Semiconductor Industry Association Reports February Chip Sales

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(Business Wire)–
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today reported that worldwide
semiconductor sales in February were $22.0 billion, a decrease of 1.3 percent
from January when sales were $22.3 billion. February sales grew by 56.2 percent
from February 2009 when sales were $14.1 billion. All monthly sales numbers
represent a three-month moving average.

“The February sales numbers reflect continued recovery of sales of
semiconductors, with demand principally driven by growth in sales of electronic
products in emerging economies,” said SIA President George Scalise. “Unit sales
of the two leading demand drivers for semiconductors – personal computers and
cell phones – are now projected to grow in the low- to mid-teens in 2010. While
the 56 percent year-on-year growth reflected in the February sales number is
encouraging, it is important to note that January and February of 2009 marked
the low point for the semiconductor industry during the worldwide economic
downturn.

“There are encouraging signs that the global economic recovery will continue,
and we remain cautiously optimistic that there is upside potential for growth
beyond our November forecast for 2010,” Scalise concluded.

About the SIA Global Sales Report

The SIA Global Sales Report (GSR) is a three-month moving average of sales
activity. The GSR is tabulated by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics
(WSTS) organization, an independent, non-profit organization established by the
global semiconductor industry to compile industry statistics. The moving average
is a mathematical smoothing technique that mitigates variations due to
differences in companies` financial calendars.

February 2010
Billions
Month-to-Month Sales
Market Last Month Current Month % Change
Americas 3.75 3.61 -3.7%
Europe 2.93 2.88 -1.8%
Japan 3.47 3.44 -1.1%
Asia Pacific 12.17 12.11 -0.4%
Total 22.32 22.04 -1.3%

Year-to-Year Sales
Market Last Year Current Month % Change
Americas 2.44 3.61 47.8%
Europe 2.11 2.88 36.5%
Japan 2.78 3.44 23.7%
Asia Pacific 6.78 12.11 78.6%
Total 14.11 22.04 56.2%

Three-Month-Moving Average Sales
Market Sep / Oct / Nov Dec / Jan / Feb % Change
Americas 3.89 3.61 -7.1%
Europe 3.02 2.88 -4.8%
Japan 3.84 3.44 -10.6%
Asia Pacific 11.96 12.11 1.3%
Total 22.71 22.04 -3.0%

About SIA

The SIA is the voice of the U.S. semiconductor industry, America`s second
largest exporter. SIA seeks to continue U.S. leadership in this critical sector
that employs 185,000 people in the U.S., and provides the enabling technology
for America`s $1.1-trillion high-tech industries with a U.S. workforce of nearly
6 million people. More information about the SIA can be found at
www.sia-online.org

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6237185〈=en

Semiconductor Industry Association
John Greenagel or Anne Craib, 408-436-6600
mailbox@sia-online.org

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Respect Oswal’s ‘no meat’ belief: Hindus ask Australia

Hindus have strongly criticized the construction union of Western Australia for reportedly insisting that workers be allowed to consume meat while constructing the home of billionaire Oswals in Perth in Australia.

radesmen and labourers working on the property have been told by Indian-born billionaire Pankaj Oswal and his socialite wife Radhika, that any food containing meat must not be consumed on the site.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that while each company/organization in the world had its own unique policies and regulations, why not Oswals could keep their own home sanctified according to their beliefs.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that many buildings world over had no-smoking and no-drinking policies. If the Oswals wanted no-meat in their premises, all should respect that. If some construction workers did not like the Oswals’ regulations, which seemed quite rightful, they were free to work on other sites.

Moreover, Oswals were reportedly providing these workers a designated space where they could eat whatever they wanted. Oswals seemed to be just trying to protect their beliefs and they should be respected for that.

Rajan Zed urged Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and its president Catherine Branson to immediately intervene and restore the human rights of Oswals.

Hindus ask Australia to respect India-born billionaire couple’s belief of ‘no meat’ in home

Nevada (US), April 5 (ANI): Hindus have strongly criticized the construction union of Western Australia for reportedly insisting that workers be allowed to consume meat while constructing the home of billionaire Oswals in Perth in Australia.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that while each company/organization in the world had its own unique policies and regulations, why not Oswals could keep their own home sanctified according to their beliefs.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that many buildings world over had no-smoking and no-drinking policies. If the Oswals wanted no-meat in their premises, all should respect that. If some construction workers did not like the Oswals’ regulations, which seemed quite rightful, they were free to work on other sites.

Moreover, Oswals were reportedly providing these workers a designated space where they could eat whatever they wanted. Oswals seemed to be just trying to protect their beliefs and they should be respected for that.

Rajan Zed urged Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and its president Catherine Branson to immediately intervene and restore the human rights of Oswals. (ANI)

Research and Markets: Financial Analysis – Anixter International 2010

DUBLIN–(Business Wire)–
Research and
Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/395086/financial_analysis)
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Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager,
press@researchandmarkets.com
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Residents of Pak’s Bara district flee homes following Lashkasr’s warning

Landi Kotal (Pakistan), Sep 19 (ANI): Following a warning issued by the leader of a terrorist organization, hundreds of Bara residents fled their houses to move to safer places before the last day of Eidul Fitr festivities.

On Friday morning, Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) chief Mangal Bagh issued a warning over his illegal FM radio station, saying that people should take cover as his armed outfit was about to retaliate the military operation in Bara, The Dawn reports.

Earlier, the militant leader had said that his private miltia would not resist the operation in the area.

Traders and shopkeepers of Bara bazaar have shifted their merchandise to safer places, it has been learned.

Meanwhile, the bullet-riddled body of Wahid son of Hanan, who was kidnapped by Lashkar activists a day earlier, was found in Jamrud Khwar area.

A note was found with the dead body saying that anyone found assisting the security forces would meet the similar fate.

Earlier, the FC media cell had appealed the locals to help security forces in their operation against militants. (ANI)

Pak’s ambivalence in cracking down on Saeed clear : NYT

New York, Sep.19 (ANI) : Pakistani authorities may have filed cases against Lashkar -e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafeez Mohammad Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, but Islamabad’s actions are being considered as a mere ‘hogwash’.

The New York Times, while reporting the actions taken against Saeed, said the ambivalence of Pakistani authorities in cracking down on the LeT’s fouder leader was clear.

The newspaper highlighted that the Pakistan government has never been serious regarding putting a check on Saeed and his covert terror activities being run under the LeT’s charity organization Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).

“Even after he was placed under house arrest in December, the government took steps to soften the blow, allowing him, for instance, to hold a defiant news conference before his confinement began,” it said.

While the Pakistan government has been maintaining that it is seriously carrying out the probe regarding the 26/11 massacre, and tried to show the same to the international community especially the US by booking Saeed under the anti-terrorism act, its ‘bluff’ was laid bare when Saeed’s lawyer disclosed that the case registered against his client were ‘very weak’.

“I have gone through both the FIRs against Saeed thoroughly. The charges against my client are very weak. He has expressed his views like any other Pakistani,” Saeed’s lawyer AK Dongar told a private television channel.

Pakistani authorities also revealed that they have not received any instructions for arresting Saeed despite the registration of two cases against him. (ANI)

UK commander says dialogue with Taliban insurgents necessary to end Afghan war

Kabul, Sep 18(ANI): In an ambitious aim to help bring an end to the eight-year war in Afghanistan by persuading the Taliban to lay down their arms, British Army Lt. Gen Sir Graeme Lamb said that many Taliban activists have “done nothing wrong”, rather they have taken to arms as “they have anger and grievances, which have not been addressed”.

While addressing a gathering at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) headquarters in Kabul, Lamb insisted that a dialogue with the Taliban insurgents is necessary to end the cold war.

“We need to take a good look at the people we consider to be our enemies. A lot of young men fighting us have not done anything wrong. They have anger and grievances, which have not been addressed. The better life they expected has not materialized, these are the people we must talk to, but we must make sure we have something to offer them,” The Independent quoted Lamb, as saying.

Lamb further highlighted that the NATO and British forces where not in Afghanistan to give up people’s freedom, and said: “What we do have to do is combine new culture and old culture and work out something that works. We will be listening to what our Afghan colleagues say. I will work very closely with them and let them set conditions.”

Lamb also said that their primary motive is to bring those Afghanistan citizens back into the society, who have been forced out of their society for no fault of their own.

“Judge us by not just what we say, the promises we make, but what we do, what we deliver at the end,” Lamb said. (ANI)

US Ambassador meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Update- US Ambassador)

New Delhi, Sept 18 (ANI): The United States Ambassador to India, Timothy J Roemer, today met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at his residence.

The meeting took place after Roemer met Union Home Minister P. hidambaram.

Speaking to reporters, after a meeting with Chidambaram, Roemer said bringing the culprits to justice and going after Saeed were important to both India and the United States.

“Swift and mighty punishment for the six Mumbai suspects in Islamabad, is important for United States and is important for India. And going after Saeed is very important and dismantling the infrastructure of LeT in that region is extremely important to the United States and to India,” said Roemer.

The meeting took after reports of two FIR’s against Saeed came late last night.

He has been charged under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act for making anti-state speeches where he urged activists of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the frontline organisation for LeT that he heads, to wage a ‘jehad’.

Saeed has also been charged for heading a charity collection drive during the Ramazan month according to the police.

Earlier, Roemer had called on Pakistan to take action against Saeed.

“There are five, probably six, suspects currently being held in Islamabad in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. It is extremely important that these six people be brought to justice and put behind bars and receive sentences commensurate with their crimes against India, US and the world,” a news channel quoted Roemer, as saying

“I hope that in future the action on 26/11 includes people like Hafiz Saeed. Recently he was put into an Interpol red flag list,” he added.

The remarks follows Chidambaram’s visit to US, where he had briefed several ministers under the Barack Obama administration about Islamabad’s inaction against perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage.

The attacks, which drew widespread condemnation across the world, began on 26 November 2008 and lasted until 29 November, killing at least 173 people and wounding at least 308. Among the dead were 28 foreign nationals from 10 countries.

Ajmal Amir Kasab, the only attacker who was captured alive, has disclosed that the attackers were members of LeT, which is considered a terrorist organization by the Government of India, the United States, and the United Kingdom, among others.

Interpol has also issued a Red Corner Notice against Saeed, and Zaki -ur- Rehman Lakhvi (another mastermind of the 26/11 attacks). The notice was issued after a Mumbai court issued non-bailable warrants against both terrorists. (ANI)

US Ambassador Roemer calls for action against Hafiz Saeed

New Delhi, Sept 18 (ANI): Pressurising Pakistan, the United States said it wanted swift and mighty punishment against the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Speaking to reporters, after a meeting with Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, the United States Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer said, bringing the culprits to justice and going after Saeed were important to both India and the United States.

“Swift and mighty punishment for the six Mumbai suspects in Islamabad, is important for United States and is important for India. And going after Saeed is very important and dismantling the infrastructure of LeT in that region is extremely important to the United States and to India,” said Roemer.

The meeting took after reports of two FIR’s against Saeed came late last night.

He has been charged under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act for making anti-state speeches where he urged activists of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the frontline organisation for LeT that he heads, to wage a ‘jehad’.

Saeed has also been charged for heading a charity collection drive during the Ramazan month according to the police.

Earlier, Roemer had called on Pakistan to take action against Saeed.

“There are five, probably six, suspects currently being held in Islamabad in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. It is extremely important that these six people be brought to justice and put behind bars and receive sentences commensurate with their crimes against India, US and the world,” a news channel quoted Roemer, as saying

“I hope that in future the action on 26/11 includes people like Hafiz Saeed. Recently he was put into an Interpol red flag list,” he added.

The remarks follows Chidambaram’s visit to US, where he had briefed several ministers under the Barack Obama administration about Islamabad’s inaction against perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage.

The attacks, which drew widespread condemnation across the world, began on 26 November 2008 and lasted until 29 November, killing at least 173 people and wounding at least 308. Among the dead were 28 foreign nationals from 10 countries.

Ajmal Amir Kasab, the only attacker who was captured alive, has disclosed that the attackers were members of LeT, which is considered a terrorist organization by the Government of India, the United States, and the United Kingdom, among others.

Interpol has also issued a Red Corner Notice against Saeed, and Zaki -ur- Rehman Lakhvi (another mastermind of the 26/11 attacks). The notice was issued after a Mumbai court issued non-bailable warrants against both terrorists. (ANI)

Qaeda-backed LeT set for series of terror attacks in India, warns Israel’s NSC

Tel Aviv, Sep.18 (ANI): Israel’s National Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau has issued a terror warning for India, saying a Pakistani terror group, having close links with Al-Qaeda, is planning to carry out series of strikes across the country.

“A Pakistani terror organization affiliated with al-Qaida and responsible for the attacks in Mumbai last year is planning to carry out a string of attacks throughout the Indian subcontinent,” the notice issued by the bureau stated.

The warning said that though foreigners, especially from western countries could be targeted, and that Israelis and places where Israelis usually assemble in large numbers are on top of the terror outfit’s hit list.

The bureau rated the threat as ‘imminent and concrete’ and emphasized on the Jammu and Kashmir region, The Jerusalem Post reported.

This is probably the first time that such a warning has been issued regarding threat to Israelis in India, as India is considered a friendly country with thousands of Israelis living in different part of the nation. (ANI)

Black Widow surrenders weapons in Assam

Guwahati, Sep 16 (ANI): Over 170 guerillas of the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) (DHDJ) or Black Widow have commenced surrendering their weapons from Wednesday.

Earlier on Sunday, nearly 193 rebels of the DHDJ had surrendered their weapons well ahead of the deadline given by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram.

Chidambaram had asked the banned ultras to surrender weapons before September 15.

The DHD (J) is responsible for creating terror in the North Cachar Hill District of Assam for last six years, during which over 300 people have been killed.

Among those who surrendered arms were Daniel Dimasa, Daku Dimasa, David Dimasa and Nalo Dimasa who were considered as hardcore militants.

According to the new rules for facilitating peace talks with the militant organization, an outfit has to first abjure violence by depositing weapons and stay away from extortion by moving to designated camps. Only its top leadership will be allowed to sit for talks.

Defence spokesman, Col.R Kalia, said those who have deposited weapons have been kept in two temporary camps at Kapuchera and Jatinga under heavy escort by troops of the Red Shield Division of the Army.

A formal surrender ceremony would be held at Haflong later in the month in the presence of the State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, sources said.

The breakaway group of the DHD (J) led by James Dimasa are still undecided on joining the peace process.

According to Additional Director General (Special Branch) Khagen Sarmah, all the cadres of the outfit are expected to surrender their weapons in the next couple of days.

The government has adopted a multi-dimensional strategy in North Cachar Hills with strong deployment of security forces.

The brigade headquarters of the Army at Haflong has coordinating all the efforts.

Till now 373 insurgents have come over-ground depositing 136 weapons including AK series weapons, M16 rifles, INSAS rifles, rocket launchers, grenades and wireless sets, sources said. (ANI)

Osama declares decades of war on ‘powerless’ Obama

Islamabad, Sep 14 (ANI): Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has said that US President Barack Obama is “powerless” to stop the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a transcript of a tape released by the terrorist organization’s media wing.

Al Qaeda’s As-Sahab Media released a video featuring a still image of Osama and audio statement entitled “A statement to the American people,” said the organisation IntelCenter.

SITE Intelligence Group, a terrorist-monitoring firm that translated the address, says Osama blames the wars on the “pro-Israel lobby” and corporate interests.

IntelCenter, another company that monitors terrorist propaganda, reports that the 11-minute video is an address to the American people, two days after the eighth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

The group described the release as an address to the American public. Osama usually releases a statement around September or October each year, The Times reports.

In his last previous known message in June, Osama said US President Barack Obama had planted the seeds of “revenge and hatred” towards the United States in the Muslim world and warned of decades of conflict to come.

That audiotape aired on Qatar’s Al-Jazeera news channel less than an hour after Obama landed in Saudi Arabia.

Obama “has followed the steps of his predecessor in antagonizing Muslims… and laying the foundation for long wars,” Osama said in the June release, referring to deadly clashes in Pakistan between the US-backed government and Islamist militants.

“He gave his orders to (Pakistani President Asif Ali) Zardari and his army to prevent the people of Swat from applying Sharia (Islamic) law,” he said.

“Obama and his administration have sowed new seeds of hatred against America. Let the American people prepare to harvest the crops of what the leaders of the White House plant in the next years and decades,” said the Al-Qaeda leader. (ANI)

General strike curbs Manipur’s normal life

Imphal, Sep 12 (ANI): Normal life has been curbed in Manipur on Saturday due to a 24 hours general strike called by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) to protest against the alleged fake encounters.

The JAC is a group of NGOs, protesting the recent killing of a driver in an encounter.

The markets, shops, and business establishments in most parts of the state remained closed.

The transport services within the state and also with the neighboring states have been affected due to the strike.

A driver named Md Rehaman alias Tomba was killed along with five others, in an encounter with the security forces on September 8 at Awang Khul in Imphal West district.

The security forces maintain that the youths who were killed in the encounter were militants.

The All Manipur Rickshaw Drivers and Pullers Association (AMRDPA), said that Rehaman, who was member of the organization, was use to ferry passengers from Imphal to Moreh town from last 15 years. (ANI)

Noted Squash coach Satinder Bajwa trains poor children

Chandigarh, Sep.11 (ANI): Satinder Bajwa, an expatriate Punjabi, who is a squash coach, has set up an academy for the underprivileged children in Chandigarh to draw them to Squash.

These underprivileged children never thought about playing Squash. But, at the newly founded Squash Academy called ‘Mind, Body and Game – Connection’, they learn how to play it.

Satinder Bajwa, who has been the manager and mentor of eight times World Squash Champion Jansher Khan, has commenced this social business venture to promote the game here.

The Academy will nurture 30 children of ‘Khelshala’, a charitable trust, which serves underprivileged children through sports.

“Everybody wants to help his or her origins or the country that needs help. I am not a wealthy guy but I have something to give to kids in terms of a sport, so I thought how I give back to my country and I do a non-profit programme in the USA called Kids Squash and I thought may be its needed here in India and may be we can help kids through giving them something that they can use to help themselves,” said Satinder Bajwa, Founder of the MBG Ceonnection Academy in Chandigarh.

“You can give somebody money, money runs out but you give them something like this, may be if they are good at I, they can become very good, may be if they are good students, may be I can get them into some international university and few years down the roads, we might see some results which may enable people to help themselves,” said Bajwa.
He says the objective of the Squash Academy is to highlight that through exercise and play one can achieve a healthy body and mind for a fuller life experience.

The Academy will offer members a comprehensive set of world-class facilities including top of the line gym equipment and two squash courts, Bajwa adds.

Bajwa, who immigrated to the USA, is presently the chief coach of Squash at Harvard University. He felt the need to giver back to his homeland something valuable.

Many people in Punjab believe that Squash is a sport that has a future.

“The game is very nice. There is no age limit to play this game. Its very enjoyable and there are no chances of injuries,” said Manjit Singh, a trainee.

“We were little apprehensive in the first couple of days how may kids would be interested but we have had an amazing turnout and its been tones and tones of response from the kids and everyday more and more kids wanna come and play and its wonderful to see excitement and eagerness of all the kids ibn the village to come and play,” said Elizabeth Chaplin, a trainer in Massachusetts, US.

The MBG – Connection and Khelshala are a lifetime dream of Bajwa who also funded ‘kids squash’, a U.S.-based non-profit organization that promotes well-being through sports for children of all backgrounds.

Khelshala will also have an educational component as well as it will aim to leverage sports to help kids attain scholarships to private schools. By Sunil Sharma (ANI)

Centre creates “Invest India” company to promote foreign investment in the country

New Delhi, Sep 10 (ANI): The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the formation of a company ‘Invest India’ for the promotion of foreign investments under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Announcing the formation of ‘Invest India,’ Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said “The company will be a joint venture between the Government of India, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the State Governments will be responsible for promoting foreign investments into the country in a more focused, comprehensive and structured manner.”

The new company is expected to assist the government in its efforts towards projecting India as an attractive investment destination for foreign investors. The company will also assist foreign investors in identifying and realizing investment opportunities in India.

“The unique feature of this company is the partnership between the private sector organization and the Government of India and the State Governments. This is, unlike anywhere else in the world and seeks both to leverage the synergies of all three as well as address their investment priorities,” Sharma added.

Sharma informed that “The Board of Directors of the Invest India comprises of six members from Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and six members from FICCI.”

“Secretary DIPP will be its Non Executive Chairman. The Board of Directors will appoint a Managing Director and FICCI will provide the administrative, personnel and management support for day to day functioning,” Sharma said.

The authorized capital of the company will be Rs 10crore and the initial paid up capital Rs. one crore. While FICCI will have 51percent share in the equity, DIPP will have 49 percent share to begin with. DIPP’s share will be reduced overtime to 35 percent of paid up capital with induction of fresh equity by the State Governments.

The company will act as the first reference point for any investor interested in India and will also facilitate in setting up business within the country, by making available sector wise consultants and coordinating with the state government on feasible measures, Sharma said. (ANI)

Israel accuses HRW of hitting a new low by hiring expert who collects Nazi memorabilia

Jerusalem, Sep.10 (ANI): Human Rights Watch’s employment of a man who trades and collects Nazi memorabilia as its “senior military expert” is a “new low” for the organization that frequently criticizes Israel, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s policy director Ron Dermer said Wednesday.

“I thought that nothing could top a human rights organization trying to raise money in Saudi Arabia, but I was apparently wrong,” said Dermer.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Dermer was referring to reports, both in the blogosphere and the press, that Marc Garlasco, HRW’s senior military expert, who has written numerous reports condemning Israel, is an avid collector of Nazi memorabilia.

Omri Ceren, on a blog called Mere Rhetoric, wrote that Garlasco was “obsessed with the color and pageantry of Nazism, has published a detailed 430-page book on Nazi war paraphernalia, and participates in forums for Nazi souvenir collectors.”

Dermer said the revelations made it “easier to understand how an organization that was initially called Helsinki Watch, and was dedicated to helping brave Soviet dissidents fight against tyranny, has turned into an organization that facilitates the assault of some of the worst regimes and terror groups against the very democratic countries that uphold human rights.

HRW issued a statement saying that Garlasco’s family experience on both sides of WWII – his grandfather was in the German army and his great-uncle was in the US air force – led him to collect military memorabilia from that period.

HRW emphatically denied that Garlasco was a Nazi sympathizer because he “collected German [as well as American] military memorabilia.”

HRW said the “accusation is demonstrably false and fits into a campaign to deflect attention from Human Rights Watch’s rigorous and detailed reporting on violations of international human rights and humanitarian law by the Israeli government.” (ANI)

Suspected Jakarta bombing ‘mastermind’ was trained in Pak

Jakarta, Sep.9 (ANI): In yet another case which determines that terror is Pakistan’s principle export, it has been revealed that the prime suspect of the July 2009 Jakarta hotel attacks received military training in Pakistan.

Indonesia’s national police chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri disclosed that Mohamad Jibril, who allegedly provided funds for the terror group responsible for the bombings, received training in Pakistan during 1999-2000.

“Jibril received military training from several Jemaah Islamiyah activists for about a year, from 1999- 2000,” Bambang told the House of Representatives.

“The training was conducted in Pakistan while he was studying there,” he added.

Mohamad Jibril alias Mohamad Rizky Ardhan alias Muhammad Jibriel Abdul Rahman was arrested two weeks ago.

He is believed to have played a key role in raising funds for the terrorist group led by Noordin Top, who belongs to Malaysia.

The Indonesian police suspect that the money was coming from Middle Easte countries such as Saudi Arabia and Yemen, however, it is yet to arrive on any conclusion.

Officials said they are still working to find more solid evidence against Jibril, who was nabbed after his cell phone number was found in Ali Muhammad bin Abdullah’s mobile phone.

Ali is a Saudi Arabian who was arrested a few days before Jibril, the jihadwatch.org reports.

It has also been revealed that Jibril’s uncle, Irfan S Awwas, was the chairman of a radical Islamic organization , Indonesia Mujahidin Council (MMI). (ANI)

Israel’s offensive in Gaza killed 252 children

London, Sep. 9 (ANI): A startling new report has revealed that 252 children were killed during Israel’s war on Gaza early this year.

The Israeli official figures seriously underestimated the civilian Palestinian death toll, and said that just 59 children under 16 died during their offensive in Gaza.

Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem gathered death certificates, photos, and testimonies relating to all 252 of the children, The Independent reports.

B’Tselem, which said it had carried out “months of meticulous investigation and cross-checks with numerous sources” has, unlike the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), made public the names of all those it said were killed in the war.

The organization noted that since the IDF had refused to reveal its own detailed list, it was impossible to compare the names but that “the blatant discrepancy between the numbers is intolerable.”

The new figures came as the IDF opened a criminal investigation into allegations by Khaled Abed Rabbo that three of his daughters were shot, two fatally, as the family, carrying a white flag, walked from their house in eastern Jabalya on January 7.

B’Tselem’s total Palestinian death toll exceeds by more than 200 the 1,166 cited by the IDF.

The IDF insisted when issuing its own figures that 709 were “Hamas terror operatives” and that a total of 295 “not involved” Palestinians were killed.

By contrast B’Tselem puts the total figure for those who “did not take part in the hostilities” at 773.

The agency repeated calls for an “independent and credible investigation” into the military’s conduct of the war. (ANI)

Orissa tribals adopt beekeeping business

Koraput (Orrisa), Sep 8 (ANI): Tribals in Orissa’s Kaoraput district take to apiculture to earn a living. A non- governmental organization called ‘Sarvodaya Committee’ initiated the honey collection in 1955, aided by Orissa Khadi and Village industry board.

The beekeepers collect the honeybees and keep them in a box hive and wait for at least three months for the bees to produce honey.

“At first we catch the queen bee from the jungle and keep it in a safe place. Then all the other bees come searching for the queen bee and we catch them. This is how we collect the bees and keep them in a box hive,” Ugresan Guntha, a honey collector.

“The Koraput area is a cold region due to which the cultivation of the Italian bee known as Melifera Mexica is very profitable. The honey produced by the normal Indian bee is around fifteen kilograms of in a year but the honey produced by the Italian bee known as the Malifera Mexica is around 40-45 kilograms,” said Krushna Dalei, a beekeeper.

He also said that the months from December to April are very good season for the collection of honeybees.

The demand for the honey produced in these beekeeping fields is very high.

The beekeepers have to check the honeybees every ten days and look after their needs.

The five kinds of honey bee that are found in Orissa are called Rock bee, Apis bee, Apis Melipa, Apis Maila, and Apis Melifera, which is the most profitable. (ANI)