Tuesday, September 30, 2008
United Nations seeks $15 million for flood beleaguered Nepal
The United Nations and its humanitarian partners have issued a $15.5 million appeal today to help 70,000 victims of flooding in eastern Nepal.
The flooding began in August when heavy monsoon rains caused a dam to break, breaching the eastern embankment of the Kosi River, one of the largest river basins in Asia. The force of the water led to 80 per cent of the river changing course, and the resulting flooding has impacted an already vulnerable population.
Robert Piper, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Nepal, called on donors for their assistance to help communities – who, in spite of widespread poverty, have helped affected families and sheltered those forced from their homes by the flooding and local governments. "As it will be many months before these families will be able to go home, their support will prove crucial to stabilize the precarious conditions of the displaced."
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The flooding began in August when heavy monsoon rains caused a dam to break, breaching the eastern embankment of the Kosi River, one of the largest river basins in Asia. The force of the water led to 80 per cent of the river changing course, and the resulting flooding has impacted an already vulnerable population.
Robert Piper, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Nepal, called on donors for their assistance to help communities – who, in spite of widespread poverty, have helped affected families and sheltered those forced from their homes by the flooding and local governments. "As it will be many months before these families will be able to go home, their support will prove crucial to stabilize the precarious conditions of the displaced."
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Labels: affected families, Aisa, donors, embankments, Flooding, funds, heavy rains, help, Kosi River, largest river basins, monsoon, Nepal, population, poverty, Robert Piper, Saptari districts, victims
Monday, September 29, 2008
1 - 15 centuries before Vasco da Gama, West knew of sea route to India
While most educated people today know about the overland medieval Silk Route linking China with Italy, few are aware of the ancient Incense Route that connected India with Rome.
Shipping along the Incense Route was the most important carrier of world trade in classical times. From the Mediterranean Sea the route extended overland across Palestine, where cities and caravanserai lined it. And then, on reaching the Suez, it embarked on ships that hugged the coast of Arabia to reach India.
This trade was so important and so expensive having to be paid for in gold that Roman elders decried it. The situation was similar to the U.S. today in that imports far exceeded exports. Rome was being bankrupted in the pursuits of trinkets - said the wise heads - to the benefit of the Kushanas, the Cholas, the Pandyans and the Cheras of India.
Many of us must have read - without being able to identify the city of Ophir - the much quoted poem' Cargoes' by a former Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, John Masefield.
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Shipping along the Incense Route was the most important carrier of world trade in classical times. From the Mediterranean Sea the route extended overland across Palestine, where cities and caravanserai lined it. And then, on reaching the Suez, it embarked on ships that hugged the coast of Arabia to reach India.
This trade was so important and so expensive having to be paid for in gold that Roman elders decried it. The situation was similar to the U.S. today in that imports far exceeded exports. Rome was being bankrupted in the pursuits of trinkets - said the wise heads - to the benefit of the Kushanas, the Cholas, the Pandyans and the Cheras of India.
Many of us must have read - without being able to identify the city of Ophir - the much quoted poem' Cargoes' by a former Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, John Masefield.
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Labels: ancient, China, Incense Route, india, Italy, Mediterranean Sea, Palestine, Rome, route, Saudi Arabia, Silk Route linking, Vasco da Gama
Friday, September 26, 2008
Delhi Swaminarayan temple uses modern technology to transmit timeless message
Which is the biggest Hindu temple in the world?What Angkor Wat was in the early 12th century, the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in New Delhi is in the first decade of the 21st century. It has been described as the Eighth Wonder of the Modern World.
There is no room for controversy in this regard.
On December 17, 2007, Michael Whitty, official world record adjudicator and member of the management committee of Guinness World Records, traveled especially to India to present a new world record to His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, spiritual leader of the worldwide Hindu religious order, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. The record presented was for Akshardham, as the ‘World's Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple'.
The Guinness certificate reads:
"BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi, India, is the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple. It measures 356 ft. (109 m.) long, 316 ft (96 m.) wide and 141 ft (43 m.) high, covering an area of 86,342 sq ft. (8,021.4 m). The grand, ancient-style, ornately handcarved stone temple has been built without structural steel within five years by 11,000 artisans and volunteers. His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, revered spiritual leader of BAPS, consecrated the temple on 6 November 2005."
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Labels: Akshardham, biggest Hindu temple, controversy, Eighth Wonder of the Modern World, Hindu religious, New Delhi, Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple
Thursday, September 25, 2008
In eastern state of Orissa, Christians face Hindus' wrath
Babita Nayak was cooking lunch for her pregnant sister when a mob of Hindu extremists wielding swords, hammers and long sticks rampaged through their village, chanting "India is for Hindus! Convert or leave!"
The men, wearing saffron headbands, ransacked dozens of huts, searching for cash and looting bicycles and livestock.
They torched the village church, leaving behind burned Bibles in the local Kui language and torn-down posters of Jesus. "Christianity is a foreign religion," they shouted over bullhorns, according to eyewitness and police reports.
Hearing that such attacks were spreading in the mist-shrouded hills of this destitute part of Orissa state, the sisters fled with hundreds of neighbors, trekking through forest land. After two days, they reached this crowded makeshift relief camp, set up on the campus of a dank high school, 15 miles from their village.
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The men, wearing saffron headbands, ransacked dozens of huts, searching for cash and looting bicycles and livestock.
They torched the village church, leaving behind burned Bibles in the local Kui language and torn-down posters of Jesus. "Christianity is a foreign religion," they shouted over bullhorns, according to eyewitness and police reports.
Hearing that such attacks were spreading in the mist-shrouded hills of this destitute part of Orissa state, the sisters fled with hundreds of neighbors, trekking through forest land. After two days, they reached this crowded makeshift relief camp, set up on the campus of a dank high school, 15 miles from their village.
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Labels: Babita Nayak, Bibles, bullhorns, christainity, church, eyewitness, Hindu, Jesus posters, Kui language, mob, Orissa state, saffron headbands, torched
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
New Democratic Party leaders say more doctors, nurses needed
In the run up to the October 14 elections, New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jack Layton announced he plans to increase the number of family physicians and nurses and speed up foreign credential recognition to meet the health needs of Canadians.
While many foreign trained doctors come to Canada, including Indians, few are able to practice after getting here. They have fought for years to get their credentials recognized and regulations changed so as to allow them to begin to use their training sooner after they come to this country.
Speaking in Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 15, Layton promised he would infuse $1 billion into the system to make agreements with Provinces and make foreign credentialing more efficient as he puts money into giving incentives to medical students to become general practitioners rather than specialists.
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While many foreign trained doctors come to Canada, including Indians, few are able to practice after getting here. They have fought for years to get their credentials recognized and regulations changed so as to allow them to begin to use their training sooner after they come to this country.
Speaking in Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 15, Layton promised he would infuse $1 billion into the system to make agreements with Provinces and make foreign credentialing more efficient as he puts money into giving incentives to medical students to become general practitioners rather than specialists.
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Labels: announced, Canada, canadians, doctors, family physicians, foreign credential, health, leaders Jack Layton, needs, New Democratic Party, nurses
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Tibetan independence leader Thubten Jigme Norbu, 86
Thubten Jigme Norbu, the eldest brother of the Dalai Lama and a tenacious symbol of the Tibetan struggle for independence, died on September 12 in Bloomington, Ind., his home in exile for four decades.He was 86 by Western standards but 87 according to Tibetan tradition, which considers a person to be a year old at birth.
A major Buddhist figure in his own right -- he was believed to be the 23rd reincarnation of a famous high lama -- Norbu had been in declining health after a series of strokes. He died of natural causes, said his son, Jigme.
Norbu taught Tibetan studies for more than 20 years at Indiana University, Bloomington. Amid cornfields on the outskirts of town he created a Tibetan cultural center that has drawn thousands of visitors, including the Dalai Lama.
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Labels: Bloomington, Dalai Lama, eldest brother, independence, Indiana University, Thubten Jigme Norbu, Tibet, Tibetan struggle, Tibetan tradition
Monday, September 22, 2008
India needs tough anti-terror laws, says government panel
India needs a tough law to fight attacks like the deadly bombings in New Delhi, a government panel said on September 16, as police released sketches of key suspects.
There were immediate signs of dissent within the government, though, after the Home Minister Shivraj Patil told NDTV news channel the country already had strong enough laws in place.
In its report, the panel asked the government to consider tougher laws to deal with growing militancy in India.
"We need a comprehensive anti-terror law, but there should be adequate safeguards," said Veerappa Moily, a senior member of the ruling Congress party, who headed the panel.
India's main opposition, the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which accuses the centrist Congress party-led coalition of following a policy of appeasement, wants the reinstatement of a tough anti-terrorism law it promoted when in power.
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There were immediate signs of dissent within the government, though, after the Home Minister Shivraj Patil told NDTV news channel the country already had strong enough laws in place.
In its report, the panel asked the government to consider tougher laws to deal with growing militancy in India.
"We need a comprehensive anti-terror law, but there should be adequate safeguards," said Veerappa Moily, a senior member of the ruling Congress party, who headed the panel.
India's main opposition, the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which accuses the centrist Congress party-led coalition of following a policy of appeasement, wants the reinstatement of a tough anti-terrorism law it promoted when in power.
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Labels: accuses, anti-terrorism law, BJP, bomb blasts, congress, dominated areas, Home Minister, india, muslims, NDTV, New Delhi, Shivraj Patil, sketches, suspects, witch hunt
Friday, September 19, 2008
Madonna dedicates ‘Like a Virgin' to Pope in Rome
Pop star Madonna, once accused by the Vatican of staging one of the most satanic shows in history, surprised fans by dedicating her hit ‘Like a Virgin' to the Pope at a sold-out concert held in Rome."I dedicate this song to the Pope, because I'm a child of God. All of you are also children of God," the 50-year old ‘Queen of Pop' told the 60,000 fans that flocked to the Italian stop of her ‘Sticky & Sweet' world tour on September 6.
Italian newspapers gushed over the singer's electric performance and called the dedication a surprising provocation.
"At the Roman leg of her tour, Madonna didn't miss the opportunity for a provocation that will certainly be discussed," Italy's top newspaper Corriere della Sera said in a front-page report.
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Labels: accused, Catholic Church, Corriere della Sera, Italian Catholic family, Italy top newspaper, performance, Pop star Madonna, Pope, Queen of Pop, Roman, Rome, Vatican, world tour
Thursday, September 18, 2008
India's first indigenously made color film on life of poor peasant
Kisan Kanya', directed by Moti B. Gidvani and produced by Ardeshir Irani of Imperial Pictures, is India's first indigenously made color film.Irani, a film pioneer who had produced notable films as 'Nala Damayanti' (1920) which was India's first international co-production (with Italy) and India's first talkie 'Alam Ara' (1931) conceived the idea of producing a color film.
The result of his efforts was 'Kisan Kanya' made with the Cinecolor process whose process rights Irani had obtained from an American company V. Shantaram had earlier produced a Marathi film 'Sairandhri' (1933) which had scenes in color.
However, the film was processed and printed in Germany. ‘Kisan Kanya' was, therefore, India's first indigenously made color film.
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Labels: Alam Ara, Ardeshir Irani, color film, Germany, Imperial Pictures, Kisan Kanya, Moti B. Gidvani, Nala Damayanti, poor peasant, producing a color film
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
New ambassadors appointed to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh
Canada has appointed Joseph Caron High Commissioner to India. He will also be responsible for relations with Nepal and Bhutan.
Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) also announced the appointment of Randolph Mank as the High Commissioner to Pakistan. It named Robert McDougall as High Commissioner to Bangladesh.
Caron, Ambassador to Japan until August this year, has also served as Ambassador to China (1998-2001) with dual accreditation to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Mongolia.
Among his many appointments over a long foreign service career, Caron was Assistant Deputy Minister Ottawa (Asia Pacific and Africa), at DFAIT (1998-2001),Senior Official for Asia Pacific Economic Community (1998-2001), Minister (Political) and Head of Chancery Tokyo Canadian Embassy (1994-1998),Director Ottawa North Asia Relations Division (China, Japan, Koreas,Indochina), DFAIT(1993-1994), Director Ottawa International Economic Relations Division responsible for Canadian participation in G8 Economic Summits and APEC (1990-1993)
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Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) also announced the appointment of Randolph Mank as the High Commissioner to Pakistan. It named Robert McDougall as High Commissioner to Bangladesh.
Caron, Ambassador to Japan until August this year, has also served as Ambassador to China (1998-2001) with dual accreditation to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Mongolia.
Among his many appointments over a long foreign service career, Caron was Assistant Deputy Minister Ottawa (Asia Pacific and Africa), at DFAIT (1998-2001),Senior Official for Asia Pacific Economic Community (1998-2001), Minister (Political) and Head of Chancery Tokyo Canadian Embassy (1994-1998),Director Ottawa North Asia Relations Division (China, Japan, Koreas,Indochina), DFAIT(1993-1994), Director Ottawa International Economic Relations Division responsible for Canadian participation in G8 Economic Summits and APEC (1990-1993)
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Labels: ambassadors, appointed, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, DFAIT, india, Joseph Caron High Commissioner, Nepal, pakistan, Randolph Mank, responsible, Robert McDougall
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
World academic leader in its time, Nalanda offers model for new global university
Which university was mankind's earliest? Two universities vie for that distinction. No, not Oxford or Cambridge.
Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world.
The university of Bologna in Italy is regarded as the first university in the West.
The earliest date for the beginning of teaching at Oxford is 30 years after the Norman Conquest - 1096.
Cambridge started much later, and between the two universities a strong rivalry has existed for centuries. Cambridge will observe its 800th anniversary in 2009.
But it is the Takshasila and Nalanda universities of Vedic and Classical India that tie for the honor of being humanity's first university.
In an article entitled, ‘Really Old School,‘ Jeffrey E. Garten, Op-Ed contributor, wrote in The New York Times of December 9, 2006: "Founded in 427 in northeastern India, not far from what is today the southern border of Nepal, and surviving until 1197, Nalanda was one of the first great universities in recorded history.
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Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world.
The university of Bologna in Italy is regarded as the first university in the West.
The earliest date for the beginning of teaching at Oxford is 30 years after the Norman Conquest - 1096.
Cambridge started much later, and between the two universities a strong rivalry has existed for centuries. Cambridge will observe its 800th anniversary in 2009.
But it is the Takshasila and Nalanda universities of Vedic and Classical India that tie for the honor of being humanity's first university.
In an article entitled, ‘Really Old School,‘ Jeffrey E. Garten, Op-Ed contributor, wrote in The New York Times of December 9, 2006: "Founded in 427 in northeastern India, not far from what is today the southern border of Nepal, and surviving until 1197, Nalanda was one of the first great universities in recorded history.
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Labels: Italy, Nalanda, Nalanda universities of Vedic and Classical India, Nepal, Oxford University, survivial, university of Bologna
Monday, September 15, 2008
Nuclear nations approve disputed India trade waiver
Forty-five nations approved a U.S. proposal on September 6 to lift a global ban on nuclear trade with India in a breakthrough towards sealing the U.S.-India civilian nuclear co-operation deal.
One hurdle remained before the U.S.-India deal can take force - ratification by the U.S.Congress. It must act before adjourning in late September for elections or the deal could be left to an uncertain fate under a new U.S.administration.
The U.S.-India deal raised international misgivings since India has shunned the NonProliferation Treaty (NPT) meant to stop the spread and production of nuclear weapons and mandate gradual disarmament, and a companion test ban pact.
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One hurdle remained before the U.S.-India deal can take force - ratification by the U.S.Congress. It must act before adjourning in late September for elections or the deal could be left to an uncertain fate under a new U.S.administration.
The U.S.-India deal raised international misgivings since India has shunned the NonProliferation Treaty (NPT) meant to stop the spread and production of nuclear weapons and mandate gradual disarmament, and a companion test ban pact.
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Labels: approve, ban, disarmament, disputed, india, India trade waiver, Manmohan Singh, NPT, NSG, nuclear deal, Nuclear nations, nuclear weapons, U S adminstration, United states, Vienna
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Landmark book profiles 20 Indian women who used art to transform lives
Eighty-one years after the publication of Katherine Mayo's ‘Mother India' comes Stephen P. Huyler's ‘Daughters of India: Art and Identity.' No two books could be more different.
Mayo's book had an enormous influence on the Western colonial view of India, arguably preventing grant of Dominion Status as early as in 1927, and in an indirect manner paving the way for The Partition.
Huyler's ‘Daughters of India' should have an even greater long term influence. It can go a long way towards easing the pain and healing.
Mahatma Gandhi described Mayo's book as ‘a drain inspector's report.'
New Age guru, Deepak Chopra wrote of Huyler's ‘Meeting God': "This is a book that simply glows with light and life. The Hindu world that Stephen Huyler shows us is luminous, suffused with spirituality, and deeply inspiring."
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Mayo's book had an enormous influence on the Western colonial view of India, arguably preventing grant of Dominion Status as early as in 1927, and in an indirect manner paving the way for The Partition.
Huyler's ‘Daughters of India' should have an even greater long term influence. It can go a long way towards easing the pain and healing.
Mahatma Gandhi described Mayo's book as ‘a drain inspector's report.'
New Age guru, Deepak Chopra wrote of Huyler's ‘Meeting God': "This is a book that simply glows with light and life. The Hindu world that Stephen Huyler shows us is luminous, suffused with spirituality, and deeply inspiring."
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Dominion Status, influence, Katherine Mayo, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother India, Stephen P Huyler
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
'Secret' letter's release renews battle over nuclear pact
As international negotiators met in Vienna to decide the fate of the contentious nuclear energy agreement between India and the United States, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government found itself facing a revived political battle at home over the deal because of the release of a secret letter in Washington.
The letter's disclosure caught India's government by surprise, a senior government official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The official added that opponents of the deal probably made it public to try to weaken India in the final stages of efforts to win approval from the 45-country Nuclear Suppliers Group in Vienna.
But more than the Vienna deliberations, the Indian official said, Singh faces the bigger challenge of rescuing the government's plummeting popularity.
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The letter's disclosure caught India's government by surprise, a senior government official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The official added that opponents of the deal probably made it public to try to weaken India in the final stages of efforts to win approval from the 45-country Nuclear Suppliers Group in Vienna.
But more than the Vienna deliberations, the Indian official said, Singh faces the bigger challenge of rescuing the government's plummeting popularity.
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Labels: battle, challenge, india, India's government, Manmohan Singh, NSG, nuclear deal, nuclear fuel, secret lwtter, United states, Vienna, Washington
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar acted in a string of films in 1930s
Reverently called Dadamuni, Kumudlal Kunjilal Ganguly, popularly known as Ashok Kumar, was born in Bhagalpur and educated at Presidency College, Calcutta.He started his career in Mumbai, albeit accidentally, with the Bombay Talkies production 'Jeevan Naiya' in 1936. The male lead, Najamul-Hussain, suddenly fell ill, and the company had to find a new hero. The director and studio head, Himanshu Rai, called upon his laboratory assistant Ashok Kumar to take the part and thus began a six-decade-long acting career.
However, it was his subsequent venture with Devika Rani in 'Achhut Kanya' in the same year that set him up for the big league.
Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar acted in a string of films after this including 'Izzat' (1937), ‘Savitri' (1937) and ‘Nirmala' (1938).
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However, it was his subsequent venture with Devika Rani in 'Achhut Kanya' in the same year that set him up for the big league.
Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar acted in a string of films after this including 'Izzat' (1937), ‘Savitri' (1937) and ‘Nirmala' (1938).
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Labels: acting career, Ashok Kumar, Bhagalpur, Bombay Talkies production, Calcutta, Devika Rani, Presidency College
Monday, September 8, 2008
Titan of industry, media baron, educationist Krishna Kumar Birla, 89
Krishna Kumar Birla, Chairman of the Hindusthan Times group of newspapers and Chancellor of Birla Institute of Technology and Science, died at his mansion in Kolkata's leafy and exclusive Old Ballygunge on August 30 morning. He was 89. His wife of 67 years, Manorama, had died a month ago.
A Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament for 18 years, he is survived by three daughters - Nandini Nopany, Sobhana Bhartia and Jyoti Poddar.
Patriarch of one of India's preeminent industrial dynasties, his last rites were performed by his grand nephew, Kumaramangalam Birla, at the Keoratola Crematorium in South Kolkata, in the presence of his brother, B.K. Birla and other members of the Birla clan. The West Bengal Governor, Gopal Krishna Gandhi, drove to Birla Park on receipt of news of the death. The Governor is a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and their two families have been knit together through years of trial during the freedom struggle.
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A Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament for 18 years, he is survived by three daughters - Nandini Nopany, Sobhana Bhartia and Jyoti Poddar.
Patriarch of one of India's preeminent industrial dynasties, his last rites were performed by his grand nephew, Kumaramangalam Birla, at the Keoratola Crematorium in South Kolkata, in the presence of his brother, B.K. Birla and other members of the Birla clan. The West Bengal Governor, Gopal Krishna Gandhi, drove to Birla Park on receipt of news of the death. The Governor is a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and their two families have been knit together through years of trial during the freedom struggle.
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Labels: Birla Park, BITS, freedom struggle, Ghanshyamdas Birla, K K Birla, Kumaramangalam Birla, Mahatma Gandhi, Manorama, media baron, Patriarch, Titan
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Indian Americans play important roles at convention
Indian Americans gave a rousing welcome to he John McCain/Sarah Palin ticket in the Presidential race and spent their time at the Republican National Convention held in St.Paul, MN from September 1to 4, networking and working behind the scenes.
"We are few, but easy to spot," Harmeet Dhillon, a candidate for the California State Assembly from the 13th District, told News India-Times. She came as a 'Guest Pass' holder but traded it with one of the alternate delegates and got to sit front and center at the Xcel Energy Center stage.
"I made some good connections meeting higher ups in the part and I wanted face time with my delegation." And she attended the meeting of the Indian American Republican Council (IARC) as well as the lunch with Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen.
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"We are few, but easy to spot," Harmeet Dhillon, a candidate for the California State Assembly from the 13th District, told News India-Times. She came as a 'Guest Pass' holder but traded it with one of the alternate delegates and got to sit front and center at the Xcel Energy Center stage.
"I made some good connections meeting higher ups in the part and I wanted face time with my delegation." And she attended the meeting of the Indian American Republican Council (IARC) as well as the lunch with Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen.
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Labels: convention, IARC, Indian Ambassador, Indian Americans, John McCain, Presidential race, roles, Ronen Sen, Sarah Palin
Friday, September 5, 2008
New opportunities for women draw anger and abuse from men
Every morning, Gitanjali Chaudhry, 17, walks to her high school through a labyrinth of temples and vegetable markets. Along with her books, she carries an Indian version of Mace - a bag of chili powder and a pouch of safety pins - to fend off the often boorish men who loiter in the narrow passageways.
"We learned that women have to be brave," said Chaudhry, a loquacious, ponytailed girl who wants to be a lawyer. She has started attending increasingly popular neighborhood classes on self defense for women.
Chaudhry is one of the brightest students in her working-class district. But since several local men started following her to class, she sometimes stays home now. She has friends who have been raped or are constant victims of "Eve teasing," when men on the street spew lewd comments or aggressively paw women's bodies.
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"We learned that women have to be brave," said Chaudhry, a loquacious, ponytailed girl who wants to be a lawyer. She has started attending increasingly popular neighborhood classes on self defense for women.
Chaudhry is one of the brightest students in her working-class district. But since several local men started following her to class, she sometimes stays home now. She has friends who have been raped or are constant victims of "Eve teasing," when men on the street spew lewd comments or aggressively paw women's bodies.
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Labels: abuse, anger, chili powder, comments, Eve teasing, harassment, Indian version of Mace, Men, New opportunities, safety pins, self defense, vegetable markets, Women
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Jindal cancels trip to Republican Convention
As tropical storm Gustave predicted to be hitting shore on September 1, and aiming at southeastern Louisiana, compelled Governor Bobby Jindal to declare an emergency on August 27, and put the National Guard on alert. Jindal also indicated he may not attend the upcoming Republican National Convention from September 1 to 4, if Gustave continues on its path to Louisiana. Jindal, shortlisted as VP for Republican candidate Senator John McCain, is scheduled to speak on prime time on day three in Minneapolis where the Convention is to be held.
The nation will be watching Jindal's handling of the storm after the disastrous handling of 2005 Hurricane Katrina by both state and federal agencies. Jindal was critical of the Bush administration's role in that catastrophe.
"If the storm continues to come this way, I'll be changing my travel plans," he said at a press briefing on Aug. 26 while giving an update on the tropical storm. "By Saturday (Aug. 30) it could be a category 3 storm," Jindal warned based on National Weather Service five-day predictions and by Monday (Sept. 1) high winds would hit Louisiana. Some time early Tuesday, September 2 morning, Jindal said 3,000 National Guard would be activated and deployed in advance of the storms landfall which is expected during the long Labor Day weekend.
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The nation will be watching Jindal's handling of the storm after the disastrous handling of 2005 Hurricane Katrina by both state and federal agencies. Jindal was critical of the Bush administration's role in that catastrophe.
"If the storm continues to come this way, I'll be changing my travel plans," he said at a press briefing on Aug. 26 while giving an update on the tropical storm. "By Saturday (Aug. 30) it could be a category 3 storm," Jindal warned based on National Weather Service five-day predictions and by Monday (Sept. 1) high winds would hit Louisiana. Some time early Tuesday, September 2 morning, Jindal said 3,000 National Guard would be activated and deployed in advance of the storms landfall which is expected during the long Labor Day weekend.
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Labels: cancel trip, disastrous, emergency, Governor Bobby Jindal, Gustave, Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana, Minneapolis, Republican National Convention, storm
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
India, United States begin reworking draft nuclear deal
The United States and India began reworking a draft agreement to win approval from a global nuclear trade bloc that has been skeptical of the two nations' proposed civilian nuclear deal, officials said on August 25.
A 45-nation meeting on whether to lift a ban on nuclear trade with India ended inconclusively last week after many members wanted to attach conditions, like trying to ban further nuclear tests by the Asian power.
The deal would allow India access to nuclear technology and fuel, overturning a three-decade ban on trade after India tested nuclear weapons in 1974.
The countries in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was scheduled to meet on September 4-5, when the United States is expected to rework the draft for a waiver breaking the nuclear trade embargo.
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A 45-nation meeting on whether to lift a ban on nuclear trade with India ended inconclusively last week after many members wanted to attach conditions, like trying to ban further nuclear tests by the Asian power.
The deal would allow India access to nuclear technology and fuel, overturning a three-decade ban on trade after India tested nuclear weapons in 1974.
The countries in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was scheduled to meet on September 4-5, when the United States is expected to rework the draft for a waiver breaking the nuclear trade embargo.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Asian power, civilian nuclear deal, draft agreement, india, Nuclear Suppliers Group, reworking, Richard Boucher, United states
Monday, September 1, 2008
Indian Americans swing into action at Denver's Pepsi Center
Despite making up only about 58 of the 4,440 delegates and alternate delegates at the Democratic National Convention, Indian Americans swung into action at Denver's Pepsi Center and around town, because of the positions they occupy in the party and the room they have carved in the political campaign debate.
In the morning session Sunita Leeds, Co Chair of the very important Rules Committee and Chair of the Democratic National Committee's Indo-American Leadership Council, was introduced along with the other members of the Rules Committee, by Howard Dean, Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
The DNC also organized an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Caucus meeting at Four Seasons Hotel, where several Indian Americans addressed the issue of getting out the youth vote and securing swing states for the party on the road to November. In the panel themed ‘Showing our Strength: Our Electeds, Our Candidates, Our Future,' Ohio State Representative Jay Goyal, was one of three state level elected officials to speak He spoke about how Democrats could win Ohio, a swing state, and if it won that state, Obama's presidency was in the bag, according to him.
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To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
In the morning session Sunita Leeds, Co Chair of the very important Rules Committee and Chair of the Democratic National Committee's Indo-American Leadership Council, was introduced along with the other members of the Rules Committee, by Howard Dean, Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
The DNC also organized an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Caucus meeting at Four Seasons Hotel, where several Indian Americans addressed the issue of getting out the youth vote and securing swing states for the party on the road to November. In the panel themed ‘Showing our Strength: Our Electeds, Our Candidates, Our Future,' Ohio State Representative Jay Goyal, was one of three state level elected officials to speak He spoke about how Democrats could win Ohio, a swing state, and if it won that state, Obama's presidency was in the bag, according to him.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: AAPI, action, Barack Obama, campaign, debate, delegates, Democratic National Convention, Denver's Pepsi Center, Indian Americans, presidential nomination, youth vote
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