W O R L D

A-I plane makes safe emergency landing
Los Angeles, December 20
A New Delhi-bound Air India flight today made an emergency landing at the Los Angeles International Airport, about 90 minutes after blowing a tyre during its takeoff, but all 267 persons onboard escaped unhurt. No physical injuries were reported but a woman was taken to hospital after fainting, an official said. A media report suggested that she might have suffered a mild heart attack.

Terrorism high on agenda at Asian 7 meeting. (28k, 56k)

NY transit workers on strike
New York, December 20
More than 33,000 transit workers in New York went on a strike today for the first time in 25 years, bringing to halt all local bus and train services and stranding over four million people who use the system everyday. City officials said the strike coming just days ahead of Christmas and at the height of the shopping season could cost the city between $ 400 million and $ 700 million each day in revenue and business.

	New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg walks across the Brooklyn Bridge with other commuters during the morning rush hour in New York on Tuesday. New York transit workers walked off the job for the first time in 25 years on Tuesday, stranding millions of people who rely on the largest US bus and subway system each day. — Reuters photo

Headway on Siachen likely, says Pakistan
Islamabad, December 20
Pakistan on Monday expressed the hope that the third round of Indo-Pakistan Composite Dialogue process would yield positive results on the Siachen issue on which some progress had been made during the last round of talks.

19 die in Miami seaplane crash
Miami, December 20
A seaplane packed with passengers crashed in flames off the Miami Beach and sank into the US city’s main shipping channel, killing at least 19 persons, the authorities said.

UK softens visa norms for religious workers
London, December 20
Britain will allow religious workers in non-pastoral and non-preaching roles to remain in the country for up to two years, a move that would benefit Hindu religious workers who are much in demand here.

A-I plane makes safe emergency landing

Los Angeles, December 20
A New Delhi-bound Air India flight today made an emergency landing at the Los Angeles International Airport, about 90 minutes after blowing a tyre during its takeoff, but all 267 persons onboard escaped unhurt.

No physical injuries were reported but a woman was taken to hospital after fainting, an official said. A media report suggested that she might have suffered a mild heart attack. Some passengers were treated for anxiety after the incident.

“There were emotional injuries and stress,” city Fire Department spokesman Jim Wells was quoted as saying.

Air India Flight 136, bound for New Delhi via Frankfurt, took off from the airport here at 8.33 p.m. last night (10:03 am IST today), blowing at least one of the tyres, airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles said.

The Boeng 747-400 dumped fuel over the ocean, then returned to the airport at 10 pm (11.33 am IST), emanating sparks as it touched down.

About 150 firefighters and paramedics responded to the emergency. Firemen sprayed foam to douse the flames emanating its wheels as the plane came to a halt.

“We were prepared for the worst scenario - but fortunately it did land safely, with some fire on the right side,” Wells said. — PTI

NY transit workers on strike
Dharam Shourie

New York, December 20
More than 33,000 transit workers in New York went on a strike today for the first time in 25 years, bringing to halt all local bus and train services and stranding over four million people who use the system everyday.

City officials said the strike coming just days ahead of Christmas and at the height of the shopping season could cost the city between $ 400 million and $ 700 million each day in revenue and business.

The talks over service conditions and wages failed last night after union representatives walked out of the negotiations, describing the last offer made by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) as inadequate and called for strike, the first in 25 years.

“Transit workers are tired of being underappreciated and disrespected,” said Transit Workers’ Union (TWU)President Roger Toussaint. “The ... executive board has voted overwhelmingly to extend strike action to all MTA properties immediately.”

MTA President Peter Kalikow responded quickly, threatening the union with legal action under the Taylor Law, which forbids public employees from walking off the job.

A New York judge last week issued a preliminary injunction barring the transit union from staging a strike. The Taylor Law allows for a fine of two days pay’ for each day of an illegal strike. — PTI 

First Indian Congressman’s portrait in Capitol Hill
Ashish Kumar Sen writes from Washington

The United States House of Representatives has authorised the commissioning of a portrait of Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian-American ever elected to the US Congress.

Mr Saund, who was born in 1899 in Chhajalwadi village of Punjab came to the USA in 1920 and was first elected to Congress in 1956. He served three terms as a Democratic representative from California.

Congressman Joe Wilson, South Carolina Republican and the hand behind the effort to honour Mr Saund, said yesterday, “From a small village in India to the halls of Congress, Dalip Singh Saund demonstrated that a person with perseverance and optimism can overcome tremendous obstacles and achieve remarkable successes.”

Mr Wilson, a former co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, noted that while working for US citizenship and serving as the first Indian American elected to Congress, Mr. Saund became a “political pioneer of the Asian American community. His relentless dedication is an inspiration for all Americans.”

Acknowledging that a portrait in Congress would be a tribute to Mr Saund’s “extraordinary legacy,” Mr Wilson added: “By permanently placing his portrait on Capitol Hill, we will commemorate his service and recognise America’s unique culture, which enables all Americans regardless of race, religion, or national origin, to reach the very heights of success.”

He credited Clerk of the House Karen Haas, House Curator Farar Elliott, and his Legislative Director Dino Teppara for their hard work during the commissioning process.

Mr. Teppara told the Tribune, “After working for more than a year and a half on this important initiative, we’re proud that Dalip Singh Saund’s portrait will soon be displayed on Capitol Hill.”

“When Indian American families visit Congress and see Mr Saund’s portrait, they will recognise the greatness of our country and how it allows us to achieve our dreams,” Mr Teppara, an Indian American, said.

Mr Wilson introduced legislation during the 108th and 109th Congresses that called on the US Congress to commission a portrait of Mr Saund. The portrait will be completed in a year.

Earlier this year, Mr Saund was honoured by the House of Representatives, which voted unanimously to name a California post office after the late Indian American congressman. That Bill was sponsored by California Republican Congressman Darrell Issa and co-sponsored by Louisiana Republican Congressman Bobby Jindal, who is the second Indian American congressman in the history of the United States of America. 

Headway on Siachen likely, says Pakistan
Qudssia Akhlaque
By arrangement with The Dawn

Islamabad, December 20
Pakistan on Monday expressed the hope that the third round of Indo-Pakistan Composite Dialogue process would yield positive results on the Siachen issue on which some progress had been made during the last round of talks.

Responding to questions at a weekly news briefing Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said Pakistan hoped that the two countries would move forward on the Siachen issue during the next round of the composite dialogue that will take place in New Delhi in January 2006. She maintained that some proposals and ideas on addressing the Siachen issue had already been exchanged between the two sides.

She observed that one positive aspect of the dialogue process had been that it had achieved progress in the terms of CBMs. It had promoted greater interaction between the Kashmiri leaders and led to a public discourse on the various options on the Kashmir issue, she added.

Replying to a question Ms Aslam agreed that OIC had no locus standi to comment on India’s internal affairs. However, she asserted that the Organisation was perfectly within its right to raise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir because it was an internationally recognised disputed territory.

She made the statement in the context of India’s rejection of a reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the final communique issued at the end of the third OIC Extraordinary Summit.

When the spokesperson’s reaction was sought on the reported concerns of US Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker on democracy and the involvement of banned Islamic groups in earthquake relief work, she said the Foreign Office had sought a clarification from the US Embassy on the media reports.

“What we have been told is that the US Ambassador appreciated the policies of the President of Pakistan and there were some attempts to involve him in a discussion on the internal situation in Pakistan which, according to the embassy, he resisted and did not make any comments,” Ms Aslam said.

When asked why then the US Ambassador had not issued a clarification, her response was: “Well that is not for me to respond to. I think you should ask Ambassador Crocker why he did not do it.”

19 die in Miami seaplane crash

Miami, December 20
A seaplane packed with passengers crashed in flames off the Miami Beach and sank into the US city’s main shipping channel, killing at least 19 persons, the authorities said.

The twin-engine seaplane crashed just off the southern tip of the Miami Beach after taking off for the Bahamian island of Bimini with 18 passengers, including three infants, and two crew, according to Roger Nair, general manager of Chalk’s Ocean Airways, which operated the ill-fated aircraft.

Miami Beach City Manager Jorge Gonzalez told a news conference 19 bodies had been recovered from the crash site.

Witnesses said the plane seemed to explode in the sky before falling into Government Cut, the entry to the Port of Miami, where it came to rest in shallow water next to a jetty. — Reuters

UK softens visa norms for religious workers
H.S. Rao

London, December 20
Britain will allow religious workers in non-pastoral and non-preaching roles to remain in the country for up to two years, a move that would benefit Hindu religious workers who are much in demand here.

The new measures would benefit ‘pujaris’ who lead worship or perform sacramental rites, or ‘bhandaris’ who are trained cooks.

Under the measures unveiled by Minister for Immigration and Nationality Tony McNulty yesterday, Muslim Imams, rabbis and other foreign clerics who want to preach in Britain will not be required to qualify for English language tests and can apply for two year visas of a non-settlement nature.

McNulty said he had decided that preachers should not face tougher requirements than other immigrants who only had to take the civic test when they were applying to become citizens after four years in the country. — PTI