Lee Hee-ho, the widow of late South Korean president Kim Dae-jung, has flown to North Korea, saying she hoped the rare trip would help ease cross-border tensions.

The 5-8 August visit is ostensibly humanitarian in nature but there has been much speculation about a possible meeting with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, who personally approved the trip.

“I hope that this trip will offer a window for more dialogue, exchange and co-operation,” Lee was quoted as saying by her spokesman at a Seoul airport.

“I am going to Pyongyang with hopes that Koreans can … heal the wounds and pain of the past 70 years of division.”

What if you get to know there is a temple that guarantees you wish-fulfillment? You may be surprised to know that such a temple does exist. Situated in Gulbarga, Karnataka, there is a Hanuman temple which is famous by the name ‘Koranti Guarantee Temple’.

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It is believed that if you visit this temple with utmost faith and pray with all your heart, your prayers will be heard and that’s a guarantee. This temple was built in 1957. It got this name because of the medical college situated nearby. The students from that college used to throng the temple and got their wishes fulfilled. That is how others also came to know about the significance of Koranti temple and it eventually got named as ‘Koranti Guarantee Temple’. According to one of the temple priests, if you visit Koranti temple and chant Hanuman Chalisa for half an hour to one hour, Lord Hanuman pays heed to your prayers and you can see the results soon.

APJ Abdul Kalam has left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of Indians in a manner few other public figures have in recent memory. In death he achieved the kind of acclaim in people’s hearts that politicians covet but may never come close to attaining.

In material terms, the “People’s President”, it now transpires, owned precious little, save his 2,500 books, a wrist watch, six shirts, four trousers, three suits and a pair of shoes. Kalam did not own any property nor a fridge, TV, car or an air conditioner. This for a man who spent over five decades in public service, including his stint as President of the Republic.

He did not die in penury, but neither did he live a life of luxury. He survived on the royalty from his books – he authored four of them – and his pension. The exact amount of his life savings is not known. “It wasn’t much to write home about,” said Sheridan, his secretary for over two decades.

After he demitted office, the government allotted him a bungalow at 10 Rajaji Marg. The two-storey house lies desolate today but tales of his integrity are still alive. He was firm about not receiving any personal gifts and ensured that all personal gifts were duly tabulated and sent to the government’s toshakhana.

“He would never accept a gift, save a book, and whenever somebody brought him a packed gift and tried to pass it off as a book, he insisted on examining what was inside. Anything other than the book was politely returned,” says his former media advisor SM Khan.

Kalam’s love for technology is well known and he kept himself abreast of the latest developments mainly through radio. “He did not have a television set in his living quarters. He got his news either from radio or newspapers. The only TV set at his Rajaji Marg residence was used by his staff,” Khan said.

Khan recalled how the former President revered his elder brother, who is 99 years old. Kalam held his elder brother APJ Marakia in great esteem and was full of plans to celebrate his brother’s 100th birthday next year. “One of the things that gave him (Kalam) immense joy was when he helped his brother get access to 24-hour power supply by installing a solar panel at their ancestral home,” says Sheridan, adding, “President Kalam would always call him (his brother) before leaving or returning from an important lecture assignment. He had called him the day before leaving for Shillong.”

“The lives of great men remind us, we can make our lives sublime, and, departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time.” Former president APJ Abdul Kalam wasn’t around when Wordsworth wrote these lines. Had both the men belonged to the same age then these lines would have surely been written for Kalam.

Siliguri, July 29: Around 1,000 traders today agreed to give land on either side of NH31 at Bagdogra for the laying of an international highway after they were assured of compensation under the central act.

The land acquisition is needed for the Asian Highway II, a 13,177km road that would connect Indonesia with China.

In north Bengal, a 37km-long stretch of the highway will pass through Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts, connecting Panitanki (on the India-Nepal border) with Fulbari (on the India-Bangladesh boundary).

Another proposed international road, Asian Highway 48, will also pass through north Bengal.

The 90km highway will start from Jaigaon (on the India-Bhutan border) and end at Changrabandha (on India-Bangladesh border).

This morning, north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb held a meeting with members of the Bagdogra Byabsayee Samiti and elaborated on the plan to compensate and rehabilitate them

The Darjeeling district administration said the state public works department would invoke National Highway Act, 1956, to take over the land required for the two Asian highways and the state government wouldn’t have to pay a single rupee for the acquisition.

“As the land is acquired as per the NH Act of 1956, the compensation will have to be worked out according to the 2013 central Act (Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013). The land losers would get compensation as per the central act of 2013, that is two or four times the value of their plots, depending on the location. As Bagdogra is a rural area, the traders are likely to get compensation four times the value of their plots,” said a source in the district administration.

“The Centre will pay the entire compensation. No money would flow out of the state exchequer to compensate the people. Altogether, it is easy to obtain assent from the people,” added the source.

The state doesn’t accept the 2013 Act.

Deb said: “We require land on both sides of NH31 in Bagdogra for the proposed Asian Highway II. Today, we held a meeting with local businessmen and assured them of proper compensation and rehabilitation. There is a three-acre government plot near the airport where we will build a market complex and rehabilitate all businessmen who will have to vacate their plots for the Asian Highway II.”

The minister told the business community that the two international highways would boost the economy of north Bengal, especially places like Bagdogra.

The traders’ body has around 4,000 members and 1,000 of them will be affected by the land acquisition.

“The minister has spoken in detail about the compensation and rehabilitation plan. The minister said the construction of the market complex to accommodate the affected businessmen would commence by October,” said Subir Roy, the general secretary of the Bagdogra Byabsayee Samiti.

The shops and business establishments that are likely to be removed are along a 4km stretch of the highway.

Sources said the market complex would be constructed by the north Bengal development department.

NH31 has two lanes now and it has to be widened to four lanes for the Asian Highway I

Beijing, Jul 30 (AFP) Britain has denied Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei a six-month visa, he cited an embassy official as saying today, restricting him to a three-week trip on the grounds he did not declare a criminal conviction in his application.

China’s best known contemporary artist abroad, Ai was detained for 81 days in 2011.

His company was fined USD 2.4 million the following year after losing a civil legal battle against tax authorities, proceedings widely seen as a reprisal for his outspoken criticism of the ruling Communist party.

Ai posted a letter on Instagram apparently from the visa section of the British Embassy in Beijing that stated it was “a matter of public record that you have previously received a criminal conviction in China, and you have not declared this,” adding he had “exceptionally” been granted a visa for his stated travel dates.

Any future application he made should be completed “as accurately as possible”, the letter said, warning him that he faced a 10-year ban if he did not comply.

Ai said in a separate Instagram post he had “never been charged or convicted of a crime”.

The artist added he had attempted to clarify the situation with British authorities “over several telephone conversations, but the representatives insisted on the accuracy of their sources and refused to admit any misjudgment”.

Ai also posted a picture of his British visa, marked “Leave to enter outside the rules”.

“This decision is a denial of Ai Weiwei’s rights as an ordinary citizen,” he added.

The visa he was granted would ensure that Ai can attend a show of his work at London’s Royal Academy of Arts in September, when his absence would have generated negative headlines.

But it means he will not be in Britain when China’s President Xi Jinping pays a high-profile state visit in October.

In a statement, Britain’s Home Office said visa applications were considered “on their individual merits and in line with the relevant legislation”, adding: “Mr Ai has been granted a visa for the full duration of his requested dates of travel.”

Authorities confiscated Ai’s passport after his 2011 detention, apparently attempting to limit his international influence, but police returned the document earlier this month.

Ai said last week that Germany — where his six year old son lives — had granted him a four year multiple entry visa.

Ai and his legal team said the tax case was rife with violations of legal procedure, and rights groups such as Britain’s Amnesty International suggested it was politically driven and showed China’s “deep insecurity.”

Britain’s governing Conservative party has sought to improve relations with China after leader David Cameron angered Beijing by meeting with the Dalai Lama.

Since then London has made a number of moves which have bought it back into Beijing’s good graces, including joining the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, unlike the US or Japan.

London, Jul 30 (PTI)?Leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul has assured Chief Minister of eastern Indian state of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee that his company is committed to make the state its first choice for manufacturing a new small car.

The London-based Caparo Group chairman told Banerjee during an informal meeting over tea at his London residence on Wednesday that a new variant of Caparo T1 is likely to set up base in her state.

“I would love to do more in Bengal. We are in the process of designing a car that is smaller and cheaper than Caparo T1 and we are in discussions with some of the best engine manufacturers. Once that design is complete and perfected, Bengal will be the first place I will look at for production.

This is my commitment,” he said.

“And this is not only my commitment but also my son Angad [Caparo Group CEO] is committed to it because he loves fast cars,” he added.

Caparo T1, described as the fastest car on the road, was created in composites by British automotive giant Mclaren’s team and its newer compact version is currently being made market-ready, with West Bengal as a potential manufacturing base.

“We are grateful. Please also request your other industrialist friends to invest in Bengal,” Banerjee said.

Lord Paul also made reference to Caparo’s factory in Singur, which was to supply automotive parts to Tata’s Nano plant but that project had to be shelved and the machinery was moved out.

“As far as we are concerned we bought the land from the West Bengal government and either we can build a factory there or get our money back but we would be happy to invest in Bengal,” he said.

As part of his commitment to the state, he will also provide Banerjee’s delegation with detailed literature on three other products launched in the rest of India ? multi- purpose e-rickshaws, bio-toilets and pre-fabricated houses made out of composites.

“We are leaders in composites today. I have promised to send all the literature from my Delhi office to the Bengal finance minister [Amit Mitra]. When he is ready, I will send my team from Delhi and London to discuss and finalise the details,” he said.

In his capacity as Chancellor of Wolverhampton University and former Chancellor of Westminster University, Lord Paul also expressed his wish to be involved in the field of education in the state.

The mortal remains of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who died on Monday, were taken from his ancestral house in coastal Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram town to the local mosque ahead of the funeral as thousands of mourners – young and old – poured into the island town to pay their last respects. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and a host of other dignitaries, including chief ministers of some states, attended the last rites held around 11 am after the ‘Namaaz-e-Janaaza’.
The funeral of the Missile Man was attended by a galaxy of leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who placed a wreath, offered his final salute and stood in silence in front of Kalam’s body that was draped in national flag. He also went around the casket with folded hands. Modi later went up to Kalam’s eldest brother, 99-year-old Mohammed Muthu Meeran Lebbai Maraicker, who was seated nearby, and offered his condolences.
Congres vice-president Rahul Gandhi also paid his last respects to Kalam, who died of cardiac arrest in Shillong on July 27. Besides some foreign dignitaries, several leaders including Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, his Cabinet colleague M Venkaiah Naidu and state Finance Minister O Panneerselvam were present.
Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad and Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh – Siddaramaiah, Oommen Chandy and Chandrababu Naidu respectively – and CPM veteran VS Achuthanandan were also among those who paid their homage. The three services chief also paid their respects to their former Supreme Commander.
Emotional farewell to People’s President
Earlier, a large number of teary-eyed mourners swarmed the carriage carrying his mortal remains and briskly moved with it on the last journey of the 83-year old scientist. Condolences poured in from the country and across the world, paying respects to the affable man who endeared himself to the masses with his simplicity. Tight security, including deployment of Naval, Coast Guard and Marine police personnel in the sea around the town, was put in place in view of the convergence of several dignitaries.
Slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki jai” rent the air as the body was taken in flower-bedecked carriage to the burial site, about 3.5 km from the mosque, accompanied by the personnel of three services. Several people were seen holding the national tri-colour as they waited in the jam-packed streets around Kalam’s house to have a last glimpse of their hero. Many were perched on the terraces of buildings.
APJ Abdul Kalam was an average scientist: Pak nuclear scientist AQ Khan
The body of India’s Missile Man was brought to his house on the narrow Pallivasal Street around 10 pm on Wednesday night after lying in state and left in the privacy of his family till Thursday morning. Thousands of mourners kept pouring through the night by various transport including buses, trains and boats to attend the last rites and many of them even slept on the roads during the night.
Shops, business establishments and hotels remained shut in the town and throughout Tamil Nadu as a mark of respect to the late leader, fondly called the People’s President. Police said tight security arrangements have been made in and around the town and Navy, Coast Guard and marine police personnel deployed in the sea.
MUST READ | Kalam’s simple life in Thiruvananthapuram: Appams for breakfast and room full of books
The Tamil Nadu government has declared a public holiday on Thursday as a mark of respect to Kalam. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, however, could not attend the state funeral because of her illness.
Kalam served as the President of the country from 2002-07. The country’s first bachelor President, Kalam had received several prestigious awards including the Bharat Ratna, and played a crucial role when India tested its nuclear weapons at Pokhran in 1998 when the Vajpayee government was in power.

New Delhi: Linking the Gurdaspur attack to Pakistan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the three terrorists had infiltrated from there to carry out the strike and asserted that the government will do everything possible to prevent cross-border terrorism.

Making a statement in Rajya Sabha on Monday’s attack in Punjab, he said “any effort by the enemies of our nation to undermine India’s territorial integrity and security or imperil the safety and security of our citizens will meet an effective and forceful response from our security forces.”

The government “has been and will remain resolute in this regard”, he said.

Singh made the statement amid din created by Congress members which was strongly disapproved of by Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien, who said it was “not politics” but a “statement on a terrorist attack” that concerns the security of the country.

However, as the unrelenting Congress members continued to shout slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said, “I take this opportunity to assure the House that the government is firmly to root out terrorism from India.”

The Home Minister also assured the House that “the government will do everything possible to prevent cross-border terrorism aimed against India.”

Giving details of the attack in Punjab, he said, “preliminary analyses of GPS data indicates that the terrorists had infiltrated from Pakistan through the area near Tash in Gurdaspur district, where the Ravi river enters Pakistan.”

It is also suspected, he said, that the same terrorists had planted five IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) on the railway track near Talwandi village between Dinanagar and Jhakoladi which were subsequently defused by the bomb disposal squad. A night vision device was also recovered from the spot.

“The security forces in the border are alert but the difficult terrain coupled with recent heavy rains, resulting in excess flow in the rivers and canals along the border, could have been a factor, in this particular group sneaking into Punjab,” the Home Minister said.

He said that during the last one month, there were five attempts at cross-border infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir sector, out of which four were interdicted and eight terrorists neutralised.

In the remaining one instance, the terrorists went back after effective retaliation by the Indian forces.

Singh hailed Punjab Police for engaging the terorrists “effectively” and said all efforts were made to apprehend the attackers and prevent their escape besides avoiding any collateral damage.

The Army and NSG were placed on standby to support the Punjab Police opertions, he said, adding the Union Home Ministry monitored the situation closely and was in constant touch with the Punjab
government.

“In the end, all the three terrorists were neutralised in this successful operation,” Singh said and added with regret that Superintendent of Police (Detective) Baljeet Singh, “who was leading from front”, was martyred.

During the operation, the BSF and the Army were placed on high alert along the border, he said.
“I personally spoke to the Chief Minister of Punjab (Parkash Singh Badal) and assured him of all assistance from the central government,” Singh added.

While he spoke, the Congress members, carrying placards, were shouting slogans in the Well against the Prime Minister and his government over the terror attack.

The slogans included: “56 inch ki chhati hai hai (down with 56 inch chest)’ and ‘Narendra Modi hai hai (down with Narendra Modi)’ and ‘NDA government hai hai (down with NDA government).”

PTI