ANNA HAZARE: DEMAND REJECTED

The government has rejected the demand of Anna Hazare to issue an official notification to constitute the draft committee forLokpal Bill and also rejected the proposal for an outsider to lead the new committee of government and civil society.

The protesters announced that Kapil Sibal had conveyed about this decision to them and has also said that Pranab Mukherjee will head the committee.

Reacting to the government's stand, Anna Hazare announced country-wide Jail Bharo agiation on April 12.

However, later the date was changed to April 13 as organisers realised April 12 was a Ramnavami holiday and the agitation would inconvenience people.

An angry Hazare said that the people will teach the government a lesson by joinging the jail bharo agitation against the government.

Meanwhile, Anna Hazare, whose fast entered the fourth day on Friday, has said that he will not become the chairman of the proposed draft committee for the Lokpal Bill.

Addressing the thousands at the protest site, Anna Hazare said that he would only assist the committee in advisory capacity.

The fasting leaders announced that Anna Hazare will write a letter to Prime Minister manmohan Singh forwarding the names of Santosh Hegde and Justice GS Verma to lead the proposed draft committee.

The government has already rejected these names.

Hazare called for immediate decentralisation of power at the centre to ensure that there is end to corruption in governance.

Stating that Mahatma Gandhi stressed on decentralisation of power, he said his fast for Lokpal Bill was like the second fight for Independence. He said, Lokpal Bill will lead to decentralisation of power.

Hazare said Right to Information Act is an example for all to see. The RTI has led to devolution of power.

Taking a dig at the present set up, Hazare said all the agencies to tackle corruption at present are under the government and hence there has never been any positive outcome of any probe.

Hazare said we are demanding that all these agencies should come under the purview of Lokpal. This will ensure that all the corrupt will land in jail, he said.

ANYTHING ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!: Japan: Another Earthquake http://ping.fm/ICd4G

Japan: Another Earthquake

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake rattled Tokyo over a minute on Thursday night. Weaker than the M 9.0 that struck on March11, the 7.1 scared many people.

A warning of a tsunami of up to 6 feet was issued by the Japanese meteorological agency after a M7.1 shake off the coast, 60 miles from Sendai and 90 miles from the crippled and leaking nuclear power plant at Fukushima. Tokyo, which felt the earthquake, is about 215 miles from the epicenter. The tsunami warning was lifted after 90 minutes. The earthquake occurred at 23.32 local time. At first the quake was reported at M7.4, later downgraded to 7.1.

This latest strong aftershock has knocked out power in several areas in the Northeast and may have further damaged the Fukushima plant. Workers have evacuated the plant until the danger of a tsunami generated by this latest shock is past.

Plates warped and strained

This earthquake was 25 miles deep and is thought to be an aftershock or a continuation of the pressure release from the warping of the tectonic plates as the Pacific plate slides under Japan. Thomas Heaton, California Institute of Technology geophysicist, said after the March 11 earthquake that even one of magnitude 9 may not release the strain.

Japan mostly lies on the Okhotsk Plate, which is long and moving in a southerly direction. On the west side of Japan is the Eurasian Plate, pushing eastwards, and on the opposite side is the Pacific Plate, moving to the west. The Okhotsk Plate is therefore sandwiched between the two massive plates and being assaulted from both sides.

Sathya Sai Baba shows signs of improvement.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who is undergoing treatment for multi-organ dysfunction, is showing signs of improvement and doctors treating him are optimistic about his recovery.

“Sathya Sai Baba, who was admitted in this hospital on March 28, is showing positive signs of response to the treatment being given to him,” a health bulletin issued this morning by A.N. Safaya, Director of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences here, said.

“His blood pressure and other clinical parameters continue to be nearly normal and satisfactory. His kidneys are also showing signs of recovery. The state of his consciousness also continues to show improvement. Indices of other vital organs like the heart and liver have also shown improvement.

“He is in a stable condition of health, though he still continues to be on the ventilator and slow dialysis,” it said.

The panel of doctors treating him is optimistic about his recovery, the bulletin added.

85-year-old Sathya Sai Baba was admitted to the super-speciality hospital on March 28 following problems related to heart and lungs.

The doctors treating him have said he is suffering from multi-organ dysfunction and that he was responding positively to the treatment.

ANYTHING ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!: After Satya Sai Baba: Who? http://ping.fm/PqjkX