Visiting Sikhs' Holy City of Amritsar in Punjab

Amritsar in Punjab in north-western India is the Holy City of Sikhism. There are also fellow Malaysians who are Sikhs with Punjabi ancestry, and very coincidentally, a policeman I met outside the Golden Temple is named Darshan Singh just like my friend who is Chin Peng's lawyer.

Unforgettable journey from Delhi to Amritsar

Travelling by old-fashion train from New Delhi to Amritsar is certainly an unforgettable experience. The standard architecture of the railway stations in India are quite similar to those in Malaysia and Singapore.

In solemn rememberance of Mahatma Ghandi

In solemn rememberance of Mahatma Ghandi

During my tour in New Delhi, I visited the compound of Ghandi Smriti where the precise spot of Bapu's assassination by fanatics of his own religion on 30 January 1948 is marked with a white memorial marble. My tour guide also took me to the India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Hari Raya greetings from James in New Delhi

Hari Raya greetings from James in New Delhi

I just came back to New Delhi after sight-seeing for four days in the countrysides and rural areas in north-west India bordering Pakistan. Meanwhile, allow me to greet all my Muslim neighbours and friends Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri and also to say Minta Maaf Zahir Batin.

Feeling absolutely at home with food in India

Feeling absolutely at home with food in India

Eating in India is not a problem for multi-cultural Malaysians like me.

IT knowledge & use very widespread in India

IT knowledge & use very widespread in India

Despite the uneven spread of modernity and also trickle-down effect of the nationally-aggregated income and wealth, popular information technology in the form of cybercafe seems to be everywhere in India. Handphones are also widely used even in rural areas or countrysides.

Religiously-motivated terrorism plagues India

Religiously-motivated terrorism plagues India

In recent weeks, India has also been plagued by religiously-motivated terrorism directed against innocent persons and also public facilities.

Violence against Christians in India disturbing

Violence against Christians in India disturbing

Reports of widespread anti-Christian riots in India is very disturbing.

Rise of modern India in historical perspective

Chin Peng's FC appeal proceedings postponed

According to Penang lawyer Darshan Singh, the court proceedings of Chin Peng's latest move to apply for leave to submit an appeal to the Federal Court against an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal upon his homecoming case have been postponed to a date yet to be fixed.

Chin Peng's battle for homecoming continues

MIC, Gerakan question Umno on ISA & arrests

While MIC has again demanded the release of five HINDRAF activists, Gerakan called for the setting up of a parliamentary select committee "to review all aspects" of the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA).

MCA slams Umno's unilateralism in ISA arrests

History returns with Keynesianism back in US

History may really end in the very long run with the Manichean victory of 'free market' capitalism, but, in the immediate short-run, the Wall Street still needs state intervention. As British economist, Lord John Keynes once insightfully remarked: "in the long run, we are all dead".

American views on world politics, 1989-2001

MCA slams Umno's unilateralism in ISA arrests

MCA President Ong Ka Teng has been quoted by the mainstream New Straits Times as saying that even the second largest component party of the Umno-dominated Barisan Nasional was never consulted before the extremely controversial detentions under ISA were made recently. Umno's own Senator Zaid Ibrahim has also quit from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's cabinet as the de facto Law Minister to register his protest.

Economist Dr. Toh Kin Woon leaves BN party

Chin Peng's battle for homecoming continues

According to lawyer Chan Kok Keong in Ipoh, CPM veteran Chin Peng will seek leave on Monday at the Federal Court to appeal against the judgement of the Court of Appeal that effectively denies his right to return to the country of his birth where his parents were laid to rest. Chin Peng's legal team includes Raja Aziz Addrus and Darshan Singh.

Chin Peng to battle on for homecoming right

Pak Lah refuses to accept Anwar' s challenge

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (pix) has rejected Anwar Ibrahim's call for an emergency session of the Parliament. Very interesting time is ahead as there are now two public claimants for the Malaysian premiership.

Anwar' s parliamentary challenge to Abdullah

News has broken in malaysiakini that the man Abdullah once claimed to have "forgotten" now calls for an emergency session of the nation's Parliament to debate an urgent motion of no confidence against him.

How long can BN keep its lawmakers abroad ?

Pak Lah's "forgotten" man becomes a "threat"

On 14 February this year, Abdullah (pix) was quoted as claiming that he had "forgotten" about Anwar Ibrahim but yesterday, Abdullah (pix)reportedly characterised Anwar as an economic and security "threat".

Nothing impossible in Malaysia' s politics now

Nothing impossible in Malaysia' s politics now

Before the official announcement of the result of the Permatang Pauh by-election, who would have predicted or believed that Anwar Ibrahim could actually prevail with an even larger majority than that obtained by Dr. Wan Azizah in the general election held in 2004 ? Just before 8 March, 2008, who would have foreseen that the BN could actually lose its 2/3 majority in the Federal Parliament and powers in four states ?

How long can BN keep its lawmakers abroad ?

Release Teresa Kok & Raja Petra immediately

Clare Street calls for the immediate and also unconditional release of Teresa Kok Suh Sim and Raja Petra Kamaruddin from ISA detentions.

Charge Ahmad Ismail in law court for sedition

Charge Ahmad Ismail in law court for sedition

While Clare Street welcomes the unconditional release of the upright reporter Tan Hoon Cheng , who should not have been detained in the first place, it also endorses the position that Ahmad Ismail should be charged for public trials in open court of law under the Seditions Act.

In solidarity with Teresa, Hoon Cheng & RPK

In solidarity with Teresa, Hoon Cheng & RPK

Clare Street would like to declare its solidarity with Teresa Kok, Tan Hoon Cheng and Raja Petra Kamaruddin who are now being detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) without trials in the open court. Clare Street also condemns in no uncertain term the incarceration of the brave and upright journalist of Sin Chew Daily, Tan Hoon Cheng.

Free all ISA detainees without condition now

Palin on US national security & foreign affairs

44-year old Governor Sarah Palin's views and positions on US national security and foreign policy are certainly of great importance because Senator John McCain, who may win the USA presidency, is already 72. Like it or not, the United States is facing an extraordinarily complex international security landscape that will last for many years to come.

Sarah Palin takes bellicose position on Russia

Sarah Palin takes bellicose position on Russia

Republican candidate for vice president Sarah Palin reportedly said in her first news interview that ' Ukraine and Georgia should join NATO, even at the risk of antagonizing Russia and forcing the United States into a war with the nuclear-armed nation '. The 44-year old Governor of Alaska, however, has not claimed that God is on the Western side.

Russia to show hard powers at Caribbean Sea

Lucia & family remember 9/11 reign of terror

11 September this year also marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the military coup against the democratically and constitutionally elected Unidad Popular government of President Salvador Allende in Chile. It was a bloody day my friend Lucia and her parents still remember well because many of their relatives and neighbours were killed, maimed, terrorised, kidnapped and brutalised by thugs and goons in Santiago.

Seventh anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks

Seventh anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks

My thought and that of my family are certainly with all those who lost their loved ones on 11 Sept, 2001 in Washington D.C. and New York.

Greetings of Mid-Autumn Festival from James

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to all who celebrate it, especially in Ipoh.

How long can BN keep its lawmakers abroad ?

How long can the Umno-dominated National Front leadership keep its parliamentarians abroad if their hearts and minds have changed ? By the way, how can these BN MPs be effectively quarantined unless and until they are not permitted to use mobile telephones and Internet in Taiwan, or anywhere else in the world already revolutionised by ICT ?

Anwar Ibrahim scores gold in Permatang Pauh

McCain: Palin will meet media in "a few days"

USA Republican Party's presidential nominee Senator John McCain has been quoted by the Reuters as saying that his running mate Governor Sarah Palin will meet the mass media for open Q-&-A in "a few days". Palin, 44, is believed to be very 'fundamental' in her religious beliefs, and lacking practical experiences for the conduct of foreign relations.

Two general factors that favour John McCain

Russia now senses its own power & influence

Like it or otherwise, Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev seems to be justified in claiming victory for Round 1 of the Russia-West Cold War because there was no prompt American or NATO military challenge to its use of forces in Georgia, and EU has also decided against applying economic sanctions against it for fear of causing uncertainties in the supply of its oil and natural gas and harm to other business relations. Ukraine has already been experiencing very serious political troubles.

Russia-West Cold War over Georgia escalates

Two general factors that favour John McCain

Two general factors seem to favour Senator John McCain as the next President of the United States, namely (1) average American people's traditional aversion to any concentration or monopoly of power which could gravitate them to voting for a Republican into the White House once again just to check and balance against the Democrat-controlled Congress, and (2) the perception of increased and increasing threats to United States' national security from Russia, Iran and other hostile entities, which may cause them to fall back on the 'tested tough guy'.

Search for "God, Sarah Palin" on Google News

Search for "God, Sarah Palin" on Google News

A search on the Google News with the very simple words "god, sarah palin" has returned some theologically fairly thought-provoking items which should provide British journalists John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge with plenty of earthly inspirations to compose a sequel to their masterpiece, The Right Nation -Conservative Power in America. Palin may be useful for GOP and McCain domestically, but her image and value could be seriously counterproductive to the real conduct of the international relations of the United States now characterised by elements of civilisational clashes and renewed Russia-West Cold War.

God voting for McCain or Obama in America ?

British monarch' s republican rep in Australia

According to a BBC report, Quentin Bryce, the new Governor-General of Australia, is a republican just like PM Kevin Rudd. Like the United States, India and Nepal, Australia was a colony of the British Empire. Advance Australia Fair, a very inclusive song with no more references to any monarch and deity, was officially declared the national anthem of Australia on 19 April 1984, replacing God Save the Queen for good.

Old Nepal' s royal palace re-opens as museum

Russia-West Cold War over Georgia escalates

Following the hardening of US attitude on Russia's actions in Georgia, the new Russia-West Cold War has certainly escalated or intensified. Events in the past few weeks have also indicated that Russia is very serious and extremely tough about the space for its forward defence. How would the situation impact on the USA presidential election, and how would the next USA president handle the rejuvenated Russia are interesting questions for serious observers of international relations.

Soviet history in 70s offers lessons for Russia