Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Iran's Prez warns of any attacks against his country


Tensions rise in the Persian Gulf over accusations that Iran is close to making nuclear weapons, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad today warned of any attacks against his country.
Alleging that US and Israel were mustering international backing for a military strike on Iran, Ahmedinejad claimed that Tehran had capabilities to deal such threats.
Iranian President's remarks came in an interview with Egypt's state-owned al-Akhbar newspaper and assumed significance in the wake of American media reports quoting UN experts that Tehran is on the threshold of making a nuclear bomb and had mastered the critical steps needed to build a weapon after receiving assistance from a foreign scientist.
"It is Israel that has about 300 nuclear warheads. Iran is only keen to have nuclear capability for peaceful means," he said, accusing Washington of lumping Iran with Syria, the Islamist Hamas movement that rules Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The US portrays those four as "the Axis of Evil to save the Zionist entity. But the Zionists are bound to go out of existence," he said.
Ahmadinejad also talked of Iran's growing military power, which has fueled fear from the US that Iran is now able to compete with Israel and the West, he said.
"Yes, we have military capabilities that are different from any other country in the region," al-Akhbar cited Ahmadinejad as saying.
"Iran is increasing in capability and advancement and therefore we are able to compete with Israel and the West and especially the United States." "The US fears Iran's capability," he told the paper. "Iran will not permit anyone making a move against it."

Monday, November 7, 2011

Beijing's cultural genocide cause of Self-immolation:Dalai

Dalai Lama blamed Beijing's cultural genocide for a wave of self-immolation among monks and nuns in ethnic Tibetan parts of Sichuan. Speaking to newsmen in Tokyo, the Tibetan spiritual leader said, hard-line officials had created a "desperate" situation.

Eleven young Tibetans have set themselves on fire this year in apparent protest against Chinese rule. The most recent was a nun in Dawu county, who died after setting herself on fire last week.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Gujarat riots witness Nadeem Sayed stabbed to death

The witness of 2002 Naroda Patiya riot case Nadim Ahmed Sayed was stabbed to death by some unknown persons in Juhapura area in Ahmedabad.

The police said the incident took place yesterday when Sayed left his house in the morning. The assailant stabbed him with a sharp weapons several times and fled.

According to police, Sayed was rushed to V.S.hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by the doctor.

The deceased was a witness in the Naroda Patiya case where 95 persons were killed on 2002 during communal violence erupted in Gujarat.

Seven indicted in Bhutto murder case

Seven indicted in Bhutto murder case

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court hearing the Benazir Bhutto assassination case on Saturday indicted seven people, including two former top police officers responsible for providing security to the ex-Premier.
Former Rawalpindi police chief Saud Aziz and ex-Superintendent of Police Khurram Shahzad were indicted by the court along with five alleged members of militant groups who were identified as Hasnain Gul, Rafaqat Hussain, Sher Zaman, Aitzaz Shah and Abdul Rasheed.
The two former police officers have been accused of negligence in providing security to Bhutto.
Prosecution lawyers said the indictments of the suspects were of varying nature. Details were not immediately known.
Following the indictment, the judge of the Rawalpindi-based anti-terrorism court adjourned the case till November 19.
Bhutto was killed by a suicide attacker shortly after addressing an election rally in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007.
She was attacked weeks after she returned to Pakistan after spending several years in self-exile.Media agencies

Friday, November 4, 2011

Ministry of Shipping meets on ‘Cruise Shipping’

Consultative Committee of Ministry of Shipping meets on ‘Cruise Shipping’ The Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Shipping met at Cochin today on board a Cruise Ship to discuss ‘Cruise Shipping’.

Following is the text of inaugural address by Shri G.K. Vasan, Union Minister of Shipping:

“Cruise Shipping is an important and growing component of the leisure industry worldwide. It contributes directly and indirectly to the economy of the country concerned. This sector has a number of spin-off effects in service sector. Besides generating revenue in the form of passenger fares, port charges, etc., it also promotes many industries like handicraft, guide service and catering, etc., and earns valuable foreign exchange for the country.

Cruise Tourism has tremendous potential in India. If it is made more affordable and the availability of cruise services are enhanced, the vast Indian middle class could form a huge pool of client base. The saturation witnessed in world’s most favorite cruising areas like the Caribbean, Mediterranean, etc. provides India a tremendous opportunity to position herself as a new destination for cruise tourism. Despite inherent advantages and tremendous potential of ‘Cruise Shipping’ sector, the country has not witnessed worthwhile growth as compared to the growth witnessed in Latin America and South East Asia in this segment. It requires a special marketing strategy and focus.

The Cruise Shipping Policy, approved by the Government in 2008, provides for relaxation of cabotage for coastal runs by foreign flagships, conducive fiscal regime and development of facilities at ports. It also envisages rail, road, air and metro connectivity. Quick and hassle free immigration and custom clearance for the tourist has also been emphasized in this policy.

A Steering Committee Chaired by Secretary (Shipping) and comprising of senior officers of Shipping and Tourism Ministries was constituted in January, 2010 to address issues related to Cruise Shipping. Five Major Ports, namely Goa, Chennai, Cochin, Mumbai and Mangalore have been identified for development of cruise terminals by this Committee. The Committee has also recommended inclusion of travel by river cruise and coastal runs of cruise ships under LTC facilities provided for Government employees.

The Government is addressing all issues concerned with the development of cruise shipping in the country like creating port infrastructure, cruise terminals, providing financial incentives and reducing tax burdens, and establishing an institutional framework for holistic development of cruise shipping.

The Ports are earmarking funds from their own resources for development of Cruise related Infrastructure. Dedicated cruise vessel facility is currently available at Chennai, New Mangalore, Kochi, Mumbai and VOC Port at Tuticorin. The port infrastructure is improving. Cruise Terminals are also being developed at other ports like Murmagao and Kolkata.

There are river cruises on National Waterways also which are in the nature of city cruises, day cruises and long distance cruises. Presently, regular river cruises are operative on Kolkata-Varanasi, Kolkata-Murshidabd, Kolkata-Semaria and Sunderbans.

The Ministry of Tourism operates a scheme for Large Revenue Generating Projects to remove shortcomings of budgetary resources for projects involving higher degree of investments for creation of tourism infrastructure. The subsidy under the scheme upto Rs.50 crores subject to maximum of 25% of total project cost or 50% of equity contribution of the promoter, whichever is lower is being provided. Under this scheme, projects at Mormugao Port and Cochin Port are being examined for approval for grant of assistance by Ministry of Tourism.

The number of cruise ships which called at Indian port was 129 in the year 2010-11 as compared to 55 in the year 2003-04 and the number of cruise passengers rose from 34,372 in 2003-04 to about 1 lakh in 2010-11.

With the initiatives of the Ministry of Shipping, incentives from the Ministry of Tourism and the support of honourable Members of this august Committee, I am sure, cruise shipping as a money spinner for our economy will grow from strength to strength.

I am thankful to have the presence of the Hon’ble Members of the Consultative Committee today in Cochin where our meeting is conducted on board a cruise ship to provide firsthand experience of sailing in a cruise ship. I am sure this will be a memorable meeting for all of us”.

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