“50 YEARS OF CUBAN REVOLUTION”

The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt that led to the overthrow of U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista of Cuba on January 1, 1959 by the 26th of July Movement led by Fidel Castro.

The "Cuban Revolution" also refers to the ongoing implementation of social and economic programs by the new Castro government, including the implementation of Marxist economic policies.

WHAT IS H-1B VISA

The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa in the United States under the Immigration & Nationality Act, section 101(a)(15)(H). It allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. If a foreign worker in H-1B status quits or is dismissed from the sponsoring employer, the worker can find another employer, apply for a change of status to another non-immigrant status, or must leave the US.

N. KOREA FREES U.S. JOURNALISTS
 North Korea released the two American reporters who had been imprisoned in the country since March, issuing a “special pardon” following the surprise visit of the former U.S. President, Bill Clinton.


 Mr. Clinton met North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, the first high-level visit from the U.S. to Pyongyang in almost a decade, and made the case for the release of the journalists.

 In March, Laura Ling (32) and Euna Lee (36), reporters with American television channel Current TV, were detained by authorities when they were filming a report along the country’s border on the influx of North Korean refugees into China. They were accused of illegally crossing the border and had been sentenced to 12 years of hard labour for “hostile acts” against the country. Mr. Kim issued a “special pardon” in keeping with the country’s “humanitarian and peace-loving policy.”

 North Korea currently faces a range of sanctions, which were recently expanded by the United Nations after the country conducted a nuclear test and a series of missile tests in May. In April, North Korea quit the Six-Party Talks initiative set up by the U.S. along with China, Russia, Japan and South Korea to bring about denuclearisation and stability in the region.

INDIAN FUNDS FOR PALALY PROJECT : JAFFNA, SRI LANKA

 Palaly Airport, in Sri Lanks , once an international airport had regular passenger flight service between Colombo and Trichirapalli, India is under the control of Sri Lankan Navy now.India handed over bank drafts worth Sri Lanka Rs. 117 million to Sri Lanka for Palaly military-cum civilian runway rehabilitation project in the Jaffna peninsula,

 Palaly houses the main base of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) in the Jaffna peninsula. The air base is also used by civilian and military aircraft carrying Jaffna-bound passengers.

 The Sri Lankan Defence Ministry said, “Deepening and strengthening the long-standing bilateral relationship between Sri Lanka and India, the Indian government financially assisted the Palaly Runway Rehabilitation project.


NEW LTTE CHIEF PATHMANATHAN HELD


 The new Tiger chief, Selvarasa Pathmanathan known as ‘KP,’ was arrested in Thailand and brought to Colombo for questioning.

 KP claimed that the decision of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to give up its armed struggle and take recourse to “political and diplomatic moves” was taken by Velupillai Prabakaran along with other commanders at Mullivaikkal in Mullaithivu district days before Prabakaran’s death in Eelam War IV.

 In a statement posted on his website, KP, supposedly operating out of South-East Asia and wanted by the Interpol, dwelt at length on his earlier statement about the LTTE’s decision to achieve Tamil Eelam.