North Korea expels nuclear inspectors

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today that North Korea has ordered all nuclear inspectors to leave the country as soon as possible.

Earlier, the nuclear inspectors had given information to their headquarters that North Korea was still unchanged in its policy of nuclearizing the country. Consequently, the North Korean government appears willing to reactivate all its nuclear facilities.

Besides, North Korea has already revealed its plan to continue its nuclearization process by rejecting to join disarmament talks.

North Korean ambassadorto the United States Pak Tok Hun, also accused the UN of a double standard in its treatment of Pyongyang.

Chinese FAW to produce buses for India

According to the Times of India, First Automobile Works (FAW) has agreed to manufacture the latest models of low-floor buses with 35% Indian content.

A FAW delegation led by Jiang Jun, general manager of FAW's bus division had met West Bengal’s Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on 13 April to discuss the issue.

J K Saraf, chairman of Ural India, who attended the meeting, told TOI: "We told the chief minister that we would produce the latest world-class buses and supply them to the government." Transport minister Subhas Chakraborty, who was also present, said his department was interested in buying these buses.

Saraf said the buses could be manufactured at his factory in Haldia which has the infrastructure for manufacturing heavy vehicles like trucks. "We have already 200 acres in this unit. The state government had offered to give us another 300 acres for expansion of the unit. Once the factory is expanded, we shall be in a position to manufacture buses on behalf of FAW."

Indians to vote on Thursday

India prepares for its parliamentary elections on Thursday, report global news agencies.India, with more than 1.15 billion population (second after China), suffers from mass poverty, social discriminations and nationwide violence though the business elites of the nation have dramatically transformed their economic strength on a global scale.

Partisanization of every issue has blindfolded the conscience of even the most educated in the Indian society. Similarly, the medieval practice of caste untouchability, the most embarrassing human rights violation in the Age of information and communication revolution, remains one of the most deep-rooted cancer in the country. The world, especially those interested in seeking the link between human rights and democracy, is awaiting how the new leadership to be elected will think and do.

Other South Asian neighbors of India always expect to see the day of non-encroachment of their border areas.

23 dead in firecracker factory accident

According PTI, 23 people have been killed in a blaze at a firecracker factory.

Another 48 were injured in the fire at Jalgaon in the western state of Maharashtra.

Reports quoted Yogesh Pawar, a medical officer, as saying that the injured were being treated at a local hospital.

West worried on Iran's nuclear progress

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying Tehran was ready for negotiations if they were based on respect and justice, said Iran had mastered the nuclear fuel cycle and it had also tested new, more advanced machines for enriching uranium.

Speaking at the same televised event to mark Iran’s National Nuclear Day, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Gholomreza Aghazadeh, said it was now running 7,000 enrichment centrifuges.

In February, Iran had said the number was 6,000.Western analysts say Iran has in the past exaggerated progress to boost its bargaining position with major powers and a U.S. State Department spokesman referred to this practice.“I think we certainly could view it with skepticism,”

Spokesman Robert Wood said of Iran’s latest announcement.A diplomat close to the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also questioned the extent of new Iranian advances.“It doesn’t appear that there has been any dramatic change in the progress of the program, except for some additional centrifuges being put in place,” said the diplomat, making a comparison to the last IAEA report in February.

The United States and its Western allies suspect Iran’s nuclear work is
aimed at building bombs and wants it to stop enrichment activity, which can have both civilian and military uses. Iran denies the charge and rules out any halt.Washington reacted cautiously to Ahmadinejad’s comments on Iran’s readiness for negotiations if they were “based on justice and complete respect for rights and regulations.
”Breaking with past U.S. policy of shunning direct talks with Tehran, U.S.

President Barack Obama’s administration this week said it would join nuclear discussions with Iran from now on.

Pope leads consoling prayer for quake sufferers

Pope Benedict XVI led a torch-lit procession at the Colosseum on Good Friday, agencies said. He led thousands of prayers and said was praying for those who suffered losses in Italy’s destructive earthquake.

A great number of of faithful people, with prayer books and candles in paper lanterns, took part in the procession. "Let us pray for all those who feel sorrow, above all for those suffering in the quake-stricken area of L’Aquila," Benedict urged, speaking at the end of the procession about the Apennine mountain town near the epicenter.

"Let us pray that the star of hope appears to them in this dark night," the Pope said.

Suffering and hope were the motif of the meditations read aloud as faithful carried the slender, lightweight cross in the shadows cast by the Colosseum’s massive stones.

Benedict told the faithful they had come to "sing together a hymn of hope. We want to tell ourselves that all is not lost in moments of difficulty."
Benedict, who turns 82 next week, wore a crimson-colored, ermine-trimmed cape against the cool night air. Kneeling on a terrace overlooking the Colosseum, he folded his hands in prayer and bowed his head in reflection.

The ritual commemorates Jesus’ suffering in the hours before his crucifixion and his death on the cross.

Jesus’ face is "reflected in that of every person who is humiliated and offended, sick and suffering, alone, abandoned and despised," Benedict said.

Through his suffering, Jesus has "broken the solitude of our tears, he has entered our every grief and our every anxiety," the pope said in remarks at the end of the 90-minute long procession.

Army security for East Asian heads of state

While East Asian summit is going on in Thailand, Thailand has assured 15 Asian heads of states of full security reinforced by the army in the face of mass street protests demanding the resignation of the government.

The heads of state, agencies say, are going to participate in the East Asian summit this weekend.

Earlier this week, protesters have attacked a car carrying Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Peru jails Fujimori for crimes against humanity

Peru has jailed its former President Alberto Fujimori, a once-upon-a-time hero, encouraged and rewarded by the US Administration for his stern suppressive measures against Peruvian Maoists.

At his 70, he faces the 25-year imprisonment after the country’s judiciary system found him guilty of serious crimes against humanity. Characterized by the Peruvians as a top-class villain with multiple crimes, Fujimori, however, denied his crime records. He continuously indirectly pleaded that he was innocent because he was only carrying out the duties assigned by his world masters.Accused of massacres in the name of fighting the Shining Path, the Peruvian Maoist fighters, Fujimori, was unable to prove that the evidences presented against him during the trial period were false. Besides, he had already been jailed six years for his economic scandals.

Shining Path Chairman and Philosophy Professor Gonzalo, whom Fujimori, disappeared in 1992, is still not heard about. Fujimori, with the help of US Administration, had punished Gonzalo through a hooded military trial held at an island, where almost 40,000 journalists of the world had gathered for reporting the Kangaroo trial.

As Cesar San Martin, the chief judge of Peru says, "The charges have been proved beyond all reasonable doubt," Fujimori, if US Administration keeps silent, is more likely to die of age while in the jail.
source: http://www.groundreport.com/World/Peru-jails-Fujimori-for-crimes-against-humanity

Charges against Jacob Zuma withdrawn

South African authorities have disclosed their decision of giving up their persecution process against the ruling party leader, Jacob Zuma. According to African news agencies, the South African National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has made this decision with just two weeks to the national elections.The NPA Director, Mokotedi Mpshe told journalists in Pretoria that the authority had made a decision to drop the charges after having studied new evidence produced by the defense team.

He read to the press conference some of the transcripted recordings between the former head of the NPA Bulelani Ngcuka, and other people, including the former Scorpion's Chief, Leonard MacCathy saying it was an indication that other purposes, other than that of prosecuting for justice were in the play.

The prosecution has also said there were no statements directly implicating the former president, Thabo Mbeki, except mentions of the 'big man at Shell House'.
In summing up his lengthy decision, the NPA Director however called for a full investigation into the whole saga, saying the NPA report will be handed over to the Minister of Justice, who will in turn give it to the office of the presidency to act upon.

The dropping of charges against Mr Zuma have been hailed from some quarters as a well timed move to save the country from future political embarassments, while on the other side, it has been seen as a circus taking centre stage in the future politics and justice dispensation of the country.

North Korea, like USA, violates UN Charter

What is apparent today is the fact that powerful nations believing not in the moral strength of human beings but in the weapons and machines only have undermined the UN by frequently violating the norms and values of the UN Charter and international relations. Especially, the United States has blatantly violated the existing international treaties and UN Charter by attacking any nations that do not surrender to it. This very nature of the US ruling class of not recognizing the sovereignty of other nations is likely to generate a number of extremely destructive wars in the near future.

Other nations are copying the belligerent policies of the United States. North Korea has also violated the UN resolutions when it has launched its rocket into the air space. If it was done in collaboration with other nations in accordance with the principles of peace and human development, this rocket-launching would not face severe objections. But since the motive is not very clear or doubted in many respects, it is a controversial move.

The latest move of Pyongyang reflects the negative trend developing in both the developed and the developing world.

The crux of the matter is people’s power in politics. In the name of people, elites and profiteers rule the world. People become powerful only when they can easily rule out the wrong rulers. They can be powerful only when they are fully conscious to detect rulers’ evil intentions. For this, the media and intellectual forces need to belong to people. So long as the mass media and the mainstream intellectual forces cannot educate the public otherwise, it is always difficult to curb war tournaments in the world.

China urges concerned nations to practice restraint

China has urged South Korea, Japan and the United States of America to exercise restraint regarding North Korea’s rocket-launching. Xinhua News Agency quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu on Sunday as saying that China has taken notice of the launching activity by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and also noticed responses from relevant parties.

"The DPRK previously announced to launch experimental communications satellite. We have taken notice of the launching activity by the DPRK this morning, and also noticed responses from relevant sides," Jiang said. "We hope relevant parties to keep calm and restraint, properly handle this issue, and work together to safeguard peace and stability of the region," Jiang said.

North Korea turns deaf ear

While open military aggressions are increasing in the world, North Korea is ready to launch its rocket indicating it as an effort for the promotion in his satellite communications technology.

Europe and America, North Korea’s evergreen opponents, have opposed the move. They argue that North Korea is developing a new military technology without taking their permission.

Obama seeks Europe's support to his military campaign in South Asia

While in Europe, US President Barack Obama seeks wholehearted European support to his military campaign in South Asia. As he is going to set up more military stations in Afghanistan, Pakistan and probably in Nepal, too, he seeks support from his European allies in the campaign.

Obama wants not only an oral support but also a practical one supported by military mobilization. His idea will be a major NATO agenda during his Europe tour.

100 bodies of migrants recovered in Libya

International news agencies reported today that 100 dead bodies of migrants trying to reach Europe through Liyan waters have been recovered.

The dead migrants included workers from Morocco, Algeria, Turkey, Nigeria, Somalia, Tunisia and some other Middle Easterners.

The drowned ship was heading towards Italy from Libya.

Market economy elites finalizing their summit in London

Capitalist leaders are laying their heads together to liberate themselves from their financial defamations and mass poverty and exploitation of the world. Although they have talked high of world poverty and global economic setbacks, they have agreed to share their profits and rescue big-bellied investors’ however, they have failed to bring out any reliable and grassroot-oriented economic policies for the poverty-stricken mass, who actually produce most of the world’s wealth for them.

Some participants from France, Canada and Germany are reported to have admitted to the existing fact that there is a growing crisis in business principles and ethics.

Presidents, prime ministers and heads of state have now a few more hours to finalize their honeymoon-like stay in London.

Thunderbolt of fire from North Korea

North Korea has warned the United States, South Korea and Japan of etaliation if they create any barrier to its program of launching a rocket meant for developing its “communications satellite” in the orbit, agencies state.

The country has said that it would give an immediate reply in the form of thunderbolt of fire" for its opponents’ slightest effort to intercept the rocket.

Central News Agency of North Korea says that the government has urged the US to withdraw its armed forces from the international waters where spying stations have been set up.
The rocket launching program is reportedly said to be held in a few days.
source: www.groundreport.com