(SomaliNet) An Indian court has ruled against a group of female flight attendants who were grounded from the national airline for being overweight. The court said that state-owned Indian Airlines had the right to take the step in the interest of flight safety and in the face of growing competition.
The flight attendants had argued that the move was demeaning. The airline began a system of measuring air hostesses based on their height and weight last year.
The Delhi High Court has ruled in favour of the airline, saying that with aircraft flying at higher altitudes, the safety of the passengers depended on the crew's ability to perform. "No airline can afford to remain lax in any department whatsoever, be it the personality of the crew members of their physical fitness," Justice Rekha Sharma said.
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Posted by: Fred ||
06/02/2007 00:00 ||
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Posted by: John Frum ||
06/02/2007 11:58 Comments ||
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Indian Liquor Baron Vijay Mallya (owner of Kingfisher Airlines) is always on the lookout for new talent
Posted by: John Frum ||
06/02/2007 12:01 Comments ||
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My favourite airline is still FinnAir business class. 50+ grey-haired ladies fussing over you. Everyone (except me of course) circulates around the cabin, because in Finnish business circles everyone knows everyone else and then they serve the wine in 10oz tumblers. Besides, I'm partial to smoked herring.
SIRTE, Libya - A deal to solve the case of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor sentenced to death for deliberately infecting Libyan children with HIV may be close, a spokesman for the childrens families said on Friday. The six foreign medics were convicted in December of deliberately infecting 426 children with HIV in a highly politicised trial that has hampered Libyan attempts to restore full relations with the West.
We might reach an agreement on the Bulgarian nurses and the infected children before June 21, Driss Lagha, chairman of the Association for the Families of the HIV-infected Children, told Reuters. In the event of reaching a settlement it will be presented to the High Judicial Council for approval and for the council to take the necessary measures regarding it, he added.
The medics say they are innocent and were tortured to make them confess, and the United States and the European Union have stepped up pressure on Tripoli to release them. Libya has suggested it can free the nurses if an agreement is reached to pay compensation to the families of the children.
The six have appealed to the Supreme Court against their conviction but no date has been set for a hearing. If the court dismissed the appeal, the High Judicial Council would still examine the case, Libyan government officials have said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/02/2007 00:00 ||
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What on Earth am I on about? The Green Nuns is the name given to the 500-string all female personal guard of Lybian megalomaniacal strongman Muammar Gadhafi, the gift upon the world that just keeps on giving. They are also known as the Amazonian guard and are an elite unit of Lybias Revolutionary Guards Corps.
More at link including pictures of the Amazonian guard.
#1
Back in the 1980s, several mercenaries were hired to train Gadhafi's fembots and from what I recall from the articles written about that, the women were rated along the lines of the LAPD SWAT team as far as effectiveness. In other words, they can shoot rather well but they are not the Rangers or the Secret Service.
President Robert Mugabe has urged Zimbabwe's security forces to remain on high alert to thwart attempts to topple his government by the opposition and his Western foes, official media reported on Friday.
Mugabe, who in recent months has stepped up warnings against public protests amid an escalating economic crisis, told a ceremony for graduating police officers that threatened strikes and job stayaways were part of a plot by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to sow political turmoil. "Our security forces have heightened their vigilance in order to thwart the subversive manoeuvres of those who engage in crimes of political violence," Mugabe was quoted by the official Herald newspaper as saying at Thursday's event. "I wish to call upon people of Zimbabwe to unite against the shameless British arm-twisting tactics being orchestrated through the MDC and the so-called civil groups," Mugabe said.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/02/2007 00:00 ||
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Somebody just kill this bastard already. Why do we put up with this tin-pot despot?
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez on Tuesday called opposition news channel Globovision an enemy of the state and said he would do what was needed to stop it from inciting violence, only days after he shut another opposition broadcaster.
Tens of thousands of Venezuelans marched in Caracas in a fourth consecutive day of protests over Chávez's closure of the RCTV network -- a move which has sparked international criticism that the leftist leader's reforms are undermining democracy.
State television showed hundreds of government supporters marching in downtown Caracas celebrating Chávez's decision. "Enemies of the homeland, particularly those behind the scenes, I will give you a name: Globovision. Greetings gentlemen of Globovision, you should watch where you are going," Chávez said in a broadcast all channels had to show. "I recommend you take a tranquiliser and get into gear, because if not, I am am going to do what is necessary."
He accused Globovision of trying to incite his assassination and of misreporting protests over the closure of RCTV in a manner that could whip up a situation similar to the coup attempt against him in 2002.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/02/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Grunter, I tried out your suggestion. The first Google link confirmed what I had suspected, that Chavez is a textbook clinical case of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, meeting ALL criteria.
Oddly, the next four links led to Bush-bashing screeds. I can only assume that says something about Google itself...
#2
Obviously the "people" want him to continue. He got elected by a landslide. So I say screw em, let them ride the burnt out bird straight into the ground. Then we can sit back and have our little chuckle at the communist assholes once again.
#5
GP, if you do a Google search for "Hugo Chavez Narcissistic Personality Disorder you will find some interesting reading. Narcissists do not go gently into that dark night. Only an assassination can save Venuzuela from a bloodbath, I fear.
The Bush administration announced plans to sell India six Lockheed Martin Corp C-130J cargo planes and related gear worth up to $1.1 billion in what would be the first major US military aircraft deal with India.
The sale would bolster a "US-Indian strategic relationship that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace and economic progress in South Asia," the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a notice to Congress made public this week.
The C-130J Super Hercules would give India "a credible special operations capability that will deter aggression in the region, provide humanitarian airlift capability and ensure interoperability with U.S. forces in coalition operations," said the memo to lawmakers, dated Friday.
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Posted by: John Frum ||
06/02/2007 08:33 ||
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In 1994, a single C-130H was fetching $37.4 million. The unit cost of the first C-130J models, announced by the Pentagon in 1996, was nearly double: $66.4 million. By 2003 the price had soared to $81 million. This year, the Air Force estimates the unit price of the planes will drop considerably to about $66.5 million because it plans to buy them in a large multiyear procurement.
A stretch version of the C-130J that is 15 feet longer sells for almost $100 million a copy. The Air Force ordered 40 of those last March (2005).
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/02/2007 11:03 Comments ||
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An Air Force Technology page devoted to the C-130J states that the OEM engines are Allison AE2100D3 turboprops. This order includes four RR Plc spare engines and eight ATK AN/AAR-47 missile warning systems.
#3
While there has been "A" C-130 since before i was born, I suspect the current production has few or no parts in common with the original. Probably 100% re-tooled, year by year.
Posted by: Gary and the Samoyeds ||
06/02/2007 11:33 Comments ||
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I seriously doubt a 100% re-tooling per year. I doubt even a 10% ...
Depends on what you mean by re-tooling (re-design and implement new part designs or implement new tooling) - either way there is NO chance of 100% change over year to year.
The purchase cost differences are probably typical accounting per unit cost which fluctuates based on units purchased.
#5
Well, they got rid of the flight engineer, and they have 6-bladed composite props instead of the 4-bladed aluminum ones. They now have a stretched version in the -30. We have used the civilian L100-30 for years up here. I have chartered 5 of them in the last year for air freighting into remote locations in western Alaska. Brought in 8-ft diameter water filter vessels. It is a great bird! Now over 53 years old.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/02/2007 12:00 Comments ||
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Plus each model letter has meant a big change in avionics : the J models have glass cockpits, GPS along with inertial guidance, low-light rear ramp cameras as an option, computer-controlled fuel systems, fly-by-wire, etc. The latest models have very little in common with older models, other than the general design of the aircraft.
#7
That didn't come out right. What I meant was that there was probably a cumulative 100% change over the years.
Posted by: Gary and the Samoyeds ||
06/02/2007 20:35 Comments ||
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What staggers me is the unit cost of a C-130: set aside the spare engines, missiles, etc and these suckers must run $150 million each. How long has this plane been around?
Jeepers.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/02/2007 10:42 Comments ||
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KATHMANDU - A one-day general strike called by various ethnic groups in Nepal paralysed normal life across the Himalayan nation on Friday. The strike, called by an umbrella body of ethnic groups, the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), is in protest at what it calls the black day when the Nepalese Supreme Court handed down a ruling years ago that banned the use of ethnic languages in government works.
The president of NEFIN, Pasang Sherpa, said, The strike is also to press for an ethnicity based proportional representation system in the constituent assembly and annulment of provisions in the interim constitution that violate rights and interests of ethnic communities.
The strike shut down schools, educational institutions, businesses, offices and markets. In the capital Kathmandu, the strike has been nearly complete, with not even motorcycles operating, and markets virtually deserted. No long-route buses are operating to and from Kathmandu. The strike has crippled all long-range transport, said Hari Aryal, a ticketing agent for long-distance buses in Kathmandu.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/02/2007 00:00 ||
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After years of haggling and delays caused by political differences, Pakistan has finally closed a deal to obtain six AWACS aircraft from Sweden, reported Strategypage.com on Friday.
Makes sense, I guess, for a military that's never won a war to buy equipment from a country that hasn't fought one since Charles the Great.
The purchased systems is a SAAB 2000 airliner mounting a Swedish Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which consists of thousands of tiny radars that can be independently aimed in different directions. This is similar to the AESA radar used on the American JSTARS aircraft, enabling it to locate vehicles moving on the ground. Pakistan is getting the six SAAB 2000s with the Ericsson PS-890 Erieye radar and another SAAB 2000 configured for regular (fifty seats) passenger service for $1 billion.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/02/2007 00:00 ||
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does it come with meatballs?
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/02/2007 0:29 Comments ||
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Looks like 5 instead of 6....
Saab renegotiate Surveillance contract
With reference to the sale of Saab Airborne Surveillance Systems to Pakistan, the customer has for financial reasons and in accordance with the original contract, asked to renegotiate part of the contract concerning a reduction of the number of systems. Together with Saab terms and conditions then have been agreed, concerning a reduction. Saab and the Government of Pakistan continue as planned with the delivery of the system.
As a result of the renegotiation, the order value is decreased by approximately SEK 1.35 billion. Income will decrease proportionally to the volume change, but other commercial terms and conditions will remain unchanged. Concerning the fiscal year 2007 there is no impact on turnover or income as a result of the new conditions.
The Saab Airborne Surveillance System includes Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft equipped with Saab Microwave Systems airborne radar system ERIEYE and associated support equipment.
Posted by: John Frum ||
06/02/2007 7:06 Comments ||
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Sweden may want to reconsider this sale if they intend to pitch their wares to India.
The Indian Air Force needs 150 fighters (order may be bumped up to 200) and Sweden wants to sell them the Gripen.
The Indian army has issued a RFP for 400 towed 155mm artillery guns, part of the larger program to acquire 3000 towed, wheeled and tracked 155mm guns by 2020. Sweden has offered the Bofors 155mm gun.
Posted by: John Frum ||
06/02/2007 7:22 Comments ||
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SAAB 2000s? AWACS on a puddle-jumper?
Posted by: Mike ||
06/02/2007 9:47 Comments ||
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Yep.. it is a bit of poor man's AWACs but still a substantial capability when you don't have any AWACS at all.
India, besides buying the Israeli Phalcon AWACS (mounted on the IL-76) is integrating its own radars to a Brazilian Embraer jet.
Posted by: John Frum ||
06/02/2007 10:03 Comments ||
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Pope Benedict XVI stressed the importance of protecting religious freedom on Friday as he greeted Pakistans new ambassador to the Vatican. A robust democratic society depends on its ability to uphold and protect religious freedom, a basic right inherent in the very dignity of the human person, the pope told Ayesha Riyaz, according to a statement from the Vatican.
That's downright seditious talk in the Moose limb world. Religious freedom implies you can stop being a Muslim. They can't cope with the concept, not even the relatively civilized ones like in Malaysia.
Benedict also commended Pakistans recent electoral reforms, which are aimed at facilitating the full participation of all citizens, including those belonging to minority groups. He continued: I would also like to acknowledge recent legislative decisions in Pakistan aimed at eliminating unjust forms of prejudice and discrimination against women. In addition, the pope said he wanted to express my deep respect and admiration for the religious heritage that has inspired the human development of your country, and continues to animate its aspirations for greater peace and mutual understanding.
Christians and Muslims both worship the one God, the Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, he said. It is this belief that moves us to unite minds and hearts as we work tirelessly for peace, justice, and a better future for mankind.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/02/2007 00:00 ||
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After what looked like a rather promising start by Benedict sure seems to have fallen flat of late.
Christians and Muslims both worship the one God, the Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, he said. It is this belief that moves us to unite minds and hearts as we work tirelessly for peace, justice, and a better future for mankind.
This sort of palliating bullshit is what allows Islam to continue its march under false colors. The article I posted by Srdja Trifkovic, "Winning the War on Terror: A Realist Strategy", specifically addresses this issue.
Yes, Islam has an inherent advantage over the tepid ideology of multicultural mediocrity in that it offers Allah in the place of nothing. Its adherents should not be condemned for maintaining their traditions. We should blame ourselves for refusing to acknowledge the facts of the case and failing to take stock of our options. People did not take Mein Kampf seriously, at their own peril. The Kuran's exhortations to the believers to annihilate the non-believers, to confiscate their land and property, to take their women and enslave their children are equally frank, and the fruits visible through the centuries.
The elite class has every intention of continuing to fight the war on terrorism without naming the enemy, without revealing his beliefs, without unmasking his intentions, without offending his accomplices, without expelling his fifth columnists, and without ever daring to win. Their crime can and must be stopped.
[emphasis added]
The stubborn refusal of world leadership, be it political or religious to name Islam for the intolerant and hostile ideology it is only compounds its destructive force. This is betrayal on a grand scale. These toothless guardians knowingly deliver us into the hands of our executioners while they retreat into their own well-protected and gated enclaves.
Pope Benedict's approving words for the Islamic cesspit that is Pakistan gives it undue credibility and only serves to validate their ghastly anti-Christian agenda. Better that he denouce the destruction of Christian churches and excoriate Pakistan's envoy for his country's role in exporting jihadist terrorism around the world.
This is fatal misrepresentation and it serves no useful purpose to smooth over Islam's continually raised hackles with trowel after trowel of diplomatic horseshit. Islam's paper thin sensitivities must be rubbed raw by gritty reality until Muslims everywhere are exposed for the pathologically violent exponents of global domination that they are. Pretending that the Koran is anything but a war manual is treason against civilization.
Pope Benedict can only be keenly aware of how Muslim majority nations routinely reject the least manifestation of his own Christian faith, to the point of murdering members of his own flock. To gloss over this barbarity with pronouncements of praise for these vile killers is an affront to man and God alike. So long as Islam persists in perpetuating shari'a law, it can have no claim upon worshipping the "one true God", Benedict's claims to the contrary notwithstanding. Sadly, the Catholic church appears to have ensconced another feeble minded fool who shall lead them into irrelevance and self-immolation at the hands of a savage creed.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
(SomaliNet) An Indian court has ruled against a group of female flight attendants who were grounded from the national airline for being overweight. The court said that state-owned Indian Airlines had the right to take the step in the interest of flight safety and in the face of growing competition. 
President Robert Mugabe has urged Zimbabwe's security forces to remain on high alert to thwart attempts to topple his government by the opposition and his Western foes, official media reported on Friday.
Pope Benedict XVI stressed the importance of protecting religious freedom on Friday as he greeted Pakistans new ambassador to the Vatican. A robust democratic society depends on its ability to uphold and protect religious freedom, a basic right inherent in the very dignity of the human person, the pope told Ayesha Riyaz, according to a statement from the Vatican. 
