EU bans oil imports from Iran, imposes other curbs

Tehran responds with threat to block Strait of Hormuz

A file photo shows a USS aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.
The vessel passed through the Strait of Hormuz and is now in the Gulf.

Brussels/Tehran, Jan 23
The European Union banned imports of oil from Iran on Monday and imposed a number of other economic sanctions, joining the United States in a new round of measures aimed at deflecting Tehran's nuclear development programme.

In Iran, one politician responded by renewing a threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, an oil-exporting route vital to the global economy, and another said Tehran should cut off oil to the EU immediately. That might hurt Greece, Italy and other ailing economies that depend heavily on Iranian crude and, as a result, won as part of the EU agreement a grace period until July 1 before the embargo takes full effect.

A day after a US aircraft carrier, accompanied by a flotilla that included French and British warships, made a symbolically loaded voyage into the Gulf in defiance of Iranian hostility, the widely expected EU sanctions move was likely to set off further bellicose rhetoric in an already tense region. Some analysts say Iran, which denies accusations that it seeking nuclear weapons, could be in a position to make them next year.

So, with Israel warning it could use force to prevent that happening, the row over Tehran's plans is an increasingly pressing challenge for world leaders, not least U.S. President Barack Obama as he campaigns for re-election in November.

Meeting in Brussels, foreign ministers from the 27-state EU, which as a bloc is Iran's second-biggest customer for crude after China, agreed to an immediate ban on all new contracts to import, purchase or transport Iranian crude oil and petroleum products. However, EU countries with existing contracts to buy oil and petroleum products can honour them up to July 1.

EU officials said they also agreed to freeze the assets of Iran's central bank and ban trade in gold and other precious metals with the bank and state bodies. Along with US sanctions imposed on December 31, the Western powers hope choking exports and hence funding can force Iran's leaders to agree to curbs on a nuclear programme the West says is intended to yield weapons. 

India tells Norway to settle kids’ custody issue

New Delhi, January 23
As an Indian couple battles in Norway for the custody of their two children - taken away and sent to foster care by the Child Protective Services, India today asked the Scandinavian country to work out a settlement with the family of the two children.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna called Norway’s Charge d’affaires Aslak Brun to his residence to discuss the issue and later spoke to his Norwegian counterpart.

Talking to reporters, he said he has come to the conclusion after the talks that a reasonable settlement could be worked out.

"This (settlement) has to be worked out with the family of the children," Krishna said when asked if any other solution to the issue was acceptable to the Indian government. Three-year-old Abhigyan and one-year-old Aishwarya, children of Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya, an NRI couple living in Stavanger, Norway, were taken under protective care by Barnevarne (Norwegian Child Welfare Services) in May on the grounds that they were not looked after properly by their parents.

Barnevarne has placed them in foster parental care as per the directive of the local Norwegian court, mandated under Norwegian laws.

Asked about the couple’s visa that is likely to end in early March, Krishna said Norway was willing to accommodate the Indian government to the extent possible within the limits of jurisdiction. "If there are visa issues, I think it can be worked out," he said.

India has over the last two months issued a couple of strong demarche to Norway on its decision to separate the two Indian children from their NRI parents and conveyed that it felt it was "an extreme step and unjustified".

India joins select club, gets N-powered sub Nerpa

New Delhi, January 23

Russia has formally handed over Nerpa, a nuclear-powered submarine, to India. The submarine that has the capacity to fire nuclear warheads was today rechristened INS Chakra and it now flies the Indian Tricolour.

The submarine is on a 10-year lease to India under $ 900 million contract. The ceremony to name the submarine was conducted in the Far Eastern Primorye Territory. Russian submariners trained their Indian colleagues to handle Nerpa in the Pacific Ocean. The submarine is on its way to India and is expected to be here in the next few weeks, sources said

The vessel has the capacity to carry four 533mm torpedoes and four 650mm torpedos. Though the Russians, under the Missile Technology Control Regime, cannot give any N-tipped missiles with the submarine, India has its own missiles which match the size of the torpedo tubes available on Nerpa. The DRDO has already mimicked an under-water launch of a missile that could be fitted onto the indigenously produced INS Arihant.

After the US, Russia, France, Britain and China, India will become the sixth operator of nuclear submarines in the world.

Significantly for India, it will be almost after a gap of two decades that the Indian Navy will operate a nuclear-powered submarine. The country had earlier leased a submarine from Russia that was returned.

The submarine’s total displacement is 12,770 tonnes while its maximum speed is 30 knots. It can plunge into depths of 600 metres while its endurance to remain under water is 100 days. The under-water endurance of nuclear submarine is what makes it so potent. Diesel-electric powered submarines — which the Indian Navy uses — have to surface every 3-4 days to ‘breathe’. The Nerpa will have a crew of 73.

Reports from Moscow said that Indian Ambassador to Russia Ajai Malhotra attended the event, besides United Shipbuilding Corporation head Roman Trotsenko, Eastern Military District commander Admiral Konstantin Sidenko and other officials.

Plot to abduct Sachin: 8-yr jail for 6 HuJI men

New Delhi, January 23
The life sentences awarded to six Harkat-ul Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) terrorists, including three Pakistani, by a trial court for plotting to kidnap cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly in 2002, were reduced to eight years each by the Delhi High Court today.

While upholding the trial court's 2010 judgment, a Bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and SP Garg modified the order on their sentence and reduced the life term awarded to them to eight years on the ground of parity. The HC reduced the sentence, acceding to the pleas of the HuJI militants that three other key accused, who had earlier confessed to their crime, were awarded 8 years' jail term in 2007 under the Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act.

The court's verdict came on appeals by three Pakistani convicts Tariq Mehmood, Arshad Khan and Ishaq Ahmed and their three Indian accomplices, Ghulam Mohammed Dar, Ghulam Qadir Bhat and Mufti Mohammed Israr, who had been convicted under the provisions of the POTA, the IPC and the Arms Act. 

Shoe hurled at Rahul Gandhi

Vikasnagar, January 23

A shoe was hurled towards Rahul Gandhi by a youth while he was addressing an election rally at a town, 40 km from  Dehradun, today.

The shoe fell 10 metres short of the Congress general secretary, Dehradun SSP G N Goswami said.

The youth, identified as Kuldip, was immediately taken into custody, Goswami said. As the security personnel and Congress supporters grabbed Kuldip, Rahul was heard saying, "Don't hit him". The shoe-hurling incident on Rahul came two days after a similar attack on Team Anna here.

Plea to keep legal education out of Bill

New Delhi, January 23
The Bar Council of India (BCI) today submitted a memorandum to Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal, urging him to keep the legal education out of the purview of the proposed Higher Education and Research Bill 2011.

Taking legal education away from the BCI, which was regulating it now, and bringing it under a super regulator of the HRD ministry would have an adverse impact on the autonomy of the council and the universities providing such education, the memorandum said.

BCI chairman Ashok Parija told reporters that the council and its state bodies were committed to opposing the controversial clauses of the Bill. Office bearers of the council and the state units had a meeting and resolved to prevent the government from interfering with the autonomy of the legal profession and the Advocates Act, he said.

Lekh Raj Sharma, Chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, said there was no way the advocates would allow the government to tinker with the Advocates Act or facilitate the entry of foreign law firms into India. 

Remark on Golden Temple by TV host flayed

Jay Leno's Mitt Romney Joke Upsets Sikh Community By Using Photo Of India's Golden Temple Of Amritsar 

A recent sketch by "The Tonight Show" host Jay Leno has angered members of India's Sikh community by insinuating the Golden Temple of Amritsar was one of Mitt Romney's estates.

The segment, which aired on Jan. 19, featured a clip from the CBS show "The Insider" which looked at homes of several presidential candidates, including Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul.

"Here's a look at Mitt Romney's summer home on Lake Winnipesaukee," the voiceover indicated before the Leno team switched out the picture of the GOP candidate's estate with a photo of the shrine.

The clip caused an uproar among members of India's Sikh community who said the jab, which was intended for Romney, was insulting to their religion, the Wall Street Journal reports.

While the segment solicited a few laughs from the audience, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi called the incident "quite unfortunate and quite objectionable," the BBC reports.

Ravi, who said he has not personally seen the clip, has even called upon Nirupama Rao, the Indian Ambassador to the United States, to discuss the incident with the U.S. State Department,according to the Press Trust of India.

However, some say the joke shouldn't have been taken so seriously.

"Jay Leno is a comedian, take him with a pinch of salt," Suhel Seth, an Indian media commentator, told the AFP. "But our politicians do not want to address real issues, like getting clean water to people. They would rather talk about silly issues."

Abhijit Majumder, an editor at the Hindustan Times, seemed to agree with Seth's view.

"Read about Jay Leno joke. Next mass movement should be over largescale disappearance of India's sense of humour,"Majumder Tweeted from his account, theWashington Post observed.

Nevertheless, members of the Sikh community have started an online petition denouncing Leno's comments as insensitive.

Neither Jay Leno nor media spokespersons for "The Tonight Show" have made any statement regarding the controversy.

Romney had previously appeared on "The Tonight Show" in 2010 before formally announcing his plans to run for president in 2012.

Milkha donates ’60 Olympics shoes for charity auction

Chandigarh, January 23
Flying Sikh Milkha Singh had never thought that one day his ‘priceless shoes’ would bring a smile on faces of children of a lesser god. The living legend donated the golden spikes he wore during the 1960 Rome Olympics for a charity auction in Mumbai on February 11, to be organised by an NGO run by actor Rahul Bose.

The shoes would be put up for auction during the sports memorabilia organised by Bose. The actor had told Milkha that he had auctioned kits of other well-known sportspersons.

“There was a time when I used to walk a lot barefoot as I did not have shoes. Some things are priceless, but when it is a noble cause, those become a ray of hope for others,” said Milkha.

“I do not want someone needy to walk barefoot. I hope that the charity auction will fulfil someone’s dream to run,” he said.

“Rahul visited me about two months back and asked for the shoes. When I asked him the reason, he said there was a charity auction for the benefit of the blind and other children. I gave him the go-ahead,” said Milkha.

“I am not sure of attending the auction, but am leaving for Mumbai tomorrow for the shooting of my upcoming movie. I have sentiments attached to my kit, but am happy that the pair will be used for a noble cause,” he further said.

Earlier, the legendary athlete had donated a pair of shoes to the National Sports Museum. “I donated the pair so that youngsters saw the kits I wore,” said Milkha.

A day of cultural confluence at Jaipur Literature Festival

Jaipur, January 23
Global voices of exile, political oppression and displacement echoed through Day 4 of the Jaipur Literature Festival.

From Pakistan, Fatima Bhutto and Ayesha Jalal, Palestenian author Raja Shehadeh, Thant Myint U from Burma and Hanan-al Shaykh from Egypt shared their experiences of exile and those of creating works of writing out of such experiences.

Iftikhar Gilani, the Kashmiri journalist-writer who was arrested under the Official Secrets Act and later released, lent a lighter vein to political oppression. “All writers should get arrested once. A jail is a goldmine of writing material, which you can’t get even by spending billions,” he said. On a serious note, the writer said these literary documentations help take nations and states to self-criticism and self-analysis once in a while.

Fatima Bhutto, columnist and author of “Songs of Blood and Sword”, said her father was so often in and out of jail, that it made her believe that arrest was a form of protest.

Hanan said though her exile was not forced but a chosen one, yet, she had to go through a tough time. She didn’t feel at home in the sectarian society of Lebanon, and so writing became a form of protest for her. She attempted to explain the feeling of exile, “Once you feel exiled from your land, you feel like an outsider everywhere, forever”.

Thant Myint-U, a historian and former fellow at the Trinity college, known for “Where China Meets India: Burma and the new crossroads of Asia” shared his experience of the failed revolution of Burma of the 1980s. He said “only intellectuals can give right direction to a movement, else, it turns into anarchy. And writers are the best recorders of history, unlike human-rights reports or legal documents, a fictional account by a writer of historical upheavals is more engaging and interesting and it helps people of coming generations to get a feel of their history.”

Fortunately, technology has helped many exiled writers to create blogs and websites, away from home and still retain a position to influence people’s mind back home, as was done by several Burmese writers under the junta rule. The session “Holy Wars” had academic and author Ayesha Jalal in conversation with William Dalrymple, hence it remained more of an academic exercise. Beginning with the etymology and origins of the term Holy War (Jihad) in Islamic scholarship, Jalal described Jihad as “one of the most complex and elusive terms” in the Islamic lexicon, saying, it is a highly relevant concept today, but, when it was coined the word “Jihad” meant “to strive, to struggle, to endeavour in a worthy cause” and is juxtaposed in the Koran to the word used for fighting or armed warfare.

If political struggles and oppressions provide explosive material to writers, the political struggles based on “misnomers of identity” inspired art critic Ranjit Hoskote and novelist Illija Trojanow to spend 10 years of research, tracing cultural streams and their hybridisations to come up with an interesting fictional account in a novel titled “Confluences” which finds meeting points in cultures rather than their diversities.

Foreign currency seized

Mohali, January 23

A static surveillance team, headed by ASI Parmod Kumar, seized foreign currency from an NRI, who was travelling by a taxi, at a check post near the light point of phase 3A.

During the checking, foreign currency in the form of US Dollars was recovered along with Indian currency. The total amount seized was Rs 7 lakh, which was handed over to a team of the Income Tax Department as the woman was unable to produce valid supporting documents. The lady identified herself as Garima, a resident of California State in the US. She was coming from New Delhi. She told the officials that she was carrying the currency for a land deal in Mohali. A total of $ 9,350 and Rs 2.18 lakh were seized.

CONSUMER COURTS

Forum fines MC Rs 5,000 Had charged interest on house tax

Chandigarh, January 23
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (CMC) for charging penal interest on house tax from a sector 18 resident.

The district forum, comprising president PD Goel and members Rajinder Singh Gill and Madanjit Kaur Sahota, has also directed the opposite parties to refund Rs 6,656 besides Rs 2,000 as costs of litigation to the complainants.

The complainants, Shwinder Kaur and her son Sanjit Singh, had submitted that the opposite parties served a notice on them demanding property tax for 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09, and consequently they deposited the property tax within the stipulated period. They alleged the opposite parties forced them to pay the property tax for 2004 to 2006 totalling Rs 20,196 with penal interest, which they had paid on May 28, 2010, under protest that the charging of penal interest was unjustified and illegal. Despite several reminders and notices the opposite parties failed to refund the excess amount.

The counsel for the Assistant Collector (Tax), Municipal Corporation (opposite party no.1) and the CMC, through its Executive Officer (opposite party no. 2) pleaded that the opposite parties had issued a consolidated-property-tax-demand notice for Rs 13,540 on February 21, 2006 and the same was delivered at SCO No. 95, Sector 40-C, Chandigarh through a messenger. It had been pleaded that in case the complainants failed to deposit the property tax within one month of the issuing of the notice, they were liable to pay interest at the rate of 18 per cent from the date of the issuing of the notice. The opposite parties had also made the plea that the complaint was not maintainable as per Clause 24 (i) of Property Tax Bye-Laws, 2003.

Goel said the opposite parties had raised the specific plea that the notice regarding the consolidated property tax was delivered through the messenger. But, they have failed to prove that the said notice reached the complainants, as they have neither produced any acknowledgement duly signed by them nor the affidavit of the messenger, who delivered the said notice to the complainants. Thus the opposite parties are not entitled to charge the interest, he added.

Adhere to road safety rules, says IGP

Chandigarh, January 23
Emphasising the theme of “Accidents bring tears, safety brings cheers”, the UT traffic police today concluded the 23rd Road Safety Week amidst a colourful programme by schoolchildren at the Tagore Theatre in Sector 18.

A street play by an NGO, “Aavahan”, was the highlight of the closing ceremony, as performers exhibited significance of complying with traffic rules and hazards of drunken driving through an enactment.

Students of DAV School, Sector 15, performed a cultural programme on the occasion. Inspector General of Police (IGP) PK Srivastava, who was the chief guest, said the police had tightened its grip around drunken drivers and over 50 persons are challaned in a day when their special drives are held during weekends. He appealed to the general public to adhere to the road safety rules.

Besides, prizes were given to winners of various activities held during the week, including painting competition, blood donation camp, training workshops for TSR drivers, heavy and light drivers, and rickshaw pullers.

The Road Safety Week is observed in January every year all over the country to inculcate the culture of road safety among the citizens.

During this Road Safety Week, different cultural and other activities were also organised by educational institutions, social organisations, corporate organisation, transport department, traffic police and other socially conscious citizens in order to raise the level of awareness on road safety, which included a seven-day road safety exhibition at the Sector-17 Plaza, a scooter rally by girl students to promote wearing of safety helmet, road safety workshops for auto drivers, rickshaw pullers, school bus drivers, bus and truck drivers, trauma response workshop for PCR and traffic police personnel, conference on road safety and traffic management, regular public announcement on road safety on major light points/intersections and penal discussion on road safety at All-India Radio and BIG FM to raise the level of awareness on road safety.

BJP’s internal feud may prove to be its undoing

Chandigarh , January 23
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is one party that does not have any rebels in the fray. But this does not mean all is well within the party. A party of disciplined cadres, its feuds may not be out in the open, but the internal simmering is palpable.

The Punjab BJP is a house divided with one faction owing allegience to Arun Jaitley and the other with Narendra Modi. It was owing to internal strife that three BJP ministers were dropped and portfolios of others shuffled last year.

Former Parliamentary Secretary Jagdish Sawhney, who was denied the ticket with Batala being allotted to the SAD, has joined the Congress. His followers are now supporting Congress nominee Ashwani Sikri in Batala and are giving a tough time to SAD’s Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal and People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) nominee Yadwinderdeep Singh Buttar.

Similarly, former Punjab Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal was dropped from the Cabinet rather unceremoniously and then denied the party ticket from Pathankot. State BJP chief Ashwani Sharma has been allotted the ticket instead. The BJP in Pathankot is divided with Master Mohan Lal lending only half-hearted support to Sharma. The BJP is contesting 23 seats. It had won 19 seats in the 2007 elections. This time, it has replaced seven candidates and swapped the Batala and Garshankar seats with the Akalis for Ludhiana West and Amritsar East.

The BJP has fielded former BJP state president Rajinder Bhandari from Ludhiana West, the seat earlier held by Harish Rai Dhanda of the SAD. For the Amritsar East seat, the party has fielded Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of Amritsar MP Navjot Sidhu.

The BJP is facing a major problem explaining to voters the corruption charges against its former Parliamentary Secretary Raj Khurana and former Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia in a land scandal.

While Kalia and Khurana are in the fray from Jalandhar Central and Rajpura, former ministers Master Mohan Lal and Swarna Ram, who are untarnished, have been dropped. Sharma has replaced Master and Som Parkash, a former bureaucrat, fielded from Phagwara instead of Swarna Ram. The BJP is trying to cash in on the grant of district status to Abohar and Pathankot but is facing flak on account of lack of development in urban areas.

The SAD and BJP are alliance partners, but the past five years saw a lot of bickering between the two on grant of funds for urban development. The BJP initially sought Rs 1,100 crore for urban development but was promised Rs 800 crore by the then Finance Minister Manpreet Badal. This money remained elusive.

Later, the Chief Minister announced an urban grant of Rs 300 crore and the Deputy CM an urban development package with schemes that were modified versions of existing ones. This has hit the BJP vote bank hard.

Also, BJP leader in the Vidhan Sabha Tikshan Sud is facing graft charges from officers of his own department. The matter is in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and has damaged the party’s image.

The issue is being raised by the Congress at all rallies, especially in Doaba and Majha. The The BJP is also finding it hard to explain the scandals in the Hoshiarpur and Dasuya civic bodies.

The BJP has pockets of influence in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar , Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana , Rajpura, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts. Since the party has nothing much to show in terms of urban development, the BJP leaders are highlighting the “anti-people” policies of the UPA Government.

Yet the role of the party in these elections is significant. Only if the BJP retains its urban vote bank will the ruling alliance be back in the saddle.

4th death in UP health scam, key accused shoots himself

Lucknow, January 23

A key official allegedly involved in the Rs 5,000-crore National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam in Uttar Pradesh today committed suicide at his Lucknow residence, taking the total number of unnatural deaths linked to the scandal to four. These developments, right in the middle of electioneering, has huge implications for the ruling BSP. 

Project manager Sunil Verma shot himself at his Vikas Nagar residence at around 8:30 am. He was taken to a private hospital where the doctors declared him as brought dead. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
According to family sources, Verma had been under depression since the CBI had carried out searches at his residence on January 4. His name along with the then Family Welfare Minister Babu Singh Kushwaha had figured in the FIR lodged by the CBI on that day.
Lucknow Range DIG DK Thakur confirmed that a suicide note had been found from Verma’s house where he pleaded innocence in the NHRM scam.
“In the note, he says he was upset due to the raids,” said Thakur. An assistant engineer in the UP Jal Nigam, Verma was a designated as project manager of the Construction and Design Division of UPJN which was responsible for the upgrade of 134 hospitals across the state under the NRHM.
The NRHM scam surfaced after the murder of two CMOs and a deputy CMO in the Family Welfare Department died under mysterious circumstances. Dr VK Arya was killed while he was taking a morning walk near his Vikas Nagar residence on October 27, 2010 and Dr BP Singh was murdered on April 2, 2011. Deputy CMO Y S Sachan, arrested in connection of the financial irregularities in NHRM, was found dead inside the Lucknow district jail on June 22, 2011.
Later, on the recommendation of the Allahabad High Court, the Mayawati government directed the CBI to inquire into the misuse of NRHM funds and the death of CMOs. The central agency is probing irregularities in funds disbursed to 72 Chief Medical Officers across the state.
Two former ministers in the Mayawati government - Babu Singh Kushwaha and Anant Mishra - along with the then Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare were relieved of their posts following the NHRM scam coming out in the open.
The CBI has already lodged 8 FIRs in the case naming 18 persons of which eight are already behind bars. Three more senior officials, including the then Principal Secretary, Health Pradeep Shukla, being interrogated by the CBI in Delhi are expected to be arrested very soon.
On January 4, the CBI raided 60 office and residences of officials concerned, contractors and firms, including the residence of Verma, who committed suicide today while another 44 places were raided last week.
A special team of the CBI is investigating the NRHM scam, which has cast a shadow over the ongoing Assembly elections.
Adding to Mayawati government’s woes on January 20, the Comptroller and Auditor General had found anomalies in the spending of around Rs 5,000 crore under the scheme in about two dozen districts of the state.
The CAG report states that the UP Health Department had failed to give proper details of spending worth around Rs 5,000 crore of the Rs 8,657 crore given to the state. It has also indicted health and family welfare department functionaries, middlemen and contractors for allegedly guzzling the huge amounts released between 2005 and 2011 under the health mission. 

Digvijay for CBI investigation

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh has asked the CBI to probe the suicide of Sunil Verma. Talking to the media at the UPCC headquarters here, he said: “It is very sad. But I doubt if it was a case of suicide. It appears to be a big conspiracy linked to the multi-crore NHRM scam which has now claimed its fourth victim.”

ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਡਰੱਗ ਮਾਫੀਏ ਤੇ ਗੈਂਗ ਹਿੰਸਾ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਸਖ਼ਤ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਬਣਾਏਗੀ-ਉੱਪਲ

ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਟਿਮ ਉੱਪਲ ਹੋਰਨਾਂ ਸ਼ਖਸੀਅਤਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ ਫੇਰੀ ਸਮੇਂ।

ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ, 23 ਜਨਵਰੀ - ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਦਸਤਾਰਧਾਰੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਟਿਮ ਸਿੰਘ ਉੱਪਲ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ ਫੇਰੀ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦਿਨੋ-ਦਿਨ ਵਧ ਰਹੀ ਗੈਂਗ ਹਿੰਸਾ ਤੇ ਡਰੱਗ ਮਾਫੀਏ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਸਖਤ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਬਣਾਏਗੀ ਅਤੇ ਦੋਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੱਧ ਸਜ਼ਾਵਾਂ ਲਈ ਹੋਰ ਕਦਮ ਚੁੱਕੇਗੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਪੱਤਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ ਇਲਾਕੇ 'ਚ ਗੈਂਗ ਹਿੰਸਾ 'ਤੇ ਦੁੱਖ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਇਆ ਤੇ ਭਰੋਸਾ ਦਿਵਾਇਆ ਕਿ ਆਉਂਦੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਗੈਂਗ ਹਿੰਸਾ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਬਿੱਲ ਸੰਸਦ 'ਚ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਰਾਜੀ ਸੁਧਾਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਰਾਜ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਟਿਮ ਉੱਪਲ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ ਫੇਰੀ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਦੀਵਾਨ ਸੁਸਾਇਟੀ ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ ਵਿਖੇ ਵੀ ਹਾਜ਼ਰੀ ਲੁਆਈ ਤੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਇਕੱਤਰਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ ਦੱਖਣੀ ਹਲਕੇ ਤੋਂ ਐਮ. ਪੀ. ਵੇਅ ਯੰਗ, ਉੱਘੇ ਆਗੂ ਸ: ਬਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਵੜੈਚ ਤੇ ਸੁਸਾਇਟੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਸ: ਸੋਹਣ ਸਿੰਘ ਦਿਉ ਸਮੇਤ ਵੱਡੀ ਗਿਣਤੀ 'ਚ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਸ਼ਖਸੀਅਤਾਂ ਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਸਨ।

ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਿਲਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਸਿਆਸਤਦਾਨਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਵਾਅਦੇ ਲੈਣ

ਲੰਡਨ, 23 ਜਨਵਰੀ - ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਸਿਆਸੀ ਪਾਰਟੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਮਦਦ ਲਈ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਲੈਣ ਗਏ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਸਲਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਹੁਣ ਸਿਆਸੀ ਪਾਰਟੀਆਂ ਕੋਲ ਉਠਾਉਣ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਹੋਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਧੱਕਿਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਬੇਇਨਸਾਫੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਅਵਾਜ਼ ਬੁਲੰਦ ਕਰਨ ਅਤੇ ਵਾਅਦੇ ਲੈਣ ਕਿ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਿਲਾਂ ਵੱਲ ਇਹ ਸਿਆਸੀ ਲੋਕ ਇਮਾਨਦਾਰੀ ਨਾਲ ਧਿਆਨ ਦੇਣਗੇ। ਇਹ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਸਾਊਥਾਲ ਈਲਿੰਗ ਦੇ ਐਮ. ਪੀ. ਸ੍ਰੀ ਵਰਿੰਦਰ ਸ਼ਰਮਾ ਨੇ ਪ੍ਰੈੱਸ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਕੀਤੇ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨਿਵਾਸੀ ਸੁੱਖੀ ਚਾਹਲ ਨਾਲ ਜੋ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਧੱਕਾ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਅਤਿਨਿੰਦਣਯੋਗ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਅਜੇਹੇ ਵਤੀਰੇ ਕਰਕੇ ਹੀ ਬਹੁਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿਚ ਪੈਸਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਲਾਉਂਦੇ।

ਆਸਟ੍ਰੇਲੀਅ। ਵਿਚ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਖਿਡਾਰੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਨਹੀਂ ਖੇਡਣਗੇ

ਸਿਡਨੀ, 23 ਜਨਵਰੀ - ਪਿਛਲੇ ਦਿਨੀਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿਚ ਹੋਏ ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਕੱਪ ਵਿਚ ਕਈ ਆਸਟ੍ਰੇਲੀਅਨ ਖਿਡਾਰੀ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਖਾ ਕੇ ਖੇਡਣ ਵਿਚ ਪਾਏ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਸਿੱਖ ਗੇਮਜ਼ ਵਿਚ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਮਹਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਿੱਟਾ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਬਿਆਨ ਜਾਰੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਕੋਈ ਵੀ ਖਿਡਾਰੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਗੇਮਜ਼ ਵਿਚ ਨਹੀਂ ਖੇਡ ਸਕਦੇ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਕੱਪ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਨਸ਼ੇ ਕਰਕੇ ਬਾਹਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ। ਇਥੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਅਸੀਂ ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਸੰਸਥਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਇਕ ਪੱਤਰ ਭੇਜਾਂਗੇ ਜਿਸ ਵਿਚ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਹੋਰ ਮੈਚਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਨਾ ਖੇਡਣ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇ।

ਨਵਚਿੰਤਨ ਸੋਸ਼ਲ ਐਂਡ ਇੰਟਰ ਕਲਚਰ ਐਸੋਸੀਏਸ਼ਨ ਵਿਚੈਂਸਾ ਸਮਾਜਿਕ ਭਲਾਈ ਦੇ ਕਾਰਜਾਂ ਲਈ ਯਤਨਸ਼ੀਲ-ਮੁਨੀਸ਼ਾ ਕੁਮਾਰ

ਰੋਮ(ਇਟਲੀ), 23 ਜਨਵਰੀ -ਇਟਲੀ ਵਿਚ ਸਮਾਜਿਕ ਭਲਾਈ ਦੇ ਮਨੋਰਥ ਲਈ ਬਣੀਆਂ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਸੰਸਥਾਵਾਂ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਇਕ ਨਵਚਿੰਤਨ ਸੋਸ਼ਲ ਐਂਡ ਇੰਟਰ ਕਲਚਰ ਐਸੋਸੀਏਸ਼ਨ ਵਿਚੈਂਸਾ ਵੀ ਸਮਾਜ ਭਲਾਈ ਦੇ ਕਾਰਜਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਆਪਣਾ ਪੂਰਾ ਯੋਗਦਾਨ ਪਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਗੱਲ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਵਾ ਨਵਚਿੰਤਨ ਸੋਸ਼ਲ ਐਂਡ ਇੰਟਰ ਕਲਚਰ ਐਸੋਸੀਏਸ਼ਨ ਵਿਚੈਂਸਾ ਦੀ ਜਨਰਲ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਅਤੇ ਅਗਾਂਹ-ਵਧੂ ਖਿਆਲਾਂ ਦੀ ਧਾਰਨੀ ਮੁਨੀਸ਼ਾ ਕੁਮਾਰ ਨੇ ਪ੍ਰੈੱਸ ਨਾਲ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਮੁਨੀਸ਼ਾ ਕੁਮਾਰ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਨਵਚਿੰਤਨ ਸੋਸ਼ਲ ਐਂਡ ਇੰਟਰ ਕਲਚਰ ਐਸੋਸੀਏਸ਼ਨ ਵਲੋਂ ਇਟਲੀ ਵਿਚ ਰਹਿ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਇਸਤਰੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਇਟਾਲੀਅਨ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਸਿਖਾਉਣ ਹਿੱਤ ਸਕੂਲਾਂ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਸਾਡਾ ਮਨੋਰਥ ਸਮਾਜਿਕ ਭਲਾਈ ਦੇ ਕਾਰਜਾਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਲੋਂ-ਨਾਲ ਅਜੋਕੀ ਨਾਰੀ ਦੇ ਸਰਬਪੱਖੀ ਗੁਣਾਂ ਦਾ ਵਿਕਾਸ ਕਰਨਾ, ਔਰਤ ਲਈ ਇਕ ਢੁੱਕਵਾਂ ਪਲੇਟ ਫਾਰਮ ਮੁਹੱਈਆ ਕਰਵਾਉਣ ਅਤੇ ਔਰਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਜਾਗਰੂਕ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਹੱਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਕਰਨਾ ਹੈ।

300 ਸਾਲ ਬਾਅਦ ਸਮੁੰਦਰ 'ਚੋਂ ਕੱਢਿਆ ਬਰਤਾਨਵੀ ਫ਼ੌਜੀ ਬੇੜਾ

50 ਕਰੋੜ ਪੌਂਡ ਦਾ ਸੋਨਾ ਲੱਦਿਆ ਸੀ, 1744 ਨੂੰ ਡੁੱਬਿਆ ਸੀ, 1 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਫੌਜੀ ਡੁੱਬ ਮਰੇ ਸਨ

ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਐਚ. ਐਮ. ਐਸ. ਦੀ ਸਮੁੰਦਰ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਕੱਢੀ ਤੋਪ (ਹਾਸ਼ੀਏ 'ਚ) ਅਤੇ ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਇਕ ਹੋਰ ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਬੇੜੇ ਦੀ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ 1900 ਵਿਚ ਲਈ ਗਈ ਤਸਵੀਰ।

ਲੰਡਨ,23 ਜਨਵਰੀ - ਬਰਤਾਨੀਆ ਦਾ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਫੌਜੀ ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਬੇੜਾ ਐਚ. ਐਮ. ਐਸ. ਵਿਕਟਰੀ ਨੂੰ 300 ਸਾਲ ਬਾਅਦ ਸਮੁੰਦਰ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਕੱਢ ਲਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ, ਇਹ ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਬੇੜਾ ਚੈਨਲ ਆਈਸਲੈਂਡ ਵਿਚ 1744 ਵਿਚ ਆਏ ਤੂਫਾਨ ਵਿਚ ਡੁੱਬ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ, ਜਿਸ ਵਿਚ ਸਵਾਰ 1000 ਫੌਜੀ ਵੀ ਮਾਰੇ ਗਏ ਸਨ, ਪੁਰਤਗਾਲ ਦੀ ਰਾਜਧਾਨੀ ਲਿਸਬਨ ਤੋਂ ਬਰਤਾਨੀਆ ਵੱਲ ਚੱਲੇ ਇਸ ਬੇੜੇ ਵਿਚ ਉਸ ਵੇਲੇ ਦੇ 1 ਲੱਖ 20 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਪੌਂਡ ਦੀ ਕੀਮਤ ਦੇ ਸੋਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਚਾਂਦੀ ਦੇ ਸਿੱਕਿਆਂ ਸਮੇਤ ਬੇਸ਼ੁਮਾਰ ਕੀਮਤੀ ਸਾਮਾਨ ਲੱਦਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ, ਜਿਸ ਦੀ ਅੱਜ ਕੀਮਤ 50 ਕਰੋੜ ਪੌਂਡ ਦੇ ਲਗਭਗ ਦੱਸੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ। ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਦੇ ਮਲਬੇ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰਟਾਈਮ ਹੈਰੀਟੇਜ਼ ਫਾਊਂਡੇਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਹਵਾਲੇ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ, ਇਸ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਦੀ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਦੇਹੀ ਅਮਰੀਕਨ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਨੇ 4 ਸਾਲ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੀ। ਇਸ ਬੇੜੇ ਦੀ ਮਹੱਤਤਾ ਇਹ ਦੱਸੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਬੇੜਾ ਚਾਰ ਮੰਜ਼ਿਲਾ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਉੱਪਰ 104 ਤੋਪਾਂ ਬੀੜੀਆਂ ਹੁੰਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਬੇੜੇ ਨੂੰ ਆਖਰੀ ਵਾਰ 4 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 1744 ਨੂੰ ਵੇਖਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਜੁਲਾਈ 1744 ਵਿਚ ਇਹ ਪੋਰਟਸਮਾਊਥ ਤੋਂ ਚੱਲਿਆ ਸੀ। ਮੈਰੀਟਾਈਮ ਹੈਰੀਟੇਜ਼ ਫਾਊਂਡੇਸ਼ਨ ਜੋ ਲੌਰਡ ਲਿੰਗਫੀਡਲ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਥਾਪਿਤ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਸੀ, ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਸਰ ਰੌਬਿਟ ਬੈਲਚਿੰਨ ਦੇ ਨਾਂਅ ਨਾਲ ਜਾਣਿਆਂ ਜਾਂਦਾ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਇਕ ਰਿਸ਼ਤੇਦਾਰ ਐਡਮਿਰਲ ਸਰ ਜੌਹਨ ਬੈਲਚਨ ਵੀ ਇਸ ਬੇੜੇ ਵਿਚ ਸਵਾਰ ਸੀ ਜਦੋਂ ਇਹ ਬੇੜਾ ਡੁੱਬਿਆ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਉਹ ਹੀ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਦਾ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਸੀ। ਉਡੀਸੇਅ ਨਾਂਅ ਦੀ ਅਮਰੀਕਨ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਦੀ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨਦੇਹੀ ਮਈ 2008 ਵਿਚ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੀ। ਫਿਲਰੋਡਾ ਦੀ ਇਸ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਨੇ 330 ਫੁੱਟ ਡੂੰਘਿਆਈ 'ਚੋਂ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਲੱਭਿਆ ਹੈ। ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਵਿਚ ਲੱਗੀਆਂ 100 ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਤੋਪਾਂ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਦੋ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਬਾਹਰ ਕੱਢ ਲਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਬੇੜੇ ਨੂੰ ਕੱਢਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਉਡੀਸੇਅ ਨੂੰ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਵੱਡੀ ਮਾਤਰਾ ਵਿਚ ਖਜ਼ਾਨਾ ਮਿਲੇਗਾ ਜਦ ਕਿ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਦਾ ਮਲਬਾ ਅਤੇ ਤੋਪਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬ੍ਰਿਟਿਸ਼ ਮਿਊਜ਼ੀਅਮ ਵਿਚ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਬਰਤਾਨੀਆ ਕੋਲ ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਹੋਰ ਬੇੜੇ ਵੀ ਸਨ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਇਕ ਨੂੰ 1922 ਵਿਚ ਅਜਾਇਬ ਘਰ ਦਾ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਬਣਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸੀ।