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China pours scorn on Dalai
Indian students get right to work part-time in Australia
Hindu Youth’s Murder in Karachi
Russia launches 2nd satellite
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German high-speed train derails, 4 hurt
8 killed in Iraq clashes
A traffic police officer stands on the site of a suicide attack in Baghdad on Sunday. — AFP photo
UK is Europe’s top terror centre
Sharif delays London visit amid stalemate
Bashir appointed Pak foreign secy
2 LTTE aircraft bomb Lankan defence lines
Study: Boys may do better in same-sex classes
Indian leader gets death threat for opposing Islamic state
Australian women can insure unborn babies: Report
Your e-mail address ‘can reveal your personality’
Jobless Indian techie commits suicide in US
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China pours scorn on Dalai
Beijing, April 27 China has blamed what it calls the Dalai Lama's clique for recent unrest across Tibetan areas, which it says was aimed at upstaging the Beijing Olympic Games. Many Chinese, proud to host the Games in August, have denounced the unrest and pro-Tibet independence protests that have dogged the international Olympic torch relay. But after a western diplomatic chorus urged dialogue with the Dalai Lama, Beijing abruptly announced on Friday that it intended to meet his aides in the next few days. The undimmed criticism of the Dalai Lama in the Chinese official media suggests the government will treat any talks as a chance to amplify opposition to his calls for high-level regional autonomy, which Beijing says amounts to outright independence. ''The Dalai clique has always been master at games with words and the ideas that they have tossed about truly making the head spin,'' the People's Daily, the top paper of the ruling Communist Party, said in a commentary. ''Questions of sovereignty are beyond debate and splitting China is sure to fail.'' The paper instead praised ethnic Chinese demonstrators who opposed pro-Tibet independence protests that disrupted the global Olympic torch relay, particularly in London and Paris. ''Faced with Tibet independence, the Chinese government and people, and overseas Chinese, have shown unprecedented unity. Those who follow national unity are national heroes and those who split the nation are criminals to history.'' But some on both sides of the political divide have questioned the wisdom of the proposed talks. A prominent member of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile, which claims to represent the true aspirations of the region, said today there had been no official contact as yet on the talks, which he called a ruse. “This announcement is only to deflect pressure and gives false assurance to western leaders,” Parliament member Khedroob Thondup, a nephew of the Dalai Lama, said by telephone from India. There have been six rounds of dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama's envoys since 2002 with no breakthroughs. But China's announcement, coming alongside bitter condemnation of the Dalai Lama, has also drawn criticism from some of its own citizens, who called it a sign of weakness before Western pressure. ''Whoever negotiates with the DL is a traitor selling out the country,'' said one comment on the popular Chinese website, Tianya (www.tianya.cn), referring to the Dalai Lama. A commentator on a widely read Chinese blogsite (www.bokee.com) said the move poured cold water on patriotic passion. “Where is the government's public credibility if it flip-flops like this?,” said the commentator using the name Zhang Zhiwei. But the Chinese President Hu Jintao feels confident enough of his authority not be frightened by nationalist criticism of the proposal, said Wu Jiaxiang, a former senior government adviser who now writes on politics. ''The government is more confident that public anger will remain focused on the Tibetan independence protesters,'' said Wu. ''The talks may not produce anything substantial, but talking in itself could help heal some of the wounds from the past weeks.'' —
Reuters
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Indian students get right to work part-time in Australia
Melbourne, April 27 Australian immigration minister Chris Evans said all international students would be allowed to work up to 20 hours a week while their course was in session. Under the new rule which came into effect on Saturday, all student visas to foreigners will be granted with work rights attached, removing the need for people to file an additional application. More than 30,000 Indians were granted student visa in the year ended June, 2007, and they had to file separate applications for taking up part-time jobs here. "The new rule is a small relief for us who have to run around the visa office to get a work permit which is a bit of a pain in a new place," according to Manish Tikko, a student of accounts in Swineburne University. "While it is just a mere saving of Rs 1500-2000, it saves students from doing the leg work." Rahul Verma, a student of Victoria University, said that now the new students coming under automatic working visa arrangements would not have to wait for their course enrolment. “They can directly start looking for a part-time role which is a bit of respite." Earlier, students had to wait for their course to begin to apply for the work visa separately. — PTI
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Hindu Youth’s Murder in Karachi
Islamabad, April 27 After the probe was ordered by Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah, minority legislator Petambar Sehwani from the province's ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) went to Jagdish Kumar's home in Mirpurkhas last night to ascertain the facts about his death. Kumar was beaten to death on April 8 by his co-workers, who accused him of making the blasphemous remarks. His relatives and several NGOs had organised protests and demanded that the government conduct an inquiry into his murder. Sehwani met Kumar's relatives, including his father and mother. The legislator also met local Human Rights Commission of Pakistan representative Kanji Ranomal Bheel and rights activist Asghar Narejo and exchanged views about the incident. The legislator said he had been deputed by the government to inquire into Kumar's killing. Sehwani said after completing his inquiry, he would submit a report to chief minister Shah for taking action in the matter. — PTI
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Galileo Navigation System
Moscow, April 27 “The foreign satellite separated from the Russian Fregat acceleration unit at the designated time and the space vehicle was transferred to the customer for control,” RIA Novosti news agency reported quoting Roskosmos. The Galileo new positioning and communications system will eventually comprise 30 satellites and is expected to become operational from 2013. Galileo will be Europe’s own global navigation satellite system, providing highly accurate global positioning service under civilian control. It will operate along with Russian Global Navigation Satellite System and the US GPS (Global Positioning System). —
UNI
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German high-speed train derails, 4 hurt
Berlin, April 27 The four, injured, were taken to the hospital. Another 19 persons with lesser injuries were treated and released. “One didn’t know what was happening. I flew through the air and all luggage were flying around. One just wanted to get out of there,” one woman told German television network N-TV. “Fortunately there were only a few injuries. I think we can all celebrate our new birthdays today.” The train carrying 135 persons was en route from Hamburg to Munich late yesterday, when it ran into a flock of sheep that had wandered into the 11-km Landruecken tunnel, the longest in Germany. Ten of its 12 carriages came off the track. The driver of the train was not seriously injured. “It was a really large flock that had lost its way into the tunnel,” said German federal police spokesman Reza Ahmari. It was unclear how the sheep got into the tunnel and the police has opened a criminal investigation. “We’ve been questioning the owner of the sheep,” said Ahmari. “But he’s in a state of shock”, the police spokesman said A Deutsche Bahn spokesman said all trains travelling on the busy route would have delays of about 30 minutes for the next several days. — Reuters
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8 killed in Iraq clashes
Baghdad, April 27 At least 44 people were wounded in the fighting, which began around 6 pm (8.30 pm IST) and continued off and on until daybreak, the interior ministry and defence and medical officials said. “Eight people were killed, including a woman,” a medical official said. The clashes came despite a call by Shiite radical leader Moqtada al-Sadr on Friday for an end to fighting between Iraqi security forces and his Mahdi Army militia, who dominate Sadr City. Sadr had threatened on April 19 to launch all-out war against government forces unless attacks on his militiamen came to a halt. But on Friday, he softened his tone and called on “my brothers in the army, police and Jaish al-Mahdi (Mahdi Army) to stop the bloodshed”. He said his threat of war had been aimed at American forces. The latest deaths bring to more than 400 the number of people killed in Sadr City since March 25, when Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered a crackdown on militias across the country, starting in the main southern city of Basra. —
AFP
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UK is Europe’s top terror centre
London, April 27 A report by Europol, the European police force, said the number of arrests rose steeply and involved “young, radicalised British citizens”, sparking fears that the threat of an attack was growing. The report added, “'Terrorist plots linked to groups in Pakistan had been almost exclusively focussed on the UK.” British authorities said 203 persons were arrested on suspicion of terror offences in 2007, representing a 30 per cent increase on the previous year and the majority were said to be motivated by Muslim extremism, the Daily Telegraph reported. In contrast, only 201 persons were detained in the rest of Europe. The French police made 91 arrests. “People shouldn’t be skeptical about the threat that is posed,” the report, which followed the disclosure that 15 terror plots had been foiled in Britain in the three years since the London bombings, added. —
UNI
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Restoration of Judges PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has delayed his departure for London amid continuing stalemate in talks with the PPP on restoration of sacked judges. Nawaz had flown into Islamabad on Friday ostensibly to meet the PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari, and clinch the issue prior to his departure for London where his wife was supposed to have a surgical operation on Monday. However, Zardari suddenly left for Dubai on Thursday night. The PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Zardari would return on Sunday, but his stay there has been extended. Reports received here said law minister Farooq Naek and other PPP leaders connected with negotiations with the PML-N have also been called to Dubai for consultation. A PML-N source said some members of its negotiating team may also travel to Dubai to join this consultation. Talking to newsmen in Islamabad on Saturday Nawaz Sharif appeared very firm on the issue and categorically stated that judges would have to be restored to their position. For the first time Sharif also specifically mentioned that the deadline of 30 days set in the Murree Declaration he had signed with Zardari would end on April 30. He accused President Musharraf of indulging in intrigues to sow discord between the PPP and the PML-N but expressed confidence that such efforts would fail. Talking to newsmen before his deparure for Dubai on Sunday, Naek said speculations about differences between the PPP and the PML-N had no basis. But he said the proposed resolution for restoration of judges could be introduced in the National Assembly within 30 days or there may be some delay. In Mianwali Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani while speaking at the inauguration of a college established by Imran Khan said the Chief Justice and other sacked judges would be restored in accordance with the Murree accord.
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Bashir appointed Pak foreign secy
Salman Bashir, currently Pakistan’s ambassador to China, has been appointed as foreign secretary, replacing Riaz Mohammad Khan. Riaz’s immediate removal has been linked to his strong opposition to the plans to approach the UN for an independent international investigation into Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. The Establishment Division has issued two separate notifications. The first regarding the appointment of Salman Bashir as foreign secretary and the other directing the incumbent foreign secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan to report to the Establishment Division. The outgoing foreign secretary had no prior intimation of these important notifications, but had met Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari. During these meetings he expressed his candid opinion that referring the assassination probe to the UN would open up many awkward situations for Pakistan, including its security network and even the nuclear programme. Curiously the notifications coincided with the important bilateral visit of the Chinese foreign minister and it caught the foreign secretary completely off guard. Ironically, just a few hours before receiving the notifications Riaz wrote a letter to foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi requesting him that he be relieved by May 31 after the review meetings of the fourth round of composite dialogue with India. He had cited health and personal reasons for the early exit. Riaz took a strong exception to the way the whole matter had been handled. Hence, it was no surprise when he, who had been the pillar of Pakistan-China relations, and previously served as ambassador to China, did not turn up at the dinner hosted by Qureshi in honour of his Chinese counterpart at foreign office later in the evening. And that is precisely the reason he excused himself from the Chinese foreign minister’s meeting with the President on Saturday morning. The foreign minister who personally went to Riaz’s room to express his sympathy on his indecent removal and asked him to stay on till May end, but he failed to convince him. Riaz politely conveyed to him that he had made up his mind and was on his way out. Riaz was regarded as one of capable Pakistani diplomats and had been given extension after retirement two years ago. It is believed that Riaz’s strong dissenting note representing the institutional standpoint on the government’s plan to seek UN-led probe into former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination hastened his exit. Initially, he had verbally communicated it to the Prime Minister about a month back and subsequently, also submitted a detailed written note. It is learnt that the ruling Pakistan People’s Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and his key aides had been particularly irked by it. This was quite evident by Zardari’s rash remarks in an interview earlier this week against the foreign secretary and Pakistan’s ace diplomat Ambassador Munir Akram, permanent representative to the UN, who had also advised against such a move.
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2 LTTE aircraft bomb Lankan defence lines
Colombo, April 27 “Despite heightened ground confrontations between troops and the LTTE at the Wanni battle theatre, it was reported that three bombs were dropped by the LTTE today at the military forward defence lines in Welioya at around 1.45 am,” a defence spokesman said. According to military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, no damages were caused to troops in the aerial bombing by the LTTE. “During the wee hours the Sri Lankan Air Force defence network radars detected two light aircraft of LTTE which were airborne and heading towards northeast Welioya. “In accordance with standard operating procedures, SLAF interceptor aircraft were made airborne in the direction of the intruding enemy craft. “However, en route to the area it was observed that the LTTE aircraft were fleeing and heading back,” an official release quoted air force sources as saying. In ground clashes, intermittent battles were reported in general areas north of Manthai and east of Veddayamurippu in Mannar. According to reports, two LTTE cadres were killed by snipers in two separate incidents in north of Manthai by SLA yesterday. “Troops also advanced and captured three LTTE bunkers killing eight LTTE cadres and injuring 10 others during intense fighting in east of Veddayamurippu in Mannar yesterday,” the defence ministry said. — PTI
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Study: Boys may do better in same-sex classes
London, April 27 Research from Bristol University, which used data from every state school in Britain, found that as the proportion of girls rose, results achieved by their male classmates fell. Researcher Steven Proud concluded, “It might be beneficial for boys to be educated in single-sex classes in English.” He argued that girls tended to be ahead of boys in English and so were more likely to answer questions, raise their hands and behave confidently in lessons. “Boys studying alongside a large number of girls find it easier to hide in the background,” he added. In his working paper, Proud said the results implied “that boys would benefit at all ages from being taught English in English schools with as small a proportion of girls as possible.” Margaret Morrissey of the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations said, “I suspect that when there are fewer boys they are not going to feel as confident to put their hands up and are worried they will look silly if they get it wrong.” — UNI
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Indian leader gets death threat for opposing Islamic state
Kuala Lumpur, April 27 Karpal Singh, Democratic Action Party (DAP) national chairman, said he had not insulted Islam and he should not be “turned into a Salman Rushdie”. Singh, who yesterday filed a police complaint in Penang state against a death threat made against him on a website, said he was just standing up for what was stated in the country’s Constitution- that Malaysia was a secular state. “The person, who made the threat had alleged that it was permissible under Islam to kill Singh because he allegedly opposed Malaysia being turned into an Islamic state,” Bernama news agency reported. “They should not turn me into a Salman Rushdie,” Singh, who has been criticised in blogs, said. Iran’s supreme spiritual leader had issued a death edict in 1989 againt Rushdie, a noted Indian-origin author, for his alleged blasphemous remarks in his book Satanic Verses. “Killing me is not going to solve the problems faced by PAS,” Singh said referring to the Islamic party. “What I have been against and will continue to be against is attempts by Islamic party PAS to turn this country into an Islamic state,” he was quoted as saying by the local media. DAP and PAS are part of the newly formed opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat (PR) against the ruling coalition of Barisan Nasional, which lost five of the 13 states to the opposition and also one third of parliamentary seats in the March polls. Singh said DAP would demand that PAS give an assurance that its leaders would stop insisting on turning Malaysia into an Islamic state. Singh said DAP would never allow PAS to use the newly-formed opposition grouping for its Islamic state agenda and any such move would hurt the opposition alliance. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country where 60 per cent of the Malay population is Muslim and Hindus, form 7.8 per cent of the 27 million population. Singh said anyone who opposed his stand could be deemed to be challenging the Constitution and asserted that he would continue to fight against the Islamic state issue despite being criticised in blogs. — PTI
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Australian women can insure unborn babies: Report
Sydney, April 27 The insurance company, ING, has devised a baby policy for women aged from 16 to 40, which will deliver claims of up to $ 50,000 for babies born with Down’s syndrome, spina bifida or a cleft palate, the Sun-Herald said. A stillborn baby could get a $-10,000 pay-out while women who suffered complications during pregnancy or birth could also be awarded a claim, it said. Spokesman for ING Mark Vilo said the new policy allowed the company to match up with “social trends and advances in medical technology”, the paper said. “Every woman in the process of having a child knows the risks,” Vilo said. “We don’t make people undergo genetic testing to find out things they don’t want to.” “With the median age of new mothers now nearly 31, (up from 27 in 1985), the risk of pregnancy complications and birth defects increases dramatically. “For a woman aged 35 or more the risk of stillborn is one in 440, as opposed to one in 1,000 for younger women,” the company says on its website. The policy drew criticism from the New South Wales Midwives Association, which said it played on the fears of pregnant women. “It is making women think about the terrible things that can happen when the reality is there are very few mothers who suffer from complications during pregnancy,” secretary Dr Hannah Dahlen told the Sun-Herald. But, Investment and Financial Services Association head Richard Gilbert said it made sense to have appropriate insurance. — AFP
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Your e-mail address ‘can reveal your personality’
London, April 27 Researchers at the University of Leipzig in Germany have carried out a study and found that an e-mail address may speak volumes about the character of the person who created the unique online identification. According to lead researcher Mitja Back, even the thinnest slice of communication via the world wide web -- the mere e-mail address — contains valid information about the personality of its owner. In their study, the researchers asked a panel of 100 students to guess the personalities of 600 young adults simply by looking at their e-mail addresses. The panel's guesses agreed mostly with a personality survey the teenagers had completed when it came to qualities like openness, conscientiousness and narcissism, and diverged most on the trait of extroversion. Addresses that gave away personality often contained full stops, numbers or a name that was obviously not genuine, the researchers found. The level of accuracy was explained using lens model analyses -- the students made broad use of perceivable e-mail address features in their personality judgements, features were slightly valid and the observers were sensitive to subtle differences in validity between cues. The study has been published in the latest edition of the Journal of Research in Personality. — PTI
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Jobless Indian techie commits suicide in US
New York, April 27 Ganesh Santhanakrishnan, from Chennai, committed suicide by jumping off the Tappan Zee Bridge on April 3 soon after he was released from Westchester Medical Centre’s psychiatric unit. He had been sleeping in a storage shed in Ossining in Westchester county before he was arrested last month for trespassing. Ganesh spent a week in jail before he was sent to the hospital for further psychiatric evaluation, The Journal News reported today. The State police didn’t make Ganesh’s name public until yesterday when they finally made a contact to the victim’s family in India. It turned out that the young man had been living the life of a loner in Ossining after losing his job in New Jersey. Neighbours on Albany Post Road, where Ganesh was staying in a rented apartment, said over the past year he exhibited increasingly erratic behaviour, noting that he would chase cars and one time even ran after the mailman with a piece of lumber. —
PTI
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Toronto’s public transit system shuts Swiss jumps using Leonardo parachute 3.11 million foreign
workers in UAE Earthquake in southern NZ 130-m long painting created 
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