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[Ramaa]

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Vietnam blasts into satellite age

Sat, 19 Apr, 2008,01:04 PM

Vietnam blasted into the satellite age Saturday when a rocket launch from South America propelled its first orbiter into space.

It will allow the country to beam home telecoms data and television signals.

Vietnam was war-shattered and largely isolated until the early 1990s.

From a command centre set amid lush rice fields outside the capital Hanoi, scientists tracked the Arianespace rocket as it propelled the Vinasat-1 on its path to hover 36,000 kilometres above the equator.

"This project is politically, economically and socially important," said Prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung, soon after the launch, noting that it would help to "raise Vietnam's image on the international stage."

The blast-off may only have been a small step for the European space agency in French Guiana, but it represents one great leap for communist Vietnam, a developing country with patchy phone coverage that only introduced the Internet a decade ago.

Vietnam has seen a decade of rapid economic growth and is now racing to build the infrastructure to match the rising expectations of investors and its 86 million people.

The satellite project, worth around USD 300 million, "puts Vietnam on the map of the world for using satellite communications," said a visibly proud Deputy Information and Communications Minister Tran Duc Lai.

"Demand for communications is now booming. Ten years ago we had only fixed telephones. Then we introduced mobiles.

Since 1997 we started to introduce the Internet," he said.

"Now there is very high demand. We have around 23 per cent of people who can access the Internet. By 2010 the target is to reach 40 per cent."

 

[fire]

Really a News

Its really a news .All about Vietnam I heard was , about the conflicts and wars it fought. As a small nation it would be an achievement for it.But is it sponsored by China or any other Nation?

Does Pakistan launched any satellites so far( Given they were able make a significant progress in nuke tech)?

Vietnam blasts into satellite age

Sat, 19 Apr, 2008,01:04 PM

Vietnam blasted into the satellite age Saturday when a rocket launch from South America propelled its first orbiter into space.

It will allow the country to beam home telecoms data and television signals.

Vietnam was war-shattered and largely isolated until the early 1990s.

From a command centre set amid lush rice fields outside the capital Hanoi, scientists tracked the Arianespace rocket as it propelled the Vinasat-1 on its path to hover 36,000 kilometres above the equator.

"This project is politically, economically and socially important," said Prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung, soon after the launch, noting that it would help to "raise Vietnam's image on the international stage."

The blast-off may only have been a small step for the European space agency in French Guiana, but it represents one great leap for communist Vietnam, a developing country with patchy phone coverage that only introduced the Internet a decade ago.

Vietnam has seen a decade of rapid economic growth and is now racing to build the infrastructure to match the rising expectations of investors and its 86 million people.

The satellite project, worth around USD 300 million, "puts Vietnam on the map of the world for using satellite communications," said a visibly proud Deputy Information and Communications Minister Tran Duc Lai.

"Demand for communications is now booming. Ten years ago we had only fixed telephones. Then we introduced mobiles.

Since 1997 we started to introduce the Internet," he said.

"Now there is very high demand. We have around 23 per cent of people who can access the Internet. By 2010 the target is to reach 40 per cent."

 

[Ramaa]

No but it has been testing missiles to attack India. Surprisingly Pakistan just today lauched another test missile in response to india's testing of Agni III. Agni III is a long range missile and is no threat to Pakistan but perhaps China.

Pakistan tests ballistic missile

The missile can deliver all types of warheads


Pakistan has carried out a second successful test of a cruise missile capable of carrying nuclear weapons, its military said.
Hatf-VIII (or Raad, "thunder" in Arabic) was first tested last year.
It has a range of 350km (220 miles) and it has been developed exclusively for launch from the air.
On Wednesday, India tested a ballistic missile with a range of over 3000km (1,865 miles). The two neighbours routinely carry out missile tests.
Tension between Pakistan and India has decreased in recent years amid a series of bilateral overtures.
"It (Hatf-VIII) has enabled Pakistan to achieve a greater strategic stand-off capability on land and at sea," a statement from the Pakistan military said.
"The missile test is part of a continuing process of validating the design parameters of the weapon system."
Hatf-VIII was first tested in August last year. Experts say several tests are required before any missile can be deployed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7389289.stm

 

[fire]

Spending on Technology and arms

I have wondered many times how much US can spend on technology. Take NASA's budget.Its around 17 billion dollar. How many countries GDP is below that amount? When other countries can progress like US ?Take the revenue of IBM.Its 98 billion dollar. According to the GDP numbers only 51 odd countries have revenue above it.Other countries are earning less than the company.Again US defense budget is around 711 billion dollar,Given India's overall GDP is just 1 trillion (1000 Billion) dollar.Can I say some 80 crore Indian's annual earnings equivalent money are spent on wars in US?

Is it because of inflated salary the spending is bigger in US? Or are they really technically far far ahead compared to other nations?

 

[kunjuppu]

canadian govt to apologize for komagata maru incident

a while back, the then british prime minister, tony blair, apologized to the african and people of african ancestry, for the role great britain played in the slavery trade. an ovrewhelming majority of britons agreed with blair, and thought it was the right thing to do.

and now comes canada's turn. canada has already apologized to its native people and to the japanese for past ill treatments. now comes the turn of india.

it is a little known incident which happened in vancouver in 1914. the japanese ship komagata maru arrived on the shores with a shipful of mostly sikh immigrants. these were turned back and had to come back to india. the sikh community has not forgotten this insult.

very soon, the canadian government will publicly issue an apology, for something that happened 94 years ago, to what was basically an unannounced invasion of a group of people to the canadian shores. still, there is some discomfort in canada, because these people were asiatics. had it been europeans this would not have happened.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080513.wbckomagatu13/BNStory/National/

is there any lesson from the above, for us indians?

 

[malgova.mango]

Though a pamaran , in this area, I venture to chip in some views..

A country gets rich not only because of its resources, also because it opens up and create oppourtunity for other countries to invest in it. A lot of money is invested in US by the people of other countries. That's the oomph factor for US.

Countries like Singapore, Swiss gets rich, not only because of trade. It allows the black money from the third world country like Indonesia, India to get parked there.

One of the prime reason for Indian rupee to go down since independence is the looting of the financial resources by the corrupt politicians and parking it elsewhere.

The Unions with the help of politicians also played their role in paralysing the industries. These double whammy since independence created economic havoc and caused migration of indians.

Politics and policies are mighty structural issues.

Regards

 

[Ramaa]

Extensive missile site in China revealed by satellite
Saturday May 17 2008 06:53 IST AFP
WASHINGTON: Commercial satellite imagery has revealed an extensive nuclear missile site in central China with nearly 60 launch pads for medium-range missiles capable of striking Russia or India, a researcher said on Friday.

The images from 'Google Earth' show different types of launch pads, command and control facilities, and missile deployment equipment at a large facility in downtown Delingha, said Hans Kristensen, a researcher with the Federation of American Scientists.

'The US government often highlights China's deployment of new mobile missiles as a concern, but keeps the details secret, so the discovery of the deployment area provides the first opportunity for the public to better understand how China operates its mobile ballistic missiles,' he wrote.

The find comes only two weeks after the discovery of a secret Chinese nuclear submarine base on Hainan Island in south China sea, also using commercial satellite imagery and published by Jane's Intelligence Review. The latest images were posted along with Kristensen's analysis on the website of the Federation of American Scientists.

Kristensen said the imagery revealed missile launch sites along a 275-kilometres (170 miles) stretch of highway leading from the city of Delingha through Da Qaidam to Mahai in the northern part of Qinghai province. Thirty-six launch pads were arrayed in three strings extending north of the highway and west of Delingha.

Another 22 launch pads were detected in an area running west of Da Qaidam to Mahai, according to Kristensen's analysis.

'From these launch pads Dong Feng- 21 (DF-21) missiles can be fired within the range of southern Russia and northern India (including New Delhi), but not Japan, Taiwan or Guam,' he wrote.

 

[fire]

The lesson is

In some cases injustice of the past which may be familiar or not , may result in a very delayed useless apology from irrelevant persons.Even we had an apology from PM for Sikh victims?Whats the use.Law was dead in this country in many occasion.Rather than sending apology take actions against criminals.Thats what the real need of the hour.

a while back, the then british prime minister, tony blair, apologized to the african and people of african ancestry, for the role great britain played in the slavery trade. an ovrewhelming majority of britons agreed with blair, and thought it was the right thing to do.

and now comes canada's turn. canada has already apologized to its native people and to the japanese for past ill treatments. now comes the turn of india.

it is a little known incident which happened in vancouver in 1914. the japanese ship komagata maru arrived on the shores with a shipful of mostly sikh immigrants. these were turned back and had to come back to india. the sikh community has not forgotten this insult.

very soon, the canadian government will publicly issue an apology, for something that happened 94 years ago, to what was basically an unannounced invasion of a group of people to the canadian shores. still, there is some discomfort in canada, because these people were asiatics. had it been europeans this would not have happened.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080513.wbckomagatu13/BNStory/National/

is there any lesson from the above, for us indians?

 

[Saab]

Dear Fireji,

You might like to read the following:

http://jihaditerror.blogspot.com/2008/05/jihadi-terror-victims-3674-indians-as.html

saab

 

[Saab]

10,000 Argentineans light candles for Jaipur blasts victims​

New Delhi: As the world expressed outrage over the ghastly Jaipur bomb blasts, over 10,000 Argentinians have lit candles in Buenos Aires extending their solidarity with the victims.

In a measure of solidarity between the civil societies around the world, the participants in the initiative strongly condemned the blasts, in which more than 50 people were killed and over 200 injured, and appealed for harmony among the communities.

Organised by the Art of Living Foundation of Indian spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is currently in Argentina, the vigil appealed for peace and a violence free society.

"Stay calm and maintain peace. Let us all face this together," the Indian guru urged people. He also asked them not to blame the government but help it to nab "these elements who want to create disturbance in the country".

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also appealed to the Home Minister to "investigate sternly wherever there is slightest suspicion," according to a release here.
(Courtesy: The Economic Times; May 14, 2008)
(URL: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/10000_Argentineans_light_candles_for_Jaipur_blasts_victims/articleshow/3039895.cms )

 

[Saab]

Mukherjee hands over Padma Bhushan to China's bed ridden "Sanskrit Guru"
Friday June 6 2008 12:28 IST PTI
BEIJING: It was an emotional moment for 97-year-old Ji Xianlin when visiting Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee handed over the coveted Padma Bhushan award to him at the People's Liberation Army Hospital in Beijing.

Popularly known as 'Sanskrit Guru', Ji's claim to fame is that he has translated the entire Ramayana into Chinese. Ji has also translated several other classics like Shakuntalam and Panchatantra. The Ji collection consists of 24 volumes, including articles on ancient Indian languages.

Born in 1911 in Linquing County in eastern China, Professor Ji also worked as a life professor at the prestigious Peking University. He played an instrumental role in promoting India in the hearts and minds of the people of China.

China today has a better understanding of India's cultural heritage and her contribution to Chinese culture and spiritual life.

 

[Saab]

Another shameful management of our foreign affairs by the assorted anti-Hindu combine.

Badly managed foreign visits
Tuesday June 10 2008 08:31 IST Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee has returned from a visit to China without much to talk about. In fact, if he was expecting special treatment as a senior Indian politician visiting China for the first time during his present term in office, he was disappointed. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao did not find the time to meet him, claiming an urgent visit to the earthquake affected areas as the reason. His meeting with vice president Xi Jinping almost did not happen, and at least till the end the Indian delegation was kept guessing. Sikkim that had been dropped by the Chinese from their official map after the visit of then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, has come back in the discussions with Beijing no longer prepared to accept the vanishing act as permanent. India is not particularly happy about the restated Chinese claim on Arunachal Pradesh, and the continuous forays of its armed forces into Indian territory.

Tibet remains a sensitive issue, although the government made up for the two attacks on the Chinese embassy by Dalai Lama supporters, with profuse apologies and a reiteration of the one China principle. The point being driven home is that China is going to be a quiet, neighbourly neighbour if India toes the line. And the line is support on Tibet, silence on Sikkim, and continuing talks in a cordial and peaceful atmosphere on the boundary issues. This is the second such high-level visit where all ends have not been tied up by the Indian foreign office, with the host country managing to create a level of uncertainty as a result.

The other was that of President Pratibha Patil to Latin American countries, where she was forced to address the senate in Brazil with just about six persons present. Her 30-member delegation was the captive audience as she spoke to an empty house.Again in Mexico her address was cancelled because of an ongoing agitation by the Left parties, but considering the fact that this had been going on for a month before she arrived in the country, it stands to reason that the Indian foreign office should have ensured that this particular programme was not included in her itinerary. It is important for the officials to ensure water tight foreign visits of the ruling elite as they represent India when abroad, and not just themselves.
http://www.newindpress.com/newspages.asp?page=f&Title=First+Editorial&

 

[Saab]

Attack on Hindu Temples Still Continues!


http://www.hindujagruti.org/news/582.html

 

[Saab]

Muslim Mob Attacks Hindu Pilgrims in India

Assyrian International News Agency
http://www.aina.org/news/20080614180321.htm

CPI(M)-led Islamic terrorism at Ganga Sagar

http://janamejayan.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/cpim-led-islamic-terrorism-at-ganga-sagar/

 

[Saab]

Alarming Bangladeshi threat to Pune

http://islamicterrorism.wordpress.com/

 

[Saab]

Bangladesh And Pakistan - The Destruction Of Buddhism And Hinduism
By Lee Jay Walker

http://islamidiot.wordpress.com/200...estruction-of-buddhism-and-hinduism/#more-159

 

[Saab]

http://globeonline.wordpress.com/


On the Making of an Unbeliever
Abul Kasem

QUITE OFTEN I RECEIVE E-MAILS asking me why I have so much dislike for religion in general and Islam, my religion at birth, in particular. This question is not easy to answer. A person’s religion is the most sacred, and to some, the most valuable asset one may claim to possess. Wars are waged, genocide perpetrated, friendships broken, love turned into hatred, peace into turmoil, harmony into discord, enlightenment into darkness just because of religious difference. Nothing is more sensitive and dangerous than fomenting the religiou s feeling of people.

As demonstrated by many suicide bombers, many believers consider their faith more precious than their own lives. Under such scenarios, it is not so simple for any one to look at his religion of birth critically. Many years, possibly decades of observations, experience, study and contemplation are required to examine one’s so-called religion of birth.
Below, I have listed a few issues that may make an ardent believer to question his/her ‘religion of birth’, and may eventually turn him into an unbeliever. These listed concerns are not comprehensive. As the current events unfold, there will be many new aspects that may be more critical than what I have mentioned.

Please spend a little time and ponder on what might turn a believer into an unbeliever.


Four million diehard devotees (the Biswa Ijtema in Bangladesh) from many Islamic Paradises beseech Allah in three languages (Bengali, Urdu and Arabic) for His blessings. Yet Allah keeps these countries the most corrupt, the least developed, the most crime-infested, utterly terrorised and amongst the poorest in the world. You start doubting if Allah ever understood any of those languages of prayer, especially His own language, that is, Arabic. This epidemic of prayer has been going on for decades, but Allah remains adamant. To the total chagrin of the true believers, Allah continues to bestow prosperity to the infidels. You question the fairness of Allah.

When the Mullahs are in power in one of the Islamic Paradises (e.g., Bangladesh) a great deluge of flood creates havoc there. The Mullahs term this devastating natural calamity as a test of Iman (faith) from Allah-just like Nuh’s flood. Curiously, when a secula r government is elected to power, the same Mullahs call the raging flood a punishment from Allah for the electorate for choosing a secular government. You marvel at the capricious mind of Allah.
When a 14-year-old boy is mercilessly flogged to death (in Iran) in the month of Ramadan for not fasting strictly to the stringent specifications of the religion you question the very authenticity of Allah’s Scripture on which this punishment is meted out.

A 16-year-old girl (in Iran) is raped by gangsters but she cannot prove her innocence for lack of resources to hire a competent lawyer. The Mullahs swiftly hang her in public without giving her a right to appeal. Her rapists go scot-free. You tremble in fear as you have a few teen-age daughters. You are frightened to death thinking what might happen to your young daughters if they become victims of similar rape.
Allah decides to send His soldiers to kindergarten schools to slaughter infidels’ infants (Beslan in Russia). This action of Allah shakes the very foundation of your belief. You assume the savage perpetrators of this infanticide were not true believers. When you consult the Hadis you are profoundly shocked to learn that wanton killing of infidels’ children is religiously sanctioned. You become fearful about the safety of your own child when he/she is enrolled in a childcare/pre-school/kindergarten.

You remember your past secret love life and suddenly learn from newspaper reports that a hapless widow in an Islamic Paradise is to be stoned to death for merely becoming pregnant and giving birth out of wed-lock to an innocent daughter. You thank yourself that none of those women with whom you had illicit sex became pregnant. You wonder what would have happened if you were caught.

You sincerely fall in love with an infidel woman but you cannot marry her unless she embraces the ‘religion of tolerance’. You and your lover decide to flee the Islamic Paradise and immigrate to an infidel land just to exercise your fundamental human right.

You and your wife for 12-years go on a holiday trip to a scenic beach resort (e.g., the state of Trengganu in Malaysia). You lodge in the luxurious beach hotel Club Med. Out of blue; at the dead of night, the religious police heckle you demanding to witness your marriage certificate. Unable to produce the matrimony document, you and your wife have no choice but to be hand-cuffed and immediately whisked by the ‘guardians of Allah’ to be locked up in dingy cells. You and your distraught wife are separated and threatened with lashing until you can prove your Islamic marriage. You desperately fax to your relative to send you the original marriage certificate. Until that arrives you and your dear wife spend a few weeks in tenterhook.

While all the infidel guests at the resort sleep in peace you suffer this despicable indignation because you have an Islamic (read Arabic) name. After you return to your home of infidels you promise not to set foot in an Islamic Paradise, ever.

You visit Thailand, the land of smiles. Out of curiosity you visit a massage parlour or a Turkish bath. Inside the dimly-lit premise you spot your bearded but impeccably western-dressed Tabligi friends who were once your university mates. Astounded, you ask them what Tabligi work they are doing in such a sex joint. To your utter surprise your Tabligi friends tell you that Thai massage girls/prostitutes are halal for them. They claim that while they may have wives and children at Dar-ul-Islam (home country of Islam) but since they are in a Dar-ul-Harb (the land of warfare) or the land of infidels, it is alright for them to have sex with Thai women as these sex-kittens are like captives to the Muslims.

(contd.)

 

[Saab]

contd..

You return home and check the Sharia book (Islamic Law) for their outrageous claim. To your complete disbelief you find that the Sharia fully supports your Tabligi friends’ claims.

You attend the party of an infidel colleague and drink only orange juice because all other foods ostensibly look haram. But you have no courage to ask your host. When the host enquires if anything is wrong with you, you tell a lie that you have stomach problem, or that you are not hungry. You become ashamed that you have to tell lies because of your faith.

When you tell your best friend that you like western life-style and enjoy its freedom he cuts you off from the list of his guest. He stops phoning you, and when you enquire about his well-being he says he is busy and has very little time. Religion has now stood between you and your best friend.

When the Allah’s soldiers (in Iraq) behead the dedicated aid workers, ordinary poor labourers, engineers, doctors and make snuff videos for the Ummah to watch the mercy o f ‘religion of compassion’ you have great difficulty explaining this ‘religion of compassion’ to your colleagues. You even try to hide your face when the neighbours learn that you belong to the ‘religion of compassion.’

When you are in an infidel land you try to conceal your ‘religion of forgiveness’ by faking an infidel name to a stranger. You try to hide the passport issued by an Islamic Paradise. You show it only to the immigration officials. You wonder why you have to play such a hide-and-seek game.

Your family hates you for becoming friendly with the infidels. You become very sad, but later, you find out that they are simply following the commands of all Powerful Allah. Consulting the Holy Scripture, you find out that a Muslim son must disown his own parents and vice versa if they or you do not convert to Islam.

You go to a religious school and find that girls, as little as 6 or 7-years-old are forced to wear ugly Hijab. When the confused innocent little girls ask for the reason of wearing such tormenting apparel, you hear the ‘Hujur’ (religious teacher) says Allah loves those girls who ‘cover’ themselves. He also says that the infidel girls (those who do not wear Hijab) are prostitutes, harlots and characterless. You wonder how come Allah did not cover these little Muslimahs during their birth-why Allah let them be born naked!

Your child goes to a Madrassah (a theological seminary) to memorise the Holy Scripture. When he returns home he/she complains about the beating he/she received at the hands of the ‘Hujur’. When you confront the ‘Hujur’ for child-abuse he shows you the irrefutable proof that beating a child is allowed as per Hadis. You simply shake your head in disbelief, but the ‘Hujur’ shows you the clear proof from the Holy Scriptures. You truly become dumb-founded.

As a migrant you sincerely believe that the best way to be the integral part of a society is to mix with the local mainstream people, become friendly with them and learn some of their traditions and customs. When you visit a mosque you hear the Imam warns the congregation not to be friendly with the local infidels. He even exhorts that as a believer you must endeavour to convert the local infidels to adopt your culture and religion. Doubting Imam’s preaching, you check the Holy Scriptures. You are utterly shocked that the Imam is absolutely correct.

You live in an Islamic Paradise which preaches ‘religious tolerance’, ‘peace’, ‘democracy’, ‘freedom of thought’—When you visit the religious congregation of the infidels to learn about their religion you are arrested, fined or imprisoned (e.g., in .Malaysia) for patronising the enemies of the ‘religion of tolerance’. You question the very Holy words ‘No compulsion in religion.’

In an Islamic Paradise you go out dating an infidel girl. While both of you are seated on a wooden bench in the local park, the ‘moral guardians’ of Allah (religious police), checks your I.D., arrests you, fines you and jails you. Your infidel girl-friend goes scot-free. You question how could there be two sets of laws in one country? You decide that this is nothing but religious apartheid.

In a moderate Muslim Paradise (e.g., Malaysia) you visit a pub or a disco to have a good time with your infidel friends. There, you notice the religious police checking the I.D. of each patron. Wondering how come the ‘religion of tolerance’ would not allow you such a simple pleasure, you sneak out of the haram premise. Meanwhile, your infidel friends had a ‘good time’ in the pub, while you returned home and asked Allah’s forgiveness.

Your religious-scholar friend tells you that Allah’s ‘only’ religion has lots of goodies for women. When you open the newspaper (in Pakistan) you read, ‘Let these women be warned,’ said a mullah to the dissenting women of Rawalpindi. ‘We will tear them to pieces. We will give them such terrible punishments that no one in future will dare to raise a voice against Islam.’ In desperation you consult the Holy Scriptures and find that the Mullahs are completely correct. You start doubting your friend’s scholarship on the good stuff for women in the ‘religion for women’.

Even though you are not ethnically an Arab, you must keep an Arabic name, follow Arabic culture; adopt their food, clothing, hygiene and toilet habits; memorise their Holy Scriptures without comprehending a single word of it and prostrate endlessly to their Allah.

When you go on pilgrimage or when they hire you as slaves to work for them they ridicule you as a ‘miskin’ (indigent). But they treat the white infidel workers with respect and offer them higher pay and more fringe benefits than the black and brown immigrant workers (like you) .Though you are better qualified than many of them (white infidels) your Arab brothers discriminate you against the white infidel workers. As a general rule, you are paid half compared to a white unbeliever.

Yet, you consider the Arabs superior to you and you imitate their dress and Bedouin habits. Some Islamic Paradises (like Pakistan) even broadcast news in Arabic when not even 0.1% of their population understand the Arabic language. You wonder why a desperately poor country should spend money to Arabise its population?

When you question your religion you fear for your life. When you make a movie that criticises the religion of ‘peace’ you are beheaded a la Islamic style.

Those are some of the issues all believers should ponder upon. Thanks to the advent of Internet; it is now possible to publicise those pertinent points. We must welcome well-designed, easily navigable websites that highlight the concerns mentioned above and shake the minds of the believers, compelling them to re-think what they always thought to be the eternal truth.
------------------
Excerpts from Abul Kasem. He writes from Sydney
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