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sf/fuf/df /flvPsf a]nf hjflx/LnfO{ clwsf/Lx?n] oftgf / s'6lk6kl5 pgL lx+;fTds cltjfbL ag]sf] pgsf w]/} af}l4s ;xofqLx?n] atfPsf 5g\ . !(*% df 5'6]kl5 pgL ;fpbL c/jlt/ nfu]sf lyP . To; nuQ} kfls:tfgsf] k];fj/ x'+b} ckmuflg:tfg k'u] . ;f]leot zf;gsf a]nf ckmuflg:tfgdf pgn] lrltS;ssf ?kdf sfd u/] . t/ Toxf+ klg ToxL OlhlK;og O:nflds lhxfbsf] ;d"x v8f u/] . ;g\ !((& df hjflx/L ljg nfb]g /x]sf] ckmufgL ;x/ hnfnjfb k'u]sf] cg'dfg 5 . To;sf] Ps jif{kl5 pgsf] ;d"x;lxt cGo % d'l:nd ljb|f]xL ;d"xsf] cn sfobf;Fu Pstf ePsf] lyof] .

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ckmuflg:tfgsf] s]lGb|o a}+ssf ueg{/ cAb'n sflb/ lkmqtn] cfkm"n] e|i6frf/sf] 5fgljg z'¿ u/]kl5 lhp Hofgsf] vt/f ePsf] eGb} kbaf6 /fhLgfdf lbPsf 5g\ . pgn] sfa'n a}++ssf s]xL k|efjsf/L JolQmx¿n] u/]sf] e|i6frf/sf] 5fgljg k|s[ofdf ;/sf/n] cj/f]w k'¥ofPsf] cf/f]k klg nufPsf 5g\ . /fi6«klt xldb sf/hfO{sf k|jQmfn] pgsf] ck|Tofl;t /fhLgfdf b]zb|f]x ;/xsf] ck/fw ePsf] atfpg' ePsf] 5 . sfa'n a}+ssf] /sd lxgfldgfsf sf/0f ut jif{g} ;f] a}+s w/fzfoL x'g] l:yltdf k'u]sf] lyof] . ;f] a}+sn] s/f]8f}+ 8n/ unt C0f k|jfx u/]sf] lyof] .

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cfly{s ?kdf ljZjd} pbLodfg /fi6«sf] sf]6Ldf /x]sf] rLg / a]nfotaLr Jofkf/ k|j4{g ug]{ ;DaGwL ;Demf}tf ePsf 5 . rLgsf k|wfgdGqL j]g lhofjfcf]sf] tLg lbg] a]nfot e|d0fsf a]nf b'{O d'n'saLr Jofkf/ ;Demf}tf ePsf] xf] . a]nfotsf k|wfgdGqL 8]le8 Sofd?gsf cg';f/ b'O{ d'n'saLr Ps bzdnj rf/ ldlnog a/fa/sf] Jofkf/ ;Demf}tf ePsf] 5 . of] ;Demf}tfn] a]nfotL pBdLnfO{ rLgdf 7"nf] cj;/ k|fKt x'g] ljZjf; Sofd?gsf] 5 .

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BY : Bassam Javed

The sea lanes of communications in the Indian Ocean bear significant strategic value as the primary conduit of oil to meet global energy requirements. Major Powers of the world have always vied to maintain their influence in this strategic ocean. Spearheading the list is the United states , the super power whose geopolitical interests for decades have centered on absolute control of these vital strategic sea routes. These geopolitical interests have however undergone a sea change during the last decade for events that drastically affected the world order. The events of 9/11 once again brought the United States to befriend Pakistan in a relationship that has since swayed from a kin of ok to being worst. Presently, both the countries are passing through the worst period of their relationship brought on by the American unilateral armed action inside Pakistan . The action nevertheless, brought out in the open the American deep moral distrust and contemptuous disregard for its partnering country’s sovereignty and capacity for self defense.

Had the United States taken Pakistan onboard, its front line state in combating Al-Qaeda and Taliban, the joint action would have saved the day for both the partners. The credit for Osama’s elimination could have been taken by President Obama to augment his bid for second time presidency. But just think for a moment, had the action been taken jointly the confidence it would have generated within the partner countries for a better tomorrow would have been tremendous. This would have also boosted the efforts in combating global war on terror. A tremendous opportunity has been lost.

Since the incident happened, there have been vociferous noises in the American media castigating Pakistan as a pariah state. Besides factualising American lack of trust in the Pakistani security apparatus post the Abottabad action the media, fuelled by the White House information exploded with all kinds of contradictory pronouncements concerning Pakistan . Many howling noises were also heard in the US Congress calling for aid cut-offs. But the saner elements prevailed and the need to keep Pakistan in American fold was realized to achieve its regional goals. Since that incident, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Kerry, point man for Afghanistan and Afghanistan marc Grossman and Michael Forell, the Deputy Director of CIA have visited Pakistan in a bid to revive the faltered relationship. All three visited Pakistan on triumphant note but apparently, they failed to heal the wounds inflicted by American incursion and did not carry the news that their counterparts wanted to hear from them on their return. Many heavy weights in the American Senate realize Pakistan ’s feelings and appropriately toned down the American belligerent rhetoric. Besides Senate Majority Leader Harry Ried and Senator Mitch McConnell reconciliatory remarks, Richard Boehner the House Speaker also termed Pakistan as a real asset and the one that had lost more troops and more individuals in the fight against terror than the US Secretary Clinton also visited Pakistan on 27 May along with twenty six members delegation for only five hours and called on Pakistan’s civil and military hierarchy. The shortest visit so far to Pakistan by and American official also speaks of the state of relationship that these two partners have today. This also speaks of the kind f future relationship that they can have with each other in the future.

The irony is that the very basis of US sequential relationships with Pakistan has always revolved around American national interests that needed Pakistani services from time to time. Pakistan had its own interests too as it sought American military equipment. The ever patchy relationship moved on till the time the Americans countered India with a nuclear deal by passing international nuclear conventions for India . These relationships met their fate before they could mature as the divergent strategic objectives of the respective countries were way out with each other. The post 9/11 relationship, restricted to war on terror this time, potentially contained divergent strategic interests but for the might of American forces, Pakistan ’s interests were never accommodated in American strategy for Afghanistan Pakistan region. Pakistan though weaker partner in the relationship often strode to defend its interests against the odds of mighty super power, but always got spun over by American interests. Operation Geronimo is a case in point that has once again brought about contradictions in US-Pakistan relations in the open. After this unilateral, highhanded and distrustful action in a partner country, the relationship between the two countries has probably reached to a point where it can no longer be managed as before.

The changing equations in this region and the Middle-East have potentially affected the regional geopolitical environments. This might auger well for Pakistan . Russia and China have already said no to becoming partner of the United States in latter’s bid to play out its greater game in this resource-rich part of the world. The third biggest country in Asia that may support the US presence is India that is yet to come out openly on the issue. Meanwhile all eyes are set on SCO meeting in the middle of June this year. Realizing the American aspersions in the region, no eye brows would be raised if SCO formally inducts Iran , Pakistan and India in it fold. A probable peace keeping force then from these countries may cater for the vacuum created by US withdrawal. Pakistan and India will have to accommodate each other for the stability of the region besides the alliance can play an effective role in the Middle-East also. The terror incidents and the Taliban ideology will be contained as the Taliban will not have to fight America any more and would also be not averse to seeing SCO soldiers placed in Afghanistan to stabilize their country. Also, if SCO comes out as a stronger alliance by accommodating these to challenge their regional leadership status. Letting India slip in American fold can be checked effectively. This alliance will also ease out American influence and dependence by some of the regional countries overtime.

Meanwhile, the two countries continue to cast deep doubts on each others sincerity. United States has arrogantly proved it in no equivocal terms as the event alienated even the common Pakistanis that the United States has arrogantly proved it no equivocal terms as the event alienated even the United States vowed to work with. Both the countries are trying to resurrect whatever relationship they have had before the trust busting American action. By vowing to repeat Abbottabad type unilateral incursion in Pakistan if needed, it is not helping the cause. In fact by repeating the similar type of unilateral attack the United States would inherently invite a practical US-Pakistan battle or a sea hoard of mass movement that would fatally endanger Pakistan ’s stability and integrity. This would be the same country that the American had over a decade vowed to help and secure from the ills of extremism and terrorism.

Sultan M. Hali

CONTRARY to western propaganda, China has a firm control over its economy. Prudent planning, astute strategizing and futuristic forecasting has brought Chinese economy from the downtrodden and battered in the 1950s, to the current state where it is second only to the US but according to the IMF, likely to overtake it by 2016. Economic historian Angus Maddison estimates that the Soviet Union at its peak produced only a third as many goods and services as the US ; Japan ’s economy at its peak was still less than half the size of the US economy. China ’s ascension has been startlingly different, in speed and size. If it grows at anything like the 10 per cent rate it has averaged since 1980, its economy will be far bigger than that of the US within a generation. China ’s growth has been unprecedented. In 1980, when its economic reforms were just starting, the IMF estimates the US produced more than 10 times as many goods and services. Even 10 years ago, when China overtook Japan to become the world’s second-biggest economy, the US still produced three times as much.

But since then China ’s share of global output has doubled, while that of the US has shrunk rapidly. From 25 per cent of global output in 1986, the US share has shrunk to less than 20 per cent and a projected 17.8 per cent by 2016. China produced just 2.2 per cent of the world’s output in 1980, but this rose to 7 per cent by 2000, 14 per cent now, and is projected to top 18 per cent by 2016. By 2016, the IMF estimates, China will be producing more in a fortnight than it did in a year when the reforms began. Over that period, its output would have risen to 30 times its starting level; US output would have risen to 2.7 times its 1980 level.

However this rapid rise does not come without pitfalls, but it is heartening to note that Chinese economists and planners have taken cognizance of the dangers lurking ahead. There are concerns about inflation, excess investment, soaring wages, and bad bank loans. Prominent academics warn that China could fall victim to the dreaded "middle-income trap", which has derailed many a developing nation. Strategy and commitment have been applied to forestall any disasters.

Since 1953, China has framed its macro objectives in the context of five-year plans, with clearly defined targets and policy initiatives designed to hit those targets. The recently enacted 12th Five-Year Plan could well be a strategic turning point – ushering in a shift from the highly successful producer model of the past 30 years to a flourishing consumer society.

Seared by memories of turmoil, reinforced by the Cultural Revolution of the 1970’s, China ’s leadership places the highest priority on stability. Such a commitment served China extremely well in avoiding collateral damage from the crisis of 2008-2009.

It stands to play an equally important role in driving the fight against inflation, asset bubbles, and deteriorating loan quality. A domestic saving rate in excess of 50% has served China well. It funded the investment imperatives of economic development and boosted the cushion of foreign-exchange reserves that has shielded China from external shocks. China now stands ready to absorb some of that surplus saving to promote a shift toward internal demand.

Over the past 30 years, the urban share of the Chinese population has risen from 20% to 46%. According to OECD estimates, another 316mn people should move from the countryside to China ’s cities over the next 20 years. Such an unprecedented wave of urbanization provides solid support for infrastructure investment and commercial and residential construction activity. China has taken enormous strides in building human capital. The adult literacy rate is now almost 95%, and secondary school enrolment rates are up to 80%. Shanghai ’s 15-year-old students were recently ranked first globally in math and reading as per the standardized PISA metric. Chinese universities now graduate more than 1.5mn engineers and scientists annually. The country is well on its way to a knowledge-based economy. More importantly, Chinese planners are willing to prove the doubting Thomases wrong and are prepared to risk the slowing down of its economy deliberately, to shake off the after-effects of inflation.

Investors are apprehensive of the supposed rising inflationary trends in China ; their apprehension is that Chinese central bank will end global growth. The most recent inflation digits of China : 5.3% may be considered spiralling since the annals of Chinese history are replete with social, economic and political upheaval. However, despite its extraordinary growth record since Deng Xiao Ping opened China in 1978, China’s per-capita GDP is just $4,399 ($7,481 purchasing power adjusted), less than one-tenth of the $48,157 U.S. level. China requires 30 to 50 years of uninterrupted high growth to bring the living standards of Chinese up to current developed country levels. That’s why its central bank, the People’s Bank of China, has raised reserve requirements for Chinese banks five times so far this year to more than 20% today and adopted a number of other policies to curb price increases, such as selling food from government stockpiles.

Another factor to comprehend is that China ’s inflation is not high across the board–it has been driven by two factors: rising food prices and rising energy and industrial commodity prices. So-called "core" inflation, excluding food and energy, is still quite low, productivity is growing 10-12% per year, and there is widespread excess capacity in Chinese industry that is keeping finished goods prices in check.

According to Dr. Rutledge, the Chairman of Rutledge Capital, a CNBC economics contributor, and a former Reagan economic advisor, since China ’s currency is, effectively, pegged to the dollar, notwithstanding western bickering of keeping the exchange rate low, soaring global food, oil and commodity prices, expressed in dollars, are the culprit.

Both can be traced to U.S. policy mistakes. The Fed tsunami that increased bank reserves by 17x since 2008 is driving global energy and industrial commodity inflation. And Fed policy, along with its misguided ethanol policy that has diverted 40% of U.S. corn production into ethanol, have more than doubled corn prices in the past year. Ultimately, it will be US that will suffer and not China , whose economy is steadily progressing.

The Pheu Thai Party has performed an apparent about-face on its proposed amnesty for politicians convicted of criminal and political offences, he said on his Facebook page yesterday.

The Democrat Party leader said Pheu Thai was having second thoughts after public sentiment appeared to form against the amnesty which, if implemented, would absolve politicians of criminal and political convictions since the 2006 coup. Mr Abhisit earlier said such an amnesty could mean the return to Thailand of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, in exile since being sentenced in absentia in 2008 to a two-year prison sentence for corruption offences, as well as the handing back to Thaksin of the 46 billion baht confiscated from him after the Shin Corporation shareholding trial.

Mr Abhisit said Pheu Thai was originally serious in pushing the amnesty through but abruptly changed its mind when public sentiment appeared to go against the proposal."I never thought a party could blatantly deceive people," he said.

Yingluck Shinawatra said on Friday that her party had no plan to grant an amnesty to Thaksin or to hand back the 46 billion baht confiscated from him if Pheu Thai formed the next government.

Her party has not declared it would abandon the policy, as it is a key part of its election platform. However, it does not want voters to think that the amnesty policy was put up solely to benefit its de facto leader Thaksin.

Mr Abhisit said Ms Yingluck had instructed Pheu Thai list candidate Chalerm Yubamrung to explore ways to grant the amnesty. He said Pheu Thai had even floated the idea of setting up an independent panel to fine-tune the details.

He said Ms Yingluck had spoken at campaign rallies sounding out support for efforts to bring Thaksin home.

The Democrat Party has declared it will offer an amnesty to politicians serving a five-year political ban, but only those banned for political offences would be eligible, not those convicted in criminal or corruption cases. "I think people know well that if Pheu Thai leads the next government, its very first agenda item is to pardon Thaksin," Mr Abhisit said.

Kathmandu : The Embassy of the People's Republic of Bangladesh in Kathmandu celebrated Rabindranath - Nazrul Jayanti on Sunday, 26 June 2011 at the Russian Center of Science & Culture, Kamal Pokhari, Kathmandu. The program was followed by cultural program and refreshments.

His Excellency Dr. Neem Chandra Bhowmik, Ambassador of Bangladesh delivered the welcome speech.

China promises to wipe out fee-collecting irregularities at kindergartens

BEIJING (Xinhua) - Kindergartens in China will be prohibited from parents' sponsorship or contribution fees as a precondition to enrollment or collecting extra fees beyond those approved by the government, according to a set of guidelines issued by several ministry-level departments.

The guidelines were jointly issued by seven ministry-level departments including education, finance and auditing authorities within the central government in a bid to improve the country's preschool education system.

"Administrative regulations for fee-collecting should be put in place and strictly implemented," the document stressed, adding that all fees should be transparent and visible to the public.

Previous figures released by educational experts show that China has about 100 million preschool-aged children and that over half of them will start kindergarten over the next five years.

It was reported last year that parents in major cities often stood in lines for days to get spots for their children at kindergartens. The reports stated that many people had growing concerns over inadequate preschool education.

In last November, the State Council, or China's cabinet, acknowledged that preschools are "the weakest part of our country's education" and mapped out a list of favorable policies to boost their development, particularly in regard to making them safer and increasing enrollment demands.

The government also promised to "encourage both governmental and nongovernmental bodies to provide services for preschools in order to increase resources," according to an annual work report delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao in March.

The central government's 2011 budget will allocate three billion yuan (about 462 million U.S. dollars) to "support the development of rural preschool education in central and western regions and ethnic minority areas".

Geneva – Mark Halle, one of a series of experts addressing UNCTAD’s third Public Symposium this week, said it best: "A green economy that’s not fair and equitable isn’t a green economy."

Debate over two days at the symposium centred repeatedly on issues of fairness. These were applied not only to the inevitable upcoming shift to environmentally sustainable economic growth, with panelists pointing out repeatedly that the industrialized countries which are historically responsible for the bulk of greenhouse-gas emissions have a responsibility to help poorer nations cope with climate change.

Fairness also was cited at Wednesday’s session when officials discussed how the world financial system should be reformed after the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

"A crisis should be used to learn lessons and do things differently," UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi told the meeting. "That hasn’t been happening. We need a system that really takes the needs of developing countries into account – not just Wall Street, but people who don’t have a street to walk on."

The Symposium addressed two topics: "Financial and monetary reforms for sustainable development: Global and regional initiatives," and "Making the transition to a green economy fair and equitable." The discussions will help to sharpen perspectives in advance of several upcoming high-level conferences: the UNCTAD XIII quadrennial session (2012), the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (2012), and the 2011 G20 Summit. Representatives of civil society, the private sector, Parliamentarians, academia, the media, international organizations and governments participated in the symposium.

UNCTAD–XIII has as its theme development-centred globalization. The organization says a shift is necessary because finance-led global economic growth, which has held sway in recent decades, has caused repeated crises, has not reduced widening income disparities, and has not translated into substantial poverty reduction.

"In view of the unanimous judgment of the panelists, the prefix post-crisis is still premature," UNCTAD Deputy Secretary-General Petko Draganov said at this evening’s closing plenary. "There was also agreement over the causes of the crisis: panelists mostly identified the lack of regulation and possibly an excessive faith in market efficiency as the main factors precipitating the start of the economic meltdown. We heard a view that suggested we are in a kind of pre-crisis, which will be dwarfed by the challenges posed by climate change for both the environment and the economy." He added: "There are still dangers arising from the potential for United States austerity measures, for example; from the Eurozone debt crisis; and from the imbalances that continue to distort economies around the world."

Kathmandu : The Royal Thai Embassy in Kathmandu has organized the "Thai Film Festival 2011" in Kathmandu on 28-29 June 2011 at Russian Cultural Center. This is the second Thai Film Festival in Nepal after the first event in 2008.

The main purpose of organizing the Thai Film Show is to promote cultural awareness and expose the movie goers to a fascinating facet of modern Thai culture as well as to depict various aspects of Thai society. The festival will showcase some of the acclaimed and award winning Thai movies, vary from action drama to comedy, romance and issues of social problem. In addition, cultural cooperation is one of the most important aspects of the long-standing relationship between the two countries, especially at the people level.

The Thai films are Samchuk: Once in a Chance 32 December Love Error, That Sounds Good and Muay Thai Chaiya.

At the opening of the Thai Film Festival 2011., H.E. Thai Ambassador Mr. Moris Sangpiampongsa delivered the welcome speech on 27 June 2011.

Dhaka, Bangladesh, June 23, 2011- IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is providing corporate-governance training to senior banking professionals from Bangladesh and other South Asian countries to help improve governance practices of banks and financial institutions.

IFC, Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, and Bangladesh Institute of Capital Market concludes today a three-day training program for senior bankers fromBangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka on how to raise their banks’financial performance and operational efficiency through better corporate-governance practices, particularly on issues related to risk governance. The participants will in turn train and advise members of their banks’ boards.

"Corporate governance training helps banking and finance professionals better understand their roles and responsibilities and motivates them to be proactive change agents," Atiur Rahman, Governor of Bangladesh Bank, said in his closing remarks Thursday. "I am looking forward to seeing a substantial number of bank directors who are trained and motivated to ensure good governance in their banks as a result of this initiative."

The training program is part of IFC’s Global Corporate Governance Forum’s Financial Markets Recovery Project, which provides training to bank board directors in emerging markets and developing countries.

"Good corporate governance practices will help firms in South Asia become more attractive to foreign investors. The pool of trainers that IFC is developing through this program would play a critical role in achieving this objective," said Kyle Kelhofer, IFC Country Manager for Bangladesh,Bhutan, and Nepal.

SAARC member countries should get together and extend their fullest support to Sri Lanka at this juncture, said SAARC Secretary General Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed.

She lauded President Mahinda Rajapaksa‘s valuable contribution to the furtherance of SAARC during the past few years. She said the contribution made by Sri Lanka for the SAARC Cultural Centre establishment is commendable.

Saeed made these observations when she met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday. Saeed is the first woman and Maldivian to hold the prestigious post.

President Rajapaksa had extensive discussions with Saeed over the future activities of the SAARC. The President was of the view that SAARC member countries should strive for development using their potential and capabilities.

External Affairs Minister Prof G.L. Peiris and the senior officials of the External Affairs Ministry participated.

The Republic of Maldives, declared "Building Bridges" as the theme for the Seventeenth SAARC Summit to be held in Addu Atoll of the island nation on 10-11 November this year.

"Building Bridges - both in terms of physical connectivity and figurative political dialogue. However, the notion of bridging differences would be represented as the overarching theme of the summit rather than any set diplomatic or development aims," stated a Press Release issued by the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 19 June 2011.

Addressing the media following the unveiling of the theme for the upcoming Summit, President’s Office representative and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) youth arm president Shauna Aminath said that the Maldivian government - as part of SAARC - had been working with fellow member states to try and improve communication and collaboration throughout the region. Shauna took the recent recommencement of ferry services between India and Sri Lanka after a thirty year hiatus as a physical example of the summit’s own aims to try and strengthen economic and diplomatic ties between different member nations for their mutual benefit and prosperity.

She further said, "The idea is to celebrate the differences that we have and use these to unite nations to build a better region. South Asia is specifically unique in that it is home to 100 different languages, ten different major religions and one fifth of the world’s population," she said. "The Maldives is the lowest lying nation in the world, at the same time [fellow SAARC member] Nepal has the [planet's] highest points. So these are differences, but we want to use these as an opportunity to celebrate as a united force to build bridges of friendship, peace and security."

The Sixteenth SAARC Summit held in Bhutan in April 2010 devoted to the theme, Climate Change.

The Republic of Maldives hosts the Summit meeting of the SAARC Heads of States or Governments for the third time, having earlier hosted the Fifth and Ninth Summit meetings in 1990 and 1997 respectively.

Visitors to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea can often see the sight of the Korean people who present bouquets of flowers and make a deep bow to the statue of President Kim Il Sung(1912-1994) standing on Mansu Hill in the central part of Pyongyang, the capital of the DPRK. A token of the highest respect to the President constitutes part of the Korean people’s life.

This can be observed in other aspects, as well.

In Pyongyang there is the Kumsusan Memorail Palace where President Kim Il Sung lies in state. The place had originally been called the Kumsusan Assembly Hall, his official residence.

It is a convention that when the head of state in any country died or resigned his post, his official residence as well as his public position are handed to his successor.

Leader Kim Jong Il, however, had a firm determination to keep his predecessor in his lifetime appearance at the Kumsusan Assembly Hall.

According to his intention, the Kumsusan Assembly Hall was renovated into the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, the supreme temple of Juche where the President is kept in his lifetime appearance.

The newly renovated Kumsusan Memorial Palace is a manifestation of the highest tribute which Kim Jong Il and the Korean people pay to President Kim Il Sung.

In the DPRK, the Juche era was instituted with 1912 as the first year when Kim Il Sung was born, the Day of the Sun was designated to immortalize April 15, the President’s birthday, the socialist constitution was amended and supplemented to codify that Kim Il Sung is the eternal President of the DPRK, and a series of undertakings have been carried forward to implement his ideology and cause to the last. All these undertakings are run through with the lofty tribute to him.

The Korean leader starts his work of every New Year by visiting the Kumsusan Memorial Palace and making a bow to him in humble reverence.

The journey of his continuous field guidance to the army and the people is replete with the highest respect to his predecessor.

He first looks round the monument to the President’s revolutionary activities wherever he goes.

It was on April 15, 1997 when Kim Jong Il visited a unit of the Korean People’s Army.

Saying that he failed to pay his respect to the President at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace because he was spending the Day of the Sun on the road of field guidance, he raised his hand in salute together with the accompanying officials in front of a monument to the President’s revolutionary activities erected on the spot.

Thanks to his unshakable will to inherit and glorify the priceless exploits performed by the President in his lifetime, Korea won victory in the grim struggle to defend socialism in the closing years of the last century, and has achieved miraculous successes in the building of a great prosperous and powerful socialist nation during the first decades of the new century.

The building of a thriving nation in Korea, which is now drawing attention of international community, is a vivid manifestation of loyalty to the President’s ideology and cause.

It was the President’s greatest wish to enable his people to lead a happy life with no envy in the world. The Korean leader, who has unfolded a grand plan of building a thriving nation to carry forward the President’s ideal with credit, is steering the all-out campaign for its implementation.

His continuous inspection tours to the units throughout the country have made it possible to achieve one miraculous success after another in breaking through the cutting edge and attaining the high goal of building a thriving nation: Two artificial satellites were successfully launched; CNC technology has been introduced into many factories, crop fields across the country were rezoned into large-sized, standardized fields; large-sized hydroelectric power station, including the Huichon Power Station, are being built at a rapid speed.

Of late, a large-scale sturgeon-farming system has been established, and its farming in the sea succeeded, thus startling the world once again.

The leadership of Kim Jong Il over the building of a thriving nation is run through with the effort to perfectly realized the President’s lifetime desires and ideals.

For the success in establishing the Juche-oriented steel-making method, one of the President’s lifetime wish, Kim Jong Il visited the Songjin Steel Complex, Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex and other iron and steel manufacturers across the country on many an occasion, and ensured that a new type of steel-making system which does not rely on coke and scrap iron was established at long last.

Vinalon cotton cascading down in Korea is permeated with the lofty respect of the successor to the President.

The President devoted his heart and soul to vinalon production so as to solve the problem of the people’s clothing. After an interval of 16 years vinalon began to be mass-produced once again. On seeing vinalon cotton, he felt it again and again with his hands and went to Pyongyang to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace with the cotton in his car, saying that he had to present it to the President so that the latter could see it. The Korean people’s hearts are now running toward 2012.

It is their firm determination to open the gates of a great, prosperous and powerful nation by 2012, the 100th anniversary of President Kim Il Sun’g birth.

Kim Il Sung will be eternally enjoying the boundless respect of the Korean people.

To all ANA Members and all concerned Nepalese community members in the Americas.

Following are some of the details on the decisions of the Special Emergency Meeting of the Executive Board. As per the mandate given by the Executive Board on February 6, 2011 meeting and re-approved and upheld in subsequent Executive Board meetings (Article IV Section 4 Subsection b), Independent Task Force of ANA (ITFANA) would like all ANA members and all concerned to know that:

1] ANA election will be held in the month of July to August, 2011 by the current Election Committee of three members, Dr. Sudeep Shrestha, Ms. Sardha Khati and Mr. Hira Sharma.

2] The Annual General Meeting of General Body at the ANA DC Convention will decide a democratic, transparent, inclusive, and fair election guideline as well as the eligible voters.

3] The Election Committee will publish the list of candidates and will notify the potential voters to be stand-by to elect their candidates.

4] A team of ANA Care Taker will be announced soon by the executive board and will officially be in charge of ANA until the newly elected officers are announced.

5) Furthermore, with executive authority bestowed independent of the Executive Board as legally binding document, ITFANA has full jurisdiction over ANA Election 2011-2013 until its conclusion.

6) ITFANA, soon to be announced ANA Care Taker and the three member ANA Election committee will work hard to ensure free, fair, inclusive, and democratic election for ALL members to participate as per the tradition and aspirations of all community members of North America.

As per the mandate, ITFANA would like all to know through this public notice that lawful action to respond to anyone or any situation against ANA would be undertaken. That includes spreading false rumor or disseminating opinions detrimental to economic success of 29th ANA Convention. Punitive measures will be sought if there is written record of so. Final decision on the 2011-2013 ANA Election related issues may rest with Annual General Meeting of Members of ANA and Nepalese community members of Americas attending the ANA-DC convention.

– Tsewang Sherpalama, Chairman, (Independent Task Force of ANA)

On the occasion of "the UN International Day in Support of Torture Victims-2011", Advocacy Forum reiterates its commitment to assist victims in their quest of justice and continues to solider on its campaign against impunity. Every year, marking the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, AF publishes a report based on the information collected during visits to detention centers with the objective of providing impetus for further reform. This year, we have dedicated this report to women victims of torture and ill-treatment in detention.

The report titled " Torture of Women in Detention : Nepal’s Failure to Prevent and Protect" attributes the lack of criminalization of torture, the widespread impunity and the obstacles in accessing justice for women victims of human rights violations to a threat to women’s well-being and security. The aim of this report is to call on the Government of Nepal to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish acts of torture against women in detention and work towards improving the conditions of detention for women.

AF has been monitoring the status of torture in government detention facilities since 2001. AF statistics shows that there has been a gradual decline in torture in past few years. However, the trend of torture in detention still continues. During 2010, on average an estimated one in ten women detained by police was reported to have been subjected to torture or ill-treatment in 67 government detention facilities regularly visited by AF attorneys in 20 districts in which it operates. There is however a sharp increase of nearly 90 per cent when comparing the first half of the year with the latter. Between July and December 2010,, 13.9% of women reported they were tortured or subjected to ill-treatment (compared to 7% in the first half of the year).

This report also focuses on torture, including rape, of women during the conflict. As impunity continues to prevail, women victims of torture and rape are finding it impossible to obtain justice. They face numerous barriers, including the lack of criminalization of torture, strict statutes of limitation on complaints relating to rape (in criminal cases) and torture (in civil cases) and the courts not accepting contemporaneous evidence. To add to this, the rape victims have not been included in a government scheme to provide "interim relief" to conflict victims.

1. Introduce comprehensive legislation to criminalize torture as a matter of priority.

2. Put in place an effective and impartial mechanism for the prevention and investigation of torture.

3. Ensure all detainees are kept at official places of detention only and that any public official responsible for detaining people in private houses is disciplined.

4. Immediately sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, putting in place a mechanism for independent monitoring of all places of detention. Public officials who prevent authorized persons from inspecting or monitoring detention facility shall be subject to penalties as prescribed by the Act. . Criminalize enforced disappearances and ratify the Convention against Enforced Disappearances.

On the early morning of August 24th 2010 the aircraft of Agni Air, with 11 passengers and 3 crew members died in the crash at Shikharpur. The flight was returning due bad weather at Lukla and malfunction of the aircraft's generators so said the official investigation committee formed.

It is 6 months since that tragic disaster which struck the fourteen and their family members - eight Nepalese including Captain: LPB Shah, Co-pilot Sophia Singh and Air hostess: Sarah Sherpa, four Americans, one British and one Japanese citizen. The inexplicable air disaster of that fateful morning will always remain in our memory. We all had dreams, ambition and bright future with those who were father, mother, husband, wife, brother, sister, son and daughter of some one. Our youngest daughter of only 22 years "SARAH" was brought up with such love, care and the best education that we could afford. All the others have similar touching stories and family members left behind with fond memories only.

As per our custom, the funeral and the Buddhist rituals of 49 days were performed and properly conducted for the eternal peace of our youngest one's soul. The friends and well wishers organized a peace rally at the center of Kathmandu - Durbar Marga and conclude at the Ganeshthan by offering oil lamps, candles and flower wreaths to all the 14. The rally was intended to alert and caution all the airlines and specifically the concerned ministry and department of civil aviation to take life of the passenger and crew seriously. The media coverage of this small non-political, non-commercial and celebrity less gatherings of the victims family members were oblivious to the media. Notable coverage made by the Kantipur, Annapurna Post, Sagarmatha TV, Himal Khabarpatra and Nepali Times seriously mentioned the issue of aviation safety in Nepal. The concerned seemed deaf to all this.

We went on a pilgrim to many monasteries around Kathmandu, Sikkim, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Siliguri praying for the eternal peace of our daughter’s soul. We seemed to miss something and a distant incessant CALLING was being felt by my wife regularly. So after four months, with my wife and second daughter, we dared to visit the place where it all happened "SHIKHARPUR". We took a jeep and drove to Hetauda and then to the Shikharpur. This place is in a remote area where the dirt road is in-accessible during the monsoon because several rivulets without bridges must be crossed and then steep, muddy, rocky and up-hill climb through dense forest to reach the plateau like place SHIKHARPUR. it was a tough and adventurous 3 hours drive from Hetauda. Upon reaching the place, we were taken aback and were amazed at the peace, tranquility and beauty of the location. The aircraft had crashed 50 feet away from the village school and just next to the CHAUTARA (with two big trees where villagers meet and pedestrians take rest under the cool shade during the summer). The villagers were predominantly Tamang and Buddhist by religion. We felt a sense of belonging seeing the Buddhist flags fluttering around the place. The people were kind and sympathetic to us and helped us organize the solemn pray. Anju had brought 108 butter lamps, sweets, biscuits required for the Puja at the ground zero where our youngest one and the other 13 had perished. The village monks performed the rituals. It was a touching moment and we literally felt a long sigh of relief after many months.

We then decided that something must be done in the memory of the beloved ones so that they remain IMMORTAL. A casual chat, with the village chief and other senior members to establish a monument and help the school in some way, turned out quite positive. The germination of an idea to build a Buddhist Monument considering the religious sentiments of the village and thereby support the small school on a long term basis, forced us to approach the management of the Agni Air for financial and other support. The managing Director of the airline promptly agreed to support the proposal that we submitted. This further encouraged me to seek help and support from the Ambassadors of the Embassy of USA, UK and Japan who have also lost their citizen in the crash. The names of all 14 will be engraved on a marble slate and kept around the Buddhist monument. We sincerely hope that the embassy’s would be generous and help us in this cause.

A 9 member executive committee consisting of the VDC chief, Headmaster, village monk and the school management committee member and 5 executive members representing the airline, crew members and an American to represent the foreign nationals, have been formed. The name of the committee is "Shikharpur Buddhist Monument Constructing & Bakiya Thakur Primary School support". A visit to Shikharpur was made on the February 24th 2011 to meet the villager and the school management committee and sign the formal agreement for the allocation of the 1600 sq. ft. of land for the Monument and agreement to support the primary school on a long term basis has been signed. A bank account will be established at Hetauda to collect the funds and disburse the same from there for the construction and renovation works by forming various sub-committees.

It is expected that the family members will visit Shikharpur on a yearly basis to see the memorial monument once it is completed and also see the development of the school to which all of us will have contributed something in some way. The family members of Jeremy Taylor, Kendra D. Fallon 19 yrs of US have come in contact and are more than happy to help us. We are trying to get in touch with other family members and inform them about this mission. Any organization or individuals willing to help and support this humane cause are requested to contact this scribe at email dtsherpa@ntc.net.np

Joint, Secretary Royal Nepal Golf Club Mobil : 9851018820

The Sri Lanka Government will take every action to protect the farmers of this country in a manner similar to the way in which we protect our armed forces in the humanitarian operation, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the National Farmers’ Convention (Maha Govi Samuluwa), organised to mark the launch of the fertilizer subsidy for all agricultural and cash crops, at Temple Trees .

The Government will purchase paddy from farmers at any circumstances, the President added.

Certain forces are trying to obstruct the successful forward march of the country by making baseless allegations, he said.

The President pointed out that human rights of all are safeguarded in Sri Lanka today. "As a result of the peaceful atmosphere in the country, fear of death and blood letting are no more in the country. If the government has established a peaceful situation and people are well looked after by the government, it indicates that human rights are also safeguarded," the President noted.

"After eradicating brutal and deadly terrorism, the government has placed the country on a rapid development track."

"As the part of the agricultural development programme, the government allocates Rs 52,500 million annually for the fertilizer subsidy, President Rajapaksa said.

In accordance with the Mahinda Chintana Idiri Dekma programme, a 50 Kg bag of fertilizer was offered to paddy cultivators for Rs 350. When the programme commenced, some people, especially those in the opposition, were doubtful and asked whether the President had the Aladdin’s lamp to perform this miracle, the President said.

With the launch of this new fertilizer subsidy programme any cultivator can buy any amount of fertilizer from the open market at a subsidized price. Farmers or cultivators need not fill forms any more to get fertilizer’, the President said. Earlier Sri Lanka used to import food items spending over 40 percent of GDP without considering that those crops could be easily cultivated in the country. No one thought of food self sufficiency, he said.

"As a people friendly government, many measures have been taken to increase food production. Under this, all cultivation including agricultural crops and cash crops will receive the fertilizer subsidy. The project introduced to establish one million domestic economic units is part of it’, President Rajapaksa said.

The President pointed out that the fertilizer subsidy is not an allocation but an investment for the future. Therefore,the government has invested Rs 123 billion on the fertilizer subsidy during the last six years. Due to the global economic crisis, the price of fertiliser was over Rs 7,000 per bag. Notwithstanding this increase the government as a people friendly one has clearly understood the value of agriculture, offered the fertilizer subsidy as usual.

‘As the government protected the brave soldiers who liberated the country from LTTE, terrorism, the people who provide rice to the country will be protected and looked after, the President added.

The President Rajapaksa further said that historians have pointed out that paddy has been cultivated in the country for the last 30,000 years. But some narrow minded rulers wanted to discourage agriculture including paddy cultivation. These parties ruined the Paddy Marketing Board, Co-operatives and many other community based government establishments.

The President stressed that the contribution of everyone is needed for the development of the country.

Airbus employees gathered on the tarmac on Friday’s public opening day of the International Paris Air Show - Le Bourget to dance to "Higher" by Taio Cruz .

At the air show, which is well known for aerial displays, it was the moves of the Airbus employees that took centre stage this time. The performance involved a range of volunteers from all over Airbus, who took onlookers by surprise by suddenly breaking into dance. After the performance, the spinning dancers dispersed back into the crowd.

Airbus plans to recruit more than 3,000 talented individuals from all over the world this year and offers more than 2,500 internships at locations worldwide. In the words of Taio Cruz, this is truly an opportunity to take a career "higher off the ground".

From 20-25 June, a series of forums and workshops at the Air Show gives job seekers a wide range of opportunities to discuss their future career paths with Airbus HR professionals, engineers and business experts. These are job opportunities created by the backlog of more than 6 years production work as well as aircraft developments such as the A320neo and the A350 XWB.

Hitting the right note for the Airbus recruitment drive are key competencies such as structure and systems engineering, and Lean Management. Opportunities are also available in procurement, finance, human resources, strategy, marketing and sales for graduates from business schools and universities as well as experienced professionals.

Airbus is the leading aircraft manufacturer offering the most modern, comprehensive and efficient passenger aircraft family on the more than 100-seat market, while its military division is the global leader for transport, tanker and surveillance airlifters ranging from three to 45 tonnes of payload. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS company.