Thursday, February 25, 2010

Tibetans-in-exile mark centenary of 13th Dalai Lama’s exile to India

DHARAMSALA - The Tibetans living in exile in India marked the centenary of the 13th Dalai Lama’s exile to India here today.

The 13th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Thupten Gyatso, took refuge in India from 1910 - 1911 following the invasion by Mancho China led by General Chao Er-feng.

The13th Dalai Lama with his followers fled Lhasa and sought refuge in the northeastern parts of India. After two years, when the Mancho Empire collapsed, the 13th Dalai Lama returned back to free Tibet.

So to mark the 100 years of the 13th Dalai Lama’s exile to India, a function was organised by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) at Tsuglagkhang, the main Buddhist temple in Dharamsala, which was attended by Buddhist monks, nuns and other Tibetans, including young children.

Tibetan Prime Minister in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche and the speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in-exile, Penpa Tsering, addressed the gathering of Tibetans on the accomplishments of the 13th Dalai Lama.

“100 year in which he first came into exile. So this is a form of commemoration of that important event,” said Thubten Samphel, spokesperson of Tibetan government-in-exile.

Samphel added that it is an occasion when Tibetans need to remember the great services rendered by the 13th Dalai Lama to the Tibetan people. (ANI)

Postal honcho caught taking Rs 2-crore bribe

The Chief Post-Master General of Maharashtra and Goa was today arrested for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 2 crore to transfer government land meant for post offices to private parties. The CBI has called it the biggest catch in the last 60 years.

Manjit Singh Bali was apprehended by the anti-corruption wing of the investigative agency, officials said.

Bali, a 1978 batch civil services officer, is among the top 10 senior officers of the country.

Bali was caught accepting the bribe at one of south Mumbai's top restaurants. He allegedly demanded 1.5 crore for himself and Rs 50 lakhs for a middleman.

The CBI said a former municipal corporator helped them lay the trap.
The Enforcement Directorate has been intimated as the cash Bali had was above the permissible limit.

I make Rs 100 a day of posing nude

Sarita makes her money using her body and can’t tell her sons what she does.
She talks to Upneet Pansare about her life as a nude model in Mumbai

‘Every morning when I leave my house, I make it a point to dress up properly—hair combed neatly and a bag held in place. I want to look like any other woman in my neighbourhood on her way to work. When I reach work, I take off my clothes in front of a class of 50 art students.”


Shocking discovery
“It was the thought of my children that made me take up nude modelling. I was 24 years old when I was introduced to the job. My husband had recently died. He used to drink regularly and had been hospitalised twice. The third time, he died of cirrhosis of the liver. Although not much, up until then, his wages had been enough to meet our basic requirements. With him around, there had never been any need for me to work. Besides. I had no skills. I started working in people’s houses as a maid after my husband’s death, but I could never hold any of the jobs for long and spent several days at home, waiting.
“One day, when I was sitting at home, my maasi (aunt) took me to her college to show me what she did for a living. I had always assumed that she was a sweeper there. She took me to a classroom that had a board outside saying no one other than professors and students was allowed to enter. When we went inside, I saw about 30 students seated with canvas boards in front of them, pencils in hand. I followed my maasi on to the stage. Suddenly, she started undressing in front of all those people. Embarrassed and angry, I simply stared at her as she sat demurely on the couch. Then, the students began sketching her. I kept looking at the students, as they observed her with rapt attention, while she sat there, naked and unselfconscious. I tried gauging the students’ reactions, but there were none.

“After a six-hour session, she introduced me to a professor who asked me if I would be interested in working as a model. I was scared and was about to refuse, but my aunt egged me on. Finally, I agreed. I was then asked to undress and imitate my aunt’s pose. Hesitatingly, I took off my clothes. Needless to say, it was embarrassing and I wanted to leave immediately. But I thought about my children and how much I needed the money. I stayed on’

Cramps and drowsiness
“Posing nude can get very uncomfortable. I do get breaks in-between, but I often get cramps from sitting in a particular position for hours. I’m almost used to the pain now. I cannot change my position, as it distracts the students. There are times when my head starts drooping when I feel sleepy, but the students promptly wake me up. The worst days are when I have my periods. There have been times when my periods have clashed with important assignments or even exams. I have to put up with it for five days, as I can’t take a break during that time. I sit on a cloth to avoid staining.
But I have always believed that my pain and discomfort should not hinder the students. I think of the students as my children and the fact that they are benefiting from me makes me feel proud. I remember an instance wherein I had to attend the funeral of a relative and hence could not be there for a scheduled class. A peon from the university came to my hut in the slums of Kurla to convince me to report to work. I could have refused, but then I realised that the students would have to miss a day, and many of them came from faraway suburbs. So, I agreed:’

World-famous artists
‘I don’t feel self-conscious while posing anymore. It helps to know that the students and professors are not studying my person, just my body. And that’s only because the subject of human anatomy is an important part of an artist’s training. Also, they help me by explaining the importance of the poses I sit in. Many times, students ask me to imitate film star poses.
“I started with earning Rs 50 for seven hours of work. But now I am paid Rs 100. Despite repeated requests and applications to the government, there has been no hike for several years. In the 10 years that I have worked as a nude model, several students who have sketched me have gone on to become world- famous artists. But they treat me with respect whenever they meet me.”


Often misunderstood
“Apart from students and professors of the institute, nobody knows what my work actually entails. Those who don’t understand art obviously do not look at the work respectfully. A handful of the people in my basti who know what I do often taunt me and pass lewd comments. People have several misconceptions about my job and some even think that I’m a prostitute. I don’t blame them because initially, even I considered it to be prostitution.
‘For the rest of the world, including my neighbours and relatives. I am a housemaid or I do odd jobs at offices. When I am asked where I work,
I try to be as vague as possible. What matters most to me is that I am able to support my family. My sons believe I am a sweeper at a reputed art college in south Mumbai. The only reason why I m continuing with this job is because I have nothing else to fall back upon. Also, since the pay is so low, all other women who used to work as models have left. Out of solidarity, sometimes, the students give me money for my lunch or tea:’

Vacations too
“Life gets tough during the college vacations. I get a four-month break from work at a stretch. Sometimes I end up spending all the time at home without another job. Both my sons had to leave school because I could not pay their fees. They were forced to take up odd jobs. For now, I have no choice but to continue working at the art school. Apart from the money, my biggest worry is that one day, my sons will find out what I do and I know that like everybody, they, too, will never be able to accept me.”.

'Lame' mosquitoes to stop dengue

Scientists are breeding a genetically altered strain of mosquito in an effort to curb the spread of dengue fever.

The dengue virus is spread by the bite of infected female mosquitoes and there is no vaccine or treatment.

Experts say the illness affects up to 100 million people a year and threatens over a third of the world's population.

Scientists hope their genetically altered males will mate with females to create female offspring that will inherit a gene limiting wing growth.

The study is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The scientists say their approach offers a safe, efficient alternative to harmful insecticides and could be used to stop other diseases spread by mosquitoes, like malaria.
They estimate that if released, the new breed could sustainably suppress the native mosquito population in six to nine months.

Researcher Professor Anthony James, of the University of California, Irvine, said: "Current dengue control methods are not sufficiently effective, and new ones are urgently needed.

"Controlling the mosquito that transmits this virus could significantly reduce human morbidity and mortality."

Grounded

The plan is to release genetically-altered male mosquitoes who will mate with wild females and pass on their genes.

The scientists have shown that females of the next generation who inherit the gene are unable to fly because it interrupts normal wing growth.

Male carriers of the gene remain unaffected.

Lead researcher Luke Alphey, of the University of Oxford and his own spin-out company Oxitec Ltd, said the approach was highly targeted.

"The technology is completely species-specific, as the released males will mate only with females of the same species.

"Another attractive feature of this method is that it's egalitarian - all people in the treated areas are equally protected, regardless of their wealth, power or education."

Dr Hilary Ranson, of the Liverpool School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the work was a major step forward.

"This is a significant advance. It will be logistically challenging to make and release enough of the male mosquitoes and it's not going to be cheap. But it can be done with the right resources."

She said dengue fever was an ideal disease to tackle in this way because it is spread by only a couple of species of mosquito.

She said malaria would be harder to beat because of the variety of mosquitoes carrying the disease.

Actor Charlie Sheen enters rehab

Actor Charlie Sheen has entered rehab and will be taking a break from filming his popular TV series, Two and a Half Men, his publicist has said.

It comes two months after the 44-year-old was arrested following a fight with his wife, Brooke Mueller, at their home in Aspen, Colorado on Christmas day.

He was later charged with assaulting and threatening her and is due to return to court on 15 March.

Mueller is also in rehab seeking treatment, her lawyer said.

'Personal matter'

Sheen's publicist, Stan Rosenfield, said the actor will "take some time off" from filming his TV series. Sheen's decision to enter rehab was taken as a "preventative measure," he added.

"He has asked that his privacy be honoured. No further statements are planned," Mr Rosenfield said.

He did not provide details on what type of rehabilitation facility Sheen had entered.

CBS and the creator of Two and a Half Men said in a statement that they "support Charlie Sheen in his decision today to begin voluntary in-patient care at a treatment centre. We wish him nothing but the best as he deals with this personal matter."

They confirmed shooting would be temporarily suspended.

Earlier this month, Sheen was charged with menacing, misdemeanour assault and criminal mischief against his wife.

The menacing charge covers the alleged use of a deadly weapon in a threatening manner.

He could face up to three years behind bars if convicted.

3G spectrum auction to be held on Apr 9

New Delhi, Feb 25: The 3G spectrum auction will finally be held on Apr 9 and application from prospective bidders will be invited from Thursday, Feb 25.

A government notification while announcing the date of auction as Apr 9, said that a notice inviting application will be begin from Feb 23 and the last date for submission of the application will be Mar 19.


The pre-qualification of bidders would take place on Mar 30, while on the 5th and the 6th of April a mock auctions would be held.

The auctions for the 3G spectrum have been postponed twice, despite the announcement of the auction dates.

While the announcement of the dates have brought relief to the most of the operators like Bharti, Vodafone, Rcom and Tatas, who are reportedly ready with the auction plans, they are waiting for NIA for confirmation.

The auctions had to be deffered owing to the differences between government departments regarding the pricing wireless radio spectrum and on the availability of spectrum to be auctioned.

However, Telecom Minister A. Raja said that the issues were resolved.

Whale kills trainer as horrified spectators watch

ORLANDO, Fla. -A SeaWorld killer whale snatched a trainer from a poolside platform Wednesday in its jaws and thrashed the woman around underwater, killing her in front of a horrified audience. It marked the third time the animal had been involved in a human death.
Distraught audience members were hustled out of the stadium immediately, and part of the park was closed.
Trainer Dawn Brancheau, 40, was rubbing Tilikum after a noontime show when the 12,000-pound whale grabbed her and pulled her in, said Chuck Tompkins, head of animal training at all SeaWorld parks. Park officials say the veteran trainer drowned.
Audience member Eldon Skaggs said Brancheau's interaction with the whale appeared leisurely and informal at first. But then the whale "pulled her under and started swimming around with her," he told The Associated Press.
Skaggs, 72, said an alarm sounded and staff rushed the audience out of the stadium as workers scrambled around with nets.
Skaggs said he heard that during an earlier show the whale was not responding to directions. Others who attended the earlier show said the whale was behaving like an ornery child.
He left with his wife and didn't find out until later that the trainer had died. The retired couple from Michigan had been among some stragglers in the audience who had stayed to watch the animals and trainers when the accident occurred.
"We were just a little bit stunned," said Skaggs' wife, Sue Nichols, 67.
Another audience member, Victoria Biniak, told WKMG-TV the whale "took off really fast in the tank, and then he came back, shot up in the air, grabbed the trainer by the waist and started thrashing around, and one of her shoes flew off."
Two other witnesses told the Orlando Sentinel that the whale grabbed the woman by the upper arm and tossed her around in its mouth while swimming rapidly around the tank. Brazilian tourist Joao Lucio DeCosta Sobrinho and his girlfriend were at an underwater viewing area when they suddenly saw a whale with a person in its mouth.
The couple said they watched the whale show at the park two days earlier and came back to take pictures. But on Wednesday the whales appeared agitated.
"It was terrible. It's very difficult to see the image," Sobrinho said.
Because of his size and the previous deaths, trainers were not supposed to get into the water with Tilikum, and only about a dozen of the park's 29 trainers worked with him. Brancheau had more experience with the 30-year-old whale than most, and was one of the park's most experienced trainers overall.
"We recognized he was different," Tompkins said. He said no decision has been made yet about what will happen to Tilikum, such as transferring him to another facility.
A SeaWorld spokesman said Tilikum was one of three orcas blamed for killing a trainer in 1991 after the woman lost her balance and fell in the pool at Sealand of the Pacific near Victoria, British Columbia.
Steve Huxter, who was head of Sealand's animal care and training department then, said Wednesday he's surprised it happened again. He says Tilikum was a well-behaved, balanced animal.
Tilikum was also involved in a 1999 death, when the body of a man who had sneaked by SeaWorld security was found draped over him. The man either jumped, fell or was pulled into the frigid water and died of hypothermia, though he was also bruised and scratched by Tilikum.
Later Wednesday, SeaWorld also suspended the killer whale shows at all of its parks, which also include locations in San Diego and San Antonio, to review procedures.
According to a profile of Brancheau in the Sentinel in 2006, she was one of SeaWorld Orlando's leading trainers. It was a trip to SeaWorld at age 9 that made her want to follow that career path. Dawn was the youngest of six children who grew up near Cedar Lake, Ind.
"I remember walking down the aisle (of Shamu Stadium) and telling my mom, 'This is what I want to do,'" she said in the article.
Brancheau worked her way into a leadership role at Shamu Stadium during her career with SeaWorld, starting at the Sea Lion & Otter Stadium before spending 10 years working with killer whales, the newspaper said.
She also addressed the dangers of the job.
"You can't put yourself in the water unless you trust them and they trust you," Brancheau said.
Brancheau's older sister, Diane Gross, said the trainer wouldn't want anything done to the whale because she loved the animals like children. The trainer was married and didn't have children.
"She loved the whales like her children, she loved all of them," said Gross, of Schererville, Ind. "They all had personalities, good days and bad days."
Gross said the family viewed her sister's death as an unfortunate accident, adding: "It just hasn't sunk in yet."
Steve McCulloch, founder and program manager at the Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program at Harbor Branch/Florida Atlantic University, said the whale may have been playing, but it is too early to tell.
"I wouldn't jump to conclusions," he said. "These are very large powerful marine mammals. They exhibit this type of behavior in the wild.
Tompkins, the SeaWorld head trainer, said of the whale: "We have no idea what was going through his head."
Mike Wald, a spokesman for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration office in Atlanta, said his agency had dispatched an investigator from Tampa.
Wednesday's death was not the first attack on whale trainers at SeaWorld parks.
In November 2006, a trainer was bitten and held underwater several times by a killer whale during a show at SeaWorld's San Diego park.
The trainer, Kenneth Peters, escaped with a broken foot. The 17-foot orca that attacked him was the dominant female of SeaWorld San Diego's seven killer whales. She had attacked Peters two other times, in 1993 and 1999.
In 2004, another whale at the company's San Antonio park tried to hit one of the trainers and attempted to bite him. He also escaped.
Wednesday's attack was the second time in two months that an orca trainer was killed at a marine park. On Dec. 24, 29-year-old Alexis Martinez Hernandez fell from a whale and crushed his ribcage at Loro Parque on the Spanish island of Tenerife. Park officials said the whale, a 14-year-old named Keto, made an unusual move as the two practiced a trick in which the whale lifts the trainer and leaps into the air.

Husain conferred Qatar nationality

NEW DELHI - India’s eminent artist M.F. Husain, who has been under attack from Hindu fundamentalists for his paintings of Hindu goddesses and has been living in Dubai and London, has been given Qatar nationality, it was reported here Thursday.

“I, The Indian origin painter M.F. Husain at 95 have been honoured by Qatar nationality,” the celebrated artist wrote above a line sketch of a horse, the leitmotif of much of his work. The black and white drawing was carried by The Hindu newspaper.

In a signed article, The Hindu editor N. Ram wrote that the artist had given him the news from Dubai “by reading out the few lines he had written on a black-and-white line drawing that he released to The Hindu”.

According to the report, Husain did not apply for the nationality but it was conferred on him at the instance of the emirate’s ruling family.

Photographer, designer and activist Ram Rahman, who is close to the Husain family, responded to the news by saying: “The citizenship has been offered by the sheikha, the wife of the sheikh ofQatar, and it has several implications.

“On a personal note, I feel it is quite clear that the man who is 95 years old and cannot return to his country to die, there is no point of him remaining anIndian citizen.”

“It would be a tragedy. He has not given up his Indian citizenship yet but if he decides to take up the Qatari offer, he will not remain an Indian citizen anymore. It is also a reflection of our legal system because the cases against him will drag on for 20-30 years…. so it is justified if he takes up the Qatari offer,” Rahman told IANS.