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Monday 20 December 2010

China paying Nepal to nab Tibetan refugees: WikiLeaks

KATHMANDU: The reason the number of Tibetan refugees fleeing to India dropped dramatically since 2008 is because China is paying money to Nepal police to arrest them from the border areas, says a US embassy cable released by whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.

The cable, sent by an unnamed political officer at the American embassy in New Delhi February 22 this year, is based on conversations with two people whose names were also not revealed.

Titled “Update on Tibetan refugee flow”, the confidential memo says that each year, an average of 2,500 to 3,500 refugees from Tibet arrive in Dharamsala in northern India, where exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama has his government-in-exile.

Almost half of them return to Tibet after receiving an audience with the Dalai Lama.

The sources said that from 1980 to November 2009, 87,096 refugees were processed by the Dharamsala reception centre for Tibetan refugees and 46,620 returned to Tibet after a short pilgrimage in India.

Most of those who stay on in India are children who take admission in schools run by Tibetan Children’s Villages since the Chinese government doesn’t allow them to receive education the Tibetan way in China-controlled Tibet.

Both the sources highlighted to the political officer at the US embassy that, following the March 2008 uprising in Tibet, the number of refugees had “markedly decreased”, with only about 650 refugees arriving at the reception centre from April 2008 to March 2009.

One of the sources then speculated that “Beijing has asked Kathmandu to step up patrols of Nepali border forces and make it more difficult for Tibetans to enter Nepal”.

The belief was reiterated to the official during a meeting in New Delhi where the source said, according to the leaked cable: “The Chinese government rewards (Nepali forces) by providing financial incentives to officers who hand over Tibetans attempting to exit China.”

However, the source was optimistic that the number of refugees would return to normal because admission statistics for 2010 were surpassing those from an equivalent period in 2009.

Nepal and Tibet have a common border of 1,414 km with 34 major passes between the two. Each year, dozens of refugees try to cross over, both via road and the snow-clad passes, facing grave threats to their lives.

In Nepal, China has stepped up “cooperation” on border security, training Nepal’s border forces to prevent “criminal” and “anti-China” activities.

Beijing says there are no Tibetan refugees, only illegal migrants, who should be dealt with severely.

Nepal’s major parties adhere to the “One China” policy, regarding Tibet as an integral part of China and keeping Tibetan refugees in Nepal on a tight leash.

This year, China prevented Nepal’s president and foreign and cultural ministers from attending a programme at a Tibetan monastery in Kathmandu while the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu raised strong objections to Nepal’s lawmakers visiting Dharamshala and meeting the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama, barring one brief visit to Lumbini in southern Nepal to visit the birthplace of the Buddha during the reign of King Birendra, has not been allowed to visit Nepal and is excluded from all international Buddhist conferences hosted by the Nepal government.

No tolerance for corruption, says Sonia


NEW DELHI: Declaring that there should be no tolerance for corruption or misconduct, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today asked the party and the government to take on the menace “head-on” even as she hit out at the BJP for its “personal” attack on the Prime Minister on 2G spectrum issue.

There should be “no tolerance for corruption or misconduct,” Gandhi, who had left out the corruption issue at the AICC meeting last month despite the party being confronted by a rash of scams allegedly involving some of its leaders and those of allies, said at the Congress plenary here.

“Both as a party and the government, we must confront the government head on,” she said.
Gandhi, who is also UPA chairperson, said, “Simplicity, restraint and austerity must be our chosen way. We cannot make this a law…. Let us atleast have the moral sensibility to avoid vulgar displays of wealth and waste.”

Gandhi termed as “downright despicable” the opposition BJP”s attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“He is the embodiment of sobriety, dignity and integrity. The BJP’s personal attack on him is downright despicable,” she said.

Complimenting Singh “for his wise leadership, for remaining calm amidst the storm and for his unwavering devotion to progress and prosperity of the nation”, Gandhi said the party “stands solidly with him”.

She recalled that even when no charge had been established, the party had asked the ministers and chief ministers to step down pending enquiry into corruption allegations.

“How many other parties can make such a claim? Can the BJP do so in regard to Karnataka where corruption is rampant or other states,” Gandhi asked.

Taking the principal opposition to task for paralysing Parliament on 2G spectrum issue, she said, “Can anything possibly justify bringing Parliament to a halt? Can the Opposition justify undermining the norms on which parliamentary democracy functions.”

She said Parliament cannot be held hostage to political expediency as it was the forum to discuss and resolve contentious issues.

Turning to communalism, the Congress President said her party always fought against all forms of communalism, regardless of their source.

“We cannot ignore the pernicious impact of individuals, institutions and ideologies that distort our history, that thrive on spreading religious prejudice and that incite people to violence using religion as a cover.”

Gandhi said that Congress made no distinction between organisations of the majority and of the minority communities which indulge in communalism and related acts of terrorism.

“They are all dangerous. They must all be defeated,” she said.

Serious matter: Communications Minister Ed Vaizey said it was very important ISPs came up with a solution on how to protect children


Serious matter: Communications Minister Ed Vaizey said it was very important ISPs came up with a solution on how to protect children

The initiative comes following a successful trial by British ISPs to stop innocent people accessing child pornography websites.

Ministers now want companies to use the same technology to stop children accessing adult images. A survey earlier earlier this year said one in three ten-year-olds has viewed pornography.

Tory MP for Devizes Claire Perry, who has campaigned for restrictions said: ‘Unless we show leadership, the internet industry is not going to self-regulate. The minister has said he will get ISPs together and say “either you clean out your stables or we are going to do it for you”.

‘We are not coming at this from an anti-porn perspective. We just want to make sure children aren’t stumbling across things we don’t want them to see.’

Previously the providers had said implementing the scheme would cost too much and be technically difficult.

However some internet providers now seem happy to implement the scheme voluntarily.

Andrew Heaney, TalkTalk’s executive director of strategy and regulation, said: ‘Our objective was not to do what the politicians want us but to do what is right for our customers.’

‘If other companies aren’t going to do it of their own volition, then maybe they should be leant on.’

A Virgin Media spokesman said they had already implemented the technology on their mobile service, as they can leave the home, but said that parents can control what their children see at home and online.

And a BT spokesman said they had a ‘clean feed’ system to stop access to illegal sites.

Porn, keep out! Parents to be allowed to block computers from receiving sexual imagery


Adults will have to ‘opt in’ to view the material
Parents will be able to block all internet pornography unless they specifically request access under a new government plan.

The scheme is aimed to ensure that young children are not exposed to sexual images when surfing the internet.

The plan is to allow parents to ‘opt out’ of the sites and they will then be blocked at the source, rather than using conventional parental controls.

Adults who wish to view the material would have to choose to ‘opt in’.

Parents will be able to ‘opt out’ of sites which will then be blocked at source

Following their decision, homeowners would then be able to choose what sites they receive in a cinema style guide, such as U for all ages, or 18 for adults.

The move comes as some of Britain’s biggest broadband providers prepare for talks with Communications Minister Ed Vaizey.

Representatives from TalkTalk, BT and Virgin Media are to meet Mr Vaizey to discuss how they can stop pornography being seen by youngsters.

The Communications Minister told the Sunday Times: ‘ This is a very serious matter. I think it is very important that the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) come up with solutions to protect children.

‘I am hoping they will get their acts together so we don’t have to legislate, but we are keeping an eye on the situation and we will have a new communications bill in the next couple of years.’

Serious matter: Communications

Some Hidden Talents Of Our India


Born in 476 CE in Kusumpur (Bihar), Aryabhatt’s intellectual brilliance remapped the boundaries of mathematics and astronomy. In 499 CE, at the age of 23, he wrote a text on astronomy and an unparallel treatise on mathematics called “Aryabhatiyam. ” He formulated the process of calculating the motion of planets and the time of eclipses. Aryabhatt was the first to proclaim that the earth is round, it rotates on its axis, orbits the sun and is suspended in space – 1000 years before Copernicus published his heliocentric theory. He is also acknowledged for calculating p (Pi) to four decimal places: 3.1416 and the sine table in trigonometry. Centuries later, in 825 CE, the Arab mathematician, Mohammed Ibna Musa credited the value of Pi to the Indians, “This value has been given by the Hindus.” And above all, his most spectacular contribution was the concept of zero without which modern computer technology would have been non-existent. Aryabhatt was a colossus in the field of mathematics.



2.BHASKARACHARYA II

(1114-1183 CE)

Andre Geim


Andre Geim

Born: 1 October 1958 (1958-10-01) (age 52),Sochi, Russian SFSR, USSR
Residence: England
Citizenship: Netherlands
Institutions: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology,Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences,University of Manchester,Radboud University Nijmegen
Notable students: Konstantin Novoselov
Known for : Work on graphene,Levitating a frog,Developing gecko tape
Notable awards: Ig Nobel Prize (2000),Mott Prize (2007),EuroPhysics Prize (2008),Körber Prize (2009),John J. Carty Award (2010),Hughes Medal (2010),Nobel Prize in Physics (2010)

Saturday 18 December 2010

Monday 6 December 2010

प्रतिभा और शक्ति का देश में ही उपयोगी हो


प्रतिभा और शक्ति का देश में ही उपयोगी हो
युवाओं को खोज और शोध के संसाधन उपलब्ध कराना जरूरी - वन मंत्री सरताज सिंह
भोपाल, 5 दिसम्बर। वन मंत्री श्री सरताज सिंह ने कहा कि हमें अपनी युवा प्रतिभा और युवा शक्ति का अपने ही देश में उपयोग करना होगा। इसके लिये देश में ही युवाओं को खोज और शोध के संसाधन उपलब्ध कराने होंगे। तभी देश के विकास को नये आयाम मिल सकेंगे। दुनिया में वही देश आगे बढ़े हैं जिन्होंने तकनीकी विकास को महत्व दिया है।
वन मंत्री सरताज सिंह आज यहां ?समरूपी तकनीक एवं पर्यावरणीय अनुसंधान? विषय पर सर्च एण्ड रिसर्च यूथ कांग्रेस ? 2010 अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय सेमीनार के समापन अवसर पर सम्बोधित कर रहे थे। उन्होंने कहा कि हमारे देश की युवा पीढ़ी में विज्ञान विकास की ललक है। युवा शक्ति से हमारी अलग पहचान है। उन्होंने कहा कि हमारे देश के युवा विदेश में हैं और वहां कई प्रकार के अनुसंधान-अविष्कार कर रहे हैं। उनकी मेहनत और खोज का लाभ विदेश को ही मिलता है। हमें विचार करना होगा कि हमारे देश की युवा प्रतिभा विदेश में क्यों। हमें देश में ही युवा शक्ति को संसाधन एवं अवसर उपलब्ध कराने होंगे और वर्तमान कमियों को दूर करना होगा। ताकि देश की प्रतिभाओं का सही उपयोग हो सके।
श्री सरताज सिंह ने कहा कि कोई हमें दुनिया में शक्तिशाली बनने की तकनीक नहीं देगा। हमें अपनी प्रतिभा और ताकत का अपने ही देश में उपयोग करना होगा। वैज्ञानिक प्रगति हर क्षेत्र के लिये जरूरी है। केवल सामाजिक एवं आर्थिक ही नहीं देश की रक्षा के लिये भी हमें अपनी युवा शक्ति को नई खोज एवं अविष्कार के संसाधन देश में ही उपलब्ध कराने होंगे।
कार्यक्रम की अध्यक्षता संचालक तकनीकी शिक्षा श्री आशीष डोंगरे ने की। उन्होंने कहा कि तकनीकी के उपयोग में हमें परिपक्वता लानी होगी। सी.पी.आर.ई.के. क्षेत्रीय संचालक डा. बी.वी. राघवैया, वरिष्ठ मौसम वैज्ञानिक डा. डी.पी. दुबे ने भी कार्यक्रम को सम्बोधित किया। कार्यक्रम में शोध पत्र प्रस्तुतकर्ताओं को सम्मानित भी किया गया। कार्यक्रम में डा. मोनिका जैन ने अतिथियों का स्वागत किया। इस अवसर पर श्री विजय जोशी, श्री अनिल सिरवैया, श्री अनिल गुप्ता सहित रिसर्च स्कालर एवं युवा वैज्ञानिक उपस्थित थे। भोज विश्वविद्यालय के डायरेक्टर प्रो. प्रवीण जैन ने आभार व्यक्त किया।

Sunday 5 December 2010

सीबीआई का हो रहा दुरुपयोग : करात

सीबीआई का हो रहा दुरुपयोग : करात
भोपाल, 5 दिसम्बर। मार्क्‍सवादी कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी (माकपा) के राष्ट्रीय महासचिव प्रकाश करात ने केंद्र सरकार पर केंद्रीय जांच ब्यूरो (सीबीआई) के दुरुपयोग का आरोप लगाया है।
उन्होंने कहा है कि जब भी कांग्रेस नेतृत्व वाली सरकार पर बहुमत का संकट आता है तो विपक्षियों के खिलाफ चल रही जांचों को भी प्रभावित किया जाता है।
भ्रष्टाचार के खिलाफ राष्ट्रव्यापी आंदोलन की भोपाल में शुरुआत करते हुए रविवार को करात ने कहा कि 2जी स्पेक्ट्रम घोटाले की जांच सीबीआई पिछले 13 माह से कर रही है मगर वह इस घोटाले का खुलासा नहीं कर पाई। वहीं नियंत्रक एवं महालेखा परीक्ष (कैग) की रिपोर्ट ने देश के सबसे बड़े घोटाले का खुलासा कर दिया। इस घोटाले ने उद्योगपतियों, अधिकारियों और राजनेताओं की सांठगांठ की पोल खोल दी है। लिहाजा, इस मामले की जांच संयुक्त संसदीय समिति (जेपीसी) से कराई जानी चाहिए।
उन्होंने कहा कि केंद्र सरकार में छह ऐसे मंत्री हैं जो उद्योगपति हैं। लिहाजा, इस बात का सहज अंदाजा लगाया जा सकता है कि उद्योगपति मंत्री किसके हित में नीतियां बनाएंगे। उन्होंने कांग्रेस एवं भारतीय जनता पार्टी (भाजपा) की केंद्र तथा राज्य सरकारों में हो रहे भ्रष्टाचार की जमकर आलोचना की।
मध्य प्रदेश सरकार के कई मंत्रियों पर लगे भ्रष्टाचार के आरोपों के सवाल पर करात ने पत्रकारों से कहा कि कर्नाटक में भाजपा की सरकार है और वहां चार मंत्रियों को सिर्फ इसलिए इस्तीफा देना पड़ा, क्योंकि उन पर भ्रष्टाचार के मामले दर्ज हैं। इसी तरह मध्य प्रदेश में कई मंत्रियों के खिलाफ लोकायुक्त में मामले दर्ज हैं, लिहाजा उन्हें इस्तीफा दे देना चाहिए।
भोपाल दौरे पर आए करात ने राज्य सरकार द्वारा दिए गए राज्य अतिथि का दर्जा स्वीकार नहीं किया। वह अपनी पार्टी के दफ्तर में ही ठहरे हुए हैं।

Date: 05-12-2010 Time: 19

photography exposure: Photo Funny

photography exposure: Photo Funny

stop diving under the water.


When I was trying to photograph these mallards, all I wanted was for them to stop diving under the water.

After many failed attempts, I just started laughing and figured, this is the shot I'm going to get. It doesn't matter how hard I try. So I made the best of it.

There was a great lesson to be learned here, sometimes you just have to go with the flow. I have a hard time doing this in both life and photography, but it often ends up being more fun than what you had planned anyways.

If you're a photographer, you have probably gone through some similar emotions and frustrations with equipment and photo subjects.

Here's a couple photo related jokes to lighten things up:

If you buy a flute, you own a flute. So why is it that when you buy a camera, you're a photographer? - Anonymous
The quickest way to make money at photography is to sell your camera. - Anonymous

Case against ‘Tehelka’ journalist Shahina: Journalists ask Kerala CM to take immediate measures


By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,

Thiruvananthapuram: Veteran journalists in Kerala submitted a petition before the state Chief Minister asking him to intervene immediately in the case of noted journalist KK Shahina. In another development, the ‘Madhyama Swathanthrya Samrakshana Samiti’ will organize a protest conference against the anti-democratic act of the Karnataka police in Ernakulam tomorrow.

Shahina, Kerala correspondent of ‘Tehelka’ magazine, was reportedly booked in a case by the Karnataka police for talking to some witnesses in the 2008 Bengaluru blast case. The petition asks the CM to consider the matter as a problem of journalists all over the country and the civil society, and to urge his Karnataka counterpart to act in the issue.

Shahina had reportedly met two people who had, according to the Karnataka police, witnessed Abdunnasir Maudany at the Lakkeri Estate in Kodaku in Karnataka (where Maudany is supposed to have conspired with prime suspect Thadiyantavide Naseer for the blasts). Shahina’s report published in the magazine (Tehelka Magazine, Vol 7, Issue 48, Dated December 04, 2010 - http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?

filename=Ne041210Why_is_this.asp) refutes the police claim that Maudany had been to Kodaku as baseless. The report says that the witnesses KK Yoganand and Rafeeq had not seen Maudany in Kodaku.

Shahina tells in her report that she was threatened and efforts were made by the Karnataka police to stop her reporting. Later she was booked under IPC 506 for threatening witnesses. The petition reportedly says that the act of the Karnataka police is a violation of the freedom of press. The act also deals with a matter considering the caste, religion, place and colour of the individual involved. Shahina, a Muslim, investigating the case related to another Muslim is being seen as wrong in this matter.

BRP Bhasker, S Jayachandran Nair, NRS Babu, Sasikumar, Paul Zachariah, MP Achuthan MP, N Madhavankutty, Sebastian Paul, SR Shakthidharan, Neelan, NP Rajendran, KP Mohanan, VM Ibrahim, NP Chandrashekharan, Venkitesh Ramakrishnan, NP Chekkutty, MG Radhakrishnan, N Padmanabhan, C Gouridasan Nair, Manoharan Morayi, KC Rajagopal and MM Subair signed the memorandum.

The protest conference organized by the ‘Madhyama Swathanthrya Samrakshana Samiti’ will be held at the C Achutha Menon Hall in Ernakulam at 3 pm tomorrow. Shahina, Adv Thampan Joseph, veteran journalists Appukkuttan Vallikkunnu, C Gouridasan Nair, Sunny M Kapikkad (Nava Janadhipathya Prasthanam), Rajeesh Rahman (Kerala Union of Working Journalists), Rekh aRaj, Vidhu Vincent etc will be present at the programme.

Shahina explains in her report that she had been to Kodaku with two translators. After meeting Yoganand, one of the witnesses, policemen threatened her to stop the reporting. She had to take a different path to meet the other witness Rafeeq, evading the police. The police then booked Shahina under IPC 506 for threatening the witnesses. The next day some Kannada newspapers reportedly carried stories on the ‘suspicious visit by a group of Muslims’ to Kodaku. A few Malayalam newspapers also carried the story of the police case, but without giving Shahina’s version even though she is a noted journalist in the state, having worked earlier with the leading channel ‘Asianet’.

Thursday 9 September 2010

Miss Universe Pageant Rolls Out the Bikinis The 57th annual Miss Universe pageant will be held in Vietnam on July 14, 2008. Here are some bikini shots



Miss Universe Pageant Rolls Out the Bikinis The 57th annual Miss Universe pageant will be held in Vietnam on July 14, 2008. Here are some bikini shots from last week’s pre-showMiss Universe 2008 Bikini Contest-china
publicity

Momoko Tani in Bikini





AyaNonami Takizawa swimsuitme Misaki hot idol

Miss New Mexico Bianca Matamoros Koonce





Miss WyomMiss New Mexico Bianca Matamoros Koonceing Cynthia Pate

tFilipina Bikini Pageant




Models parade the designs of Nicola Finetti at Australian Fashion Week in Sydney, Monday, April 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft



A model wears the designs of Zimmermann at Australian Fashion Week in Sydney, Tuesday, April 29, Models parade the designs of Nicola Finetti at Australian Fashion Week in Sydney, Monday, April 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft2008. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)


A model presents a creation from Indian label Anupamaa at Australian Fashion Week in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Best in fashion of 2008
Models present creations by Greek designer Dimitris Dassios during the Fashion Week at Technopolis Culture Center in Athens on Friday, Oct. 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Thanassis StavraApril 30, 2008. (AP Photo/Mark Baker

The first day of 'Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week' saw a glimpse of Bollywood. Model turned actress, Mughda Godse walked the ramp for designer Saty


The first day of 'Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week' saw a glimpse of Bollywood. Model turned actress, Mughda Godse walked the ramp for designer Saty





The first day of 'Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week' saw a glimpse of Bollywood. Model turned actress, Mughda Godse walked the ramp for designer Satya Paul, wearing a shimmery saree with a signature Satya Paul play of pattern. Mughda looked very much at home while on the ramp

Wednesday 8 September 2010

A model wears a creation as part of the Bernhard Willhelm autumn/winter 2009-2010 collection, presented during the Paris Fashion Week - Ready to Wear,





A model wears a creation as part of the Bernhard Willhelm autumn/winter 2009-2010 collection, presented during the Paris Fashion Week - Ready to Wear, in Paris, France, 06 March 2009. EPA/LUCAS DOLEGA

A model takes to the catwalk during Leonard's Autumn-Winter 2009/10 Ready-to-Wear fashion show by French fashion designer Veronique Leroy, presented a




A model takes to the catwalk during Leonard's Autumn-Winter 2009/10 Ready-to-Wear fashion show by French fashion designer Veronique Leroy, presented a



A model takes to the catwalk during Leonard's Autumn-Winter 2009/10 Ready-to-Wear fashion show by French fashion designer Veronique Leroy, presented at the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris, France, 09 March 2009. EPA/MAYA VIDON

model wears a creation as part of the Bernhard Willhelm autumn/winter 2009-2010 collection, presented during the Paris Fashion Week - Ready to Wear,



A model presents a creation as part of Anne Valerie Hash fashion house, during the Fall-Winter 2009/2010 ready-to-wear fashion week in Paris, France, 04 March 2009. EPA/MAXPPP/TG FRA model wears a creation as part of the Bernhard Willhelm autumn/winter 2009-2010 collection, presented during the Paris Fashion Week - Ready to Wear, in Paris, France, 06 March 2009. EPA/LUCAS DOLEGANCE OUT - BELGIUM OUT


Model Heidi Klum walks the runway during Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 in Miami Beach. The show will be broadcast on the CBS Television Network on Dec. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini

Paris Hilton attends the 'Montblanc Signature for Good' Charity Initiative held at Paramount Studios on February 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.



Paris Hilton attends the 'Montblanc Signature for Good' Charity Initiative held at Paramount Studios on February 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Montblanc) Local Caption Paris Hilton (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images North America)

Models strut along the catwalk in swim wear by Jessika Allen during the Sydney Fashion Festival in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008. (AP Pho