W O R L D

Oz treat themselves to Indian cuisine
Melbourne, February 24
Thousands of Australians, including Victorian Premier John Brumby, today treated themselves to Indian cuisine like naan and tandoori chicken as they joined a mass dining event to protest attacks against Indians.

Premier John Brumby (3rd from right) dining with representatives of the Indian student community at popular Indian café Desi Dhaba to promote the Vindaloo against Violence campaign in Melbourne on Wednesday. PTI

Venetian chopines from 1550-1600 AD are on display in the “On a Pedestal: From Renaissance Chopines to Baroque Heels” exhibition at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto. Centuries before Sarah Palin and Michelle Obama were sized up over their shoes women's feet had been a platform for showing off their economic and political status. — Reuters

Kayani: Pak ready for Indian challenge
Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said the army was fully prepared to give a befitting response to any misadventure from the eastern border and there is no possibility of the adversary catching Pakistan unawares.

Now, a ‘snowmageddon’ in Moscow
Snowfall breaks 44-yr record
Moscow, February 24
Russians may have scoffed at what US President Barack Obama called “snowmageddon” earlier this month on his country’s east coast, but now Muscovites have been stunned by a snow fall that has broken their own 1966 record.

Oz treat themselves to Indian cuisine

Melbourne, February 24
Thousands of Australians, including Victorian Premier John Brumby, today treated themselves to Indian cuisine like naan and tandoori chicken as they joined a mass dining event to protest attacks against Indians.

Brumby joined a few leading Indian community members like Primus Telecom chief Ravi Bhatia for lunch at an Indian restaurant ‘Desi Dhaba’ in the up-market Flinders street. The mass dining is part of “Vindaloo Against Violence” campaign launched as a reaction to a spate of attacks against Indians across the city and resulting negative coverage around the world. Brumby said the response from Victorians to the initiative demonstrated the community's commitment to unite in solidarity with Indians and celebrate multiculturalism.

“Vindaloo against Violence initiative is a unique opportunity for Victorian to unite and send a message that the actions of an ignorant few will not be allowed to undermine the reputation of Melbourne as a peaceful and friendly city,” he said.

Australians, who joined the mass dining, treated themselves to authentic Indian cuisine like naan, tandoori chicken and chicken tikka. An official statement said the state Parliament dinning hall also changed its menu to serve Indian cuisine in support of the event. The statement said, “this great initiative combines that culinary reputation and uses it to send a message that we do not accept violence against any members of our community.” The state government authorities and the Victoria police also expressed their support by thronging Indian restaurants across the city.

Multicultural Liaison officer and leading senior constable Dinesh Nettur said members were keen to get involved and show support for the Indian community. — PTI

Kayani: Pak ready for Indian challenge
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said the army was fully prepared to give a befitting response to any misadventure from the eastern border and there is no possibility of the adversary catching Pakistan unawares.

Responding to questions raised by members of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence during a briefing at the General Headquarters, he said India’s cold start doctrine based on hegemonic designs had not been taken lightly and the armed forces were capable of responding to the challenge and safeguarding the country’s geographical frontiers.

Gen Kayani said Pakistan had played an important role in the global war on terror and remained committed to combating the menace. But long-term national interests would never be sacrificed on someone else’s short-term interests, he added.

The Senate committee recently received briefings at the naval and air headquarters, but this was possibly its first meeting at the GHQ.

Although most of the members praised the army’s role in combating terrorism, some of them expressed concerns over what they called an extension of the US-led war on terror and said that Pakistan was paying a heavy price for it.

Some members said there was a perception that the operations in the NWFP and Fata had been launched under US pressure. They were of the view that steps should be taken to consolidate the gains.

Gilani rules out mid-term elections

Ruling out the prospects of mid-term polls as a solution to the problems of the country, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said the people and political parties should have patience and bear with the present government that has the mandate to administer the country for five years.

“Democracy should be given the chance to flourish, strengthen institutions and deliver on its promises,” the Prime Minister said while speaking in Lahore to commemorate the death anniversary of editor Hamid Nizami. Gilani said the country is going through a transition to recover from the disastrous impact of a military ruler for nine years. The democratic government is tackling these problems and has made significant achievements in various fields. “It is incumbent on all of us to defend the democracy and stop creating a sense of instability by giving deadline for its fall because the country cannot afford it,” he said.

Now, a ‘snowmageddon’ in Moscow
Snowfall breaks 44-yr record

Moscow, February 24
Russians may have scoffed at what US President Barack Obama called “snowmageddon” earlier this month on his country’s east coast, but now Muscovites have been stunned by a snow fall that has broken their own 1966 record.

Four days of blizzards dumped 67 cm (26 inches) across the Russian capital by Tuesday, breaking the February record of 64 cm experienced at the height of the Cold War 44 years ago, and much more is expected this week, the Moscow weather bureau said. Blinding flurries of thick wet flakes have horrified and delighted Muscovites alike, who usually take pride in their freezing, long winters which far exceed other European cities.

“It (the snow) is beautiful, but it creates problems in the city because it is impossible to remove all the snow here,” said Moscow resident Yelena, her face framed by a red fur hood.

The office of Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov said it had dispatched 15,000 snow-clearing machines and 5,000 street-cleaners for the sprawling city of 10.4 million. A cacophony of snow tractor motors and scraping metal

shovels has overtaken the city’s usual buzz of car horns.

State-run RIA Novosti agency said the number of cars in the auto-thirsty Russian capital has fallen by a third since the snow started, meaning fewer accidents than usual on the roads. The Mayor’s office added that almost half a million cubic metres of snow had been cleared away to be melted in special facilities --- enough to fill around 200 Olympic swimming pools.

But heaps of snow drifts towering over pedestrians line the

City’s streets not far from the Kremlin, and piles of the white stuff have caused at least two roofs to collapse, RIA reported. The slopes surrounding the monolithic Moscow State University have become a mini-ski resort. “It’s great, you can roll around in it,” said schoolgirl Yulia, who was playing on a sled while her parents sped down snow-covered paths on skis. — Reuters