Global scenes

24 08 2013

Iranian president says chemical weapons killed people in Syria

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday acknowledged for the first time chemical weapons had been used in Syria, in an attack that reportedly killed anywhere between dozens and 1,300 people, according to different sources. Rouhani called on the international community to prevent their use. “Many of the innocent people of Syria have been injured and martyred by chemical agents and this is unfortunate,” he was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency. “The Islamic Republic gives notice to the international community to use all its might to prevent the use of these weapons anywhere in the world, especially in Syria,” the Iranian president added, according to the Mehr news agency. Iran’s foreign minister earlier this week said Syrian rebel groups must have been behind the attack. The Syrian government of President Bashar Assad denies using such weapons.

San Diego mayor resigns amid allegations of widespread sexual harassment

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner has resigned following ongoing allegations of sexual harassment that spurred a related lawsuit. His resignation was confirmed upon a Friday vote by the city council agreeing that the city will pay part of his legal fees. Filner maintains he did not sexually harass any of his 18 female accusers, blaming “awkwardness and hubris” for his behavior.

Brahimi says Syria conflict biggest threat to world peace

UN-Arab League special envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, has described the Syrian conflict as the biggest threat to peace and security in the world. “The parties that are involved in this civil war, each one of them think that they can win militarily,” he said. “There is no military solution. No side is going to win.” The envoy added: “There is only a political solution and the earlier we work on it, the better.” He called on both warring sides in Syria to come to the negotiating table.

Czech Republic to hold snap election on October 25-26 – president

The Czech Republic will hold an election on October 25-26, President Milos Zeman officially announced on Friday. The ballot will end a period of political stalemate triggered by a corruption and spying scandal that unseated the previous center-right cabinet in June. Opinion polls show the center-left Social Democrats will be the biggest party in the new parliament, Reuters reported. Their leader, Bohuslav Sobotka, has said his party could rule in a minority government, supported by the Communist Party or other factions. It would be the first time since the 1989 Velvet Revolution that the Communist party could have a direct impact on government policies.

Philippines ferry disaster toll hits 80

Philippine authorities on Friday began a formal inquiry into a collision between a ferry and a cargo ship which killed at least 80 people and left 40 missing on August 16. Navy boats and helicopters continued to scour the waters for those still missing from the St Thomas Aquinas ferry, which sank after the collision off the central island of Cebu, AFP reported. A total of 750 passengers and crew of the 870 on board the ferry were rescued. Authorities are discussing a proposal to wind up the search for survivors by Saturday.

Belgian police report $1.75bn drug bust

A three-nation investigation has led to one of the biggest seizures of synthetic drugs in Europe, the Belgian prosecutor’s office said on Friday. Core products intended to create Ecstasy pills with a street value of 1.3 billion euro ($1.75 billion) were seized after 30 raids in Belgium, the Netherlands and Poland. Police arrested 11 people, charged with possession, production and trading in drugs as part of a criminal gang. Most of the products were discovered in a suburban garage in Brussels and on a farm in southern Belgium. It was Belgium’s biggest ever bust and one of the largest in Europe.

Korea agree to allow reunions of families separated by 1950-53 war

North and South Korea have agreed to allow reunions next month of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, officials in Seoul say. It will be the first time the meetings have happened in three years. Seoul says that 100 people from each country will be allowed to meet family members, September 25-30, at a North Korean mountain resort. The deal struck on Friday marks the latest conciliatory gesture from Pyongyang.

UK’s Hague claims Syria govt behind alleged chemical attack

British Foreign Secretary William Hague has said the UK believes the regime of Syria’s President Bashar Assad carried out a chemical weapons attack near Damascus that killed scores of people. The only “plausible explanation for casualties so intense in such a small area” was a chemical attack, Hague said Friday. Chances the Syrian opposition was behind the attack were “vanishingly” small, he said on television. “We do believe this is a chemical attack by the Assad regime on a large scale.” UN chemical weapons inspectors must be given immediate access to the site, Hague added.

US aid to Egypt no longer ‘business as usual’ – Obama

US President Barack Obama has said that while the US aid to Egypt is unlikely to influence the government’s crackdown on protests, there is “no doubt that we can’t return to business as usual.” The aid itself “may not reverse what the interim government does,” Obama said in an interview with CNN ‘New Day’ anchor Chris Cuomo. Washington provides $1.2 billion in military aid and $250 million in economic aid to Egypt every year.
Media agencies

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Mumbai gang-rape: 3rd accused arrested;

24 08 2013

Victim demands strictest punishment to all accused

A third accused in the Mumbai photojournalist gang-rape case was arrested today by Mumbai Police. AIR Correspondent reports that the arrest follows a massive manhunt launched by the police.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai rape victim has demanded strictest punishment to all the accused. The 22 year old photo journalist told this to a member of the National Commission for Women Nirmala Samant Prabhawalkar, who met her at Jaslok Hospital, where she is convalescing.
Prabhawalkar said the victim feel outraged but told her that rape is not the end of life and she wants to join duty as early as possible. She said , the victim is still not completely out of trauma but she is composed.
Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan has assured women journalists in Mumbai that he will take up the issue of the safety of women in the state with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. Speaking to a group of women scribes, who met him at Raj Bhavan, the Governor said he will also take up the issue of tightening safety of women in local trains with the Railway Minister. The Governor told them that there are strong laws in the country to protect the life and liberty of citizens. What is needed is effective implementation of the laws.

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PM to intervene

24 08 2013

PM may intervene in discussion on missing coal ministry files

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may intervene in the discussion on several files pertaining to coal block allocations going missing, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla said on Thursday. Shukla made the announcement after main opposition BJP and AIADMK stalled Question Hour in Rajya Sabha seeking response from the Prime Minister on the issue of missing files.

“Prime Minister may also intervene in case it is required,” Shukla told the House, which saw a brief adjournment after it met for the day.

He said that in response to demands by Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley and several members, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal made a statement on the issue on Tuesday.

“Some clarifications were sought (and) clarifications were given. (However) it remained inconclusive. We are ready to conclude that discussion and if necessary Prime Minister may also intervene,” he said.

The response came after Jaitley said the opposition was not convinced by Jaiswal’s statement and Prime Minister should give clarification.

“Prime Minister is in the House… Prime Minister should give his reaction,” he said as Singh watched the proceedings from his seat.

V Maitreyan (AIADMK), who had given a notice for suspension of Question Hour, said missing of important files has been termed by CBI Director as a “serious setback” to investigation.

The CBI Director had stated that “you can draw your own conclusions” when asked if there was a conspiracy in files going missing, Maitreyan said, adding this was a serious issue and “Prime Minister necessarily needs to intervene and clarify the matter.”

Earlier, when the House met Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) said Jaiswal should not have made the statement as it was in conflict of interest since he was arbitrator in deciding on a family feud in AMR Co, which was a beneficiary of coal block allocation.

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2G: Tina Ambani deposes, says has no role in Reliance ADAG

24 08 2013

Tina Ambani on Friday appeared as a prosecution witness in the 2G spectrum case and told a special court that she had “no role” in the affairs of Reliance ADAG.

A day after her husband and Reliance ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani’s deposition as a CBI witness, she told the court that she has never been associated with any firm of Reliance ADAG.

“I have no role in Reliance ADAG as I am a housewife, run a hospital…I have never been associated with any Reliance ADAG company,” she told Special CBI Judge O P Saini.

55-year-old Tina Ambani was shown documents of various firms said to be associated with Reliance ADAG, including Zebra Consultant Pvt Ltd, Swan Consultant Pvt Ltd.

She, however, said she does not have “any knowledge” about these firms.

During her examination-in-chief by CBI prosecutor K K Goel, she was shown various documents related to the case and she identified her signatures on them.

When she was asked to identify the signatures of Anil Ambani on some of the documents, defence counsel objected to it saying when the Reliance ADAG chairman had already identified his signatures then why was she being asked to identify them.

Senior advocate Harish Salve said that it seems that CBI is “doubting” Anil Ambani’s signatures.

“They bring a witness and do not trust his/her memory. What is this?,” Salve said, adding, “If he has appeared and has identified his signature then why are they showing her (Tina) his signatures. Are they doubting his (Anil Ambani’s) signature?.”

To this, the judge told Salve, “I agree with you.”

Yesterday, Anil Ambani had deposed as a CBI witness in the case during which he resiled from a statement made during the probe and “did not support” CBI’s case.

In his four-hour long deposition, he had denied that Swan Telecom was a front company of his group RADAG for securing the precious radiowaves.

Since Anil Ambani had not supported CBI’s case, the agency decided not to drop Tina Ambani as prosecution witness saying he “has not supported the prosecution case” requiring her to stand in the witness box.

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New report calls for a ‘fundamental shift’ in disaster management practices in India.

24 08 2013

 

 

‘India Disasters Report II: Redefining disasters’being launched in New Delhi today.

 

“India faces the omnipresent reality of disaster vulnerability due to natural causes and human interventions, including developmental initiatives” observes India Disasters Report II- Redefining Disasters (IDR II).

 

IDR II, an Oxford University Press (OUP) publication, being launched in New Delhi today, comes in the context of people in Uttarakhand recovering from the recent floods. The report cautions that some of the current development practices “tend to put at risk the safety of local communities, the sustainability of their habitat, and their livelihoods, and at times even cause displacement”.

 

“Addressing disaster vulnerabilities caused by human factors is the best bet to reduce disaster risks and human suffering,” said the editors, while addressing a press conference in New Delhi today. Dr. Prannoy Roy, eminent media personality and Founder and Executive Chairperson, NDTV, is launching the report today at a function at Nehru Memorial Library, Tin Murti, New Delhi. To mark the event, TISS and OUP are organising a panel discussion of eminent academics, UN and government representatives and the editors of IDR II.

 

IDR II takes a fresh look at disasters from different vantage points. It is written by academics, humanitarian workers, scientists, engineers, journalists and analysts.  It is edited by Prof. S. Parasuraman, Director of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, and Dr. Unni Krishnan, Head of Disaster Response, Plan International, London.

 

 “A holistic view and long-term efforts are necessary to address disasters” said Prof. Parasuraman. “Capacity building at the community level and investments that will strike at the roots of poverty are paramount”, he said. The report calls to include disaster risk reduction and preparedness work at the community level as ingredients of large government initiatives such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

 

“In the context of recurring disasters in India, pre-disaster, disaster and post-disaster situations are inseparable” said Dr Krishnan. “We may not be able to stop an earthquake. But we can very well reduce their impacts and minimise deaths and sufferings”. The report calls to strengthen disaster preparedness measures and strictly implement building safety codes. “We need to build a culture of ‘zero tolerance’ towards safety and disaster management issues” he said.

 

The report makes the case that disasters are not just sudden interruptions of normal life, but cumulative outcomes of complex processes, sometimes accentuated by dramatic events and even policies- thus calling for multi disciplinary approaches to minimize risks and reduce human sufferings.

 

This report is a sequel to India Disaster Report: Towards a policy initiative. Published in 2000 by the Oxford University Press, that report worked as a catalyst to generate an informed debate about disaster management and galvanised public opinion to demand a disaster management policy for India. Indian government passed the Disaster Management Act in 2005.

India Disasters Report II: Redefining Disasters:

·      emphasizes the importance of understanding the concept of natural, technological, and human-made disasters in shaping policy, practice, and research

·      addresses diverse issues like vulnerability, development, environment, gender, health, information, communication, and technology in disasters;

·      explores disasters in India, and policies and administrative set-ups for disaster management; and

·      discusses disasters as an outcome of processes rather than stand-alone events.

Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, this report asserts the need to link natural systems, social systems, and technological limitations to devise policies and action plans for disaster prevention, relief operations, and environmentally inclusive development.

 

Key messages from the report:

 •When we discuss disasters, ‘nature’, human factors, social systems, policies, politics and poverty are inseparable.

 •It is necessary to have constant and long term engagement: In pre disaster, disaster and post disaster settings.

 •Focus on ‘vulnerable groups’ such as children, women, differently abled, aged people, and migrants.

 •Remove poverty: Disaster risk reduction needs to be included as part of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

 •Make schools, hospitals and homes safer: Implement building codes and fire safety norms.

 •Engage children and youth: Make disaster management as part of school and college lessons.

 •Strengthen first responders through community drills and skills training.

 •Build better awareness, early warning and undertake preventive measures. Learn from good examples from Cuba and Bangladesh.

 •Develop and implement better laws against discrimination and rights violation in disaster settings.

 •Media need to play a pro-active role. Social media, information and communication technology can inform, educate and empower.

 

On behalf of TISS and Editors, India Disasters Report II- Redefining Disasters

 

 

Sudarshan Rodriguez

 

Mobile: +91 93104 42441

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Indot Color World Installs its third HP Indigo digital offset press

24 08 2013 Company to capitalize on new opportunities in photo printing with HP Indigo 7600 digital offset press
Kerala, August 23, 2013: Hewlett-Packard today announced that Kerala based Indot Color World have installed their third HP Indigo digital offset press. The latest addition to their fleet is the new HP Indigo 7600, the fastest 13 x 19 inch format digital sheet-fed press.
Indot purchased its first HP Indigo Digital Press in 2011. Since then, HP technology has paved the way for the business’ success in the fast-growing photo printing market. Today, thanks to their most recent acquisition, the HP Indigo 7600 Digital Press, they are further expanding their portfolio to high-end photo speciality products like wedding albums.
Celebrating the launch, Sushil Kumar CP, managing partner, Indot Color World commented: “Our perception towards the photo business changed when we installed the first HP Indigo digital offset press. We felt a need to stay on top of new and emerging opportunities and to constantly innovate to meet customer demands. With this goal in mind we have started Indot Color World in Chalakudy. Installing the new HP Indigo 7600 has widened the scope of our business and will help us meet our customers’ high-end printing needs especially in the photo-book market.”
He further added, “We are very pleased to be associated with HP as a technology partner. Over the years we have found them to be consistently supportive, innovative and involved in ensuring our presses deliver the highest level of quality.”
An area which has seen a huge shift is the photo segment is traditional silver halide prints which are rapidly being replaced due to the excellent quality offered by the Indigo machines. The HP Indigo 7600 digital offset press is equipped with new special effect capabilities—like raised print and textured effects, which expands the opportunity for Indot to deliver high-value applications and other innovative products to their existing photo customers who are looking for something new and different to show case their images.
Speaking at the launch, A. Appadurai, Country Manager, HP Indigo & IHPS India & Sri Lanka, HP said, “Our association with Indot Color World goes back a long way and we are proud to be associated with them. HP has always led innovation in the digital printing industry and has turned out to be the leading provider of photo printing solutions to the photo labs in the country. We are excited about Indot Color World’s third installation of our Indigo digital offset press, which is considered a digital printing powerhouse. They will now have the facility to provide high quality reproduction of photographic images and other content on a wide range of coated and uncoated media. As the Indian photo market continues to evolve, professional photo labs are searching for solutions that produce high-quality photo prints with cost and environmental advantages and our HP Indigo digital presses stand out in this regard.”