from fulfilling our commitments to the government and people of Afghanistan," the Indian government said in a statement.
The United States and European Union led international condemnation of the blast, pledging to stand by Afghanistan as it battles a growing wave of extremist violence in the region that has also seen a wave of deadly attacks in neighbouring Pakistan.
The international community has sent about 70,000 troops to Afghanistan to help them fight the militants but the insurgency has only gained pace, notably over the past two years.
In other violence Monday, a Canadian soldier died after being badly hurt in a bomb blast in the southern province of Kandahar, a Canadian commander said.
A roadside bomb similar to those used by the Taliban killed three Afghan police in the same province and a separate one killed four more in the neighbouring province of Uruzgan, government officials said.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
