NORWAY’S PRIME MINISTER SECRETLY DRIVES TAXI TO KNOW PULSE
Norway’s prime minister has taken part in an unusual election campaign stunt to gauge the mood of the people.
Video footage released on Sunday shows Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg working as an undercover taxi driver.
He is seen wearing sunglasses and a taxi driver’s uniform as he drives people, young and old, around Oslo.
Stoltenberg did not identify himself to the passengers. But they burst out laughing when they finally realized that he was, in fact, the prime minister. One jokingly asked him if he had begun working as a part-time cab driver.
Another made fun of his driving skills after Stoltenberg jolted the car abruptly. The prime minister said he had not driven for eight years.
In most cases, the conversation turned to education and economic policies.
Stoltenberg did not charge any of the passengers.
He says the stunt was aimed at finding out what people really thought.
MALI VOTERS CAST BALLOTS IN PRESIDENTIAL RUN-OFF
People in Mali have voted in the presidential election run-off, in what is being seen as a test of the West African nation’s political stability.
Former prime minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and former finance minister Soumaila Cisse contested in the second round of the presidential election on Sunday.
The run-off ballot was held after no candidate secured a majority in the first round of voting last month.
Both candidates appealed for restoration of security and economic rehabilitation of the conflict-torn country.
Vote-counting is expected to take about 5 days.
In January, France, the former colonial ruler, sent troops to Mali to halt the advance of Muslim extremists that had taken control of the country’s north.
India launches first indigenous aircraft carrier
India launched its first indigenous aircraft carrier Monday, which will put the country in the league of nations to have such a capability.
Russia among countries atop NSA surveillance priority
Russia, alongside the EU, China and Iran, are on top of the NSA’s spying priority list, according to a document leaked by fugitive Edward Snowden and published by Der Spiegel weekly.
In the classified document, dated April 2013, countries are assigned levels of interest for NSA surveillance from 1 (the highest) to 5 (the lowest).
Among the top surveillance targets are China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, North Korea and Afghanistan. The EU, as a whole is also ranking high, though individually its 28 member-states are of lesser importance to the US intelligence, with Germany and France representing mid-level interest, while countries like Finland, Croatia and Denmark are denoted as almost irrelevant in data gathering.
Specification is also provided on what areas of interest are to be mostly looked at in different countries. Der Spiegel, which published the leaked document on Saturday, focuses on which German issues interested US spying agency the most.
Israeli PM undergoes successful hernia surgery
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 63, has undergone successful hernia surgery early on Sunday morning at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, The Jerusalem Post reports. In a few hours he will be able to leave the clinic and get home. “Netanyahu has been transferred to the recovery unit. He is feeling good, and we hope to release him by noon,” said the hospital’s director, Dr. Yuval Weiss. Israeli PM is expected to return to his duties by the end of this week. Netanyahu was hospitalized having complaints about abdominal pains. A medical study showed PM needs immediate operation which was performed, causing the cancellation of the Israeli cabinet’s Sunday meeting dedicated to the upcoming liberation of Palestinian prisoners.
Assault on LNG terminal in Yemen leaves 5 dead
An attack by militants with alleged Al-Qaeda links on Balhaf liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal on early Sunday morning resulted in deaths of a guard and four Yemeni soldiers keeping the watch on the site. The soldiers were killed while sleeping. The militants fled the scene of the crime in a vehicle. The $4.5 billion gas facility in the southern Shabwa province is jointly managed by Yemen LNG and France’s Total. Local authorities believe the terminal is one of the primary targets for local; Al-Qaeda branch which is on war path taking revenge for 15 militants killed over three last day by airstrikes from American UAVs.
Israel downplays Egypt drone attack
Israel won’t let “rumors and speculation” harm the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty, said Israel’s Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon in a statement late on Saturday, though Yaalon didn’t explicitly deny that Israel carried out the attack. This comes in a bid to downplay reports that an Israeli drone killed four militants in a cross-border strike into Egypt on Friday. Egyptian officials initially said an Israeli drone carried out the attack. However on Saturday, Egypt’s state media quoted an anonymous security official saying the strike against the militants had been carried out by Egyptian helicopters.
US offers $10mn for tip for deadly Iraq bombings
The US has condemned Saturday’s string of car bombings in Iraq, in which at least 80 people have been killed and 200 others wounded. The US State Department issued a statement saying that “the terrorists who committed these acts are enemies of Islam and a shared enemy of the United States, Iraq, and the international community.” The statement then said that the attacks bore the hallmarks of Al-Qaeda in Iraq and offered a $10-million reward for information leading to the death or capture of the group’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. At least 671 people were killed in Iraq this year during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, making it the bloodiest Ramadan in the country since 2007. The sectarian violence between Iraqi Shiites and Sunnis is again on the rise, fueled by attacks of Sunni Islamist militants to undermine the Shia-led government.
Tourist bus crash in France:
A Eurolines tourist bus night ride on A9 highway driving from France’s Marseille to Spain’s Murcie ended in catastrophe. For so far unknown reason at around 1:30am the bus fell on its side and then rolled five meters down the slope. One Spaniard and a French citizen have been proclaimed dead, reportedly 30 were injured, and two of them remain in a critical condition. The injured have been evacuated by four medical helicopters and 20 emergency vehicles. There were 44 people aboard: 41 passengers (French, Spanish, Ukrainian and at least three Russian) and three drivers. The driver behind the wheel has been checked and proclaimed sober. Police has voiced two possible causes of the tragedy, a dangerous maneuver of an oncoming vehicle and a quarrel between the bus driver and one of the passengers.
Zimbabwe denies it has struck uranium deal with Iran
Zimbabwean state-controlled radio has announced that the Ministry of Mines has not done a deal to sell Uranium to Iran for its nuclear program. The radio dismissed reports which appeared in the British media that a deal had been agreed as “a malicious a blatant lie.” Police also said they were searching for two British journalists from the London Times over the report, one of whom was also covering the July 31 elections. Under Zimbabwe’s sweeping media laws it is a criminal offence to publish ‘falsehoods’. Zimbabwe’s long-term ruler Robert Mugabe won by a landslide in the July 31 elections that his opponents said were beset by irregularities and were neither free nor fair. Iran is accused by the West of developing nuclear weapons, a charge it denies.
Three US soldiers killed in Afghanistan
Three US soldiers were killed in Afghanistan’s Pakita province on Sunday. Pakita, which is located in the east of the country, borders lawless areas of Pakistan and is considered to be of the most dangerous areas in the country. US troops handed over security responsibilities to Afghan security forces earlier this year and now are mainly involved in training. There are currently around 100,000 soldiers in the country as part of the NATO-led mission. The majority of troops – around 68,000 – are American. Most of the soldiers will be gone by the official end of the mission at the end of 2014.
Israel to release 26 Palestinian prisoners on eve of renewed negotiations
In a bid to restart negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, Israeli cabinet decided on Sunday to release some of their Palestinian prisoners in the coming days, bringing to an end a three-year lull in US-sponsored peace talks. ”Following the government decision to renew peace talks with the Palestinians and appoint a ministerial committee to free prisoners during negotiations…the committee approved the release of 26 prisoners,” an official statement said. The prisoners will be the first out of 104 that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet will release. The news comes three days before the scheduled restart of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks which are set to be held in Israel and the West Bank.
Muslim Brotherhood calls on supporters to rally across the nation
Amid reports that Egyptian security forces are preparing to disperse massive pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo in the coming hours, the Muslim Brotherhood has called on its supporters from around the country to rally on Monday. “The Alliance calls the Egyptian people in all the provinces of Egypt to mass rallies and peaceful events on Monday (August 12) throughout the nation, and to a huge rally in the heart of Cairo, to be launched from Fateh Mosque in Ramses, after noon prayers,” the movement said.
Al-Qaeda claims responsibility for deadly Eid attacks in Iraq
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, an Al-Qaeda front group, has claimed responsibility for the deadly string of attacks that shattered Iraq on Saturday, killing about 80 people and leaving over 200 wounded. “The Islamic State mobilized…in Baghdad and the southern states and others to convey a quick message of deterrence on the third day of Eid al-Fitr,” a statement posted on jihadist forums said, according to AFP. The US earlier accused Al-Qaeda of the attack and offered a $10 million reward for information leading to the death or capture of the group’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. At least 671 people were killed in Iraq this year during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, making it the bloodiest Ramadan in the country since 2007. Sectarian violence between Iraqi Shiites and Sunnis is again on the rise, fueled by attacks of Sunni Islamist militants aiming to undermine the Shia-led government.
| GJM leader arrested, bandh in Darjeeling enters tenth day |
Kalimpong GJM core committee member Shekhar Sharma has been arrested in connection with old cases registered against him as the indefinite shut down in Darjeeling hills entered tenth day on Monday.
Police said Sharma, who was absconding, was arrested on Saturday night following a tip off and with his arrest the number of those taken into custody has risen to 168.
Life in the hills was paralysed for the ninth day today amidst the 72 hour deadline set by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to withdraw the bandh.
There were reports of poor people walking long distances to reach Darjeeling in search of provisions.
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which has called the bandh, has put up small tents in Darjeeling from where it is distributing small rations to BPL people.
All shops and other commercial establishments have been closed since the beginning of indefinite bandh.
Vehicular traffic on NH-31A, the lifeline of Sikkim, was also nil, the sources said. GJM leaders and supporters gathered at the main areas in Darjeeling town and shouted slogans in support of Gorkhaland and against the government’s deadline.
Meanwhile, cable TV operators have resumed services after being ordered to stop on Saturday.
Four more GJM youth leaders were arrested by police and CRPF on Sunday from Kurseong, taking the number of those in police custody to 172, police said.
The four have been identified as Sumit Deep, Suman Lama, Abhishek Gurung, Lawang Gurung.
They allegedly had set fire to government property, picket on highways and were threatening people, police said.
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J&K govt orders judicial inquiry into Kishtwar clashes
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the state government has decided to order a judicial inquiry into the communal clashes in Kishtwar district that left two persons dead and 20 others injured.
“The inquiry will be held by a retired High Court judge in a time-bound manner to establish the facts and share them publicly,” he said.
The decision was taken at a high-level ministerial meeting chaired by the Chief Minister in Jammu on Monday.
Communal clashes broke out in Kishtwar area of Jammu province on Eid day which later spread to other parts of the region including Jammu city and Rajouri town.
Curfew restrictions were eased in two of the eight districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday night, where it was clamped following communal clashes in Kishtwar.
Curfew continues in six districts in Jammu region and Army staged flag marches as the administration declared violence-rocked Kishtwar out of bounds for politicians.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah flew to the winter capital and reviewed the situation, directing stern action against those disturbing peace.
One more body was found in Kishtwar, scene of communal clashes, which remained curfew-bound for the third consecutive day on Sunday but authorities were yet to find out whether he died in violence.
The Chief Minister also said it was being ascertained whether he died in clashes or due to some other reasons. Curfew was imposed in Kishtwar after Friday’s clashes that left two dead and scores injured.
On Sunday night, curfew was eased from Doda and Kathua districts.
Curfew continue to remain in force in six districts of Kishtwar, Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Rajouri and Reasi.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley was detained as he arrived at the airport on his way to Kishtwar, drawing sharp reaction from the BJP which termed it as undemocratic.
He was sent back to Delhi at around 1545 hours by flight, officials said.
BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Avinash Rai Khanna, who was to accompany Jaitley to Kishtwar, was also detained by police while he was trying to enter Kathua Sunday morning.
PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti claimed she was prevented from leaving her house
EC all-party meet for framing guidelines on ‘freebies’ today
In its bid to regulate freebies being offered by political parties in election manifestos, the Election Commission will seek the opinion of various parties on Monday for framing guidelines in this regard.
The guidelines are being framed in view of the recent apex court order which says there is no enactment that directly governs the contents of the election manifesto.
The EC will, in its meeting in New Delhi on Monday with various parties, seek their opinion on the matter before making rules on allurements in election manifestos.
The poll body wishes to formulate a clear policy on defining freebies announced by parties ahead of elections and has invited suggestions from them.
The EC had studied practices adopted by different nations in this regard and received responses from eight of them.
The Commission has felt that offering of freebies by parties ahead of polls disturbs the level playing field and may vitiate the atmosphere.
Parties have in recent times offered free power, laptops, TV sets and other household items to voters in their manifestos and such populist measures have proved a huge burden on the finance of states.
Political parties have been arguing that the benefits announced were meant for the welfare of the poor and were required.
The Supreme Court while disposing of a special leave petition on 5th July, challenging the freebies announced by the Tamil Nadu government, had asked the Commission to frame guidelines about such promises announced by political parties in their manifestos.
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| Six dead in Indonesian volcanic eruption |
A volcano erupted on a tiny island in central Indonesia on Sunday, spewing hot ash into the sky and unleashing torrents of molten lava that engulfed and killed six people sleeping on a beach, officials said.
Mount Rokatenda, on the island of Palue, sent huge clouds of red-hot ash and rocks two kilometres (1.2 miles) into the air, said vulcanology centre head Surono.
“There are six victims who were engulfed in hot lava,” Johanes Berchmans, head of the disaster management agency in Sikka district, said.
“They were swept away by hot lava when they were asleep on Punge beach.” Three adults aged between 58 and 69 were found dead while three children aged between five and eight were also killed, though their bodies had not yet been recovered, he said.
Surono, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said rescue efforts were difficult “because the area is still very hot”.
Rokatenda has been showing signs of increased volcanic activity since October, with authorities banning people from any activities within three kilometres of its crater.
Some 2,000 people had previously been evacuated from the island due to the volcanic activity leaving around 8,000 before today’s eruption, said Berchmans.
“Tomorrow our staff will go from area to area to pick up anyone willing to leave the island,” he said.
The volcano began erupting at 04:27 am (2027 GMT yesterday) and it continued for nearly four hours, said Surono. Palue is part of Sikka district, which is part of East Nusa Tenggara province.
It is just north of Flores island in the sprawling Indonesian archipelago which is made up of more than 17,000 islands. Indonesia has dozens of active volcanoes and straddles major tectonic fault lines known as the “Ring of Fire” between the Pacific and Indian oceans.
The country’s most active volcano, Mount Merapi in central Java, killed more than 350 people in a series of violent eruptions in 2010.
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| Two quakes shakes parts of Tibet |
Parts of Tibet were rocked by two earthquakes on Monday morning.
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake jolted the border region of Zogang County and Markam County at Qamdo Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region at 5:23 a.m. Monday (Beijing Time), China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) said.
Aftershocks, a 5.1-magnitude one being the strongest so far, have kept striking the area, the centre said. No casualties have been reported in the quake-hit area, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Much of western China is prone to earthquakes.
Twin 5.6 and 5.9 magnitude quakes killed at least 95 people in Gansu province last month. A 6.6 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan province killed about 200 people earlier this year.
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| Sudan: 100 killed in fighting in Darfur |
Fighting between two Arab tribes has killed 100 people in Sudan’s Darfur region, where worsening unrest has left hundreds dead this year, one of them said on Sunday.
The battle between a group of Rezeigat and the rival Maaliya tribe happened near Adila in East Darfur state yesterday.
“We clashed with Maaliya… and we destroyed a compound of theirs and killed 70 of them,” said a Rezeigat source, who declined to be named.
“We lost 30 of our men.”There is still high tension and men from both sides are gathered,” the source said. A Maaliya source said, “We still expect more fighting today.”
He said the Rezeigat “attacked” and burned villages.
The Maaliya source declined to say how many from his tribe had died but said his group “killed 40″ of their adversaries
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Soumyajit, Manika win titles in Brazil Open
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India celebrated a rare moment of success in international table tennis as Soumyajit Ghosh clinched the Under 21 men’s title while Manika Batra bagged the Under 21 women’s trophy at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Brazil Open at Santos.
After Manika accounted for host nation’s Caroline Kumahara 11-5, 9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-5 to take the Under-21 women’s singles crown, Ghosh defeated Benjamin Brossier of France 8-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2 to win the men’s singles title.
The Indians also pocketed USD 1500 each for their title wins.
“I have played Caroline before this year and won the team event in the Slovak Republic,” said Manika.
“I started the match confidently and tried to play slowly as she is a strong attacking player,” added the Delhi girl.
Manika varied her speed and used a lot of backspin to dictate terms throughout the final.
Ghosh, who had beaten teammate G Sathiyan in the semi-finals 11-4, 11-7, 14-12, 9-11, 11-9, knew Brossier would be a hard nut to crack.
Though Ghosh was up to the task, the Brazilian was time and again breathing down his neck in the final which saw fortunes fluctuating.
The Indian, however, had the measure of his rival, particularly in the decider, taking a 4-0 lead. Pumping his fist and more vocal with every point, Ghosh stayed closer to the table to finish the job in style.
“I was able to win those crucial points which made the difference in the sixth game. After that I was very confident of winning the match,” said Ghosh.
Meanwhile, Sagarika Ghosh won the Cadet Girls singles title while Birdie Boro had to be satisfied with a silver in the Cadet Boys singles at the Guatemala Junior and Cadet Open Table Tennis championships.
Sagarika, the winner of South Asian Junior title recently, beat Sreeja 11-6, 11-5, 11-8 to take gold in the final.
Birdie Boro lost 9-11, 8-11, 5-11 to Cuban Livan Martinez in the final of the boys singles event. Earlier, Boro had beaten teammate Anirban Ghosh 3-0 to enter the final.
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Bolt regains world 100m title in emphatic style
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Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt lifted track and field out of the doping doldrums as he reclaimed his world 100m title in emphatic style on Sunday.
Bolt clocked a season’s best 9.77 seconds in heavy rain at the Luzhniki Stadium, with American Justin Gatlin claiming silver in 9.85sec and Nesta Carter, also of Jamaica, taking bronze in 9.95sec.
Athletics’ credibility had again been called to account in recent weeks, notably after American sprint rival Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell tested positive for drugs.
Once again it was Bolt, the powerfully-built 26-year-old world record holder in both the 100 and 200m, who came to the rescue, at least in the short term.
The sole blot on the Jamaican’s copybook since winning treble gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics was a false start two years ago in the Daegu worlds that saw now-injured teammate Yohan Blake take the blue riband title.
“I am happy but I wanted to do better,” said Bolt. “My legs were sore after the semi-finals, I don’t know why, but the world record wasn’t on so I came out just to win.
“Back in Jamaica, they do not expect less than that from me. They always expect me to dominate”, he added.
The race itself was “classic” Bolt in front of a Luzhniki Stadium that was far from being a sell-out in stormy weather.
Modestly, but safely, out of the blocks, Bolt’s head and shoulders remained low as he drove into the opening metres.
While his reaction time might have been slower than all but one other in the field, he soon reeled in the opposition.
Come the 50 metre mark and Bolt pushed his huge frame through his renowed transition phase, head coming up and long legs pumping, teeth gritted and eyes on the big screen beyond the finish line.
He moved past Gatlin on his left and had a brief look over at Carter on his right before putting on the after-burners.
In the build-up to the evening session, the “Bolt effect” could be seen in the crowd, as one of sport’s biggest names once again proved his worth as an athlete and main drawcard for a track and field meet.
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Thai teen Ratchanok Intanon defeats Li to take women’s world title
Thai teenager Ratchanok Intanon took the women’s singles title at the badminton world championships in Guangzhou on Sunday, beating Olympic champion Li Xuerui 22-20, 18-21, 21-14 in a massive upset.
Ratchanok, 18, becomes the first ever Thai player to win gold at the world championships after defeating 22-year-old top seed Li, who was gunning for her first world title.
The three-game thriller was a battle of technical skill and stamina, with Ratchanok pushing a more experienced Li around the court with a sophisticated repertoire of shots.
Ratchanok came back from 19-12 down in the first game to clinch it by two points, with a grim-faced Li fighting back to take the second.
But the supremely relaxed Thai looked physically and mentally stronger in the final game, holding on to a lead as Li threw everything at her.
At the end of the match Ratchanok dropped to her knees in tears on court before bowing to an applauding stadium.
A smiling Ratchanok, who still has braces on her teeth, said she would meet Thailand’s Queen Sirikit on Monday, which is a national holiday to mark the queen’s birthday and Mother’s Day.
“I am going to bring my victory to the queen and to my mother and godmother as a gift,” Ratchanok said.
“Before this match I didn’t have confidence when I was competing against the top players, but after today I will.
“Li was not playing like herself. I felt really relaxed and I think she was nervous. I have played her five times and she has won four, so it was amazing that I beat her today.”
It was a fairytale moment in a career that started when she was five years old and her parents were working in a dessert factory, taking Ratchanok with them each day.
Ratchanok and other children were sent to a badminton academy by the factory owner, who felt it was dangerous for them to be there.
The teenager supports her family through her badminton career.
“Being the champion has been my dream,” she said. “At the end of the match all the tough moments from all the years came into my mind and I thought, ‘Finally, I got it.’”
Speaking after the match a deflated Li said she had found it hard to concentrate.
“It wasn’t being the top seed that affected my mindset — I think I was just too eager to win.
“We prepared thoroughly for the match, but it was hard to implement the plan. When I tried to execute my strategies, I would make errors.
“We prepared thoroughly for the match, but it was hard to implement the plan. When I tried to execute my strategies, I would make errors.
“My opponent played very well and seemed very relaxed, which put a lot of pressure on me.”
Reigning women’s doubles champions Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang had started the day well for China, taking the title with a 21-14, 18-21, 21-8 win against Koreans Eom Hye-Won and Jang Ye-Na.
With Li then beaten by Ratchanok, home fans were looking to energetic Chinese mixed doubles pair Xu Chen and Ma Jin to take the next gold.
But it wasn’t to be as third-ranked Indonesian duo Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir fought back from behind in the third game to defeat the top seeds 21-13, 16-21, 22-20 in a nailbiting finish.
Natsir becomes the only mixed doubles player ever to have won three world championship gold medals.
Indonesia were celebrating again after men’s doubles pair Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan beat Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen of Denmark in two sets 21-13, 23-21.
Prithvi-11 test fired successfully
India on Monday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile, which has a strike range of 350 km, as part of a user trial for the defence forces.
The sophisticated surface-to-surface missile was test fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur at 9.15 AM, defence sources said.
Describing the trial as successful, they said the launch of the sleek missile was conducted as part of operational exercise by the strategic force command (SFC) of the defence services, they said.
“The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the total launch activities were carried out by the specially formed SFC and monitored by the scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of practice drill,” the sources said.
The Prithvi-II missile, developed by the DRDO, is already inducted into the Indian Armed forces. Prithvi, the first missile developed under India’s prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads and thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines, uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory.
The last users trial of Prithvi-II was successfully carried out from the same base on on December 20, 2012, the sources said.
Round 2 of JK Tyre Racing Championship 2013 comes to exhilarating end
~Vishnu Prasad registers five dream podium finishes in JK Racing India Series and Formula LGB 4 over the weekend~
~Prashanth Tharani and Jeffery Kruger share honors in Polo R Cup~
August 11, 2013, Coimbatore: The concluding day of Round 2 of the 16th JK Tyre Racing Championship witnessed thrills galore in five exciting races, two each in the JK Racing India Series and JK Tyre VW Polo R Cup and one in the Formula LGB 4 class, at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore. Vishnu Prasad
Fresh after yesterdayⳠscintillating victory in the first race, the JK Racing India Series⊳econd race witnessed pole position holder Vishnu Prasad leading the pack of drivers by a margin that kept widening after each round. The young driver had a dominant race that he attributed to a lightning-fast opening lap, proving just how decisive the first few laps are. He was followed by Bangalore boys Akhil Rabindra and Arjun Maini for the first few laps before Maini gave up his position to the Kohlapur based Chittesh Mandody. The trio held onto their positions until the end and Prasad took the chequered flag with a margin of six well-made seconds. Towards the end, an event involving Karminder Singh and Maini helped HyderabadⳠAkhil Khushlani to register a fourth place finish with a total time of 17:00.389.
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Starting on pole in the final FB02 race, Prasad stole the limelight yet again. Though weary with the amount of racing over the weekend, Prasad stuck to his ground though a young Maini put constant pressure on him. MainiⳊcar seemed packed with power and helped him do the fastest lap of the race. Vishnu grabbed yet another incredible podium (17:01.571) while Mandody challenged Maini on a number of occasions but the Bangalorean drove admirably to finish second in a total time of 17:01.891.
In a smooth Race 1 of the JK Tyre VW Polo R Cup, South African driver Jeffrey Kruger started on pole accompanied by Prashant Tharani and Yatin Magu. The race witnessed Tharani taking an early lead, which he held until the end (19:12.212), trailed by Kruger (19:13.271). Rahil Noorani, drove commendably to end the race third (19:23.552) after having started in fifth position. In Race 2 of the Polo R Cup that started with reversed grid positions, Gowdam Raj was first on the grid. Keeping him company were Noorani and Hanoosh Supraneni. The 15-lap race witnessed an enjoyable tussle between Kruger, Tharani, Yatin Magu, Raj, Angad Matharoo, and Noorani, who showed the way followed by Kruger and Tharani. Since Noorani was unlucky to be given a 20-second penalty, Kruger won, registering his second podium finish followed by Tharani (19:43.595) and Magu (19:48.293) who was a new face on the podium.
Round 2 of the JK Tyre Racing Championship also witnessed Volkswagen Vento cars making their debut on Kari Motor Speedway in an exhibition race, opening the possibility of an all-new racing series in the future.
The final Race 3 of the Formula LGB 4 class was undoubtedly the most exciting contest of the day thanks to a magnificent blend of high-speed action, mid-race incidents and a royal battle for victory. MumbaiⳠRayo Racing driver Ameya Bafna was the pole starter followed by Vishnu Prasad (Meco Racing) and Advait Deodhar (Dark Don Racing). ChennaiⳠSaran Vikram and Sarosh Hataria (Dark Don Racing) were fourth and fifth on the grid respectively. In a magnificent display of talent and expertise, the Coimbatore based Hataria made his way up the order and battled it out with Bafna, who was going strong in first place. The pair engaged in an enthralling display of racing, overtaking each other a number of times. In the ninth lap, the race was red flagged due to an incident involving Avalanche Racing driver M D Tushar, who skidded on the track, hit the barrier and flipped over but was unhurt. Once the race resumed, an unlucky Bafna was forced to retire due to a technical problem with his car. There was no looking back for Hataria, who cemented his lead thereon, chased by Vikram and Prasad. During the very last lap, and just when everybody thought the contest was over, Karthik Krishna, at No. 4, made contact with Vikram in a bid to overtake Prasad who was in third place. Krishna was given a 30-second penalty for the incident owing to which Prasad finished tenth and Vikram last. Young Meco Racing drivers Tejasram Caveripakam (11:28.794) and Akash Gowda (11:31.123) followed Hataria (11:25.798).
In September, round three of the six-round JK Tyre Racing Championship 2013 will once again offer drivers and spectators the finest racing action in the country.
JK Racing India Series Race 2 (15 laps)
1. Vishnu Prasad (16:49.724) 2. Akhil Rabindra (16:55.724) 3. Chittesh Mandody (16:55.524)༯span>
JK Racing India Series Race 3 (15 laps)
1. Vishnu Prasad (17:01.571) 2. Arjun Maini (17:01.891) 3. Chittesh Mandody (17:02.261)༯span>
Polo R Cup Race 1 (15 laps)
1. Prashant Tharani (19:12.212) 2. Jeffrey Kruger (19:13.271) 3. Rahil Noorani (19:23.552)
Polo R Cup Race 2 (15 laps)
1. Jeffery Kruger (19:40.847) 2. Prashanth Tharani (19:43.595) 3. Yatin Magu (19:48.293)
Formula LGB 4 Race 3 (7 laps)
1. Sarosh Hataria (11:25.798) 2. Tejasram Caveripakam (11:28.794) 3. Akash Gowda (11:31.123)
 | Friday, August 9, 2013 | ||
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Dear Naresh,
Tell President Obama to publicly oppose the Prawer Plan to force up to 40K Bedouin in Israel from their land.
Take Action
Next week, I’m traveling to Israel/Palestine with a delegation of US peace activists. One thing that we will be doing while there is meeting with Israelis and Palestinians resisting the Israeli government’s seizure of Palestinian lands. Such land grabs have become a regular facet of life in the West Bank, but it’s not only Palestinians in the West Bank who are subject to them.
The Israeli government has plans to remove upwards of 40,000 Bedouin in the Negev desert in southern Israel from their homes and their lands. As in the West Bank, attempts to protest these seizures have been met by force from the Israeli military and police.
The US has yet to publicly oppose either the Prawer Plan or Israeli suppression of peaceful protest.Join me in calling on President Obama and other US officials to publicly oppose the Prawer Plan and to press the Israeli government to respect the right to peaceful protest in Israel and the occupied territories.
You can also help support my trip to Israel/Palestine by making a tax-deductible donation:
If you’ve seen last year’s Oscar-nominated documentary 5 Broken Cameras, you know something about the Palestinian struggle to resist Israel’s seizure of Arab land and the Israeli military’s response to such resistance. [1] The demonstrations in Bil’in, where 5 Broken Cameras was filmed, as well as Ni’lin, Nabi Saleh and other villages, have become regular features of Palestinian life. [2] Every Friday, Palestinian villagers, often accompanied by Israeli and international activists, march against the confiscation of their land for settlement expansion, barrier walls and military zones. Each week, they are met by tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets and stun grenades. They are arrested, detained, harassed. Under Israeli occupation, the right to peaceful protest has been effectively nullified.
The Bedouin of the Negev are Israeli citizens of Arab ethnicity. Their ancestors were pastoral nomads. Today, some Negev Bedouin live in cities and townships built for them by the Israeli government, others in “unrecognized” villages that lack basic utilities, such as water and electricity, but where they can continue to practice their traditional pastoral customs. [3]
The Israeli government does not recognize many Bedouins’ rights to the lands they hold. [4] As it has frequently done in the West Bank, the Israeli government is claiming these lands as state lands, to be disposed of as the Israeli government sees fit, without serious consultation with the Bedouin communities affected. [5]
The Prawer Plan passed the first of three readings in the Knesset at the end of June. Since then, two major days of protest have taken place, with demonstrations being held throughout Israel and the West Bank. As has become routine, peaceful protesters were met with violence from the Israeli military. [6] [7]
The UN and the EU have both condemned the Prawer Plan, but the US has leverage over the Israeli government that no other entity has. [8] Yet, the US has shown itself unwilling to use this leverage. In fact, when Palestinian activists in the West Bank began erecting protest villages on confiscated land earlier this year, the US government response was to condemn the demonstrators, not the Israeli military that responded with tear gas, pepper spray and bulldozers. [9]
The US cannot help bring peace if it remains silent on gross injustices it has the influence to stop.Tell President Obama and other US officials to publicly oppose the Prawer Plan and call upon Israel to respect the right to peaceful protest.
Thank you for all you do to help bring about a more just US foreign policy,
Megan Iorio
Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
cordially invites you to a
Panel Discussion
(‘Samaj Evam Itihas’ series)
‘Samaj, Itihas evam Media’
Shri Urmilesh
Senior Journalist
Smt. Vasavi Kiro
All India Tribal Literary Forum
Shri Shubhranshu Chaudhary
CGNet Swar
Date: Monday, 12 August 2013
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Seminar Room, First Floor, Library Building, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Teen Murti House, New Delhi.
Parliament passes new Companies Bill
NEW DELHI,INDIA, 11 August 2013: Parliament today passed the much-awaited The Companies Bill which is aimed at protecting the interest of employees and small investors, with the government saying the “historic” measure will give impetus to growth and bring transparency.
NEW DELHI,INDIA, 11 August 2013: Parliament today passed the much-awaited The Companies Bill which is aimed at protecting the interest of employees and small investors, with the government saying the “historic” measure will give impetus to growth and bring transparency.
The Companies Bill, which will replace the nearly 50-year-old Companies Act , envisages the followings :
- The new law makes its mandatory for companies that one-third of their board comprises INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS to ensure transparency.
- At least ONE of the board members should be a WOMAN.
- The new law requires companies that meet certain set of criteria, to spend at least TWO PERCENT two per cent of their average profits in the last three years towards Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) activities.
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