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Internet Fraud – Part-2: by Madhu Nambiar
IN THE NAME OF SEPTEMBER 11 BOMBINGS
When internet has become an integral part of modern life, it's another side
too has started flourishing. Modus operandi in the internet under-world is
as parallel to that in the over-world. Cheating in chatting is not
uncommon. In short, internet is a new den for white collar criminals.A couple of weeks ago, Mr. X (name withheld on request) had received an
e-mail from the Secretary General, Madam Cynthia Brady, of -Transworld Youth Org.
No.157 West 47th Street
New York, NY 10036, USA
Call: +1-626-243-472-9
Fax: +1-530-3268392
(e-mail: transworld_youth@myway.com,
transworld_youth@verizonmail.com)
- informing him that consequent to a recommendation made by one of the
student participant, who got his profile from internet and had some
correspondence, his participation for the forthcoming international
conferences sponsored by TRANS WORLD AFFAIRS Relief in United States in
memory of those who lost their lives in the World trade centre bombing of
the September 11th in New York and Washington DC, to be held at Transworld
Convention Hall, NYC New York, USA, from 27th August 2005 to 31st August
2005, and the second one to be held at Palm Beach Hall, Dakar, Senegal, from
04th September 2005 to 08th September 2005, had been confirmed.Accordingly, a file number TWYAC/US00806/ICOWAC2555/05DS was opened for him
with the information that he supplied. TWYO promised him that all the
arrangements including visas, hotel accommodation, feeding, taxi from place
of stay to the place of conference, air tickets from Oman to USA and USA to
Senegal and back to Oman by Air France would be provided to the participants
by the donors and sponsors, except the hotel accommodation for the second
conference to be held in Dakar, Senegal, from 4th September to 8th September
2005.A quote from one of their letters regarding Senegal hotel booking is: "This
law was imposed by the organization because most of the participants try to
avoid make their reservation and give one reason or the other for that but
at last they disappoint the organization. So if you really want to be part
of the event in New York, you have to make your reservation in the African
hotel.It is the law of the organization that all participants must have to pay
half of their reservation fee according to this year decision by the
executive body and any amount given to any of our participants by these
hotels is their part payment to be paid, so you have to contact the below
hotel in Senegal since the previous hotel told us that they are now filled
up. You have to contact them immediately via telephone or email so to avoid
late registration or cancellation".HOTEL ESPIRITO SANTO LTD
Rue 24 x 54 Avenue Bourgiba,
Dakar Senegal West Africa.
E-MAIL:(hotelespiritosanto@hotmail.com)
or (hotelespiritosanto@yahoo.com)
=HOTLINE: +221-524-731-8/550-442-0
FAX: +221-826-982-6 /826-117-8"The aim of the Conferences is to impart on our youths the need to avoid
Street Life, Violence and Gangsters, which is on the increase today among
the Youths, the Importance of Education in every human life, Bad Leadership
and its effect in the Society….
We can only accept participants under recommendation. But, since your
recommendation come from one of the students participants, we will now give
you the opportunity to participate in the events, Transworld Affairs
Conferences. The Conference is scheduled to take place in Trans world
convention hall NYC New York, United States from 27th to 31st of August and
the second conference POLITICAL, SOCIAL ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN AFRICA AND WAR AFFECTED CHILDREN AND HIV/AIDS INFECTION will take place at Palm Beach Hall
Dakar Senegal in West Africa form 4th to 8th of September 2005. The first
Conference will take place in New York, NY USA, while the second Conference
is schedule to take place in Dakar Senegal (West Africa).Every one is entitled to Participate in the coming Youth's Conferences
regardless of your Religious belief. You can attend alone or only minimum of
four (4) or maximum of seven (7) is expected to participate together as a
group from one country and none of them will be less than eighteen years of
age. They are advised to participate in both conferences. It does not
necessary means that you must belong to an organization before you can
attend this event. A group of persons with a minimum educational background
could be invited to represent their countries. Any group or participants are
allowed to come with their own agenda or suggestions during the event".Who will miss such an opportunity to visit the US? Mr. X accepted the
invitation and contacted the above hotel where he booked a single room for
five days from 04th September 2005 to 08th September 2005, by paying the
full payment (US $ 525 – Euro 400) as instructed by the Transworld Youth
Organization, and got the hotel booking confirmation which was forwarded to
Transworld Youth Organization in USA, for further processing of his
participation to the conferences".On getting the Dakar hotel booking confirmation, the Transworld Youth
Organization asked him to contact Barrister George Ward (E-mail:
transworldvisasection@usa.com) and Mr. X contacted the Barrister. In reply
to Mr. X's mail, the Senior Advocate, Barrister George Bill Ward, Department
of States, asked him to send US$ 1,000 as refundable security deposit to the
same hotel and send the confirmation along with the duly filled visa form
which was sent to him in PDF format.The Senior Advocate informed him: "We advise you to follow our respective
instructions to enable you complete our requirements since this is your
first time of attending or participating to our event. We want you to
understand that due to what most of our participants who came from Asia,
Europe and Africa continents performed after the last event held in
Washington, in which most of them ran away and refuse to go down for the
second stage of the conference which held in Beijing, China.We have made it mandatory that each participant who is not yet full member
of Transworld Youth Organization should deposit the sum of $1,000
equivalent with the African hotel management where he or she made his or her
reservation. Participants should note that the money will be refunded back
to every participant who has made the $1,000 deposit, on your check in to
the African hotel where you have made your deposit.
A receipt of your deposit payment will be issued to you by the hotel
management where you are to make the deposit, that will stand as a proof
that the sum total of the amount have being deposited on their custody and
should be refunded back to you on the point of your check in…"Mr. X tried to contact TransWorld Youth Organization over telephone but
failed. When this non accessible to telephone was communicated, he was
informed that "…the phone is having some problems for now due to the Emily
breeze that blew across the Mexico up to the side of Texas of which most of
the line was disrupted and this affected most of the lines here in America
which they are all under repair, so all you have to do is to communicate
with the organization through e-mail and also send any documents through
attachment to them for it is the easy and fastest means to reach the
organization for now."Right from the beginning, Mr. X smacked the invitation as a spam. But, the
clarification given by them for his queries somehow put him in an indecisive
position. He was in contact with different sources to know the credibility
of the conferences and bona fide of the invitation. But, no firm reply
received until he remitted money for Senegal hotel booking. Different
weekend holidays in Oman and in USA have delayed in getting him replies from
his sources of contacts.By the time he was asked to remit a refundable deposit for US $ 1,000/= he
got reply to his enquiry to US Embassy in Muscat saying that 'it seems to be
fraud case'.Then, he asked the Hotel to cancel his hotel booking and refund the money,
as per Section 3B of their refund policy. In reply to it, the hotel manager
asked him to get clearance from Transworld Youth Org. who said the decision
will be made only after the conference is over.Internet users must be aware of increasing spam which is operated in easily
trappable ways. The Internet underworld dons devises their tools and
offering well cooked up stuffs as saleable commodity. For them,
International conference in the name of September 11th is one of the hot
stuffs, until more acceptable new stuffs are received. For them internet is
a medium for playing a game of camouflage and concealment.
Story not published by newspapers in Dubai.
Dubai Police Continues Hunt for the Missing Kerala Girl
By V.M.Sathish
Consulate referred the case to Bur Dubai Police Station..
DUBAI – Dubai Police is intensively searching for a young Keralite girl who has been missing since August 2, one day after she reached Dubai to join her husband Sabu who works as a fitter and lived in the Al Qoos labour camp. The 24 years old computer graduate girl disappeared from a sharing accommodation in Karama on August 2. Her husband said the girl disappeared one day after reaching Dubai leaving a two-page letter in which she revealed that she was eloping with a man in Abu Dhabhi. The girl was brought to Dubai, four months after the arranged marriage through a broker, on a visit visa provided by a Sharjah based travel agent. The husband himself lodged a complaint with the Dubai Police and the Indian Consulate in Dubai to retrieve his wife. Her parents have challenged the husbands claims and said the girl will not do such things. She has left a two page letter written in Malayalam stating that she is going with her lover in Abu Dhabi. In the letter she has thanked me for bringing her to Dubai. I dont know what has happened and she never told me about any such friends here,” the husband said initially.
The husband said that he borrowed Dhs.3,800 from a lady, whom he met regularly from a Church in Dubai. Earlier also the lady used to help him financially. The coupled lived one day in an isolated villa located in front of Sana in Karama, shared with another lady. The monthly rent of Dhs.1500 was equally shared and the husband who was living in a labour camp in Al Qoos shifted his accommodation to Karama to live with his wife. He agreed to pay half the rent and could stay together with his wife only one day. “When he left for work she was at home. The lady who shared the apartment also left for work in the morning and returned by 6 PM,” he added. Another unmarried coupled who lived together in the same villa vacated the room to accommodate Sabus wife.
Her parents in Kerala fear foul play and said the fake letter is written in a different script with spelling mistakes. The family fears that the girl could be kidnapped because even her own name is wrongly spelt in the letter. Her parents said they are approaching the concerned authorities in India and the Indian Consulate to retrieve their missing daughter. She has not contacted them after reaching Dubai, they said. The girl hails from a poor family in Ernakulam and her sick father, young sister and mother are anxious about her. “We have received a complaint and the case has been referred to the Bur Dubai Police Station. We understand that they are investigating the case,” said Sawant Goel from the Indian Consulate, Dubai. Social workers fear she could be kidnapped and trapped by the sex trafficking gangs.
The husband has been cooking up various theories. While he alleged that a group said to be the girl’s relative attacked him, later it was found that he himself slashed his vein in a suicide bid. The husband claimed that the gang took away some documents including the letter, but it was later realized that he could be telling lies. “She helped me financially to take the visit visa from Sharjah Travel Agency and finding a sharing accommodation in front of Sana. The marriage was on May 16, two weeks after a marriage broker proposed the girl to him. Working in Dubai since 1997, he could not bring his wife on family visa and sought the help of the single lady from Kannur who is being probed by the Police. He said the borrowed money was to be returned one month after his wife gets a job in Dubai. Gold ornaments worth Indian Rs.2 lakh is also kept in her bank locker in India and she was wearing part of the ornaments. The man says he still loves his wife who may return safely, the real reason behind the girls disappearance is baffling observers. The girl was taken from her house on August 28 to New Delhi from where she boarded a plane to Dubai. The husband received her in the airport and they lived together just 17 days together.
Learn Lessons from Majan Experience
Oman's Titanic episode did not cause many deaths, but the unexpected sinking of Majan, a replica of the Bronze Age boat made by spending millions is an eye opener to the Gulf countries that depending only the so called western experts and advisors will not always serve their purpose very well. It is an open secret that the traditional boat building industry in the region has been based on local technology and craftsmen, but Oman's Ministry of Heritage and Culture had flown in marine experts from Australia, Italy and Britain to remake the traditonal boat, which was reportedly found during an excavation. Forgetting the historical fact that the boat building in region was done by the Asian craftsmen, especially from the South Indian state of Kerala, it has been a foolish decision to bring in high tech experts, whose experimental boat could not withstand the fury of the sea for more than ten hours!!!! Many materials and experts who were brought in from the Western countries had high profile meetings in five star hotels, but the end up product ended up in a total fiasco. More about the ancient story
"Uru, the traditional trade boat made in Bepur Kerala lasted for years. Khalasis, the local tribe dominated this trade and there was no western expertise involved in making such traditional boats. Most often traders from the Gulf including Oman used their expertise to make boats," said an expert. "The boat makers of Bepur in Kerala used to come in their own small boats fighting the fierce sea tides without visa or passport and completed many boat construction and returned safely. It used to be an economical means of making boats, something which the colonial masters never liked. It is an open secret that even Vasca do Gama who reached Calicut exploring spices trade, was guided by a local navigator.
Peter Mandrope, Sailing Master or Tom Osman, Director of the project or William McGrath and Luca Velfioretti could be international marine and navigation experts, but they are no match for the ordinary yatch makers from India and the region. Paradoxically enough, there were not even a single expert from Oman or India to make this historic boat. The crew — two Omanis, two Australians, two Americans, an Indian and an Italian — were on the vessel, which sank, six miles off the Sur coast, and almost 11 hours after it was flagged off from Sur. The vessel was made of reeds formed into bundles, lashed together with rope made from date palm fibres and covered with a woven mat coated with black bitumen or tar to make it waterproof. (picture shows a traditional wooden ship made by boat makers of Bepur Kerala) One of the largest launches made in Bepur for a UAE businessman is pictured above.
The vessel was powered by a square-rigged sail made of tightly woven wool and manoeuvered using two teak steering oars. The Majan sail plan from Sur for Bet Dwaraka in Gujarat was to relive an ancient trade voyage between Oman and India. However, the vessel, overwhelmed by the might of the sea and strong winds went under water. The pioneering spirit of the sailors who used such boats to sail thousands of years ago is missing in the western experts. Everybody knows why the ancient trade between India and the Gulf was subotaged by the Britrishcolonial masters, who wanted a monopoly in the sea routes. In ancient period, Maritime trade flourished and Sohar became the greatest sea port in the Islamic world. In the early 16th century after the Portuguese under Vasco de Gama had discovered the sea route round the Cape of Good Hope to India, they occupied Muscat for a century and a half in order to dominate the trade which had until then been an Arab Monopoly. Thanks to Colonial control of the trade routes, at the time of the First World War, Oman's share of international commercial activities was very limited and Oman remained largely isolated from the rest of the world until, in 1970. Oil boom is on as the international oil price is at a historic hight and depending only on western expertise seems to be a self defeating experience. If the colonial masters did not encourage the ancient Arab trade with India, should they help these countries now to revive the historical trade routes? Will there be any change in the colonial mentality of the bureaucrats and officials in Muscat? There are certain things which the business and maritime colleges cannot teach the so called experts. The largest launch in the regiion, perhaps in the world, was recently made by a UAE businessman in Bepur, the bastion of ship building industry in the region Almost all the dhows (boats)/ launches that passed through the Arabian sea used to be made in Kerala. To be continued
Ancient Boat Building Technology of India The East India Company - Repeating History
Qatar Celebrates World Tourism Day
DOHA, 9 September 2005 / Travelpress.biz - The State of Qatar will proudly host this year's World Tourism Day on the 27th of September. Celebrations will include Qatar's first National Tourism Conference and a series of accompanying events, announced Qatar Tourism Authority. Qatar will take this opportunity to evaluate its remarkable achievements in establishing itself as a tourism destination and important player in international travel. At the same time it will commence a new era of public-private partnership in tourism, especially in light of ambitious plans for the forthcoming period, including infrastructure associated with the new airport and organization of events such as the Asian Games in 2006.
World Tourism Day (WTD) is celebrated worldwide every 27th September. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) General Assembly at its 15th session in Beijing, China (2003), designated Qatar to be the first WTD host country in the Middle East."It (WTD) will be a day of a special importance for our country," said The Chairman of the Qatar Tourism Authority H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker.
The theme of this year's WTD is "Travel and Transport: From the Imagination of Jules Verne to 21st Century Reality". Speakers at the National Tourism Conference will include the WTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli and representatives of Qatar's hotel industry, travel agencies and other segments. "We expect an enriching conference, which will facilitate an important dialogue between the private and the public sectors." Main partner of the event will be Qatar Airways.
Several accompanying events will highlight the importance of tourism among the local population. "We shall convey a clear message that tourism, if developed and managed in a sustainable manner will benefit our culture, environment, economy and enhance the positive image of Qatar in the world," the QTA Chairman H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker underscored. Organized by the World Tourism Organization, a United Nations specialised agency for tourism based in Madrid, Spain, WTD is an international day meant to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.
SYRIA: Photos give freedom of expression to marginalised women
DAMASCUS, 7 Sep 2005 (IRIN) - Azah's photgraphs are joyous shots of church weddings in Syria, full of movement and colour.They represent this 20-year-old Christian's dream - a dream that was shattered when she fell in love with a Muslim man."I love a Muslim. I can't tell my parents - they will kill me. I wanted to marry him but I can't because of my family - that's why we split," she said. Azah was one of six marginalised women from diverse religious backgrounds to be given a digital camera two months ago so they could tell their stories in their own way. "I love taking photographs. At first it was so hard and I was also too shy to photograph other people. But yesterday I was taking photos at a marriage - I didn't know the people but I felt part of them."
The 'Open Shutters' project is the brainchild of Etana Press, a Syrian human rights association and one of the few organisations resembling an NGO (no foreign NGOs are allowed to operate in Syria), and Eugenie Dolberg, a British professional photographer. The project is affiliated with the UK charity PhotoVoice and received funding of $15,000 from the American Cultural Centre in Damascus.
"Participatory photography has proved to be a compelling way to empower people and build understanding," said Dolberg. "These women have gained the confidence to talk to each other about religion in Syria - something they would never normally do because women are generally excluded from religious dialogue."
Among the women is Khairia, a 35-year-old Kurdish Sunni woman who took pictures of cemeteries and grieving families. Her mother died on a trip to Turkey when she was just one year old. No-one in her family told her the truth. When aged five she finally demanded to see her mother, she was taken to a grave. The other four are: Sana'a, an Iraqi Shi’ite woman in her 30s who has returned to Baghdad to fight for a divorce from her abusive husband; 24-year-old Sunni Palestinian divorcee Lubna; 27-year-old Malak, a Druze Muslim; and 22-year-old Nawara, who is half Alawite Muslim and half Sunni and whose feuding grandparents tried to force their respective religions on her after her parents became political prisoners.
The womens' photographs, most of which have religious themes, will be unveiled at an exhibition in a Damascus sculpture studio on 13 October and again at an Etana Press conference called 'Women and traditions' in Damascus University. The group also plans to exhibit in Egypt, London and New York. In addition, they will publish a book and DVD of essays and photos by the women. The experience of meeting women from other religions - the first time some participants had ever done so - has had a profound experience on Azah. "This has really changed me a lot. I know a lot more about other religions and am more open-minded than before. Even though we are living alongside Muslims I really knew little," she explained. "In Syria we never ask about other religions - you just stay with yours. My family tells me I am different from Muslims, that they have different ideas, that I can't stay with them,” she added.
PAKISTAN: Women more confident in reporting sexual violence
LAHORE, 6 Sep 2005 (IRIN) - The tale of Sonia Naz, the latest case of alleged gang-rape to be widely publicised in Pakistan, has left even the most hardened observer badly shaken. But the very fact that the incident has come to light is indicative of a growing willingness among many women in this devout Islamic country to report such crimes.Sonia's ordeal began nearly six weeks ago in the industrial city of Faisalabad, about 200 km west of Lahore, when her husband, Asim, was arrested by police. Asim, a low-level clerk in the revenue department, was involved with nearly a dozen other officials in a corruption case.
Most senior officials initially arrested were soon free. Asim, on the other hand, seems to have vanished - and while his family paid many bribes, and Sonia, expecting her second child at the time, repeatedly visited the police station - the young man was never located.
In despair, Sonia, in April of this year, turned up at the national assembly in the capital, Islamabad, leaving her two small children with her sister in Lahore. "I hoped to meet Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and tell him my story. I was certain he would help," she said.
Sonia, barely educated and unaware of protocol, was accidentally waved forward by a security guard right into the chamber, where she took her place among the legislators. When her presence was noticed, the bewildered Sonia was dragged away by guards, taken to a police station and charged with breaking into the assembly.
After being released following pressure from journalists and rights activists, she was re-arrested in Lahore in May, where she says she was repeatedly raped, stripped naked, beaten and abused by her police captors, despite her pleas for mercy.
After her story was published, the prime minister and President Pervez Musharraf swiftly intervened to order an inquiry and the suspension of Superintendent Khalid Abdullah and Inspector Jamshed Chishti of the Lahore police, allegedly involved in the sexual assault.
Leading rights activist and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) chairwoman, Asma Jehangir, has been nominated as her lawyer, and after meeting the police inquiry team at Jehangir's office in Lahore she was moved at the weekend to a secure shelter for women run by Jehangir's legal aid firm, AGHS.
"This is definitely one of the most terrible stories I have ever heard and we deal with women victims of crime almost every day," Jehangir said.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Zafar Qureishi, heading the inquiry into the alleged rape, said: "We began investigations immediately after recording Sonia Naz's statement. Nothing will remain unprobed."
While at least three other incidents of brutal rape in police custody have come forward this year alone, many others are thought to have gone unreported, the HRCP said.
The commission said Sonia's case demonstrates a growing determination on the part of many Pakistani women to fight back against violence. "It is in a way very important that Sonia has had the courage to go public about what happened. The times when women, fearing social stigma, refused to report such crimes or were too scared and ashamed to do so are changing," Mehboob Ahmed Khan, legal officer at the HRCP, said.
The HRCP said it had details of more than 250 incidents of rape and gang-rape in the first six months of 2005 alone. The fact that the figures are significantly higher than in the same period of 2004 is put down to an increase in the reporting of such crimes by victims.
"This is a huge triumph and shows rights campaigners have succeeded in at least convincing women victims of rape that they must come forward, and must not blame themselves for what happened to them," Khan said.
Women parliamentarians held a demonstration outside the national legislature in Islamabad on Thursday protesting against the alleged rape and abuse of Sonia Naz. The demonstrators demanded the government bring the perpetrators to justice, whilst carrying placards against the abuse of power by police officials.
Ducab introduces innovative EasyPac ‘shrink-wrap’ packaging in the Middle East
Use of the latest technology to offer added value for its customers
September 9, 2005 Ducab, the leading manufacturer of high quality power cables in the Middle East has introduced the innovative EasyPac, shrink-wrap packaging technology for its range of Building Wire cables. The new packaging will present a range of benefits to Ducab’s customers. The use of the latest technology will significantly reduce product storage space and minimise wastage by eliminating broken spools, thereby offering more value to customers.Shrink-wrap is ecology and economy governed packaging in which each Mini Pac coil is packed in minimum shrinkable Polyethylene (PE) film material. The packaging material remains until all the cable has been used, as the cable is simply pulled from the center. A perforation in the film makes it easy to open the package.
“Ducab has always placed great of emphasis on innovation and consumer research. Identifying consumer requirements and adopting the latest technological solutions to address these needs is high on Ducab’s agenda,” said Colin Paskins, Managing Director, Ducab. “Introduction of the EasyPac, shrink-wrap technology will complement our objective of increasing our overall capacity in building wire by 50 per cent this year, as customers can enjoy several benefits with the new technology while retaining practicality of use.”
“With the use of EasyPac, the process of installation becomes less labour intensive, requiring only one-third of the time taken for normal installation. Another important reason for Ducab to choose this technology was due to its eco-friendliness, as the shrink film used is recyclable. Ducab has been committed to environment conservation initiatives and we are glad that the shrink wrap technology furthers this cause,” added Paskins. Ducab’s customers will gain by the implementation of this technology as it reduces material storage, shipping and energy costs. In addition, it offers a rapid payback period by reducing labour and material costs. The new building wire packaging is lightweight and durable, is tamper proof and prevents soiling of the product.
Ducab organised factory visits and presentations for its distributors and traders recently as part of launching its latest EasyPac wire packaging. The customers were given demonstrations outlining the procedures for installation and use. Farid Mohammed Ahmed – General Manager Operatoins, UAE said “We expect a major rise in demand for our products with the adoption of the EasyPac shrink-wrap packaging, especially with the surge in construction activity in the Middle East. The recent expansion of our Abu Dhabi facility will help us cater to the growing demand for high quality cables and we will continue to innovate our product and service offering to meet the changing consumer requirements,”
India Uzbekistan Share IT Expertise
INDIA TRADE EXHIBITION IN UZBEK INAUGURATED
The Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri EVKS Elangovan has said that India would share its expertise in the Information Technology sector with the Uzbekistan IT Industry to make it more world class and competitive. He was speaking after inaugurating the 2nd India Trade Exhibition at Tashkent, in Uzbekistan recently. The Minister said that the established status of India in the field of Information Technology has led major computer hardware and software giants in the world to make India as the R&D centre for Asia. He invited the Uzbekistan IT industry to have first hand experience with some of the prominent Indian IT companies participating in the Exhibition.Shri Elangovan recalled the launching of “Focus: CIS programme” in the year 2003 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry which expressed India’s commitment to increase trade with the countries of the region. He said that the presence of a large number of official and business delegates from India for attending the exhibition would go a long way for furthering the growth of bilateral trade and investment by fostering mutually beneficial trade partnership and commercial linkages.
India exports drugs and pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, machinery and instruments, paper and wood products, dyes and intermediates to Uzbekistan. Our imports from Uzbekistan include non-ferrous metals, waste, raw and combed cotton, pulses, silk, raw synthetic and regenerated fibres. Shri Elangovan said that the Indo-Uzbekistan Bilateral-trade is far below its potential and the balance of trade is in favour of Uzbekistan indicating considerable scope for Indian investors to make their presence in various sectors in Uzbekistan like, Oil and Gas sector, Textiles, Information systems, health care, food and fruit processing, Small and Medium Enterprises and Tourism.
IIMC COMMUNITY RADIO BECOMES OPERATIONALThe Community Radio of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) APNA RADIO – AR 1, became operational today. Inaugurating it, the Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Culture, Shri S. Jaipal Reddy said that the Government is serious in ensuring that Community Radio Stations in the country are viable propositions and continue to function and flourish. To this end, the upcoming Community Radio Stations may be permitted local advertising and local non-political news. Shri Reddy said these stations can be developed as an alternate broadcasting arrangement as they are the most adequate instruments to reach the communication upto the local community. The Community Radio strides to democratize communication, he added. The Minister said that the Government is trying to simplify and rationalize the procedure for setting up of such stations so that the huge potential can be vastly utilized. Shri Reddy felt that the triviliasation of important news / happenings by the TV channels and private radio operators can be overcome through Community Radio by providing quality content.
Secretary, Information & Broadcasting, Shri S.K. Arora, in his address said that till a few months back, only one Community Radio Station was operational. The number has now gone upto a dozen and another 29 proposals are in the pipeline. He said, in the first phase, educational institutions have been given priority but they are also required to look at the views, and needs of the community around the station so that their interests and local communication requirements are addressed to. In his welcome address, Joint Secretary, Ministry of I&B and Director, IIMC, Shri P.K. Tripathi said that the Community Radio gives reflection to the diversity of our country and it would enable the ordinary person to express their opinion on issues which actually concern them. Apna Radio - AR1 is available on FM 96.9 MHz frequency. Set up at a cost of Rs. 15.6 lakhs, it would cover the area within a radius of 8 kms. It would integrate the semi urban/rural pockets in the plush South Delhi into mainstream of urban life, like Munirka, Ber Sarai, Vasant Gaon and Mehrauli. The station will broadcast for a few hours during the week and the programme will be anchored by the IIMC students and produced by them. The content will have student development and education as its theme. The programme will be interactive and field based aimed at involving the community in finding solutions to issues and support for developmental work.
INDIA TO RELEASE 101 PAK CIVIL PRISONERS AND 51 PAK FISHERMEN ON MONDAY
The Government of India will be releasing 101 Pak civil prisoners and 51 fishermen from the Wagah Border on the 12th of this month. The civilian prisoners are those who have completed their sentences and whose travel documents have been issued by the Pak High Commission in Delhi. 20 of these prisoners would be released from Rajasthan, 10 from Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, 6 from West Bengal, 31 from Jammu and Kashmir, one from Nagaland, 2 from Delhi and one from Maharashtra. The 51 Pak fishermen are those who had been arrested for fishing in the Indian territorial waters and whose travel documents have been issued by the Pak High Commission after nationality verification. States have been advised to bring the Pak civil prisoners as well as the fishermen to the Wagah Border on the 12th of this month for handing them over to the Pak authorities.
The Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri D.S. Mishra has said that arrangements have been made for providing consular access to all Pak civil prisoners who are undergoing sentence or are under-trial and lodged in different jails in the country. During these consular access meetings, officials of Pak High Commission in Delhi will interview these prisoners to ascertain their nationality. Representatives of MEA and MHA will be present during these meetings. The dates and places for consular access and the States/UTs from where Pak prisoners will be given consular access are as under:These actions are being taken in pursuance of the decision taken at the second round of Home Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan on Terrorism and Drug Trafficking held in New Delhi on the 29th and 30th of last month. At the talks, both sides agreed to implement the decisions arrived at by the Foreign Secretaries in December 2004 on prisoners and reiterated their commitment to provide immediate notification of arrests made by either side, provide consular access to all persons within three months of arrest and release prisoners immediately after completion of sentence and nationality verification. They also agreed to release on 12th September, 2005 all fishermen and civilian prisoners who have completed their sentence and whose national status has been confirmed. The Government of Pakistan have informed that it will be releasing 371 Indian fishermen and 64 Indian civil prisoners who are lodged in different jails of Pakistan. All these persons will be crossing the Wagah Border on the 12th of this month and will be sent to respective States.
You Cannot Divide Sunnis and Shias with Bomb Blasts: Brothers Donate Blood
Sunni religious leaders have called on their followers to donate blood for Shi'ite victims of the tragic stampede in Baghdad last week.The call was made in good faith, following a reported shortage of supplies.More than 1,110 people were killed and more than 900 wounded in the Kadhimiya district, where several million pilgrims gathered to visit the burial place of a revered Shi'ite leader, Iraqi officials said.The stampede, on 31 August, happened after rumours that a suicide bomber was about to attack. Hundreds of people on a bridge over the river Tigris ran for take cover.
The railings gave way under pressure and many people drowned, officials said."We asked all our Muslim brothers to donate blood in order to help the victims of the disaster which brought sadness to all of us, especially because this reminds us of the calamity that Fallujah went through when US soldiers were fighting insurgents earlier this year and last," Adnan al-Dulaymi, a spokesperson for the Sunni council in Fallujah said.The call has reportedly resulted in queues of people at the doors of the main hospitals in the capital over the past few days.
Imams in Fallujah have been using loudspeaker systems during prayer time in mosques to call on people to make donations.Khalid Mahmoud, a senior official at the Ministry of Health, said that they had received more than 1,800 of bottles of blood from the city of Fallujah and around 1,200 from the Shi'ite city of Amarah, in the south of the country.
"We thank all the people who have helped innocent people from this unexpected incident and that we are able to supply the wounded due to continuing donations," Mahmoud noted.
According to the official, there were concerns that main blood bank in the capital did not have sufficient supplies."It was the best way to guarantee that we participate in saving the lives of many and to show to the world that our country is for all Iraqis, because we are brothers," al-Dulaymi added.
Mahmoud also explained that the number of deaths was likely to increase due to the fact that many parents had buried their loved ones immediately after the accident and deaths had not been registered. In addition, some bodies had only been discovered recently.The central blood bank has informed the authorities that it would need a continuous supply to support emergency requirements.