Posts Tagged ‘News’

The News

I am an MSNBC junkie, and there is no way to *really* get it overseas. Even the geeky pathways to US feeds are closed down, the “clips” on the MSNBC website are SO slow and choppy that watching from the website is infuriating. Also the cable providers here provide a bastard version of CNN inbetween endless Indian musicals, game shows, news, and videos. Never, ever, MSNBC. Enter iTunes: MSNBC is making both Kieth Olbermann’s “Countdown” and the Rachel Maddow show available as video podcasts. The whole show, sans commercials, for FREE. So every day I just download the previous day’s broadcast and I have fresh news from home in my iTunes podcast list. In fact, as I sit here at the beautiful Hotel du Parc in amazing Pondicherry, there are two episodes downloading as I type. Magic. Thanks, MSNBC :)

Mangalore goons target noodle straps !

Seems there’s a pretty serious Talibaptist movement in India afoot. A couple were arrested for kissing in public recently…a married couple. This is an actual article from a recent India Times:

Mangalore goons target noodle straps

NEW DELHI: Hooliganism in the name of ‘‘Indian culture’’ is still thriving in Mangalore. Local goons there have now issued threats to young women to desist from wearing ‘‘noodle straps’’ and ‘‘tight jeans’’ or face action, indicating that localauthorities have done little to curb vigilantism unleashed by extreme right-wing groups.

A central ministerial probe into the Mangalore pub molestation case, which generated national outrage, has found that fresh threats against ‘‘indecent dressing’’ were still being given in the run-up to Valentine’s Day on February 14.

This finding is contained in a report submitted by the two-member probe team sent by the women and child development (WCD) minister Renuka Choudhary. The report, prepared by ministry joint secretary Kiran Chaddha, was submitted on Tuesday. The report says these threats, coming on the heels of the pub violence, have generated fear among young couples. When contacted, the minister was unwilling to talk about the report. According to sources, the team met with victims of the pub attack and found them terrified. ‘‘The girls do not feel comfortable traveling alone,’’ the source said. The team was informed of two previous incidents when goons disrupted fashion shows.

The team has recommended that security arrangements be beefed up by the state government so that girls do not fee unsafe. This report comes after National Commission for Women member Nirmala Venkatesh visited Mangalore and virtually exonerated the goons by saying the pub’s security was lax.