Wednesday, November 19, 2008

US car companies seek $25bn aid

The bosses of the three biggest US carmakers, Ford, GM and Chrysler, have asked Congress for a $25bn bail-out.

They told a Senate hearing that without the rescue package, their firms risked collapse, and warned of broader risks to the US economy.

GM chief executive Rick Wagoner said the firm needed a loan to span the "financial chasm" that had opened up.

However, Republicans and the White House do not want to use the $700bn bank rescue to help car firms.

GM has warned it could run out of cash in a matter of weeks and cannot wait until President-elect Barack Obama - who has promised to help the industry - is sworn in in January.

The BBC's Richard Lister in Washington says the last thing Mr Obama wants is to oversee the death of manufacturing icons during his first few months in office.

Inefficient production

Mr Wagoner told the Senate banking committee that the industry's predicament was not due to failures by management but because of the deepening global financial crisis.
He warned millions of jobs and 4% of GDP could be lost without government action.

"It's about saving the US economy from a catastrophic collapse," he said.

But sympathy for the industry appeared to be sparse among senators from both sides, our correspondent says.

The committee chairman, Christopher Dodd, a Democrat, said that the industry was "seeking treatment for wounds that were largely self-inflicted".

But he agreed that "hundreds of thousands would lose their jobs" if the companies were allowed to collapse.

Alabama Senator Richard Shelby, a Republican, also voiced doubts about the rescue package.

"As we consider altering the Treasury bail-out programme to provide cash and assistance to the domestic auto-manufacturers, I'm concerned that, once again, we're about to employ the 'ready, fire, aim' approach to problem-solving," he said.

Republican critics say the larger financial crisis is not the only reason why the biggest US carmakers are in trouble.

They say that the Ford, GM and Chrysler's production was inefficient, and that their labour costs were higher than many of their foreign rivals.

Mr Wagoner said that despite some public perceptions that GM was not keeping pace with the times "we were well on the road to turning our North American business around".

"What exposes us to failure now is the global financial crisis, which has severely restricted credit availability and reduced industry sales to the lowest per-capita level since World War II," he said.

Economic impact

Car executives argue that the failure of the industry would have a catastrophic impact, with three million jobs lost within the first year.


Ford's president, Alan Mulally, said a failure at even one car company would have widespread consequences.

"The industry is so interdependent," he said.

"We're nearly 10% of the US GDP, and if one of the automobile manufacturers gets into serious trouble, it has just tremendous implications for the entire industry."

Congressional leaders are working behind the scenes in an effort to work out a compromise that could give some financial aid to the carmakers before the end of the year, but the outlook remains poor.

In an earlier hearing on Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson also resisted diverting funds to the US car industry.

Democrats have so far rejected the option favoured by the White House and Republicans, which is to let the industry use a $25bn loan programme designed to help the companies develop more fuel-efficient vehicles.

The hearings are due to continue later on Wednesday.

Prostitute users face clampdown

Paying for sex with prostitutes who are controlled by pimps is set to become a criminal offence in England and Wales, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said.

Anyone who knowingly pays illegally trafficked women for sex could face rape charges, while kerb crawlers could face prosecution for a first offence.

There will also be more "naming and shaming" of kerb crawlers and new police powers to close brothels.

Buying or selling sex is legal but soliciting and pimping are not.

The changes bring the law in England and Wales more into line with Scotland, where anyone looking to pick up a prostitute faces a fine of up to £1,000.

Ms Smith said the government had considered banning paying for sex altogether but had ruled this out as there was no public support for such a move.

Instead, she said the government's efforts would be focused on reducing demand for trafficked women, who were "effectively held as slaves", and there would be a marketing campaign aimed at men who used prostitutes.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "My proposal is that men should think twice about paying for sex. The reason they should do that is actually the majority of women don't want to be involved in prostitution."

She added: "Trafficked women don't have a choice, men do."

Ms Smith said up to 70% of prostitutes were controlled by pimps or had been trafficked into the country and the government was working closely with the police on plans to enforce the new laws.

But Nikki Adams, of the English Collective of Prostitutes, said the government had "made up" the number of women being trafficked into the UK and most prostitution was "consenting sex".

Brothel powers

Under the plan, the Home Office is planning to criminalise paying for sex with a woman "controlled for another person's gain".

Those convicted would get a fine and a criminal record.

Pleading ignorance of the circumstances under which a prostitute is working will not count as a defence.

Under the plans, people who pay a prostitute for sex knowing they have been trafficked against their will could be charged with rape.

Ms Smith will promise that kerb-crawling will be punishable the first time a person is caught doing it, rather than just persistent offenders.

The Home Office said police would get powers to close brothels.

Currently they can only shut premises associated with prostitution if anti-social behaviour or when Class A drugs are involved.

Critics of the government's proposals say they will simply drive customers elsewhere, rather than tackling the problem.

Separate proposals will soon be published to place lapdancing clubs under the same licensing arrangements as sex shops, rather than as pubs and bars as at present.

This would allow people living nearby more chance to raise objections.

For the Conservatives, shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said: "The government's proposals will not protect the most vulnerable victims.

"Rather than creating new laws, the home secretary should focus on enforcing existing laws."

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 made it illegal to buy sex from anyone aged under 18 and introduced penalties for trafficking adults and children for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

It is not illegal for someone aged over 18 to work as a prostitute in off-street premises but where there is more than one prostitute, the owner of the premises can be prosecuted for keeping a brothel.

Many of the activities associated with street prostitution, such as soliciting and kerb-crawling, are also illegal and it is against the law to advertise sexual services on cards in telephone boxes.

In December last year, Women's Minister Harriet Harman said paying for sex should be outlawed.

India 'sinks Somali pirate ship'



The Indian navy is now patrolling off the Somali coast

An Indian navy warship has destroyed a suspected Somali pirate vessel after it came under attack in the Gulf of Aden.

INS Tabar sank the pirate "mother ship" after it failed to stop for investigation and opened fire instead, an Indian navy statement said.

There has been a surge in piracy incidents off the coast of Somalia.

The latest attack came days after the Saudi-owned Sirius Star supertanker and its 25 crew were seized by pirates and anchored off the Somali coast.

Vela International, operators of the Sirius Star, told the BBC no demands had yet been received from the pirates. The company also said all the crew were safe.

The biggest tanker ever hijacked, Sirius Star is carrying a cargo of two million barrels of oil - a quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output - worth more than $100m (£67m).

Analysts say the pattern of other hijackings suggests a ransom request is likely to follow. Given the value of the tanker and its cargo, that is expected to be a sizeable demand.

Two of the captive crew are British. The UK Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, said the Royal Navy was co-ordinating the European response to the incident.

"The problem of piracy around Somalia is a grave danger to the stability in the region," he told the BBC.

Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991 and has suffered continuing civil strife.

Explosions

India is among several countries already patrolling the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes which connects the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.


The Indian navy said the Tabar spotted the pirate vessel while patrolling 285 nautical miles (528km) south-west of Salalah in Oman on Tuesday evening.

The navy said the pirates on board were armed with guns and rocket propelled grenade launchers.

When it demanded the vessel stop for investigation, the pirate ship responded by threatening to "blow up the naval warship if it closed on her", the statement said.

Pirates then fired on the Tabar, and the Indians say they retaliated and that there was an explosion on the pirate vessel, which sank.

"Fire broke out on the vessel and explosions were heard, possibly due to exploding ammunition that was stored in the vessel," the Indian navy said.

Some of the pirates tried to escape on two speedboats. The Indian sailors gave chase but one boat was later found abandoned, while a second boat escaped.

INS Tabar has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden since 23 October, and has escorted 35 ships safely through the "pirate-infested waters", the statement said.

Last week, helicopter-borne Indian marine commandos stopped pirates from boarding and hijacking an Indian merchant vessel.

Ransoms

On Tuesday, a cargo ship and a fishing vessel became the latest to join more than 90 vessels attacked by the pirates this year.


Carrying 2m barrels of oil
Biggest vessel to be hijacked

The first vessel, a 25-crew cargo vessel transporting wheat to Iran, was attacked in the Gulf of Aden, while contact was lost with the crew of 12 on the fishing boat.

Piracy off the coast of East Africa and the Gulf of Aden - an area of more than 1m sq miles (2.6m sq km) - is estimated to have cost up to $30m in ransoms this year, a UK think tank has said.

The hijackings account for one-third of all global piracy incidents this year and the situation is getting out of control, according to the International Maritime Board.

The pirates who seized the Sirius Star are a sophisticated group with contacts in Dubai and neighbouring countries, says the BBC Somali Service's Yusuf Garaad.

Much of their ransom money from previous hijackings has been used to buy new boats and weapons as well as develop a network across the Horn of Africa, he adds.

Shipping companies are now weighing up the risks of using the short-cut route to Europe via the Suez canal.

However, travelling around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope would add several weeks to average journey times and substantially increase the cost of goods for consumers.



Top ULFA fugitive arrested in Assam

Guwahati, Nov 19 : The deputy commander of ULFA’s ‘B Company’ Ram Singh, alias Mintu Borgohain, who had eluded the security forces since years, was arrested during a joint operation by the Army and police in Upper Assam’s Sivasagar district early Wednesday.

Singh, one of the most wanted ULFA leaders, was arrested from the Jablating area along with his wife Junti and four-month old son Himangshu. A pistol, some bullets and incriminating documents were seized from his possession, police said.

Trained in Myanmar and Kaching, Singh had joined the ULFA 20 years back and was involved in a number of sabotage strikes in the state, particularly in Upper Assam.

After the ULFA’s ‘A’ and ‘C’ company declared a unilateral ceasefire, Singh continued to his allegiance to the ‘B’ Company led by Sujit Mohan.

However, ULFA leadership did not give him any significant position after the entire ’28 battalion’ was reconstituted after the desertion of two of its companies.

Assam, Meghalaya boundary talks tomorrow

Shillong, Nov 19 : Officials of Assam and Meghalaya headed by their respective chief secretaries will meet on Thursday to discuss the long-pending boundary dispute between the two states.

The meeting, to be held at Byrnihat along the boundary between the two states, will be attended by officials from the Revenue departments and Survey of India.

Official sources said both sides are expected establish their claims over the areas of difference along the boundary.

Representatives from Meghalaya are expected to raise the recent reports of fresh encroachment by Assam.

The Chief Ministers of both the states had met in June and constituted a coordination committee to study the differences and resolve the dispute. The committee, headed by the chief secretaries of both the states, was told to submit its report within six months.

The progress made by the committee would also come up during Thursday’s talks.

There are 12 areas of difference between the two states.

Cong Candidate for Mizoram CM has Rs 1.7 Crore in Assets



Aizawl, Nov 19 : Of the three chief ministerial candidates in Mizoram, Lal Thanhawla of Congress is the richest with assets worth Rs 1.71 crore.

He is followed by the current chief minister of the state and Mizo National Front leader Zoramthanga whose worth has gone up to Rs 1.32 crore from Rs 47 lakh in 2003.

Brig T Sailo of Mizo People’s Conference stands third with asset worth Rs 30 lakh. These statistics have come out after the three leaders revealed their wealth, a must to contest the polls.Former CM Lal Thanhawla owns a house worth Rs 1.50 crore at Zarkawt and he has two Maruti Gypsies and a Tata Safari. His bank balance stands at Rs 9.7 lakh and he has Rs 4 lakh in cash. He also has other immovable assets worth Rs 7 lakh. This brings his personal assets to Rs 1.71 crore.

Although he is richer than the current CM, the quantum of his wealth remains unchanged since the 2003 elections. Zoramthanga owns a sprawling farmhouse at Aii Puk near Aizawl, a Baleno car and at least three residential plots in Aizawl.

Besides, his wife Roneihsangi has a Grand Vitara, jewellery worth Rs 1.2 lakh and a house at Ramhlun South in Aizawl. The CM’s family assets have gone up to a whopping Rs 1.32 crore compared to his personal assets worth Rs 47 lakh before the 2003 polls. Brig Sailo, who was CM in 80s, is worth just Rs 30 lakh.

CCpur Villages Remain Steep in Under-development

Imphal, Nov 19 : As a consequent of the deplorable condition of the road connecting Churachandpur district and its Henglep sub-division, the people of the villages located along Doyang and Kailam ranges of the sub-divisions continued to live steep in underdevelopment.

Accompanied by a team of mediapersons, Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) General Headquarters and Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur (ICHAM) had jointly conducted an inspection tour of these villages to take first hand account of the difficulties and problems being faced by the villagers as well as to find out whether the benefits of the developmental schemes and programmes being taken up by the Government reached them or not.

Representatives of KSO Churachandpur District unit and KSO Henglep sub-divisions were also part of the inspection team.

During the course of the inspection tour, it was came across that though Henglep sub-divisions is situated not far off, just 75 kms from Churachandpur district headquarters, underdevelopment has been the hallmark of the region.

The road stretching from Singmun Lamkhai of National Highway 150 and popularly known Henglep Road has been the main lifeline of the people living N Saikot, D Munlui, Dawzang, Henglep, Bongmoul, Damjon, etc which are located along Kailam range on the northwestern direction of Singmun Lamkhai.

But the condition of the road is so bad that only Shaktimas could ply on it.

According to villagers of Henglep, some 10 years from now there used to be passenger bus service from Henglep.

But after around one year of service, it has been stopped as the condition of the road deteriorated.

For all these years, the Government has taken up any steps to improve the condition of the road, atleast to make it usable, the villagers complained.The inspection team, however, came across a signboard on the road side indicating construction work along the 5 kms long road stretch starting from N Saikot with funding from Special Plan Assistant and Additional Central Assistance of 2006-07 .

But no sign of the work is to be seen.

With long years of neglect, the road today bears only tract of Shaktiman tyre with puddles all over.

Following depression of the road at many places, the width of the road has been reduced considerably making travelling along the road not just great hardship but also risky.

The inspection team experienced that it took around 8 hours to cover a distance of around 35 kms from Singmun Lamkhai to Henglep.

Inspite of the deplorable condition of the road and the risky factor involved, the villagers of the sub-divisions have no other option but to depend on the same road.

As for the villagers of D Munlui and Dawzang located along Doyang Range towards east of Kailam Range as well as that of Bongmoul, Mollen, Najang, Bolkot and Songkot villages located towards north of Henglep on the same Range, there has been no road that the Government has ever constructed for them.

Chief in-charge of Bolkot village Tonglal Haokip , while wishing the Government to construct a road that could connect these villages with Henglep, desired that a suspension bridge should be constructed over Dollen river at the earliest possible.

The inspection team, however, came across that construction of a road stretch from N Saikot to D Munlui has been atleast started under NREGS to facilitate movement of people living in the remote villages nestling along Kailam Range.

Media Houses not to bring out dailies from tomorrow in Manipur

I
mphal, Nov 19 : Media houses in Manipur have decided not to bring out copies of the dailies from tomorrow till the state government orders a judicial enquiry to probe the killing of Konsam Rishikanta, a sub-editor with Imphal Free Press, by unidentified gunmen, sources in media organisations said on Wednesday.

They said that they would stop bringing out issues of the dailies unless the government declared that they would order a judicial enquiry into the killing of Rishikanta (22) who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Langol area on Monday last.

All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) in a memorendum to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh yesterday demanded a judicial enquiry into the incident and added that they (AMWJU) suspected the involvement of security personnel in gunning down the upcoming journalist.

A copy of the memorendum said no militant outfit could operate at Langol area where all three entry points were heavily guarded by commandos and asked whether Rishikanta was killed because of personal rivalry with some commandos.

Ibobi Singh told AMWJU delegation that a proper enquiry would be done into the matter.

Hundreds of social organisations strongly condemned the killing of the young journalist.

They in separate statements demanded that a judicial enquiry be ordered into the incident to find out the truth.

No invidividual or group has so far claimed responsibility for the killing of Rishikanta.

Hundreds of mediapersons paid floral tributes to mortal remains of Rishikanta at Manipur press club yesterday after which his mortal remains were consigned to flames last evening.

Editor of Imphal Free Press Pradip Phanjoubam said Rishikanta was a hard working, honest and sincere journalist and strongly condemned the killing of an upcoming journalist.

Sources in media houses said the killing of Rishikanta had nothing to do with his professional works and demanded authorities to order a judicial enquiry into the incident.

Hi-Tech Security System for Northeast Railway Stations



Itanagar, Nov 19 : Much to the relief of trouble-torn north-eastern States, the Central Government, under its ‘integrated security system’, is contemplating to install electronic surveillance systems, modern security gadgets, etc. at more than 100 ‘sensitive’ railway stations, including that of NE region, to prevent terrorist attacks on railways and its passengers.

This was informed by Union Minister of State for Railways, Dr R Velu, in a communique, addressed to Lok Sabha MP Kiren Rijiju, who is currently on a Japan tour in connection with ‘Asia 21 Leaders Summit’, being held in Tokyo.

The BJP MP from Arunachal Pradesh, during the discussion on Railway Budget 2007-08 and Supplementary Demands for Grants in the Lok Sabha on April 17 last, had sought to know whether the Centre was giving any priority to all the trains running to and from North-east for security.

Responding to the point raised by Rijiju, the Union Minister said besides strengthening its ‘integrated security system’, the Centre was intensifying its machineries for guarding of vital installation and bridges in vulnerable and sensitive areas.Velu, in his letter to Rijiju, said, “Policing is a State subject and prevention and detection of crime on railways is the constitutional responsibility of the State Government concerned through their Government Railway Police.

“However, to provide better security to the travelling passengers in trains and passenger areas, the Railway Police Force Act, 1957 and the Railways Act, 1989 have been amended to enable the Railways to supplement the efforts of the State governments in controlling crime on the Railways.”

In addition to this, Railways has been maintaining close liaisons with the State Police and Government Railway Police for taking suitable preventive measures in vulnerable sections of affected States to avert incidents of terrorist attacks, Velu said.

The Union Minister further said periodical meetings with State administrations of affected States and police authorities are being regularly held by Railway administration to formulate effective joint strategy to combat terrorist attack over Railway system.

Sharing of intelligence between Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police and Intelligence Bureau of affected States has been given priority to combat terrorists’ attack on Railways, he added.