Panic spread across Islamabad forcing not only schools but also the US embassy, UN and World Bank offices suspend its operations as the Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud threatened to carry out suicide attacks in the city. Following this threat of carrying out two suicide attacks a week security was beefed up at all places vulnerable to such attacks including the prime minister’s house, Parliament, all government offices residents of diplomats and police head quarters and offices of intelligence agencies. Stating that this was in retaliation to the US drone attacks he also claimed responsibility for the police training centre siege near Lahore.
The one image that is being repeatedly shown and replayed on television channels and the internet is that of the US president Barack Obama bowing down to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi royalty always had cordial and close relationship with the US Presidents, more so with the Bush family, both senior and junior. However, the fact that Obama has Muslim ancestry has made people argue and debate as to whether his actions, that seem like a genuflection befitted the leader of a superpower. Comparisons were also made between this and his bow before the Queen of Britain last week.
The news that US bank Wells Fargo had reported a record $3 billion in profit in this first quarter seems to offer a ray of home for the US economy. President Barack Obama said that there are signs to suggest that the country could be making some progress in ending the long economic depression. Asking his countrymen to bear the extreme economic hardships he said they will be able to experience the benefit of the $787 billion economic stimulus package. He also said that efforts were made for small business to get loans that they need for smooth every day operations.
The secret overseas prison that were operated to question al Qaeda terrorists using brutal methods would be decommissioned according to a statement mad by the CIA. Although the exact location of these prisons were not released it is known that the some of the countries that have these cells include Afghanistan, Jordan, Poland and Romania. In a statement the agency’s director Leon E. Panetta also said that officers who worked in the program which used extreme methods of investigations that are illegal under American and international law should not be investigated or punished as the American justice department had declared it legal.
Even in this 21st century where women have achieved all that men have, there is still a strong gender bias in most of the Asian countries. While in most of the countries around the world the males out number the females, the sex ratio in most of the Asian countries has sharply widened. This scenario is worse in China which follows the one child norm, in most of its provinces. Easily available and cheap ultra sound diagnostics and abortions have left it with a staggering 32 million more boys than girls. This imbalance could affect the social life of the country for decades.
The Indian Intelligence has reported concern over a possible attack on top Indian political leaders including the Sonia Gandhi, the president of the Congress party, which leads the coalition at the centre, by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam, the separatist organization that’s demanding a separate state in Sri Lanka.
US president Barack Obama was welcomed in the Muslim world as someone who could bridge the widened gap. His words in Turkey, ‘US is not and never will be at war with Islam’ was welcomed by many, who looked upon him as someone sincere and not arrogant unlike his predecessor.
Tags : peace, World Peace
The Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez whose country has a huge market for Chinese goods on a visit to China spoke about the declining US global power and said China is the driving force of world economy. The two countries which have signed 12 agreements experience an all time high bilateral trade.
Severe after shocks hampered rescue efforts and the search for bodies in L’Aquila, Italy. The death toll following powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale rose to 260 with more than a thousand injured. Thousands of people are being sheltered in nearly 3000 tents at camps all over the city’s capital.
With travel being an important aspect of business life the Global Positioning System (GPS) provides you with the information to reach your destination with ease. Especially during business visits to new places a Global Positioning System (GPS) would be your best companion while you are away from your home.
Tags : directions, GPS