Chinese generals spy talk leaked

 It wasn’t clear when or where Maj Gen Jin Yinan made the comments. While some of the cases had been announced before, few details had been released, while others involving the military had been entirely secret.

Among those Jin discussed was that of former Ambassador to South Korea Li Bin, who was sentenced to seven years for corruption. Jin said Li had actually been discovered passing secrets to South Korea that compromised China s position in North Korean nuclear disarmament talks, but the allegations were too embarrassing to make public and graft charges were brought instead.

 “In all the world, what nation s ambassador serves as another country s spy?” Jin said.

UN releases US$1.5b for Libya

The UN Security Council released $1.5 billion of seized Libyan assets to be used for emergency aid after the United States and South Africa ended a dispute over the money.

The assets were frozen in US banks, but South Africa had blocked the release on the UN Security Council s sanctions committee, saying it would imply recognition of the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC).

With the dispute dragging on for two weeks, the United States had threatened to seek a full UN Security Council vote on Thursday to make the assets available.

The last-minute accord with South Africa meant that the United States did not press for the vote. A new request was immediately made and approved by the Libya sanctions committee, diplomats said.

“The money will be moving within days,” a US diplomat said.

The new request made no mention of the transitional council, only that the money would be directed through the “relevant authorities.”

Neither South Africa nor the African Union has recognised the NTC, and South African diplomats had insisted that sending money to the rebel government implied international recognition.

South Africa s UN ambassador Baso Sangqu said that an African Union summit in Addis Ababa had approved the accord with the United States.

He added, however, that “these concerns are not going to go away until and unless the AU has taken” a decision on recognition.

“We are very pleased with the outcome,” deputy US ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo told reporters after the accord was struck.

“It is extremely important that everyone on the council recognises the need to support the Libyan people at this time,” she said, adding that the “relevant authorities are the NTC.”

The United States said on Thursday that the $1.5 billion of Libyan assets it wants released would pay for UN programmes, energy bills, health, education and food, and would not be used for any “military purposes.”

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said $500 million would go toward UN programs in Libya, including $120 million for services provided by UN agencies like the World Health Organisation, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN children s fund, UNICEF, and the World Food Program.

“The rest of that $500 million would be held to pay for future UN-led programming,” Nuland said.

Another $500 million will go towards paying for energy bills owed to foreign entities which provide electricity for desalination plants, hospitals and other public facilities.

“None of this will go for lethal or military purposes,” Nuland insisted.

The third tranche of $500 million will be placed in a so-called Temporary Financial Mechanism (TFM), set up in June by the international community, and will pay for future health, education and food needs.

’600 killed in South Sudan’

The violence erupted Thursday in Jonglei state and the UN mission to South Sudan reported the death toll, said UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.

South Sudan became independent from Sudan on July 5 to much international fanfare, but diplomats have expressed mounting concerns about stability in the country and tensions with the Khartoum government.

A UN team has been sent to Jonglei state and the head of the UN mission to South Sudan, Hilde Johnson, has appealed for restraint.

Suicide blasts kill 11 tribesmen in southern Yemen

The officials say Sunday s attacks took place in Abyan province, where al-Qaida-linked militants have been taking advantage of Yemen s political turmoil to capture and control territory in the south.

The officials say in the first attack a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden car into a checkpoint manned by anti-al-Qaida tribesmen, killing eight and wounding 20.

They say a suicide bomber carried out the second attack, blowing himself up in the middle of a gathering of tribesmen. Three men were killed in the second attack.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Charme upset with rumours of her being dropped from Zilla Ghaziabad

The Southern Invasion has started all over again. After Vyjanthimala, Padmini, Hema Malini, Sridevi and Jaya Prada there was a lull of sorts as far as South Indian heroines in Bollywood went… until Asin. Her debut opposite Aamir Khan in Ghajini was followed by stories of how arrogantly dismissive she was of most Hindi projects. Now with another blockbuster Ready to her credit, she is back in the reckoning…the first among several Southern heroines who are on their way.

The talented Trisha fell short of expectations in Priyadarshan’s Khatta Meetha. Maybe not her fault as she was completely miscast as a district collector trying to bring Akshay Kumar to task. Priya Mani in Raavan was noticed. But not enough to make a place next to her cousin Vidya Balan in Bollywood.

Kajal Aggarwal lately made her high-profile debut in Singham. But like many of the other Southern swapna sundaris, she has big banners and heroes backing her in Bollywood. Ditto Ileana D’Cruz who has bagged a plum assignment opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Anurag Basu’s Barfee.

Next in line is Tamil actress Tapasee, who makes her Hindi debut in David Dhawan’s Chashme Buddoor. Anushka Shetty from the Telugu blockbuster Arundhati, would have been seen opposite Ajay Devgn in Singham if she hadn’t been beaten to the role by Kajal Aggarwal.

Oh yes, these South Indian girls are fiercely competitive.

A strange story suggesting that Telugu actress Charme Kaur who made her debut ni Big B’s Bbuddah… Hoga Terra Baap was ousted from her second Hindi film Zilla Ghaziabad because her co-star Vivek Oberoi didn’t want to work with her, had the girl and Vivek fuming, he for yet another attempt to malign his name.

Says a source close to Vivek, “He has never interfered in the casting. Why should he do so now? He is in fact shooting with Charme in Phaltan outside Mumbai. And he is completely comfortable with her.”

So where did the stories of Charme’s rude expulsion from her second Hindi film come from? Apparently, the sabotage rumours were part of a whole new Southern wave of competition that has swept down on Bollywood.

Says a source, “Another Southern invasion has started. There’s a whole new brood of Southern glamour girls descending on Bollywood. Kajal Aggarwal, Ileana D’Cruz, Taapsee, Anushka Shetty…These are all glamour girls from the South who are all set to find a place in Mumbai. I wouldn’t like to say much about their ambitions except that they are fiercely competitive and know they’re fighting for the same roles with the same A-lister heroes.”

Apparently, the rumour that Vivek was unwilling to work with Charme was started by one of the new lot of South Indian glam-dolls looking to leap into a pan-India attention with a big Hindi blockbuster.

Confirms the film’s producer Vinod Bachchan, “Charme is here shooting with Vivek in Phaltan. She was recommended to me by Sonu Sood who worked with her in Bbuddah and found her very spontaneous and professional. We don’t know who started the rumour that Charme was out of our movie. She plays Vivek’s girlfriend and later his wife.”

Charme seems pretty annoyed by these attempts to shorten her screen life even before it’s started. “It was all a fabrication. I was always doing the part. Now that we’re shooting, trust me we’re having a great time on location. Vivek, Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawalji and the whole crew is so sweet.”

Regarding the new Southern invasion, Charme shoots, “I’m not here because the other girls from the South are here. I am here because I want to be here. There is a difference between the Tamil-Telugu actresses and me. I am a Punjabi girl from Mumbai.”

China’s first aircraft carrier starts sea trials

China s first aircraft carrier started sea trials on Wednesday, a step that will likely boost concerns about the country s naval ambitions amid ongoing disputes with its neighbors over territorial waters.

The carrier left Dalian port in northeast Liaoning province early on Wednesday, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The test run had been expected.

Xinhua said the first sea trial was in line with the schedule to rebuild the carrier, with China spending the best part of a decade refurbishing the former Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag after it was towed from Ukraine in 1998. The report cited unnamed military sources.

China officially acknowledged a month ago that it is rebuilding the carrier and said the refurbished ship would be used for research and training a strong indication it plans to build carriers of its own.

China s carrier ambitions have sparked concern among neighbors amid heightened tensions over territorial disputes around Taiwan and in the South China Sea.

Over the past year, China has seen a flare-up in territorial spats with Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam and seen its relations strained with South Korea all of which have turned to Washington, long the pre-eminent naval power in Asia, for support.

Xinhua said refitting and test work would continue on the carrier when it returns from its short sea trial.

The Varyag, yet to be officially renamed, was towed from Ukraine as an empty shell without engines, weapons systems or other crucial equipment. It has been under construction for the better part of a decade.

Defense experts say China plans up to four carriers in all, with preparations under way at a Shanghai shipyard.

No time period for the trial was given by Xinhua, but a statement posted on the website of the Liaoning Maritime Safety Authority said “all vessels will be barred from entering” a small section of the sea off Dalian on August 14.

There had been earlier online reports in China that the test was set to start last weekend, but it may have been delayed by a tropical storm that swept through the area.

 

Pooja Batra to be honoured in LA

Pooja Batra is being honoured by the LA County Sheriff’s Indo American Advisory Council on April 28 for her contribution to the South Asian American Community.

Pooja, who has been actively involved with the community for several years, will also be hosting an auction to raise funds for the Japan Tsunami Victims at the star studded gala.

The actress also recently walked the Red Carpet of the 9th Annual Indian Film Fest Los Angeles to show her support to Indian films. Looking stunning in silver monochrome, Pooja says she makes it a point to attend the festival every year to show her support to the Indian Film Industry and first time filmmakers.

Her company ‘Glow Bell Inc’ has also associated with an LA casting company to help the latter set shop in India.

Looks like Pooja Batra has some serious Bollywood business on mind.

Apple sues Samsung

Apple Inc. sued Samsung Electronics claiming the South Korean firm s Galaxy line of mobile phones and tablets copies the iPhone and iPad. Apple s claims against Samsung focus on Galaxy s design features, such as the look of its screen icons, the lawsuit said.

“This kind of blatant copying is wrong,” Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said.

Samsung is one of the fastest growing smartphone makers and has emerged as Apple s strongest competitor in the booming tablet market with models in three sizes but it remains a distant second in the space. Samsung said it would respond to the legal action “through appropriate legal measures to protect our intellectual property.”

Nokia and Apple have sued each other in numerous courts and as recently as last month Nokia filed a complaint with the U.S. trade panel alleging that Apple infringes its patents in iPhones, iPads and other products.

Apple is bringing 16 claims against Samsung, including unjust enrichment, trademark infringement and 10 patent claims.

‘My Name Is Khan’ releases in South Korea

Fox Star Studios has planned the widest release ever for an Indian film in South Korea for MY NAME IS KHAN. The film will be released in 2 stages there. First, a platform release in 12 theaters of 8 major cities on March 24 and then expanded to 200 theaters on April 7. The list of cities is Seoul, Incheon, Suwon, Daejeon, Seongnam, Gwangju, Daegu and Busan.

The film is being aggressively promoted with a P&A spend of $ 1 million. This is the highest marketing spend for an Indian film. The film has been sub-titled in South Korean language.

The film has performed very well in test screenings and the distributors are very confident about the film and find the story and content to be exceptional for the South Korean audience.

South Africa Sticks With Bad Knock Out History

Bad luck Sticks with South Africa and it is fifth time they went out after losing in the knock out stage. Previously they were defeated in the knock out stage four times and this time it was fifth exclusion for them. In 1999 they tied a match with Australia but were out from the competition on run rate basis.

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