India tests missile with China in mind

India has test-fired its longest-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile, Agni-III, officials said.
The surface-to-surface missile was test-fired off the coast of Orissa state in eastern India.
With a range of more than 3,000km (1,865 miles), the missile could hit targets as far off as Beijing and Shanghai, analysts say.

ndia's current arsenal of missiles is largely intended for confronting archrival Pakistan. The Agni III, in contrast, is India's longest-range missile, designed to reach 1,900 miles _ putting China's major cities well into range, as well as targets deep in the Middle East.

The missile is one of a series developed as part of India's deterrence strategy against neighbouring China and Pakistan which also have nuclear weapons, analysts say.
India has shorter-range missiles that analysts say were developed to target long-time rival Pakistan with which it has fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947.
The two neighbours who launched a slow-moving peace process in 2004 aimed at resolving outstanding disputes including over disputed Kashmir often stage tit-for-tat missile tests.
But the development of the Agni III is aimed at displaying that India's deterrent reach can stretch far beyond Pakistan, analysts say.
In the last few years, however, tensions between India and China, which fought a brief border war in 1962, have eased and there is now direct trade through the Himalayas.
The Agni-III is the country's first solid fuel missile that is compact enough for easy mobility.
India's indigenously developed missile arsenal also includes the short-range Prithvi ballistic missile and the medium-range Akash.

Olympics torch touches down in Beijing amid tight security

The Olympic flame arrived in Beijing for a torch re-lighting ceremony Monday, signaling the start of a round-the-world relay that is expected to be a lightning rod for protests against China's policies and human rights practices.

The flame's arrival in Beijing was shown live on state television, and comes a week after the lighting ceremony for the Olympic torch in Greece was marred by protests. There also were protests Sunday by a pro-Tibetan group when Greek officials handed over the flame to organizers of the Beijing Games in Athens.

Tibetan and rights groups have said they will stage protests along the torch route, which includes stops in London, Paris and San Francisco over the next 10 days.

The relay has especially focused attention on recent unrest in Tibet, the worst in the Chinese-controlled region since 1989.

Dozens of Tibetan exiles burned an effigy of China President Hu Jintao as they reached the Indian capital of New Delhi on Sunday, carrying a symbolic flame which they said was running parallel to the official torch for the Beijing Olympic games.

Beijing's relay was tarnished before it even began when a demonstrator protesting Chinese media curbs grabbed headlines last week by disrupting a Chinese official's opening address at the lighting ceremony in Greece.

That was followed across Greece by a smattering of protests by activists protesting a crackdown on dissent in Tibet and members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which is banned in China.

On Sunday, some two dozen activists in Athens chanted "Save Tibet!" and unfurled a banner reading "Stop Genocide in Tibet" before police intervened, detaining 21 protesters outside the Panathenian Stadium. Most were later freed.

But their main problem will come in India, the last destination before it goes to Beijing. India has many Tibetian refugees. They reportedly are in talks with celebrities who are going take part in carrying the torch to boycott the relay. They are conspiring to prevent the relay. Chinese diplomats have held several talks with the Home Minister to provide adequate security to the torch.

Why Olympics should not be boycotted

With more and more countries joining the banter to boycott the olympics, it seems imminent that this Beijing olympics will be as controversial as the Berlin olympics in 1936. But complete boycott of the olympics is not the solution. Chinese pride would be hurt but they will not in any circumstances withdraw from Tibet. Worse they might intensify their atrocious army actions in Tibet.

Hundreds of years ago Olympics was one of the four sporting festivals of Greece. The kingdoms of Greece would stop all wars and put off their differences during these festivals. Same should happen now. Tibet issue is a blot on the 21st century humanitarian efforts.

But instead of complete boycott, what the countries should do is to boycott the opening ceremony, ask the athletes to wear black arm band,etc.

China: You Tube blocked

China has blocked access to the popular website YouTube.com apparently after video clippings on the massive pro-independence protests rocked the Tibetan capital of Lhasa this week, appeared on the website.

Internet users trying to access the website were presented with the blank screen in contrast to their normal experience of it being readily available.

There was no official word on the blockage.

Contents considered pornographic and sensitive are usually blocked by online Chinese filters.

China has edged past the US in terms of the number of Internet users to reach the number one slot, according to a research firm.

China had reported the number of Internet users at 210 million by the end of last year, very close to 216 million of the US.

Roar like a lion , act like a Kitten

Manmohan Singh's goverment had made a big fanfare over their descision to implement 123 agreement with united states of america . But under imense pressure from the left (who I think are chinese agents) and muslim vote-banks they now descided to go slow with the agreement .
This proves that in India democracy is truly of majority rather than the righteous.