MPs have come out with defence of their demands for increase in salary and benefits. In my previous article I had proposed that salaries of MPs be made Rs.86,000/- p.m. and their allowances and benefits be abolished and I stick to that. There are two types of MPs: Lok Sabha MPs and Rajya Sabha MPs….
Category: World
Hitler was a friend of India
The crimes committed by the British are not talked about. They were the first to use concentration camps in South Africa and many Boers died in them. Hitler wanted to end war with UK and Rudolf Hess who went there with peace proposal was imprisoned. That was an embarrassment for Germany and Hitler disowned Rudolf Hess.
Germany under Hitler weakened UK and that made India’s independence possible. UK could not hold on to India and other colonies.
Iceland referendum on debts
On 6/3/2010 Iceland had a referendum on whether to use taxpayer funds to pay off Iceland’s substantial debts to UK and Holland. Icesave internet bank had collapsed and UK had paid $3.5 billion and Holland $1.8 billion as compensation to 3,40,000 nationals who had lost their savings in Icesave.
Iceland’s population is almost the same as the number of depositors in Icesave. Most of the people said no. Many said taxpayers should not pay for the folly of a private bank. Some were against interest payment on debt. Iceland had nationalised private banks that had gone bankrupt in October 2008.
Many people had deposited in Iceland’s banks because of high interest rates they offered. With high interest comes high risk.
Pirates of Somalia
When I was a boy I read stories about pirates.Piracy was a thing of the past. Some years back I read about a piracy near Indonesia.I was surprised that piracy happened during our time. This year piracy has increased.Pirates of Somalia have hijacked ships with impunity and demanded ransom and got it.USA, Russia and countries…
Return of Cold War
After World War II there were two groups of countries headed by USA and USSR. There were military alliances. USA was part of NATO, SEATO, CENTO & ANZUS. USSR was part of Warsaw Pact. SEATO & CENTO came to an end after some years. ANZUS lost its relevance. The cold war between the two groups…
Domain names
Today, 26/6/2008, the board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will vote on two key proposals. The first would allow domains that do not use Latin characters, meaning domain names using Chinese, Arabic or Cyrillic letters. The other proposal would allow domains to use nearly any letter or number combination, up…
Brain death is not death
Doctors treat brain dead persons as dead even though other organs are functioning. The organs are removed and given to other persons. There are cases where heart transplantation had taken place and receivers had undergone change in behaviour and had memories of dead persons whose hearts they had received. A news report by dt. 27/3/2008…
Kosovo and independence
Kosovo wants to become an independent country and is likely to make a Unilateral Declaration of Independence. Serbia is opposed to Kosovo’s independence. It is ready to grant autonomy to Kosovo. Russia supports Serbia. Russia can veto any proposal or resolution in favour of Kosovo’s independence in UN Security Council. Many countries of the West…
Happy Christmas
I wish all Happy Christmas. Happy Christmas is different from Merry Christmas. Merry need not be happy and happy need not be merry. Many people have holidays because of Christmas and it is appropriate that they wish Happy Christmas. Everybody is not a Christian. I know some Christian sects do not celebrate Christmas. People who…
Death penalty prevents murders
I received two comments for my article “UN General Assembly and death penalty”. The Writers questioned the source for my statement “Every death penalty for murder prevents three to eighteen murders.” The source is an Associated Press report dt. 11 June 2007 that can be accessed on www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19160965. The report points to a series of…