Singapore riot: Four Indians face fresh charges

PTI Dec 27, 2013, 07.47PM IST

SINGAPORE: Fresh charges were on Friday slapped on four Indians, part of 25 alleged rioters who participated in Singapore's worst outbreak of violence in over 40 years.

Earlier, all 25 Indians faced one rioting charge each, punishable by up to seven years in prison and caning.

But, additional charges were filed against Chinnappa Prabakaran, 23, for instigating a group of Indians to set fire to an ambulance while Bose Prabakar, 29, was accused of assaulting an auxiliary police officer by kicking him.

 

Moorthy Kabildev, 24, also faced an additional charge of punching a woman coordinator of the bus which ran over 33-year-old Indian pedestrian Sakthivel Kumaravelu.

Arumugam Karthik, 24, now faces two new charges: one of setting fire to a police car with one other person; and another of throwing pieces of concrete and flipping over a police car with some others.

The prosecution is looking to revoke their bail, or increase their bail amount to 40,000-60,000 Singapore dollars, The Straits Times reported.

Since the court offered bail to all 25 accused on Tuesday after submitting sureties of 20,000 Singapore dollars, only two are out on bail, Channel News Asia reported.

Chinnathambi Malesan, 22, was today released on bail besides Arun Kaliamurthy, a 28-year-old tourist in Singapore on a social visit pass.

The court allowed Malesan's employer to post bail, even though his employer is a Malaysian of Chinese-origin.

Meanwhile, one of the accused, 32-year-old Chinnappa Vijayaragunatha Poopathi, has indicated to the court that he might plead guilty, Channel News Asia reported.

The cases of 24 accused would be mentioned again on January 29 while Kaliamurthy's case would be heard on December 30.

Fifty-six Indians and a Bangladeshi have been deported from Singapore for alleged involvement in the riot in Little India, a precinct of Indian-origin businesses, eateries and pubs where most South Asian workers take their Sunday break.

The trouble started after a private bus fatally knocked down Kumaravelu in Little India on December 8. Some 400 migrant workers were involved in the rampage that left 39 police and civil defence staff injured and 25 vehicles -- including 16 police cars -- damaged.

Singapore previously witnessed violence of such scale during race riots in 1969.

Singapore authorities will implement new traffic arrangements in Little India on Sundays from this Sunday to smoothen operations for private bus services plying in the Little India area and "facilitate safe passenger activities along the road", The Straits Times reported.

 http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-27/other-news/45625646_1_one-rioting-charge-singapore-riot-channel-news-asia

Fifa wants 'fair conditions' quickly for Qatar's World Cup workers

• Sepp Blatter admits abuse of migrant workers is 'unacceptable'
• Union leader warns 2022 World Cup could move from Qatar

 Fifa has said "fair working conditions with a lasting effect must be

introduced quickly in Qatar" after Sepp Blatter admitted that widespread abuse of migrant workers was "unacceptable" following a meeting with international union leaders in Zurich.

World football's governing body has come under pressure to act in the wake of a Guardian investigation that revealed the scale of the abuse of migrant workers in Qatar who are building the infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup.

Blatter recently travelled to Doha to meet with the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and subsequently gave a press conference in which he said the country's rulers were "on the right track" in dealing with the issue.

But after meeting with Wolfgang Niersbach, president of the Confederation of German Trade Unions, and Michael Sommer, president of the International Trade Union Confederation, Fifa said that the trio had agreed that "fair working conditions must be introduced quickly, consistently and on a sustained basis in Qatar".

Sommer said the trade union movement would not rest until conditions were "fundamentally transformed" but that Fifa made it clear they took their "responsibilities on social policy seriously". He added: "Fifa recognises that its international significance brings a responsibility to influence decision-makers in Qatar.

"Qatar must guarantee the core labour standards of the International Labour Organisation, end discrimination and forced labour and allow freedom of association for its 1.3 million migrant workers.

"The direction being taken by Fifa in this sense is welcome, and respects the concerns of people who live for the 'people's game'. We as trade unions maintain our demand: if Qatar does not respond properly, then consequences must follow, and the World Cup be taken from Qatar."

The ITUC has warned that as many as 4,000 migrant workers could die before a ball is kicked in 2022, while a new in-depth Amnesty report last Sunday revealed wide-scale and endemic mistreatment of workers, many of whom are tied to their employer under the kafala system.

Blatter admitted that the situation was "unacceptable" but the Fifa president said publicity generated by the controversial decision to award the World Cup to Qatar in 2022 had helped draw attention to the issue.

"Economic and political leaders must contribute to improving the unacceptable situation in Qatar. That is why I welcome the initiative shown by the DFB [German football federation] and ITUC because together we can achieve change," he said. "I am convinced Qatar is taking the situation very seriously. These very discussions about Qatar show what an important role football can play in generating publicity and thus bringing about change."

Human rights groups including Amnesty and Human Rights Watch are hopeful the international pressure building on the Qatari authorities will lead to concrete action. But they want to see meaningful practical steps,such as an end to the exit visa system that is also keeping French footballer Zahir Belounis trapped in the country, to prove their seriousness.

After meetings with Fifa as long ago as 2011 the Qatari government promised to take action but Amnesty's investigators still found widespread mistreatment of migrant workers by subcontractors effectively engaged in forced labour for major construction groups.

The report, based on two recent investigations in Qatar and scores of interviews, found workers living in squalid, overcrowded accommodation exposed to sewage and sometimes without running water.

It found that many workers, faced with mounting debts and unable to return home, have suffered "severe psychological distress", with some driven to the brink of suicide.

Theo Zwanziger, the German Fifa executive committee member who helped to convene the talks at Fifa's $100m headquarters in Zurich, said: "The aim is to be in a position to report on concrete measures for Qatar at the executive committee meeting in March 2014. Large companies must be reminded of their duties in this area. The international community must also accept its responsibility."

Zwanziger will be handed responsibility for ongoing dialogue with international trade union groups and human rights groups.

"The awarding of the World Cup and the considerable public exposure gives us the opportunity to point out irregularities and to exact lasting change," said Niersbach. "If we succeed, then a lot will have been achieved. It was a matter of priority for us to quickly bring together the International Trade Union Confederation and Fifa as contractual partners for Qatar."

 http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/20/fifa-qatar-world-cup-sepp-blatter

 

 

Olympics Must Push Russia On Gay Rights, Say Out Athletes

 http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/worldbrief-with-ase-december-11/529e2bbd02a7604017000121

 By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Tennis star Martina Navratilova and U.S. basketball player Jason Collins said on Tuesday the International Olympic Committee has not done enough to defend the rights of gay athletes ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Russia triggered angry criticism and even calls to boycott the Sochi Games when, in June, it banned spreading "gay propaganda" to minors. Critics denounced the law as discriminatory and a curb on rights to free speech and assembly.

Speaking at the United Nations to mark International Human Rights Day, Navratilova and Collins said focus should not just be on the Sochi Games in February and March, but also on the rights of gay Russians and on anti-gay laws in other countries that will play host to global sporting events in the future.

Navratilova, who has become a champion for gay athletes in sport since revealing she was gay in 1981, said she was disappointed with the International Olympic Committee "for really putting their head in the sand" over the Russian law.

"The IOC needs to stand up better for their athletes quite frankly," she told reporters. "It's (also) what happens after, and it's not just one country, it's many countries."

"Nobody is talking about, for example, Qatar, where the World Cup is going to be, homosexual activity is punishable by a jail term there," Navratilova said, referring to the 2022 FIFA World Cup of soccer.

The IOC has said it has received written assurances from the Russian government that the "gay propaganda" law would not affect Games participants and spectators.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in October that everything was being done "so that participants and guests feel comfortable in Sochi, regardless of nationality, race or sexual orientation." However, gay rights activists have reported a rise of violence toward their community sparked by the new law.


'OUTRAGEOUS AND DANGEROUS'

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power met with international gay rights activists on Tuesday and said the Russian law is "as outrageous as it is dangerous".

"And it is a reminder that whether the struggle for equality takes the form of equal employee benefits or protection from being imprisoned or executed, we have a long way to go," Power said.

"We are well into the 21st century and yet some 78 countries still have laws that criminalize consensual sex between adults. In some countries, the sentence for being gay is still the death penalty," she said.

Collins said sporting bodies such as the International Olympic Committee and soccer's governing body, FIFA, should consider carefully the countries and cities with which they link their brands.

"Do you choose to associate with a country or a people or a government that will oppress and put down their own people?" Collins asked. "You should choose to associate with people who stand for the same ideals that you stand for, which should celebrate sport and athletes to be their true selves."

Collins became the first openly gay active player in North America's four major professional sports leagues - the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball - in April.

Navratilova also pointed out that while the United States has made progress on gay rights, there was still work to be done. "In this country, in 29 states, it is legal to fire someone for being gay," she said.

"We have a tendency to point fingers but we need to clean up our own country first. We're heading in the right direction but still have a long way to go." (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Peter Galloway)

Reuters  |  Posted: 12/10/2013 4:07 pm EST

Africa is not for sissies

World's first curved smartphone hits stores in South Korea

Samsung did not say when the Galaxy Round, which has a concave handset designed to fit in the curve of the user's palm, will be available internationally. It is priced at about 1.08 million won ($1,000).

A model holds Samsung's first 'curved' smartphone Galaxy Round, a 5.7-inch handset with a display that is slightly rounded on both sides, at the Electronics and IT Industry Fair in Goyang, north of Seoul, on October 10, 2013. Samsung's first smartphone with a curved display screen enters the South Korean market on October 10, as the electronics giant seeks to maintain its lead in the increasingly saturated market.

Samsung launched the world's first smartphone with a curved display screen on Thursday, as the electronics giant seeks to maintain its lead in the increasingly saturated market.
Galaxy Round -- a 5.7-inch concave handset that fits the curve of a user's palm -- has hit stores in South Korea but Samsung did not say when the new phone will be available globally.
Curved screens -- billed as lighter and thinner than current display panels -- are at a nascent stage in display technology, which is shifting towards flexible panels that are bendable or can even be rolled or folded.
The new phone -- powered by Google's Android system and featuring a 2.3 GHz quad-core processor --is priced at about 1.08 million won ($1,000), Samsung said.

"The display (of Galaxy Round) is ergonomically shaped to fit the curve of a hand and comfortably embrace an ear and cheek during a phone conversation," SK Telecom, the country's top wireless operator, said in a statement.
The new phone allows users to check information such as missed calls, text messages, remaining battery life and the current time and date more easily when the screen is locked.

When listening to music, users can switch between songs on a playlist by placing the phone on a flat surface and pressing down on the left or right side to tilt the device, which automatically detects the movement.
The curved screen is made of plastic, instead of the glass that is commonly used in smartphones, and as a result the handset is slightly lighter.

Samsung said the phone weighs 154 grams (0.33 pounds), 10 percent less than the firm's similar-sized Galaxy Note III oversized smartphone.
"This certainly is not a ground-breaking, game-changing product," one tech blogger said in a review.
"But it fits quite nicely in my hand... and the images look slightly deeper when seen on a curved screen," he said.
The latest device arrived as global smartphone makers vie for growth in the increasingly competitive market.

Samsung -- the world's top maker of smartphones and mobile phones in general -- in January unveiled the prototype of a bendable display called "Youm".
Samsung's smaller rival LG said last week it had started mass production of curved display panels for smartphones and is reportedly set to unveil its own curved smartphone this month.
But companies still face a major challenge in making other handset components -- such as batteries -- that can bend with the rest of the unit.
Curved displays are already commercially available in large-screen televisions offered by companies including Samsung and LG.
The displays are supposed to offer a more immersive viewing experience but are significantly more expensive than standard screens.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/world-curved-smartphone-hits-south-korea-market-article-1.1481518#ixzz2hNFdh5Sl

Raw: Ex-Detroit mayor gets 28 years in prison

Raw: Ex-Detroit mayor gets 28 years in prison

28 Years in Prison for Corrupt Ex-Detroit Mayor

 (AP) 28 years in prison for corrupt ex-Detroit mayor
By ED WHITE
Associated Press
DETROIT
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for corruption that turned city hall into a pay-to-play parlor.
Kilpatrick was convicted earlier this year of two dozen crimes, including racketeering conspiracy, bribery and extortion. There was evidence of shakedowns, kickbacks and strong-arm tactics to reaped tens of thousands of dollars and other benefits from people who wanted city business.
The sentence was a victory for prosecutors, who had recommended Kilpatrick serve at least 28 years in prison, while defense attorneys argued for no more than 15 years.
Kilpatrick quit office in 2008 after a different scandal involving sexually explicit text messages and an extramarital affair. The 43-year-old Democrat served as mayor for nearly seven years.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick returns to court Thursday to face what is likely to be one of the longer sentences in recent cases of public corruption, the result of two dozen convictions that range from bribery to extortion to tax crimes.
While the city's finances foundered, Kilpatrick was shaking down contractors, ensuring that a pal got millions in city work and turning a nonprofit fund to help struggling Detroiters into a personal slush fund, according to evidence at his five-month trial.
Federal prosecutors are recommending Kilpatrick serve at least 28 years in prison, while defense attorneys are hoping the sentence doesn't exceed 15 years.
"He created a `pay-to-play' system for the provision of city goods and services, which compromised vast swaths of city government, including the water and sewer system, the convention center, the pension system, casino developments and recreation centers," prosecutors said in a court filing last week. "City government essentially became up for grabs for the right price."
Kilpatrick, 43, quit office in 2008 because of a different scandal involving sexually explicit text messages and an extramarital affair.
He was forced out while the auto industry was nearing collapse and Detroit's unstable finances were deteriorating even more. The city now is run by a state-appointed emergency manager, Kevyn Orr, who took Detroit into Chapter 9 bankruptcy last summer as a last-ditch effort to fix billions of dollars in debt.
"Kilpatrick is not the main culprit of the city's historic bankruptcy, which is the result of larger social and economic forces at work for decades. But his corrupt administration exacerbated the crisis," prosecutors said.
Defense attorneys called it a "cheap shot," noting Kilpatrick has been out of office for five years.
"The government's attempt to roll the city of Detroit's 2013 bankruptcy filing into the ... case oversimplifies the complex problems that Detroit has faced for more than five decades," Harold Gurewitz and Margaret Raben wrote.
They want U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds to give some credit to Kilpatrick for the 2006 Super Bowl and 2005 baseball All-Star Game in Detroit, as well as 75 new downtown businesses.
"The almost constant barrage of critical, hostile and deprecating commentary in the media that began within about two years after he took office has served to obscure numerous and significant accomplishments of Kilpatrick and his administration," defense attorneys said.
Agents who pored over bank accounts and credit cards said Kilpatrick spent $840,000 beyond his salary during his time as mayor. His trial attorney, James Thomas, tried to portray the money as generous gifts from political supporters who opened their wallets for birthdays or holidays.
In their sentencing memo, Kilpatrick's lawyers made a point that's commonly argued in cases of high-profile criminals: Our client already has suffered deeply.
Kilpatrick is "infamous, destitute and disgraced," the attorneys said.

 http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/10/10/28-years-in-prison-for-corrupt-ex-Detroit-mayor

Malala gives hope to poor girls in Pakistan

Malala, a 16-year-old Pakistani student, was shot by the Taliban in 2012 for her activism for girl's education. But as her struggle and commitment to equality continue, the issue has taken on a global dimension.

Malala Yousafzai

A Taliban attacker shot Malala Yousafzai in the head in October last year. After receiving initial treatment from an army hospital, she was flown to Britain for further surgery and treatment, including reconstruction of her skull. Last month, she resumed her studies in Birmingham.

 

Malala was released from the hosiptal at the beginning of January, 2013

Malala has received various awards for her courage and dedication and was recently named as one of the nominees for the Noble Prize for Peace, making her the youngest nominee in history.

After Malala was shot, a fund was established in her name by a US-based non-government organization Vital Voices Global Partnership as well as other international organizations and individuals. Vital Voices Global Partnership was founded by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 1997 and it works for the empowerment of girls and women.

Girl's Education in Swat: still a long way to go
Swat Valley is a residual district of Pakistan's North Western province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The home of about 20 million people lacks the basic amenities of life, including education and health. A large number of girls have no access to the basic right of education even in the second decade of the 21st century. Most of the girls allowed by their families to attend school have to quit after primary education, which is a mere 5 years.
"There are 509 girls' primary schools in Swat providing education to a total of 99,274 girls" according to Mrs. Dilshad Begum, District Education Officer (DEO) in Swat. "The number of female middle schools is only 56, where 8,500 students are registered, while about 7000 female students are getting education in 34 higher secondary schools," she added.

 

Pakistani PM Raja Pervez Ashraf visited Malala in the hospital

Dilshad Begum told DW that before the Taliban occupation, the trend of female education was much more positive than now. The Islamists have banned girls from joining schools and destroyed many of their schools. "That has affected their education badly and now only 24 percent of girls are in school."
Not only do not enough schools exist to accommodate girls, the ones who do go to school have to sit on the ground during class because there is no furniture available in many schools in areas like Bahrain, Kalam, Matiltan, and many other places in Swat. To top it off, there is a shortage of teaching staff.
"At the moment we need 842 female teachers for our primary school," according to DEO Dilshad Begum. "If staff is not hired timely, the future of girls will be darkened even further."
Malala Fund's first grant
Malala Yousufzai has set up a $45,000-grant for girls' education in Swat. She made the announcement in a video played on the first day of the Women in the World summit in New York on April 4.
"We are going to educate 40 girls, and I invite all of you to support the Malala Fund," she said. "Let us turn the education of 40 girls into 40 million girls."
Ahmed Khan, a close friend of Malala's father and principal of Sarosh Academy of Education in Swat's largest city Mingora said, "Malala and her father Zia-ud Din Yousufzai are doing their best for education in Swat."

The shooting of Malala enraged people in Pakistan and around the world

Khan, who is also the spokesperson of Swat National Jirga, told DW, "The United Nation's special peace envoy and Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has donated 200,000 US dollars to the Malala Foundation." He added that the $45,000 from the Malala Fund will be allocated to an NGO in Islamabad and will support 40 poor girls aged five to 15 in Swat. He mentioned that the fund will pay for their school fees, daily expenses, and provide them with a monthly allowance.
"These little girls would have otherwise been forced to work to support their families, entering the labor force, instead of going to school."
The principal of Sarosh Academy also told DW that the Malala Foundation would soon present the Malala Award, which will be given to people in various walks of life for their contribution to girls' education. A cash amount of 50,000 rupees (around 385 euros) will be the part of award.
Khan hopes, "Once the Malala initiative catches the public eye, funds through this foundation will play a pivotal role in female education in Swat."

 http://www.dw.de/malala-gives-hope-to-poor-girls-in-pakistan/a-16749203

Cinderella is now 95 years old.

Cinderella is now 95 years old.

After a fulfilling life with the now dead prince,

 She happily sits upon her rocking chair,
 Watching the world go by from her front porch, With a cat named Bob for companionship.

 

One sunny afternoon out of nowhere, Appeared the fairy godmother.

 

Cinderella said, "Fairy Godmother, What are you doing here after all these years?

 

The fairy godmother replied, "Cinderella, You have lived an exemplary life since I last saw you. Is there anything for which your heart still yearns?" 

Cinderella was taken aback, overjoyed, And after some thoughtful consideration, She uttered her first wish: "The prince was wonderful, but not much of an investor. I'm living hand to mouth on my disability checks, And I wish I were wealthy beyond comprehension." 

Instantly her rocking chair turned into solid gold.


Cinderella said,
"Ooh, thank you, Fairy Godmother" 

The fairy godmother replied, "It is the least that I can do. What do you want for your second wish?" Cinderella looked down at her frail body, And said, "I wish I were young and full of the 
Beauty and youth I once had." 



At once, her wish became reality, And her beautiful young visage returned. Cinderella felt stirrings inside of her 
That had been dormant for years. 


And then the fairy godmother spoke once more: "You have one more wish; What shall it be?" 

Cinderella looks over to the frightened cat 
In the corner and says: "I wish for you to transform Bob, my old cat, Into a kind, and handsome, young man." 


Magically, Bob suddenly underwent so fundamental 
A change in his biological make-up, That when he stood before her, 
He was a man so beautiful, The likes of him neither she, 
Nor the world, had ever seen.


The fairy godmother said, "Congratulations, Cinderella, Enjoy your new life." 

And with a blazing shock of bright blue electricity, 
The fairy godmother was gone As suddenly as she appeared.


For a few eerie moments, Bob and Cinderella Looked into each other's eyes.

Cinderella sat, breathless, gazing at the most beautiful, Stunningly perfect man, she had ever seen.

Then Bob walked over to Cinderella, 
Who sat transfixed in her rocking chair, & held her close in his young muscular arms.

 

 

He leaned in close, 
blowing her golden hair with his warm breath, 
as he whispered ...

 

“AREN’T YOU SORRY, YOU HAD ME NEUTERED?”