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Israeli pullout from Gaza begins
Al-Qaida may target US, UK petrol stations
Indian rifles outdated, says Nepal
‘The Rising’ creates stir in UK
BA resumes normal operations
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New executive chef of White House
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Israeli pullout from Gaza begins
Kissufim Crossing (Israel), August 15 It sealed off the Gaza Strip at midnight yesterday (2.30 am IST) giving its residents a 48-hour grace period to leave voluntarily or be removed forcibly at its expiry. The army lowered a gate with two red plates reading, “Stop. Entry into the Gaza Strip and presence there is forbidden by law”, in Hebrew and English to set rolling a process of unwinding the settlements that have been promoted and nurtured by parties across the Israeli political spectrum, with broad consensus, and much to the chagrin of the international community. Authorities cut access to the Strip putting roadblocks
throughout southern Israel, choking Negev roads at the Tze’elim, Orim, Gilat, Hamazleg, Gabim, Ibim, Ruchama, southern Ashkelon, and Klasberg Junctions. Bolstered by sights of certain settler communities pulling out voluntarily today and indications of others doing the same in the next two days, Brig-Gen Guy Tzur, who oversaw the Kissufim closure said, “We estimate that no more than 50 per cent of the residents of Gush Katif and (the other settlement areas) in the Gaza Strip will remain beyond the Tuesday.” Gaza’s second largest settlement, Nisanit, is now all but deserted. A second northern Gaza settlement, the Dugit fishing village comprising 17 families, is to leave en masse today and most of the 90 families at a third northern Gaza settlement, Elei Sinai, are to leave together tomorrow, sources in the Strip said. However, those staying put have vowed to make it difficult for the army to evacuate with several meetings held in the recent past to finalise their strategy.
— PTI |
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Al-Qaida may target US, UK petrol stations
London, August 15 The leaked warning, contained in a bulletin issued by the US Department for Homeland Security last week, says the attacks aim to create catastrophic damage at the fourth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington. The warning came as it emerged that the British Department for Transport had for the first time issued guidelines ordering a tightening of security around the UK road tanker fleet. The US warning has been circulated among law enforcement agencies and fuel transport agencies. Although a preamble states that ‘’no other intelligence exists to corroborate this specific threat,’’ the intelligence report is highly specific. It says: ‘’Al-Qaida leaders plan to employ various types of fuel trucks as vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED) in an effort to cause mass casualties in the US (and London), prior to September 19.’’ Amidst these latest warnings, Scotland Yard admitted last night that it was no nearer to finding a mastermind behind the July 7 bombings. A focus for the investigation will be to trace any video evidence recorded by the four bombers admitting the attacks, as other British suicide bombers have done in the past. The British Department of Transport has issued security guidelines for fuel companies and others with fleets of tankers. Transport experts have called for closer monitoring of tankers on the road and companies are examining technology to allow vehicles to be shut down if they are hijacked. Al-Qaida cadres in US custody have said videos showing how to prepare lorry bombs and footage of tankers ramming buildings are shown at training camps. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, one of Al-Qaida’s leading tacticians, has reportedly told interrogators that he drew up plans to target petrol stations, because of ‘’their apparent vulnerability and the potential destructive force of a fuel-driven explosion’’, the Homeland Security report says. It adds: ‘’Al-Qaida leaders plan to employ various types of fuel trucks as vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices in an effort to cause mass casualties.
The stated goal is the collapse of the US economy.’’ — UNI |
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Indian rifles outdated, says Nepal
Kathmandu, August 15 Nepal's state-run media, used extensively since February to defend the royal coup and the new policies of the regime headed by King Gyanendra, on Monday cited reports from the Indian media, going back to 2001, to prove the Nepalese army's contention that the INSAS rifles were "problem-prone". "A soldier is only as good as the weapon he carries," the government-owned Rising Nepal daily said in a front-page report. "For soldiers on foot, it is primarily the rifles they carry." The daily quoted reports in The Times of India, The Asian Age and websites Rediff and defenceindia.com that said Indian troops had faced problems with INSAS rifles, resulting in India deciding to buy 1,00,000 AK-47 assault rifles from
Romania. — IANS |
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‘The Rising’ creates stir in UK
London, August 15 The Hollywood Reporter was sarcastic, but not of the film. “‘The saga is told in black-and-white terms with a clear division between good guys and bad guys. The dastardly villains are the ones in the red uniforms who speak as if they’ve just swallowed a plum. The only good British officer is, inevitably, Scottish.’’ Following its UK release on Friday, the government-backed UK Film Council has been slammed by British military historian Saul David, who authored ‘’The Indian Mutiny 1857’’ and Conservative politicians, for investing #150,000 of lottery funds in a film that ‘’savages British rule in India’’. Historians quoted in The Telegraph say “The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey”, the most expensive film ever made in India, is littered with historical inaccuracies. The story is said to be damning about the rule of the British East India Company in the years leading up to the Indian Mutiny of 1857. Critics say the film accuses the company of murdering civilians to further its interests and of flouting the Empire-wide ban on slavery. In one scene, an officer is shown bidding for a slave girl who is sent to a brothel for the exclusive use of British officers. Later, a fellow officer orders the destruction of a village and its defenceless inhabitants after they refuse to set aside land for opium production. Mr Saul David attacked the depictions as fabrication. ‘’I am no apologist for the British East India Company but I have never come across any evidence which supports either of these assertions,’’ he said. ‘’It is nonsense. Of course a certain amount of criticism is justified but this sounds like vilification of the British just for the sake of it.’’ He added: ‘’The East India Company did trade in opium but I have no knowledge of a massacre like this and I do not believe it happened.’’
— UNI |
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BA resumes normal operations
London, August 15 The airline was operating all its British and European flights and 95 per cent of long-distance flights today, said spokesman Tony Cane. “We’re returning to normal,” he said. The walkout, which ended on Friday, struck during the peak of the summer travel season, stranding some passengers for more than four days. About 200 passengers were still waiting this morning, having spent last night in airport hotels to be rebooked onto flights, BA said. — AP |
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New executive chef of White House
When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dined on pan-roasted Halibut and basmati rice with pistachio nuts and currants at the White House last month it was Cristeta Comerford who helped develop the inventive menu.
On Sunday, first lady Laura Bush appointed Ms Comerford the White House’s executive chef. Ms Comerford makes history by becoming the first woman to serve in the position. She will be responsible for designing and executing menus for state dinners, social events, holiday functions, receptions and official luncheons hosted by President George W. Bush and Mrs Bush. Announcing her decision, Mrs Bush said Ms Comerford’s passion for cooking “can be tasted in every bite of her delicious creations”. Dr Manmohan Singh and his wife, Mrs Gursharan Kaur, may be able to vouch for that. Trained in French classical techniques and specialising in ethnic and American cuisine, Ms Comerford has worked as an assistant chef in the White House kitchen since 1995. She has helped develop menus that showcased American foods and wines for special White House events. |
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