Amarnath Yatra 2011

First batch for Amarnath Yatra leaves today

Amarnath Yatra- 2011 is commencing tomorrow as the first batch of around 4000 pilgrims including Sadhus will leave from the base camp Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar at 5.30 AM.“Over 4,000 yatris have arrived from various parts of the country in Jammu today. More pilgrims are arriving,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Farooq Khan said.

The first batch of pilgrim will leave from the Bhagwati Nagar-based Yatri Niwas tomorrow, base camp of Amarnath yatra in Jammu for their onward journey to the shrine located at a height of 13500 ft. The yatra will be flagged off by the Minister for Tourism Nawang Rigzin Zora. Earlier “Pratham Pujan” was performed at Panjtarni by CEO SASB joined Niyas office bearers in June 15.

Khan, who welcomed the pilgrims at the newly set up reception-cum-assistance centre at Kunjwani on the outskirts of Jammu city, said that adequate security measures were made for the yatra period.“We have asked pilgrims and their families to pray for peace to prevail in Jammu and Kashmir when they pay obeisance at the cave shrine,” the DIG said.

Notably for Yatra, elaborate security arrangements have been made besides the deployment of thousands of paramilitary forces and police personnel along the entire Yatra route and its peripheries. Reception and Information Centres have been established enroute for educating the Yatris and providing them first hand information about the routes and lodging available at various places. Besides, Joint Yatra Control Rooms too have been established in each district to deal with the issues relating to Yatra. The main reception centre has been established at Lakhanpur, Kunjwani and Railway station.

Yatri Niwas was opened today for registration of pilgrims for lodging. With a multi tier security, the Niwas, spread in an area of several hectares of land, has started community kitchens, assistance booths, joint control room, registration centre as well as boarding and lodging areas.

In the meanwhile, Jammu and Katra Hoteliers have offered special discount of 30 percent on room tariff on all the advance bookings during the Amarnath Yatra. The representatives of the Hotelier Associations  offered the discount at a meeting with the director tourism Jammu convened to discuss comfortable stay of pilgrims during the annual Himalayan cave  yatra  in Kashmir.

In connection with Yatra, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Sham Lal Sharma also visited yatra base camp at Bhagwati Nagar here today and took stock of arrangements put in place for facilitation of Yatris.The minister directed the senior officers of the police and civil administration to ensure close coordination for smooth conduct of Yatra. He laid special emphasis on sanitation arrangements, round the clock supply of drinking water and electricity during the entire yatra period. He directed health authorities to ensure adequate stock of medicines and other medicare facilities for the pilgrims.

The minister directed the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu to personally monitor Yatra on a regular basis and ensure that pilgrims do not face any kind of inconvenience. He also suggested roping in civil defence, Red Cross and other voluntary organizations to facilitate the pilgrimage Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Chief Engineer PHE, Director Tourism, Director Health Services, Chief Medical Officer, Health Officer, JMC, senior officers of police and allied civil departments of Jammu district were present on the occasion.

Notably on June 21, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had visited Pahalgam and reviewed the law and order situation and the arrangements for the Amarnath yatra. Senior officers of the police and the civil administration had apprised the Union Home Minister about the security situation in the area, particularly in view of the arrangements made for the yatra.

A follow-up review meeting had taken place in Jammu on June 24 to take stock of security arrangements for yatra right from Lakhanpur to Banihal, places of stay and sites of langers.  The meeting was attended by IG Jammu zone, IG CRPF, DIG Jammu and Kathua range, DIG Udhampur-Reasi range, DIG CRPF, DIG CID, DIG IRP, DC Jammu, CMO Jammu, senior police officers, besides officers from paramilitary, army and intelligence agencies.

In the meeting, the deployment worked out by district SSPs, security wing and traffic in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur and Ramban too was discussed and reviewed. The assessment of intelligence agencies too had been taken into account.

Governor reviews Amarnath Yatra arrangements

The Governor, N. N. Vohra, who is the Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, today visited Baltal, Panjtarni and Nunwan Camps and reviewed the arrangements made for this year’s Shri Amarnathji Yatra, which is scheduled to commence on June 29, from Baltal and Nunwan base camps.

The Governor, accompanied by Sunita Narain, Member of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and a well-known Environmentalist and R. K. Goyal, Chief Executive Officer of the Board, reached Baltal from Srinagar this morning and reviewed the Yatra-related arrangements positioned on the ground. He particularly reviewed the sanitation arrangements, operation of Sewage Treatment Plant, water and power supply, medicare, access control, establishment of langars, security and other services.

He directed the CEO to ensure daily monitoring and supervision of all arrangements. The Governor also visited the 3-day Art of Living camp at Baltal, organized by the Shrine Board in collaboration with the Art of Living Foundation and interacted with a number of participants.

At Baltal, Mohammad Ashraf Shuntoo, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, informed the Governor that the ongoing reparations for the Yatra were at the final stages and there would be no difficulty in commencing the pilgrimage on June 29. Imtiaz Ahmad, SSP Ganderbal, Mushtaq Ahmad,  CEO, Sonamarg Development Authority and the district officers of the various concerned Government Departments and functionaries of the Shrine Board were present on the occasion.

At Panjtarni, the Governor had a round of the entire camp area and reviewed the latest the status of the ongoing preparations. He directed all the functionaries involved with the Yatra-related activities to ensure that yatris were provided the best possible acilities to make the pilgrimage a pleasant experience, despite the vagaries of weather, difficult terrain and mountainous tracks. He particularly stressed round the clock cleaning of toilets/baths and the entire camp area.

On his arrival at the Nunwan base camp in the afternoon, the Governor reviewed the facilities which had been set up for the smooth conduct of the Yatra. The Governor, along with Sunita Narain, inspected all the sanitation related arrangements, particularly the operation of Sewage Treatment Plant at the Nunwan base camp. Deepak Slathia, Police Yatra Officer, Pahalgam axis and R. K. Jalla, SSP, Anantnag were also involved in the discussions.

The Governor instructed that all the required sanitation measures should be effectively enforced to ensure that all flows from the camp area have been properly treated before discharge. He emphasized that environment and ecology must be preserved, particulary ensuring the timely collection and treatment of all types of wastes. He stressed the use of plastic shredders for disposal of plastic bottles and other plastic materials and segregation of waste materials for appropriate treatment.

Google investigated by US authorities

Google confirms that it is investigated by U.S. authorities

The Federal Trade Commission United States would be investigating the company for abusing its dominant position in the web.

Through its official blog , Google confirmed today it is being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. (FTC), which had already advanced the press a few days ago, saying the motive was primarily to study alleged monopolistic practices the company network. 

"It is unclear exactly what worries the FTC, but we have made our position clear," said Amit Singhal, Google executives said in a statement released today. 

According to various media, the FTC suspicion that Google may be abusing its dominant position in the web and harming competition. 

Among other things, authorities are expected to review the advertising system associated with the Google search engine, the main source of income for the company to see if the company directs users to its platform of services irregularly. 

"We recognize that our success has led to greater scrutiny. Yesterday we received an official notification from the Federal Trade Commission on U.S. had begun to revise our business," said Singhal. 

Finally, the Google executive said the company is willing to work with the FTC in this case to clarify the situation, and noted further that the company values ​​focus on "giving priority to the user."

University of Chile Students

Students at the University of Chile protested the Stock Exchange

A group of 35 students entered the place peacefully and spoke out against the profit in education.

At about 13.00 hours on Friday a group of 35 students from the University of Chile entered the offices of the Santiago Stock Exchange to speak out against the profit in education.

Students on campus were about 20 minutes inland in that place where deployed a canvas with the slogan "Education is not traded."

Rodrigo Munoz , a student at the U. of Chile who participated in the demonstration, told La Tercera that "the force that has taken the movement has led us to think like we're on base position to seek structural changes".

According to Munoz, the education is based on a system "that is malfunctioning and is framed in a model of a country with which we disagree. One of her emblems is the Bourse, as it integrates the whole process of foreign investment poll and all that it has brought. "

"It is also the space where they traded the shares of the private universities. We are children of parents whose pension funds are subject to stock volatility and victims of an education system based on profit," he said.

After protest, the protesters withdrew from the place peacefully and there were no prisoners.

Manchester City gets bored

Manchester City has been the team offered more money by Alexis Sanchez. But in England say the club is already tired of the endless negotiations Udinese owner Giampaolo Pozzo, and assumed that Barcelona will stay with the Chilean. Therefore, it "would fall" of the battle for the front and he would be looking for other alternatives.

According to Manchester Evening News, which is also quoted by As, Manchester City will now focus on adding Hulk (Porto) and Juan Mata (Valencia).

The Manchester City's only hope is that Barcelona's offer failed to convince the Udinese and Sanchez, who just wants to go to the box Catalan need to rethink the choice of England.

Chamliyal Mela Festival

An unquenched thirst to be on the other side:Chambliyal mela: Locked borders, passions unbound

Hardly 500 metres distance from Pakistan’s soil, thousands of Indian people were standing on a mound near Baba Chambliyal shrine and were anxiously peeping on the other side of border to get a glance of the Mela being celebrated on the other side.

The event was the annual Chambliyal Mela, organised by Border Security Force (BSF) every year, at village Chambliyal of Ramgarh sector of Samba district where more than 1.5 lakh pilgrims visited today to pay obeisance to the revered saint of the shrine. But a yearning to be on the other side of the border fence surpassed faith that brought them to this place.

Most of the people were unhappy with BSF personnel, who didn’t allow them to go near Zero line except some BSF officials, civil officials and few media persons to witness the famous “Chadder Exchange Ceremony” between BSF and Pakistan’s rangers at zero line.

Among the hundreds of devotees standing on the mound, an infuriated Pritam Singh a resident of Bishnah said that the BSF jawans had earlier said that common people would be allowed only after 2 PM to go near the Zero line to see Pakistan’s fair.

“VIP’s, officers are permitted to go near Zero line but poor villagers are dying in the scorching sun, waiting endlessly. Security forces don’t bother about the distance covered by people to reach here,” he said, adding that security forces gave excuses that if allowed near Zero line then people would cross the fencing. 

  

  When asked, why he wanted to see the border, he replied, he has love for border, they didn’t have any interest in internal clashes in Pakistan’s territory but they wanted to see 4-5 lakh Pakistani brothers who had assembled on the other side. Angry villagers, smitten by the BSF officials maintained that they felt betrayed.

A magician at the shrine was busy keeping some people engaged with his trick of disappearing coin. Pritam Singh keenly watched him at work and finally said to the magician, “Agar Aaap Main Shakti Hai To Is Tar (Fencing) Ko Gayab Kar Do.” The poor magician humbly replied that if he would have such ability then he would also go to other side to see the fair.

A friend of the magician said, “Magicians can only make pigeons and coins disappear, nothing else.” Highly emotional, Pritam Singh sighed and said, “Atleast pigeons have freedom to go to any country, I wish I were one and would have flown unhindered to that side of the border.”

When asked, since how many years he was visiting the border, he replied that every year the border changes contours. “Kaun Sa Border, Kabhi Inki Tar 2 kilometer Pakistan Main Chali Jati Hai, Kabhi Is Side Aa Jati Hai. Sirf Do Ghanto Ke liye Border Khol do, Humne Border Dekhna Hai, Koi Pakistan Par Attack Thoda Hi Karna Hai, Humne Sirf 4-5 Lakh Pakistani Log Dekhne Hain Aur Wapis Aa Jana Hai,” Pritam added. (The border fencing keeps shifting, sometimes more to Pakistani  side, sometimes more to this side. How does it matter if they open the border for 2 hours so that we can meet their people and come back. We are not attacking Pakistan.)

Though borders are the annual fair very strictly under vigil, anyone forbidden to even venture close to the zero line, leave alone cross them, passions and emotions here knew no boundaries, no limits. Many enthusiastic people were also seen watching Pakistan’s side from around 50 feet high old Surveillance post of BSF located near the Shrine. Several times, BSF personnel stopped the people from climbing the post but whenever security forces left the place devotees again started climbing up to get a better glimpse of action on the other side.

At around 1 PM, BSF personnel seized the observation post by erecting barbed wire. Excited devotees then tried another way and went into the fields near the Zero line where security was absent but huge rush of people in fields again put the security forces and security personnel on their mettle and later they restricted people from venturing into the fields close to Zero line.

Dayal Singh, originally from Bhimber Tehsil in Pakistan administered Kashmir said that Pakistani nationals “look like us” but they were differently dressed up. “I have a strong desire to go to the other side but now it is not possible, no one will allow us to go,” he adds.

An army pensioner Babu Ram Bhagat of Bishnah echoed similar emotions. “We don’t have any ill will for Pakistanis, we want that they come to visit our side and vice-versa,” he said. And then he turned to the media persons with a word of advice, “Work passionately and try to patch up the gap between both countries.”

Beating the heat, huge rush of pilgrims was also seen in long queues for “Darshan” of Baba Daleep Singh Manhas’ shrine. Several temporary stalls of eatables, toys and decorative items, different rides like Marie go round, slides and many other entertainment sources also attracted the huge crowd despite hot and moist weather.

Taliban dismiss ceasefire

Afghan Taliban dismiss ‘symbolic’ US troop announcement

The Taliban dismissed President Barack Obama’s announcement of US troop withdrawals from Afghanistan as “only as a symbolic step,” in a statement released Thursday.

The Taliban “consider this announcement, which currently withdraws 10,000 soldiers this year, only as a symbolic step which will never satisfy the war-weary international community or the American people,” it said.

The statement, emailed to media by Taliban spokesman Tariq Ghazniwal, also accused the United States of “repeatedly giving false hopes to its nation about ending this war and claiming baselessly about victory”.

The Taliban said the solution to the Afghan crisis “lies in the full withdrawal of all foreign troops immediately” and said that until that happened “our armed struggle will increase from day to day”.

It made no reference to contacts with the Americans. Afghan president Hamid Karzai announced last week talks were underway and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said US officials are involved in preliminary talks with the Taliban.

The militants accused Obama of having “no respect” for demands to end the war given US-Afghan government negotiations over a strategic partnership agreement which will forge a long-term relationship between the two.

Obama announced Wednesday that 10,000 US troops would leave Afghanistan this year and all 33,000 forces sent as part of a surge ordered in late 2009 would be home by next summer.

As he made the announcement, he said that “the tide of war is receding” and “the light of a secure peace can be seen in the distance.”

The Taliban are leading an insurgency against foreign troops in Afghanistan which started in 2001 when they were ousted from power by a US-led invasion.

Div Com reviews Amarnathji Yatra arrangements

Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal today said that first batch of Shri Amarnathji yatris would leave Yatri Niwas at Jammu on June 28, 2011and all arrangements for the smooth conduct of Yatra are being put in place.

Dr. Kotwal said this at an officers meeting organized here at Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar Jammu to review the Yatra arrangements.

The meeting discussed in detail the arrangements being put in place for the hassle-free stay of the yatris in the city of temples for pilgrimage of Amarnath. These include identity cards to the yatris, their transportation, drinking water and power supply at the Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar and other lodging sites spread across the city, sanitation and health check facilities and regulation of prices of essential commodities and other eatables. Other arrangements like security, traffic, regulation and parking of vehicles were also finalized in the meeting.

Among others, DIG, Jammu Kathua Range, Farooq Khan, Additional Commissioner, Jammu, D. R. Sharma and Director Tourism, R. S. Mehta, ADC Jammu Sheetal Nanda, Chief Engineer PDD, RTO, Jammu, Virinder Singh Slathia, Joint Commissioner, JMC,. Babu Ram, Deputy Director Information, (PR), Jammu, Suram Chand Sharma, SP Traffic, Zahid Manhas, XEns of various Wings and other officers from SRTC, CAPD, BSNL, CRPF, Health etc were present.

Later, the Divisional Commissioner also discussed various projects recommended by Special Task Force for Jammu division at a meeting attended by officers of various developmental departments.

The main projects deliberated upon include upgradation-widening of Ramnagar-Dudu Basantgarh-Latti road in Udhampur, Solid Waste Management project for Udhampur, Widening of Patni-Top-Sanasar road, Water Supply Scheme for pilgrim town of Katra from Dhanser nallah in Reasi district, Alternate Bridge near Abdullah Bridge in Rajouri district, New District Office Complex/ Mini-Secreatariat at Poonch, Construction of Patimahal-Dachhan Road in Kishtwar district.

Upgrading Jammu Airport-including shifting of utilities, Modernization of General Bus Stand/development of multi-tier parking at Jammu, Alternate water supply scheme to save lakes of Surinsar and Mansar, Approach road and bridge to Railway Station Banihal in Ramban district, Tourism Projects of Jammu division, Upgrading the Chakrohi Seed Multiplication Farm for Jammu Basmati etc. were also discussed. The Divisional Commissioner exhorted upon the officers complete the DPRs of various projects within stipulated time frame. He asked for maintaining close coordination between various departments to ensure early completion of preliminary works.

Us to withdraw troops from Afghanistan

Barack Obama orders the withdrawal of 33 000 troops from Afghanistan by 2012

The U.S. president announced in a speech to the country from the White House, that 10 thousand of the troops will leave the Asian country before the end of the year.

  

Afghan Taliban say U.S. military withdrawal does not alter their plans to combat

The U.S. president, Barack Obama , Wednesday announced the withdrawal of 33,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, 10,000 of them before the end of this year and the remaining 23,000 by September 2012, just in time for November elections following when play re-election. "Of course, there are still big challenges ahead, this is the beginning not the end of our efforts" to end this war, the longest in U.S. history , Obama acknowledged an address to the nation delivered from the White House.  With this announcement, Obama kept his promise to order the withdrawal of two additional brigades in Afghanistan decided to deploy in 2009, when violence raged and the bombings in China. In Anyway, now ten years since the launch of the campaign in Afghanistan in the invaded country a few weeks after the attacks of 11 September 2001, will be deployed about 65 U.S. soldiers . White House officials asserted that the decision of this partial withdrawal was taken 18 months after Obama ordered climbing and after having achieved "substantial progress" in combating the Taliban and al Qaeda militants in Afghanistan. The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001 just to prosecute the leaders of Al Qaeda, the Islamic militant group considered responsible for the attacks of September 11 of that year, and overthrow the Taliban government, which gave refuge to these radicals. Today, Obama said that U.S. troops are "serving" with the objectives taxes in 2009 when he decided to climb . At that time, the Pentagon proposed to "refocus on Al Qaeda" while withdrawing troops from Iraq and "reverse" the growth of the Taliban, who "had regrouped and were on the offensive, "he said. Obama included among the developments since the coup the military escalation command in early May in Pakistan over the life of Osama bin Laden , "the only known al-Qaeda leader," said President . 'We have Al Qaeda on the road to defeat, " Obama said, and "serious losses applied to the Taliban." The president also seemed to recognize many of the criticisms against him for keeping America at war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya as the country continues to suffer the harsh consequences of the recent recession. "It is time that we focus on building our country," said the president. With an unemployment rate of 9.1% and an economic situation that does not end recover from the crisis, Obama needs to limit the weak points of his administration as they approach the 2012 elections, when Republicans sought to evict the White House. "In the last decade we spend a trillion dollars on wars, at a time increasing debt and economic hardship, "Obama admitted. "Now we must invest in the most precious resource of the United States: its people," he said.

French model joins the cast of Gossip Girl

Roxane Mesquida is, who will play the enemy character's Leighton Meester.

French model and actress, Roxane Mesquida , is the newest addition to the cast of Gossip Girl . This was announced by the website TV Line, which adds that the dummy plays the character's sister's fiance of Leighton Meester.

Gossip Girl is preparing to release his fifth season, the first without the actresses Taylor Momsen and Jessica Szohr, who abandoned the production of CW, which transmits cable Glitz.

Mesquida has evolved as an actress since 1997, when he debuted with Marie Baie des Anges, and has participated in other films such as Kaboom and Rubber.

Cerati last night in music

Cerati son had his trial by fire last night in music

Benito (17), the eldest son of former Soda Stereo, teloneó Pacific Group yesterday! in Buenos Aires. His sister Lisa joined in the chorus.

"It's very happy to be in the land of musician who always recommended our music, Gustavo Cerati" . With those words, the leader of the Swedish Pacific! , Synneby Bjorn, unleashed a standing ovation last night at the club Niceto Buenos Aires in the first presentation of the whole electropop in Argentina's capital. But the mention of the former Soda Stereo, one of the fans of the band's most illustrious Scandinavian, was not the only nod to the concert last night was for the trans-Andean musician, since May 2010 is in a coma after a stroke sufir Caracas. In fact, the clan Cerati starred in the concert yesterday. This is because prior to the performance of the Swedes came Benito Cerati, the eldest son of singer Argentine Chilean Cecilia Amenabar. According to some specialized areas of the neighboring country, the 17 year old spent half an hour on stage , and although at first there was talk that would go with his group, Entre parentheses finally it was his solo debut. In show, Benito Cerati sang six songs, mostly English lyrics, accompanied by keyboardist Leandro Fresco , a member of the band of his father. But also joined by his younger sister, Lisa Cerati , who represented him in the chorus of the topics Everything is tell, I'm dying, I have left and Nobody is. All this, according to media reviews argntinos, under the watchful look Cecilia Amenabar's own and other family members who were in the audience, besides the musician Fabián "Tweety" Gonzalez (former keyboardist for Soda Stereo) and Ale Sergi, Miranda vocalist!. The latter recorded his impressions in a brief "tweeted": "Good opening of Pacific! Led by Benito Cerati. What joy!" . The closure of the show Benedict was in the company of the singer and collaborator Gustavo Cerati-Anita Alvarez de Toledo, the song I Want You, which was followed by an instrumental composition. Although Benito Cerati what the music is not yet consolidated their parents have been the main drivers of his artistic side. Young collaborated on lyrics and music in the last two albums that brought his father before suffering the stroke in 2010, here we go (2006) and natural force (2009).

Zojila tunnel

Ladakh youth stand up for Zojila tunnel

The remote Ladakh region is set to be opened up for all weather if a push for accessibility by a group of youth is successful. The youth, mostly from Ladakh’s twin districts: Leh and Kargil, have formed a focus group called Zojila Watch, and are calling for the quick construction of the all weather Zojila tunnel connecting Ladakh to Kashmir valley and the outer world.

According to Javed Naqi, Founder and Working Committee Member, Zojila Watch, the focus group was formed to create a greater urgency for the tunnel, to foresee the developments and to disseminate the information to the local and others so as to generate a wider public awareness of the need for it.

The group has written to President of India through an online campaign to push for greater accessibility to the Ladakh area.

“Many young people got behind the initiative and wrote to the presidents online,” the group states in an online group posting.

Zojila Watch continue to campaign online through social networking sites like Facebook, which has over 500 members. One of the member of the group said, it was the ideal place for the group to mobilise youths working and studying in different parts of the country on a common platform and share issues related to the Zojila tunnel.

The founding members of the group include Javed Naqi (Kindling Accessibility Initiatives in Ladakh/JNU), Mustafa Haji (Nalsar University of Law), Muzaffar Hussain (Jawaharlal Nehru University), Shahnawaz Ali (Aligarh Muslim University), Shakeel Ahmad (University of Jammu), Syed Sajjad (CHUMS Kargil).

Members also include academicians, journalists, well-known activists including Prof Lakhan Gusain (John Hopkins University, USA), Kate Shuttleworth (Journalist and Activist, New Zealand), Wilfred D’ Costa (General Secretary, Indian Social Action Forum), Narendra Chowdhary (Senior Journalist and Vice President PUCL, AP), Zaheer A Bagh (TV Today Network), Meha Dixit (Independent Freelancer) and Prakash Ray (Activist and Researcher, Jawaharlal Nehru University).

Ladakh is connected to the Kashmir valley and rest of the world via Zojila pass, which becomes inaccessible for six months in winters due to heavy snowfall. This isolation results in great loses in terms of education, health, rural infrastructure and most importantly sustainability. The people of Ladakhi especially Kargil have been demanding construction of a tunnel through the Zojila pass or an all weather road for decades. Even almost four years since the Zojila tunnel project was approved yet not much has been done and Ladakh continues to be iso-lated from the outer world.

Kashmir yet to see WMD

World Music Day

Despite rich musical heritage, Kashmir yet to see WMD celebration

Bizarre as it may sound, Kashmir has never seen the celebration of World Music Day till date.Though Kashmir has rich music and arts, and much is being talked about the preservation of Kashmiri music from various quarters time to time, World Music Day has no existence here.

Like every other year, today also, no event or gathering was held in the valley on this day. Indeed, the people of Kashmir seem to be almost completely ignorant about the existence of the World Music Day.

“I have not known of World Music Day till date. I have never seen any special celebration for the day in Kashmir, so it’s not known to me,” said Saba Khan, a student of music. Saba said that though she has been a student of music for two years, she hasn’t ever heard about it from her teachers as well.

Singer Ajaz Rah while expressing the need for the preservation of Kashmiri music said that it is unfortunate not to have such celebration in Kashmir.

“We never celebrate music day nor do we pay tribute to the eminent artists of Kashmir. The government is not taking music seriously which is facing threat,” said Ajaz Rah.

He added that unless government is serious towards Kashmiri music, nothing can be done.“How long can artists work on their own efforts? Government has to act,” says Ajaz.Music composure and a teacher in the institute of music and fine arts, Imtiyaz Malik said, “It is true that we have never celebrated music day. I have tired to make some personal effort, but got no support.”

Imtiyaz said that the government as well as the people associated with the music has to work in the direction of preservation and promotion of music.

“And we should celebrate this music day to pronounce the importance of our indigenous music in Kashmir,” adds Imtiyaz.Sources told Kashmir Times that the lack of funds available to the cultural academy is preventing the organization of cultural events and music festivals.

Kashmiri film harud

HARUD: Multiple themes in one narrative A Kashmiri film-maker’s perspective of Valley’s endless autumn

Harud (autumn), a film by debutante Kashmiri director Aamir Bashir was screened here at a hotel on Monday evening for a select audience. The film is set in contemporary Kashmir, in the period when mobile phones made inroads into Jammu and Kashmir, and with that as a backdrop it focuses on the life of a youth Rafiq whose brother, a photographer, disappears in custody and how the family tries in vain to grapple with the bitter reality, the atmosphere of insecurity and violence and complete militarisation.

The film, as actor turned director Aamir Bashir maintained before the screening, is only one of the thousands of narratives in Kashmir’s history of conflict. It is not a documentary but a fiction, a fiction very close to reality, knitting in several of the multiple themes into one narrative, offering as it does a very realistic glimpse into phenomenon like disappearances, grenade attacks, youth enamoured by the gun and willing to cross the border, the humiliation at the hands of security forces, the enormously sized bunkers and gun totting uniformed personnel always forming a part of the landscape with the autumn’s fallen Chinar leaves. The culture of barbed wire that the entire Valley has been gripped with is very beautifully and aptly portrayed without being overbearing.

The awesome aspect of the film is that it brings you a sense of Kashmir not only through story telling and characters but also the art of photography with an attempt to not just capture scenes from contemporary Kashmir but enlivening them through natural sounds and lights. Shankar Raman, who is also the co-producer and co-screen play-writer along with Aamir Bashir, has done a splendid job, especially in view of the fact that Shankar is neither very well versed with Kashmiri culture and had never visited the Valley in the period that is being dealt with. Whether it is sound of the rattling buses, the jack boots of the military men, the sounds of birds, the rippling waters or the screeching bicycle, every visual has its own story to reveal and sounds that are so intrinsically Kashmiri in essence.

How did both Shankar and Aamir get drawn into the film? Aamir was inspired some six year ago with this idea and it took him four years to simply put out a script in place, upon which both of them began work thereafter. The film, with a shoe string budget, was shot over a period of one month in the autumn of 2009. It was an arduous journey simply shooting the film with a paltry budget and very less logistical support in a place like Kashmir where huge cameras and crews often invite lot of suspicion and skepticism from both officials and civilians.

Despite all the odds, the end result has been purely aesthetic, though painful through its very subtle portrayal of people caught in a very hopeless situation of conflict amid some lives that move on with hope. It is about the despair of a family, having lost their son in custody, about a young boy’s aimless life till he stumbles upon his missing brother’s camera and finds a new reason to move on. It is about the hopelessness of a father, a man in police himself, unable to protect himself, his family or others from the onslaught of violence. The story is mainly told through these two alternating perceptions of the father-son duo, beautifully portrayed by well acclaimed Iranian actor Raza Neji and local artist Shahnawaz Bhat, who made his debut appearance before the camera. Bhat is fresh and his expressive eyes haunt you long after you’ve seen the film. The other cast of the film includes Shamim Basaharat, Salma Ashai and Mudassir Khan.

The film is slow paced but one that is engaging, for its aesthetic appeal and its story line, and one that makes you want to both know what follows next and also enjoy and take in every moment of the film. All this involvement without the jarring melodrama and added props of music et al.

“The film is a work of fiction. I have tried to go beyond what you see in the news: beyond the politics, to look at the human cost of the conflict,” says Aamir. And that is just one of the strong points. A must watch for serious cine-goers whenever it hits the theatres.

Ryanair to use Chinese planes

Ryanair renewed its fleet includes Chinese planes

Ryanair has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC acronym in English) for the development of C919 aircraft, reports' Bloomberg '.

Ryanair will share his experience and knowledge to help the Chinese manufacturer to develop the new C919 airliner with capacity for 200 passengers, which would allow the Irish low cost airline "reduce costs and continue lowering rates."

"We are pleased that there is now a real alternative to Boeing and Airbus, we are seriously interested in developing a 200-seat version of the C919 aircraft and we look forward to its commercial release since 2018," assured the President Ryanair, Michael O'Leary.

Ryanair, which will have a fleet of more than 300 Boeing airplanes in 2013, holds talks with U.S. manufacturer Boeing and COMAC for a renewal order at least 200 planes.

The manager said that this announcement does not affect "her long relationship with Boeing," company that supplies its B737. "We look forward to working closely with COMAC to promote greater competition among aircraft manufacturers, which can only be good for promoting competition between airlines and reducing the cost of air travel for consumers,"

Papandreou wins vote of confidence

Georges Papandreou has scored a first victory. As expected the new government, appointed last Friday to defuse internal divisions within his own party, has obtained the edge of the 1.00 am (midnight in Spain) the vote of confidence in the Greek Parliament.

The 155 deputies of PASOK, the socialist party leader George Papandreou, came to the momentous event and voted in favor, while opposition MPs joined only 143 (there were two absences) and voted en bloc against it. "If we are afraid, if we miss this opportunity, history will judge harshly " , Papandreou asserted shortly before the vote, launching a new and fruitless appeal to the opposition to support the Executive.

In Syntagma Square, at the gates of Parliament, at least 10,000 people gathered to express their anger against the Executive and protest against the new package of austerity measures intended to implement. "Thieves, thieves," people shouted, waving to the Parliament several ropes with the noose hanging and characteristic of pointing their laser beams from the eyes of policemen deployed in the area.

But the hardest test for Papandreou will take place next Tuesday, when Parliament decision on the new package of austerity measures that the EU requires Greece to impose in return for unlocking the fifth installment (12,000 million) loan that decided grant last year and a new grant worth around 110,000 million euros.

The austerity plan to add to the already approved last year include new lows in the salaries of civil servants, social spending cuts, tax rises and privatization in mass. Again, it is expected that the package is approved with the votes alone PASOK and the face of opposition from all the other parties.

The new Greek government spokesman, Elias Mossialos, was convinced that the 155 deputies voted for PASOK and seamlessly united in favor of the austerity plan. "The package of new measures will in no case less than 155 votes," he underlined.

However, it is assumed that there will be strong street protests and demonstrations. In fact, unions have called for the vote to coincide with a 48-hour general strike, which was not the case in Greece for over 20 years.

2.25 lakh pilgrims registered

Over 2.25 lakh pilgrims have registered themselves for the pilgrimage to 13,500-feet high cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas.

 As many as 2,25,076 lakh pilgrims for Amarnath yatra have been registered at various registration counter and online centres across the country, Nodal officer of Registration officials and Vice President, Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Abdul Hamid said.

 The registration process is going on smoothly without any problem, he said. Of the total 2.25 lakh registered pilgrims, 45,495 pilgrims have registered themselves through online while rest have registered at counters at different places across the country. Giving details Hamid said that as many as 1,13,048 pilgrims have registered themselves for pilgrimage to cave shrine via Baltal route, while 1,12,028 pilgrims opted for the traditional Pahalgam-Amaranth route via south Kashmir.

 The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) began the registration process on May 10 for the yatra. "The registration counters have been set up at 121 designated branches of the J&K Bank, 24 of the YES Bank and four of the District Cooperative Banks," the SASB spokesman.

 The Shrine Board, at its meeting on February 18 this year, has curtailed the period of the annual pilgrimage by 15 days. The yatra would commence simultaneously from Baltal and Chandanwari routes on June 29 and culminate on August 13.

Slathia reviews arrangements for Chamliyal mela

Minister for Industries and Commerce, Surjeet Singh Slathia today reviewed arrangements for upcoming Mela at Baba Chamliyal shrine at Ramgarh Border area at an officers meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that shrines in the State and country are symbols of composite culture and heritage and people must strive to uphold the ethos and transfer the same to the future generations. He said that such type of events give people an opportunity to interact with the each other and helps in mutual understanding and strengthening brotherhood.

Mr Slathia directed for foolproof security and other arrangements. He asked the district administration to make available adequate number of buses for the devotees during the Mela, besides putting in place all facilities for the convenience of the visitors at the site of Mela. The setting up of a control room for the smooth conduct of the mela was also stressed upon.

Earlier, District Development Commissioner, Samba Mubarak Singh, gave a detailed account of arrangements made for the Mela by all the line departments including PHE, PDD, PWD, Traffic Police, Motor Vehicle and Tourism Departments.

He said all the departments have already initiated the works assigned to them.

He also informed that developmental departments like Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Health, Education, Employment, Handicrafts, Handloom, Floriculture, Tourism, Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry would install stalls for highlighting the developmental activities of their respective departments and also disseminate the information related to employment schemes for the benefit of unemployed youth.

SSP Samba, Israr Khan who was also present in the meeting informed that all required steps will be taken for security and maintaining law and order, while 50 traffic personnel are being deployed for regulation of traffic on various routes leading to Chamliyal.

The Commandant, BSF Hemant Kumar informed that two Companies of BSF Personnel will be deployed for maintaining security and facilitating the smooth conduct of the Mela.

Dogri translation of Dido Jamwal

Dogri translation of 1934 Punjabi play ‘Dido Jamwal’ released

Lala Kirpa Sagar’s original Punajbi drama titled ‘Dido Jamwal’, written in 1934, appeared in its new avatar as ‘Mian Dido’, the Dogri translation by Yashpal Nirmal.

The play that paints the folk hero of Duggar in a new light was released in a function organised by Duggar Manch in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, at Abhinav Theatre, here today.

Mohan Singh, president, Duggar Manch, highlighted the historic importance of the work. He said that Kripa Sagar was a major figure of Punjabi literature in the late nineteenth century and the play ‘Dido Jamwal’ forms second part of the trilogy ‘Maharaja Ranjit Singh’ that was written by Punjabi poet before he died in 1939 at Lahore.

Speaking on the occasion, the young translator, Yashpal Nirmal said that while he was working as a resource person in Dogri at Northern Regional Language Centre, Patiala and Mohan Singh during a lecture had mentioned about the rare Punjabi play on Mian Dido by Kirpa Sagar and the need to trace it. He said that after lot of research, a very fragile copy of the play was found and the present translation is finally in your hands.

N D Jamwal, chief guest of the function, reiterated that Mian Dido sacrificed his life for the freedom of his mother land. He warned about mixing the fiction with facts. He said there is a need to tread cautiously while considering the historic merit of literary works and the contemporary interpretation and representation of such facts for public consumption and reference.

Padamshree Jatinder Udhampuri, guest of honour, said that there is need to evaluate the play so as to sift the facts from the fiction. Savita Bakshi, Additional Secretary, Cultural Academy, earlier read the welcome addressd. The programme was conducted by Dr Gyan Singh.

The prominent personalities present on the occasion included Prof Lalit Magotra, President Dogri Sanstha, Udhay Chand, Nirmal Vinod and number of poets and writers of different languages.

US Harvesters to check Weeds in Dal

In a bid to control the unbridled growth of weeds in the Dal lake and speed up the conservation measures, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has procured two state-of-the-art harvesters from United States.

Officials said the machines have been successfully tested in the Dal and presently foreign experts are imparting training to the staff of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to operate them.

 The harvesters have been procured from the US based Aquarius Systems— the oldest manufacturer of surface water management equipments in the world. The machines known as Aquatic Plant Harvesters are barge mounted machines designed to cut and collect aquatic vegetation including weeds from the water bodies.

 “These machines have been exclusively designed for working in the Dal Lake. We tested the efficacy of the machines in various part of the lake and the results are excellent,” vice-president (Engineering) Aquarius Systems, David D Dauffenbach told Greater Kashmir.

 Having worked in restoration projects in various countries including Brazil, Thailand, Nigeria and Columbia, Dauffenbach believes that glory of Dal can be restored.

 “The condition of Dal is far better than the polluted lakes and water bodies around the lake. Out of scale of 10, I would rate the lake at 6. I believe that sustained conservation measures will pave way for restoration of this beautiful lake. This is the first lake which I have seen where people not only live but earn their livelihood,” he said. 

 On his maiden visit to Kashmir, Dauffenbach says his family has been associated with conservation of Dal decades ago. “My father John Dauffenbach supplied the first harvester for Dal conservation in early eighties. However, for the past three decades, none of our family members could visit Kashmir due to pressing business engagements back home. However, my father used to keep track of Dal through internet. I feel privileged to be associated with Dal conservation,” he said.

 Due to ingress of silt and nutrients from Dal catchments, there has been heavy infestation of weeds in the Dal. The LAWDA’s Executive Engineer, Mechanical, Mushtaq Hussain Jan said the harvesters have effectively cleared the weeds near SKICC. 

 “This part of the lake witnesses massive growth of weeds. With the help of the harvesters, we have managed to cut the weeds near the roots to prevent their speedy growth,” Jan said. He said the foreign experts are imparting training to the LAWDA’s mechanical staff to operate the harvesters. 

 The vice-chairperson of LAWDA, Irfan Yasin said the Aquatic Plant Harvesters can help in the long-term management of weeds in the Dal. “We have to understand that the growth of weeds is a continuous process in the lake. These machines are considered as best for management of weeds and would be beneficial for sustainable management of the lake,” Yasin said.

 Pertinently, in 2007 the High Court had directed the LAWDA to procure latest machines for restoring the lake’s glory. Last year, the LAWDA procured two Water Master Classic III machines and three Truxors from Finland and Switzerland.

 “These machines have increased the pace of our conservation measures and helped us to restore many waterways and channels in Dal,” Yasin added.

Govt civil society members meet today

Amid sharp differences between representatives of Government and civil society, the two sides will meet tomorrow in a last ditch attempt to resolve contentious issues and hammer out a consensus on Lokpal Bill.

On the eve of the meeting of the Lokpal joint drafting committee--the eighth since April 16, Senior Ministers held discussions for nearly three hours this evening to finetune Government's strategy.

The deliberations, chaired by Finance Minister and panel chairman Pranab Mukherjee, was attended by Union Ministers Kapil Sibal, Salman Khurshid and Veerappa Moily all members of the committee.

Minister of State in PMO V Narayanaswamy also took part in the parleys. However, another member of the committee Home Minister P Chidambaram was not present as he was out of town.

None of the Ministers spoke to media after the meeting which lasted two hours and 45 minutes.

Tomorrow's deliberations could be the last meeting of the joint committee and another round will be held on Tuesday if the discussions for an anti-corruption watchdog are not concluded tomorrow.

Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde, a member of the drafting committee, denied any split in the Anna Hazare camp and said he will attend the panel's meeting and backed the social activist's planned fast from August 16 after opposing it.

After his comments on Hazare fast and inability to take part in the meeting in Delhi fuelled speculation of differences among civil society representatives, Hegde said he will be present on June 21 to show there is 'no rift'.

While the Government has virtually ruled out bringing the post of the Prime Minister under the ambit of the anti-corruption watchdog, Congress core group has favoured convening an all-party meeting on the issue of inclusion of the PM. The Hazare camp is pressing for bringing the Prime Minister under Lokpal's purview.

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, a member of the Joint Drafting Committee, said the view within the Government is that Prime Minister should not be included within the ambit of Lokpal. He, however, said once the PM demits office, he should not be "exonerated" from prosecution.

Santosh Hegde, however, feels keeping the Prime Minister out of Lokpal till he demits office will not serve the purpose of having an effective investigation because there will not be any trail of any misconduct.

A final view on the ticklish issue will be taken by the Union Cabinet once the draft bill reaches it after consultation with political parties, he said.

A Government representative of the Committee said the inclusion of judiciary and conduct of MPs inside Parliament in the proposed legislation was "not possible" as it would amount to amending the Constitution.

"The Committee's mandate is clear and that is to enact a legislation. The members led by Anna Hazare are also clear about the mandate...It is in the notification," he said.

But the member insisted that the Government side will try its best to convince the civil society members about its "stand and compulsions".

However, the Anna Hazare team dubbed the argument to keep the prime minister out of Lokpal's ambit as "absurd".

"There is no reason whatsoever to exclude the Prime Minister. Whatever arguments are being given seem to suggest that if the Prime Minister was subject to anti-corruption investigation then he would become dysfunctional," lawyer Prashant Bhushan, a team member, said here.

He said the argument was "absurd" as the Prime Minister can be investigated by the CBI, which is under his control, but not an independent agency like Lokpal.

If the two sides fail to settle their differences, a draft bill with points of agreements and disagreements will be prepared.

The Government and civil society are at loggerheads on the issues of inclusion of Prime Minister, judiciary and conduct of MPs inside Parliament.

Facebook purchasing companies to have engineers

In Facebook's offices in Madrid, billiards and table football no no nails in the walls to hang bikes.The look is quite elegant, in the economic heart of the capital.On the ground 18, in a small room, we see finally the blue ensign of a company that brings a flood of nearly 700 million people worldwide, including 15 in Spain."50% of these users access social network on a daily basis," said Christian Hernandez, director of International Business Development, Facebook, who has visited Madrid to intervene in Red Innova.

The company turned the focus of its initial strategy to attract users and then to the marks.The third key, now, are the developers.The technological factor is vital in Facebook, so much to think about acquisitions of companies to incorporate engineers."We did not consider acquisitions of vertical applications. If we undertake any purchase of companies is mainly to incorporate the best engineering talent," concludes Christian.

Your landing coincided with the recent news that the social network audience had experienced declines in the U.S., UK and Canada.Places where over 80% of Internet users is discharged from service.Hernandez believes that these data are not accurate.According to the internal tool for Facebook, users continue to grow."The best social network. We still need a little. The Mark Zuckerberg has said publicly he wants to reach 1,000 million worldwide. There are many countries where we continue to grow and get dumps in this mission," said Hernandez, account whose career was going through Google and Microsoft on similar charges.

A technological past that made ​​him live the collapse of the dot-com in the nineties.Perhaps it shows signs of skepticism about IPO, "I've seen it once. I went through that and until you see I will not believe."

Any figure is taken from Facebook is striking.With a total of 900 million pages and groups or events that result in 30,000 million pieces of content.Two hundred million people play in the social network and run small payments, either to pay their virtual farm or to improve the fictional restaurant.The company has its own currency that is evolving to the point of becoming the standard transaction within the service: Facebook Credits.

"Born as a virtual currency that users will make small transactions in the different games. It was easier with a single currency. Now brands offer more. A company promoted the premiere of the film and could pay to see it this way. Every day thousands of content are uploaded to the platform. Gradually, Credits Facebook is becoming a digital currency broader than initially thought, "he explains.The companies thus have the opportunity to create revenue from within the ecosystem.

Facebook could be seen as a country in itself, in which hundreds of companies operate."Amazon, for example, in the United States has built his shop with Facebook. Imagine being able to enter the site and learn about upcoming birthdays of your friends, or products that are identified as desired, through one I like. Ebay integrates it to facilitate group purchases automatically among friends. And all your circle of friends, reports on products purchased, "explains with enthusiasm.The possibilities surrounding the so-called social commerce are numerous.

Ricky went on a great adventure

Loaded securities and trust, Ricky Rubio debut in the NBA just turned 21 in late October, provided they do not put the lockout next season.

The Spanish base wear the jersey number 9 of the Minnesota Timberwolves after completing his short but intense period of two seasons with Barcelona.She went to the NBA after winning every title possible, except Olympic gold, though, at 17, is the youngest Olympic medalist in basketball history and the final of Beijing 2008 against the United States, fighting against copper Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and Deron Williams reinforced the interest of the NBA for him.

"I decided to go to the NBA. It was an illusion, a dream and finally I could make it," said Ricky.Spanish will be the tenth that manages to play in the best league in the world, "had it right since I came to Barcelona, two years ago. Although it cost me decide, finally, I gave up."The base of El Masnou young pay the Catalan club provided one million euros to dissociate themselves from their contract and signed for two years plus two optional Minnesota, the franchise that selected him in fifth place in the draft 2009.Its official launch is scheduled for next week.

The Timberwolves last season were the worst team in the NBA with 17 wins and 65 defeats and coach Kurtis Rambis is a tightrope.The team played the final of the Western Conference in 2004.Since then it has less, more and more away from the playoffs .However, it has one of the most promising pivots, Kevin Love, and an equally forward-quality young, Michael Beasley, besides having the second choice of the draft, which takes place next week.Luke Ridnour and Jonny Flynn, in principle, the basis to compete with Ricky to get through."I think I'm ready. I could continue to grow here, but I'm going to play against the best and succeed. That's what motivates me more," he said.

Given the impending adventure in the NBA, Ricky, who in 2005 became 14 years and 11 months the youngest player in the history of the CBA, said: "When you decide to take a major leap, of course you're afraid. I never out of Barcelona. But you play where you play, basketball is to get baskets and help your team win. It is an extraordinary adventure. If you try, you never know the outcome. "

Ricky admitted the downturn in performance in the just-concluded season, which has averaged six points and 26% scores in the triple, "Maybe not my best year, but this is a team sport and how important has I've been able to help the team. We managed to win titles and go with the last thing I needed the League. "

Ricky suspect you have to do more weights to gain muscle and power and to better adapt to the style of play, more physical in the NBA: "Seen as a spectator, I was attracted to it because you can run, which is one of my virtues, and play in the open. "Downplayed the possibility that there is a lockout: "I have spoken with many people and, if it occurs, do not believe it for long. I take the opportunity to prepare better."

Barcelona, said his manager, Joan Creus, reserves a preferential right over the player when you decide to return to Europe.

Portugal is ready for change

The center-right government in Portugal is presented as the 'majority for change'

The agreement to form a center-right government in Portugal between the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Social Democratic Centre (CDS) is a fact from early this afternoon."We expect a mammoth task. We will lead the great transformation that the country demands," said a hotel in Lisbon's new prime minister and leader of PSD, Pedro Passos Coelho, after signing the agreement called majority for change . His ally, Pablo Portas, leader of the CDS and probably Foreign Minister added that "the courage, change and moderation" set the course of the new government, ending six years of socialist majority in Portugal.The elections on June 5 gave 105 members of the PSD, and 24 to the CDS, which guarantees absolute majority in the unicameral parliament of 230 seats.

The composition of the Cabinet and its program will be presented "in due time to the president," he explained Passos Coelho, now has refused to give a clue about the number of ministries and names of ministers.It did yesterday in a statement, which said the Finance Minister, a key future government will be an independent.

The two pillars of the government alliance have recognized the seriousness of the situation in Portugal, "the edge of the limit," which forced the outgoing government of Socialist Jose Socrates to ask an external bailout of $ 78,000 million , to tidy up the accounts public.Passos Coelho Executive has promised a "stable" and "a clear mandate," which is not limited only to fulfill the agreements with international lenders (European Union and International Monetary Fund), but also faces "all changes necessary to Portugal's one time out of this cycle of requests for foreign aid. "He mentioned specifically the reform of economic structures, ensuring social mobility and helping the less fortunate.

With an eye on developments in Greek he plans on Portugal as a dark threat of contagion, Passos Coelho and Portas stressed their determination to "restore the confidence of the Portuguese and the markets."Trust in institutions not only political, but on the other content, such as universities and companies.To achieve this, reiterated the new prime minister, "the government must lead by example," presenting more results than words.

Morocco is entering a new era

Morocco will not longer be a quasi-absolute monarchy, although in practice not as authoritarian, but also will become a European-style parliamentary monarchy.You'll be halfway there.King Mohamed VI, 47, delivered a speech tonight in which he presented the new Constitution , which provides a cut of his powers and an increase in the Government and Parliament.

Mohamed VI announced a cut of his powers in response to protests

King Mohamed VI of Morocco is no longer "sacred" in the new Constitution

Thousands of Moroccans took to the streets despite the reforms announced by Mohamed VI

Mohamed VI.King of Morocco

IN DEPTH

Birth: 21/08/1963

Location:Rabat

Morocco

IN DEPTH

Capital: Rabat.

Government:Islamic Monarchy.

Population:34,343,219 (est. 2008)

The news on other Websites in Spanish in other languages Specifically, the king must choose the prime minister, to be named Prime Minister, within the parliamentary majority.This will now appoint the ministers, senior officials, directors of public companies and ambassadors, although some of these positions require the approval of the sovereign.

The king loses its "sacred" and will only be "inviolable," as the head of the Spanish State.Continue, however, holds the title of Commander of the Faithful, that is, the spiritual leader of Muslims.Religious matters remain within its exclusive competence.

Although "Islam is state religion", Article 41 of the Constitution stipulates that the king "is the guarantor of freedom of religious practice."Morocco reaffirms its recognition of freedom of religion but not freedom of conscience, that is, the possibility for a Muslim to change religion.

The monarch also maintain its authority under the military and foreign policy.Chair the Council of Minister, unless delegated that task to the Prime Minister and National Security Council a new creation.

Parliament's role is strengthened.You can take the initiative to revise the Constitution, enact amnesties, commissions of inquiry and create some officials, including President of the Court of Auditors, should appear in hemiclo once a year.

The preamble to the Constitution are also highlights of the Arab character of Morocco, its Jewish roots and Andalusia.Part of its population emigrated in the century XV century Andalusia to Morocco.

Berber, spoken in three regions, one of the Rif, it becomes an official language along with Arabic.An organic law shall develop later this constitutional provision.

Popular pressure

The real initiative is the response from Morocco to the youth protests , following the examples of Tunisia and Egypt, began the February 20 with the first street demonstrations across the country.

The Alawite ruler presided Friday an unusual bright Cabinet to approve the proposed new Constitution will be submitted to a referendum on July 1.Autumn is likely to be held early parliamentary elections.

The document has been prepared by a commission appointed by the sovereign and headed by Abdellatif Menuni constitutionalist.This gave the king, in Oujdah June 10, the text of the new constitution.

The committee heard the views of political parties and unions, but some left-wing training and youth would answer the Movement February 20 refused to transfer him disapprove of his opinion because the method of constitutional revision.

Reviews

New calls to demonstrate again this Sunday have circulated Friday by Facebook with comments critical of the draft constitution."It's a long parliamentary monarchy because the King retains much power," wrote the intellectual Benseddik Ahmed, who participated in demonstrations."The Makhzen (ICC) is regenerated with new clothes and heavy makeup, "he adds.

The parties have ten days to campaign for or against the new constitution to replace the 1996.

For the first time, Democratic Path , which boycotted the elections, advocates the republic and self-determination of Western Sahara, will have access to public television to decide on the new draft constitution.

Democratic Way is a small party that claims of Marxism-Leninism, but legal in the eyes of the Ministry of Interior.Plays an important role in the protests that travel from Morocco in late February.Never representatives had been invited to speak before the television cameras.

Secretary of the Interior, Hazar Saad, met Tuesday with several officials of the press to explain the conditions of access for political parties and unions to the four public television stations, the only existing in Morocco, during the constitutional referendum campaign, which will last ten days.

More parties represented in parliament have up to 12 minutes on each channel, and those who have no right to be three minutes of screen time.No one is excluded, he said, even democratic means."It's a new deep-water," said one attendee at the meeting.

Controversial first person Russian Red

Lourdes Hernandez, better known as Russian Red, a lively controversy has caused media to admit to a fashion magazine that she favors the right-wing ideology. Today EP3 publishes article which includes reactions of various colleagues. The very Russian Red, Enrique Bunbury, Nacho Vegas, Andrés Calamaro y Manolo Martínez (Astrud) expands on this issue below and more general, such as political haunts the music industry, if the right artists for not disturb quiet or how it influences personal political stance when making songs.

RUSSIAN RED

The statement in Marie Claire magazine that preferred the right to the left became the third news Most read La Razon and the first of the web Jenesaispop. Are you surprised this commotion on the net? What conclusions do you get this little controversy?

In Jenesaispop anything you say or do is criticized with great cruelty, from the commenters, not from the publishers. Lo Reason I find most interesting. But frankly, if at first this scared me a little matter, as has come to me. I received a lot of aggression and disrespect since I is escuetísima statement and the conclusion I draw from this is that there is a totalitarización of public opinion that little closer to the ideals of a progressive society.

Would you say your political views play a large or small in your lyrics?

It seems obvious total lack of political content in my music, I have never been nor will be, a writer committed to no other cause than that of making songs that come strictly from an intimate and true, so far from this. The only hint of morality that appears in my songs is the importance in my life relationships.

What attracts you more of the conservative idea: their economic concerns and family values?

The right number of things attract me, but I feel the need to tell you why or justify to the world about it, because do not affect my music or my way of relating to people in particular, which is why I'm here answering this interview. Obviously, one's political views affect their understanding of society, representing a balance between what is ideal and what is practical.

If I were to spend the survey Marie Claire ¿Answer them again in the same way?

Given that the question was "Right or left?" answer the same. It seems absurd to have to justify myself and think about other words that hurt many sensitivities. My thinking is more traditional, is closer to the right, but I do not feel fully represented by any political party in Spain, a country that no longer exists neither right nor left as such.

Any other comments you want to add more than welcome.

In my statement there was not any kind of opportunism is no intention to vote. It seems ridiculous that a stir, especially when this same newspaper I granted an interview coming in to say that political change would not help a deeply rooted crisis like ours because everything that is forged over a long period of time, as is the case with our current political and economic situation, can not be solved with something as immediate as the change in power. Of course, it is now Marie Claire is the most widely read newspaper in Spain. 

ENRIQUE BUNBURY

A few days ago the singer indie Red Russian is declared right-wing magazine Marie Claire and that statement became the third most-watched news Reason and the first music on the web Jenesaispop. What about the reaction of readers?

ReasonOr comments from the Internet in general. I guess I would put questions because the broth. Politics in Spain and other countries bipartisan always controversial. In particular, I consider outdated and inelegant therefore be left, and right. Before the International Monetary Fund are all equal, or nothing.

Do you think today in Spain declared supporter of either option can help or hurt political careers in music?

Of course it's harmful, but for health. The world we live in has more important issues that the bickering to which want us to play the real planetary interests. While we fight for if we Rajoy or Rubalcaba we are getting into the top corner goals.  

Occasionally we hear talks backstage stating that Spanish pop is usually between apolitical and right. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

I know many Spanish pop musicians. I do not care much if Nena or vote for La Quinta Estación Convergence or UPyD. In general, the Rock was always left. But neither is a quality that denotes a higher intelligence or sensitivity. I tell you they are the same dog with different collar.  

Are there instances of musicians who are right but are afraid to speak in public?

Honestly, no. But I know right-wing non-musicians. And there are wonderful people here and there, but vote for parties that get us into the mess in which we operate. If being a good person is independent of your political nonsense, too, being a good musician does not have to identify with a particular line of thought.  

What about your political views explicit in a song? Is it necessary, optional, inevitable?

I think the media and political parties have confronted the people with the puppeteers, despising them, knowing that a song, a movie or a poem is much more powerful than that, surely, would like.  

Any other comments you think appropriate to this matter is welcome.

I like the new single Russian Red, listen to their album in the coming hours

Debt of the communities to make up a record

The debt of the communities to make up a record 11.4% of GDP

The debt of the community has set a record at the close of the first quarter after reaching 121,420 million, representing a rise of 26.4% over the same period last year, when the figure was 96.042 million .

According to the Bank of Spain published Friday, the ratio of debt to GDP of the communities reached 11.4%, compared to 9.1% a year ago and 10.9% the previous quarter. For the first time in the time series offered by the Bank of Spain (since 1995) that the ratio of debt to GDP exceeds 11%. Catalonia is the region most indebted, with 34.323 million euros.

The debt of all the government, meanwhile, grew by 17.5% to 679.779 million euros, also an absolute record in history. According to data released Friday by the Bank of Spain, this debt represents 63.6% of GDP, which in this case constitutes its highest level since March 1999. A year ago was 55%.

Most of the debt accumulated central government, with 521.007 million euros, 76% of the total, registering an increase of 16.8% last year.

Facebook hires a former spokesman of Clinton

Facebook has hired Joe Lockhart , a former spokesman for former U.S. President Bill Clinton to address its strategy and international corporate communications .

The company, based in Palo Alto (California) noted that Lockhart will serve as Vice President for Global Communications from next month.

His signing is the latest example of efforts by Facebook to hire a number of leading connoisseurs of how the world of politics in Washington.

Last month, the social network that was hired as deputy chief of staff to President George W Bush, Joel Kaplan .

Had also considered taking the services of former President Barack Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs, although that possibility was never realized.

As stated by the vice president of marketing for Facebook, Elliot Schrage said in a statement, experience in the White House Lockhart, spokesman for Clinton between 1998 and 2000, "brings a special sensitivity to the demands of a news cycle of 24 hours and to the challenges of responding efficiently to intense scrutiny. "

Apple removed the application that stored passwords iPhone

Apple has withdrawn Big Brother Security Camera App Store . This application allowed the phone to block off the screen and asked for a password to access the desktop again. However, its creator stored passwords for users (anonymously) to do a safety study.

Daniel Amitay, the developer behind this application, had published a blog entry in which he explained what the most common passwords on iPhone with data that was extracted from its application. These data, he asserted, were stored anonymously. The news reached the covers and left the proposed security and control of the online stores of Apple compromised.

Within 24 hours, the application has disappeared from the App Store. In Cupertino have rushed to withdraw this 'app' that demonstrates the vulnerability of its system for reviewing content , especially when it comes to an update of a program already approved.

"Of course I am unhappy," Amitay said in his blog, "but given the concerns that some people have expressed regarding the transmission of data from the 'app' to my server, is understandable."

Collection of secondary data and anonymous

In any case, Amitay also took the opportunity to explain exactly what data and how it was obtained. Passwords obtained, for example, were the application, not lock iPhone , which has a similar function. On the other hand, the only data that was sent was the password itself. That is, all that were sent were the four digits, so Amitay could not identify the user or device from which they came .

In addition, the developer is defended on the grounds that data collection is covered by the license agreement of the users , which specifies that the provider "may collect and use technical data and related information." This information includes "technical information on the device, system and application software provider (...) The application can use this information, if it is a way that does not identify the user, to improve its products or provide services and technologies. "

For now, Amitay has ensured he is working to make the application again. It also explains that he has no problem in removing the code that collects passwords if that's what caused the problem, but said he thought using the information to warn users not choose obvious passwords.

The most commonly used passwords

Despite the review process they undergo the applications, enter this code could Amitay Big Brother Security Camera. In fact, if I had not posted a blog entry on analyzing the most commonly used passwords, it is likely that Apple will never have known.

But what are these passwords? According to their analysis of 204,508 registered, the most common is '1234 ', used by 8884 people , followed by '0000 '(5246), '2580' (combination follows a straight line and use 4753 users), '1111 ' (3262), '5555 '(1,774) and '5683' (combination that would write 'love' in a traditional phone keypad and the device 1425 that protected his people).

Another interesting facts he discovered Amitay is that all numbers between 1980 and 2000 are among the 100 most used , so it is believed that many users use the password the year of birth or graduation.

With these data concluded that 15% of the passwords that are a series of ten 10,000 possible codes . That is, using these passwords could access one of every seven iPhones without their start in the deletion of data (which by default occurs after entering incorrect ten passwords).

Drama of Granada on penalties

The ascent is not for heart disease. Elche El Granada and left it all to play for for the return after a few minutes late they had everything from visitors celebrating the nil-nil up at the stands of the New Los Cármenes applauding a decision in Pino Zamorano after having protested to throw-ins. Geijo sliced ​​a penalty in 95 Abel Gomez failed to convert twice, after sending repeated Elche braid to invade the area soon. 

The match had started with more nerve head and had a very even first half. 50 percent of possession for each side, but not daring prudence but because each side is nullified. The Elche played more in the attacking half, looking for the edge of the area triangulations, with some admitted by the band, although it was less. El Granada, meanwhile, was engaged to do the windshield on home soil until they saw the long ball, looking up their speed. Dani Benítez returned to be the best, both for his band and when he sought the opposite or the center.

Nyom increases Nazari created higher for the right, but left that flank sold to Christopher, which was combined with Generelo or Angel can stun defense. Pino Zamorano made threats of the party will be the deciding between leaving no hands to play or be rigorous. The first yellow to Xumetra after downing Dani Benítez, of course, came after two fouls on the edge of the area visitor who lost their whistle and let the public objected to the throat.

In the second half, Granada came out with things clearer. I wanted to go with a good result at the Martinez Valero, while visitors, as the minutes passed, seemed to take for good zero to zero. So much so that each change or fall lingered requiring entry of the table the public wanted them to eat. Just a flash of Generelo a lack Albacar shot with venom, but little else.

A protocol Geijo marked it as an actor, sooner or later. He had been given the award for top scorer in the regular season before you start. He was returning a call and doubt was whether he thought Fabri use. At the start of the second part was to go to warm up and reactivate the stands, who had only responded to two flashes of Orellana and Dani Benítez.

When replaced in 65 Ighalo the speaker might have sung a goal that nobody would have known. Ten minutes later, just to be there and forced James to show off to the side of a center Dani Benítez. His presence forced the Elche pulling out of the game better, but Ighalo pressure improves the output of the ball. In 77, a pass from Abel Gomez enabled the 'desired' perfect, but it was to stick so well that he wanted to.

Your team was missing the final push as the party approached. Pino decided to immolate himself at 85 after a decline from second stringer and Abel Gomez line that ended in the network of Jaime. Play nullified and local yellow midfielder. In 95, three minutes off ended, the two main actors, braid and Geijo joined, one falling to a charge of Fernandes, the other pointing penalties.

But luck was not with Abel Gomez yesterday and the club first and then James was not allowed to hit chance from the spot. Pino had overturned the first ruling by the rush to go to the decline of the visitors' defense. The end, with much valium, on Saturday.