Adivasis under State Terror The Plight of the Indigenous Communities in Kerala
Dr.K.M.Seethi *
For the 3.2-lakh indigenous Adivasi (tribal) people of Kerala, what happened in the broad daylight in Muthanga on 19 February was nothing short of state terrorism. The heinous crime committed on the innocent Adivasis points to the hidden agenda of the 'civilised' and the politics of 'consensus' with respect to their extermination. Sadly, the Adivasis have become humans without human dignity and without the basic right to life. More
Riyadh Plant to Produce Semi-Luxury Arab Sports Cars Design from India
- Adulterated Diary Products of leading Firm sold through Special Promotion Drive at Careefour Supermarket.
Maafi Zain, if one goes by the quality of Cheese found at the special counters of Careefour. Click for Video Clip of the adulterated cheese packets
Nine NRIs among Britain's top 300 millionaires
Major Setback for BJP National Agenda
 Saffron party faces setback in Himachal, Left Front secures absolute majority in Tripura |
Shimla,Saturday, March 01, 2003: Stymying BJP's attempt to repeat Gujarat, the Congress Saturday bounced back to power in Himachal Pradesh securing absolute majority bagging 40 seats in the 68-member assembly. BJP, which had led a wafer-thin majority coalition government, could win only 16 seats with a number of its stalwarts including half a dozen ministers, Speaker Ghulab Chand Thakur and state unit president Jai Kishan Sharma, biting the dust. More |
WHO Global Agreement on Tobaco
GENEVA - 171 Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have finalized a groundbreaking public health treaty to control tobacco supply and consumption. They agreed on a final text for a WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) governing tobacco taxation, smoking prevention and treatment, illicit trade, advertising, sponsorship and promotion, and product regulation. More
Major UAE banks express support to a proposal to use the UAE Switch platform for new payment mode
"Private" Indian School MoUs under the Scrutiny of Ministry of Education, local Court
Two former Ambassadors' decision to allow private schools may be questioned as there is no private Indian school as such, if the Indian community School rules are managinged as per the school constitution. Two private promoters who signed on behalf of the third private school promoter may have to pay a heavy price for supporting the Seeb School. The Seeb promoters decision to file a case in the local court is a welcome step as the court and local authorities will have to look seriously into the lapses of the former agreements. The existing private schools have more at stake, becuase the legality of their MoUs itself is being scrutnised. There is no U Turn in KM approach, but the "U" turn by the failed Seeb School promoter may put his mentors also in trouble. If I have not got a private school, why should others have it?..Watch this space.
Standard Reduction for Salaried Class Raised
The standard deduction for the purpose of income tax for salaried employees has been raised to 40 per cent of salary, or Rs. 30,000, whichever is less, for income up to Rs. 5 lakh and a deduction of Rs. 20,000 for those having income above Rs. 5 lakhs. Announcing the Budget proposals in Parliament today, the Finance Minister, Shri Jaswant Singh said that there will be no change in the tax slabs. More
Blix Says Iraq's Promise To Destroy Missiles Could Be "Very Significant"
Oppn term Budget 'anti-people, anti-farmer'
No tax on NRIs staying abroad for 90 pc of time since 1993
New Delhi,Friday, February 28, 2003: Government has decided to exempt from income tax Non-resident Indians who have stayed abroad 90 per cent of the time in the last 10 years. This facility would be available for two years, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh said presenting the Budget for 2003-04. "There is a category of taxpayers in India ordinarily not found elsewhere -- the not ordinarily resident. They do not normally have to pay tax on their foreign sourced income," Singh said, adding there was confusion on this provision due to different legal interpretations More
Carnage in Gujarat Unpunished Communal Violence Continues
New Incentives for Power Sector; Agricultural Credit Streamlined
Click New Delhi - The Government has proposed fresh incentives for the power sector. To encourage private participation in the transmission, it has proposed to reduce customs duty on specific equipment for high voltage transmission projects from 25 per cent to 5 per cent. The mega power project policy has been further liberalized by extending the benefits, available to the notified 18 mega power projects, to any power project that fulfils the conditions prescribed for mega power project. To encourage further research in solar energy, wind turbine and hydrogen fuel, the Government has allocated Rs.20 crore to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, for launching incentive-driven research in these three fields. More Reports
- Iraq's foreign debt exceeds $40 billion
- Iraq is sustaining the largest military structure in the Middle East, with more than 70 divisions in its army and an air force of over 700 modern aircraft. Losses during the invasion of Kuwait and subsequent ejection of Iraqi forces from Kuwait by a UN coalition resulted in the reduction of Iraq's ground forces to 23 divisions and air force to less than 300 aircraft. Military and economic sanctions prevent Iraq from rebuilding its military power. Iraq still maintains standing military forces of over 380,000 men. Read the Full Report
- Gujarat- credibility of criminal justice system at stake
- "The anniversary of the massacres, where more than 2000 people were killed, is a stark reminder to the governments of India and of Gujarat that justice must be promptly delivered to the victims and their families, if the credibility of the criminal justice system in the country is to be upheld," More
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- Turkey: Sexual violence of women in detention
- Women from all social and cultural backgrounds are subjected to abuse, assault and rape in detention. Some sectors of women are particularly at risk, especially women of Kurdish origin from the south-east and women who hold political beliefs unacceptable to the authorities or military. IMore
- Turkey: Sexual violence of women in detention
IRAQ: Security Council Divided; Canada Proposes Compromise
Two days after the members of the Security Council received competing proposals on how to deal with Iraq, the uncommitted among the 10 elected members of the council remain on the fence as diplomats begin to search for a compromise, if not a consensus, on the council's next steps. "If the U.S. decides to go to war now, there is nothing we can do to stop it," said Angolan Ambassador Ismael Abraao Gaspar Martins. More
OIL: Expert Calls For Steps To End Price Volatility, Examines Possible War
One of the world's foremost experts on energy markets called yesterday for stronger measures to end price volatility and addressed the likely impact of a potential conflict in Iraq on the price of oil. Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Philip Vergeler told a small crowd of economists, foreign diplomats, oil industry experts More
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- Railway Budget Highlights
- The Railway Minister Shri Nitish Kumar leaving Rail Bhavan to present Railway Budget for 2003-04 in the Parliament in New Delhi on February 26, 2003 (Wednesday). The Minsiters of State for Railways Shri Bandaru Dattatraya and Shri A.K. Moorthy are also seen.More
- Railway Budget Highlights
Inquiry into the fire incident in Gas Plant
IRAQ: U.K. Presents New Draft Resolution To Security Council
The United Kingdom today formally presented to the U.N. Security Council a new draft resolution charging that Iraq is still in violation of its disarmament obligations. The one-page document says nothing about authorizing the use of force against Iraq but that is the clear implication of the paper, since the bulk of the draft details how Iraq has not cooperated with weapons inspectors. More
GCC Oil income up by $246 million per day
REGION'S ECONOMY SET TO GROW BY 3.6% IN 2003
Dubai February 25, 2003 GCC states are earning an additional US $246 million a day as a result of higher oil prices, compared with February 2002, a leading Saudi Arabian-based economist today told delegates attending the International Islamic Finance Forum, in Dubai. Brad Bourland, Chief Economist at Riyadh's Saudi American Bank (Samba), said higher oil prices, currently US $ 36.61 compared to US $20.24 a year ago, are driving strong liquidity growth in GCC states for the second year running. More
HIV/AIDS: First Human-Tested Vaccine May Protect Blacks, Asians
India to be Invited to Join Turkmenistan -South Asia Gas Pipeline Project
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (24 February 2003) - India is to be invited to join an ADB-backed US$2.5 billion pipeline project to transport gas from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan and South Asia. The planned 1,700 km pipeline would be capable of transporting up to 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from the Dauledtabad fields in southeast Turkmenistan to consumers in energy-deficit economies of South Asia. More
Saudi Arabia Arrests Drug traffickers, seize 1125 kg of Hashish
JEDDAH, 25 February 2003 —Saudi Arabia has nabbed the Kingdom’s biggest drug smuggler and seized 1,125 kilograms of hashish he was trying to bring into the Kingdom. Several other drug dealers, mainly Saudus, were arrested in connection with the seizure. More Saudi News
Vajpayee wants NAM to press for financial reforms
Kuala Lumpur,Sunday, February 23, 2003: India on Sunday asked the Non-Aligned countries to press harder for reforms of the international financial institutions and collectively fight against those provisions of TRIPS and WTO agreements which impede "our development efforts." More News
Dubai e-Government to launch e4all initiative to boost Internet and PC usage in the UAE
On February 17, a court upheld a penal sentence against Wissam Toufic Abyad, a 26 year-old Lebanese citizen. Police arrested Abyad after he had arranged to meet with "Raoul," whom he had met through the gay personals- advertisements site www.gaydar.com. Undercover police and informants have used anickname in several other cases to entrap suspected homosexual men. Many recent cases of Internet entrapment of suspected homosexuals have led to convictions in the first instance that were later reversed on appeal. Zaki Saad Zaki Abd al-Malak, a 23-year-old resident of Ismailia was arrested under similar circumstances. More
UAE private schools Get gree hand to increase fee
DUBAI - Private schools in the UAE will be permitted to increase fees every year without any ceiling imposed by the ministry of Education, reported Khaleej Times. The rule will come into effect soon. More
Corruption rampant under BJP rule: Sonia More News
Western Expatriates in Saudi Arabia Scared as British National Shot Dead
Riyadh - The 30,000-strong British expat community in Saudi Arabia was shocked by the gunning down of a British national and the series of recent attacks against western targets. A British national who worked for British Aerospace (BAE) here was killed when a Saudi man opened fire on him in his car at a traffic light yesterday. More
IRAQ: U.S., U.K. Plan New Resolution; Open Security Council Session Ends
The United States and the United Kingdom are planning in the coming days to introduce a new U.N. Security Council resolution setting a final deadline for Iraq's compliance with weapons inspections under the council's Resolution 1441, British U.N. Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock said yesterday More
U.S. Finds Little Support For Using Force In Security Council Debate;
Speakers at an open Security Council debate yesterday and this morning gave their support to continuing the U.N. weapons inspection regime to ensure Iraq's disarmament, but also stressed that the burden was on Iraq to fully cooperate with the inspectors. Few countries expressed support for the position of the United States and United Kingdom that there is no point continuing the inspections and that the use of force to disarm Iraq is now necessary. More Iraq News
Dawood's brother, aide deported from Dubai
Mumbai,Wednesday, February 19, 2003: In a major blow to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, Dubai authorities tonight deported to India his younger brother Iqbal Sheikh Kaskar and a close aide Ezaz Pathan, wanted in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blast. More
Decks cleared for prosecuting Karunakaran
Kochi,Wednesday, February 19, 2003: Clearing the way for the prosecution of former Kerala Chief Minister K Karunakaran, at present an MP, in the Palmolein import case, Kerala High Court today held that sanction from the Lok Sabha speaker was not necessary to prosecute him More News
Call Girl Racket hits Gujarat, Punjab
Five Star Hotels in Sex Racket
Shimla,Tuesday, February 18, 2003: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today reacted sharply to the reported advice of his Punjab counterpart to his two ministers not to cooperate with investigating agencies in the call-girl racket case registered in Ahmedabad saying it was a "blatant defiance" of the Constitution. More
Airlines employees to strike work on Feb 20
New Delhi,Tuesday, February 18, 2003: Airlines employees, including pilots, have threatened to go on a day's strike on Thursday protesting against the tax on their free pass perk as government tonight said it wants to find a solution to the problem. More
U.S., U.K. Plan New Resolution; Security Council Holds Open Meeting
The United States and United Kingdom intend to press forward this week with a new U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing force against Iraq, despite massive peace demonstrations worldwide over the weekend and the expected opposition of other council members, the Associated Press reported today. More Iraq News
Bishop's body taken to Kigali for burial Airport Security Expenditure increased by 86 per cent in 2001-02 More News
IRAN: U.N. Begins Prison Inspections At Government Invitation
Kuwait Sealing off Northern Boarder, Shut down two Oil Refineries
KUWAIT: Kuwait is sealing off its northern half to bolster security this week before a possible US-led war on neighbouring Iraq, said newspapers qoting a defence ministry spokesman. "We are continuing the process and we will finish this week," he said. More
21 dead, several injured in Chicago night club stampede
New York,Monday, February 17, 2003: In one of the deadliest stampedes in the United States, at least 21 people were trampled to death and many more injured today as hundreds of people inside a Chicago night club rushed to the only exit.
Deputy Governor shot dead in Saudi
President focuses on Ayodhya, Pak in his address to Parliament
Saudi society keep away the expatriate population, Al Watan Survey
DAMMAM, 17 February 2003 — Foreigners living in Saudi Arabia by and large feel that present-day Saudis, unlike their predecessors, mistreat them, put on airs and tend to look down upon them, Al-Watan newspaper reported in a study of social trends. More Saudi News
Govt proposes to set up University Development Commission India Seeks Israeli Help to Suppress Islamic Militancy Indian Export to Australia increases More News
Indian Film Stars Glamorize Smoking : WHO
Dubai Drama Group Programme
Dubai, 16 February 2003: Dubai Drama Group is set to stage four hilarious one-act plays within one production for theatre enthusiasts at the Dubai Country Club in the first week of March. More
UAE's mega-award for women achievers
February 15, 2003
Dubai
Quality Group and Shell Dubai & Northern Emirates, joint
promoters of the Emirates Businesswomen Award, announced today,
Saturday 15th February 2003, the appointment of Sikologia Consulting,
a local firm headed by a UAE national, specializing in psychological
assessments, to oversee the selection of the winners of UAE's
first major award for businesswomen achievers.
More
Two international nongovernmental coalitions -- one of lawyers and one of physicians -- issued petitions yesterday to the Security Council and Secretary General Kofi Annan criticizing U.S. plans for waging a pre-emptive war on Iraq. More
U.N. To Feed 10 Million In Case Of War; NGO Says U.N. Unprepared
The United Nations is drawing up contingency plans to feed 10 million civilians, including more than 1 million refugees, in the event of a war in Iraq, Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Kenzo Oshima said yesterday at U.N. headquarters. More on Iraq
Iran's hardliners renew death edict on Rushdie
150,000 Australians in Protest Marchers against War
Kill Iraqis, Feed the remaining--UN Agenda?
NGO Says U.N. Is Not Ready To Deal With Effects Of War In Iraq
- Bahrain Arrests Five Al Qaeda
Supporters for breaking up terror cell
- MANAMA, 16 February 2003 — Bahrain police arrested five Bahrainis who were allegedly planning “terrorist” attacks in the country. Bahrain is the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, the official Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported. More
New Carrier Guidance Centres in Kerala Schools; New Investments in Kerala IT
Qatari authorities adopt tough measures for users of illegal software
Action against Iraq "inconceivable" after UN report: Fernandes
No Banned Weapons Found in Iraq, Blix
UNITED NATIONS -- Hans Blix, chairman of the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, told the Security Council this morning that Iraqi cooperation with inspectors "has improved" More News
Gulf War would not Affect Indians in Oman
Even if a war breaks out in Iraq, the Indian community in Oman would not be affected much. A diplomatic meeting of the Indian embassy officials held in Dubai recently evaluated the situation and discussed various means to evacuate the Indian community in the Gulf, in case of a war, through a coordinated approach. Even though the war would generally affect all Gulf countries, Indians from other tense GCC countries like Kuwait are trying to get visit visas and reach relatively peaceful countries like Oman. Indians in Kuwait are unable to leave in a hurry as all the airlines are fully booked for the whole week. Indian Government has alerted Indian Airlines and Air India to be alert to evacuate the Indians in Kuwait. -KM Special
Kerala government prepares plan for gulf returnees
Thiruvananthapuram,Thursday, February 13, 2003: Kerala Government has prepared a detailed programme to help those returning from UAE under general amnesty scheme, State Informationa and Minister in charge of NORKA (Non-Resident Keralites Affairs) M M Hassan told the assembly Thursday More
M E D I A M O N I T O R City Enlightened Again Adarsh Madhavan The popular "Citylight" Column, in the Times of Oman, which was discontinued for a short period will be resumed soon, KM learns. Adarsh Madhavan, the hidden columnist of "Citylight" is back in action after a month long holiday in Kerala. Muscat City has been missing the column, which is quite a new experiment in Gulf journalism. No other publication in the region has such an off the track item, which literally thorws light on many issues, neglected in the mainstream media.
Indian Commit Suicide as Sposnor Refused him Permission to Marry Crime Monitor
Board Recommends Removal of Sugathan Gopalan from ISD Committee
The protracted campaign against Sugathan Gopalan, the controversial member of ISD MC who has been instrumental in starting the first Kerala syllabus school in Oman has succeeded to a large extent as the school board decided this week to recommend his "sacking" allegedly for violating the protocol during the Republic Day Celebrations. The ISD MC had earlier recommended his removal from the committee. But the board appears to have taken a harsh decision to remove him completely from the school committee. KM believes that the member's alleged misbehaviour should certainly be curtailed by giving him a strong warning to improve. While the board was swift to take action against him, it maintains a studied silence on other crucial issues-- an unfavourable lease agreement for the school building at an inflated rent as there are "no proof"! Sugathan who has been helpful to some powerful people during the initial "bad" weather is almost removed. A cyber campaign was started two months back targetting Sugathan and two others involved in the Indian school issue. The billion dollar question is who goes next?
Covert Campaign by School lobby to oust Indian Diplomat intensifies KM Replies to allegations of criminal record -Indian Ambassador to Oman denied promotion, Petition filed in Delhi High Court
CBSE Allows Indian School Students in Kuwait to attend CBSE Exams in India, UAE
Kuwait : February 9, 2003 The Controller of Examinations, Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi, has announced that Kuwait would be retained as an examination centre for those students who wish to take the examination in Kuwait itself for both Class X and Class XII Board Examinations.More
14 pilgrims, including three Indians, trampled to death at Haj
Air India, Indian Airlines directed to stand in readiness to evacuate Indians
New Delhi,Tuesday, February 11, 2003: With war clouds hovering over Iraq, Indian Government has directed both the national carriers, Air India and the Indian Airlines to stand in readiness for evacuation of over 50,000 Indians working in Gulf on a short notice of three days, if necessity arises. More News
Rights Group Accuses Egyptian Police Of Racist Arrests, Including Refugees Security Council scared to face up to the human toll of conflict in Iraq- Amnesty More Iraq News 50,000 Pilgrims denied entry in Makkah
MEA Files Counter Affidavit in Delhi High Court case Against the Indian Ambassador
Advocate of the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi has filed a strong Counter Affidavit in Delhi High Court defending some of the punitive actions taken by the Indian Ambassador in Oman, the patron of Indian Schools, against certain prominent businessmen in Muscat. In response, the advocates of the petition has asked for more time to "study" the points made by the MEA. In the counter affidavit MEA retaliated most of the points raised in the petition, arguing that since the case occurred in Oman, filing a case challenging such an action in an Indian court would tantamount to interference in the domestic affairs of another sovereign nation. It is also argued that the petitioner was not involved in any community activities before he was appointed as the chairman of the Indian Schools. Watch this space for more.
Manipulation of Document with Official's Help
Changing Date of Birth by senior Indian School Muscat Staff could take place only with the tacit support of an Official who approved an affidavit which was just signed in the presence of a judicial personality in India. It is difficult to believe that changing someone's date of birth or other crucial information in a passport was done carelessly. As in the past, KM brought the issue to the notice of the Indian community, but some senior board members are apparently upset about KM reporting for obvious reasons. It is learned that the official has been removed from the consular section, but is that step enough to prevent recurrance of such cases in future?
By taking advantage of the weak position of the senior official in question, members of the school Management committee have been "getting things" done out of the way from the administrator, who calls the final shot in crucial matters, including the school finances. It is learned that recently two lakh Rials have been transferred from one bank account to another. However, the School which is having huge surplus fund is unwilling to give a small loan to the infant Indian School in Seeb to finance its building construction. Even though the parent school is offered the same rate of interest given by banks where the money is deposited, the SMC members say there is no fund to support another community school? It is easy for the SMC to spend money for replacing the school main switch board several times in an year, or "buy" the highest quality paints for building renovation with the help of such "administrators" by squeezing the ordinary parents. It is another matter that the lowest quality paint is used to decorate the school building.
- Indian School Darsait MC Approves resolution against Sugathan Gopalan
- Indian School Darsait Management Committee members have approached the Indian School Board, after a stormy committee meeting to remove Sugathan Gopalan from the School Committee. The latest controversy is surrounding the Republic Day Celebrations held at the school premises in which the SMC member has allegely violated the protocol. The power struggle within the SMC has reached a new stage as the Board has constituted a special Committee to investigate the charges against Sugathan Gopalan. Sugathan claims that he played an important role in developing the ISD. The board will also examine charges made by Sugathan against other SMC members..Watch this space for more.
Red Alert to Indian School Parents Pregnant Student - This is an appeal to the parents of Indian schools in the Gulf - Please monitor the movement of your grown up children, especially girl students in senior classes. The family of an Indian School Student who has been involved in an illicit love affair with the driver of the school bus is facing an unpleasant situation now. Even though the school had reportedly warned the student (12th Standard) and the driver about the affair , things have been going out of control. KM sources revealed that the youth has been abscoding. Dont allow your grown up daughters to use mobile phones, Internet chatting or go alone with the young school bus drivers . A Club premise was alleged used as a rendevouz by the girl and the youth to engage in illicit relationship --- Watch this space.
Mohammed Ali wins multicrore Express Highway project in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram - February 13, 2003 A multi crore Access Controlled High-speed Corridors project connecting Kasargod and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala is likely to be awarded to the prominent Non Resident Indian businessman Dr.P.Mohammed Ali. One of the richest Indian in the Gulf, Mohammed Ali who had a humble beginning from Oman has been a successful businessmen. More