Catherine Zeta-Jones is Given a Royal Honor

Catherine Zeta-Jones was honored by Prince Charles for her service to the film industry and charity work on Thursday at Buckingham Palace. The Oscar-winning actress was accompanied by her husband, Michael Douglas and their two children Dylan and Carys. The royal honor has made Catherine Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

“As a British subject I feel incredibly proud,” she said. “At the same time it is overwhelming and humbling.”

Catherine was born in Swansea, Wales in 1969. She was reportedly nervous and emotional to be receiving such an honour but also overjoyed that her husband, Michael was able to join her for the trip to London. He has been fighting throat cancer but it has been reported that he has recently been given the all clear. The actress also said that Prince Charles expressed his sympathy and he was “happy to hear” that Michael Douglas is recovering well.

Hamid Karzai Vows Inclusive Govt

KABUL: Hamid Karzai Vows Inclusive Government, Re-elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai vowed to form an inclusive government on Tuesday after stern warnings from Western supporters he would have to work harder to root out corruption. Afghan election officials on Monday canceled a needless presidential run-off vote after Karzai’s only rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, withdrew citing serious concerns about the election

KABUL: Hamid Karzai Vows Inclusive Government, Re-elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai vowed to form an inclusive government on Tuesday after stern warnings from Western supporters he would have to work harder to root out corruption.

Afghan election officials on Monday canceled a needless presidential run-off vote after Karzai’s only rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, withdrew citing serious concerns about the election.

The outcome leaves Washington and other Western supporters to work with a partner whose legitimacy has been questioned, while Karzai himself faces the prospect of having to work with a newly strengthened opposition.

Karzai’s return removes at least one obstacle as President Barack Obama weighs whether to send up to 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan, where violence this year reached its worst levels since the Taliban were in 2001.

The Taliban termed Karzai’s return a farce and vowed to continue its fight to drive foreign forces out of Afghanistan.

Faced with stern warnings from Obama, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other Western leaders, Karzai vowed to form an inclusive government.

“Our government will be the mirror of Afghanistan so everyone can see themselves in the mirror,” Karzai said in a nationally televised victory speech.

“There will be crucial changes in our future government. Afghanistan has been defamed from the view point of administrative corruption … under whatever means, we will get rid off this blemish,” he said.

Obama congratulated Karzai, but told him in a telephone call on Monday he had to get serious in cracking down on corruption and better serving his people.

Government Stands by Rights of Minorities: Chidambaram

Government Stands by Rights of Minorities: Chidambaram, Interior Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said Muslim clerics and Islamic scholars, who attended the convention of Deoband, the UPA government is committed to unquestionable rights of indigenous minorities around the world working for the development of all sectors of society.

Government Stands by Rights of Minorities: Chidambaram, Interior Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said Muslim clerics and Islamic scholars, who attended the convention of Deoband, the UPA government is committed to unquestionable rights of indigenous minorities around the world working for the development of all sectors of society.

Addressing the first annual convention of the Islamic seminaries under the auspices of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, the Home Minister said: “A nation can ignore its minorities only at your own risk … We must always remember that pluralism is our heritage and strength. It was the duty of the majority to protect the minority. Because the acts of a few, we have allowed to become diversity differences. ”

“The UPA Govt is committed to protecting the rights of all minorities and are denied the right of indigenous minorities worldwide. That’s why we oppose the injustice being done to the Tamils in Sri Lanka and condemn violent assault against our students in Australia, “he said.

Chidambaram, who today became the first Chief Minister to have addressed at a meeting in Deoband, said: “I take this opportunity to reach all sectors of our society. It’s part of my duty as Minister of Interior to communicate with including the efforts being undertaken by the government towards building a just, humane, progressive and civilized society. ”

The interior minister, while extending warm wishes of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA president Sonia Gandhi praised the role of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JuH) in building the nation and country in the fight for freedom.

“We all know that was one of the leading Muslim organizations, which opposed the tyrannical rule of the British Empire and the theory of the two countries aimed at splitting the nation. Since then he has worked greatly to the independence of the rise of Muslim residing in India. ”

Praising the teachings of Islam, denouncing all violence, Chidambaram said: “We can not see Islam as a faith of others, because it is the land of their ancestors, this is the land of his birth. Is a matter of pride that Islam exists in India along with other great religions. ”

Stressing that pluralism should be the basis of our strength, the interior minister condemned the communalism and urged Muslim leaders to help build a modern nation and promote the concept of a civil society.