- Rs. 300 crore price stabilisation
plan for Rubber, Coffee
- Indian Railways in $300 million loan deal from ADB
- India joins select group of CBM Countries; Ram Naik
- Each State to have at least one Tourism and Cultural Club
- NTPC has no plans to take over Enron
- Huge Losses in Non-Completion of projects
- Indian Railways in $300 million loan deal from ADB
US issues report on child labour in Africa and Middle East
New Rules for Expatriate children in the UAE
First car air conditioner plant in Saudi Arabia.
ONGC Vidhesh Buys Petroleum Vietnam.
Each State to have at least one Tourism and Cultural Club
NTPC has no plans to take over Enron
Huge Losses in Non-Completion of projects
- Small loans make big
difference in Bahrainis' lives
- Kashmir: Attack on Civilians in Jammu Condemned
- Yemen: human rights violations have no justification
- USA: Amnesty observer to pre-trial hearing of American Taleban soldier
- British Anti Terrorism Act Questioned by Rights Group
- NORKWA Executive Committee Meeting on July 27, 2002
- Cut in AI fares to Gulf -Contributory pension scheme for NRKs
- FOKANA convention held
- Symantec launches online marketing tool for partners
- UNHCR outraged at corruption claims by Kenyan Politicians
- Half a million may go hungry in Namibia.
- The 2002-03 Monsoon: Better to be Safe than Sorry GMC debuts all-new midsize pickup van
- Nigerian Government to challenge Sharia sentence, says minister -Zimbabwe: Washington urges isolation of Mugabe Prime Minister Greets K.R. Narayanan on Onam Elections in Jammu & Kashmir to be held on Schedule -Adwani Arjuna and Dronacharya Awards for the year 2001 announced.Centre backs Kerala's e-governance programme.
- Women are citizens too: shedding light on women's rights in the Arab world Stoning Sentence for Nigerian Woman is cruel and inhuman application of Sharia-Pakistan media project aims to change attitudes about women
- Government seeks public opionion on banning hand held mobile phones while driving British Home Secretary says Muslims help build Strong Active Committees Afghanis in Britain allowed Voluntary Returns package World's first leadership college set to open British Charity Commission Joins Forces with Leeds City Council to Charity magazine Scam British Adults urged to get rid of their gremlins Tracing Agency Found Guilty of illegally obtaining and selling personal information
- AMD unveils world's highest-performing processor for desktop PCs
- Djibouti : Ship not a public health threat -MobileCom empowers prepaid users with SMS service while roaming abroad MMI Travel's 'Apartment Holidays' for Arab families WTO Agreements and Public Health - A joint study by the WHO and the WTO Secretariat- Symbol Broadens Regional Reach with OnLine Distribution Ltd.
- HCL Infosystems offers Indian language support package in partnership with Microsoft Sudan : Focus on Egyptian role in peace process
- Export promotion Council for Handicrafts target Middle East Garment market Maruti to buy and sell pre owned cars Focus on abandoned babies controversy Tanzania : HIV/AIDS debate hots up among Religious Leaders Mobile clinic to treat street children with STDs Denial of appeal against stoning sentence for Adultery sparks international outcry
- Middle East Business
and Technology
- Number of Resellers Caught
in Breach of Copyright Laws
- DHL UAE Appoints New Jebel Ali Station Manager
- Underground system and grass root education
- to resolve Dubai's Traffic Woes
TASJEEL Launches GCC'S First
Mobile testing unit for light and heavvy vehicles Satellite Phone Activations Double in
the Last Two Years; Reaches 100,000Connections -Raqmiyat
Enhances Customer Support with ACCPAC eCRM
S.B. Mathur takes over as chairman of the Life Insurance Corporation of India AXIOM Telecom Inks Deal with Screenmedia- Local study on female condom shows acceptability
- African News
- -South Africa's New media bill slammed
- SOMALIA: Puntland bans BBC correspondents from reporting
- Nigerian Islamic court upholds death-by-stoning sentence
- Local study on female condom shows acceptability
- Local study on female condom shows acceptability
- Number of Resellers Caught
in Breach of Copyright Laws
Home Ministry and the UN to make coordinated effort for Asia Regional Disaster Assessment -Indian troops have best AIDS awareness records -DR. Joshi to chair National Institute of Technology - Nigeria : Oil transnational faces fresh protests by women -Blue Dart strengthens its network in the East Adds two new locations in Orissa. -Vajpayee to inaugurate Global Investor Meet - NRK Pension Scheme Agreement Signed-Minister requests early resolution of issues-The NRK Project Initiative Fund
Home Ministry and the UN to make coordinated effort for Asia Regional Disaster Assessment -Indian troops have best AIDS awareness records -DR. Joshi to chair National Institute of Technology - Nigeria : Oil transnational faces fresh protests by women -Blue Dart strengthens its network in the East Adds two new locations in Orissa. -Vajpayee to inaugurate Global Investor Meet - NRK Pension Scheme Agreement Signed-Minister requests early resolution of issues-The NRK Project Initiative Fund-
.S.Robotics’ New 5 Port Switch Makes Networking Easy And Affordable For Small Companies and Homes Embedded ViaVoice powers navigation system in up-coming Honda Accords-Kenya : 1.1 million HIV/AIDS orphans-HLL shareholders approve bonus debenture scheme by 99.99% majority -Philips launches the world class Eye-Fi technology, based on an consumer insight, in its colour televisions range.
- Amoun Pharmaceuticals Helps Egypt Take Its Medicine ACCPAC Launches India Operations World's leading hospitals to take part in Health Expo BENIN: IOM helps return 720 stranded fishermen from Gabon SPA Resources Middle East in regional distribution deal Somalia : Hijacked ship not UK-registered 65 Congress leaders got 'illicit" licenses for pump-Kerala BJP
- Vayalar Ravi opposes privatisation of Electricity Board NIGER: Meningitis kills over 100 persons BIG FIVE Contracting Show to to fill Seven Expo Halls Kerala Republic Day Police Medal Winners. Independence Day Celebrations At Red Fort Police Medal for Meritorious Service Independence Day 2002 NIGER: Meningitis kills over 100 persons BIG FIVE Contracting Show to to fill Seven Expo Halls Kerala Republic Day Police Medal Winners. Independence Day Celebrations At Red Fort Police Medal for Meritorious Service Independence Day 2002 Police Medal For Meritorious Service- Independence Day - 2002
- Police Medal For Meritorious Service- Independence Day - 2002
- Ethanol doped petrol mandatory in 9 States and 4 Union Territories s
- from January 1, 2003-Staff failure caused Bagh Expres-Jeep Collision near Barauni Station Standing Committee on IT Invites Suggestions on Indian Post office Bill New National Institute of Animal Welfare to offer Degree Courses Hapur bypass inauguration Exports of readymade garments increase. NHAI Raises Rs. 2232 crores through bond issue
- Software Technology Parks of India Records 47% higher Growth during 2001-2002
Jordan Launches JD 2.5 Million Programme to get 20,000 Government Employees ICT Trained, Tata Engineering total Automobile sales up by 31.3%, Passenger vehicles post 35% growth -Gulf Traffic to host launch for Solar powered Roadside Message Boards Give us Liberty or Death --tells Keralite Teachers Family Facing deportation from Iran.
- RBI urges Commercial banks to reschedule loans to Drought Affected Farmers. Nationwide movement for School Children to map resources
- Gulf traffic -- 60 Companies from 11 Countries to attend.
- New IBM eServer Brings Ground-Breaking Performance to Entry-Level UNIX Market Deemed University Status for SRM Institute
- Juveniles Crime on the Increase in Delhi, call to reduce Neuro disorder among children Pioneer project supports Preschool and disabled Children
- Tata Sedan gets set to go as Tata Indigo Microsoft reaches agreement with the Federal Trade Commission on Passport Water Resources Ministry review Ground Water Situation Platinum Jubilee of Light House Directorate of Light Houses Railways propose to strengthen Rail linkages to all major ports EC to introduce diamond certification scheme Southern Africa: GM controversy continues Do not court martial mutineers, rights groups urge
- Police clamp down on vigilante group for extrajudicial killings
- .
- India's Polaris Software launches first Business Continuity Center in Singapore Spa Resources Middle East Appoints Hill as General Manager.
- Russian Republic, Daghestan to mount pavillion in Middle East Show
- Dubai 2003 To have first Swiss and Ukranian Pavillions Project to provide Essential Services in Mongolia ADB steps to rehabilitate war torn Afghan Roads. $600 Million Package for Sri Lanka in three years
- $300 million for Nepal US$40 Million ADB Programme for Bhutan over three years Three year ADB Plan for the Maldives Tourism.
- Malaria Control proves 90% Successful in Vietnam Media law, crackdown cause anxiety Police clamp down on vigilante group for extrajudicial killings.
- New Media bill worries Journalists Association, Amnesty. Do not court martial mutineers, rights groups urge Eritrea : Another journalist detained
- Crackdown on Media worries Amnesty International
- Nigerian Woman shot dead during protest at transnationals' offices
- August 8 2002.
.Rs. 10 lakh special cash award for Women Hockey Team members
- Rs. 10 lakh special cash award for Women Hockey Team members
- Workshop cum photo exhibition on MPS Local Area Development Fund Special Fund to develop Paper Industry. Newspapers to present annual financial Statements ILO implementing area specific projects in five districts to eliminate child labour 12,554 Army Officers Job Vacant in Defence. Ministry to Receive applications for newmedical colleges High level committee submits report on Public Distribution System Shathrugnan Sinha releases Hospital Manual - 2002 National commission on cattle submits report. Reliance Industries announces improved financial results (provisional) for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 , UAE Company to establish Reprocessing Facility in Mumbai. Symantec and Symbian announce partnership to enhance security features for Symbian OS smartphones NIIT Q3: Consolidated Operating Profit at Rs 18.5 Cr Microsoft announces update to Windows CE .NET
- GCC Mass Transport Systems. Global Transportation Experts to gather in Dubai
- US$12.5M Calm Buoy to be Ready in August to Make Fujiarah World's Biggest Bunkering Hub
- Souqalkhaleej.net announces partnership with Bolero MENA
- Dubai To host Middle East's largest Medical Conference Series
- DRC: Volcanologists say risk exists of Nyiragongo eruption
- South African Nurses Slam British Plans to test expatriate health workers
- SUDAN: Three aid workers missing, one killed
- BSA Hails UAE as Regional Standard Bearer of IP Rights
- Leading Regional Technology Publisher Moves to Jordan
- IBM technology gives new Hondas a voice
- Focus on primary education in Ethiopia
- Illicit Tobacco Trade Contributes to Global Disease Burden
- G E Shipping Q1 FY 02-03 , Revenue at Rs. 2313.3 mn. dips by 32.5%.
- Profitability of premium segment hotels is expected to decline in the medium term
- Special Parker pen commemorating Queen Elizabeth's Accession launched in the Middle East Rs. 235 crores Escorts completes divestment programme in non-core areas
- Senior Australian parliamentarians visit the Gulf
- Emirates Neon Backs Dubai Muncipality Crackdown on illegal Advertisements.
- U.S. Robotics Appoints Aptec as Distributor in Lebanon Market
- 3rd batch of Korean students complete their course at APTECH
- Focus on primary education
- Cambodia and ADB Sign partnership to fight poverty
- International Travel Industry Shows keen interest to revive Tours to India
- Plans afoot for Indian Universities Abroad.
- NIGERIA: Attack by armed group claims 15 lives in Plateau
- The PowerShot A100: Canon’s new entry-level digital camera
- Government implementing Electoral Reforms
- First meet of the second national commission on Scheduled Areas/STs.
- Capital Goods Sector meet heavy industry minister.
- Floods-draught situation reviwed
- First Gulf Bank Netr profit grows by 47 per cent in first half of 2002
- FDI in IT and Telecommunications Sectors Increasing.
- Ceramics GmbH & Co. KG to start operations on August 1
- INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEWS
- Angola : World Ffoods Programme warning on food crisis
- 500,000 children targeted in anti-polio campaign
- At least 4,000 cases, 24 deaths from measles in Kinshasa
- Volcanic ash threatens animals
- Clove smuggling report prompts heated debates in Zanzibar
- Ethiopian Airlines to modernise fleet
- SUDAN: Bashir, Garang meet for first time
Yesudas on three day Private visit to Muscat.
Muscat --July 29, 2002. Dr.Y.J. Yesudas, the doyen of Malayalam music has been in the Gulf for the last three days as part of a "private visit". Keralamonitor.com spotted the "Malayali Ganagandharvan" at the City Centre Shopping mall. Wadi Kabir and other parts of Muscat. It is learned that the famous singer has spent time with the family of a budding playback singer from Muscat who has already brought out an album with Yesudas.
It is believed that Dr. Yesudas has been encouraging this talented little nightingale from Muscat, who has got a sweet and melodious voice . It is learned that Dr. Yesudas has been invited to Muscat by Babu Rajendran, the Cultural Secretary of Indian Social Club, Muscat. His young daughter, Manjari Babu is an upcoming singer. Manjari Babu has already established herself as a good singer. Last month she had staged a Music programme in Kerala and donated Rs.1 lakh to the family of Late Babu Raj, famous singer whose family is living in utter poverty. The money was raised from Baburaj Night, a programme organised last year to raise funds for the family of Late Babu Raj.
Wherever Yesudas goes, young aspiring Malayali singers encircle him to get his blessings and well wishes and if possible ask for a chance!. Apparently Dr.Yesudas managed to keep away from the normal crowd and media for three days. Since it was a private visit, keralamonitor.com is not going into further details. But why should such a prominent personality keep away from the large number of admirers in the Gulf. According to the rumour mill, the Muscat Singer girl might get a chance to sing for a Malayalam movie. Best wishes....
The Chairman of the Jury Board for the 49th National Film Awards Shri K.S Sethumadhavan alongwith other juries announced film awards at a Press Conference in New Delhi on July 26, 2002 (Friday).
- Rs. 300 crore price stabilisation plan for Rubber, Coffee
- Indian Railways in $300 million loan deal from ADB
- India joins select group of CBM Countries; Ram Naik
- India's Share in World Trade in Services just 1.4 per cent.
- Ayurvedi herbal Exports to get Marketing Assistance
- Exhbition ‘Green Waves’ at Central Cottage Emporium
- Lagaan and Chandni Bar sweeps 49th National Film Awards for 2002.
- Development scheme for tribals in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- 840 lakh Indian families below poverty line
- Rs. 53.35 Crore Development Funds for Andhra Pradesh
- Jayalalitha Did not request an invitation card to participate in Abdul Kalam's swearing in Ceremony, says Government.
- Special feature
- MInimal Access Surgery, a major evolution in Medical Science.
- Bishnupur : The heritage tourism destination
- INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEWS
- Women end siege of ChevronTexaco facilities
- ECOWAS sets up early warning system, plans military bases
- Farmers go digital in Nambia.
- Police kill 14 autonomy demonstrators in Bas-Congo Province
- Northern rebels kill 42 civilians with machetes and knives.
- UNICEF concerned over round-up of street children in Ethiopia.
- Mt Nuamuragira volcano erupts
- SOMALIA: 30 killed as Mogadishu fighting continues
- Business News
- Ericsson Downgraded by Moody's
- Over 8 million in need of food aid in Ethiopia
- Reliance is India's 'Most Admired Business House', second year in a row IBM Servers For Bridgestone's Dealer And Branch Online System Tata Engineering posts 1st quarter profit of Rs.28.03 crores
- Mahavir Spinning Mills Limited Vardhman Spinning & General Mills Limited ADB Conference in Bangkok for WTO Negotiators.
- Maruti brings down the prices of Maruti 800!
- Combined Defence Services Examination (II) 2002-Cleanliness a continuous process at Indian Railway Stations -Development of Advanced Light Helicopter Engine-Indias participation in Asia-Pacific Security Conference-250 Indian Soldiers killed due to Infiltration after Kargil War -Advani says Narendra Modi is not the best Chief Minister of Gujarath in the last 50 years.-Sale of Units of Cement Corporation of India.-Dues payable to PSU Employees is only Rs.1588.67!, says Minister.-Projects Running Behind SChedule Rajya Sabha - 50 lakh tonnes per year for free distribution of food grains Special Feature -Indoor Pollution - the invisible Enemy -- Dinesh C Sharma* - New WHO Publication Explores important links between health and human rights
- International news
- Indian Defence Officials in Kuwait, 826 in Lebanon and 1548 in Eritera, Ethiopia - Fernandes.-Ethiopian Government urged to forgo "draconian" press laws -Gambian Parliament passes tough media bill-Kenya: Sudanese refugee murdered in Nairobi accommodation centre -Kenya: Sudanese refugee murdered in Nairobi accommodation centre Sudan : 87 sentenced to death following tribal clashes - Zimbabwe Dvaluation rejected by Mugabe Nithish-British Arms Export Control Bill Gets Royal Assent-EU names Zimbabwe's "blacklist -Zimbabwen Journalists awarded for bravery
- Business & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
- CRISIL Upgrades Ratings Of Five Bank Promoted Housing Finance Companies -IBM Announces Support for Intel's New Itanium 2 Processor Barclays Appoints Global Market State Manager-IBM reports 2002 second-quarter results-Microsoft announces winners, awards prizes in Microsoft Project 2002 -Computer Associates elects four new directors-NTT Com selects IBM technology to build UDDI registry
Text of the President Shri K.R. Narayanan’s Farewell Address to the Nation-Compensation talks underway for paralysed journalist -Second Saudi Prince Dies in Road Accident -All about Internet Telephone -Far East most popular destination for summer 2002, says UAE Travel Company-CRISIL Assigns First Healthcare Grade In Ahmedabad - East Timor Becomes ADB's 61st Member. Inmarsat Swift64 Comes of Age Only Three Months After Launch -Middle East Imaging and Diagnostic Meet to coincide with Arab Health -Hundreds of street kids reportedly dumped in a forest -Focus on Islamic terrorism, and the challenge for the AU -Mugabe warns against interference under pretext of aid -Alcatel-Singapore Telecom deal for IP Voice plus -Warning to Westerners Visiting Afghanistan, Pakistan. Ajith Singh announces New measures to tackle Drought in the Country
- Cable Operators Threat to MPs Undesirable Sushama Swaraj -Raising Funds to settle VRS Dues by National Textile Mills.-Pharmaceutical Authority revises pricing of three forumulations
- ENOC Launches joint venture with Government of Djiboti U.S. Moves to Undermine New Torture Treaty Occupied Territories: Forcibly transferring relatives of suspected Palestinian suicide bombers would violate international law Indian Giant Moves to Dubai to capture Middle East Energy Market. Deteriorating Human Rights Situation in Liberia
- Supply of Piped Natural Gas to Delhi No agreement to Share Indus Water with Pakistan, 25 Percent of the land to come under Forest by 2007
Faster, safer, economic long haul Air travel on the ways, Civil Aviation Chief.
Airline Passenger Traffic Down in June Irritating Wife can Cause serious Road Accidents --Saudi Study Amputees live with pains, says study Escravos siege ends, ChevronTexaco faces new blockades Belgium to finance 5 million primary education textbooks Conference on human trafficking set for August Abdul Kalam Will be Sworn in President on Thursday UAE, Israeli Companies invest in India. Medicinal Plants of Kashmir--Feature.
The Government has planned to amend Section 19 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 to enable woman in distress, especially divorced, deserted and estranged wife to file suits for maintenance or relief of any kind at a place of her residence. This is intended to bring Section 19 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 in conformity with Section 126 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. This will enhance the human rights of women in distress besides conveniencing them to file suits for maintenance in the courts of the districts they reside.
At present, woman in distress or divorced woman or deserted woman has to file suit for compensation or maintenance in the court of the district where her former husband resides, resulting in a lot of inconveniences to the woman.
The proposal has been circulated to State Governments, whose response is awaited. The matter comes under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, wherein both the Centre and the States can exercise jurisdiction concurrently or independently.
The proposal for amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 follows recommendations of the Law Commission of India contained in its 178th Report and that of the National Commission for Women in its Annual Report 1999-2000.
The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the Special Marriage Act, 1954, the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 have been amended recently to make it mandatory for the courts to grant interim relief to women in distress within 60 days from the serving of notices to the parties in divorce suits for maintenance to self, child(ren) and aged parents. These effected through the Marriage Laws (Amendment) Act, 2001 have been acclaimed widely by women’s organisations as a milestone in personal laws reforms insofar as it provides social security to women in distress
RAJYA SABHA Railway to launch Packaged Water -Rail Neer
Indian Railways will be launching package drinking water named Rail Neer to be priced at Rs. 10/- per 1000 ml bottle by this year end. To start with, Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a Public Limited Company under Ministry of Railways will be setting up plants in Delhi and Danapur for production of Rail Neer which will be for exclusive sale at railway premises and on trains.
More such plants will be set up by the Corporation across Indian Railways at suitable places in coming years.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways , Shri Bandaru Dattatraya in a written reply to a question by Dr. Alladi P.Rajkumar in the Rajya Sabha today.
Railways are continuously taking steps for computerizing its activities specially in the field of passenger reservation. Besides this , steps are underway to computerise freight movement activities also in a phased manner.
There is a plan to cover all stations, having a workload of 100 transactions per day, all District Headquarters, rail-head as well as non- rail-head, and important tourist stations and other important stations with computerized reservation facilities. Further, the implementation of pilot project is underway in Delhi area for providing facility of ticket booking through internet. Facility of internet based booking will be extended to other places depending upon the success of the pilot project. Computerised passenger reservation services, with a facility of on-line booking of tickets, are already available at 742 locations all over the country. These facilities have been sanctioned at another 150 new locations in the Annual Budget 2002-03
Implementation of project of Freight Operation Information System is underway Under Phase I, one more module, Rake Management System (RMS for capturing the freight movement information in rake form has been implemented on Zonal Railways. RMS application provides information on rake based consignment tracking, stock holding, train and stock interchange, terminal handling information, loco holding and outage. Phase II covering implementation of Terminal Management System (TMS) is underway and likely to be completed by March’2004. TMS application once implemented will capture registration of indents for wagons by customers and wagon-wise supply and loading details. It will also be possible to issue computerized Railway Receipts.
Bahrain drafting Labour Legislation to prevent Child Labour
Manama July 18, 2002.keralamonitor.com
The Government of Bahrain is in the process of drafting a new labor legislation that is intended to bring the country into full compliance with ILO Convention The government has also established educational training programs for school dropouts. Incidence and Nature of Child Labor Statistics on the number of working children under the age of 15 years in Bahrain are unavailable.Children work in family businesses and in the informal sector as car washers,vendors, and porters. Child trafficking is a problem throughout the Middle East and the Gulf States, although there are no official confirmations of such activities in Bahrain. Bahrain is the only Gulf country listed in the US Labour Department Report on the Worst Form of Child Labour Problems in the world.
Primary education is compulsory under the Constitution and generally lasts until the age of 12 or 13. In 1996,the gross primary enrollment rate was 105.6 percent,and the net primary enrollment rate was 98.2 percent. Primary school attendance rates are unavailable for Bahrain. While enrollment rates indicate a level of commitment to education,they do not always reflect children 's participation in school.
Bahrain 's Shura Council approved a draft Education Law on October 9,2001,that would make education compulsory and impose fines on parents of students who fail to attend school. Child Labor Laws and Enforcement The Labor Law of 1976 establishes 14 years as the minimum age for employment.Ac- cording to the Labor Law,children between the ages of 14 and 16 may not be employed in hazardous conditions,at night,or for more than six hours per day. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has inspectors to enforce legislation in the industrial sector,and reports indicate that the mechanisms in place are effective.
Labor laws do not apply to child domestic workers. Forced or compulsory child labor is prohibited by the Constitution. Prostitution is illegal under the Penal Code,and there are increased penalties for offenses involving a child less than 18 years of age. The Government of Bahrain has not ratified ILO Convention 138,but ratified ILO Convention 182 on March 23,2001.
US issues report on child labour in Africa and Middle East
keralamonitor.com July 18, 2002.
ABIDJAN, 17 July (IRIN) - The US Department of Labour has highlighted
the problem of child trafficking and labour in a report covering
countries with which the US has trade relations.Released in Washington on Friday, 'The Department of Labor's 2001
Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor' presents information on the
extent of the problem and reforms to curb it in 143 countries and
territories that have commercial ties with the US government, a State Department
news report said.The 400-page report does not rank countries in order of child labour
violations or assess their efforts to meet international obligations to
end child abuse. It is mainly to serve as a guiding document in
determining eligibility for various US trade benefits programmes, the
department said. The document was prepared in response to new requirements under the US Trade and Development Act of 2000 which require beneficiary
nations to implement international commitments to eliminate the worst forms
of child labour.Child labour continues to be a major problem in West Africa although
various initiatives are underway to contain it, the report said. In
Burkina Faso, about 45 percent of children aged 10 to 14 worked in
agriculture, mining and domestic services in 1999. However, the country had no
specific legislation forbidding child trafficking and the government had
minimal resources to combat the practice, the report says. A national
child labour survey was due to be conducted in 2004.In Senegal where 28.11 percent of children between the ages of 10 and
14 were working in 1999, the government had implemented activities to
remove children from the workforce and place them in schools or training
programmes. The government was also working to revise national child
labour laws to make them compatible with international standards, and
planned to conduct a national child labour survey in 2004 with assistance
from the International Labour Organisation.Cameroon, "a source, transit and destination country for the
trafficking of children", is on the verge of developing a national plan. It was
estimated that 23.4 percent of minors (10-14 years old) were employed in
numerous activities, including car washing, domestic servants,
prostitution. Despite the existence of laws, the report said, the country
lacked resources for fighting child labour and trafficking.Various other African countries are also mentioned in the report.
keralamonitor.com July 18, 2002.
(New York, July 18, 2002) The impact of violent attacks against Muslims last year in Burma should be high on the agenda of the U.N. special envoy when he visits Burma next month, Human Rights Watch said today. The U.N. should also focus on the continuing violations of religious freedom and other fundamental human rights faced by Muslims in Burma.
These abuses were highlighted in a twelve-page briefing paper,
"Crackdown on Burmese Muslims," released by Human Rights Watch today. The paper, based on interviews with Burmese Muslims and religious leaders inside the country, eyewitnesses to the attacks, and other
material, provides details not previously known outside the country."The Burmese government must protect the rights of Muslims. Instead, it
has imposed restrictions on Muslim religious activities and taken no
action to punish those responsible for destroying Muslim homes and
mosques," said Mike Jendrzejczyk, Washington Director for Asia at Human
Rights Watch.Former Malaysian Ambassador Razali Ismail, the U.N.'s special envoy, is
due to make his eighth trip to Burma on August 2. He is expected to meet
with ethnic minority leaders as well as government officials and the
National League for Democracy (NLD.)Human Rights Watch said that various factors sparked last year's
confrontations between Buddhists and Muslims, including anger over the
destruction of Buddhist images in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, in March 2001.
Military authorities confiscated pirated photos and videos of the
Bamiyan statues being blown up by the Taliban, fearful they would
enflame Buddhist sentiment. But in some cities outside Rangoon, there
were credible reports of military intelligence officers stirring up
anti-Muslim violence.The worst violence in eastern Burma took place in May and September
2001, when the country's economic crisis was particularly severe. In
Taungoo, north of Rangoon, more than a thousand people led by robed
Buddhist monks attacked Muslim shops, homes and mosques. There were
beatings and at least nine deaths, but the ruling State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC) reportedly did little or nothing to intervene
to stop or prevent the attacks. There were also outbreaks of violence in
Prome in early October and Pegu.Restrictions on travel by Muslims were far more rigidly enforced in
2001, and earlier this year the government tightly restricted the number
of Muslims allowed to travel to Mecca for the Haj pilgrimage. Muslims
claimed they continue to have special difficulties getting passports to
travel abroad.In Arakan State, a predominantly Muslim area, human rights abuses have
long been commonplace, including forced labor, restrictions on freedom
of movement, and destruction of mosques. But in February 2001, full
scale riots broke out in Sittwe, the state capital. The authorities did
nothing to stop the violence initially, though they ultimately
intervened and imposed a curfew for more than two months. Muslims from
nearby areas were forbidden to travel to Sittwe. As of May 2002, few
Muslims were being allowed to travel freely out of northern Arakan.Later in the year, there were credible reports in Arakan of local
mosques being destroyed at the order of local military commanders. One
former Muslim teacher quoted government officials as saying, "In
Afghanistan, Talibans have destroyed statues of our Lord Buddha, so that
is why we were destroying your mosques here."Human Rights Watch urged the Burmese government to take immediate steps
to end the persecution of Muslim communities, to prosecute those
responsible for attacks on Muslim civilians and property, and to ensure
that losses are properly compensated. The government should also allow
Ambassador Razali and the U.N. Special Rapporteur for Myanmar, Paulo
Sergio Pinheiro, unrestricted access to Muslim areas, including the
sites of last year's violence, so that they can meet with local Muslim
residents and community leaders.New Rules for Expatriate children in the UAE
Dubai --keralamonitor.com July 18, 2002.
Expatriates in the UAE who have sons above the age of 18 and are studying outside the country have to pay Dh5,000 a year for their residence visas after a new rule implemented in April. The same rule will apply for a boy studying in the UAE in an institution that is not recognised by the Ministry of Education and Youth. The residence visa is valid for one year and it has to be renewed on the payment of
Dh5,000.The boy can now stay outside the country for a year without the residence visa being cancelled. Laws state that an expatriate's residence visa will be cancelled if he stays out of the country for a six-month stretch. If a boy is not studying and is looking for a job, he will be given a year to look for a job. This may be extended for another year or two, after which a committee will decide on his fate. An expatriate parent whose son is studying in Jordan in third year university said he used to renew the residence visa for his son every year. But this year when he went to renew it he was taken aback to discover he would have to pay Dh5,000 for renewal.
The UAE is introducing a number of labour rules to reduce the number of expatriates from Asian countries. The UAE government has been concerned about the demographic imbalance between its own citizens and the expatriate population.
First car air conditioner plant in Saudi Arabia.
Jeddah --July 18, 2002. Saudi Arabia's first plant producing car air conditioners is inaugurated in south Jeddah. The joint venture between Abdul Latif Jameel Co. Ltd., the Kingdom's sole distributor of Toyota and Lexus, and Japan's Denso Corporation, which is a world leading company for car air conditioners. The plant will produce about 20,000 air conditioners annually for Toyota Hilux to begin with, is established by the joint venture company - Denso Abdul Latif Jameel Co. Ltd. established in April 2001 with a capital of $2 million. The two companies own 50 percent share of the new company each and are managing it jointly. This project is yet another joint venture between the two countries and its success will encourage further investments from Japan.-- the second largest investor in the Kingdom."