Indian-American named to US body on terrorism

A leading Indian-American lawyer, Rahul 'Richard' Verma, has been appointed to a US Congressional Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.

Verma, who was senior national security adviser to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and until recently the highest-ranking Indian American Congressional aide on Capitol Hill, is currently a partner with Steptoe & Johnson LLP, a top-notch international law firm in Washington DC.

"There's probably no more important security challenge facing our country than keeping weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists," Verma said on his appointment to the commission set up at the recommendation of the independent, bipartisan 9/11 Commission.

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Current race riots like 1949 anti-Indian riots in SA?

The current xenophobic crisis in South Africa is comparable to the 1949 Zulu-Indian riots, the country's Minister of Intelligence Ronnie Kasrils has said.

"I liken it to the anti-Indian mayhem that erupted in Durban in 1949," Kasrils told a local newspaper in an interview, as he called on people to accept that describing the current situation as one of xenophobia was accurate.

"I accept that we have had a spontaneous outburst of xenophobia here - and I don't know why people have trouble with that word: it's accurate for what's going on."

Kasrils explained his reasoning for comparison to the ethnic violence in 1949, when Zulus and Indians who had lived peacefully side by side for decades in the sprawling Durban suburb of Cato Manor, clashed.

Thorugh

Pakistan, a state that is declining

Constitutionally, General Musharraf should give up any move to retain his role as army chief however, some one who can cheat everybody on the international front, especially US on the ‘war on terror’, is not going to make off so easily. Moreover, the constitution does not work as the basic law of the country in Pakistan.

Ever since taking power in 1999, President Musharraf has insisted that his goal is real democracy for Pakistan, which has been notoriously ill served by its irresponsible political elites. Moreover, one cannot expect a stable political system in Pakistan as the political leadership has to polish General’s shoes to come to power.

In a country struggling to establish democratic norms” in fact. Pakistan is never a democratic state. Democracy has become like a hat, as earlier socialism was..., and everybody wants to wear it. Musharraf is using the word democracy to appease George Bush. Since Mush’s take over of the power in 1999, the two pillars of democracy, legislative and executive, have been under his direct control.

Press, the other pillar of democracy was never as free as it should be in Pakistan. And now, the Judiciary has started facing the heat of Mush’s dictatorship. The military can do no wrong in Pakistan and Musharraf is the head of Military as well as of government too. What kind of democracy is this? I have a feeling that Pakistan is a declining state and even Bush cannot save Mush and Pakistan both now.

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China's Young generation shows 'No Problem' attitude with extra-marital relations

China is going through a sexual revolution it seems. The orthodox Chinese society is showing the sign of liberal thinking in at least sexual relations. A Chinese policewoman’s popular website, which help people swap spouses and go for one-night stands, has already sparked rage in the country.

Further the Psychology Consultation Office of Women's Federation, Guangdong province has come out with a strange disclosure.

It showed that 52% of the women, who seek psychological counseling for their marital life, were traumatized by the disloyalty of their husbands.

An emerging sense of tolerance appears to have shacked orthodox Chinese society even as it struggles with a newfound richness and sense of freedom in the young generation of the country.

Extra-marital affairs are being a more common practice in the country. Chinese couples are being influenced by the thought of sexual liberation and freedom coming from western countries. This is hitting hard to the sphere of traditional ethical codes of the country.

On the other hand, another survey conducted in Beijing had revealed that 6.2% of high school students below the age of 16 in China have experienced sex.

Furthermore, almost 50% of the 2,300 students covered in the survey have said that there is nothing wrong in one-night stands.

The policewoman, who is running the website, said that her web-club had attracted members seeking open sex from all over China. Later within one month of his website launching, she lost her job at the police bureau in Liquan County in Shaanxi.

Su has claimed in China Business News by saying that as many as 60,000 people have been now signed up to her spouse-swapping club.

Later, the swinging club issue took a shocking turn when a sociologist, Li Yinhe, permitted the idea. He said that

all consensual sexual activities between adults in private should not be criminalized (by law) and should be protected as human rights. The idea of swinging is contradicting the model of marriage in China.

The voice of criticism is also being raised from different sections in the country on this idea. The Shanghai Daily says that a theory that aims at justifying extra-marital sex is worse than immoral. It's unashamed.

However, Li answered on this by saying as "Sexual activity between a married person and a person other than his or her spouse, provided that the spouse has been informed and agreed, is not morally wrong. "

Tsunami alert in Japan following by 8.3-magnitude quake

A Tsunami warning has been issued in Japan’s coastal region following by a powerful earthquake with a magnititude of 8.3 in the Pacific Ocean.

The Japan's Meteorological Agency has warned the coastal residents to flee to higher ground from the coastal areas.

According to the agency’s warning, waves can go up to 3.3-feet and could hit the northeastern coast of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido.

The report said that the quake struck around 1:24 pm at some 310 miles east of the Etorofu islands. The place is located between northern Japan and Russia. However, there were no injuries or damages reported from the quake in the region.

The local authorities as well issued near Hokkaido's coast the northern and eastern coasts of Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido to leave the place and reach any higher ground.

On the other hand, Hideo Suzuki, a local municipal official of Rausu, said that he had not seen any visible change of the sea level as of around 2 pm. But on the preventive measures, all residents have been given warning and said to evacuate the place as soon as possible.

South Korea plans discount on power bill for couples with 3 or more kids

South Korea needs more kids now to remain a powerful country in the coming future. The government has opted a unique idea to inspire couples to have more kids in the family.

Now, the couple, who have three or more kids, will get cheaper electricity bills. They would get discounts on their electricity bills. From next week possibly, the government will apply reduced rates for families with three or more children.

Jang Seok-gu, an energy ministry official, said that People worry about paying higher electricity bills, as their family gets bigger.

So, to free them of those worries and have more babies, we are giving discounts on their electricity bills.

Now, according to the ministry’s source, a family of five would get their monthly electricity bill less than 40,000 won ($42.63).

Currently, South Korea has showed the lowest birth rate among the developed countries as an average of 1.08 children per woman.

Further, the government data says that the country’s population will go high in 2018 at 49.3 million.

Then the country would experience a fall in population. It would put a strain on social welfare systems as the country ages.

So, the policy makers in the country are giving inspiration to the couples to have more kids to counter the problem the country expects to face in future

Terrorism, Before, Now & Then

No analyst has found himself able to define exactly the concept ‘Terrorism’ until the date. Every country describes its meaning in accordance with their problems. If the US says Iraqis are spreading terrorism, Iraqis say US is the source of terrorism. There are many more examples.

Terrorism is not a new concept. It has been found all the time, either in one form or in other form. It continues with different dimensions. We can found the roots of terrorism way back from some 2000 years.

As far as present day terrorism is concerned, it has been motivated by religious conviction. However, it had a political dimension too when the Sicari and the Zealots Jewish groups who were active during the Roman occupation of first century Middle East. They had used horrific weapons to torture and murder a mainly Jewish people. That had been called as terrorism too.

Terrorism and Nationalism

The Nationalists and Anarchists have defined terrorism in a different way. France had defined terrorism, during 1793 -1794, as nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible, it is therefore an emanation of virtue. It is not so much a special principle as it is a consequence of the general principle of democracy applied to our country’s most urgent needs.

More than 40,000 people were executed by guillotine for that reason.

Terrorism and Marxism

Marxist often observed as terrorism as offering a means for change.

The Irish Republican Army in Ireland had adopted terrorism as a means to get their desired end and to deliver a message to a wider audience other than the immediate target.

Terrorism in Post World War World

After the outbreak of World War 1914, there was the time of sponsored terrorism. The Serbian government and military were reportedly involved in training and arming various Balkan groups.

There were so many examples of sponsored terrorism during that time. People were fighting in Kenya, Malaysia, Cyprus and Palestine who can certainly be described as terrorist and getting the supports of other nations.

Terrorism and Role of Media

The new-era terror groups exploited the wave of globalisation and the expansion of media power to facilitate their demand and activities.

The International Media, in certain ways, helped these terrorists for the successful realization of their goals.

Terrorism and Ethnic Factors

During the 1970’s, the motivated factor behind the terrorism was not only the nationalism. There were many causes emerged as the motivational factors such as ethnic and ideological considerations such as the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), the Basque group ETA, the Italian Red Brigades and Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK).

All these groups adopted terrorism to publicize their goals and accomplishments internationally. There was a race to get International recognition was on. Many of these are remain active today and others. Some groups such the IRA, has moved towards political means to resolve their issues rather than terrorism.

Today’s Terrorism

In a present day world, Terrorism is affecting the whole scenario of the world. It has become the greatest threat to the whole Humanity. Nations are building the alliance to fight terrorism such as the Global War Against Terrorism. These efforts are dividing the world in groups.

It is making the situation worse and the world is being divided in the groups based on religions. This is the worst thing happenning in the world. And as a result act of terrorism is making appearances in many shapes and colors.

Civil War and Terrorism

One cannot say that what is going on in Iraq is full-scale civil war between Shia and Sunnis and other groups. This may be called as another form of terrorism. The groups are using most powerful weapons that are making devastating effects on the whole of the Baghdad community and the morale of the people.

Terrorism is being defined as means of civil war in present day world. You can see the example of Algerian Civil War started in 1991. There was an armed conflict between the Algerian government and various Islamist rebel groups and almost 150000 to 200000 were reportedly killed in the fight.

The complicated Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) was aggravated by changing national demographic trends: Christian and Muslim inter-religious strife, and the involvement of Syria, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

The Shia militias came from the Palestinian community and the Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas, initially aided and trained by Iran and backed from Syria.

Sunni Militias, received support from Libya and Iraq. Now after the murder of Lebanon’s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, Lebanon is looking again on the verge of civil war.

Ways to stop Terrorism

Osama Bin Laden has been reportedly acknowledged that at least 10,000 Saudis contributed to the war in Afghanistan.

What is the need of the time is that to stop the big nations to divide the world in the name of fighting against the Terrorism and in the name of religions. Every terrorism-affected country has its own problem, let the people of that country decide. If the people would successfully resolve the issue, the need of terrorism would be washed.

The implementation of Democratic principles is the sole way to restrict the terrorism. Democracy cannot work unless there is a political structure in place, which included the established civil society, political parties, the free press and the judiciary system. We cannot establish a democracy under an umbrella of bombs and devastation.