Aug 13: On August 15th, The Prime Minister Dr
Manmohan Singh will unfurl the Tricolor on the rampart of the
Red Fort to celebrate the 58th Independence Day. After unfurling
the Tricolor, Dr Manmohan Singh will address the Nation. On
arrival at Lahore Gate of Red Fort, the Prime Minister will
be received by the Defence Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee and
the Minister of State for Defence Production & Supplies
Shri Bijoy Krishna Handique and Defence Secretary Shri Ajai
Vikram Singh. More News
A book published by the
Dayan institute for Middle east and Africa studies"Israel
and the Sudanese Lliberation movement" this book was written
by ex-mossad officer Moshe Fergie. Tthe strategic "Israeli"
thinking in dealing with the Arabic world and countries which
neighbor it. And I summarized that strategy which adopted the
"pulling the limbs then cutting them off" policy as
they described it. In other words building bridges with the
minorities and pulling it out of the nationalist
context, then encouraging it to separate (and this is what they
meant by cutting them off), to weaken the Arab world and break
it down and threaten it's interests in the same time. In the
frames of such strategy mossad agents opened connections with
such minorities, and in whose front line there are the Kurds
in Iraq, Maronites in Lebanon and Southerners in Sudan. "Israeli's"
concentration on Sudan was part of it's strategy towards the
read (Reed) (Red) sea, a place that from her start "Israel"
thought of as an extremely essential outlet, it worked hard
on ensuring it free for its ships to use in fear it becomes
an Arabic lake that could be used to
besiege it (Israel). More
Hundreds of Keralites in Iraq, Recruitment Through
Dubai Prime Projects International - Watch this space.
The flexible visa regime between India and Libya
will mitigate the problems being faced by the businessmen and
will increase the bilateral trade between the two countries.
The Libyan side has already prepared a draft agreement regarding
the flexible visa regime, which could be signed during the forthcoming
meeting of the Joint Commission after concurrence by the Indian
side. More News
The Immortal Olympians
D.K. Bharadwaj*
Over the years a number of brightly shining
stars have adorned the Olympics firmament. The history of the
Olympics is replete with the stupendous achievements of these
glittering stars, whose name and fame have not been dimmed by
the mists of time and they continue to command adulation of
the fans as well as the admiration of the fellow sportspersons.
The level of competition in the Olympics being of the highest
standard and most intensive, an unusual or rare feat draws wide
acclaim and special attention. Almost all the Olympic Games
have produced a hero or two, whose superb performances enabled
them to tower over the fellow competitors and in the process
ensuring a place of pride for themselves in the Olympic lore.
Recalling the feats of some of these immortals on the occasion
of the Athens Games is not only appropriate but also a fitting
tribute to these hugely talented sporting giants. More
WIRED TO A LEARNING EXPERIENCE
13 August 2004 The future of education lies
in virtual schools according to Dr Milad Fares Sebaaly, provost
and founder of the first MENA Virtual University. In this exclusive
interview with Weekend he tells V M Sathish how employees, students
and housewives can benefit from e-learning - Read the Full
Cover story from Khaleej Times Weekend
M P Kottappuram from Kuwait: New Trade Unions?
The Labour situation in Kuwait maybe on the
verge of momentous change. Kuwait Trade Union Federation (KTUF)
confirmed yesterday that it was considering becoming an active
representative of expatriate Labour in the country. Recently,
KTUF formed a committee and submitted a 10-page report to the
Ministry of Labour citing specific problems that they feel need
to be resolved. The committee, composed of leaders from the
government and private sectors, is named ‘Defense for all
Workers’ and is said to be on the final stage of the project
at the moment. Until now, foreign workers had no union representation
or protection in Kuwait. The KTUF will be the first Labour union
to consider representing expatriate workers in their employment
arrangements. More
KM Exclusive ": Depressed Madhu Unnikrishnan
in ROP Custody
MUSCAT - Madhu Unnikrishnan, Assistant Sales
Manager of National Travel and Tourism (NTT) who went missing
is learned to be in the Royal Oman Police Custody now. According
to KM sources, the senior manager of the leading travel agent
was under tremendous pressure from the company auditors for
recovering some of the outstanding dues. It is learned that
he was in Banglore with his family for a vacation and returned
to Muscat only a week ago. His family did not return. It may
be recalled that many senior executives working for big business
houses live a stress ful life as the companies exert maximum
pressure to achieve marketing targets even in a difficult market
situation. It is learned that the depressed Malayali manager
was taken into police custody to prevent him from either absconding
or resort to other unpleasant. The auditors are exerting maximum
pressure on employees, who find it difficult to cope up with
pressure. Last year the same employee went missing for a few
days and dramatically returned home. However, this time he has
been taken in the safe ROP custody, with one intention to prevent
him from resorting to any drastic steps to escape from the work
pressure. Heart attacks and stress are major killers of expatrite
executives in the Gulf region. Paradoxically enough, such companies
which exert maximum pressure on its executives get best employee
relation awards!!!
Dubai - August 8 2004 Asianet Radio, the leading
Malayalam radio station in the Middle East is preparing the
groundwork for Ponnonam 2004, a two-day music and entertainment
programme for the expatriate Malayali community in the UAE.
The three and half hours entertainment and humour Onam special
programme will be staged on two days (August 19th and August
20th) because the expected audience of 7000 people cannot be
accommodated in Al Nasr Leusureland hall. "As the hall
can accommodate only 3,500 people we are conducting the same
programme on two days. As an established TV and radio company,
we are planning to organize such events on a regular basis.
Every year at least four major entertainment shows will be organized
by Asianet Radio," says Sunil N.K. Administration and Financial
Manager, Asianet Radio Network Dubai. Being an AM radio station,
Asianet Radio reaches every Gulf country and other parts of
Middle East, especially Iran. "We are trying to improve
the quality of broadcasting and make it 24 hours live radio
station. Our growth has been steady," he added. Headed
by the programme director K. Chandrasenan, a popular radio star,
20 talented artists work overtime to maintain the radio stations
number one position among the many Malayalam stations and attract
serious Malayali listeners, who are not happy with just music
and entertainment. Full Report
and More News
Malayalai Manager Missing again from Muscat
Business House
MUSCAT - As the auditing pressure mounts to
recover outstanding payment defaults, marketing executives in
leading travel agents start panicking. Uncomfirmed reports suggest
that an Assistant Sales Manager of a leading travel agent which
has a General Sales Agent (GSA) for a leading Indian carrier
is missing again! The Asst Manager (Sales) who was the hero
of a similar missing drama a year ago is reportedly missing
from Tuesday evening. Having returned from his vacation a week
ago, the Malayali Manager who left his family back in Banglore
seems to be missing again. Earlier
Reports
Workers Strike work Again, Demonstrate through
Main Roads
Large number of workers of the Mohammed Ruzaiki
and Partners (MRP), a Galfar group company, resorted to protest
marches and demonstrations through the main roads of Azaiba
and Ghala. As many of them are not paid salary for months, the
company management headed by the brother of Dr.P.Mohammed Ali,
is facing liquidity crisis. It may be recalled that last month
the owner had dramatically disappeared and came back to settle
the workers problem.
Kovalam: K.V.Thomas one of the main culprits?
Galfar Has NO Claim on Kovalam
Palace : Chief Secretary's Final Report
Kerala is not Oman
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The M-Far Group read the
Galfar group has no legal right to claim ownership of the Kovalam
Palace as only 16.5 hectares of land was handed over to it by
the central government, says the final report of the committee
headed by the chief secretary which examined the controversial
ownership issue. While the Ashoka Hotel privatization was totally
a dubious deal, the controversy surfaced when the Galfar group
claimed ownership of all the adjacent areas including a heritage
palace which was built by the former royal family of Kerala.
The committee categorically stated that only 16.5 hectares of
the 24.5 hectare land was handed over to the Galfar group as
part of the Ashoka Hotel privatization deal. The tall claims
made by Dr.P.Mohammed Ali through newspaper advertisements stand
nullified now. What next?
The NRI businessman claimed ownership of the
kovalam hotel and has been illegally occupying the same, pretending
that the property belonged to the Galfar group. How is it possible
to make such claims without the tacit support of political leaders
and senior bureaucrats? Now that the scandal to occupy the Kovalam
palace hotel has been fully exposed, a thorough investigation
into the entire hotel deal is warranted. The Galfar group and
its Managing Director should realize that Kerala is not Oman
and there is a vigilant media and politically conscious public
who cannot be taken for granted. While Galfar group has been
able to strengthen its illegal control over a community school
in Oman (Indian School Al Ghubra), all attempts to reform it
was resisted by him using money power and vastha. While it is
possible in Oman to dupe the public authorities and subvert
public opinion by various means, Kerala is a different place.
Do business with ethics, not by bribing politicians and bureaucrats.
Dont belittle thyself by indulging in such cheap business practices.
K M Kovalam Special.
Kovalam: K.V.Thomas one of the main culprits?
Former civil aviation minister and his team
plus the former tourism minister K.V.Thomas during a trip to
Gulf...read Galfar.KM was the first media to report this controversial
Gulf visit a few days before the official announcement of the
Kovalam hotel handover. Many of the delegation members occupied
crucial position in the privatisation committee. ITDC Kovalam
hotel was under the direct control of the civil aviation minister.What
happened to the corruption charges against K.V.Thomas who has
amassed crores during his public life.? More
Amidst contradictory statements made by the
totally confused ministers and bureaucrats who did not expect
such a public outcry against the scandalous Kovalam Hotel deal,
the former tourism minister K.V.Thomas, a close business associate
of the Galfar group, is trying to pass the buck by claiaming
that he did not "approve" the deal. According to reports,
K.V.Thomas made a smart claim that when the "proposal"
to handover the palace to the Galfar group came up, he "opposed"
the plan. Even though there was an administrative decision to
handover the palace to the Galfar group, the final deal was
not signed, he claimed. The minister needs an explanation as
to why there was such an "administrative decision? When
did he oppose the Kovalam palace handover to the Galfar group?
What was he doing during a pleasure trip to Muscat a few days
before the final handover was announced. Was he wining and dining
with the Galfar group M.D. Dr.P.Mohammed
Ali in his private villa? A close
scrutiny of the official communication between the ITDC officials
and state government officials indicate the keenness of both
the parties to handover the property to the Galfar group for
unknown reasons. Many of them are known to enjoy the hospitality
of the group and their loyalty is more to private parties than
to work for a public cause.
Appeal in High Court to preserve Kovalam Palace
Meanwhile former minister Neela Lohithan Nadar
and former speaker M.Vijayakumar have filed another petition
in the High Court. They are approaching the court demanding
the preservation of Kovalam palace as a historical monument.
The state government is not taking necessary steps to protect
the Kovalam Hotel, they said. BJP Thiruvananthapuram district
leders said they will strengthen the agitation against the Kovalam
Palace handover. Paradoxically enough, it was the patriotic
BJP Government which handed over the Ashoka hotel complex to
the Galfar group at a throw away price. Yuva Morcha, the youth
wing of the saffron party has been engaged in protest marches
and demonstrations. Now that the entire deal has beene exposed
through media, the party leaders especially O.Rajagopal, former
minister, are trying to save their face.
Health Monitor -
Don't let 'hay fever' reduce you to tears this summer
Dubai, 10 August, 2004: A leading local ears,
nose and throat specialist has warned against the rising attacks
of hay fever this season and stressed the importance of taking
certain precautions to minimize the risk. More
Kovalam Hotel not transferred to M-Far Group
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Despite the tall claims
made by Dr.P.Mohammed Ali, Managing Director Galfar group of
Muscat about misleading media reports against a genuine property
transaction, revenue records with the concerned authorities
show that the Kovalam Palace was not transferred to M-Far Group.
These documents clearly show that only 16.5 hectares out of
a total land area of 25.75 hectares owned by Indian Tourism
Development Corporation (ITDC) was handed over to the M-Far
group as part of the Ashoka Hotel privatization deal. The transaction
was done through the vizhinjam Panchayath as per the directive
of the district collector. Another startling revelation made
by Deepika, one of the leading Malayalam Dailies, is that the
state government lost a whopping Rs.1 crore stamp duty in this
dubious transaction. The transaction was carried without including
more than 9 hectares of land. While the current media attention
is focused on the illegal occupation of just one palace, many
people forget that the whole transaction is mired in controversy.
Today the special committee which is assigned to study the deal
will come out with the report. There could be more surprises
in it. Full Report
No security for education loans upto Rs. 4 lakh
Aug 9: In consonance with Finance Minister's
announcement in the Budget 2004-05, Indian Banks Association
has issued a circular on July 23, 2004 to all member banks not
to ask for collateral on education loans upto Rs. 7.5 lakh.
Accordingly, now no security is required for loans upto Rs.
4 lakh, only a satisfactory third party guarantee is enough
for loans above Rs. 4 lakh and upto Rs. 7.5 lakh and collateral
security of suitable value is required for loans above Rs. 7.5
lakh. Comprehensive Education Loan Scheme was started on 28.4.2001.
Under the Scheme, upto Rs. 7.5 lakh Loan is admissible for studies
within the country and upto Rs. 15 lakh for studies abroad.
More News
Send your photos and reports about cultural programmes
to gulfmonitor@dubaimediacity.net
"I am Shocked"
Advocate Thomas from Kuwait lashes
out : Kuwait Law Graduates Forum has been fighting a case against
Air India for exploiting the Gulf passengers..More
Luc Delafosse, General Manager,
Burj Al Arab and Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, Chairman and Chief Executive
of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd at the hand over ceremony of the first
Rolls-Royce Phantom to the Burj Al Arab.
Health Monitor Dr.Madan Mohan MD
Dr.Madan Mohan whocompleted MD in
general medicine from Medical college,Calicut in 1993.I hail from
Quilon district and was working at Karunagappally till 1997 before
joining Ahalia Hospital,Abu Dhabi. Originally hailing from the Njavarakal
family, Muthukulam , Alleppey District his father's brother was
the late noted film director shri.P.Padmarajan .He handles a wide
variety of general internal medicine problems on an out-patient
and in-patient basis. More
India is More corrupt than America,
But Borrow American System to clean up India?
by R.S.Priya
Thiruvananthapuram - According to
Prof. Paul Peretz, the American Administrative setup is to a certain
extent privatized and the whole city is managed by 'City Managers'.
In California, there is the concept of "City Managers",
who is a person who knows the problems faced by the public and how
the problems could be solved. The City Managers are people who have
proper training and knowledge about the city and about what needs
to be done to solve the problems that arise in a city. Full
Report
Special
Tribute by M.P. P Kumar to V.S.Achuthananthan Oppositon leader who
has exposed many sensitive scandals that changed kerala politics...
Full Report
(click for detailed reports)
