kerala news story

"An eye for an eye" or "tooth for tooth" may be an outdated justice system, but a young Indian expatriate in Saudi Arabia has been sentenced by a Shariah Court in Dammam to have his right eye plucked out as a punishment for a crime in which a Saudi citizen lost his eye sight. Naushad, from Vallamkuzhy Puthenveettil, Anchal in Punalur Kerala is imprisoned in the Dammam Central jail awaiting the court ruling to be implemented by doctors of a Saudi Government Hospital in Dammam. His right eye will be surgically gouged out by doctors if the compromise talk and appeals to higher courts do not succeed, Bashir, his friend. Human rights associations have been critical of the Saudi judicial system for its rude punishment methods and beheading for severe crimes. His wife has appealed to the Indian Embassy to save her husbands eye.

Naushad was a salesman of shop near Delta Petrol Station in Dammam. Two and half years back, an unnamed Saudi customer bought a battery charger worth Dhs.40 from his shop and wanted the same returned after a few hours. While Naushad claimed that the customer was informed about the shops policy that the sold battery will not be taken back, the Saudi customer was stubborn that the shop takes back the battery. The argument ended up in physical duel in which the Saudi citizen lost his left eye sight when the battery charger edge hit his eye. Apparently the man produced a medical certificate before the court which certified that he lost sight of one eye. Nausad was arrested immediately and a lower Shariath Court ordered that his right eye be removed, if the victim is not willing to pardon him for the crime.

His friends say Naushad could not prove his innocence in the Shariah court and hence got the cruel punishment. Even though an appeal hearing and compromise discussions were held on Ramadan 27, the Saudi youth was not willing to pardon Naushad. The judicial system here is such that the government or higher courts cannot intervene in such cases. The only solution is that the Saudi youth, the victim of the attack, has to give pardon for Naushad," said a social worker of Jamaitha Islamia, a Kerala social organization who is trying to help Naushad. His friends and sponsor have offered to pay Saudi Riyals.1,0000 as compensation to the Saudi youth but he seems to be stubborn. If the Saudi youth does not change his mind, the young Keralite will lose his right eye. Naushad, son of Abdul Latheef and Nabeesa went to Saudi Arabia about eight years ago. His wife Suhaila and two children – five years old Nasif and three years old Haseena survive with the small amount send by the friends of Naushad. The poor Muslim family in Punalur, Kerala has been praying to save Naushad's right eye. He is the sole bread earner and has not earned enough money for his family, Jamaitha Islamia social worker from Kerala.

"The punishment will be implemented by doctors of a government hospital in Dammam. It was five years that an Egyptian man had his left eye surgically removed in the first eye-for-an-eye punishment in Saudi Arabia in over 40 years," said Naushad's friends from Saudi Arabia. In August 2000, the daily Okaz reported that a Saudi court had ordered the surgical removal of the left eye of Abd al-Muti Abdel Rahman Muhamed, an Egyptian after he was convicted of throwing acid in the face of another Egyptian, injuring and disfiguring his left eye. The operation was performed in a hospital in Medina. In addition to this punishment, Abdel Rahman was reportedly fined U.S. $68,800 and sentenced to an undisclosed prison term.

A just released Booz Allen Hamilton strategic review of the TV broadcasting sector in the Middle East says the pay TV sector has grown by 40% in each of the past several years while free-to-air channels now exceed 150

Dubai, UAE, December 06, 2005 – The Middle East TV industry, which is enjoying significant triple-digit growth and substantial global attention, is coming to a dramatic crossroads, according to a report issued today by consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. The study, the first comprehensive review of its kind conducted in the Middle East, says the pay TV market has witnessed 40% annual growth in each of the past several years, while buoyancy in the free-to-air TV sector has seen the number of channels grow to more than 150. However, the Middle East TV broadcast industry, is “coming to a crossroads, with potentially drastic changes ahead,” according to Karim Sabbagh, Partner and Vice President with Booz Allen’s communications, media, and technology practice based in Dubai and Riyadh.

“The combination of massive investments, oversupply of free-to-air channels, greater financial transparency and objectivity imposed by shareholders and capital market authorities post-IPO, and discontinuities in technology and regulations will most likely drive fundamental changes in the industry’s landscape and economics,” Sabbagh said.

The world is well aware of the region’s TV industry as reflected in Arabic-language news channel Al Jazeera joining the ranks of Apple, Google, IKEA and Starbucks in the top five of the Broadchannel Readers’ Choice December 2004 Interbrand Survey. Local, regional, and international focus also is on the industry ahead of several high-profile initial public offerings being planned for Al Jazeera, music channel Rotana, and pay-TV network Showtime. The Booz Allen study, which looks at the pan-Arab region and specifically the core markets of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE, finds that there were more than 1 million pay TV subscribers primarily with Showtime, Orbit, and ART. While pay TV has reached 5% of the overall market, this ranges from 3% in Egypt to 29% in the UAE.

“The longer-term prospects for pay TV will be driven by attractive fundamentals that include strong socio-economic growth, a young population coming to adulthood, and an increasingly discerning audience regarding content,” said Gabriel Chahine, Principal and member of the global communications, media, and technology group based in the UAE.

He added that pay TV operators also enjoy strong growth potential from relatively untapped countries such as Saudi Arabia and middle to low socio-economic segments across the region, which typically form the heart of pay TV subscribers in developed markets. The large 190-million inhabitant market is distinctive in part because of TV consumption rates significantly higher than those in most developed countries, according to the report.

However, Laurent Viviez, Principal and member of Booz Allen’s Media and Telecoms practices based in Paris, warned that “providing audio-visual content is a complex proposition in the region since demand is significantly less homogeneous than a common language, culture, and religion may suggest. TV consumption behaviors and preferences present significant differences across traditional demographic segments, countries, and ethnic origins.”

The report notes that free-to-air broadcasters have made significant investments in modernizing and enhancing the quality of their TV programming, but adds that the free-to-air sector’s buoyancy is unsustainable over the longer term given that irrational ad sales practices and an evident over-supply of channels means most are being subsidized by their owners. Pay TV growth, on the other hand, will be affected by its ability to strengthen its premium content and by the substantial rationalization expected in the free-to-air sector, a likely scenario given the transfer of free-to-air premium content to pay TV (e.g., Al Jazeera’s premium sports channel) and a growing emphasis on economic performance by free-to-air broadcasters, in part driven by planned IPOs, according to the study. The study draws on Booz Allen’s extensive consulting experience in the TV industry regionally and globally, as well as on data from international organizations, regional governments, market research companies and industry analysts.

Bahrain, Manama: A state-of-the-art simulator facility, incorporating the latest technologies, modern infrastructure and a unique design, is nearing completion at Gulf Air’s headquarters in Muharraq.Expected to be finished by the end of this year, the BD3.5 million facility will offer real-time, simulated on-board training to pilots on Boeing B767, Airbus A320 and A330/340 in three flight simulators.

The training will focus on preparing pilots to handle scenarios involving engine failures, systems malfunctions and extremes of weather and turbulence. The strikingly-designed facility, executed by Mazen Al Umran Consulting Engineers, will have the latest visual systems, computer graphics and screen projections to provide realistic environments during training. “The project was conceived in-house by Gulf Air engineers and the aesthetic design of the building is the first of its kind in the region,” says Vice President Operations, Captain Hameed Ali.

“It has taken only six months from start-to-finish, which is a record for a project of this size. Every Gulf Air employee will be proud of this project.”International certification for the simulator is expected to be obtained by the second week of January, following which the facility will be open for regular training. In addition to providing training for Gulf Air crews, it will be offered to other airlines wanting to use the facility. “Internationally, pilots have to undergo training every six months to keep updated, but many airlines do not have a simulator facility of their own. Gulf Air, therefore, will have a unique commercial opportunity to exploit this state-of-the-art facility,” adds Capt Hameed.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation was signed between India and Oman here today. The areas of cooperation envisaged in the MoU include exchange of expertise in military training and information technology, utilization of military and educational courses and programmes, exchange of observers attending military exercises and exchange of formal visits. The other areas of cooperation as mentioned in MoU also include providing assistance in identifying technical specifications of military equipment in a bid to facilitate direct agreement with manufacturing companies of both countries, maintaining quality assurance by Ministry of Defence for contracts signed within the framework of this MOU and collaboration in other mutually agreed spheres of defence cooperation.

The MoU was signed by the Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs of Oman Sayyid Badr Bin Saud Bin Hareb AI Busaidi and the Defence Minister of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee. The MoU is expected to further enhance constructive interaction between the two countries and facilitate strengthening bilateral defence relations, including the supply of Indian equipment to Oman.

Earlier on his arrival at Defence Headquarters, the visiting dignitary was given a ceremonial Guard of Honour. The Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash, Defence Secretary Shri Shekhar Dutt, Secretary DRDO Shri M Natrajan and other senior civil and military officials called on him. During his talks with the Defence Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee, both the leaders reviewed with satisfaction the high level defence exchanges and cooperation. It may be recalled that the Navies of the two countries have conducted Joint Naval Exercises and there have been frequent exchange of visits of Naval Ships of both the countries.

India has a historically close and multifaceted relationship with Oman. The close political relationship between the two countries has been characterized by common understanding on issues of mutual concern. A 3,50,000 strong Indian community has significantly contributed to the economic development and other services including health care in Oman. The upcoming Oman-India Fertilizer Company is India's largest joint venture abroad which signifies India’s commitment to be a full partner in Oman's rapid development and progress. The Defence Minister of Oman is on a three-day state visit to India at the invitation of Defence Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee

DR. RAMADOSS AND MR. BILL GATES HAVE FRUITFUL TALKS ON HEALTH

The visiting Chairman of Microsoft, Mr. Bill Gates and Members of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation had a fruitful discussion with the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss and his team, here today. Mr. Bill Gates lauded India’s efforts in taking health care delivery to the masses. He wanted India to take up trials part of vaccines and immunizations currently under way, as well as in the development stage. He said India has all the infrastructure and the human resource to take up the task. He said his Foundation’s priority is combating what he called the "tough twenty" diseases. Mr. Bill Gates underscored the need to have effective vaccines and drugs for curing and eliminating the twenty diseases and ills that afflict the mankind. Some of them identified were, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Hepatitis, Polio, etc.. He agreed to the suggestion of Dr. Ramadoss that a new initiative for finding more effective cure for tuberculosis is the need of the hour. Dr. Ramadoss also told him that India will announce soon that it is Leprosy free. About Polio, Dr. Ramadoss told him, that by next year, India will also become free from Polio. The Health Minister gave Mr. Bill Gates an elaborate picture of the Government’s efforts at controlling infectious diseases, development of vaccines and drugs for controlling them and about the recently launched National Rural Health Mission. The progress being made on the HIV/AIDS front, infant and maternal mortality, vector borne diseases control, Cholera, Kala-ahzar, starting of public health schools were conveyed to Mr. Bill Gates. Dr. Ramadoss also told him that the Government is focussing on prevention, which includes awareness creation and development of vaccines. He also spoke of the setting up of a National Drugs Authority, Medical Tourism and integration of AIDS control with primary health care and TB control. He disclosed that the third phase of the National AIDS Control Programme will begin next year and solutions will be found to the shortcomings came across in the first two phases. The focus will be on youth and more visible condom promotion, He said.

The Government of India has decided to sign the 1998 Agreement on Global Technical Regulations (GTR) for Motor Vehicles, administered by WP-29-World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, a body of the Economic Commission of Europe of the United Nations (UN-ECE). The 1998 Agreement is a forum for establishment of Global Technical Regulation for wheeled Motor Vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and used on wheeled vehicles. The objective of 1998 Agreement is to codify the international al best practices in safety, emission regulations, energy sources and theft prevention equipments into global regulations without any binding obligations, energy sources and theft prevention equipments into global regulations without any binding obligations for reciprocal recognition of certification by signatory countries. The Global Technical Regulations are formed by harmonization of existing regulations of contracting parties as well as by establishment of new regulations with the consensus of all contracting parties. Hence, the design specifications of the vehicles would largely meet the specifications of the contracting parties. This information was given in the Lok Sabha today in a written reply by the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shri K. H. Muniyappa

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh shaking hands with the President of Russia, Mr. Vladimir Putin, in Moscow on December 6, 2005