![]() |
|
B’desh seeks Chinese help on nuclear energy
Anti-quota protests find USA
God fails man
Indian-origin doctor murdered in South Africa
Women ‘auctioned’
for prostitution
|
|
B’desh seeks Chinese help on nuclear energy
Dhaka, June 5 Mr Khan, who is now on a three-day official visit to Beijing, requested the Chinese assistance yesterday during a meeting with State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan. Mr Tang is one of the nine members of the State Council, the highest policy formulating body of the Chinese Government. Dhaka and Beijing signed an agreement on peaceful use of nuclear energy during Chinese premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Dhaka in April last year. During the meeting, Mr Khan also requested specific Chinese assistance in infrastructure development and power generation in Bangladesh, UNB quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Zahirul Huq as saying. Mr Khan said, “In view of rapid industrial growth, there was a felt need for harnessing nuclear energy for the peaceful use of power generation in the country.” The two leaders expressed deep satisfaction at the close and friendly relations existing between Bangladesh and China. They underscored the need for further deepening and strengthening the relations through continued dialogue and cooperation. Mr Khan highlighted the progress made in the bilateral relations, especially since the signing of the host of agreements in 2005 to mark the Year of Friendship between the two countries. Mr Khan, who will hold official talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing tomorrow said he would discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations and identify possible ways to further accelerate cooperation in different sectors. State Councillor Tang assured that China would continue to remain a “reliable partner” in Bangladesh's national development efforts. Mr Tang said the Chinese Government would like to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries. He appreciated Bangladesh's steadfast support to “One China” policy and briefed Mr Khan about steps being taken by the Chinese government towards reunification with Taiwan in the long term. He also thanked Bangladesh as the current SAARC chair for facilitating China's entry in the forum as Observer. The two leaders exchanged views on a number of multilateral and international issues and reaffirmed the need for maintaining close cooperation with each other on issues of mutual interests, including UN reforms. — UNI |
Anti-quota protests find USA
Washington, June 5 Under the banner of the Bay Area Indians for Equality, Indian Americans from the region, including Berkeley, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Milpitas and San Jose organized a protest yesterday at Fair Oaks Park in Sunnyvale, California. The rally included a signature campaign on a petition addressed to the President of India questioning the proposed policy of reservation for OBCs in Central institutes. A street-skit performance poked fun at the politics and policies of reservation while sending a serious message on the long term impact of reservations on society. “We are not pro or anti-reservation, but question the facts, figures and basis of the government policy. We ask for complete analysis to show why it is the best strategy for India's development” said Manish, one of the organisers. “The government has not measured the success of reservation policies of the past. On what basis can they extend such a policy?,” questioned Shambhoo, another organiser of the rally. “We need clearly defined goals, well analysed strategies and time bound metric to measure its success. Results of reservations are long lasting and we need to study them properly before moving forward,” he added. In the letter to the President of India, the signatories have expressed deep concern over the “disturbing trend” of using reservation as a tool of politics by political parties to “target” particular vote banks. “It is imperative that the effectiveness of the policy be known and long term consequences understood,” the petitioners have said. “We believe in affirmative action, all members of society have the right to education and all should be given an equal opportunity. We are for the upliftment of the backward and economically deprived of society. “However, we are not convinced that the government kept the well being of the country in its mind when making this decision” the letter reads. The petition further demanded that “the government conduct a thorough study and show transparency in its actions.” — PTI |
God fails man
Kiev, June 5 “The man shouted ‘God will save me, if he exists’, lowered himself by a rope into the enclosure, took his shoes off and went up to the lions,” the official said. “A lioness went straight for him, knocked him down and severed his carotid artery, ” he added. The incident, on Sunday evening when the zoo was
packed with visitors, was the first of its kind at the attraction. Lions and tigers are kept in an “animal island” protected by thick concrete blocks.
— Reuters |
Indian-origin doctor murdered in South Africa
Johannesburg, June 5 Sadera Bhamjee, 56, was brutally murdered in her consulting room in the capital of South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province on Friday by unknown assailants, when her receptionist, Reshma Sookraj, was out for lunch. According to media reports here, Sadera, wife of Yusuf Bhamjee, the African National Congress MP who represents KwaZulu-Natal in the National Assembly, was stabbed in her head and neck. When Reshma returned and went into the consulting room to announce the next patient's arrival, she found Sadera lying in a pool of blood. She died at St. Anne's Hospital Friday evening. Her husband reached her 15 minutes before she passed away. The police is still investigating the matter and no arrests have been made as yet. A report in the Mercury newspaper quoted a police spokesman as saying that they remained baffled as to how the perpetrator got into her consulting room, which were controlled by an electronic security system that required a code to be entered before access could be gained. Sadera's handbag, which contained money, had been left at the scene and nothing else was missing. Hundreds of people, including KwaZulu-Natal premier S'bu Ndebele, attended her funeral, which was held late Friday evening.
— IANS |
Women ‘auctioned’
for prostitution
London, June 5 "Criminal activity at the UK's airports is on the increase," said the CPS's director in west London, Nazir Afzal. "We are now seeing slave auctions being held in public places at airports where brothel keepers are bidding for women destined for prostitution," he said yesterday. A spokesman for the CPS said one such auction was held recently in front of a cafe in the arrivals hall at Gatwick airport, south of London. Other sales had taken place in the London airports of Heathrow and Stansted, and at other British airports, he said.
— AFP |
HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |