Saturday 9 March 2013
And you thought a 3-time Chief Minister would be camera-savvy ?
Friday 8 March 2013
Loss of our sovereign territory - accepted and acceded by us !
It is very interesting to see our political parties scouring the Social media on the Internet to find even an iota of an issue that will offend them. Hats off to their IT-savviness (if there is any such word).
Here are two examples of the big picture we seem to ignore to the extent that it has been as good as accepted by us...
This is what Wiki shows Indian territory as......notice how Pak and China gain and we lose...
So, these IT-savvy 'patriots' don't see this huge insult and still carry on going after people who even talk about them ! Ha.....Mera Bharat Mahaan !
For some more examples..check
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12557384
Here are two examples of the big picture we seem to ignore to the extent that it has been as good as accepted by us...
This is what Wiki shows Indian territory as......notice how Pak and China gain and we lose...
This is what Wiki shows as Pak territiry...notice how J&K is depicted as Azad J&K !!
So, these IT-savvy 'patriots' don't see this huge insult and still carry on going after people who even talk about them ! Ha.....Mera Bharat Mahaan !
For some more examples..check
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12557384
Thursday 7 March 2013
So, what more do we need, a Chinese youtube confession ?
We had better wake up to this reality and stop poodle-faking. Time to get serious about this "red" threat !
Wednesday 6 March 2013
Qatari emir buys six Greek islands for a song !!
Qatari emir buys six Greek islands for a song
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani pays €8.5m for Ionian retreats for family with seller happy to strike deal after 18 months of red tape
The Greek island of Oxia, was the Qatari emir's first purchase, which cost €5m.
The suitor is one of the world's wealthiest men; the location happens to be the eurozone's poorest country. But in an unlikely coming together of economic circumstances, the emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, has opted to splash out €8.5m (£7.35m) on six idyllic isles in the Ionian sea.
Closure of the deal – the latest in a global shopping spree that has seen the sheikh's property portfolio spread from London to Beijing – has been met with glee in Greece, the west's most bankrupt state, and Doha, where the royal household experienced 18 months of excruciating drama to take possession of the outcrops.
"Greece is that kind of place," said Ioannis Kassianos, Ithaca's straight-talking Greek-American mayor. "Even when you buy an island, even if you are the emir of Qatar, it takes a year and a half for all the paperwork to go through."
The isles, known as the Echinades, caught the oil-rich monarch's fancy when he moored his super-yacht in the turquoise waters off Ithaca, took in the view and liked what he saw. That was four summers ago.
Qatar's Emir and his wife. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters
When the royal eventually got off the yacht, he inquired about the pine-covered chain as he strolled about Ithaca in sandals and shorts. "They have a fund with a couple of hundred million in it," enthused Kassianos, a former US economics professor who assumed the mayorship of Homer's fabled isle three years ago. "And as far as I know they want to buy all 18 of the islands, the whole lot."
The purchase, the biggest private investment in Greece, appears to have been a windfall for the emir, who drove a hard bargain in a market where investors are few and far between. The first island, Oxia, initially came with a price tag of €7m before its Greek-Australian owners agreed to let it go for just under €5m. Last week, Denis Grivas, whose family has owned the title deeds to the other five almost since the foundation of modern Greece, also settled on a price.
"The islands have been in my family for over 150 years but we are not rich enough to be able to keep such valuable properties any longer," he said, ruing the soaring taxes the crisis-hit Greek state has slapped on real estate. "We are very, very happy to see them go. They have been on the market for nearly 40 years."
With their pristine beaches, ancient olive orchards and natural coves, the uninhabited isles are "an ideal opportunity for a solid business investment with unlimited possibilities", says the high-end "private island online" site, describing the properties as Mediterranean pearls. "The potential for development is very big … from developing tourist-style Club Meds or hotel facilities, to villas to sell or rent."
But the Gulf royal does not appear in any mood to create tourist resorts on the retreats. Instead, said Kassianos, his aim is to build palaces for the exclusive pleasure of his 24 children and three wives. The architects have already moved in, drawing up plans to create a private idyll, although he has run into trouble with Greek law.
"There is a stupid law because in Greece we do everything upside down," lamented Kassianos. "That law says that whatever the size of your land, your home can be no bigger than 250 sq m. The emir has reacted to this saying his WC is 250 sq m and his kitchen alone has to be 1,000 sq m, because otherwise how is he going to feed all his guests?"
To appease the locals, the Qatari, who is also being heavily courted by the government to invest in Greece, has promised to come bearing gifts. "His people said 'what present can we give you?' and I said the island needs water desperately," said Kassianos. "A study to lay a pipeline from the mainland is already under way. That's not bad when we've been trying to get a new port here for the past 40 years."
The emir plans to moor his yacht off his new property this summer. Locals on Ithaca are getting ready. An honorary citizenship beckons along with a feast fit for a very modern Homeric hero.
"The next time he comes we hope to get him and his family off his yacht and into our restaurants," said Ithaca's mayor.
Emir's Grecian passion
This is not the first time the 56-year-old emir of Qatar has shown interest in Greece. Three years ago, when the country's economic crisis erupted, the Gulf kingdom pledged to invest as much as €5bn in real estate, tourism, transport and infrastructure, including habours and airports. But perennial delays and the perils of Greece's Byzantine bureaucracy were such that Qatar pulled out of the projects.
Last month, following a visit to Doha by the Greek prime minister, Antonis Samaras, interest was rekindled when Qatar signed up to take part in an international tender to develop Athens' former international airport at Elliniko, one of the most sought after slices of real estate in Europe. The Gulf state has also shown interest in purchasing the famous beachfront Astir Palace hotel, once a stomping ground for celebrities outside the capital.
The emir may be rich but he is business savvy. He had wanted to buy the Ionian isle of Skorpios, where Jackie Kennedy married Aris Onassis. The deal fell through when the late shipowner's granddaughter, Athina Onassis, refused to come down in price. She is selling for €200m.
• This article was amended on 5 March 2013. The original referred to one of the most sort after, rather than sought after, slices of real estate in Europe. This has been corrected.
This deserves to be a Headline ?
And the news in this headline is ???? Lol....what we have gotten into, when THIS makes the headlines of Times of India !
Everest 60th anniversary trek with George Negus
For all the avid mountaineers out there ! This is an opportunity of a lifetime...
Everest 60th anniversary trek with George Negus
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In conjunction with World Expeditions, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join us in the Everest Region on 29 May to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first ascent of Mt Everest by Tenzing Norgay and the late Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. On this special departure you will travel in the company of renowned television presenter, interviewer & reporter George Negus.
Over a delightful three course meal served under the stars in a specially designed canvas dining tent you’ll hear from an exemplary line-up of international and local guest speakers who will impart some fascinating tales and personal accounts of past Everest expeditions. The Everest Trek takes us into one of the most spectacular regions of Nepal where the Sherpa culture thrives amongst the highest peaks in the world. The Everest massif as seen from Thyangboche is a sight you will never forget, and the hospitality of these tough mountain people will remain with you for a long time. | |
Dates: 22nd May – 2nd June 2013
Trip Highlights:
• Black tie banquet dinner at 3867m in Thyangboche to commemorate the 60th anniversary
of the first ascent of Mt Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norgay • Welcome dinner at Kathmandu’s Dwarikas Restaurant • Sherpa Culture & views of Everest • Namche Bazaar & Thyangboche Monastery • Fully supported camping based trek in private permanent
• Campsites, with 3 hearty meals per day prepared by our cooks
• Himalayan Mountain flight from Lukla to Kathmandu • Sightseeing in Kathmandu - Pashupatinath (a major Hindu shrine) and the giant Buddhist stupa at Boudhanath • Expert bilingual local guide • Trip accompanied by well known Australian television presenter, interviewer and reporter, George Negus |  |
About your Escort: George Negus has written, directed and presented Australian commercial and public television current affairs since 1975 -- with a special passion for international affairs and Australia’s place in the world. He worked independently via Negus Media International for more than 20 years as well as roles as presenter/interviewer & reporter for ABCs Foreign Correspondent, Australia Talks and George Negus Tonight and Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes and Today Show; Channel Seven’s coverage of both Gulf Wars; SBS TV’s flagship international affairs program Dateline, TEN Network’s 2011 news analysis program at 6/630pm. He continues in 2013 as occasional international/national affairs commentator on Australian TV/radio. His books include the most recent bestsellers The World From Italy and The World from Islam and The World From DownUnder produced with Negus Media and publisher Harper Collins.
Trip Duration: 12 days | Grade: Introductory level | Activities: Trekking | Accommodation: 12 day trip, 8 day trek, 3 nights hotels, 3 nights private permanent camp 2 nights wilderness camp and 3 nights eco lodge | Meals: 11 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 9 dinners |
Trip Cost: $5490 (joining Kathmandu)
READ MOREhere http://www.smhshop.com.au/adventureholidays | |
Time for hard questions, than just yapping !
This is what we have landed ourselves into....our Supreme Court has to direct our Govt to act in a case of beheading of our soldier !
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