W O R L D

Gandhi inspired Mandela: Krishna
London, January 30
External Affairs Minister SM Krishna today underlined the contemporary relevance of the Gandhian philosophy, saying it had inspired some of the greatest leaders of our generation.

US in touch with Fonseka over his security
Colombo, January 30
The US has said it is in touch with the defeated Sri Lankan Opposition Presidential candidate over the issue of his security that was withdrawn on Thursday and has urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to move towards a political reconciliation.

A man watches as members of yoga project ‘Y-8’ practice their ‘Alsteryoga’ on the frozen Alster lake in the northern German town of Hamburg on Saturday. — Reuters

Deported Nepalese files for divorce
Almost two months after she was dramatically deported to Nepal by the Pune police on the charges of being involved in anti-India activities, Neetu Singh, a Nepalese student at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has filed for divorce at the court here.

Anand Jon faces fresh charges
New York, January 30
India-born fashion designer Anand Jon was faced with fresh multiple charges of sexually assaulting a dozen women, including teenagers, in a New York court. He, however, pleaded “not guilty” to the new charges. Jon, who was sentenced to 59 years in jail by a California court in September last year for raping seven young women, faces similar charges of sexually preying on a dozen of young women - aged 15 to 26 - since 2002 by promising them modelling assignments.

UK gets first state-funded Hindu school
London, January 30
The first state-funded Hindu school in UK has started its operation in a new building here where meditation and yoga will form part of the lessons.

China freezes military ties with US
Washington/Beijing, January 30
China today threatened to impose sanctions on US arms companies and cut cooperation with the US unless it cancels a $6.4-billion arms sale to Taiwan, but Washington said the weapons would contribute to regional security.

Gandhi inspired Mandela: Krishna

London, January 30
External Affairs Minister SM Krishna today underlined the contemporary relevance of the Gandhian philosophy, saying it had inspired some of the greatest leaders of our generation.

Paying floral tributes and releasing a souvenir on Mahatma Gandhi, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Indian Republic at the Gandhi statue in Tavistock Square here, he said “Gandhiji fought for truth, justice, equality and equity”.

Gandhi was also an inspiration for several icons like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr and John F Kennedy, Krishna said.

“Kennedy believed in Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings. It is with a sense of great respect that we have gathered here to pay our tributes, our respect to a great human being, a great leader of mankind.”

Recalling his meeting with the great leader, Krishna said, “I had the greatest fortune of meeting the Mahatma in 1946. As a teenager, I went, as part of a delegation led by Ramakrishna Mission Swamiji to attend Gandhiji’s prayer at the Birla Mandir.”

After the meeting, Krishna was so impressed that he handed over his ear-rings to him.

Gandhi, the apostle of peace, fought for certain principles and inalienable rights of mankind but never hated anybody. He wanted a balanced, inclusive and just society.

Krishna said, “Mahatma Gandhi not only led India to freedom through his unique method of Satyagraha, but also inspired a number of nations who wanted to become free from the colonial yoke.”

Indian High Commissioner to the UK Nalin Surie said Mahatma Gandhi fought for “truth, non-violence and tolerance” and his message that “ends do not justify means” is relevant even today.

The High Commissioner said the souvenir was a modest attempt to piece together some of the highlights of the Mahatma’s stay in the UK and the advice that he held out for Indians visiting Britain at that point of time. — PTI

US in touch with Fonseka over his security

Colombo, January 30
The US has said it is in touch with the defeated Sri Lankan Opposition Presidential candidate over the issue of his security that was withdrawn on Thursday and has urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to move towards a political reconciliation.

“We are watching carefully and we have been in touch with General Fonseka regarding his security,” US Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley said in Washington.

On fears expressed by the defeated candidate, Crowley said, “Well, he had expressed public concerns and I think the (US) Embassy (in Colombo) reached out to him and we'll remain in contact with him to clarify what his future intentions are and to be helpful if that's appropriate.”

On whether Fonseka had a US residency, Crowley said, “Yes, he does."

The US official said the Sri Lankan President should move towards a political reconciliation after his victory. "But we think that President Rajapaksa now has an opportunity to continue to move forward with the political reconciliation and start the process of devolution to the provinces" Crowley said.

“He (Fonseka) feels threatened that he could get arrested on false charges of planning a coup”, his close aide said here. — PTI

Deported Nepalese files for divorce
Bishnu Budhathoki writes from Kathmandu

Almost two months after she was dramatically deported to Nepal by the Pune police on the charges of being involved in anti-India activities, Neetu Singh, a Nepalese student at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has filed for divorce at the court here.

The wife of former Nepalese Congress lawmaker Amresh Kumar Singh filed the case at the Kathmandu district court on Thursday, The Kathmandu Post, an English daily in Kathmandu, reported today.

In response to her petition, the district court has asked her husband to furnish a response within 30 days.

Neetu was deported on December 5, 2009, for her alleged involvement in anti-India activities. After receiving pressure from various women rights activists in and outside the India, the Maharashtra government had recently withdrawn its decision to deport Neetu and decided to allow her to continue her studies in FTII.

“I have been stressed out for a long time,” the news report quoted Amresh as saying. “I hope the separation will finally rid me of needless controversies and I can again concentrate on my political career.”

Both Neetu and Amresh have mentioned in their respective documents filed in the court that they were not in a position to put up with soured relations any longer. Neetu has demanded a portion of Amresh’s property. In accordance with existing legal provision, wife is “conditionally entitled” to a portion of the husband’s property after divorce.

In her divorce document, Neetu has also mentioned she is not pregnant. “My husband,” the document says, “using his political power, made the Indian government deport me to Nepal on December 5, 2009, on the false charge of involvement in anti-national activities”.

Anand Jon faces fresh charges

UK gets first state-funded Hindu school

London, January 30
The first state-funded Hindu school in UK has started its operation in a new building here where meditation and yoga will form part of the lessons.

Founded in 2008, The Krishna Avanti Primary School had spent its first year in borrowed classrooms in a neighbouring school and moved to its new premises in September 2009 in Harrow, which has the highest percentage of Hindus than any council in UK.

The school, which has a temple at the centre of its premises, is the first voluntary aided Hindu faith school in the country and is recognised as the most eco-friendly.

It is also Britain’s first vegetarian state school. Children here study the national curriculum, but also tend the garden and learn concepts such as equality of all living things. — PTI

China freezes military ties with US

Washington/Beijing, January 30
China today threatened to impose sanctions on US arms companies and cut cooperation with the US unless it cancels a $6.4-billion arms sale to Taiwan, but Washington said the weapons would contribute to regional security.

In an unprecedented move signalling its growing global power, China issued the sanction threat when it bitterly denounced the Obama administration’s announcement yesterday of the planned weapons sale to Taiwan.

The US State Department said the arms sales would contribute to stability across the 100-mile (160 km) Taiwan Strait that separates Taiwan and China, and that it was consistent with US-China pacts guiding bilateral ties.

The dispute deepens rifts between the world’s biggest and third-biggest economies. Beijing and Washington are also at odds over trade, currency, Tibet and the Internet. “The US will shoulder responsibility for the serious repercussions if it does not immediately reverse the mistaken decision to sell weapons to Taiwan,” Chinese vice-foreign minister He Yafei told US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman in comments reported on the ministry’s website.

China’s Defence Ministry said military exchanges would be put on hold and Beijing postponed vice ministerial-level talks on security, arms control and non-proliferation. Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said: “We regret that the Chinese side has curtailed military-to-military and other exchanges. We also regret Chinese action against US firms transferring defence articles to Taiwan.”

The military freeze could prevent a visit to China by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates. — Reuters

BRIEFLY

Kazakh riot police detain an opposition supporter during a rally in Almaty on Saturday. Activists held a rally protesting against the decision of the government to loan a plot of territory to China for growing crops. — Reuters

New mums a driving ‘hazard’
MELBOURNE: New mothers can be as bad as drunk people while driving cars. A study claims that fatigue can increase risk of car accidents among women who have just become mothers. Experts studied 24 mothers aged 22-39 to learn that partum fatigue showed till 12 weeks in women after they gave birth. It was assumed earlier that it disappeared after six weeks. — ANI