The Indian Panorama

Month: September 2012

  • BBC comedy depicts ‘Asian stereotype’, raises hackles

    BBC comedy depicts ‘Asian stereotype’, raises hackles

    LONDON (TIP): A new TV comedy series about a Pakistani Muslim family has caused outrage among British viewers, who say they and their religion are being caricatured by the BBC. British Muslim Adil Ray is the creator of the series ‘Citizen Khan’, which was aired earlier this week, and depicts family head Mr Khan as he struggles with wedding plans of one of his daughters.

    As he drives in his yellow Mercedes — with a Pakistani flag flying from the bonnet, the car helps underline his sense of self-importance and sets him up to be mocked about his illusions and delusions as a community leader, as well as his standing in the business community. In recent years, this is the second controversial comedy show about the Asian community. ‘Goodness Gracious Me’, starring Meera Syal, was praised for challenging Asian stereotypes, but critics of ‘Citizen Khan’ say it repeats or reinforces stereotypes about British Muslims.

    A spokesman for the BBC commented, “Citizen Khan has made a very positive start, launching successfully with 3.6 million viewers and a 21.5 per cent share in a late night slot.” “New comedy always provokes differing reactions from the audience. The characters are comic creations and not meant to be representative of the community as a whole,” he added. Some outraged viewers, however, strongly disagree. One commented yesterday, “Citizen Khan is honestly the dumbest show EVER. It’s not even funny and quite disrespectful.” Another viewer said, “I was disgusted with the Citizen Khan sitcom…Shame on the person who thought of such a concept.”

  • Pentagon considers legal action over Laden book

    Pentagon considers legal action over Laden book

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The Pentagon has warned to take legal action against a former Navy SEAL who has written a first person account of the May 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, saying that he has violated his signed agreement not to divulge classified information. The book ‘No Easy Day’ is due to be released September 4. The excerpts of the book released in the western press have already created controversy in the US on the operation that killed bin Laden.

    “In the judgment of the Department of Defence, you are in material breach and violation of the non-disclosure agreements you signed. Further public dissemination of your book will aggravate your breach and violations of your agreement,” Pentagon’s top lawyer Jeh Charles Johnson wrote in a letter to the Navy SEAL, who has written the book in the pseudo name of Mark Owen. Author’s real name is Matt Bissonnette. In his letter dated August 30, Johnson said that the Pentagon is considering ‘all remedies legally available to us.

    ‘ The Department of Defence, he wrote, has obtained and reviewed an advance copy of the book entitled ‘No Easy Day’ authored by you. The top Pentagon lawyer told the Navy SEAL he signed two separate nondisclosure agreements on January 24, 2007, by the virtue of which he has a continuing obligation to ‘never divulge’ classified information. ‘This commitment remains in force even after you left the active duty,’ Johnson said. The letter, however, did not divulge details of what was the content of the book that is being considered classified.

  • India for freedom of navigation in South China Sea

    India for freedom of navigation in South China Sea

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Ahead of Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie’s visit, New Delhi Thursday reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India and backed freedom of navigation in South China Sea, a territory claimed by Beijing and other countries. China disputes the international boundary between India and China in the eastern sector and claims approximately 90,000 sq km of Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh. China illegally refers to this region as ‘Southern Tibet’, Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed told parliament. He was responding to a question by Rajya Sabha BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad whether China considered Arunachal Pradesh as the southern part of Tibet. “The fact that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India has been clearly conveyed to the Chinese side,” Ahamed said. The Chinese defence minister will be in India this week. Issues such as the Sino-Indian border, confidence building between the armed forces of the two countries and maritime cooperation are expected to be discussed. In a separate question , Ahamed underlined that India was not a party to the dispute over sovereignty over areas of South China Sea. ‘Sovereignty over areas of South China Sea is disputed between many countries in the region. India is not party to the dispute,’ Ahmed said in a written reply. ‘The government has said it supports freedom of navigation, right of passage and access to resources in accordance with accepted principles of international law and these should be respected by all,’ he said. He added that India wants that all these sovereignty issues should be resolved by the countries in accordance with international laws and practices.

  • Sunita Williams completes spacewalk outside ISS

    Sunita Williams completes spacewalk outside ISS

    MOSCOW (TIP): Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams and Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide completed almost a record long spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS), reported NASA. NASA Flight Engineer Williams and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Flight Engineer Hoshide spent eight hours and 17 minutes in the outer space doing maintenance work on the ISS. Williams and Hoshide, however, failed to fulfill their task of installing a new Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) on the International Space Station’s s-zero truss as they had difficulties driving the bolts to secure the equipment.

    The longest spacewalk of 8 hours and 56 minutes was undertaken by US astronauts Susan Helms and James Voss in 2001. Williams holds the record of the longest space flight (195 days) for a woman in 2006. It was the second spacewalk outside the ISS of the current station’s Expedition 32. The previous spacewalk was completed Aug 20 by Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Yury Malenchenko

  • Manmohan in Tehran, asks NAM to take clear stand on Syria

    Manmohan in Tehran, asks NAM to take clear stand on Syria

    TEHRAN (TIP): The Syrian conflict sharpened divisions saw the NAM summit’s first walkout on Thursday, with the Syrian delegation rising in protest against the Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s characterization of the crisis there as an uprising against an “oppressive regime”.

    In his first address to the NAM summit in Tehran, Morsi openly expressed solidarity with the Syrian opposition. “Our solidarity with the struggle of the Syrian people against an oppressive regime that has lost its legitimacy is an ethical duty as it is a political and strategic necessity,” Morsi said. “The bloodshed in Syria is hanging over all of us. It is our responsibility… to actively intervene to stop the killings.”

    This being any Egyptian leader’s first visit to Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Morsi’s forthright comments set the tone for the discussions on Syria, and an embarrassment to the hosts, Iran.

    Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took the middle line by expressing support for “popular aspirations” while cautioning against “external intervention”. In his statement, Singh said, “India supports popular aspirations for a democratic and pluralistic order. Nevertheless, such transformations cannot be prompted by external intervention, which exacerbate the suffering of ordinary citizens.” While thus far, India has stressed on the point of non-intervention by external forces, this was a clear articulation by the PM that India also supported “Syrian aspirations.”

    However, in private conversations, officials said the external involvement was the reason why this issue could not be resolved – Syria, they said has become a battleground for other countries’ wars. India’s position, officials said is this – the two sides should be made to walk away from violence before a resolution could be sought. PM asked NAM to take a clear stand on Syria, a demand that was drowned in the clear divisions between Iran and the Arab states. “The deteriorating situation in Syria is a matter of particular concern. Our Movement should take a stand on the issue in keeping with universally accepted principles. We should urge all parties to recommit themselves to resolving the crisis peacefully through a Syrian-led inclusive political process that can meet the legitimate aspirations of all Syrian citizens.

    ” Ban ki Moon, who attracted no small criticism in the west for attending the NAM summit added his voice. In his meetings with the Iranian leadership, he urged “those who provide arms to either side” to realize that “militarization is not the answer”. “I urge all parties in the strongest possible terms to stop the violence now,” he said, and urged the Syrian government “to listen to people’s voices”.

  • China defense chief plans rare India trip, to discuss border

    China defense chief plans rare India trip, to discuss border

    NEW DELHI (TIP): China’s defense minister is due to visit India next week to seek deeper military ties, in a rare trip seen as a sign Beijing wants to stabilize its heavily fortified Himalayan border as it deals with growing friction in the South China Sea. General Liang Guanglie will be the first Chinese defense minister to visit neighboring India in six years, a period that has seen a build up of infrastructure and weapons in disputed regions on both sides of the border.

    Guanglie will arrive in New Delhi on September 2 and leave on September 6, the Indian government said in a statement. Measures to increase “peace and tranquility” along the border are on the agenda. “The two sides will also discuss measures to promote defence cooperation between their armed forces,” the Indian government said. India and China fought a brief war in 1962 over the Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh regions, parts of which both countries claim. Trade between them is soaring but they compete for resources and influence in Asia.

    China is also suspicious that India’s blossoming ties with the United States are part of a strategy to contain China’s rise on the world stage. Despite numerous rounds of talks in recent years, the nuclear-armed giants still disagree about large stretches of the border and are spending billions of dollars on beefing up defenses in disputed areas, as well as extending road and rail links. Zhang Li, a professor of South Asian studies at China’s Sichuan University, said the visit signaled a desire for stability on the Indian border at a time when China is facing rising tension off its coasts. “China and India have not made any progress at all in talks about their territorial dispute. China hopes to have a stable relationship with India, including having military exchanges. “The visit is also about the situation on its other borders, the maritime disputes in the South China Sea and East China Sea,” Zhang said

  • India Win U-19 World Cup

    India Win U-19 World Cup

    QUEENSLAND (TIP): India Under-19 skipper Unmukt Chand hit an unbeaten 111 in seamer-friendly conditions to lead India to a six-wicket win over Australia in the final of the World Cup at the Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville, Queensland, on August 26. Australia, the defending champions, had done well to recover from 38 for four, thanks to skipper William Bosisito’s unbeaten 87, and post 225 for eight but Unmukt topped that effort by combining with Baba Aparajith in a 73-run stand for the second wicket and was then involved in a matchwinning 130-run stand for the fifth wicket with Smit Patel, who finished on 62 not out, to help India win with 14 balls to spare. India were 97 for 4 when Chand and Patel got together.

    Medium pacer Sandeep Sharma was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 54 after India elected to field. It was the second time in four months that the Indian Under-19 team had beaten their Australian counterparts. In the final of the quadrangular tournament in April, also in Townsville, Chand had made an unbeaten 112 to lead India to a seven-wicket victory. Chand joined Mohammad Kaif in 2000 and Virat Kohli in 2008 as captains who have led India to the U-19 World Cup title. “Australia were the defending champions and they have been unbeaten in the tournament. Beating Australia in Australia is a challenge that I have always enjoyed. I had a very mediocre tournament by my standards and I frittered away a few starts so I wanted to make up for all of that. I have this knack of playing big knocks in finals and I am glad that I did it again,” Unmukt told The Indian Express before heading for a team party.

    Incidentally, after India’s one-wicket win over Pakistan in the quarterfinal, Chand seemed to have a premonition about achieving glory. The 19-year-old had then updated his BBM status to: “This is it. I can already feel the Cup in my hand.” High praise for Unmukt and his team also came from the opposition camp. “It is not the first time that Unmukt has terrorised us. The Indians did great work,” said Australia skipper Bosisito.India Under-19 coach Bharat Arun said: “I had reminded Unmukt about his knack of playing big knocks in the final stages and he really saved his best for the last. He played a very mature innings. The boys truly deserve this win.”Unmukt’s father Bharat Chand Thakur watched most of the game, that was telecast from 5 am onwards, on a giant screen erected within the community hall of his residential complex. “When I spoke to him on the eve of the game, Unmukt told me that he was confident of beating the Australians,” he said.

  • Ashwin picks up six wickets as India wrap up innings victory over New Zealand

    Ashwin picks up six wickets as India wrap up innings victory over New Zealand

    HYDERABAD (TIP): India wrapped up a comfortable victory over New Zealand inside four days by bowling the visitors out for 164 to win by an innings and 115 runs in Hyderabad. Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up six for 54 in the second innings to add to his six victims in the first as the home side took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
    The Black Caps failed to advance past 170 in either innings, with India’s opening effort of 438 out of New Zealand’s reach. Following on after they were skittled out for 159, the tourists resumed on Sunday on 41 for one, after heavy rain had curtailed play on Saturday night, with the weather again intervening today and forcing a later start. Opener Brendon McCullum returned to the wicket on 16 alongside Kane Williamson who was on three and it was the former who brought up his team’s 50 with a single off Pragyan Ojha.

    Both players showed caution, avoiding any impulse to take the attack to the hosts, and at lunch McCullum was unbeaten on 39 off 124 deliveries while Williamson was 31 not out off 96 balls. However, the partnership was brought to an end shortly after the resumption when a furious McCullum was removed by Umesh Yadav. The New Zealander edged a delivery onto his pads and, after a huge appeal, umpire Steve Davis raised his finger with McCullum clearly displeased.

    It reduced the visitors to 98 for two after McCullum had reached 42 off 130 deliveries, including three boundaries, in a stand worth 72.New Zealand’s plight worsened shortly after when McCullum’s replacement, Ross Taylor, became Ashwin’s seventh victim of the match, the New Zealander unwisely choosing to leave a delivery.Pragyan Ojha produced a delivery that few could play, drifting in towards the stumps and then spinning away with bounce which Williamson (52) poked at – a thick edge carrying it through to Virender Sehwag at first slip. Four runs later and things went from bad to worse when Ashwin removed Daniel Flynn leg before for 11 and, when Franklin also fell to Ashwin with the total on 145 for six, the Black Caps looked to be merely delaying the inevitable. They were seven down in just the second over after tea as Ojha got one to turn away from Doug Bracewell, the right-hander edging to a diving Virat Kohli.

  • India, Australia join hands to develop iron-rich bananas

    India, Australia join hands to develop iron-rich bananas

    HYDERABAD (TIP): Eating bananas could well be the next best thing in the fight against anaemia soon. Indian and Australian researchers have joined hands to develop iron-rich bananas that could help women with iron deficiency. Bananas contain vitamin B6, fibre and potassium. Globally more than 100 billion bananas are consumed annually, making it the largest agricultural product after wheat, rice and corn. The joint effort will see the development of new strains of iron-rich bananas. It will offer an affordable option to tackle iron-deficiency anaemia, a major cause of maternal deaths during childbirth, especially in India and other developing countries. The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (Birac) under the Department of Biotechnology and the Queensland University of Technology have signed an agreement for the purpose. The project will see an investment of A$2.6 million or about Rs 14.8 crore. Birac is providing A$1.2 million (Rs 6.8 crore ) to the University and another A$1.4 million (Rs 8 crore) towards the cost of the Indian component of the programme, which will address a nutrition deficiency in Indian population, said Managing Director Renu Swarup.

    The project will be led by the University’s Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities Director James Dale and India’s National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute’s Rakesh Tuli. Other partners include Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, National Research Centre for Bananas, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and Indian Institute of Horticulture Research. In a press release, Australian High Commissioner to India Peter Varghese said on Wednesday that it is an important project that would help prevent avoidable maternal mortality in India. Dales said the project would build upon ongoing research the University was undertaking to increase the nutritional content of bananas in Uganda under the auspices of the Gates Foundation. The Indian banana project would involve an initial four-year development phase. It would then take another four to five years to prepare the bananas for release to Indian farmers..

  • Japanese auto parts maker sets up unit at Sri City SEZ

    Japanese auto parts maker sets up unit at Sri City SEZ

    HYDERABAD (TIP): Automotive components maker Piolax India, a subsidiary of Piolax of Japan, inaugurated its first Indian facility at the Sri City multi-product special economic zone in Andhra Pradesh. The plant is slated to commence commercial production shortly. Piolax is a global manufacturer of auto parts such as industrial fasteners, coil springs, flat springs and compact units. It has facilities in the US, the UK, China and Thailand. Sri City, located some 55 km from Chennai, already has about 80 units from 23 countries. Built on the worklive- learn-play concept and designed by Jurong Consultants of Singapore, it has well demarcated industrial zones, including automotive, engineering, logistics & warehousing, aerospace, electronics, biotech/pharma, IT and renewable energy. “We are happy that out of the 12 Japanese firms setting up units at Sri City, Piolax will be the third to commence production, with the remaining in various stages of construction,” said Ravindra Sannareddy, Managing Director of Sri City. The unit is expected to hire 200 people. Sri City is also setting up country-specific enclaves to offer specific and exclusive facilities to companies from these countries, a company statement said

  • Parkash Utsav Sri Guru Granth Sahib

    Parkash Utsav Sri Guru Granth Sahib

    Guru Arjan the Fifth Sikh Guru compiled the original version of the Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru’s older brother Prithi Chand as well as others had started passing off some of his own compositions as the hymns of the Gurus. Guru Arjan realized that if this situation was allowed to continue it would be the undermining of the Sikh religion. The Sikhs needed an authentic compilation of the hymns of their Gurus. Thus Guru Arjan started collection the original verses of all the Gurus. He sent trusted Sikhs such as Bhai Piara, Bhai Gurdas and Baba Buddha across the country in search of original manuscripts. Guru Arjan made trips to Goindwal, Khadur and Kartarpur to visit the families of the previous Gurus. Guru Arjan collected original manuscripts of the Gurus from Mohan (son of Guru Amar Das), Datu (son of Guru Angad) as well as Sri Chand (son of Guru Nanak).

    Guru Arjan now pitched a tent by the side of Ramsar tank in Amritsar and started the arduous task of compiling the first edition of the Holy Guru Granth Sahib. Bhai Gurdas was entrusted as the Guru’s scribe for the master copy. The monumental task was finally completed after a number of years. This original edition of the Guru Granth Sahib known at that time as Pothi Sahib was installed on a high pedestal within the Harmandir Sahib in August 1604. Guru Arjan seated himself at a lower level and instructed all Sikhs to bow before it, not as an idol, but as the book of divine inspiration which instructed living men in the ways of God and dedicated secular life. The revered Baba Buddha was appointed the first Granthi (custodian) of the book. Guru Arjan dictated that unlike the Hindu scriptures, the Pothi Sahib could be open to reading by anyone of any caste, creed or sex.

    Guru Arjan provided the following epilogue

    “Three things are there in the vessel; Truth, contentment and intellect. The ambrosial Name of God is added to it, The Name that is everybody’s sustenance. He who absorbs and enjoys it shall be saved. One must not abandon this gift, It should ever remain dear to ones heart. The dark ocean of the world can be crossed by clinging to His feet. Nanak, it is He who is everywhere.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Mundawani) Pothi Sahib (known today as the Kartarpur Bir) was kept by the Sixth Master Guru Hargobind in his house. From here it was stolen by his grandson Dhir Mal who intended to use it to further his claims on the succession of the Guruship. Some thirty years later the followers of the Ninth Master, Guru Tegh Bahadur forcibly recovered it, but were instructed by the Guru to return it. They placed it in the shallow river bed of the Satluj River. From here Dhir Mal recovered it, miraculously it was undamaged. Throughout the eighteenth century it most likely remained with Dhir Mal’s family, the Sodhis of Kartarpur, thus the name Kartarpur Bir (Bir means volume). The Holy Book next emerged from obscurity in 1849. In that year following the annexation of Punjab, the volume together with its golden stand were discovered by the British in the custody of the Lahore royal court. An application was received from Sodhi Sadhu Singh of Kartarpur and in 1850 the volume was returned to his family. The Kartarpur Bir is preserved to this day and installed monthly for worshippers.

    An unauthorized edition of the Guru Granth Sahib know as the Banno Bir also exists. Guru Arjan gave this copy of the Granth Sahib to Bhai Banno one of his disciples to take to Lahore for binding. Bhai Banno kept this volume and wrote in some verses of Sudras and Mirabai which it is believed had been rejected by the Guru as well as a few hymns allegedly to be by Guru Nanak at the end of his Granth. Guru Arjan did not approve the Banno Bir. This copy is still in the possession of the descendants of Bhai Banno.

    Dhir Mal even refused to return the Kartarpur Bir over to Guru Gobind Singh, The Tenth and Final Master. While at Talwandi Sabo (known as Damdama Sahib today) Guru Gobind Singh undertook to prepare a new edition of the Granth Sahib including in it all of the hymns appearing in the original edition as well as the hymns of his late father, the Ninth Master Guru Tegh Bahadur. The Guru dictated the entire Granth to his scribe Bhai Mani Singh. Out of his humility, Guru Gobind Singh who was a great and profuse writer and poet only included one of his hymns. The great task was finally completed in 1705. The Damdama Sahib Bir was then taken to Nanded where it was installed as desired by the Guru. Near the end of his life Guru Gobind Singh ended the line of personal Guruship by investing the Granth Sahib with the status of Eternal Guru and his official successor in 1708. Bhai Nandlal one of Guru Gobind Singhs disciples recorded the Guru’s words as; “He who would wish to see the Guru, Let him come and see the Granth. He who would wish to speak to him, Let him read and reflect upon what says the Granth. He who would wish to hear his word, He should with all his heart read the Granth.” (Rahitnama) In 1721 Mata Sundri the widow of Guru Gobind Singh instructed Bhai Mani Singh to go to Harmandir Sahib as the head Granthi along with the Sacred Volume. This Sacred Volume which was carried by the Sikhs before their troops on march was tragically lost in battle during the Second Sikh Holocaust – Wadda ghalughara on February 5th 1762. Fortunately since a number of copies had been made, this text has survived to become the official authorized version of the Guru.

  • US slaps sanctions on 8 LeT leaders including 26/11 mastermind

    US slaps sanctions on 8 LeT leaders including 26/11 mastermind

    TAMPA (TIP): The United States on Thursday slapped sanctions on Pakistanbased terror group Lashkar-e- Toiba’s top eight commanders, including Mumbai terrorist attack mastermind Sajid Mir and its founder Hafiz Saeed’s son. Announcing the sanctions, the US said LeT, despite being designated as a foreign terrorist organisation in January 2002, continues to “operate in Pakistan” and throughout the region and engage in terrorist activities worldwide.

    “LeT has conducted numerous terrorist acts against Pakistani, Indian, Afghan and US interests and is responsible for the November 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed more than 160 people, including six Americans, and the July 2006 Mumbai train bombings that killed more than 180 people,” the Department of Treasury said. Besides Mir, other LeT leaders slapped with sanctions are Abdullah Mujahid, Ahmed Yaqub, Hafiz Khalid Walid, Qari Muhammad Yaqoob Sheikh, Amir Hamza, Abdullah Muntazir, and Talha Saeed, the son of the LeT leader Saeed.

    Individuals targeted today are based in Pakistan and involved in LeT’s propaganda campaigns, financial networks, and logistic support networks. ‘Today’s targets also include military commanders directly responsible for the murderous 2008 Mumbai attacks as well as attacks on coalition and Afghan forces.

    Today’s designations are designed to undermine LeT’s leadership and support networks of LeT that have planned terrorist attacks around the world,’ the Treasury Department said. ‘Today’s action against LeT is Treasury’s most comprehensive to date against this group and includes individuals participating in all aspects of LeT’s operations – from commanders planning attacks to those managing LeT’s relationships with other terrorist groups,’ Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S Cohen said. ‘Attacking LeT’s facilitation networks is particularly important, since charitable donations LET raises in Pakistan – its primary revenue source – are used to fuel LeT’s militant operations,’ Cohen said.

  • Iran salutes ‘nuke martyrs’

    Iran salutes ‘nuke martyrs’

    TEHRAN (TIP):Iran has created a new category of martyrs – nuclear scientists it says were killed by Israelis. And what better way to unveil this than at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit. In the driveway leading to the media centre are the mangled remains of three cars, mounted on makeshiftstands. Iran accuses Israel of blowing them up toassassinate three scientists to derail its nuclear program.The scientists, Masouud Ali Mohamaddi, Majid Sheriyari and Mustafa Ahmedi, were killed Jan 12, 2010, Dec 29, 2011 and Jan 11, 2012, say banners attached to the stands. In two of the cases, the people arrested for the bombings confessed they had acted at the behest of theIsraeli secret service Mossad.

  • Indian-origin judge named next chief justice of Singapore

    Indian-origin judge named next chief justice of Singapore

    SINGAPORE (TIP): An Indian-origin judge has been named as the new chief justice of Singapore, making him the first from the community to head the courts. Sundaresh Menon, presently Singapore’s judge of appeal, will assume the office of the chief justice from November 6. He would take over from Justice Chan Sek Keong, who retires at the age of 75, said a statement from the Prime Minister’s office on the appointment announced by President Tony Tan. Reacting to his appointment, Justice Menon said: “I am greatly honoured and privileged to be entrusted with this awesome responsibility; and humbled by the calibre of those who have been so entrusted before me”.

    Menon, 50, obtained his Master of Laws from Harvard University, after graduating with First Class Honours in Law from the National University of Singapore. Justice Menon has been a leading lawyer and later became Singapore’s Attorney General before he was appointed to the position of judge of appeal on August 1, 2012. Chief Justice Chan has served in the public service for 26 years, including six years as chief justice

  • No Terrorist Can Strike Fear in the Minds of Americans

    No Terrorist Can Strike Fear in the Minds of Americans

    There will always be crazy guys. Trigger happy murderers and butchers will continue to lurk, looking for an opportunity to shed blood.

    In recent times, we have seen that happen. In January 2011 Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head when an assailant opened fire outside a grocery store during a meeting with constituents, killing six people and wounding 13 others.

    On July 20th this year a heavily armed man entered a movie theater in suburban Denver and opened fire, killing at least 12 people and injuring 50 others.

    Less than a month later, even while the Aurora thater tragedy was fresh in the minds of people, a man by the name Wade Michael Page entered a Sikh shrine in Oak Creek, Wisconsin and opened fire at the Sikh devotees who had come for the Sunday congregation. The shooting left 6 Sikhs dead. and at least 3 injured. Of them, one succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Page himself was killed by a police officer.

    Such lunatics are a part of any society. They cnnot be wished away even in the most civilized society.
    However, they may not cause much harm provided the law enforcing authorities are as good as the brave police officer Lt. Brian Murphy who showed exemplary courage and dedication to his duty when he continued to direct his colleagues to take care of the scared and shocked Sikhs in the shrine rather than attend on him, even though he was in a bad shape, having been shot nine times from close range.

    They cannot create fear in the minds of Americans so long as there are people who are akways around to share the pain and grief of others, as was abundantly clear in the wake of Oak Creek shootings. The whole of America stood for the Sikh community. From President Obama to City administration, officials not only sympathized with the community but also ensured the community felt secure. People from various faiths joined the community in offering prayers for the victims and their families. Other Indian communities rushed to Sikh shrines all over USA to express solidarity with the Sikh community and to share their grief.

    So long as this bond of togetherness is there no terrorist, no loony murderer can cause harm to America or Americans.

  • Pakistan’s atlas shows Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as Indian land

    Pakistan’s atlas shows Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as Indian land

    LAHORE (TIP):A new school atlas published by the government of Pakistan’s Punjab province has shown Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the Gilgit-Baltistan region as Indian territories. The education authorities rushed to recall the atlas from all elementary and high school libraries of Punjab. The government of chief minister Shahbaz Sharif has had to face criticism from academicians. Over 15,000 copies of the atlas had been delivered to school libraries so far. The education department said it would take action against all those responsible for printing, approving and distributing the atlas.

  • ‘Dr Death’ Patel to face another trial

    ‘Dr Death’ Patel to face another trial

    MELBOURNE (TIP): India-born American surgeon Jayant Patel who was recently freed from jail after an Australian high court quashed his conviction of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm to his patients, will face another trial.

    Patel, 62, was charged and convicted two years ago on three counts of manslaughter and one count of grievous bodily harm to his patients at the Bundaberg Hospital in Queensland.
    Last week, an Australian high court quashed his convictions of manslaughter of three patients. According to ‘The Age’ report, director of public prosecutions Tony Moynihan on Thursday confirmed he would pursue another trial against Patel.

    “I have carefully considered the judgment and am satisfied that, on the admissible evidence, there are reasonable prospects of a conviction and it is in the public interest to proceed with a new trial,” Moynihan said in a statement.

    “The charges have to be tried separately. Peter Davis, SC, who prosecuted the matter in the high court, will continue to appear for the Crown,” he added. “As the matter is before the court, it is inappropriate for me to make any further comment,” he said. Supporters of Bundaberg Hospital where Patel was working as surgeon backed the decision.
    Bundaberg Hospital Patients Support Group president Beryl Crosby said, “I know there is going to be mixed feelings but at the end of the day we have to support that decision and I just hope there is support out there for the patients and people who have to go back through this again,” she said.However, she also commented that she was “torn” by the decision of the retrial of Patel, who had been referred by the Australian media as Dr Death. “A lot of people need this to happen for justice, at the same time my heart was saying, “how are they are going to go through all the trauma again?,” she said.

    “Now we have to try and support everybody through that process and make sure that these people do get emotional help as well as everything else,” Crosby said. “I hope that this is done (as quickly as possible). This is going to be a long process at the end of the day and no matter what length it takes, it is going to take its emotional toll and there is nothing we can do but try and support people through this process,” she added. Patel, who is a US-trained surgeon, had pleaded not guilty in 2010 to the manslaughter of three patients — James Phillips, 46; Gerry Kemps, 77; and Mervyn Morris, 75, who died following surgeries performed by him at Queensland’s Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005 He had also pleaded not guilty to the grievous bodily harm of Ian Vowles, whose bowel he removed in October 2004