Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Jocko's will gives estate to mother, children

Washington, Jun 30: After the details of the autopsy report, the media has now unearthed Michael Jackson's will which reportedly divides his estate between his mother, three children and one or more charities, but his father's name however has not made the cut.



According to a Wall Street Journal report published on Tuesday, Jun 30, the King of Pop's will gives away Jackson's estate to his Mother and his three children along with some charities. Michael's father, Joseph Jackson however get no share of the assets.


The 2002 will which is belieived to be his last one is going to be submitted to a judge on Thurday, Jul 2.

According to WSJ, Micheal jackson has named lawyer John Branca and a music executive John Mclain, a friend of Jackson, as executors. And the lawyer has revealed that the parents have still not seen the will.

Jackson's mother was given the temporary custody of the three children on Tuesday, Jun 30 by a Los Angeles Court.

Mayawati statues spree challenged

The politician Mayawati has been accused of wrongly using public cash to make statues of herself and her allies, in a case at India's Supreme Court.

The court gave Mayawati, who is chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, four weeks to respond to the petition.

She has dismissed the case as a political conspiracy against her.

The case was brought by a lawyer who accuses her of wasting public money and space to build vast statues in the interests of self-glorification.

In the last week alone she has unveiled 15 new memorials, including two of herself.

'Shameful'

The BBC's Rahul Tandon in Delhi says that since coming to power Mayawati, as she is usually known, has constructed 50 huge figures of herself, her political mentors and of elephants - the symbol of her party.
Often called the Dalit Queen, she is an icon for India's 160m low-caste Hindus, formerly the "untouchables".

She leads the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which has its power base in Uttar Pradesh.

But Mayawati's spending on statues and memorials has come in for sharp criticism.

Uttar Pradesh is one of India's most deprived states, with a high crime rate and poor health services.

One Indian lawyer has filed a case accusing her of wasting millions of dollars in public funds in the construction of these statues.

India's Home Minister P Chidambaram has described the statue-building as "shameful".

Statues of political leaders are generally put up posthumously, but Mayawati has said that belief is outdated.

Microsoft to discontinue MSN messenger

Redmond, Jun 30: Get set to say goodbye to the blue, green, yellow, orange MSN butterfly that sits on the buddy icons of the MSN messenger, the web messenger service will expire on Tuesday, Jun 30.


Announcing the development Microsoft's website read, "We are preparing to discontinue MSN Web Messenger. The old MSN Web Messenger experience will end on 30 June."


This move comes as part of the Microsoft's efforts to realigning its online services under the Windows Live brand.

The old messenger will be replaced by Google's Gtalk-like web-based IM that is integrated with the Hotmail Inbox.

Chukka Jam Dispels Stupor in Nagaland

On 20 June, the Assam Trucker-owners’, Drivers’ and Handymen’s Association went on an indefinite chakka jam, preventing vehicles from carrying goods to Nagaland and forcing these to be dumped on the Assam (Karbi Anglong)-Nagaland border at Lahorijan.

This act did not come about on the spur of the moment but was the climax of years of harassment by Nagaland police personnel, militant cadres and sundry other organisations that have come up to forcibly collect taxes and donations.


A report in the Dimapur-based Nagaland Post says every truck entering Nagaland is “forced” to pay Rs 550 to the Dimapur municipal committee and an equal amount for parking.

Truck drivers alleged they were often “threatened at the DMC counter in the name of (the) United People’s Democratic Solidarity if they failed to pay”.

One wonders what the UPDS, a Karbi Anglong-based militant group in truce with the Centre and Assam for five years now, has to do in Nagaland unless some are in cahoots with the DMC.

This suggests that if any truck driver refuses to pay, his vehicle number is passed on to “militants” in Karbi Anglong and “punishment” is not long in the coming upon his return journey. There had been several reports of drivers and their assistants being beaten up and abducted, with police remaining silent spectators.

Another report says trucks entering Dimapur are forced to shell out Rs 5,000 as “annual permit” and another Rs 40,000, depending on what type of consignment is carried. Even taxis are reluctant to enter Nagalad and stop at Bokajan, with some drivers describing the Nagaland police gates as “terror gates”.

Thankfully, the chakka jam has stirred the authorities from their stupor. The Nagaland government has banned, with immediate effect, all forms of tax collection along the state highway by “any organisation or individual, including government departments such as the police, excise and forest departments”.

They have been told to do so only through proper treasury challans and those making payments have been advised to obtain receipts for any such transaction.

Nagaland home minister Imkong L Imchen suspects the involvement of a “mafia-like syndicate” in the extortion in and around the commercial hub of Dimapur, which he says can be tackled only with the help and support of the general public.

He says people who for long had been afraid to speak out against these forcible collections are now coming out openly — which is an encouraging sign. But he did not elaborate on who the “any organisation or individuals” were.

Do they include militant and student groups? There have been reports that NSCN(IM) cadres collect taxes from private car owners under the very nose of the police, who are reluctant to act for fear of being accused of interfering since this outfit is observing a ceasefire with the Centre.

Nagaland will earn kudos only if it can stop such rampant extortion by militant outfits which operate in duplicate and triplicate.

Also, it must provide adequate protection to Manipur-bound night bus passengers along the Bokajan-Dimapur route where there have been several reports of miscreants robbing weary travelers when they stop to either relieve themselves or grab an early morning cuppa at a wayside stall.

Truck drivers and their attendants deserve to be respected rather than harassed or tortured because they are the ones that ferry essential goods over long distances, come rain or shine.

Their stopping means a rise in the prices of essential commodities not only in Nagaland but in Manipur as well.

The ordeals of truck drivers and oil tanker owners on the Dimapur-Imphal Road — one of the most unsafe in the region — have been highlighted in these columns umpteen times.

Dr Manhohan Singh paints a rosy picture for the Northeast, saying the region will be the springboard from which the country will launch an economic integration with its eastern neighbours.

But given the prevalent situation and the continued reluctance to tackle it, one might well ask: But when, Prime Minister?

Monday, June 29, 2009

Now serving, flavours of NE




New food court in JNU offers traditional food from the seven
sister states —and it’s cheap too.



Monalisa S. Arthur
New Delhi, June28
A CROWD gathered at the counter a few minutes after the shutters went up on Monday And because they ran out of supplies, this 24x7 eatery shut shop at 11.30 p.m. on Day One.
“We’re weren’t prepared for the rush, we’ll be open 24 hours,” said a smiling head
chef Comfort Khapudang, 32. Welcome to the northeast dhaba at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Apart from Dliii Haat, this is the only other place in the city that serves traditional food from India’s northeastern states like Manipus-, Nagaland and Assam.
With prices ranging from Rs 20 for snacks like khazing bobra (deep fried shrimp balls) to Rs 30 for the fish/chicken curry, it’s easy on the pocket. At Rs 65, the Chinese prawn dish with oyster sauce is the most expensive curry here.
But an ingredient that identifies Naga cuisine — pork — is missing from the menu. “Unfortunately, we haven’t been allowed to serve pork, because of religious concerns,” said 33-year-old Townson Y.L., owner of North East and Chinese Food Court. But we’re hoping to increase the items after a few months.” Townson and Khapudang ran a restaurant in the Delhi University area in north Dethi until the MCD hammer fell on them during the sealing drive.
JNU students are only glad they moved to their campus.
“We had the chicken stew and the ooti (a Manipuri speciality made of peas in which cooking soda is added). It was really good,” said Lipok (who goes by one name), a PhD (History) student. “Many of my friends from other parts of the country also fried the food. They seemed to be enjoying it,” he added.
“I don’t know much about northeast food, but Iwantto taste it. It’s good this canteen opened,” said international relations sin- dent Raj Kumar Sharma.
The owners have tried to make the food as authentic as possible. The stew is cooked in an earthen pot made of black mud found only in a certain village in Manipur. Even the red chilli powder was brought from home, said Khapudang.
“There was a huge rush so
couldn’t order much. I had the Singju (shredded vegetables garnished with sesame, chili and crushed green peas), but
thought it wasn’t as good as what we get at home. But we’re thrified about the new dhaba,” said Zingjarwon Nighshen, an MPhil student.
A must-try are the chutneys prepared with bhoot jolokia, officially declared the hottest chili in the world by the Guinness World Records. It rates 1,041,427 units on the scoville, a scale used for measuring the hoiness of a chiffi.
In comparison, the Red Savina, the second hottest chffli and a popular ingredient in spicy food especially in Mexico, measures 577,000 units.
The dhaba serves chutney flavoured with dry fish, bamboo shoot, potatoes and even akhoni (fermented soya bean, a favourite with northeasterners, but whose smell can drive others away).
“We have not compromised on the spiciness. We keep a hotter version of every dish, but we’ve toned it down for those who want it milder,” said Townson.
The canteen was to open two years ago, but got stuck in paperwork.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Autopsy set after Michael Jackson's sudden death

LOS ANGELES -Michael Jackson, defined in equal parts as the world's greatest entertainer and perhaps its most enigmatic figure, was about to attempt one of the greatest comebacks of all time. Then his life was cut shockingly — and so far, mysteriously — short.
The 50-year-old musical superstar died Thursday, just as he was preparing for what would be a series of 50 concerts starting July 13 at London's famed 02 arena. Jackson had been spending hours and hours toiling with a team of dancers for a performance he and his fans hoped would restore his tarnished legacy to its proper place in pop.
An autopsy was planned for Friday, though results were not likely to be final until toxicology tests could be completed, a process that could take several days and sometimes weeks. However, if a cause can be determined by the autopsy, they will announce the results, said Los Angeles County Coroner Investigator Jerry McKibben.
Police said they were investigating, standard procedure in high-profile cases.
Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center after being stricken at his rented home in the posh Los Angeles neighborhood of Holmby Hills. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him at his home for nearly three-quarters of an hour, then rushed him to the hospital, where doctors continued to work on him.
"It is believed he suffered cardiac arrest in his home. However, the cause of his death is unknown until results of the autopsy are known," his brother Jermaine said.
Cardiac arrest is an abnormal heart rhythm that stops the heart from pumping blood to the body. It can occur after a heart attack or be caused by other heart problems.
Jackson's death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.
His 1982 album "Thriller" — which included the blockbuster hits "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" — is the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide.
As word of his death spread, MTV switched its programming to play videos from Jackson's heyday. Radio stations began playing marathons of his hits. Hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital. In New York's Times Square, a low groan went up in the crowd when a screen flashed that Jackson had died, and people began relaying the news to friends by cell phone.
"No joke. King of Pop is no more. Wow," Michael Harris, 36, of New York City, read from a text message a friend had sent him. "It's like when Kennedy was assassinated. I will always remember being in Times Square when Michael Jackson died."
The public first knew him as a boy in the late 1960s, when he was the precocious, spinning lead singer of the Jackson 5, the singing group he formed with his four older brothers out of Gary, Ind. Among their No. 1 hits were "I Want You Back," "ABC" and "I'll Be There."
He was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his backward-gliding moonwalk, his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves and his high-pitched singing, punctuated with squeals and titters. His single sequined glove, tight, military-style jacket and aviator sunglasses were trademarks, as was his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.
"For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words," said Quincy Jones, who produced "Thriller." "He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."
Jackson ranked alongside Elvis Presley and the Beatles as the biggest pop sensations of all time. He united two of music's biggest names when he was briefly married to Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie. Jackson's sudden death immediately evoked comparisons to that of Presley himself, who died at age 42 in 1977.
"I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible," Lisa Marie Presley said in a statement. "I am heartbroken for his children who I know were everything to him and for his family. This is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me."
As years went by, Jackson became an increasingly freakish figure — a middle-aged man-child weirdly out of touch with grown-up life. His skin became lighter, his nose narrower, and he spoke in a breathy, girlish voice. He often wore a germ mask while traveling, kept a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles as one of his closest companions and surrounded himself with children at his Neverland ranch, a storybook playland filled with toys, rides and animals. The tabloids dubbed him "Wacko Jacko."
"It seemed to me that his internal essence was at war with the norms of the world. It's as if he was trying to defy gravity," said Michael Levine, a Hollywood publicist who represented Jackson in the early 1990s. He called Jackson a "disciple of P.T. Barnum" and said the star appeared fragile at the time but was "much more cunning and shrewd about the industry than anyone knew."
Jackson caused a furor in 2002 when he playfully dangled his infant son, Prince Michael II, over a hotel balcony in Berlin while a throng of fans watched from below.
In 2005, he was cleared of charges that he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003. He had been accused of plying the boy with alcohol and groping him, and of engaging in strange and inappropriate behavior with other children.
The case followed years of rumors about Jackson and young boys. In a TV documentary, he acknowledged sharing his bed with children, a practice he described as sweet and not at all sexual.
Despite the acquittal, the lurid allegations that came out in court took a fearsome toll on his career and image, and he fell into serious financial trouble.
Michael Joseph Jackson was born Aug. 29, 1958, in Gary. He was 4 years old when he began singing with his brothers — Marlon, Jermaine, Jackie and Tito — in the Jackson 5. After his early success with bubblegum soul, he struck out on his own, generating innovative, explosive, unstoppable music.
The album "Thriller" alone mixed the dark, serpentine bass and drums and synthesizer approach of "Billie Jean," the grinding Eddie Van Halen guitar solo on "Beat It," and the hiccups and falsettos on "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'."
The peak may have come in 1983, when Motown celebrated its 25th anniversary with an all-star televised concert and Jackson moonwalked off with the show, joining his brothers for a medley of old hits and then leaving them behind with a pointing, crouching, high-kicking, splay-footed, crotch-grabbing run through "Billie Jean."
The audience stood and roared. Jackson raised his fist.
During production of a 1984 Pepsi commercial, Jackson's scalp sustains burns when an explosion sets his hair on fire.
He had strong follow-up albums with 1987's "Bad" and 1991's "Dangerous," but his career began to collapse in 1993 after he was accused of molesting a boy who often stayed at his home. The singer denied any wrongdoing, reached a settlement with the boy's family, reported to be $20 million, and criminal charges were never filed.
Jackson's expressed anger over the allegations on the 1995 album "HIStory," which sold more than 2.4 million copies, but by then, the popularity of Jackson's music was clearly waning even as public fascination with his increasingly erratic behavior was growing.
Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley in 1994, and they divorced in 1996. Later that year, Jackson married Deborah Rowe, a former nurse for his dermatologist. They had two children together: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, now 12; and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11. Rowe filed for divorce in 1999.
Jackson also had a third child, Prince Michael II. Now 7, Jackson said the boy nicknamed Blanket as a baby was his biological child born from a surrogate mother.
Billboard magazine editorial director Bill Werde said Jackson's star power was unmatched. "The world just lost the biggest pop star in history, no matter how you cut it," Werde said. "He's literally the king of pop."
Jackson's 13 No. 1 one hits on the Billboard charts put him behind only Presley, the Beatles and Mariah Carey, Werde said.
"He was on the eve of potentially redeeming his career a little bit," he said. "People might have started to think of him again in a different light."

India to launch 'ID card' scheme

The Indian government has begun moves to provide a Unique Identification (UID) number to its citizens, the central government has announced.

It has appointed Infosys Technologies co-chairman Nandan Nilekani as head of a new body to determine how the scheme will be implemented.

The project will mean that all Indian adults will have to carry what is in effect an identity card.

It was a key commitment in the election manifesto of the Congress party.

In its manifesto, Congress said it may be possible to provide every Indian adult with a card after the publication of the national population register in 2011.

The BBC's Soutik Biswas in Delhi says that the scheme - which is being implemented by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) - is being done primarily to provide better security in the country, especially in the wake of recent militant attacks.

Our correspondent says that another aim of the multi-million dollar scheme is to ensure that food handouts and employment opportunities for poorer people are more fair. It is also hoped that the card will help tackle identity theft and fraud.

Mr Nilekani will be the chairman of UIDAI and will have a place in the Indian cabinet. He has resigned his membership of Infosys Board of Directors following his appointment.

Experts say the scheme is likely to take several years to implement.

World mourns King of Pop

LONDON -Michael Jackson was due to make his triumphant return to the stage in London next month — but instead his sudden death has left millions of fans feeling they've lost a lifelong friend.
The dramatic death of the brilliant singer seemed to obscure his recent controversies and kindle warmer memories of Jackson the child star and Jackson the show-stopping, moonwalking headliner.
The worldwide chorus of grief united the famous — statesmen and superstars alike — and the legions of ordinary people who grew up with "Thriller" and "Beat It."
Word of Jackson's death jolted nearly everyone, from a young man in Colombia who was named after the King of Pop, to Malaysians who named a soy drink for him, to a generation of people around the world who have tried, in vain, to moonwalk.
"It's horrible news, so unexpected," the Italian actress Sophia Loren told The Associated Press by telephone. "The world has lost an icon and music has lost treasures. He wrote songs that generations of yesterday, today and tomorrow will all keep on singing. What he wrote was amazing."
Loren and her children had been frequent visitors to Jackson at his Neverland ranch in California, developing an enduring friendship.
"I hope that Michael will find that peace that maybe he did not have in the last 15 years."
In London, shocked fans gathered at the Lyric Theatre, where a live show based on Jackson's record-selling album "Thriller" is being performed, and waited for news about refunds for some 750,000 tickets to his sold-out, 50-night run.
A spokeswoman for AEG Live — the promoters for the London concerts — declined to comment as to how ticket refunds would be handled. She spoke on condition of anonymity, saying she was not authorized to speak to the media.
There were poignant memories of his final public appearance when he came to London for a March news conference to announce his "This is it" concerts, which he said would mark his farewell to the London stage.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela issued a message through his foundation saying Jackson's loss would be felt worldwide.
Jackson sang at a birthday concert for Mandela in 1998, and in 1999, according to local media reports at the time, lunched with Mandela at a small gathering at which the South African anti-apartheid leader celebrated both his 81st birthday and his and wife Graca Machel's first wedding anniversary.
The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, UNESCO and the Red Cross were given proceeds from a huge benefit concert in Germany in 1999 that featured Jackson and other international stars.
Former Beatle Paul McCartney, who recorded with Jackson before they had a falling out over ownership of the Beatles catalogue, said his prayers went to Jackson's family and fans.
"It's so sad and shocking," he said. "I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy-man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones."
Former British child star Mark Lester, who is godfather to Jackson's children, said he had visited with Jackson several weeks ago and believed the star was ready for the rigors of performing 50 live gigs.
"He was absolutely fine," said Lester. "I can't believe this, it's such a shock. I'll always remember him as being a very sweet, kind and loving man."
Rocker Lenny Kravitz recalled working with Jackson in the studio on an unreleased track and finding the man far different from the eccentric recluse often portrayed in the media.
"It was the most amazing experience I've had in the studio," Kravitz said. "He was funny. Very funny and we laughed the whole time. I also saw what a beautiful father he was. He was a beautiful human being. If not for him, I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing. He gave me joy as a child and showed me the way to go."
Jackson's death prompted broadcasters from Sydney to Seoul — where the news came early Friday — to interrupt morning programs, while fans remembered a "tortured genius" whose squeals and sliding moves captivated a generation and who sparked global trends in music, dance and fashion.
Several world leaders weighed in. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called it "lamentable news," though he criticized the media for giving it so much attention. Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who had met Jackson, said: "We lost a hero of the world."
The grief crossed all borders.
In Romania, where a tumultuous Jackson concert in 1992 helped mark the country's new freedoms after the fall of the Soviet bloc, singer Lucian Viziru said he was stunned by the tragedy.
"I feel like crying," he told the AP, rubbing his eyes. "I grew up with him, I learned his dances, his songs, everything. My first ever cassette was 'Thriller.'"
A condolence board went up in downtown Bucharest, and radio and television stations played his music, and broadcast clips from the heady concert.
"My heart is heavy because my idol died," said Byron Garcia, security consultant at a Philippine prison who organized the famous video of 1,500 inmates doing a synchronized dance to "Thriller." The video has had 23.4 million hits on YouTube.
Garcia said the inmates in Cebu will hold a tribute for Jackson on Saturday with their "Thriller" dance and a minute of prayer.
The flamboyant former Philippine first lady, Imelda Marcos, who cheered Jackson's acquittal on child molestation charges in 2005, said she cried on hearing the news.
"Michael Jackson enriched our lives, made us happy," she said. "The accusations, the persecution caused him so much financial and mental anguish. He was vindicated in court, but the battle took his life. There is probably a lesson here for all of us."
In Bogota, Colombia, a 24-year-old tattoo artist named Michael Tarquino said his parents named him after Jackson. He recalled growing up with electricity rationing for hours at a time and waiting for the power to return.
"When the light came back on I would play my Michael Jackson LP, and I'd stand at the window and sing along," he said.
Japanese fans were always among Jackson's most passionate supporters, and news of his death came as a huge shock. Michiko Suzuki, a music critic who met Jackson several times in the 1980s, said the country was likely to be mourning for some time.
"Everyone was imitating his 'moonwalk' when it was a hit. He was a true superstar," she said.
Jackson also had a huge fan base in Seoul, South Korea, where his style and dance moves were widely emulated by Korean pop stars.
"He is my master and the prime mover to make me dance," pop star Rain told the South Korean sports and entertainment daily Ilgan Sports. "Even though he is dead, he is an eternal performer."
Aaron Kwok, one of Chinese pop's most accomplished singer-dancers, said he was deeply saddened by the news.
"It's so sudden. I can't accept the news as fact," Kwok said in a statement. "No one can replace Michael Jackson's contributions to pop music."

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

China says North Korea a "serious concern"

BEIJING (Reuters) - China shares the region's "serious concerns" about a nuclear North Korea and urged all parties to keep negotiating, a senior Chinese military officer said Wednesday after talks with Pentagon officials.

Lieutenant-General Ma Xiaotian did not announce any new measures against Pyongyang, but said Beijing was concerned about North Korea, which staged a second nuclear test on May 25, prompting new U.N. sanctions.

"For the regional security of northeast Asia, the North Korean nuclear issue is not only a serious concern for the United States and neighboring South Korea and Japan, but is also for China," Ma told a news conference after talks with a U.S. delegation led by Under Secretary of Defense Michele Flournoy.

But Ma also repeated China's position that the dispute with North Korea must be defused through negotiations.

"We hope and encourage the relevant parties to take positive steps and more stabilizing measures to control developments on the Korean Peninsula, to address the issues through diplomatic negotiations, consultations and dialogue."

The United States has ratcheted up the pressure on North Korea, tracking its ships in a bid to deter arms shipments banned under the recent U.N. resolution.

Ma told reporters that the talks did not cover the issue of those North Korean ships.

Ma also said the United States and China had agreed to hold special consultations in July to address the issue of preventing sea confrontations.

"The two sides agreed to work together to avoid such incidents recurring," Ma said, referring to recent skirmishes between Chinese and U.S. vessels off China.

In recent months, Chinese vessels have become involved in several brief, non-fatal confrontations with U.S. surveillance vessels in seas off the Chinese coast that Beijing claims are in its exclusive economic zone.

The Pentagon has objected, saying the U.S. ships involved were operating within international law.

Ma gave an upbeat view of prospects for improving relations between the two military powers.

"The two sides agreed to work together to strive for improvement," he said.

Monday, June 22, 2009

NKorea threatens to harm US if attacked

SEOUL, South Korea -North Korea reminded the U.S. on Monday that it has nuclear weapons and warned it will strike back if attacked, as a U.S. destroyer continued to trail a North Korean cargo ship suspected of carrying illicit weapons.
The Kang Nam, previously involved in weapons shipments, is the first vessel monitored under new U.N. sanctions adopted after the North's nuclear test last month. It could become a test case for interception of North Korean ships at sea — something Pyongyang has said it would consider an act of war.
President Barack Obama said the U.S. is ready to cope with "any contingencies" amid reports the North appears to be preparing for a long-range missile test planned sometime around July 4, the Independence Day holiday. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered additional protections for Hawaii as a precaution.

Saina Nehwal wins Indonesian Open

Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal has won the Indonesian Open badminton title with a victory over the higher-ranked Chinese player Lin Wang in Jakarta.

Nehwal also became the first Indian to win a Super series tournament with her 12-21, 21-18, 21-9 victory in a match which lasted 49 minutes.

The world number 8 player came in from behind to defeat Wang, ranked number 3.

India's badminton authorities have hailed her victory and announced a reward of 200,000 rupees ($4133).

"It is a big moment in Indian badminton. We are proud of her achievement", India's badminton association chief, VK Verma, said.

The 19-year-old shuttler from the northern state of Haryana, was the first Indian woman to reach the singles quarter-finals at the Olympics.

Mehwal is also the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships.

Satyam is now Mahindra Satyam with a new biz plan

Hyderabad, Jun 22: The new owner of the Satyam Computers, Tech Mahindra Ltd has renamed the software provider Mahindra Satyam. Apart from adapting a new logo of the Mahindra Group, the firm will be assuming a new business plan.


The new business plan will focus on good corporate governance and citizenship. The firm is expected to win back its reputation and business through through joint branding and go-to-market strategies.


“Customer centricity, high standards of corporate governance, unimpeachable ethics form the cornerstones of the Mahindra Group,” said Anand Mahindra, vice-chairman and managing director, Mahindra Group.

He added that this 'rebranding exercise' will bring together 'Mahindra Group’s values' and 'Satyam’s fabled expertise'.
“This is a significant milestone towards the recovery of the company,” said Vineet Nayyar, executive chairman of Tech Mahindra.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Who said drinks came cheap? Take a look at five of the costliest liquors in the world, category-wise





It’s been rocky; how about a little credit?


L IBOMCHA S1NGH has made boxing champs out of his students but has got little in return


I OWE EVERYTHING to my
coach,” Suranjoy Singh, who won the Asian Boxing
Championship gold medal for India after 15 years in 2009, told reporters. Eleven years ago, a champion boxer had said almost the same words: Dingko Singh who won the Asian Games gold for India after 16 years in 1998, had said, “I have learnt everything from my coach in Imphal.”

Their coach L Thomcha Singh is a mentor, artist and rebel, all rolled into one. “I consider myself an artist because I create bcxers of ordinary men.” he says shyly
No matter how good a coach he is. Ibomcha knows he can never outshine his wards. “This is the predicament a coach has to live with,” he says. Yet, with the patience of a hermit (you can not produce champions everyday) he waits for one of his wards to succeed and jubilates like a child when it happens. ‘After coaching for more than 25 years, you tend to enjoy all those moments,” he says placidly
His wards say he’s no placid man. “He can box you on your face if you don’t listen to him,” Dingko used to say. “Woh mar dalega agar kuch galti hua to.”

Though he’s produced some of India’s finest boxers, Ibomcha is yet to receive official recognition. So far his hard work has yielded only champions and nothing more. He still commutes on a scooter. Sips tea and eats biscuits and an odd banana during breaks. Gatorade and energy drinks? What’s that?

The national Dronacharya Award for coaching has not come his way either. It irks Ibomcha a lot. “I am not asking for money or land. I am just asking for recognition.” he says. Nowadays he sends his own recommendation from the state. “I have even taken up my case with the sports minister (MS Gill),” he reveals. He doesn’t trust the boxing federation, which he says has never forwarded his case. “What else can I do?” he asks. “Mera nomination hor time gayab kar deto hai (They make my nomination vanish). This time I have sent it through registered post.”

He had almost quit coaching in depression at this situation. His students wouldn’t allow it. What he calls the worst moment of his life came from one of his famous students, though. After an argument with her coach, world women’s boxing champ Mary Kom burst out before the media saying “I don’t know Ibomcha”.

All that’s over, though. He may not have the Dronacharya Award, but to his students, he is the greatest guru.

THE DRONACHARYA AWARD FOR
COACHING HAS NOT COME HIS WAY. “THEY MAKE MY NOMINATION VANISH”, HE SAYS

Friday, June 19, 2009

Rahul Gandhi turns 39, Congress celebrates

New Delhi, Jun 19: Congress party's youth icon Rahul Gandhi turned 39 on Friday, Jun 19. Rahul will be celebrating his birthday in London reportedly with his close pals.


Reports suggest that the celebration will be a private dinner, most likely with friends from his Cambridge days and some old family friends. Rahul had apparently asked his partymen not to have huge celebrations and to visit Dalits and slums instead and distribute sweets.


However, Congress workers gathered in large numbers at the party headquarters and state offices to wish their beloved lead all the best. Congress party has decided to celebrate Rahul Gandhi's birthday as 'Samrasta Divas' and hold the 'sahbhoj'. Rahul, who emerged as the key leader of Congress after the Lok Sabha polls 2009, will be joined by Sonia Gandhi in London.

London is the favourite destination of PM in the making. Born on June 19, 1970, he is a Member of Parliament from Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

Assam Youth is Finalist in International Music Talent Show

Guwahati, Jun 17 : A youngster from Assam, Joshua Queah, has made it to the finals of Sutasi, a contemporary Asian music TV talent show hosted in Singapore.

‘I have been selected as one of the finalists for the final round. Now internet voting system is on. Now it is all on votes,’ said Joshua Queah.


Music has always been the first love for this youth and he is the first ever musician from the northeast to reach the finals of this premier South Asian musical competition.

This competition is also called as Euro-Asiatic, which searches talents from South Asia, East Asia, and South-East Asia.

Joshua Queah is a part of a group named Casino Blues, he is also associated with bands like Euphonic Trance and Faith.

He has mastered playing the music and songs of Deep Purple, Led Zapplin, Eric Clapton among others.

The finale of the competition is scheduled at Los Angeles in the United States later this year.

Northeast on Swine Flu Radar, Pig Import Banned

Agartala, Jun 17 : Authorities in the northeastern region have stepped up precautionary measures against the spread of swine flu, besides banning import of pigs and pork products from adjoining countries, officials said Tuesday.


A health official said no case of influenza A(H1N1) infection had been reported in Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura. However, these states have banned import of pigs and pork products. The northeastern states share unfenced borders with Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China.

‘We are on a maximum alert with our rapid action teams keeping a strict vigil along the international border with Myanmar and Bangladesh and also boundaries with other northeastern states,’ said C. Sangnghina, director of Mizoram’s animal husbandry and veterinary department.

‘We are holding regular review meetings and collecting reports from deputy commissioners on the latest situation,’ he added.

Sale of pork in Mizoram, Tripura, and Manipur has already come down after swine flu cases were reported in the country. Pigs are imported from Myanmar with pork being a favoured delicacy of Mizos.

The state governments of Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Manipur have launched a massive awareness campaign about swine flu as a substantial number of people in the region rear pigs and consume pork, a possible source of the deadly disease.

‘The Manipur government has sounded an alert and has taken certain steps to prevent the entry of animals through international border with Myanmar,’ said Thoiba Jiban Singh, director of Veterinary and animal husbandry department.

‘We are following the standard guidelines in our seven government run pig breeding farms in Tripura and asked the private farms to follow the same,’ said a senior official of the Tripura animal resources development department.

The Meghalaya government has also issued a set of directives to pig breeders.

Manipur Euphoric Over Boxers’ Achievement

mphal, Jun 18 : State sports bodies are euphoric over the success of two state boxers in the just concluded Asian championships held at Zhuhai in China. This comes after Mary Kom won four golds in a row in the world women championships.

The navy’s Mayengbam Suranjoy grabbed a gold, while Thokchom Nanao of the army won a silver. Suranjoy (22), from Uchiwa village in greater Imphal, defeated his Chinese opponent Li Chao 9-8 in the fly weight category.


At the end of the championships, India was third in the overall rankings with one gold, two silver and four bronze medals. China topped the list and Uzbekistan stood second. Suranjoy’s feat gave the nation its first Asian championship gold in 15 years. The last gold was won by Rajkumar Sangwan in the 1994 Tehran games.

“We are really proud of our boys’ who gave India the third rank and Suranjoy’s golden victory was extraordinary,” Indian Boxing Federation vice president Khoibi Salam said on Sunday.

Khoibi, also the All Manipur Boxing Association (AMBA) general secretary, said luck did not favour the youth world champion Nanao and so he could not win a gold. “He is a skilled boxer and he will win many top laurels in future,” he added.

“We hope they also win in the Delhi Commonwealth games next year,” Khoibi said adding that AMBA will organize a grand reception for the two boxers at Imphal.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Photos taken just before the crash of the Air France



All the passengers including the extraordinary photographer, who kept his cool even in
thelast moments of his own life and took these photos.

The world saw the disappearance of an Air France aircraftduring a trans Atlantic flight
between Rio to Paris .


Two shots taken inside the plane before it crashed.


Unbelievable photos taken inside the aircraft that was involved inthe crash.....


The two photos attached were apparently taken by one of the passengers in the
aircraft, just after the collision and before the aircraft crashed. The photos were
retrieved from the camera's memory stick. You will never get to see photos like this.
In the first photo, there is a gaping hole in the fuselage through which you can see
the tailplane and vertical fin of the aircraft. In the second photo, one of the
passengers is being sucked out of the gaping hole.



These photos were found in a digital Casio Z750, amidst the remains in
Serra do Cachimbo. Although the camera was destroyed, the Memory
Stick was recovered. Investigating the serial number of the camera,
the owner was identified as Paulo G. Muller, an actor of a theatre for
children known in the outskirts of Porto Alegre . It can be imagined
that he was standingduring the turbulence, he managed to take these
photos, just seconds after the tail loss the aircraft plunged. So the
camera was found near the cockpit. The structural stress probably
ripped the engines away, diminishing the falling speed, protecting the
electronic equipment but not unfortunately the victims. Paulo Muller
leaves behind two daughters, Bruna and Beatriz.

Battling alienation, together

Freshers from the Northeast seek support of older DU students who guide them how to tackle Delhi life




BACK HOME Ejewanjai Angh had heard unpleasant stories about how students from the Northeast were treated in Dethi. Less than a month after landing lathe Capital, she had her own story to tell.
“A kid had the audacity to walk up to me and ask for sex. He seemed like he was only in Class 8 or 9,” said the 18-year- old from Nagaland.
“Does being from the northeast mean that one is characterless?”
Angh is among hundreds of yqungsters from the region currently seeking admission to Dethi flniversity. But their struggle here includes a constant barrage of nasty racial comments and incessant eve teasing.
Leishichan Zingkhai (19) from Manipur is just a week old in Delhi and she’s already had her first brush with racism.
A few days ago, a rickshaw ride to the university turned traumatic when two boys on a bike reached out to grab her hand. “What cheap thrifis does one get out of doing this?” she asked.
Support groups formed by senior students from the Northeast at DU are a big help. Their advice at the right time helps freshers steer clear of trouble.

“Most are clueless about ways to get things done and they are usually here for a short duration. We try our best to guide them,” said Shrijeet Boro, an Assam native and president of All Boro Student’s Union, Delhi.
Faced with cultural differences (read: language problem) and the insecurity of being in an alien city, the students too seem more comfortable seeking help from one of their own.
“I feel insecure whenever I go out. I feel better only when I see or interact with my own people,” said Janiso Athary (19) from Manipur.
From filling up forms to finding safe accommodation, there is help at hand for practically everything. The groups usually become like an extended family. “With the government in our part of the country being irresponsible, students from the
northeast usually end up with fake income and caste certificates. We help correct such problems as well,” said a volunteer at the he1pdsk set up
at North Campus by the Naga Students’ Union, Delhi.


In our own Country people treat us like outsiders. Though it hurts a lot, it is best to ignore such comments.
CHRIS, Manipur








People call me names like Bahadur and Chinky. It is as it Nepal’s national flag Is embossed on my forehead.
SORENGAM SHATSANG, Manipur








They make catcalls and brush against us. What I have noticed is men intentionally try to bump into us.
EJEWANJAI ANGH, Nagaland






CALL FOR HERLP
These helpdesks have been set up at the faculty of Arts building DU.
Naga Students Union
9871549882
Kuki Students Organization
9873406992

the joy of being chota tyson




HE HAS an uncanny resemblance to Mike Tyson. Tell him that and he chuckles, gives you an impish smile and says: “Haan?” Ask him about his I historic gold in Zhihai on
Saturday, he smiles and says it was ‘pleasing’. There is no trace of jubilation or excitement in the voice.

If you are meeting Suranjoy Singh for the first time outside the ring, he can pass off as recluse trying to discover his role in this complicated world. That’s for those who don’t know Suranjoy Those who know him, talk about his exuberance in the
ring; his excitement after winning a bout; that he considers the scars on his body as relics to remind him of his early struggles. Those in the know also talk about his unflinching loyalty to coach Ibomcha Singh, whose photograph he carries as a lucky charm, that he tried his luck in football before shifting to boxing and that he loves everything that’s Manipuri.

As we conversed, one thing was clear, Suranjoy likes to smile and he is no recluse. He is laconic, and needs some prodding to open up, but inside the ring he is different. “I am so focnssed inside the ring, that I feel no pain,” says suranjoy.
“In the ring he is like Tyson,” says Ibomcha. “He ges wild and stops at nothing.” His teammate, Nanao Singh (also from Manipur), who is back with a silver from Zhuhai,
echoes Ibomcha’s words. “One has to see it to believe. He is uncontrollable in the ring.”
Suranjoy won his first gold at the Hyderabad Games in 2002, when he was barely 16, after just two years of training at the SAl centre, Imphal.

“He is stubborn. One day he came to me and said he wanted to challenge the seniors and join the squad. It wasn’t easy as we had some very good boxers. But he managedb to get into the team through an open trial. it was in Hyderabad that he started winning, where he got the name Chota Tyson,” said Ibomcha.
For Suranjoy, those were the best fights of his life. Those are the moments that keep him

going when the chips are down. “They inspire me. Even when I was not being able to find a place in the senior team, those moments kept me going,” says the Asian champ, who ended India’s 15-year wait. As we started to part, Suranjoy admitted that deep within he likes being called Chota Tyson. “Tyson is no ordinary boxer,” he says.
Such is his humility, that even in this hour of triumph, he has not forgotten his coach and brother (Suranjit Singh), who introduced him to the sport.

“I owe everything to my brother and coach Ibomcha who trained me,” he says. He also reveals that when in base at INS Hamza, he trains with Dingko Singh. “I am at the same place. So I get an opportunity to spar with him. He teaches me a lot.”
- He does not forget to talk about national chief coach (G.S. Sandhu) either. “He has been a great inspiration. He makes you feel at home where ever you go.”
light, one thing is clear — he is everything that Tyson is not.


SURANJOY FILES
EARLY YEARS
Hails from Uchiwon, near lmphal, was inducted into
lmphal’s SAI Centre in 1999. Played fotball for two years before shifting to boxing

HONOURS
Won the historic Asian Champiionship gold in Zhuhai on Saturday
Won the 2002 Hyderabad Games gold, YMCA
International gold, Junior World bronze. Won the AK Mishra international gold

Monday, June 15, 2009

Manmohan Singh leaves for Russia

New Delhi, June 15 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh,left Monday for Russia on a three-day visit to attend two multilateral summits.


In his first trip abroad during the second term, Singh will visit Yekaterinburg to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Brazil-Russia-India-China (BRIC) Summits, the main agenda of which is expected to include the global financial crisis, terrorism and food security.


A significant aspect of the visit will be a meeting between Singh and Zardari on the sidelines of the two summits.

This will be the first highest-level contact between the two countries since the Mumbai attacks last year as India has suspended dialogue till Pakistan takes "concrete" action against those behind the strikes and dismantles the terror infrastructure.

The meeting between Singh and Zardari, though informal with no structured agenda, may lead to a resumption of bilateral dialogue at some level if the two leaders agree to it. (ANI)

Amid losses Air India delays payment of salaries

New Delhi, Jun 15: Citing 'resource crunch' the national carrier, Air India has announced that it will pay 30,000 employees their June salaries 15 days late. And according to a circular issued by Air India management, the payment of productivity-linked incentive (PLI) too has been delayed by 15 days.


"The salaries of June will be paid on July 15 due to the resource crunch that the company is facing," an unnamed Air India spokesperson was quoted in a news agency report.


However the company has assured that there will not be any lay-offs and that it is only forced to delay the payment of the salaries.

Air India posted losses for the last financial year at around Rs 4,000 crore as opposed to 2,226 crore in the previous fiscal.
Read: ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ
There are speculations that the national carrier may seek Rs 5,000 crore as additional equity, Rs 7,000 crore as a soft loan, and a grant of Rs 2,000 crore. However Air India officials have denied this.

Shiney Ahuja sent to police custody till June 18

Mumbai, June 15 (ANI): Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, who was arrested in Mumbai for allegedly raping his domestic maid, has been sent to police custody till June 18.


The actor has been charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 376 with rape, along with wrongful restraint and intimidation.


Reports said that Ahuja was arrested after preliminary medical tests confirmed that he had raped his 18-year-old domestic help. He had also threatened to kill her.

The maid filed a case with Mumbai's Oshiwara police last night according to which the actor gagged and raped her while they were alone in his house on June 14 in the absence of his wife and child.

The actor, who is known for his roles films like 'Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi' and 'Gangster', was due to be taken into court later today. Heavy police presence is expected outside court since the incident has generated a lot of media and public curiosity.

Under Section 376 a rape convict shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term, which shall not be less than seven years. The accused could also be punished for life or for a term, which may extend to ten years. The accused may also be liable to fine unless the woman raped is his own wife and is not under twelve years of age. (ANI)

Union Budget 2009-10 on Jul 6

New Delhi, Jun 15: The first session of the Union Budget of the newly constituted Parliament will commence from July 3 and the General Budget for 2009-10 will be presented to the Lok Sabha on Jul 6. Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh decided the schedule on Monday, Jun 15.


The Union Railway Budget will be presented by Mamata Banerjee, the Railway Minister on Jul 3. The Budget session which will start from Jul 1 with the presentation of the Economic Survey, would last till Aug 7. UPA government is hoping to pass the Union Budget before Jul 31 to avoid the need for a fresh 'vote-on-account'.
Presentation of the Economic Survey, the Railway Budget and the Union Budget followed by a discussion on the demands for grants of select ministries, a discussion on the General Budget and adoption of the Appropriation Bill would take up most of the time.

Mathur Begins by Cracking Whip in NC Hills

The North Cachar Hills Autonomous District Council in Haflong.

Guwahati, Jun 15 : The new administration under the governor has given time till tomorrow to members of the controversy-embroiled North Cachar Hills District Autonomous Council to vacate their official quarters and return their official vehicles.

The order comes two days after Governor Shiv Charan Mathur took over the administrative control of the district council, whose chief executive member Mohit Hojai was arrested for alleged links with militants.


The decision shows Raj Bhavan’s resolve not to tolerate any kind of interference from any quarter in administrative and security matters, even as Dispur initiated a move to appoint an administrator for the district to act as an interface between the district and the governor.

That a crackdown has begun in the right earnest was also indicated by the seizure of all official records since 1992, besides sealing of offices of the council which has been accused of diverting funds to militant coffers.

The move to seal council offices was necessitated by the coming visit of the National Investigating Agency (NIA) team which will peruse the records to assess the nature of alleged diversion of development funds and the politician-militant nexus.

This is the first case being probed by the NIA since it was formed after the Mumbai terror attack in November last year.

Hojai is already in the agency’s custody.

The names of several government officials, journalists and politicians have cropped up during interrogation of the two arrested so far in the fund diversion case, a source said.

“A fresh accounting system has to be put in place as this year’s budgetary sanction has been all but exhausted. We need to put in a foolproof accounting system,” he added.

The government has already appointed two new officials — superintendent of police Anurag Tankha and principal secretary to the autonomous council Diwakar Nath Mishra — to bolster the security scene as well as the local administration.

Both the officials are said to enjoy the confidence in both Raj Bhavan and Dispur.

Besides, an administrator will help the governor with day-to-day functioning of the council and could be based in either Haflong or Guwahati.

The official could be the incumbent deputy commissioner S. Jaganathan, the new principal secretary or a senior bureaucrat, to be chosen from a panel of officials that Dispur may submit to Raj Bhavan.

The governor, in fact, returned today from Delhi where he met Union home minister P. Chidambaram on Friday and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday to discuss the situation in North Cachar Hills.

Migrants Leave Manipur

Bengal workers flee Imphal in droves

Migrants at the Dharmasala relief camp in Imphal on Saturday

Imphal, Jun 15 : Terror-stricken migrant workers from Bengal took the first bus out of Manipur this morning, while their less solvent brethren sat huddled in relief camps wishing they had enough money to pay their fare out of the killing field.

Early this morning, at least 20 migrants left Dharamsala relief camp, opened by the government in the city, and boarded buses for Bengal.


Nearly 250 migrants, including 130 Bengalis, were collected by police from in and around Imphal city and sheltered at two relief camps.

Assurances by Manipur authorities to provide protection could not arrest the exodus.

Six migrants from Bengal were called out of their huts on the Central Agricultural University campus on Thursday night, made to sit in a row on a football field, and shot from behind.

While four were killed, two escaped, one with a minor injury. The four bodies were flown to Bengal yesterday.

A commandant of the Bengal armed police, S. Sherpa, visited those huddled in the Dharamsala relief camp yesterday afternoon.

He will submit a report to the Bengal director-general of police.

“We briefed him about the situation in Manipur. He told us that the Manipur government would provide us security and asked us to stay at the camp for some time till the situation improved. He also promised help from the Bengal government,” said Sanjay Naiya from 24 Parganas, one of the 110 migrants at the relief camp.

The police official also met the inspector-general of police (law and order-III), V. Zathang, who is also the officiating director-general of police.

“He (Sherpa) came here to take the four bodies. I briefed him about the efforts we are making to arrest the culprits and the security measures. He assured me that no harm would come to Manipuris living in Bengal,” Zathang said.

The Bengalis staying at the relief camp now desperately want to return home.

“We want to go home. But we do not have money for the fare. Our contractor, Binod Mandal, is away in Calcutta. We do not know what to do,” Sanjay said.

One of the victims of the university campus was a brother of the contractor.

The migrants are likely to request the state government to fund their trip home.

The district administration has been providing the migrants Rs 60 each day for their food.

The management of the Dharamsala and Bheirodan High School, located nearby, are also helping with food.

“There is no problem about safety, food and lodging. We are making all possible arrangements to help the migrants. We will keep them here till the situation turns normal,” an official posted at Dharamsala relief camp said.

There were no further attacks on migrants since the campus strike, though the police have not been able to name the culprits in the case as yet.

Twenty-two migrants have been killed in Manipur since February this year.

The All-Manipur Construction Workers Union demanded an inquiry into the migrant killing cases and ex gratia to relatives of the victims.

Political parties, including the CPI, a partner in the Okram Ibobi Singh-led coalition, the BJP, the Manipur People’s Party and the Nationalist Congress Party have also condemned the killings.

Warm Welcome Awaits Manipur Pugilist Duo

Suranjoy, Nanao

Imphal, Jun 15 : Mayengbam Suranjoy Singh of Manipur who won a gold in the Asian Boxing Championship in Zhuhai, China yesterday and Thokchom Nanao Singh who bagged a silver, have brought cheer to the boxing fans of Manipur.

Though Nanao had been in the news recently for winning a gold medal in the AIBA-Youth World Boxing Championship in Mexico last November, little was heard about Suranjoy.


Waxing eloquent on the performance of Manipur boxers in the Asian circle, secretary of the Manipur Amateur Boxing Association and senior vice-president of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) Khoibi Salam said the association would accord a warm reception to the boxing heroes once they returned.

The duo are expected to land in India tomorrow.

Suranjoy, 22, a resident of Uchiwa Leirak Achouba in Imphal West, began his boxing career in 1998 at a small local competition in Lukram Leirak.

He received his training at the SAI camp in 1999 under coach Ibomcha Singh and joined the Navy in 2004.

He fetched a gold in the 32nd National Games in Hyderabad.

An euphoric Ibomcha Singh said Suranjoy was the first Indian in 15 years to win a gold medal.
---------
Imphal, June 14: Mayengbam Suranjoy Singh of Manipur who won a gold in the Asian Boxing Championship in Zhuhai, China yesterday and Thokchom Nanao Singh who bagged a silver, have brought cheer to the boxing fans of Manipur.

Though Nanao had been in the news recently for winning a gold medal in the AIBA-Youth World Boxing Championship in Mexico last November, little was heard about Suranjoy.

Waxing eloquent on the performance of Manipur boxers in the Asian circle, secretary of the Manipur Amateur Boxing Association and senior vice-president of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) Khoibi Salam said the association would accord a warm reception to the boxing heroes once they returned.

The duo are expected to land in India tomorrow.

Suranjoy, 22, a resident of Uchiwa Leirak Achouba in Imphal West, began his boxing career in 1998 at a small local competition in Lukram Leirak.

He received his training at the SAI camp in 1999 under coach Ibomcha Singh and joined the Navy in 2004.

He fetched a gold in the 32nd National Games in Hyderabad.

An euphoric Ibomcha Singh said Suranjoy was the first Indian in 15 years to win a gold medal.

Electricity transforms Kabul living

All-day electricity has finally arrived in Kabul, bringing with it some of the small comforts that many in the developed world take for granted.

Life at the house of Sayed Abdul Rahim has become, in his words, "easier and more entertaining".

Mr Rahim's clothes are now ironed regularly, he is able to enjoy daily hot baths, his children no longer have to squint at their homework by candlelight, and his 10-year-old son, Ajmal, never misses his favourite Indian soap operas on television.

All of these changes have been brought about by a deal struck earlier this year between the Afghan finance ministry and the government of neighbouring Uzbekistan.
A handful of Kabul's districts now enjoy 20 hours of electricity every day following a four-year project to build a high-voltage line between the two countries.

Previously the Afghan capital had no more than four or five hours of intermittent diesel-generated power a day.

Officials hope that in the coming years, many more provinces will also get electricity.

But progress comes at a price. Nearly one third of Rahim's salary goes on his electricity bill.

"We are very happy that we have electricity all the time but poor families like mine can't afford to pay $40 (£12) a month. They need to bring the prices down," he said.

An official at the finance ministry defended the policy saying that for poor Afghans, electricity cost three cents per kilowatt but for businesses and international organisations it was 20 cents per kilowatt.

Sick of war

Shopkeepers throughout central Kabul have reported a big spike in the sale of electrical products.

At Sediq Omar market, known locally as "the electric market", traders talk about the big rise in in television and DVD sales.
"People buy televisions and DVDs everyday. They are tired of war, corruption and problems, so they want to watch television and movies to escape from these problems," says shopkeeper Wali.

Mohammad Shafiq, 42, is one of Wali's customer.

He works for the Afghan army. Today he has come to buy a television and a DVD player because he too is getting 20 hours of electricity a day.

"I couldn't afford a generator in the past so I didn't want to have a television and DVD. We either argued in the family or listened to radio or went to bed early. But now we can watch television and movies and have hot baths in the morning," he says.

And it is not just inside the home that Kabulis can see the difference.

Night drivers no longer rely solely on their sense of direction and the narrow, yellow beams of their headlights to guide them through the city's labyrinthine streets.

Nowadays the hills surrounding Kabul are speckled with golden orbs from lights inside houses, gleaming like thousands of small fireflies hovering in the night sky.

However, there remains much work to be done.

The Afghan government estimates that only 7% of the country has access to electricity. Many Afghans complain that while most of their political leaders can boast of 24 hours of electricity, the majority of villages and valleys still rely on kerosene lamps and firelight.

Although Afghanistan has several of its own hydroelectric dams, the output of these dams has been hit hard by a series of droughts.

But officials at the water and energy ministry are optimistic about the coming months, after a winter of heavy snow and a rainy spring.

Some Afghans argue that more rivers should be diverted to feed more hydroelectric dams. But this is politically sensitive.

In the past, several neighbouring countries - including Pakistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan - that also rely on the water from these rivers have blocked such initiatives.

Despite all this, Afghans like Mr Rahim have had their spirits buoyed.

But the destruction of the past three decades also leaves him wary that such luxuries may not last.

"I won't get rid of my Bukhari [wood-fired stove]. We have used it for a long time, and I am not convinced that the electricity will always be able to provide us with heat in the winter. But we are still very thankful because for many many years we were deprived of it in the past."

Indian scientist body recovered

The body of an Indian atomic scientist who went missing last week from a power plant near the city of Bangalore has been recovered, police say.

Naval divers discovered L Mahalingam's body in a river close to the power plant on Saturday, five days after the scientist went missing.

Police suspect that the scientist could have committed suicide.

Mr Mahalingam was last seen taking a walk in the complex next to India's biggest naval base.

Officials sought to allay fears that Mr Mahalingam could have been kidnapped. They said he was not carrying any "secret documents".

Mr Mahalingam worked at the plant's simulated training department.

US general assumes Afghan command

The next leader of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, has taken over command there.

He takes over from Gen David McKiernan, who was sacked by the US defence secretary after one year and whose time coincided with a surge in violence.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai told Gen McChrystal the priority would be to reduce civilian casualties.

Gen McChrystal has said his measure of effectiveness would be "the number of Afghans shielded from violence".

'Practical measures'

Gen McChrystal is a four-star general and former special forces commander.

The handover took place in a low-key ceremony at the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force HQ in Kabul on Monday.

Gen McChrystal will now command 56,000 US troops and 32,000 Nato-led forces currently in the country.

But he will also oversee US President Barack Obama's new strategy of increasing troops in Afghanistan as forces in Iraq are drawn down.

On Sunday, Mr Karzai's office said the Afghan government would "fully co-operate" with the "very important goal" of reducing civilian casualties.

Gen McChrystal pledged "practical measures to prevent civilian casualties during counterinsurgency operations".

The issue has been a key source of friction between Afghanistan and the foreign forces.

Nato and US troops are struggling to contain the Taliban insurgency in the country.

Last week, Gen McChrystal told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme that counter-insurgency was key.

"When we are in position, one of the things we'll do is review all of our rules of engagement and all the instructions to our units, with the emphasis that we are fighting for the population.

"That involves protecting them both from the enemy and from unintended consequences of our operation, because we know that although an operation may be conducted for the right reason, if it has negative effects it can have a negative outcome for everyone."

Among the 400 senior staff Gen McChrystal will bring with him to Afghanistan will be Adm Gregory Smith who has been assigned to improve communications efforts.

Swine flu rise in Indian cities

More people have tested positive for swine flu in India, bringing the total number of those infected in the country to 23, according to reports.

Fresh cases have been detected in the northern city of Jalandhar, as well as Hyderabad and Bangalore in the south.

These include a student who tested positive on returning from a trip to US. Eight of his classmates are suffering from flu symptoms.

Last week the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global flu pandemic.

The swine flu (H1N1) virus first emerged in Mexico in April and has since spread to 74 countries.

Official reports say there have been nearly 30,000 cases globally and 141 deaths, with figures rising daily.

In India, a 29-year-old woman and her three-year-old daughter who had flown in from US were quarantined in Bangalore after testing positive for the virus.

In Jalandhar, eight students were quarantined when one of their classmates tested positive for swine flu in a hospital in the capital, Delhi.

They were part of a group of students who had returned from the US at the weekend.

In Hyderabad, reports say three people tested positive, including two girls and their grandmother. They also had returned from the US.

Earlier this month, India issued an alert against the flu. Airport screening has been tightened and more testing facilities would come.

The government has said that India was fully equipped to deal with the outbreak.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Delhi Asks Assam to Carry Out Polio Drive

Dibrugarh, Jun 12 : The Centre today directed the Assam government to carry out extensive mopping up operations in six Upper Assam districts following an advisory from the World Health Organisation after a case of polio was detected in Dibrugarh.

Besides Dibrugarh, the operations will be carried out in Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji.

The instruction comes a day after reported the detection of a rare poliovirus strain in a four-and-a-half-year-old boy, Manab Dihingia, of Miripathar under Lahowal police station.

Health department sources in Dispur said extensive pulse polio immunisation would be carried out in the six districts. A three-day programme, beginning June 28, has been chalked out for the drive.


Similar drives will also be carried out in July and August. “The instructions from Delhi are clear — go for extensive immunisation. We have been asked to cover as much of the population as we can. It is quite serious as last year Dibrugarh district was at the top with around 80 per cent coverage of children in the 0-5 years category,” a senior official of the health department said.

Manab was today examined by a team of WHO experts, led by Bina Ahuja, a technical expert of paediatrics and retired professor of the Delhi-based Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital. The observation was carried out at the paediatrics department of the Assam Medical College and Hospital here.

The WHO team, comprising Ahuja, Dr D. Mukherjee, the regional team leader from Calcutta, Dr Bhabajyoti Bora, the surveillance medical officer, and a team of 10 doctors from the AMCH, visited Miripathar village and took stock of the situation there.

“Our top priority is to ensure that the virus does not spread in the community,” one of the team members said.

This is one of the two cases of vaccine-derived polio virus (VDPV) confirmed in India recently. The other was detected in Champaran East in Bihar. The Dibrugarh case is Type 1 VDPV while the Bihar case was Type 2 VDPV. This is the first time that India has reported VDPV cases, but the two are not related.

VDPVs are very rare but well documented strains of poliovirus. “VDPVs are strains of the virus contained in the oral polio vaccines which have changed and reverted to a form that can cause paralysis in humans with the capacity for sustained circulation. These cases are very rare and occur in persons with immunodeficiency or in areas with low population immunity,” Bora said.

Monday, June 8, 2009

NEEPCO Seeks Clearance from Mizoram Over Tipaimukh Project

Imphal, Jun 8 : Amidst the objections from various circles, officials of NEEPCO will be holding a meeting with the Mizoram government on June 10 for obtaining forest clearance tag from that state which is still pending even though there has been reports doing the round that there is the possibility of intervention of the Bangladesh government in the construction of Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydel Project.

Mention may be made that hinting interference to the construction of the dam at Tipaimukh for the project, Bangladesh government has announced sending of an all-party parliamentary committee to visit the dam site, according to media reports.


Bangladesh experts are worried of hitting the flow of the Surma and Kushiara rivers originating from Indian side by the located barely 1 km from Bangladesh’s Zakiganj border.

The project would leave the river and other downstreams dry, upsetting the ecological balance and affecting many people, experts observed.

The proposed step of the Bangladesh government was taken up amidst the strong objection to the construction of dam at Tipaimukh area of Manipur on the Barak river by various NGOs and civil organizations.

On the other hand, despite the odd ahead of it, with the forest clearance for the Tipaimukh project was accorded by the Union ministry of Environment and Forest as recommended by the Manipur government, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation – NEEPCO officials are pursuing the forest clearance with the government of Mizoram.

The authority is hopeful of obtaining the Mizoram Forest Department’s recommendation by June 30, 2009 as NEEPCO officials will be holding a meeting with Mizoram government on June 10, official source here said Saturday.

It is also pertinent to mention here that with the receipt of the environmental clearance for taking the project in October last year, 2008, the project cost has further been updated at September 2008 price level.

The updated cost (excluding the components for flood moderation, external security and diversion of national highway, but including internal security and NPV), works out to Rs 8138.79 crores including IDC of Rs 1570.73 crores. The first year tariff and levelised tariff works out to Rs 4.65 and Rs. 4.03 per unit respectively.

With the effort of the Manipur government’s approval for meeting the cost component of flood moderation has been obtained from the ministry of Water Resources for meeting.

The update estimate is Rs 542.16 crores. Union ministry of Shipping Road Transportation and Highway has also conveyed its “in-principle” approval to meet the cost of diversion of NH-53 which the estimated cost has been updated at Rs 202.63 crores.

“In-principle’ approval for meeting the cost of providing external security to the project which has been estimated at Rs 299.17 crores has also been obtained by the Manipur government from the Union ministry of Home Affairs, the source added.

Considering the importance of the 1500 MW Tipaimukh Project to Manipur, Mizoram and Assam, Manipur government has decided to join the proposed Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the implementation of the project.

Manipur chief minister has proposed to take up of the project under a SPV with prospective partners like NHPC, NTPC, SJVNL long with NEEPCO and government of Manipur.

Even though NHPC was willing to join the SPV provided 51% stake in the equity is given, NTPC has declined to participate.

The project is being taken up by the NEEPCO as joint venture with the Manipur government and the government has recently finalized state government decision to take 5% equity in the proposed SPV.

Naga Men in Final

Imphal, Jun 8 : The Nagaland Veteran Football Association team booked a final berth in the 11th Challenge Cup Veteran Football Tournament, played at Mapal Kangjeibung today.

In the semi-final, hot contender Nagaland Veterans managed to trounce local favourites Chingtam Veteran by 3-0 goals.

The Nagaland veterans opened their account through Bijoy in the 31st minute of the first half to take an early lead.

Later in the second half, Sukuka provided the second goal for the Nagaland Veterans in the 39th minute of the match.


The third goal for Nagaland Veteran came when S. Bungocha of the Chingtam Veteran team conceded a goal in the 50th minute, giving the leaders a 3-0 victory en route to the final.

The Nagaland Veteran Football Association had cemented their place in the last four of the tournament, defeating the Imphal East Veteran Football Association players 7-0.

North Korea bans ships from coastal waters

SEOUL, South Korea -North Korea has warned fishermen and boat captains to stay away from the country's east coast, Japan's coast guard said Monday, in another sign the communist regime is planning to fire more missiles after its recent nuclear test.
Pyongyang also threatened Monday to retaliate with a "super hard-line" response if sanctions were imposed.
North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper said Pyongyang "has made clear many times that we will consider any sanction a declaration of war and will take due corresponding self-defense measures." The commentary carried by the official Korean Central News Agency did not elaborate.
The U.N. Security Council has been discussing imposing sanctions against the North in response to its May 25 nuclear test, while Washington considers introducing its own financial sanctions.
On Monday, Japan's coast guard said it picked up a North Korean radio signal banning ships from waters off Wonsan from June 10-30. South Korean media have reported since last week that the North is planning to fire several medium-range missiles from the eastern coastal city of Anbyon near Wonsan.
Seoul's mass-circulation JoongAng Ilbo newspaper said Monday that there have been brisk movements of up to six vehicles mounted with mobile missile launchers at Anbyon over the past week.
But the Yonhap news agency cited an unidentified military official Monday as saying that the latest no-sail zone appears to be a move aimed at firing short-range, ground-to-ship missiles, and not necessarily medium-range missile preparations.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff declined to confirm the report.
On Monday, Pyongyang, handed down 12-year prison sentences to two U.S. journalists, convicting them of unspecified hostility toward the country and illegally crossing the border. The reporters were arrested March 17 near the North's border with China while researching a story.
The verdict came as the U.S. was trying to muster international support for cutting off North Korean shipments that may be carrying nuclear technology or other weapons, as part of punishing Pyongyang for its nuclear test and a barrage of missile launches.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in an interview broadcast Sunday that failing to take aggressive and effective action against the North could spark an arms race in northeast Asia.
"We will do everything we can to both interdict it and prevent it and shut off their flow of money," Clinton said of possible attempts by North Korea to ship nuclear material. She spoke on ABC's "This Week," taped Thursday in Egypt.
She also said Washington is considering adding North Korea back to a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

7,000 US Marines patrolling southern Afghan desert

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -Some 7,000 of the new U.S. troops ordered to Afghanistan are fanning out across the dangerous south on a mission to defeat the Taliban insurgency and to change the course of a war claiming American lives at a record pace.
The Marines represent the first wave of 21,000 troops ordered to Afghanistan this summer by President Barack Obama. Most of the Marine buildup will occur in Helmand, the world's largest opium poppy-growing region and Afghanistan's most violent province. Helmand borders Pakistan, where the Taliban's top leadership is believed to be based.
"This is where the fight is, in Afghanistan," said 1st Sgt. Christopher Watson, who like many here has also served in Iraq. "We are here to get the job done."
Some 7,000 Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, are now in the country, Marine spokesman 1st Lt. Abe Sipe said. The forces have brought fighter aircraft, transport helicopters, artillery and the infrastructure needed to support what will ultimately be a force of around 11,000.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in late 2001 because the country's extremist Taliban leaders were sheltering Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida, the Islamist terror group behind the Sept. 11 attacks.
The forces quickly defeated the Taliban, pushing the militants out of Kabul and their southern base in Kandahar. But the international coalition and Afghan government have been bedeviled by a guerrilla war ever since, one that turned dangerously violent in 2006.
Along with this summer's troop buildup, the United States is training more Afghan security forces, increasing its spending on aid projects and working to strengthen government institutions, vital elements in a plan to stabilize the country and allow foreign forces to one day withdraw.
But adding troops also risks adding to the resentment of Afghans, especially if it brings about more civilian casualties, long an hot-button issue in this impoverished country. There are also fears that the new forces, which will bring U.S. troops levels to about 68,000 around the country, will simply push the Taliban elsewhere.
Most of the newly arrived Marines are now stationed at Camp Leatherneck, a small base in the center of Helmand expanding by the hour as workers build permanent structures. Some Marines have moved out to smaller outposts and are patrolling Helmand's deserts under a harsh summer sun.
Commanders warn that U.S. deaths are likely to increase this summer, the traditional fighting season in Afghanistan.
At least 70 American troops have been killed in Afghanistan this year, according to an Associated Press count, a 75 percent increase over the 40 U.S. troop deaths through the first week in June last year. A record 151 American forces died in Afghanistan in 2008.
The Afghan government controls some of the major towns and roads in Helmand, but most of the province of around 1 million is under the sway of the Taliban. Thousands of British forces have been deployed in Helmand since mid-2006, but there have been too few to provide security and counterinsurgency operations for the entire province.
Taliban militants and the drug lords they protect are believed to reap hundreds of millions of dollars from Afghanistan's drug trade. U.S. and NATO troops have stepped up attacks this year on drug labs after concluding the drug trade and the insurgency are intertwined.

China requires PCs to come with anti-porn software

BEIJING -China is requiring personal computers sold domestically to carry software that blocks online pornography and other Web sites — potentially giving the government new control over the Internet with a tool the developer said Monday will give parents more oversight.
The software, called "Green Dam-Youth Escort," prevents computers from accessing sites with pornographic pictures or language, Zhang Chenmin, general manager of Jinhui Computer System Engineering Co., told The Associated Press. The company was compiling a database of sites to block.
The software could also be used to block other Web sites, depending on keywords, Zhang said. The Chinese government routinely blocks political sites, especially ones it considers socially destabilizing such as sites that challenge the ruling Communist Party, promote democratic reform or advocate independence for Tibet.
Parents can also add sites to the database of blacklisted sites, Zhang said, and consumers will be able to uninstall the software.
"If a father doesn't want his son to be exposed to content related to basketball or drugs, he can block all Web sites related to those things," Zhang said.
He said users could also unblock Web sites, but they will not be able to see the full database. He said the software does not monitor or send IP addresses to third parties.
Zhang said his company, based in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan in central China, signed a 21 million yuan ($3 million) contract with the Chinese government last May to develop the software and distribute it to personal computer-makers free of charge within one year, to be included with units meant for domestic sale. The software was jointly developed by Beijing Dazheng Language Technology Co. Ltd., which declined to comment.
China, which has the world's largest population of Internet users at more than 250 million, this year launched a nationwide crackdown on Internet pornography, which is banned in China. More than 1,900 Web sites have been shut down since the beginning of the campaign and Web sites including Google and Baidu, China's most popular search engine, were criticized for linking to suspect sites.
According to the Wall Street Journal on Monday, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a notice on May 19 to personal computer-makers that PCs to be sold in China as of July 1 must be preloaded with the software.
The program would either be installed on the hard drive or enclosed on a compact disc, the paper reported, adding that PC makers would be required to tell authorities how many PCs they have shipped with the software.
The ministry did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press by phone or fax. A separate notice on its Web site said all primary and secondary schools were required to install the Green Dam software on every school computer by the end of last month.
Educators "should fully realize the damage that harmful online information does to the physical and mental health of primary and secondary school students," the notice said.
PC makers Lenovo Group, Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc. did not immediately respond to requests for comments, either by phone or e-mail.

N. Korea sentences US reporters to 12 years labor

SEOUL, South Korea -North Korea convicted two American journalists and sentenced them Monday to 12 years of hard labor for crossing into its territory, intensifying the reclusive nation's confrontation with the United States.
The Obama administration said it would pursue "all possible channels" to win the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, reporters for former Vice President Al Gore's San Francisco-based Current TV media venture.
There are fears Pyongyang is using the women as bargaining chips as the U.N. debates a new resolution to punish the country for its defiant May 25 atomic test and as North Korea seeks to draw Washington into direct negotiations.
Washington's former U.N. Ambassador Bill Richardson called the sentencing part of "a high-stakes poker game" being played by North Korea. He said on NBC's Today show that he thinks negotiations for their "humanitarian release" can begin now that the legal process has been completed. Other South Korean analysts also said they expect the two to be freed following negotiations.
The journalists were found guilty of committing a "grave crime" against North Korea and of illegally entering the country, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency said.
North Korean guards arrested Ling and Lee near the China-North Korean border on March 17. The two were reporting about the trafficking of North Korean women at the time of their arrest, and it's unclear if they strayed into the North or were grabbed by aggressive border guards who crossed into China. A cameraman and their local guide escaped.
The Central Court in Pyongyang sentenced each to 12 years of "reform through labor" in a North Korean prison after a five-day trial, KCNA said in a terse, two-line report that provided no further details. A Korean-language version said they were convicted of "hostility toward the Korean people."
The ruling — nearly three months after their arrest on March 17 — comes amid soaring tensions fueled by North Korea's nuclear test last month and signs it is preparing for a long-range missile test. On Monday, North Korea warned fishing boats to stay away from the east coast, Japan's coast guard said, raising concerns more missile tests are being planned.
Over the weekend, President Barack Obama used strong language on North Korea's nuclear stance and said his administration did not intend "to continue a policy of rewarding provocation."
Verdicts issued by North Korea's highest court are final and cannot be appealed, said Choi Eun-suk, a North Korean law expert at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at South Korea's Kyungnam University. He said North Korea's penal code calls for transferring them to prison within 10 days.
The United States, which does not have diplomatic ties with Pyongyang, was "deeply concerned" about the reported verdict, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said in Washington. He said officials would "engage in all possible channels" to win the reporters' release.
At the White House on Monday, deputy spokesman William Burton said in a statement: "The president is deeply concerned by the reported sentencing of the two American citizen journalists by North Korean authorities, and we are engaged through all possible channels to secure their release."
The families of Lee, 36, and Ling, 32 had no immediate comment, spokeswoman Alanna Zahn said from New York. Gore also had no comment, spokeswoman Kalee Kreider said.
Lee is Korean-American and speaks Korean, but it is not clear how well. She lives in California with her husband and 4-year-old daughter Hannah. Ling is Chinese-American and a native of California. Her sister is National Geographic "Explorer" TV journalist Lisa Ling.
Kim Yong-hyun, a professor at Seoul's Dongguk University, said the 12-year sentence — the maximum allowed under North Korean law — may have been a reaction to recent "hard-line" threats by the U.S., including possible sanctions and putting North Korea back on a list of state sponsors of terrorism.
But he predicted the journalists' eventual release following diplomatic negotiations.
"The sentence doesn't mean much because the issue will be resolved diplomatically in the end," Kim said.
Just weeks after arresting the women, North Korea launched a multistage rocket over Japan in defiance of international calls for restraint. The U.S. and others called the launch a cover for a long-range missile test, and the U.N. Security Council condemned the move.
The U.N. censure enraged Pyongyang. North Korea abandoned nuclear disarmament talks, threatened to restart its atomic program and vowed to conduct nuclear and long-range missile tests if the Security Council failed to apologize.
The North followed through with its threat and staged its second-ever underground nuclear test. U.S. officials say the North appears to be preparing another long-range missile test at a west coast launch pad.
Some analysts called the arrest of the Americans a timely "bonanza" for Pyongyang as the impoverished regime prepares to negotiate for aid and other concessions to resolve the tense standoff over its nuclear defiance.
"North Korea refused to release them ahead of a court ruling because such a move could be seen as capitulating to the United States," said Hajime Izumi, professor of international relations and an expert on North Korea at the University of Shizuoka in Japan.
But now, "North Korea may release them on humanitarian grounds and demand the U.S. provide humanitarian aid in return," he said. "North Korea will certainly use the reporters as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the United States."
Their release could come through a post-negotiation political pardon, said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies.
The sentence is "a terrible shock for all those who have repeatedly insisted on their innocence," Reporters Without Borders said in a statement, noting that North Korea is ranked as Asia's worst country for press freedom.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists urged South Korea, Japan, Russia and the U.S., the five countries involved in the stalled disarmament talks with North Korea, to work for the journalists' release."
The sentencing comes a month after Iran released Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, who had been sentenced to eight years in prison for on a charge of spying for the United States. An appeals court reduced that to a two-year suspended sentence and she was freed May 11.
Little is known about prison conditions in North Korea. But Rev. Chun Ki-won, a South Korean missionary who helped arrange the journalists' trip to China, said inmates in North Korean labor camps frequently face beatings and other inhumane treatment while being forced to engage in harsh labor such as logging and construction work.

Chun, however, predicted the North would send the journalists to a labor camp.