News Makassar
The Asian News - RSS Feed
| 12/03/2010 | Teenager sexually assaulted at bus stop |
|
A teenage girl was sexually assaulted in Oldham.
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | New BNP membership rules judged to be biased |
|
The British National Party’s new membership rules are likely to discriminate against non-white people, a judge ruled today. Last month the far-right group scrapped its whites-only policy following the threat of a possible court injunction from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). 
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | Winners announced at EMBF awards |
|
Businesses and individuals were celebrating following this year's Ethnic Minority Business Forum Awards. Winners were selected by audience members via an interactive polling system at the ceremony which was held at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral last night. 
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | Inspiration for school girls with the world at their feet |
|
Pupils from schools across Manchester took part in an inspirational event aimed at encouraging them to widen their career choices.
|
|
| 10/03/2010 | Shyam Benegal celebrated at film festival |
|
One of India’s leading filmmakers, Shyam Benegal, is in the UK for a series of events exploring his vast career and celebrating his achievements in Indian cinema. As part of the Tongues on Fire 12th Asian Film Festival, the director is attending a range of functions across London, including a BAFTA interview, a director’s workshop at the University of Westminster, and a talk on women in films at the Nehru Centre. 
|
|
| 08/03/2010 | From tea-boy to Bollywood star - Abhishek Bachchan on his climb to fame |
|
In a 36 hour visit to the UK, Abhishek Bachchan gave London audiences an insight into his life and work at the 12th London Asian Film Festival. The actor opened the ten day series of events with a BAFTA interview and gala dinner on Friday, wrapping his jam-packed visit with an Actor’s Masterclass at a West End cinema on Saturday, before flying home. 
|
|
| 03/03/2010 | Akshay Kumar kickstarts shoot for Tees Maar Khan |
|
Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar and Bollywood’s most lovable director, Farah Khan have just kick-started their already-hyped new venture Tees Maar Khan at Mumbai's Film City. Akshay is currently shooting his introductory shot in the film - a major action comedy scene on a huge jumbo jet constructed by set director, Sabu Cyril. 
|
|
| 03/03/2010 | Hrithik Roshan on the colours of love |
|
On the occasion of Holi, Hrithik Roshan speaks up on his colourful life and his upcoming movie Kites, which stars Brazilian actress Barbara Mori and the beautiful Kangana Ranaut in a never-seen-before role. 
|
|
| 08/03/2010 | 12th London Asian Film Festival attracts Bollywood stars |
|
Bollywood fans in the UK will get the chance to interact with some of the biggest names in the Hindi film industry at the Tongues on Fire 12th London Asian Film Festival (5-14 March 2010). Leading Bollywood figures are scheduled to attend including Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Jaya Bachchan, Soha Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore. 
|
|
| 01/03/2010 | Abhay Deol raring to go with Road, Movie |
|
One of the big winners at the weekend Filmfare awards was Abhay Deol starrer Dev D, which bagged a handful of statuettes.
Now the poster boy of offbeat Hindi cinema is back with his new release, Indo-American production Road, Movie. 
|
|
| 24/02/2010 | Search is on for the next Rishi Rich Project band members |
|
Music producer Rishi Rich has launched the search for the next Rishi Rich Project group members. After successfully putting together Juggy D and Jay Sean as part of the original chart topping Rishi Rich Project, he is now looking for the stars of the future. 
|
|
| 22/02/2010 | Official Asian download chart announced |
|
The BBC Asian Network has announced that it will broadcast the world’s first official Asian download chart. Presented by Bobby Friction, the three hour extended show is set to launch on Saturday 27 March from 3pm – 6pm. 
|
|
| 22/02/2010 | Anurag Basu rubbishes rumours that Rajkumar Hirani is to edit Kites |
|
Director Anurag Basu has rubbished reports that producer Rakesh Roshan wanted 3 Idiots helmer Rajkumar Hirani to edit his film Kites. 
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | Apprentice’s Saira talks to local businesswomen |
|
Apprentice star Saira Khan showed that women mean business at an exhibition showcasing the finest female-run businesses East Lancashire has to offer. Saira, runner-up in the first series of Lord Alan Sugar's smash hit BBC reality show, was guest speaker at an event celebrating International Women's Day. 
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | Greater Manchester Labour Party supports Palestine |
|
Greater Manchester’s Labour Friends of Palestine held its inaugural dinner to raise money and awareness of the plight of the Palestinians.
The dinner was held at Lal Qila Restaurant in Wilmslow Road, Manchester and was organised by Komal Adris, a key Labour Friends of Palestine executive committee member based in Bolton. 
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | Pakistani Sheikh issues fatwa against terrorism |
|
Pakistani Cleric Sheikh ul- Islam Dr Tahir ul-Qadri has issued a global ruling against terrorism and suicide bombing. His 600-page judgement, known as a fatwa, aims at completely dismantling al-Qaeda’s violent ideology. The scholar developed his fatwa last year as a response to the increase in bombings across Pakistan by militants. It has now been brought to Britain in the backdrop of the Government's Prevention of Violent Extremism efforts to counter extremism and radicalisation on British soil. 
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | Machete-wielding robbers slash shopkeeper |
|
Police are hunting violent robbers who slashed a shopkeeper's hands with a machete.
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | Passionate people needed to shape new Great Places venture |
|
An award-winning housing association is looking for volunteers to steer the work of a new project to help minority and migrant communities. Great Places Housing Group has launched its great communities project and now needs enthusiastic committee members. |
|
| 12/03/2010 | Support and skills programme launched for home carers |
|
Hard working voluntary carers in Lancashire will be among the first in the country to take part in a new support and skills programme – Caring with Confidence – which will be piloted in the sub-region by the Blackburn-based support organisation, Enterprise4All. The free Caring With Confidence sessions will focus on the skills and support required by those who routinely provide voluntary care support for friends or family members across Lancashire. |
|
| 11/03/2010 | 40 years for kidnappers |
|
Four men from Leeds have been sentenced to a combined total of over 40 years in jail after the kidnap and torture of a 16-year-old man.
|
|
South Asia National News from AussieIndoLanka
| 13/03/2010 | BJP split over women’s bill, Advani to meet MPs |
|
The Bharatiya Janata Party is facing a rebellion over the Women’s Reservation Bill with many of its Lok Sabha MPs voicing their apprehensions about the Bill.
Senior leader LK Advani will meet party MPs on Thursday evening to sort out differences at the residence in New Delhi.
Though the party has decided to issue a whip in favour of the bill in the Lok Sabha, many MPs have openly come out against the decision to back the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government.
However, BJP’s Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha, Ramesh Bais, denied reports of that some BJP MPs had decided to go against the party’s decision to support the Women’s Reservation Bill.
"Few MPs did come to me to express apprehension on Women’s Reservation bill. Ultimately view of the party will prevail and the bill as passed by the Rajya Sabha would be passed in the Lok Sabha as well," said Bais.
ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-split-over-womens-bill-advani-to-meet-mps/111388-37.html
|
|
| 13/03/2010 | Af-Pak situation, a concern to entire world: Putin |
|
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Friday expressed concern over terror groups operating from within Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying it was a threat to the entire world.
Putin, who is in India on a two-day visit, said Russia understood well the concerns of India regarding banned terror outfits operating against it from within Pakistan’s soil.
He added in equal measure that Islamabad had in the recent months initiated action against those groups.
Participating in a video conference with businessmen from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore, Putin said: "As far as terror groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan are concerned, it is a matter of worry for the entire region and in fact, the whole world."
He said due to the proximity of India and Russia to Afghanistan border, the situation in the troubled Asian country "did impact the security" of both the two countries.
www.indianexpress.com/news/afpak-situation-a-concern-to-entire-world-putin/590096/
|
|
| 13/03/2010 | India and Russia ink pacts in defence and strategic spheres |
|
India and Russia on Friday sealed agreements in the defence and strategic spheres, besides taking steps to extend their partnership in new areas such as energy and fertilizers.
In all, the two sides signed five agreements — two each in the nuclear sphere and fertilizers and one in the civilian space segment — in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the visiting Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin.
Several other pacts were signed on the sidelines, including supplementary agreements on the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov to finalise cost and technical issues, and a deal in the military aviation sphere that includes the purchase of more naval version MiG-29 fighters. Commercial level agreements were signed between Gazprom and ONGC; NPCIL and Atomostroy export (for the next two units at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu); and Alrosa and Diamonds India Limited, besides two between companies also engaged in the diamond sector.
www.hindu.com/2010/03/13/stories/2010031363770100.htm
|
|
| 13/03/2010 | No vacancy for retired women officers: Forces |
|
The Delhi High Court Friday directed the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) to reinstate the over 50 women officers who petitioned against the denial of permanent commission but the two forces said this would be well nigh impossible.
"Firstly, there are no vacancies. Secondly, this would create cadre management problems. Thirdly, there are sound arguments on the basis of which an appeal can be filed," an IAF officer said, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media on the issued.
Commenting on the court order to grant permanent commission to the women officers who had joined the forces in the Short Service Commission stream, the officer said: "This can’t be done at the stroke of a pen as it would have a cascading effect.
"On the one hand, all other women Short Service Commission officers would also demand permanent commission. Then, male officers would also demand this facility."
ibnlive.in.com/news/no-vacancy-for-retired-women-officers-forces/111442-3.html
|
|
| 13/03/2010 | Suicide blasts in Lahore kill 45 |
|
Suicide bombers targeting the Pakistani military killed at least 45 people in Lahore on Friday, officials said, in a challenge to government assertions that crackdowns have weakened Taliban insurgents.
Two suicide bombers attacked within the span of 15 to 20 seconds and they were on foot, provincial police chief Tariq Saleem Dogar told reporters.
The dead in the attack, the bloodiest this year, in a military neighbourhood of the city near the border with India included nine soldiers, military officials said. Almost 100 were wounded.
Pakistani authorities have said security crackdowns have weakened al Qaeda-linked Taliban militants fighting to topple the U.S.-backed government.
But the Taliban have renewed pressure on unpopular President Asif Ali Zardari, who faces calls from opponents to hand over his strongest powers to the prime minister.
www.indianexpress.com/news/suicide-blasts-in-lahore-kill-45/590048/
|
|
| 13/03/2010 | Oppn, Govt spar over thin attendance in Lok Sabha |
|
The Opposition and the Government on Friday took swipes at each other over absence of Ministers and members in the Lok Sabha during the debate on Budget.
The Opposition sought to make an issue of absence of a cabinet minister in the Lok Sabha during the debate on General Budget 2010-11 alleging that it showed the Government’s casual approach to Parliament.
As former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha raised the issue, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj joined him in pointing out the thin attendance in the treasury benches.
"A serious discussion on the Budget is on but there are hardly any members in the treasury benches. This shows how serious they are regarding the issue", Swaraj said amid cries of "shame, shame" from the opposition side.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy said Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal would be back in the House within a few minutes.
www.indianexpress.com/news/oppn-govt-spar-over-thin-attendance-in-lok-sabha/590087/
|
|
| 13/03/2010 | India, Russia set to ink multi-crore defence pact |
|
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was to seal a series of multi-billion dollar arms deals on Friday during a visit to India aimed at boosting ties with Moscow’s old Cold War ally.
According to Russian officials, Putin will sign more than a dozen pacts amounting to 10 billion dollars, including an accord to resolve the troubled sale of a refitted Soviet-era aircraft carrier, the Admiral Gorshkov.
Putin met President Pratibha Patil as he began his New Delhi visit eyeing upon boosting strategic and defence ties with India.
Putin, who is on a 22-hour visit to India, is expected to sign over a dozen agreements with India, including an umbrella civil nuclear pact to construct additional nuclear power stations.
The two countries already have agreements for construction of four nuclear reactors in addition to a pair of Russian units being built in Tamil Nadu.
www.indianexpress.com/news/india-russia-set-to-ink-multicrore-defence-pact/590054/
|
|
| 13/03/2010 | Blast after blast after blast in lahore |
|
Two suicide bombers targeting Army vehicles detonated explosives within seconds of each other on Friday, killing at least 45 people and wounding 100, police said. It was the fourth major attack in Pakistan this week, indicating Islamist militants are stepping up violence after a period of relative calm.
Hours later, a series of five small explosions terrified residents in another Lahore neighbourhood and injured at least three. Police officials said the four low-intensity blasts apparently resulted from loose explosives — not packed bombs —scattered through the residential area. While the explosions sent police and rescue workers racing through the area, there were no immediate reports of deaths or major damage.
About 10 of those killed in the twin blasts were soldiers, said Lahore police chief Parvaiz Rathore.
The bombers struck R A Bazaar, a residential and commercial neighbourhood where several security agencies have facilities.
www.indianexpress.com/news/blast-after-blast-after-blast-in-lahore/590338/
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | Warrant issued against JMO |
|
The Colombo Fort Magistrate today issued an arrest warrant on the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) for failing to submit a detailed post mortem report on B. Sivakumar the mentally unstable youth who was allegedly drowned by the police in Bambalapitiya last year.
When the case was taken up for hearing, Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne asked the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) to submit the post mortem report, to which the CCD informed court that it had not yet been submitted by the JMO.
The Magistrate then issued a warrant for the JMO for not submitting his report to court on time.
www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/2291-warrant-issued-against-jmo.html
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | Canada says end Emergency |
|
Canada, home to the biggest Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora, has urged Sri Lanka to lift the state of emergency imposed during the onslaught on the Tamil Tigers.
Urging Colombo to ease restrictions and work for reconciliation with the Tamil community, Ottawa also urged speedy resettlement of the displaced Tamils.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Parliament Secretary Deepak Obhrai, in his meeting with Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner Chitranganee Wagiswara, urged Colombo to heal the wounds by starting the process of reconciliation with the Tamil community.
"After 30 years of war, reconciliation is crucial for lasting peace in Sri Lanka. The government of Canada awaits to see what steps the government of Sri Lanka will take towards this reconciliation," Obhrai said after the meeting.
He said Canada welcomes the return of about 160,000 internally displaced people to their homes.
But Sri Lanka also needs to speed up the "safe return and resettlement of the approximately 100,000 individuals who remain displaced,’’ he said.
www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/2304-canada-says-end-state-of-emergency.html
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | NAM flays Ban’s move on Lanka |
|
The Non Aligned Movement (NAM) has expressed concerns over moves by UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon to appoint a panel of experts to advice on accountability issues on Sri Lanka.
The Chair of the NAM Coordinating Bureau in New York, in a letter to the UN Chief, has said that the appointment comes without taking into consideration the domestic situation in Sri Lanka and without consulting the government of Sri Lanka.
NAM recalls that President Rajapaksa has already confirmed in public his intention to appoint a domestic mechanism to address accountability issues voluntarily and that the UN has no mandate to intervene in domestic matters of a State.
"The Non Aligned Movement strongly condemns selective targeting of individual countries which it deems contrary to the founding principles of the movement and the United Nations Charter," the NAM Coordinating Bureau said.
NAM says the move by the UN Chief could do more harm than good to the country’s ongoing and relentless efforts aimed at reinforcing reconciliation and national unity and as such Sri Lanka should be given room to complete its domestic process.
www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/2293-nam-flays-bans-move-on-lanka.html
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | SF Court martial next week |
|
General Sarath Fonseka is to be produced before a court martial next week over seven charges including for engaging in politics while serving in the army and violating army regulations when procuring weapons, the military said.
Military Spokesperson Major General Prasad Samarasingha told reporters a short while ago that the court martial will be held on March 16 and 17 at the naval headquarters before a panel of three major generals. (SD)
www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/2292-fonseka-to-be-court-martialed-next-week.html
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | The Delhi Dossier |
|
On February 25, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao handed over three files containing dossiers of terrorists to her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir. These three files are: dossiers of Pakistan nationals involved in Mumbai terror attacks; dossier on al-Qaeda commander Illyas Kashmiri; and dossiers on terrorists based in Pakistan and fugitives from Indian justice. The last file contains a list and accompanying profiles of 24 terrorists, including five Pakistan nationals, who are presently seeking refuge across the border.
While seeking cooperation from the Pakistan government for apprehending the 24 terrorists and handing them over to New Delhi for investigation and trials, India has accused these extremists in the following cases:
* Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh assassination (August 13, 1995)
www.indianexpress.com/news/the-delhi-dossier/589962/
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | SC/ST posts not filled up in Railways, says panel |
|
Expressing dismay that large number of Group C and Group D posts meant for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have not been filled up in railways, a Parliamentary committee on Thursday asked the ministry concerned to make concerted efforts to fill the vacancies.
"It is a matter of great concern that the vacancies of 61 SCs and 73 STs in Group C and 121 STs in Group D during the year 2009 are still to be filled up and no serious effort seems to have been made for clearance of vacancies reserved for SCs/STs," the report, submitted by the committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, said.
The committee, headed by Gobinda Chandra Naskar, in its latest report has impressed upon the Railway Ministry to make credible and concerted efforts so that vacancies reserved for SC/ST are not carried forward.
The committee has also noted that not a single SC/ST official has been selected to the posts of Vigilance Inspector/Investigating Inspector in South Western Railway.
www.indianexpress.com/news/sc-st-posts-not-filled-up-in-railways-says-panel/589698/
|
|
| 12/03/2010 | CBI backs Lalu Yadav in DA case in SC |
|
CBI on Wednesday stood by RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who has parted ways with the UPA Government, in the Supreme Court by opposing the decision of the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar to challenge his acquittal in a disproportionate assets case.
Prasad and his wife’s stand that Bihar government has no locus standi to appeal against their acquittal was supported by CBI which said the right to file an appeal lies with the agency which probed and prosecuted the case.
"The case was investigated and prosecuted by CBI and it is for the Centre and not for state government to take a decision to file an appeal in the case of acquittal," senior advocate A Mariarputham, appearing for the agency, submitted before a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan.
Bihar Government’s submission evoked sharp reactions from the Bench which wanted to know how in a case, which is investigated by CBI, the state government can come in the picture to file am appeal against the acquittal.
ibnlive.in.com/news/cbi-backs-lalu-yadav-in-da-case-in-sc/111346-37.html
|
|
