Monday, July 16, 2012

Tomatoes and shoes pelted at Hillary Clinton’s motorcade

 

Protesters threw tomatoes and shoes at U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s motorcade on Sunday during her first visit to Egypt since the election of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi.
A tomato struck an Egyptian official in the face, and shoes and a water bottle landed near the armoured cars carrying Clinton’s delegation in the port city of Alexandria.
A senior state department official said that neither Clinton nor her vehicle, which were around the corner from the incident were struck by any of the projectiles.
Protesters chanted: “Monica, Monica”, a reference to Former President Bill Clinton’s extra-marital affair. Some chanted: “leave, Clinton”, Egyptian security officials said.
It was not clear who the protesters were or what political affiliations they had. Protesters outside Clinton’s hotel on Saturday night chanted anti-Islamist slogans, accusing the United States of backing the Muslim Brotherhood’s rise to power.
The assault on her motorcade came on a day Clinton spoke at the newly re-opened U.S. consulate in Alexandria, addressing accusations the United States, which had long supported former President Hosni Mubarak, of backing one faction or another in Egypt following his ouster last year.
“I want to be clear that the United States is not in the business, in Egypt, of choosing winners and losers, even if we could, which of course we cannot,” Clinton said.
Clinton also met the country’s top general, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, on Sunday to discuss Egypt’s turbulent democratic transition as the military wrestles for influence with the new president.
The meeting came a day after she met Mursi, whose powers were clipped by the military days before he took office.
Mursi fired back by reinstating the Islamist-dominated parliament that the army leadership had disbanded after a court declared it void, deepening the stand-off before the new leader even had time to form a government.
The result has been acute political uncertainty as the various power centres try to find a way to get along in a country that still has no permanent constitution, parliament or government more than a year after Mubarak’s downfall.
In their hour-long meeting, Clinton and Tantawi discussed Egypt’s political transition and the military’s “ongoing dialogue with President Mursi,” a U.S. official travelling with Clinton said in an email brief.
“Tantawi stressed that this is what Egyptians need most now – help getting the economy back on track,” the official said.
Clinton “stressed the importance of protecting the rights of all Egyptians, including women and minorities”.
The talks also touched on the increasingly lawless Sinai region and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Speaking after the meeting, Tantawi said the army respected the presidency but would not be deterred from its role of “protecting” Egypt.
“The armed forces and the army council respects legislative and executive authorities,” he said in a speech to troops in the city of Ismailia. “The armed forces would not allow anyone to discourage it from its role in protecting Egypt and its people.”

Anand Sharma Inaugurates Tex Trends India 2012

Shri Anand Sharma, Union Textiles of Commerce, Industry and Textiles, today inaugurated the Tex Trends India 2012, featuring over 400 exhibitors and 2000 global buyers displaying diverse range of products from the entire length and breadth of the country. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sharma said, “I am happy to inform you that the Tex Trends India 2012 truly showcases the strengths of the entire Indian textile industry. It aims to provide the biggest platform in Asia to the exporters and the buyers. The event (Tex Trends) will showcase India’s huge potential as an exporting country and will offer a great variety for its global buyers.”

Dr A Sakthivel Chairman AEPC, commenting on the Tex Trends remarked, “We are very hopeful that Tex Trends India 2012 will serve as a much needed platform and an opportunity for a large number of exhibitors and buyers from across the globe to interact under one roof. The response to the earlier Tex Trends was really commendable and this time too it will definitely provide the much needed fillip to the Indian textile industry.”

India in recent years has been the focal point of continuous growth and development, hence making it the second fastest growing economy of the world.

Tex Tends 2012 is an initiative by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India with financial assistance under the Market Access Initiative (MAI) of Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India. AEPC, the largest Export Promotion Council has been entrusted the task of lead agency to organise this exhibition along with other Textile Export Promotion Councils. The development activities of the Ministry of Textiles are oriented towards making adequate quantities of raw material available to all sectors of the textile industry and augmenting the production of fabrics at reasonable prices from the organised and decentralized sectors of the industry. The Ministry also lays noticeable emphasis on the development and growth of handlooms, traditional handicrafts and craftsmanship from across the region.

The event has exhibitors from across the length and breadth of India, including Tamil Nadu, Mumbai, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. Tex-Trends India 2012 is the result of synergistic efforts of the Lead Council Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) along with Carpet Export Promotion Council, Cotton Textile Promotion Council, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, Handlooms Export Promotion Council, Indian Silk Promotion Council, National Jute Board, Powerloom development and export promotion council, The Synthetic and Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council, Wool and Woolens Export Promotion Council and Wool Industry Export Promotion Council.

CAIT CONDEMNS OBAMA STATEMENT ON FDI IN RETAIL
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), an apex body of the trading community of India has reacted sharply over the statement of US President Barak Obama for advising India to improve investment atmosphere. The CAIT has termed the statement of Shri Obama as an indirect interference in our domestic matters pressurizing India to open FDI in Retail. The CAIT has expressed the view that instead of preaching India, the US President should focus on regulating his own disordered house. The US is presently gripped with unemployment, inflation and other economic issues. More than 80% retail market of US is controlled by Multinational Companies which has led to economic turmoil in US. In such circumstances the preachings of President Obama is nothing but an attempt to woo his own countrymen in the wake of forthcoming Presidential elections in US.
The CAIT has regretted that even the torch bearers of India Inc. have endorsed the interference of President Obama which is uncalled for.
CAIT President Mr. B. C. Bhartia and Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal in a joint statement released here at New Delhi said that Indian economy is consumption based economy more than 82% of the material produced is consumed in our country. Against the background of global recession Indian economy has shown progress. These confirm that Indian economy has its own strength and self sustaining growth. At America & European countries are facing repetitive depression. Industrial growth in China has entered negative fate. They are all viewing Indian economy as the only pollution for survival of their economy.
Both the trade leaders have expressed their serious concerns over the way in which Mr. Obama is trying to twist the arms of Indian Government to get the FDI in Retail on board. Any attempt to allow FDI in retail trade will face strong protest from people of India.
For more information please contact CAIT, Secretary General, Mr. Praveen Khandelwal@9891015165

20 men molest and strip a teenage girl


Change.org
Join me in telling the Assam Police Chief to arrest these 11 molesters

Naresh -
I was shocked after watching 20 men molest and strip a teenage girl after she walked out a bar in Guwahati. This happened in front of a news channel camera crew, on one of the most secure streets of Guwahati, a mile away from the state secretariat.
The underaged girl was alone and no one came to her help even as she was abused, stripped and continuously assaulted. Latest reports tell us that there were cigarette burns found on the victim.
Till now, only seven identified molesters have been arrested  and four still walk free. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's deadline to the police to arrest all the accused, identified in the video, ends today.
We need to put pressure on Assam police chief, J N Chaudhury to arrest all 11 of the accused and bring reformations in state to protect women.
Thanks in advance for taking action,
Gayatri via Change.org
PS - Join us on Facebook and Twitter
News Sources-

Competitiveness, climate, security Finn’s priorities Ministry of Finance release Finnish road map of EU presidency. Finland i...