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Year 2  Issue 16  Thursday, 01.11.12

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‘Frankenstorm’ Sandy hits US £31bn damage, 8 million no power

After the Devastation, a Daunting Recovery, New Yorkers adapt to changed city Death toll across US northeast reaches 67 A 13ft storm surge, casualties, evacuated babies, uprooted trees, ruined buildings. New Yorkers are shaken but not defeated Millions of people stricken by massive storm Sandy will attempt to resume normal lives

today as companies, markets and airports reopen, despite grim projections of power and mass transit outages lasting several more days. The New York region began the Continued on page 15 >>

Saudi Arabia to raze Prophet Mohammed’s tomb to build larger mosque The key Islamic heritage site, including Prophet Mohammed’s shrine, is to be bulldozed, as Saudi Arabia plans a $ 6 billion expansion of Medina’s holy Masjid an-Nabawi Mosque. However, Muslims remain silent on the possible destruction. ¬Work on the Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, is planned to start as soon as the annual Hajj pilgrimage comes to a close at the end of November.

After the reconstruction, the mosque is expected to become the world’s largest building, with a capacity for 1.6 million people.

And while the need to expand does exist as more pilgrims are flocking to holy sites every year, nothing has been said on how the project will affect the surroundings of the mosque, also historic sites.

Continued on page 02 >>

Reconstruction

A very old photograph of Masjid Al Nabawi in Madinah

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

Britons Triumph Anti-Islam Rightists Defeat Anti-fascists drive the EDL racists out of Walthamstow

Around 1,000 anti-racists gathered in Walthamstow, north east London, last Saturday and celebrated a resounding victory over the fascist English Defence League (EDL).

Hundreds of Britons have staged a ‘victory rally’ in Walthamstow district in northeast London to celebrate a Home Office ban on a planned march by far-rightists against Muslims.

“The EDL [English Defence League] wanted to come to Walthamstow to intimidate Muslim and other communities including trade unionists,” Hugh Lanning, deputy general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), told the Morning Star.

“They have been given a resounding Publisher Salah Bu Khamas (UAE) Sabha Khan (UK) UK Office 10 Courtenay Road, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 7ND UK Phone: +44 20 8904 0619 Fax: +44 20 8181 7575 info@satribune.co.uk India Office Satya Infomedia Pvt. Ltd. C/O Satya Group.

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no. Let’s celebrate this victory together and united.”

The victory rally was launched after the Home Office banned a planned march by the EDL against Muslims in Waltham Forest.

The 30-day ban across much of east London forced a handful of EDL supporters to hold a static demo outside Parliament.

Showing up for celebrating the defeat of the far-right, politicians and union leaders lined up to celebrate their victory.

“The EDL are in a very weak and isolated position at the moment and all the signs suggest they will continue to get weaker,” UAF joint national secretary Sabby Dhalu said.

“While their leaders are getting arrested support for our movement has grown considerably, including from many MPs.” Comedian and local resident Ava Vidal saw it as an “insult that the EDL targeted our area.”

The EDL, a far-right group that emerged in 2009, has held numerous protests against what it calls “Islamic extremism” in Britain.

Far-right groups like the EDL and the British National Party (BNP) are playing the card of immigration to stoke sentiment against Muslims and immigrants.

In November 2010, British police warned that the anti-Muslim demonstration by the EDL fuel extremism and harm social cohesion in Britain.

The Walthamstow rally is not the

first to be banned for the extremist EDL group.

In September, the EDL was humiliated in Walthamstow when anti-fascists comprehensively routed it as it tried to stage a “national” demonstration.

prevented an Islamophobic demonstration in an area with a large Muslim population that is celebrating `Eid,” Dhalu said.

“The EDL is weak and isolated, while our movement grows stronger.

“This victory must be celebrated.”

Supporting Muslim British lawmakers hailed the defeat of the far-right, reiterating rejection of their rhetoric against Muslims and their faith.

“We stand by our Muslim communities and reject any form of racism and xenophobia,” MP Stella Creasy said.

Dhalu, the joint national secretary of UAF, agrees.

“The police restriction preventing the EDL from entering Walthamstow is a major victory for our movement,” he said.

“This is also a victory for the Muslim community which has successfully

British Muslims, estimated at nearly 2.5 million, have been in the eye of storm since the 7/7 2005 attacks.

A Financial Times opinion poll showed that Britain is the most suspicious nation about Muslims.

A poll of the Evening Standard found that a sizable section of London residents harbor negative opinions about Muslims.

The anti-Muslim tide has also been on the rise across Europe, with several countries are restricting the freedom of Muslims to wearing face-veil and building mosques. The EDL had said it would return to Walthamstow on Saturday after a

humiliating defeat on 1 September.

Then, 4,000 anti-fascists occupied its route and stopped the racists from holding a rally. But the EDL failed to return or “unite the right” behind its banner.

Tory home secretary Theresa May granted a police request to ban the EDL and all other marches when it was clear that the anti-fascist protest would be far larger than before (see below).

The anti-EDL demo organised by Unite Against Fascism and We Are Waltham Forest, however, assembled as planned and ended as a victory parade against the racists.

Hugh Lanning from the PCS union condemned David Cameron for attacking multiculturalism. “The fight against cuts is an anti-racist fight,” he added. “That is why the EDL also targets picket lines.”

Father Steven Saxby from St Barnabas Church in Walthamstow told the rally that the way to defeat the EDL “is through the grassroots coming together.”

Jo Cardwell from We Are Waltham Forest said, “On 1 September we built the coffin that they climbed into—and today we shut the lid.”

After the rally anti-fascists defied the police ban by marching briefly along Hoe Street.

Meanwhile a miserable ragbag of 50 EDL fascists was penned by police at their “demonstration”, hastily relocated miles away near the Houses of Parliament.

Saudi Arabia to raze Prophet Mohammed’s tomb to build larger mosque Continued from page 01 >> Concerns are growing that the expansion of Masjid an-Nabawi will come at the price of three of the world’s oldest mosques nearby, which hold the tombs of Prophet Mohammed and two of his closest companions, Abu Bakr and Umar. The expansion project which will cost 25 billion SAR (more than US $6 billion) reportedly requires razing holy sites, as old as the seventh century.

The Saudis insist that colossal expansion of both Mecca and Medina is essential to make a way for the growing numbers of pilgrims. Both Mecca and Medina host 12 million visiting pilgrims each year and this number is expected to increase to 17 million by 2025.

Authorities and hotel developers are working hard to keep pace, however, the expansions have cost the oldest cities their historical surroundings as sky scrapers, luxury hotels and shopping malls are being erected amongst

Islamic heritage.

A room in a hotel or apartment in a historic area may cost up to $ 500 per night. And that’s all in or near Mecca, a place where the Prophet Mohammed insisted all Muslims would be equal.

“They just want to make a lot of money from the super-rich elite pilgrims, but for the poor pilgrims it is getting very expensive and they cannot afford it,”

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

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Tablighi Jamaat and Mega Mosque UK Planned east London Islamic center sparks ‘Mega Mosque No Thanks’ campaign

Society for spreading faith) is a religious movement which was founded in 1926 by Muhammad Ilyas al-Kandhlawi in India.

The movement primarily aims at Tablighi spiritual reformation by working at the grass roots level, reaching out to Muslims across all social and economic spectra to bring them closer to Islam.

Tablighi Jamaat came forth as an offshoot of the Deobandi movement. Its inception is believed to be a response to the deteriorating values and negligence of fundamental aspects of Islam, which were considered a threat to Muslims. Tablighi Jamaat maintains a non-affiliating stature in matters of politics and “Fiqh” (jurisprudence).

Meanwhile, “Tablighi Jamaat” has largely avoided electronic media and has emphasized a personal communication for proselytizing. The teachings of “Tablighi Jamaat” are mainly basic in approach and the Six Principles put forward by Muhammad Ilyas influence most of their teachings.

Pakistani Cricket super stars Saeed Anwar, Yousuf Youhana, Shahid Afridi, Mushtaq Ahmed, Inzamam ul Haq and Saqlain Mushtaq are all devoted members of Tabligui Jamat. Aamir Khan and Shahid Afridi met Maulana Tariq Jamil, Pakistan’s one of the most influential clerics of Tablighi Jamaat, during a gathering in Makkah. Pakistani former singer Junaid Jamshed was also present on the occasion.

A planned 10,000-capacity ‘mega mosque’ in East London is under consideration by city authorities as anti Muslims mount a campaign to halt construction amid fears it will become a hotbed of Islamic extremism.

The gigantic mosque, four times the size of St. Paul’s Cathedral, will sport towering 40-foot minarets, an Islamic library, sports facilities and eight apartments.

Planning permission for the place of worship is being considered by Newham Council, despite controversy and fierce opposition from the local community, including many Muslims.

The plans were submitted by Tablighi Jamaat, a Muslim missionary movement.

Critics claim the Islamic group preaches separatism and segregation.

An artist’s impression of the London mega-mosque “They teach that if you want to be a good to reach out to Islamist Muslims. To controversy regarding Tablighi Jamaat.

Muslim you must separate off from non- harden up and medieval-ize the Islam of The proposal has sparked intense Muslims…It’s only Tablighi Jamaat – of ordinary Muslims in this country. And I opposition in the years since the plans all the Islamic groups – that has created meet so many Muslims, who don’t want were first submitted in 1999. that,” journalist and cultural analyst Dr. In 2001, Tablighi Jamaat agreed worship Jenny Taylor, founder of religious literacy would only be on a temporary basis at consulting group Lapido Media, claimed. the site of the proposed mosque. In 2010, Newham Council issued an enforcement notice, but Tablighi successfully appealed it in 2011 and now more than 5,000 people worship at the ramshackle site every week.

The plans had initially included a provision for retail units and 300 houses, which were shelved in place of the mega mosque. The Muslim community refused to allow their ghettos over in Toronto, in Canada. They’re donations to contribute to commercial all around the world, this is a huge group businesses. and wherever they go they create barriers, Newham Council, which received the proposal from Tablighi on September 5, Dr Irfan Al-Alawi alleged that Pakistan is 2012, issued a statement in response: “We also where Tablighi Jamaat sends young can confirm we have received a planning British-born Muslims to be brainwashed application. As this is currently being into xtremism. In an interview Al-Alawi processed it would be inappropriate to also claimed , “Is the British government comment further at this stage.” really going to turn a blind eye on that The Mega Mosque No Thanks website and say, let’s go ahead and give these contains a checklist for mobilizing activists, people a chance? I don’t think so. He even including signing an e-petition on the hostility, division, they create separatism,” compared construction of mega Mosque government’s website and contacting local Alan Craig, campaign director of ‘Mega as “If they want a 9/11 in England, then by MPs. Mosque No Thanks,’ which is actively all means.” opposing its construction, said in an Dr Irfan Al ALawi is also part of an Tablighi Jamaat maintains that their

interview.

“The grounds on which they’re trying to set-up here in Britain are anti-British, anti-Western. This is not just going to be a Mosque – this is going to be a centre of training, where they are going to try

organisation Lapido Media who backed a controversial Channel 4 documentary screening of Islam: The Untold Story, by historian Tom Holland, which prompted more than 1,000 complaints when it aired.

Lapido’s Handy Book Launch ignites

purpose is peaceful missionary work.

Spokesperson for the group’s charitable trust and site owner Anjuman-E-IslahulMuslimeen previously told reporters, “The door is always open and we are happy to meet and discuss in depth our proposals.”

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EDITORIAL

Rakhine bleeds again In June some Muslim men allegedly raped and murdered a Buddhist girl in Rakhine state, Myanmar. The subsequent vigilante actions were to become a communal crisis. The Myanmar government has failed to stem the violence. So far thousands are believed to have been killed, the majority of them being Muslims. Their homes have been burnt and a large number forced to live in camps. The situation seems to have aroused little concern in the world community. The warning of stern action by ASEAN and the UN when the violence first erupted was not followed up, with the result that the emboldened Rakhine Buddhists had little to fear before a renewed assault on their Muslim fellows. What has surprised most is Myanmar’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ang San Suu Kyi’s silence, ostensibly to placate her constituency ahead of the general elections in 2015.

The Rakhine Muslims have been unable to attract the attention of the neighbouring countries. Bangladesh has gone so far as instructing three NGOs not to provide food and shelter to them. Already burdened with 40, 000 Rohingya refugees, it does not want any more exodus to strain its meagre resources.

The violence in Rakhine is tagged to

what was once known in the 1950s as ‘Burmanisation’, when efforts were afoot to achieve racial purity in Myanmar. It is in line with this thinking that the killing of Rakhine Muslims is seen as disastrous to the newly found face of a relatively librated Myanmar. In its latest warning, the UN has categorically underlined the effects the ongoing pogrom could have on the recent political reforms of the country. The fear of an ethnically polarised region, if the riots are permitted to continue, was clearly spelt out by the ASEAN Secretary Ggeneral Surim Pitsuwan. He wants ASEAN to press the Myanmar government to intervene and take charge of the situation. However, government intervention so far has failed to prevent an intensification of the crisis. Since an emergency has been imposed in Rakhine, security forces have not managed to restrain the Buddhist community or the communal riots.

From all accounts Rakhine is faced with a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent international or regional action. Even if disenfranchised, the Rakhine Muslims cannot be allowed to be mistreated or killed for living illegally in Myanmar.

Just like ordinary citizens have the right to live, refugees, if that is what the Rakhine Muslims are, deserve a decent living and their rights as human beings.

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

UK claims possible court hearing into CIA drone strikes in Pakistan would risk denting US ties

Foreign Office lawyers argue foreign relations and national security could be compromised by legal scrutiny Legal scrutiny in court of Britain’s collaboration with US drone strikes could compromise foreign relations and national security, Foreign Office lawyers argued on last Wednesaday.

The government made the claim at a high court hearing into the first legal challenge in English courts

said. “You damage national security, you damage the protection to the public.”

Eadie argued that the case should be heard by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), set up in 2000 to examine complaints about surveillance by government agencies. Martin Chamberlain, counsel for Khan, argued that the IPT was not competent to rule on whether the reported UK practice of sharing intelligence with the US for use in drone strikes was

to the drones campaign, which has been brought by a Pakistani man whose father was killed in an air strike near the Afghan border.

Noor Khan is arguing that Britain sharing intelligence to target unmanned aircraft could amount to complicity in murder or even war crimes. But James Eadie, representing the foreign secretary, said legal scrutiny of the drone campaign in an English criminal court would harm national security interests.

If a court ruled US actions to be illegal, “the potential for real damage to international relations is clear”, he

unlawful.

Noor Khan, son of drone victim, says Britain’s help for CIA is war crime Noor Khan, a 27-year-old whose father was killed by a drone strike in northwest Pakistan in March 2011, has asked Britain’s High Court to examine whether U.K. intelligence officials assisted the action and may be liable for prosecution.

His legal advisers want a judge to determine whether Britain’s secret eavesdropping agency, the Government Communications Headquarters, or GCHQ, has passed location data to guide CIA drones, and whether the U.K. has agreed to a secret policy of assistance to the program of targeting militants.

“Adjudicating on the claim plainly would have significant impact on the conduct of the United Kingdom’s relations with both the United States and Pakistan,” Eadie told a three-day hearing at the High Court. “It would also be likely to have such an impact on relations between the United States and Pakistan.

That impact would be felt in an acutely controversial, sensitive and important context.”

Since 2004, CIA drones have targeted suspected militants with missile strikes in the Pakistani tribal regions, killing hundreds of people. The program is controversial because of questions about its legality, the number of civilians it has killed and its impact on Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Khan’s father, Malik Daud Khan, was attending a meeting of local elders in Datta Khel, in North Waziristan, when it was hit by a missile fired from an unmanned drone, killing around 40 people.

British officials have not commented publicly on their policy toward CIA drone strikes. U.S. officials do not publicly acknowledge the covert program.

Pakistani officials have urged the U.S. to halt its program and to instead relay intelligence gathered by the pilotless aircraft to Pakistani jets and ground forces so that they can target militants themselves.

Kat Craig, legal director of the Reprieve charity, which is representing Khan, said that her client “merely wishes to know what role the British intelligence services play in this game of one-sided Russian roulette.”

The judgement should be rendered in a matter of weeks. If the Judges rule in the claimant’s favour, his representatives will be allowed to continue their legal battle to get the Court to issue the desired declaration.

Imran Khan detained and ‘interrogated over Jihad and drone views’ by US?

Imran Khan raising funds for PTI or Charity?

PTI Fundraisers raised over $115,000 in Toronto...over $650,000 in New York, and $139,000 in Seattle.

PTI NY arranged a Fundraising dinner with Imran Khan on Oct 26th, 2012. A fundraising Lunch was also being arranged on the same day. PTI LA planed a fundraising event on Oct 29th.

Former cricket captain turned politician detained on flight from Canada to New York was taken off an international flight from Canada to New York and questioned by US immigration officials over his views on drone strikes and jihad.

“I was taken off from plane and interrogated by US Immigration in Canada on my views on drones.

My stance is known. Drone attacks must stop,” Khan tweeted after his questioning. Imran in his twitt added: “Missed flight and sad to miss the fundraising lunch in NY but nothing will change my stance.”

According to some sources Imran Khan boarded the plane and after 45 minutes he was off loaded, source said someone complained about Imran Khan

and due to His visa condition he was not allowed to raise funds in USA. Also some critics suggest if Imran Khan collects funds for his Party than he

should declare that it’s not charity collections.

Khan was questioned for half an hour. US immigration officials also reportedly called the PTI chief a ‘supporter of Taliban’.

A US state department spokeswoman confirmed Khan’s questioning. “We are aware that Imran Khan was briefly delayed in Toronto before boarding the next flight to the United States,” she told Pakistani

media.

“The issue was resolved. Mr. Khan is welcome in the United States.”

The State Department gave no details about why Khan was detained. The US Customs and Border Protection agency said it was prohibited from discussing specific cases.

Some Canadian commentators have speculated that Khan’s questioning was because of groups who have been protesting his visit to the US, including a group called the American Islamic Leadership Coalition which reportedly wrote to US secretary of state Hillary Clinton asking her to revoke the US visa granted to Khan. “The US embassy made a significant error in granting this Islamist leader a visa,” the group said in a statement.

“Granting individuals like Khan access to the US to fundraise is against the interest of the people of Pakistan and the national security interests of the US.”

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

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Whistleblower who revealed CIA torture sentenced to prison

Former CIA agent John Kiriakou pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to crimes related to blowing the whistle on the US government’s torture of suspected terrorists and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Kiriakou, 48, agreed to admit to one count of disclosing information identifying a covert agent early Tuesday, just hours after his attorney entered a change of plea in an Alexandria, Virginia courtroom outside of Washington, DC. Kiriakou was originally charged under the Espionage Act of 1917 after he went public with the Central Intelligence Agency’s use of waterboarding on captured insurgents in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. On Monday morning, though, legal counsel for the accused former CIA agent informed the court that Kiriakou was willing to plead guilty to a lesser crime.

Initially, Kiriakou pleaded not guilty to the charge that he had outted two intelligence agents directly tied to the drowningsimulation method by going to the press with their identities.

As RT reported last week, defense attorneys had hoped that the government would be tasked with having to prove that Kiriakou

had intent to harm America when he went to the media. Instead, however, prosecutors were told they’d only need to prove that the former government employee was aware that his consequences had the potential to put the country in danger.

Had Kiriakou been convicted under the initial charges filed in court, he could have been sentenced to upwards of five decades behind bars.

“Let’s be clear, there is one reason, and one reason only, that John Kiriakou is taking this plea: for the certainty that he’ll be out of jail in 2 1/2 years to see his five children

grow up,” Jesselyn Raddack, a former Justice Department official who blew the whistle on Bush administration’s mishandling in the case of “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh, wrote Tuesday.

Kiriakou, Raddack wrote, was all but certain to enter the Alexandria courthouse on Tuesday and plead guilty to the lesser charge of violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act (IIPA), explaining, “there are no reported cases interpreting it because it’s nearly impossible to prove--for “outing” a torturer.” “’Outing’ is in quotes because the charge is not that Kiriakou’s actions resulted in a public disclosure of the name, but that through a Kevin Bacon-style chain of causation, GITMO torture victims learned the name of one of their possible torturers,” Raddack wrote.

“Regardless, how does outing a torturer hurt the national security of the U.S.? It’s like arguing that outing a Nazi guarding a concentration camp would hurt the national security of Germany.”

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a former government official told Firedoglake recently that the CIA was “totally ticked at Kiriakou for acknowledging the use of torture as state policy” and allegedly outing the identity of a

covert CIA official “responsible for ensuring the execution” of the water-boarding program.

Kiriakou “outted” to the reporters the identities of the CIA’s “prime torturer” under its Bush-era interrogations, Firedoglake wrote. “For that, the CIA is counting on the Justice Department to, at minimum, convict Kiriakou on the charge of leaking an agent’s identity to not only send a message to other agents but also to continue to protect one of their own.”

Former National Security Agency staffer Thomas Drake suffered a similar fate in recent years after the government went after him for blowing the whistle on the NSA’s poorly handled collection of public intelligence.

A grand jury indicted Drake on five counts tied to 1917’s Espionage Act as well as other crimes, but prosecutors eventually agreed to let him off with a misdemeanor computer violation that warranted zero jail time.

Together, Drake and Kirakou are two of six persons charged under the Espionage Act during the administration of US President Barack Obama. The current White House has indicted more people under the antiquated World War 1-era legislation than all previous presidents combined.

Exam cheats on the rise - but it’s the schools not the pupils The number of schools caught cheating the exams system has more than doubled in just 12 months, official figures show.

Some 130 penalties were issued to schools and colleges for malpractice in this summer’s GCSEs and A-levels – the highest number on record.

Ofqual, the qualifications watchdog, revealed that five institutions were stripped of the power to run their own exams altogether because of concerns over the way tests were organised. One more school had its exam entries suspended.

Schools can be subjected to official reprimands for helping pupils in the exams hall, breaches of security, allowing students to open test papers early or a lack of proper invigilation.

A further 60 individual teachers also faced penalties for “malpractice”, the regulator said, although this was down on a year earlier.

The disclosure comes amid an ongoing investigation into cheating in GCSEs by one of the Government’s flagship academies.

More schools and colleges were punished this year for potentially allowing pupils to cheat in their exams.

But fewer teenagers were penalised for

malpractice during their GCSEs and A levels, according to figures published by Ofqual, the exams regulator.

More than 2,500 penalties were issued to pupils, most commonly for taking unauthorised material into exam rooms. In the majority of cases this was a mobile phone or similar device.

According to reports, one former pupil even

claimed that teachers entered the exam hall during a test, telling students to change their answers.

Ofqual insisted that the sharp rise in school reprimands was down to a clampdown on malpractice by one exam board – Edexcel.

According to figures, 130 penalties were imposed on schools and colleges in England, Wales and Northern Ireland this summer,

compared with just 56 a year earlier and 106 in 2010. It was the highest total since records were first collated in 2009.

School-wide penalties can be imposed for a serious management failure across an entire institution or department, rather than the isolated actions of one teacher.

Overall, 23 teachers were suspended from involvement in exams.

In a further disclosure, it was revealed that 2,550 students were penalised for cheating or misbehaviour during the 2012 exams season, although this represented a drop of almost a third in 12 months. The fall was fuelled by an overall reduction in the age cohort this summer.

The use of mobile phones and other electronic devices in the exam hall was the most common reason – covering almost half of cases – followed by plagiarism, failing to acknowledge sources and copying from other students.

Almost 500 students were penalised for scrawling abusive messages on exam papers or disruptive behaviour and sweating in the test hall.

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

UK ‘discards own citizen who refused to spy on Muslims’ Theresa May strips British passport from Muslim care worker who refused to join MI5 and may now be in African prison • Mahdi Hashi is thought to be in prison in the African state of Djibouti

of tactics that were being used,” Asim Qureshi, research director at CagePrisoners, explained to RT. He added, “He is of Somali origin.

he mysteriously went missing.

His family believes MI5 had their threat executed.

“My son is missing and I don’t know if he is dead or alive. We are very worried, the whole family,” says Kaltum Mohamud, Mahdi’s mother.

While Mahdi was out of Britain, Home Secretary Theresa May ordered his British citizenship revoked for the “public good”, using a little-known power she has. She may do so on security grounds to any individual with dual citizenship without a court order.

The UK government decided that Mahdi should be denied the privileges and protection of citizenship due to his “extremist activities”, a letter read.

The only information the Hashi family have now comes from a man who contacted their relatives in Somalia to say that he had been

This is a purely racist profiling policy of the British government, and particularly its security agencies.”

Mahdi had been living in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu for the past two years, taking care of his grandmother and raising a son of his own. This summer

in prison with Mahdi in the African state of Djibouti.

“He told us that he had been fingerprinted and that DNA has been taken from him. The Americans, when they found out he was British citizen, contacted the British consulate and the British consulate said ‘we have already

• While he was visiting Somalia, Theresa May deprived him of all his rights as a British national • He was accused of extremist activities but his parents say this is wrong • After landing at Heathrow, he was approached by MI5 who said his ‘suspect status’ would be cleared if he ‘cooperated’ with them A Somali-born Briton was stripped of his citizenship by the home secretary and probably taken in secret to the US for illegal detention and torture as reprisal for his refusal to become an MI5 informant, his family alleges. ¬Mahdi Hashi grew up in the UK from the age of five and was a British citizen. This summer the 23-year-old went missing, and his family found out that the Home Office had stripped him of his passport for allegedly being involved in Islamic “extremist activities”.

His parents are distraught. They say that Madhi is an innocent victim of a British intelligence plot and that he was punished after he refused to work for MI5.

“All I can say is that Madhi is a Muslim in belief; he is a practicing Muslim. But being a practicing Muslim does not mean an Islamist. That’s all why he is being victimized,” says Mahdi’s dad Mohamed Hashi.

Back in 2009, Mahdi Hashi was a care worker in a north London

community center. It was then that he and four of his Muslim colleagues say they were approached and harassed separately by British security agents. Hey claimed that MI5 threatened to label them “Islamic extremists” if they refused to become informants for British intelligence and spy on their Muslim community.

Mahdi refused. He complained to his MP Frank Dobson and the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, the body which oversees MI5. He also spoke to the media in a bid to protect himself.

Campaigners from the rights group CagePrisoners, raising awareness for Mahdi’s plight, said that the constant threats made by British intelligence made life so unbearable that he left the UK. “They were trying to offer him a job saying that effectively ‘You’re an extremist, we know you are one. The only way out is for you to come and wok for us, to come and help us.’ These were the kind

removed British citizenship from him’. And the Americans took him somewhere, somewhere we don’t know,” Mohamed Hashi told RT. The family fears Mahdi is being held in custody at Camp Lemmonier in Djibouti. It is a notorious US anti-terrorist base, which is believed to be part of the American extraordinary rendition program. Under the program, terrorism suspects are unlawfully taken to third-party states, allegedly to be illegally detained and tortured.

The Hashi family wants answers to simple questions like what the allegations are against Mahdi, where he is located, or whether he is even alive. But when it comes to matters of intelligence they are faced with a wall of silence.

Lawyers acting on behalf of the Hashi family have inquired the Home Office, and the response was most elusive: “It has been the policy of successive governments neither to confirm nor deny speculation, allegations or assertion in respect of intelligence matters,” it read.

“This policy is maintained, and accordingly the secretary of state can neither confirm nor deny the allegations made on behalf of your client.”

“Mahdi’s case is a classic case where profiling and ludicrous policies in this War on Terror have resulted with an innocent individual, a helpless young man, having his life ruined,” says rights activist Asim Qureshi.

Campaigners say that by stripping Mahdi Hashi of his passport the British government has effectively washed their hands of his case, leaving his family in desperate search for answers about their missing son.

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

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NEWS

Sarkozy aide charged in Agosta Submarine Scandal

An aide of French former president Nicolas Sarkozy was on Monday charged in an illegal political funding scandal known as the ‘Karachi Affair’, a complex probe into alleged kickbacks on arms deals. Nicolas Bazire, the current number two of luxury group LVMH, was heard by judges for four hours and accused of handling illicit funds used for political campaigns. A former campaign manager for ex-prime minister Edouard Balladur, Bazire had been under investigation since September. Investigators are looking into irregularities in the financing of Balladur s 1995 presidential campaign. Sarkozy was Balladur s campaign spokesman and budget minister at the time.Judges suspect Balladur s campaign of receiving illicit ‘retro-commissions’ from the sale of French submarines to Pakistan. Two Sarkozy political aides and a former minister are under formal investigation over the affair.

Judges are also probing claims that a 2002 bombing in Karachi that killed 11 French naval engineers was carried out by Pakistani agents in revenge for the cancellation of bribes secretly promised to officials.The payment of arms sales commissions was legal in France until 2000, but the payment of kickbacks back to France was and is illegal. The probe focuses on the 1994 sale of submarines to Pakistan and frigates to Saudi Arabia.

Karachi-gate refers to the terrorist attack in Karachi on May 8, 2002 in which 11 French engineers were

killed and a dozen other of them were wounded. The engineers belonged to the Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN), a French company that builds naval armaments. They were part of the team that was sent to Pakistan to work on the Agotsa 90B submarine project, which was signed between France and Pakistan in the 90s. For many years that followed these fatal attacks, it was believed that they were carried out by Islamist militants for no other purpose than to demonstrate their ideological opposition to the West. However, in recent years, it has been revealed by journalist investigations in France and Pakistan, the state investigations in France into the financial affairs of

million Euros. The proper price of the three submarines was 1 billion Euros; however, the motley crew of Nicolas Sarkozy, Eduard Balladur and others pushed DCN to sell the submarines at a lower price because these politicians were desperately in need of money in order to finance the campaign of Mr. Balladur. It is worth repeating again that commissions were legal at that time and retrocommissions were only banned by Chirac in 1995. The irregularities in the DCN contract that the French judge later discovered were that the commissions were paid to Pakistan even before Pakistan had made the payments for the submarines.

Moreover, the retro-commissions

Pakistan: It was promised to Pakistan that advanced technology would be transferred to Pakistan, the type of arms technology that has never been transferred by an advanced country to a Third World country. The technology in question is “MESMA”, the oxygen free propulsion system which gives the submarine an extended dived endurance (more than 90 days instead of 45-60 days in conventional submarines). The initial engagement was to install this system on only one submarine but they had unofficially promised to later on install it on all three.

However, not only France retracted on some of its initial commitments but it also broke a more important

the DCN, as well as against Nicolas Sarkozy and his associates that the reasons behind targeting DCN personnel are different and far more serious than previously believed.

The manner in which France signed the contract for Agosta 90B with Pakistan, and then violated the written and unwritten terms of the contract. It was agreed upon that Pakistan will buy three Agosta submarines at a discount rate of 875

also started coming simultaneously and were rather deducted from the commissions. The retrocommissions were used and digested long before Pakistan started to make the payments for the contract.

The terms of the deal were broken

by France when the DCN tried to recover its losses by overcharging Pakistan when Pakistan needed upgradation. Moreover, France bagged the contract by tricking

understanding with Pakistan when it decided to sell and transfer better technology and submarines to India.

France had made all these promises to Pakistan in order to out-maneuver Germany in race for the contract; however, it would appear that France out-maneuvered itself.

So to answer the question whether the financial scandal – the commissions and retro-commissions – alone explain the attacks, the answer is no. In fact, the

commissions and retro-commissions are a regular part of military dealings all over the world, which is why they were legal until not very long ago among OCED countries. Pakistan was unhappy that the wrong people were getting paid inside Pakistan. it cannot be said that it had a direct bearing on the decision to kill the DCN engineers.

The money was paid long before 2002.

If it was a question of commissions then why the engineers would be killed eight years after the deal? The need for the commissions and retrocommissions was mainly for getting the deal done and to finance the elections of Mr. Balladur. the core of the matter is being hidden. The core of the matter is that France made a corrupt deal with a corrupt country and in which the entire French establishment was involved, be it the Left or the Right. It is rather unfair to only blame Nicolas Sarkozy because when it comes to arms export to rogue states, the French Left is as guilty as the Right. But what the anti-Sarkozy zealots are doing is precisely to hide these facts by focusing solely on Sarkozy. Last but not the least, France knows well that it cannot push Pakistan too far, for Pakistan is a valued ally of the US in the region and Pakistanis also have a predilection for terrorism if pressured too much. In the end, it was those innocent engineers who paid the price for the corruption of these two countries.

According to a Dawn report Former director-general of Pakistan Naval Intelligence Commodore (retd ) Shahid Ashraf has said that President Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto were not involved in the deal for the purchase of Agosta submarines from France. He said that though he was “pressurised to get them involved” but he did not succumb.

The former commodore said that the agreement of purchase of Agosta class submarines was signed on Continued on page 11 >>

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

Planned Child Benefit Cuts ‘Break EU Laws’ As a million families receive letters telling them their benefits will be cut, it is revealed that the move could be illegal.

Cutting child benefit for middleclass parents breaks European laws and could be challenged in court, ministers have been told.

In the week that 1.2m letters outlining cuts to Child Benefit are sent out, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has revealed it wrote to ministers earlier in the year warning that European citizens working in Britain will not necessarily have their payments reduced, making the

New Road Tax Plan For Motorways And A-Roads

A proposal for a higher rate of road tax levied on major trunk route users seeks to help raise more revenue for the Treasury.

Drivers who use motorways could be charged a higher rate of road tax than those who stick to slower routes.

According to reports, motorists face a two-tier road tax under proposals being considered by the Government.

It has been suggested drivers could be offered a lower rate of the tax if they agree not to use the country’s trunk road network of motorways and major A-roads.

Those paying a higher rate of vehicle excise duty would be free to use any roads.

Proponents say a network of automatic number-plate recognition cameras could be used to catch any drivers who were using the motorways without paying the higher rate.

A Department For Transport (DFT) said: “The department and Treasury are currently carrying out a feasibility study to review new ownership and financing models for the strategic road network.

“This is looking at how best we can secure investment in the network to increase capacity and boost economic growth.”

Governments have long sought to explore revenue generation options for road users.

Sky’s Deputy Political Editor Joey Jones said: “The fact is when they look years down the line with people changing their pattern of road use - some people getting electric or hybrid vehicles, or vehicles that have lower emissions - that means they are going to be paying less in vehicle excise duty.”

Money-raising concepts raised by previous governments have included expanding toll booths across the motorway network

and a system based on mileage.

But a DFT spokesman added: “The Government has made clear it will not implement tolls on existing road capacity and has no plans to replace existing motoring taxes with pay-as-you-go road

charging.”

The AA said it was opposed to an overhaul of road tax.

“This is the last thing drivers want on top of high fuel prices,” said spokesman Paul Watters.

“This would create a two-tier system on Britain’s roads, which would push many drivers away from trunk roads and into towns and villages where congestion would increase.

“Governments keep coming back to the idea of charging motorists for the roads they use, but the costs of implementing such a scheme would be huge.”

Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said that a scheme could work if the proceeds were used to improve the road network.

He said: “Ministers would go a long way to restoring trust among drivers if the proceeds were ring-fenced and ploughed back into road provision.”

Dr Richard Wellings, head of transport at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said the road network had been “neglected” by successive governments.

“For too long British drivers have had to pay over the odds for a road network that is simply not up to scratch,” he said.

“It is lamentable that this vital area of infrastructure has been neglected by government after government.”

new rules “discriminatory”.

The letter described the change in rules as “seriously flawed in principle and in practice” and says it “could be an operational and reputational disaster for the Government and HMRC”.

A million letters have been sent to families today warning they are to lose some of their child benefit, which is worth £20.30 a week for the first child and £13.40 for each

child after that. From January, any household where a parent earns more than £60,000 will lose all entitlement to child benefit, worth £2,450 a year to a family with three children. Those earning between £50,000 and £60,000 will lose some of it with the earners in question now required to fill in a self-assessment form.

Taxpayers who want to stop receiving the payments will not need

to fill in an SA form but they must let HMRC know to stop payments before January 7.

Plans to remove child benefit from about 1m of the highest-paid British workers will be defended by the coalition on Monday, arguing that the move is supported by the vast majority of society.

Tory MPs have warned of a huge backlash against the move, which will see better-off voters losing more than £1,000 a year for a first child and almost £2,500 for three children under the January changes.

But the Conservative party will on Monday publish a poll suggesting that 82 per cent of people support the move, which comes at a time of steep cuts to public spending across the board.

Even among high-income households the policy is still supported by a large majority, the survey found.

The city of Dubai is built on foundations that are steeped in history and tradition. From the evocative Dubai Museum to the spectacular Jumeirah Mosque, and from the breathtaking Bastakiya to the imperious Heritage Village.

There are many mysteries waiting to be unravelled. Explore Dubai at your pace and relive great traditions from day gone by.

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

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Pakistani politicians told they cannot visit Malala

The British hospital caring for Malala Yousafzai, has had to turn away a string of Pakistani VIPs keen to spend time at her bedside, according to staff.

Last week, Islamabad’s Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Farooq Sattar, visited the hospital. Since then visitors have included Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, the daughter of Benazir Bhutto, Mian Iftikhar Hussein, information minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Haider Ali, a politician from Swat, Malala’s home area.

On Monday it was the turn of Rehman Malik, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, who visited the hospital along with William

for limited amounts of time and other requests were being refused.

“It’s an easy thing to tell them because it’s based on a medical facts and it’s in the best interests of the patient,” she said.

Hague and a minister from the United Arab Emirates. During the visit to Queen Elizabeth hospital

in Birmingham on Monday, where Malala is recovering, the minister met the girl’s father

and hospital staff to thank them for their efforts and express his admiration for her campaign. He was joined by Pakistan’s interior minister, Rehman Malik, and the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed.

None was able to meet Malala but were briefed by medical staff and spent time with her family instead.

A spokeswoman said only immediately family members were allowed to visit Malala

Anyone wishing to send a card or gift should send or deliver them to: ‘For Malala’ c/o Pakistan Consulate Birmingham 2-26 Constitution Hill Hockley Birmingham B19 3LY The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity (QEHB Charity) has set up an account within the main hospital fund to support Malala.

Anyone wishing to visit the message board or donate should go to www.uhb.nhs.uk/malala and follow the links.

DVK Group Proud to Support The Sikh Awards

Lakshmi Mittal receives the Special Recognition Award from the world Sikh community

DVK Group Ltd, a global, boutique commodity trading and finance company, was proud to support the third annual The Sikh Awards which took place on Sunday 21st October at The Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster, London.

The Sikh Awards is an established institution, held to recognise the contribution and excellence of the international Sikh community across a variety of industry sectors. The gala ceremony was presented by former Mayoral advisor Mr Kulveer Ranger and model/actress Ms Anu Singh. Over 750 guests attended, including Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, BBC’s Head of religious programming Mr Tommy Nagra, Ms Charlotte Leslie MP, Mr Paul Uppal MP and Dr Kate Wharton from the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office.

DVK Group sponsored the award for Sikhs in Seva, which recognised an individual for his or her contribution to society through means of Seva

(selfless voluntary service) or for an outstanding individual who has excellently demonstrated exceptional leadership and vision when helping others. Sikhs in Seva was awarded to Mr Surendra Singh Khandari from the United Arab Emirates.

Surendra Singh is the youngest president of the Automobile Association of Andra Pradesh and the youngest captain of the Emirates Gold Club in Dubai.

He is now the Chairman of Al Dovbowi Group, one of the largest tyre distribution companies in the world.

Other esteemed award recipients included Britain’s

India who was awarded the Sikhs In Sports award for her unprecedented sporting achievements despite losing her sight, and Mr Rajinder Singh Baryan from Kenya who was awarded the coveted Sikhs In Business – Businessman award.

In speaking about The Sikh Awards, Deepak Kuntawala, Chairman of DVK Group, says: “We were delighted to have been a part of The Sikh Awards and to sponsor the ‘Sikhs In Seva’ Award category. As Chairman of DVK Group, my team and I applaud The Sikh Awards for its worthy recognition of the vast achievements in humanitarian service

richest man Lakshmi Mittal, who received the Special Recognition Award from the world Sikh community for his joint venture between Stateowned Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and Mittal Energy Ltd, in the Punjab region of India, Harpal Singh, CEO of Cancer Research who was awarded the Sikhs In Charities award, Ms Rashpal Kaur from

carried out by the Sikh community, in the UK and internationally.

The recipient, Mr Surendra Singh Khandari, from the United Arab Emirates, is a truly worthy winner of the ‘Sikhs In Seva’ Award, as he has demonstrated selfless and tireless service to society through his acts of goodwill, and his vision and leadership in

helping others.

I would also like to congratulate the event organiser Navdeep Singh for his incredible passion and commitment towards the cause and for his unfettered drive and energy in creating such a landmark event that not only the local Sikh community but also the wider audiences hold with utmost esteem. We wish The Sikh Awards every continued success and prosperity in the future.”

The DVK Group traces its roots back to the 1900s in Africa, built on a solid foundation of 100 years of international trading experience combined with revolutionary financial and investment know-how.

The company creates and manages bespoke private equity vehicles, alternate investment funds and hedge funds and its investment focus is aligned to the sectors we operate within. It has plans to expand into high growth, emerging markets, continuing to offer corporate clients core services as Structured Corporate Finance Solutions, Private Equity, Structured Trade and Commodity Finance, and Global Commodity Trading. The company’s Industry and sector focus includes aviation, infrastructure/ PPP’s/ bot, real estate, oil and gas, mining and excavation, Agriculture, Metals and leading Commodities such as securing exclusive oil/ natural resource allocations and Oil blocks. DVK Group has offices in London, Hong Kong, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Malawi, Moscow, Johannesburg, China, Kenya, India, Madrid and Ghana.

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

Full narrative of Alps killings is revealed

Leaked police report suggests gunman, who used a pre-war pistol and ran out of bullets, was unlikely to be a professional assassin

Al-Hilli’s father.

The claim, which apparently originated with German intelligence, adds a sensational twist to the baffling case. Mr Al-Hilli, 50, from Surrey was killed along with his wife Iqbal, 47, his mother-in-law and a French cyclist last month in an attack that left his seven-yearold daughter, Zainab, badly injured, and her four-year-old sister Zeena deeply traumatised.

massacre - an isolated lay-by near Lake Annecy in Eastern France - is only an hour’s drive from Geneva where the money was deposited.

Swiss prosecutor Dario Zanni believes the family may have been returning from there when ambushed.

It raises the possibility that Mr AlHilli had managed to gain access to the account, which is thought to have remained in his father’s name, and that this was known to his killer.

The story was reported in the respected French newspaper Le Monde. It said that a French police source had revealed that the money’s source had been discovered by German intelligence agency BND. The agency’s operatives routinely monitored the flow of cash to and from Baghdad as Germany did more business with the Saddam regime than any other country.

An intelligence source in Munich said last night: “They know the money trail, and they know how to follow it. They have spent decades

Ever since the massacre of the alHilli family in the woods near Lake Annecy on 5 September, the media have generally accepted the story that Saad al-Hilli’s late father, Kadhim al-Hilli, had “fled” the regime of Saddam Hussein in the late 1970s after falling out with the Ba’ath Party.

With his wife Fasiha, and two boys, Zaid and Saad, the Iraqi factory owner came to live in Pimlico, central London, before moving to suburban Surrey.

But what if Kadhim al-Hilli never “fell out” with the Ba’ath Party, and after moving to England helped Saddam manage the dispersal of the dictator’s fortune to Swiss bank accounts and property purchases in France, in preparation for the day when he would surely be overthrown?

The scene of the September 5

monitoring money transactions between the West and Iraq. The BND is the first port of call in such circumstances.”

The BND said they had no comment on the report, saying: “We do not comment on operations.”

According to The Sunday Telegraph, a senior French detective said the “cosmopolitan” Kadhim AlHilli would have been an obvious candidate to take money out of Iraq.

According to the Mail on Sunday,“ Swiss prosecutor Dario Zanni believes the family may have been returning from there when they were ambushed”.

The Le Monde story was published under the headline: “The potential links between the Al-Hillis and Saddam Hussein.”

It said: “According to a French police source, the German secret service informed the gendarmerie’s

Claims the British Iraqi family killed in the Alps may have been funded by Saddam Hussein’s regime SADDAM HUSSEIN reportedly gave £840,000 ($1.3 million) to the family of the British engineer who was murdered with his wife in the Alps.

Cash in Swiss account raises question: was Saad’s father helping dictator move his fortune abroad?

An official narrative of the Alps murders, published yesterday, suggests that the quadruple killer was probably a lone psychopath, rather than a professional assassin.

A blow-by-blow gendarmerie account of the 15 brutal minutes above Lake Annecy on 5 September – including many facts previously undisclosed – was leaked yesterday to the French newspaper Le Monde.

The narrative, based on seven weeks of investigations, says that the gunman first opened fire on a group of three people standing in a forest lay-by: a local cyclist, Sylvain Mollier, 45; a British tourist, Saad alHilli, 50; and his daughter, Zainab, aged seven. The murderer also fired at Mr al-Hilli’s wife, Iqbal, 47, and her mother, as they sat in the back of the family car.

Mr al-Hilli, already wounded, fled to his car, pulling his daughter by the hand. As he tried to turn the BMW around, he ran over and dragged the body of the wounded cyclist under his wheels. Still under fire from the gunman, Mr al-Hilli rammed the back of the car into the steep forest side and became jammed there.

The gunman, using an obsolete, pre-war Luger P06 automatic pistol, then approached the car and shot Mr and Mrs Al-Hilli and Suhaila al-Allaf, 74, twice each in the head.

It is also believed that he may have returned to the cyclist’s body to finish him off.

Seven-year-old Zainab al-Hilli, who has helped investigators more than previously revealed, owes her life to the fact that the killer ran out of bullets, the report says. The attacker beat her savagely over the head with the butt of his gun and left her for dead. Fragments of the gun, as well as 22 cartridge cases, were found at the murder scene.

Zainab, now recovering with relatives in Britain, has told investigators that she and her father were outside the car when the gunman opened fire.

She said her father dragged her towards the car, but she was unable to get inside. The 7.65mm gun used by the killer was issued to the Swiss army in the 1920s and 1930s. It is mostly regarded as a collector’s piece and is not the kind of weapon used by professional killers, the report said.

The sequence of events established by the report suggests that the French cyclist, Mr Mollier, was the first victim to be seriously injured but was not necessarily the first target. Study of spent cartridges and bullet wounds by forensic experts suggests that the gunman fired a first volley of shots toward the cyclist, Mr al-Hilli and his daughter, and the parked car.

Investigations of a possible motive for a targeted killing of Mr al-Hilli – including a family quarrel over money and his work on microsatellites – have revealed nothing special, Le Monde said. The Annecy area prosecutor, Eric Maillaud, told Le Monde: “The hypothesis of a lone and psychologically disturbed killer, is gaining ground.”

Last night, it was claimed that Saddam Hussain had paid £840,000 into a Swiss Bank account set up in the name of Mr al-Hilli’s father.

No date is given for the alleged transaction. Investigators have previously said that this bank account contained an amount of less than €1m (£803,000).

The former Iraqi dictator is said to have deposited the sum in a Swiss bank account in the name of Saad

anti-terrorist branch that there were links between the Al-Hilli family and Saddam Hussein’s fortune.

“The tensions began after Saad AlHilli’s father [Kadhim] was struck off the list of beneficiaries of the former Iraqi dictator.”

It has always been suggested that Kadhim’s multi-million pound legacy - he died last year - led to conflict between Saad, who lived in Claygate, Surrey, and his brother Zaid who lives in nearby Chessington. However Zaid strongly denies there was any such feud.

Shortly after his murder, it emerged that Saad Al-Hilli had put a block on his father’s will, which effectively stopped his brother from inheriting his share until “unknown” disputes were resolved.

But Le Monde says it was the money in the Swiss bank account - not the rest of the legacy - that may have caused friction between the two brothers.

Swiss investigators discovered the secret account earlier this month, but according to Le Monde they didn’t make the link to Iraq. Specialist police were last week questioning Geneva-based bankers about the AlHillis’ assets, while financial records in countries including America have also been requested.

Kadhim, a former factory owner, left Baghdad in the late Seventies with his wife, Fasiha, and two boys, after allegedly falling foul of the Ba’ath Party. The family settled in Pimlico, Central London, later moving to Surrey.

Another theory is that Kadhim never fell out with the Ba’ath Party at all - and that he was simply managing many accounts for Saddam behind this smokescreen.

Shortly before the dictator was executed in 2006, it was revealed that he withdraw around $962.5 million from the Iraqi central bank in 2003, which he had begun to hide around the world. The assets would have been added to millions already deposited in accounts in other countries - mainly through Iraqis who had moved abroad. Saddam is known to have concentrated large amounts in Switzerland and France, where he had at least two homes and moored a $26 million yacht.

If Saad Al-Hilli was party to this secret information - and indeed the location of the hidden millions then he would have been an obvi ous target for an attack.

Asked about the Le Monde report, Zaid told the Mail on Sunday: “It’s all rubbish, they can speculate until they’re blue in the face to be honest with you.”

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

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Iran has no plan to shut Strait of Hormuz: Press TV

United Arab Emirates: Iran has no plan to close the vital shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz, Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi was cited as saying by staterun Press TV. Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened to close the strait, through which around 40 percent of the world’s sea-borne oil exports pass, in response to tightening sanctions on the country’s crude exports over the past year.

State-run Iranian media reported in July that parliamentarians had drafted a bill to try to stop oil tankers from sailing through the Strait of Hormuz in response to a European Union ban on Iranian

crude imports that came into force on July 1.

But Press TV reported on Sunday that Tehran had no plan to close

Military Pledge To Rid Nigeria Of Boko Haram

Nigeria: Revenge Attacks After Church Blast

the waterway.

“These two issues (closure of the Strait of Hormuz and sanctions) are not related and are totally independent of each other,” it quoted the minister as saying.

“The existing sanctions are unjust, but they have pushed us forward and boosted our capabilities. We are strong enough to leave these sanctions powerfully behind.”

Iran’s oil minister said last week the country had a contingency strategy to survive without oil revenues and would halt all its oil exports if pressure from Western sanctions got any tighter.

Iranian threats to block shipping lanes arose in early 2012 as U.S.

and European sanctions, aimed at starving Tehran of funds for its nuclear programme, tightened.

A heavy western naval presence in the area is seen as a big impediment to blocking the shipping route, which is also the sole export route for Qatari liquefied natural gas.

Read more: http://www. dailystar.com.lb/News/ Middle-East/2012/Oct29/193093-iran-hasno-plan-to-shut-straitof-hormuz-press-tv. ashx#ixzz2Ai26tm1K (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www. dailystar.com.lb)

Syrian President Assad Attends Eid Prayers

A suicide bomber drobe a jeep laden with explosives into the packed St Rita’s building, killing eight and injuring more than 100.

At least two people have been killed in revenge attacks after a car bombing at a Catholic church in northern Nigeria.

Anger erupted after a suicide bomber drove a jeep laden with explosives into the packed St Rita’s building, killing eight and injuring more than 100.

One of the church’s walls was blasted open following the attack in Kaduna,

others away.

Police set up roadblocks and patrols in an attempt to prevent the violence spreading.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the jeep bombing.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes as the Muslims in the nation are celebrating the end of Eid al-

a city on the dividing line between Nigeria’s largely Christian south and Muslim north.

“The heavy explosion also damaged so many buildings around the area,” said survivor Linus Lighthouse.

Shortly after the blast in the Malali part of the city, angry Christian youths took to the streets armed with sticks and knives.

A Reuters reporter saw two bodies at the roadside lying in pools of blood.

“We killed them and we’ll do more,” shouted a youth, with blood on his shirt, before police chased him and

Adha holiday in Nigeria. In recent days, rumors have circulated that the radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram, which is blamed for hundreds of killings this year alone, might try to launch an attack during the holiday. The sect has demanded the release of all its captive members and has called for strict Shariah law to be implemented across the entire country. However, the group, which speaks to journalists in telephone conference calls at times of its choosing, could not be immediately reached for comment.

FROM the military authorities came the assurance that innocent Nigerians would not be maltreated in the course of ridding the nation of terrorists.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Mechanised Division, Nigeria Army, Major-General Garba Wahab, who reiterated the Army’s commitment to security of lives and property debunked claims that innocent Nigerians were maltreated in the guise of fishing out terrorists holed up among them.

Wahab spoke with journalists at the 1 Division Headquarters Kaduna, saying that the Army would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Nigerians live in peace and security.

The assurance is coming on the heels of yet another attack on two buildings in Zajiri Ward of Maiduguri metropolis killing three youths in the presence of their parents.

GUNMEN, suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect, on Friday, in Maiduguri, killed Abdulrahaman, son of the former Yobe State Permanent Secretary for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Mustapha Sheriff.

The deceased had gone to the Maiduguri Cattle Market at about 8.45am to purchase a ram for the Sallah celebration when he was attacked.

An eyewitness said the gunmen also snatched the Sports Utility Vehicle belonging to the late Abdulrahaman.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appeared on Friday performing the Eid prayers in the capital, as the truce brokered by UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi started.

State television showed Assad, smiling and seeming relaxed, at a mosque in Damascus.

In a sermon at the prayers, Imam Walid Abdel Haq called on Syrians to “stop quarrelling because you are all brothers.”

“Do you not see what has been happening for two years in the

country, the destruction and death? Stop this,” he said.

“Syrians must return to God to defeat this sectarian discord that they are trying to create in Syria.

We must ourselves create a new Middle East and not the one trying to be imposed... by the enemies of Islam and of Syria,” Imam Abdel Haq added.

After the prayer, Assad was shown spending time with other worshippers, greeting and chatting with some of them.

Sarkozy aide charged

Continued from page 7 >> August 21, 1994, during the second tenure of Benazir Bhutto. “The Pakistan Navy gave its consent to buy the submarines.

The government could not have compelled the navy to agree to buy them.”

Commodore (retd ) Shahid Ashraf said that he was the DG Intelligence in those days. “I was informed that someone called Niaz was going to pay Captain Alvi a sum of $107,000 as part of ‘kickbacks’ on the deal. I went to the house of then ViceChief of Naval Staff Admiral AU Khan and provided him all necessary information about the people involved, but he refused to allow me to take any action . He said that, later, when he learnt that four commodores were “receiving $40,000 each”, the Navy chief, Mansourul Haque, and Vice-Admiral AU Khan advised me to investigate”. The accused deny ever taking any bribes.

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

2010 :Mossad chief reportedly visited Saudi Arabia for talks on Iran

‘Saudi Arabia Funds Mossad Anti-Iran Operations’ ?

Fear of Iran Pushing Saudi Arabia toward Israel, Experts An article posted by a former CBS News editor claims that none other than Saudi Arabia helps fund Israeli Mossad operations against Iran.

An article posted by a former CBS News producer Barry Lando claims that none other than Saudi Arabia helps fund Israeli Mossad operations against Iran.

C

“A Strange Alliance: Are the Saudis Bankrolling Israel’s Mossad?” appears on his blog. Lando’s source is named only as “a friend, with good sources in the Israeli government.”

He wrote, “The head of Israel’s Mossad has made several trips to deal with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia-one of the results: an agreement that the Saudis would bankroll the series of assassinations of several of Iran’s top nuclear experts that have occurred over the past couple of years.

“The amount involved, my friend claims, was $1 billion dollars. A sum, he says, the Saudis considered cheap for the damage done to Iran’s nuclear program.”

Israel and Saudi Arabia have at least one thing in common: neither country wants to allow Ahmadinejad to obtain nuclear capability.

Lando noted that the claim of the strange alliance “also makes perfect sense, that, in retaliation for the cyber attacks on their centrifuges, the Iranians reportedly launched their own cyber attack on a Saudi stateowned target: Saudi Aramco, the world’s most valuable company.”

Aramco’s computer system suffered a massive cyber attack in August, and American intelligence officials have blamed Iran.

“A report earlier this year by Tel Aviv University cites Saudi Arabia as the last hope and defense line for Israel,” Lando wrote.

“With most of Israel’s traditional allies in the region sent packing or undermined by the Arab Spring, the Saudis are the Jewish State’s last chance to protect its political interests in the Arab world.”

Has Mossad infiltrated Saudi Arabia?

In 2010, it was reported that Israeli air force planes and helicopters landed in Saudi Arabia for the purposes of positioning equipment there. (Mossad chief reportedly visited Saudi Arabia for talks on Iran - Haaretz)

Wikileaks: Saudi Arabia cooperates with the Mossad via Bandar bin Sultan Wikileaks revealed email leaks from the U.S. intelligence company “Stratfor” that entail that the Zionist Mossad offered secret help to Saudi intelligence.

It was also revealed that Mossad officers are making sales deals to Saudis of security equipment, intelligence, and consultations.

The document also mentioned questions regarding the addition of the Saudi Foreign Ministry and its Intelligence staff to the list

These emails dated 2nd of May 2007 contained discussions between the Vice President of Stratfor, Fred Burton, and

of U.S. agents as well as the method, amount to be paid, and insults to the Arab people. In March 2012, it was reported that Mossad is

analysts regarding the secret Saudi-Israeli cooperation. It also showed the interest of those to private business relations with the ruling regime in Saudi Arabia.

The document reveals that the Israeli Mossad offered secret help to the Saudi intelligence regarding intelligence and consultation on Iran, and that Saudi is establishing connections with Israelis and several other parties in fear that the U.S. would not be able to control them.

heavily involved in Saudi Arabia. According to the reports published in Israeli Haaretz in 2010 , the talks conducted in Saudi Arabia with the head of Israel’s espionage agency dealt with Iran and its nuclear program. The account follows a series of recent reports on increasing secret cooperation between Israel and the Saudis, including defense coordination on matters related to possible military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

2010: the Times of London reported that during the course of a Saudi military exercise, air defense system operations were halted for a few hours to rehearse a scenario whereby Israeli fighter planes would cross Saudi Arabian air space en route to an attack on Iran.

Arab and Iranian media outlets have also reported Israeli air force planes and helicopters landing in Saudi Arabia for the purposes of positioning equipment there.

1975 Sunday Times.

Who can Saudi Arabia trust?

Saudi Arabia must have a fear that the USA and its allies are planning to take over Saudi’s oil.

Saudi Arabia must fear both Iran and Israel.

And it must try to keep in with both Iran and Israel. “Seeking regional allies to make a stand against Iran and the growing Shi’ite Muslim radicalization,

“In February of 1975 the London Sunday Times revealedinformation from a leaked and classified US Department of Defense plan.

“The plan, drawn up by the Pentagon, was code named ‘Dhahran Option Four’ and provided for an invasion of the world’s largest oil reserves, namely Saudi Arabia.” (Who Really Wants to Invade Saudi Arabia, and Why?)

Saarc international I Thursday 01 November 2012

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USA prepares world to Third World War

A member of the Russian State Duma Yevgeny Fyodorov shared his vision of the current situation in the world with Pravda.Ru. He believes that the United States is preparing the grounds for starting World War III. Their plan is to combine all local conflicts together.

The United States, when speaking about the fight against terrorism, in fact relies on extremism and terrorism.

Currently, the world is slipping into a complete destabilization that will inevitably end in a World War. This is precisely why many powers now are testing

Imam his father and brother killed in Russia’s Dagestan

In Derbent, Dagestan, unidentified perpetrators killed the imam of a local mosque Kalimulla Ibragimov, his father and brother.

The attack was carried out at about 6:30 a.m. in “Airport” micro-district.

of the Center for Islamic Studies of the North Caucasus, Ruslan Gireiev, told Pravda.Ru. “No one knows which way the wind is blowing. They usually blame separatists for such crimes. This

the ground. This is similar to the situation when the Soviet Union, fighting in Afghanistan, dealt not with the Mujahideen but with the Americans, Bin Laden and the American Stinger missiles.

This was an element of the global opposition and, in fact, a World War between the Soviet Union and the United States of America.

The Soviet Union lost the war, was eliminated and enslaved.

The next part of the script is launching a global fire, unleashing a world war, uniting local conflicts into a single system of instability.

For this we need to dramatically increase funding for terrorism.

We now see that the United States has dramatically increased the

funding of terrorism around the world. The Americans will now act indiscriminately, that is, without consideration of whether they are giving to allies or not allies, friends or not friends.

Take, for example, the situation in Greece. Is Greece an enemy of America? But the Americans lowered its ratings and launched a European crisis.

Is Egypt an enemy of America?

No. But the funding was provided, the “Orange Revolution” was organized, and now there are talks about a death sentence for the president of Egypt, who, in principle, was amicable towards the Americans. He was replaced by a more extremist oriented President, and not by accident.

That is, to implement the American idea, they will need a full rise of extremism in the world. The United States will continue with this plan.

The growth and rise of extremism is part of the course towards World War III that the Americans need.

Samaa Pakistan’s Premier Channel launched in UK on Sky 843 Alliance Advertising & Marketing (AAM) has been appointed as the sole marketing and sales agency for SAMAA TV UK & Europe.

The attackers fired their automatic guns at the Toyota vehicle, in which the men were staying. They died from wounds on the spot, official spokespeople for the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation said.

One of the victims was 49-year-old imam of one of the city mosques, Kalimulla Ibragimov. Two others were his relatives - the father and elder brother, NTV said. The police added that the men were going to the mosque for morning prayers.

“The incident is not the first one of the kind. Attacks against the clergy and religious figures have become a practice that lasts for years, unfortunately. So far, the mechanism to protect these people has not been invented,” the Director

means that one doesn’t need any investigation. This has been going on for years. No such crime has been solved,” said the expert.

In Dagestan, attacks on the clergy occur frequently. On September 15th, the imam of the mosque of the village of Kadar was killed in the Buinaksk region of Dagestan. Two attackers broke into the house of the priest, shot him dead and escaped.

A source with the committee said the three were assaulted near their home as they were going to the mosque to take part in the morning service.

The gunmen fled the scene on a Lada Kalina car. The victims were aged 82, 49 and 50. A criminal case was initiated on several counts, including a murder that can land the assailants in jail for life.

SAMMA TV is to present up-tominute news bulletins, political analysis, programs for women, youth and children besides entertainment shows. The channel will concentrate primarily on news as and when it

of this opinion to launch a Pakistani Television for Europe. Zafar Siddiqi is also Chairman and Co-Founder of CNBC Africa, Chairman and Founder of CNBC Arabia and President and Founder of CNBC Pakistan. Zafar

happens in a factual and impartial manner.Samaa’s chairman Zafar Siddiqi who was in UK to finalise deal with UCTV and AAM and was always

Siddiqi is Chairman and Co-Founder of Murdoch University International Study Centre Dubai and Global Institute Middle East FZ LLC.

SAMAA TV will be available free-to-air on Sky Digital channel 843 from Friday 26th October, replacing UCTV – which currently broadcasts in the slot.

Alliance Advertising & Marketing (AAM) has been appointed as the sole marketing and sales agency for SAMAA TV UK & Europe. AAM will look after local and national advertisers & mainstream advertisers.

Sajjad Shawl Managing Director said, “We are delighted and grateful that SAMAA has put its trust and faith in the abilities of AAM and its team. AAM looks forward to working with SAMAA.” SAMAA is Pakistan’s premier Urdu ‘’News & current affairs’’ channel with a philosophy of bringing unbiased and factual information in UK now.

NEWS

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

Malala ‘will rise again’, says dad at tearful reunion

The father of a girl shot by the Pakistani Taliban for wanting to go to school said his daughter would “rise again” and has started walking and talking after asking for schoolbooks to be brought to hospital in Birmingham.

Ziauddin Yousafzai arrived at the bedside of his daughter, Malala, last night after flying from Pakistan with his wife and two sons.

The 15-year-old was shot in the head at close range a little more than two weeks ago.

Mr Yousafzai said the family had a tearful reunion and that the world’s response marked a watershed for Pakistan.

“I love her,” he said during an emotional news conference at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital yesterday. “Last night when we met her there were tears in our eyes out of happiness. For some time we all cried a bit.

“The person who attacked her wanted to kill her, but she fell temporarily. She will rise again and she can stand now. But when she fell, Pakistan stood and the world rose. This is a turning point.”

Malala was shot as she travelled home from school on October 9 in her hometown of Mingora.

The bullet, which grazed her brain and came within centimetres of

killing her, travelled through her head and neck before lodging in her left shoulder.

attack saying it was punishment for campaigning for the rights of girls to go to school.

Eid Day with Malala’s family: (From left to right) Pakistan High Commissioner for UK Mr Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Ziauddin Yousufzai (father) , Khushal Khan (brother), and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Apal Khan (brother, front)

Responsibility The Pakistani Taliban later claimed responsibility for the

She had also been the anonymous author of a diary published by the BBC documenting Taliban

abuses when they controlled the Swat Valley in 2009.

In defiance of the Taliban, Malala asked her father to bring schoolbooks from Pakistan to England so she could study for her exams.

Last week, she was flown from Pakistan to Birmingham in a medically induced coma to be treated in a unit where staff have experience of treating British soldiers wounded in Afghanistan.

The hospital has been inundated with gifts and goodwill messages from around the world.

Mr Yousafzai thanked wellwishers for their prayers.

“She is improving with encouraging speed and we are very happy,” he said, adding that his daughter was walking, talking and smiling. He said: “An attacker, who could be called the agent of Satan, he attacked, but after that I found angels on my side, all around me, until this time and this place.”

But he described how he feared for her life in the days immediately after the attack, when she was being treated in the north-west of Pakistan.

Aseefa Bhutto Zardari spends Eid with Malala’s family in Birmingham

Aseefa Bhutto Zardari spent Eid with Malala’s family in Birmingham on 26 October 2012.

Accompanied by Pakistan High Commissioner for UK Mr Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Aseefa travelled from Oxford Brooks University where she is currently studying, to Birmingham to meet Malala’s parents and inquire after their daughter’s health. She spent about two hours with the family and hoped that Malala would soon recover. While strongly condemning the attack she said that this kind of brutal act could not be done by Muslims and those who done it were not Muslims.

On this occasion Aseefa said that the whole of Pakistan was standing with Malala who had become a symbol of peace, enlightenment and women empowerment. She also conveyed the full support of President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari to the family.

During the meeting the senior officials of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital were present while Medical Director Dr Dave Rosser briefed Aseefa about Malala’s health status.

Malala’s father thanked Aseefa and the High Commissioner for being with his family on Eid Day.

Syria: When will the west stop supporting terrorists?

Timothy BancroftHinchey In answer to this question, let us examine the connection between NATO and terrorist organizations over the last decade and let us examine what NATO did to leaders of sovereign states who dared to stand up against Al-Qaeda. The findings are very curious and

bring into question the entire credibility of the myth of “western democracy”.

There is no doubt at all that out of the five terrorist groups operating in Syria, support from NATO is a constant factor (by “NATO” read also the GCC, the Gulf Cooperation Council, in the words of al-Qadhafi, “donkeys ridden by foreigners”, or else Turkey, the state which complains about the Kurdish activists but which then sponsors terrorist organizations in Syria, or allows them to use its territory as a base).

Syrian terrorists admit arms supplied by US Yet this is hardly surprising for those who wish to present an overview of the last few decades. All we have to do is re-read the history book, albeit the history book not present in western media, and we can draw our own conclusions.

In 1998, according to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, an interview which vaporised from the Internet (together with a good many of my articles, for example), Mullah Omar (the leader of the Talebaan) stated that the United States of America had offered his government 5 billion USD to build a pipeline across Afghanistan and through Pakistan to the Indian Ocean.

Syrian terrorists admit arms supplied by US This article I read and copied at the time. It has since disappeared from the Net, giving rise to the favourite accusation of proNATO toadies, “prove it”. Cyber terrorism after all is “kosher” when perpetrated by those who have a birth-right to break the law, namely NATO countries in general and the FUKUS-Axis in particular (the epicentre of NATO, namely

France, UK, US). Stuxnet.

Stuxnet? Cyber terrorism?

Well going back to basics, the Mujaheddin movement in Afghanistan was fuelled by whom and by what? The Madrassah in Pakistan, yes but who and what was behind these religious schools? The CIA, using them as an instrument against the USSR’s excellent governance in Afghanistan (strategically important because of the Central Asian energy resources).

Syrian terrorists admit arms supplied by US But by then Al-Qaeda had reared its ugly head. Muammar al-Qadhafi was the first person to issue an international arrest warrant against its leaders. Saddam Hussein also had problems with Bin Laden, who targeted him as a

pariah and look what happened in Iraq. And look what happened in Libya.

What happened in Bosnia? (AlQaeda and the west engaged together). What happened in Kosovo?

(Al-Qaeda/Albanian terrorists and the west engaged together). The current affairs in Libya and Syria only underline what we have suspected all along.

Syrian terrorists admit arms supplied by US Freedom? Democracy? Freedom of expression and of the press?

Or a cynical manipulation of the truth through misuse of media resources, sabotage, terrorism and subversive activities?

I believe everyone knows what we are talking about here.

Syrian terrorists admit arms supplied by US

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

Al Saud plans to destroy remaining Islamic monuments in Medina: Report Authorities are building a mosque so big it will hold 1.6m people – but are demolishing irreplaceable monuments to do it reports The Independent UK.

Saudi authorities say they are expanding sites and undertaking new developments in Mecca and Medina to welcome even more pilgrims for Hajj, Umrah and other religious observances. An estimated three to four million people travel to Mecca every year. That figure is likely to increase with the global Muslim population expected to grow by 35 percent over the next two decades, according to Pew research.

Three of the world’s oldest mosques are about to be destroyed as Saudi Arabia embarks on a multi-billionpound expansion of Islam’s second holiest site. Work on the Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, where the Prophet Mohamed is buried, will start once the annual Hajj pilgrimage ends next month. When complete, the development will turn the mosque into the world’s largest building, with the capacity for 1.6 million worshippers.

But concerns have been raised that the development will see key historic sites bulldozed. Anger is already growing at the kingdom’s apparent disdain for preserving the historical and archaeological heritage of the country’s holiest city, Mecca. Most

of the expansion of Masjid anNabawi will take place to the west of the existing mosque, which holds the tombs of Islam’s founder and two of his closest companions, Abu Bakr and Umar.

Just outside the western walls of the current compound are mosques dedicated to Abu Bakr and Umar, as well as the Masjid Ghamama, built to mark the spot where the Prophet is thought to have given his first prayers for the Eid festival. The Saudis have announced no plans to preserve or move the three mosques, which have existed since the seventh century and are covered by Ottomanera structures, or to commission archaeological digs before they are pulled down, something that has caused considerable concern among the few academics who are willing to speak out in the deeply authoritarian kingdom.

Al-Masjid al-Nawabi For many years, hardline Wahabi clerics have had their sites set on the 15th century green dome that rests above the tomb holding the Prophet, Abu Bakr and Umar in Medina. The mosque is regarded as the second holiest site in Islam. Wahabis,

Russia however, believe marked graves are idolatrous. A pamphlet published in 2007 by the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, endorsed by Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, stated that “the green dome shall be demolished and the three graves flattened in the Prophet’s Masjid”.

Masjid Ghamama “No one denies that Medina is in need of expansion, but it’s the way the authorities are going about it which is so worrying,” says Dr Irfan

Mekkah

al-Alawi of the Islamic Heritage Research Foundation. “There are ways they could expand which would either avoid or preserve the ancient Islamic sites but instead they want to knock it all down.” Dr Alawi has spent much of the past 10 years trying to highlight the destruction of early Islamic sites.

With cheap air travel and booming middle classes in populous Muslim countries within the developing world, both Mecca and Medina are struggling to cope with the 12 million pilgrims who visit each year – a

number expected to grow to 17 million by 2025. The Saudi monarchy views itself as the sole authority to decide what should happen to the cradle of Islam. Although it has earmarked billions for an enormous expansion of both Mecca and Medina, it also sees the holy cities as lucrative for a country almost entirely reliant on its finite oil wealth.

Jannat-al-Mualla before the Al Saud destruction Heritage campaigners and many locals have looked on aghast as

Massiah Throne the historic sections of Mecca and Medina have been bulldozed to make way for gleaming shopping malls, luxury hotels and enormous skyscrapers. The Washington-based Gulf Institute estimates that 95 per cent of the 1,000-year-old buildings in the two cities have been destroyed in the past 20 years.

In Mecca, the Masjid al-Haram, the holiest site in Islam and a place where all Muslims are supposed to be equal, is now overshadowed by the Jabal Omar complex, a development of skyscraper apartments, hotels and

an enormous clock tower. To build it, the Saudi authorities destroyed the Ottoman era Ajyad Fortress and the hill it stood on. Other historic sites lost include the Prophet’s birthplace – now a library – and the house of his first wife, Khadijah, which was replaced with a public toilet block.

Neither the Saudi Embassy in London nor the Ministry for Foreign Affairs responded to requests for comment when The Independent contacted them this week. But the government has previously defended its expansion plans for the two holy

cities as necessary. It insists it has also built large numbers of budget hotels for poorer pilgrims, though critics point out these are routinely placed many miles away from the holy sites.

Until recently, redevelopment in

lengths to discourage people from praying at or visiting places closely connected to the time of the Prophet while powerful clerics work behind the scenes to promote the destruction of historic sites.

Dr Alawi fears that the redevelopment

called for the dome to be demolished and the graves of Mohamed, Abu Bakr and Umar to be flattened.

Sheikh Ibn al-Uthaymeen, one of the 20th century’s most prolific Wahabi scholars, made similar demands.

“Muslim silence over the destruction

It was thenused as a cattle market before being turned into a library after a campaign by Meccans. There are concerns that the expansion of the Grand Mosque will destroy it once more. The site has never been excavated by archaeologists.

Medina has pressed ahead at a slightly less frenetic pace than in Mecca, although a number of early Islamic sites have still been lost. Of the seven ancient mosques built to commemorate the Battle of the Trench – a key moment in the development of Islam – only two remain. Ten years ago, a mosque which belonged to the Prophet’s grandson was dynamited.

Pictures of the demolition that were secretly taken and smuggled out of the kingdom showed the religious police celebrating as the building collapsed.

The disregard for Islam’s early history is partly explained by the regime’s adoption of Wahabism, an austere and uncompromising interpretation of Islam that is vehemently opposed

of the Masjid an-Nabawi is part of a wider drive to shift focus away from the place where Mohamed is buried.

The spot that marks the Prophet’s tomb is covered by a famous green dome and forms the centrepiece of the current mosque. But under the new plans, it will become the east wing of a building eight times its current size with a new pulpit. There are also plans to demolish the prayer niche at the centre of mosque. The area forms part of the Riyadh al-Jannah (Garden of Paradise), a section of the mosque that the Prophet decreed especially holy..

“Their excuse is they want to make more room and create 20 spaces in a mosque that will eventually hold 1.6 million,” says Dr Alawi. “It makes

of Mecca and Medina is both disastrous and hypocritical,” says Dr Alawi. “The recent movie about the Prophet Mohamed caused worldwide protests... and yet the destruction of the Prophet’s birthplace, where he prayed and founded Islam has been allowed to continue without any criticism.”

Ottoman and Abasi columns of the Grand Mosque Slated for demolition as part of the Grand Mosque expansion, these intricately carved columns date back to the 17th century and are the oldest surviving sections of Islam’s holiest site. Much to the chagrin of Wahabis, they are inscribed with the names of the Prophet’s companions. Ottomon Mecca is now rapidly disappearing

to anything which might encourage Muslims towards idol worship.

In most of the Muslim world, shrines have been built. Visits to graves are also commonplace. But Wahabism views such practices with disdain.

The religious police go to enormous

no sense. What they really want is to move the focus away from where the Prophet is buried.”

A pamphlet published in 2007 by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs – and endorsed by the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz al Sheikh –

Under Threat

Mecca and Medina in numbers 12m The number of people who visit Mecca and Medina every year 3.4m The number of Muslims expected to perform Hajj (pilgrimage) this year 60,000 The current capacity of the Masjid an-Nabawi mosque 1.6m The projected capacity of the mosque after expansion

Bayt al-Mawlid When the Wahabis took Mecca in the 1920s they destroyed the dome on top of the house where the Prophet Mohammed was born.

Jabal al-Nour A mountain outside Mecca where Mohammed received his first Quranic revelations. The Prophet used to spend long spells in a cave called Hira. The cave is particularly popular among South Asian pilgrims who have carved steps up to its entrance

and adorned the walls with graffiti.

Religious hardliners are keen to dissuade pilgrims from congregating there and have mooted the idea of removing the steps and even destroying the mountain altogether.

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

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Satellite images raise concerns for Burma Muslims Hague calls for end to ‘terrible violence in Burma’

Foreign Secretary William Hague calls for peace in Burma’s Rakhine state, after the destruction of settlements occupied by Muslim Rohingyas following fierce fighting with Buddhists. In a statement, Mr Hague said: “Our ambassador is in constant contact with the Burmese government.

“He spoke to the president’s office earlier today to express our grave concerns about recent developments and our readiness to assist at both a humanitarian and diplomatic level in the search for a sustainable solution to this long running issue.”

A human rights group expresses

concern for the safety of thousands of Muslims in Burma after revealing satellite images of a once-thriving coastal community reduced to ashes after a week of violence.

A human rights group expresses concern for the safety of thousands of Muslims in Burma after revealing

satellite images of a once-thriving coastal community reduced to ashes after a week of violence.

Human Rights Watch says the series

ethnic Rakhine Buddhists threaten to derail the country’s fragile democratic transition.

Tun Khin from the Burmese

of images (below, in October 2012 and further below, in March 2012), which compare the same scene with images taken earlier in the year, show “near total destruction” of a predominantly Rohingya Muslim part of Kyaukpyu, one of several areas in Rakhine state where battles between Rohingyas and

Rohingya Oraganisation in the UK told Channel 4 News he thinks that what is going on in the Rakhine region amounts to ethnic cleansins: “This is ethnic cleansing, proper planned by the state government and central government to eliminate the Rohingya people from Rakhine”.

Continued from page 1 >> daunting process on Tuesday of rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, a storm that remade the landscape and rewrote the record books as it left behind a tableau of damage, destruction and grief. The toll — in lives disrupted or lost and communities washed out — was staggering. A rampaging fire reduced more than 100 houses to ash in Breezy Point, Queens. Explosions and downed power lines left the lower part of Manhattan and 90 percent of Long Island in the dark. The New York City subway system — a lifeline for millions — was paralyzed by flooded tunnels and was expect to remain silent for days. Superstorm Sandy is a “wake up call” that could lead to billion dollar flood defences being created in New York City.

Three of New York’s top 10 highest floods have occurred in the last two and a half years, and the latest disaster has fuelled calls for major investment in flood defences.

“If that’s not a wake-up call to take this seriously I don’t know what is,” said climate change expert

More than 811 buildings and houseboats were razed in Kyaukpyu on 24 October, forcing many Rohingya to flee north by sea toward the state capital Sittwe, said Human Rights Watch.

“Burma’s government urgently needs to provide security for the Rohingya in Arakan (Rakhine) state, who are under vicious attack,” said Phil Robertson, the group’s deputy Asia director.

There were widespread unconfirmed reports of boatloads of Rohingyas trying to cross the sea border to neighbouring Bangladesh, which has denied them refugee status since 1992. ‘Irreparably damaged’

Some boats were blocked by security forces from reaching the shore and few Rohingyas managed to reach the camps, the sources said by telephone.

Dozens of boats full of Rohingyas with no food or water had fled Kyaukpyu, an industrial zone important to China, and other recent hotspots were seeking access on Friday to overcrowded refugee camps around the state capital Sittwe, according to four Rohingya refugee sources.

But many of those expelled from Kyaukpyu are not Rohingya but Muslims from the officially recognised Kaman minority, said Chris Lewa, director of the Rohingya advocacy group, Arakan Project.

“It’s not just anti-Rohingya violence anymore, it’s anti-Muslim,” she said.

‘Frankenstorm’ Sandy hits US

Ben Strauss.

“The city is extremely vulnerable to damaging storm surges just for its geography, and climate change is increasing that risk.”

State governor Andrew Cuomo is now considering storm surge barriers - which could cost up to $10bn - or a levee system.

Accidents claimed more than 67 lives in the United States and Canada, including 22 in the city.

On Tuesday, the storm slogged toward the Midwest, vastly weaker than it was when it made landfall in New Jersey on Monday night.

President Obama approved disaster declarations for New York and New Jersey, making them eligible for federal assistance for rebuilding. “All of us have been shocked by the force of mother nature,” said the president, President Barack Obama is skipping election campaign events in battleground states to visit victims of superstorm Sandy in New Jersey, a state he’s confident of winning.. He promised “all available resources”

for recovery efforts.

“This is going to take some time,” he said. “It is not going to be easy for these communities to recover.”

There was no immediate estimate of the losses from the storm, but the scope of the damage — covering more than a half-dozen states — pointed to billions of dollars. Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey called it “incalculable.”

The storm reached as far inland as Ohio and caused thousands of flight cancellations, while mobile phone network outages also were widespread.

Meanwhile, parts of West Virginia were buried under 3ft (1m) of drifting snow from the storm.

Mr Obama has issued federal emergency decrees and declared “major disasters” in both New Jersey and New York.

Speaking during a visit to Red Cross headquarters in Washington, he said: “New Jersey, New York in particular have been pounded by this storm.

Connecticut has taken a big hit.”

The United Nations has warned that Myanmar’s fledgling democracy could be “irreparably damaged” by the violence. Rohingyas are officially stateless.

Buddhist-majority Myanmar’s government regards the estimated 800,000 Rohingyas in the country as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, and not as one of the country’s 135 official ethnic groups, and denies them citizenship.

More than 80 homes in New York City’s borough of Queens were destroyed in a fire caused by the storm. Troublemakers took to Twitter threatening to ransack stores and burgle abandoned homes as Sandy wreaked havoc. And there were reports of looting in Queens.

New Yorkers without electricity were also said to be cracking open electricity boxes in the street to charge up their mobile phones.

Sandy — which had already claimed 67 lives as it swept through the Caribbean on its way to the US — was last night heading north.

UK airlines are hoping to resume flights to and from storm-lashed New York later Wednesday.

British Airways had to axe most of its services to New York and neighbouring Newark today, but hopes to get flights away to both cities later today.

It will be the first time since Sunday afternoon that BA has been able to operate to New York and Newark due to superstorm Sandy.

Virgin Atlantic, whose services have also been disrupted, is also hoping to fly to the two cities Wednesday.

ENTERTAINMENT Saarc international I Thursday 01 November 2012 Ashvini Yardi Takes Helm at New Production Conspirators’ Kitchen Theatre presents

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Company With Indian Film Supremo Akshay Kumar - Grazing Goat Pictures

GOLGOTHA

Written by Nirjay Mahindru and directed by Iqbal Khan.

Conspirators’ Kitchen Theatre presents Golgotha from Wednesday 14th November to Saturday 8th December, 7.30pm at Tristan Bates Theatre. Press night is Thursday 15th November, 7.30pm.

Golgotha is a passionate and colourful

Ashvini Yardi, the mastermind behind India’s pioneering entertainment channel Colors TV, is celebrating becoming the toast of the Indian film industry as her debut film venture OMG: Oh My God, a thought-provoking and intelligent film about faith and spirituality, has become a hit with audiences internationally.

Ashvini Yardi, who joined hands with Akshay Kumar to launch Grazing Goats Productions, says they aim to make movies that are high on content and that they are looking at regional films as well.

Their debut project was the critically

acclaimed “Oh My God!”.

Ashvini was given the formidable task of establishing and designing an entertainment channel in India for Viacom 18 called Colors. Ashvini rose magnificently to the challenge, and spent the next eight months singlehandedly and successfully establishing the Colors TV brand as a household name in India. During her time at Colors TV, Ashvini brought in path-breaking shows such as Uttaran, Balika Vadhu, Bigg Boss, Khatron Ke Khiladi, Veer Shivaji, Laado and took the new channel to the number one spot in India.

In her time at both Zee TV and Colors TV in India, she was responsible for creating innovative, thought-provoking and exciting programming, and highlighted key social issues such as child marriage and female infanticide in the programmes that she chose to broadcast. At Zee TV, she ushered in such hit shows as Saat Phere, Sailaab, Kasamh Se, Sarrkar, Teen Bahuraaniyaan, Banoo Main Teri Dulhann, Ghar ki Lakshmi Betiyaan and Banegi Apni Baat, among several others. She also conceptualised the cult singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge and Lil’ Champs.

Urban-Asian Music Pioneers RDB Win Award for Contribution to UK Asian Music Scene at The Lebara UK Asian Music Awards 2012 Pioneering Urban-Asian music group RDB were celebrating last night after winning an award at The Lebara UK Asian Music Awards (AMAs) 2012 for their dedicated contribution to the Asian music scene.

The prestigious AMAs, which are a UK music industry benchmark for recognising and honouring musical talent, saw RDB scoop the coveted Commitment To The Scene Award at Wembley Arena in London for their outstanding contribution to putting Urban-Bhangra music on the mainstream map in the UK and internationally. RDB were also the proud recipients of the Best Desi Act Award at the event by public

vote.

Surj and Manj said of RDB’s win: “We are really elated to have received these awards! It means a lot that our music has been recognised, not only by our loyal fans around the world and in the

UK, but also by the British-Asian music industry which we shall always be a part of.

“RDB started out over a decade ago as the dream of three Bradford brothers. Today, we feel blessed to still be doing what we love and to be working with such amazing people. We are truly honoured to have written, produced and sung with some truly talented musicians.

RDB is here to stay and will continue to go from strength to strength and this is only due to the support and well-wishes from our fans worldwide. We dedicate our awards to you all.”

Formed in 2000 by Bradford-based

Punjabi Sikh brothers Manj, Kuly and Surj, and now led by Manj and Surj, RDB have brought audiences around the world a new genre of music. RDB combine mainstream Hip Hop and R’n’B with South Asian influences to comprise the familiar and pioneering “RDB sound” which has wowed the likes of Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Public Enemy and Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar.

new play about identity, family and destiny. The production focuses on two people who are united by blood and separated by time as they weave the tapestry of their lives. Loretta is an Indian girl who arrives in Victorian England as a wide eyed youngster to look after two children in her role as an Ayah to the family of Robert Ward. Her goal is to earn enough money to pay for a ticket back to her beloved homeland.

However, fate intervenes leaving her destined to lead a controversial life in

London.

A century later, Loretta’s great great grandson Kalil leaves his home in East Africa to start a new life in Britain. He dreams of respect and prosperity for his family but like his ancestor, fate conspires to change his path. They say the past is a very dangerous place.

“Finally, the real deal” Time Out (for The Hot Zone) Golgotha is written by Conspirator’s Kitchen’s Artistic Director Nirjay Mahindru, a new writing theatre company whose past work includes The Hot Zone (Lyric, Hammersmith). He is an Associate of the Factory Theatre and recipient of the Stage One New Producers Award. The director is Iqbal Khan, who recently directed Much Ado About Nothing (Royal Shakespeare Company), Snookered (Tamasha, Oldham Coliseum & BushTheatre and UK tour), The Killing of Sister George (West End) and Broken Glass (Tricycle and West End). The production stars Anjana Vasan who plays Loretta and is currently starring in Much Ado About Nothing (Royal Shakespeare Company), her television work includes Channel 4’s Fresh Meat. Raj Ghatak plays Kalil, his numerous theatre and television work includes Bombay Dreams and West Side Story in the West End and the Bafta Award winning television show Dead Set (Channel 4). Golgotha is designed by Rachana Jadhav.

International Urban Bhangra Group RDB to collaborate with Salim-Sulaiman?

They came, conquered and continue to leave us mesmerized with their music.

Known for their smash hits Shera Di Kaum, Singh is King, Namastey London and Aloo Chaat, Bollywood hit makers and One of UKs leading and multi-talented international music artists, RDB (‘Rhythm, Dhol – Indian drum - and Bass’), are ready to strike again.

Recently, Manj from RDB was spotted jamming with ace music composers Salim Sulaiman at a Suburban café.

Onlookers insist that the trio were at complete ease with each other, laughing around like teenagers. “They were seen exchanging few music notes and discussing a few upcoming Bollywood

projects. All three of them looked very excited about something. They even broke into an impromptu gig at the request of a few guests nearby. Overall it was an evening of fun and enthusiasm for us to be in the presence of such great artists” said an ecstatic onlooker.

So after this meeting, can we expect a collaboration soon? Keep watching this space for more information.

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Saarc international I Thursday 01 November 2012

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Thursday, 01.11.12

international

Pakistan’s cabinet approves liberal visa accord with India

Pakistan’s Federal Cabinet on Wednesday approved four agreements signed with neighbouring India, including a much-anticipated agreement on a liberalised visa regime aimed at promoting bilateral trade between the two countries.

The cabinet’s ratification Wednesday came more than a month and a half after the agreement’s initial signing on Sept 8, during then Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna’s visit to Pakistan.

The signing of the accord, which was ready in May, had initially been delayed because of Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s insistence on

inking it at “the right time and at the appropriate level”.

The liberalised visa accord allows for issuance of visas to the elderly and children on arrival.

It facilitates visas for group tourists and allows for issuance of multiple-entry visas to businesspeople.

The agreement is practically the first step towards easing the travel restrictions between the two countries since 1974, when the old visa regime came into force.

The federal cabinet had already given a nod to the pact before it was signed by officials from both countries.

Cyclone Nilam hits Tamil Nadu coast with strong winds

Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in Chennai on Wednesday as Cyclone Nilam slammed into the coast, with officials warning of possible flooding and damage to houses.

Nilam struck the historic port of Mahabalipuram, 50 kilometres

Mamallapuram and Kalpakkam with strong winds battering the area, said an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Speaking to IANS, the official said: “The cyclone started crossing the coast around 4.45 p.m. and it would take around one or two hours to

(30 miles) south of Chennai, and is forecast to cross the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh overnight.

“More than 5,000 evacuations have been completed,” Jayraman, a disaster management official in Chennai, said.

Cyclone Nilam crossed the Tamil Nadu coast north of Chennai on Wednesday evening between

cross the coast.”

According to him, the wind speed was currently at 65 kmph and would touch around 100-110 kmph.

Strong winds earlier made the ship Pratibha Cauvery run aground here.

Mamallapuram, a seventh century port city located near here, is a popular tourist destination for its sculptures and is classified as a

No anti-India terror support: Khaleda

Opposition leader Khaleda Zia on Monday promised Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that

Bangladesh will not allow separatist groups to use its territory to carry out acts of terror against India.

Khaleda Zia today assured Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that she would not allow use of Bangladeshi territory for any act directed against India.

Zia, who is on a week-long visit at the invitation of the External Affairs Ministry, told Singh that she wanted a “new era” in bilateral relations as the two leaders agreed to cooperate to combat terrorism.

Zia, who had been Bangladesh’s Prime Minister twice, told Singh that “we have a shared history Continued on page 31 >>

Continued on page 20 >>

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Khurshid, new Indian FM, vows to Focus on Pakistan, China Relations India premier inducts younger ministers in Cabinet

India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reshuffled his Cabinet on Sunday in a bid to overhaul his government’s image ahead of state and national elections over the next 18 months.

India’s new foreign minister says he will strengthen relations with Pakistan and China. Salman Khurshid is expected to bring new energy to the government’s efforts to improve ties with regional neighbors. In one of his first comments after taking over as foreign minister, Khurshid said he hopes to work more closely with Pakistan.

Seven new ministers and 15 junior ministers took the oath of office at a brief ceremony to mark the changes aimed at bringing in younger faces into the Cabinet.

Former law minister Salman Khurshid, 59, was named as external affairs minister as a replacement for the 80-year-old foreign minister S.M. Krishna, while Ashwini Kumar, a ruling Congress party loyalist, was elevated to the Cabinet with the law and justice portfolio.

Five senior ministers had resigned over the weekend to allow the introduction of younger new faces in the ministerial lineup.

The other newcomers include Rahman Khan who was named as minority affairs minister, Ajay Maken who becomes housing minister and Dinsha Patel who is now mines minister.

They will be joined by Pallam Raju, who was promoted to human resources development minister. Harish Rawat was placed in charge of water resources and Chandresh Kumari was appointed culture minister.

Singh named parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal as new railways minister, a post which became vacant following the pullout of a regional ally, Trinamool, from the ruling coalition in September.

The long-awaited Cabinet changes gained urgency after the Congress Party-led coalition government was hit by a wave of corruption scandals. The revamp also filled several vacancies after a key ally opposed to recent economic reforms quit the coalition.

Congress lawmakers said the government wanted to change its image as a group of old men and the induction of young men and women into the government was to dispel this impression. ”This reshuffle is to bring in fresh faces and is an important step keeping in

view the general elections in 2014,” Milind Deora, a junior minister said Sunday.

The induction of younger lawmakers and the shuffling of ministerial portfolios were being viewed as a major makeover for Singh’s government that has been hit by charges of corruption and lethargy even as provincial elections are due in 11 states in the coming year.

Several ministers were facing corruption charges stemming from scandals over the hosting of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the sale of cellphone rights and allocation of coal fields that auditors said lost the country of billions of dollars.

Economic growth, which had been touching double figures at the beginning of Singh’s second term, has now slowed down to around five percent.

Speaking to reporters after a swearingin ceremony for the new ministers, Singh said he expected his new team to remain in office until the next elections.

“Probably this is the last reshuffle,” the prime minister said at the presidential palace in New Delhi. “I don’t see early elections. Elections will be held in due course.”

The new foreign minister told reporters that he saw “great opportunities… but also great challenges to peace and prosperity in our world”.

Rahul Gandhi declined cabinet post Rahul Gandhi, the scion of India’s Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, once again snubbed an offer to join the cabinet, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh revealed on Sunday.

The 42-year-old Gandhi, whose father, grandmother and great-father all served as prime ministers, had decided to remain in his post as a secretary general of the main ruling Congress party, Singh said as he unveiled a cabinet reshuffle.

“I wanted Rahul Gandhi in government, but he wants to strengthen the party,”

Singh told reporters after a ceremony at the presidential palace for the swearing-in of seven new cabinet ministers.

Gandhi has been under sustained

pressure from party loyalists to take a higher public profile, including from his mother Sonia who is the head of Congress.

But his reputation suffered a setback in March when he headed Congress’s dismal campaign in elections for the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Singh has asked Rahul Gandhi to join his cabinet on several occasions since his re-election in 2009.

New Cabinet Ministers: K. Rahman Khan : Minority affairs Dinsha J. Patel : Mines Ajay Maken : Housing and urban poverty alleviation M.M. Pallam Raju : Human resource development Ashwani Kumar : Law and justice Harish Rawat : Water resources Chandresh Kumari Katoch : Culture Changes in Portfolios of Cabinet Ministers M. Veerappa Moily : Petroleum and natural gas S. Jaipal Reddy : Science and technology and earth sciences Kamal Nath : Urban development and parliamentary affairs Vayalar Ravi : Overseas Indian affairs Kapil Sibal : Communications and information technology CP Joshi : Road transport and highways Kumari Selja : Social justice and

empowerment Pawan Kumar Bansal : Railways Salman Khurshid : External affairs Jairam Ramesh : Rural development New Ministers of State (Independent Charge) Manish Tewari : Information and broadcasting K. Chiranjeevi : Tourism Changes in Portfolios of Ministers of State (Independent Charge) Jyotiraditya Scindia: Power K.H. Muniappa : Micro, small and medium enterprises Bharatsinh Madhavsinh Solanki : Drinking water and sanitation Sachin Pilot : Corporate affairs Jitendra Singh : Youth affairs and sports New Ministers of State

Shashi Tharoor : Human resources development Kodikunnil Suresh : Labour and employment Tariq Anwar : Agriculture and food processing industries K.J. Surya Prakash Reddy : Railways Ranee Narah : Tribal affairs Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury : Railways A.H. Khan Choudhury : Health and family welfare Sarve Sathyanarayana : Road transport and highways Ninong Ering : Minority affairs Deepa Dasmunsi : Urban development Porika Balram Naik :Social justice and empowerment Killi Kruparani : Communications and information technology Lalchand Kataria : Defence Changes of Portfolios of Ministers of State E. Ahmed : External affairs D. Purandeswari : Commerce and industry Jitin Prasada : Defence and human resource development S. Jagatharakshakan : New and renewable energy RPN. Singh :Home KC Venugopal : Civil aviation Rajeev Shukla : Parliamentary affairs and planning

Cyclone Nilam hits Tamil Nadu coast

Continued from page 19 >> Unesco world heritage site.

On the other hand, neighbouring Kalpakkam is known as nuclear island with a couple of test reactors of India Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research and two units of Madras Atomic Power Station.

India’s own 500 MW fast breeder reactor is also being set up at Kalpakkam at an outlay of Rs.5,677 crore. According to a state government official, around 3,900 people in Mamallapuram have been lodged in 19 relief camps.

Neighbouring Sri Lanka on Tuesday allowed thousands of people who had been evacuated to return to their homes after the storm, which had been expected to hit the island, changed course and moved towards India.

The last cyclone in India struck in the same southeast region in January, claiming 42 lives and leaving a trail of destruction across Tamil Nadu.

India and Bangladesh are hit regularly by cyclones that develop in the Bay of Bengal between April and November, causing widespread damage to homes, livestock and

crops.

Andhra Pradesh saw its worst cyclone in 1977 when more than 10,000 people were killed.

Heavy rain in Andhra Heavy rain lashed Andhra Pradesh’s coastal districts under the impact of Cyclone Nilam, whose intensity is expected to increase by Wednesday evening.

Many parts of Nellore and Prakasam districts in south coastal Andhra and Chittoor district in Rayalaseema region have been receiving heavy rain accompanied by strong winds since Tuesday night, officials said.

An alert has been sounded in the south coastal districts of Nellore, Guntur, Prakasam and Krishna. The sea conditions have turned rough with high waves lashing the coast in Nellore. The sea water gushed up to 100 metres from shoreline in some villages.

The education department has declared a holiday for educational institutions in Chittoor and Nellore districts. Roads and low-lying areas were inundated - this included the temple town of Tirupati in Chittoor district.

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WEEKLY REVIEW OF AFGHANISTAN NEWS

Taliban could run for Afghan president: poll chief

The Taliban could stand as candidates in Afghanistan’s next presidential election in 2014, the country’s top poll official said Wednesday, as a series of suspected insurgent bombings killed 17 civilians.

President Hamid Karzai, who is serving his second term as leader of the war-torn nation, is constitutionally barred from running in the election and no clear candidate to succeed him has yet emerged.

The vote, scheduled for April 5, 2014, is seen as crucial to stability after the withdrawal of NATO troops and Fazil Ahmad Manawi, the head of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), insisted his body would act impartially.

“We are even prepared to pave the ground for the armed opposition, be it the Taliban or Hezb-i-Islami,

told a news conference.

“There will be no discrimination,” the IEC chief added, defending

to participate in the election, either as voters or candidates,” Manawi

the body in response to a question about its impartiality.

Afghanistan Helmand roadside bomb kills 10 civilians

A roadside bomb in the southern Afghan province of Helmand has killed at least 10 civilians, officials say, most of them women and children.

A second roadside bomb in the same province killed another person.

Insurgents have been battling Nato and Afghan troops for 11 years and still control parts of the east and south.

Roadside bombs, or improvised explosive devices (IEDs), are one of the deadliest weapons against Nato forces used by Taliban insurgents.

However civilians are also frequently killed by the devices.

The UN says that 1,145 civilians were killed in the first six months of this year. It says that 80% of the deaths are the fault of the insurgents, with more than half caused by roadside bombs. About 30% of casualties

have been women and children.

Last year, a record 3,021 civilians died in the war, the UN has said, most of them victims of roadside bombs.

A massive roadside bomb earlier this month killed at least 18 people, mostly women and children, on their way to a wedding in northern Afghanistan.

Hezb-i-Islami is the faction of former prime minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar which wages an insurgency along with the Taliban against Karzai’s Western-backed government.

The Taliban, whose hardline Islamist regime was overthrown in 2001 by a US-led invasion for harbouring Osama bin Laden, did not take part in the 2009 election.

Instead it launched polling day attacks that killed more than 20 people.

At least 17 civilians, most women and children, were killed in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday in roadside bombings which officials blamed on “the enemies of Afghanistan” -- the term they use for the Taliban.

U.S. veterans call for immediate end of Afghan war

U.S. veterans have called for an immediate end of the War in Afghanistan and slashed both U.S. presidential candidates for their identical positions on the war.

The appeal came in a strongly worded statement released by Michael Prysner, an Iraq War veteran and co-founder of March Forward, an organization of veterans and service members against war and racism.

Now in its 11th year, the longest in U.S. history, the War in Afghanistan has been a failure with more than 2,000 U.S. troops being lost during President Barack Obama’s term alone, Prysner said. He also noted that the American people are spending 400 million dollars a day on the war, which over 60 percent of Americans want to put an end to immediately.

The Afghan people, he added, also have endured immeasurable sufferings in the war. “The White House admits we are not actually fighting al-Qaeda or even al-Qaeda’s allies in Afghanistan. The people we are actually at war against are people who played no role in the attacks and admittedly pose no threat to the United States,” Prysner said.

“The Afghan people are not our enemies,” he said. “The reason armed

Afghanistan to elect president in 2014 Afghanistan’s presidential election will be held on April 5, 2014, months ahead of the final withdrawal of NATO combat troops from the insurgencyplagued nation, a poll official said on Tuesday.

Afghan presidential elections are due in April 2014, according to the national elections commission.

In the deadliest incident, seven women and three children died when a blast tore through the vehicle in which they were travelling in Musa Qala district of Helmand province.

The 2009 poll, in which Karzai was re-elected over former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, was marred by widespread allegations of fraud. The credibility of the 2014 vote is seen as key to avoiding an escalation in violence after the NATO withdrawal.

Donor nations at a conference in Tokyo in July pledged $16 billion for Afghanistan to prevent the country from sliding back into turmoil when foreign combat troops depart, with several pre-conditions including presidential elections in 2014.

Although the official date has been determined, it’s due to be made

public during a news briefing on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the France Presse news agency reports with reference to a source that voting day is April 5th .

President Hamid Karzai, currently serving his second term, is constitutionally barred from running in the forthcoming race.

groups of Afghans all over the country are fighting the occupying forces is because they, like all people, do not want to live under foreign occupation.”

He said most Americans support an immediate, rapid withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Afghanistan, which will have the same results as a slow withdrawal through 2014 but can cut deaths and casualties of U.S. troops by thousands.

The veteran also lashed out at the Monday night presidential debate on foreign policy, in which the two candidates seemed to be eye to eye on the war. That gave voters no choice to change U.S. policy in Afghanistan, he said.

“The presidential debate, in reality, was not for us,” Prysner said. “It was for the military-industrial complex, energy companies and investors. The candidates were competing for the support of those with billions of dollars to hand over to their campaigns.”

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WEEKLY REVIEW OF BANGLADESH NEWS

India-Bangladesh connectivity inevitable: Khaleda

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia meets with Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid at Hyderabad House on Tuesday.

In a shift of her party’s stand, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Tuesday warmed up to connectivity with India and New Delhi’s participation in a consortium with China to build a deep sea port located at Sonadia.

During a 45-minute meeting with India’s new Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid at the Hyderabad House in the afternoon, Khaleda told him that connectivity between Bangladesh and India is “inevitable” and the same must be expanded to include China and South East Asia.

In the past, BNP had opposed granting transit facility to India to connect with its landlocked northeastern states with the mainland.

After Khaleda’s meeting with Khurshid and earlier with

Indian National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon who called on her at her hotel, BNP Vice Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury told the media that Menon raised the issue of Bangladesh’s proposal for a deep sea port at Sonadia and expressed India’s interest in the project.

Khaleda welcomed the proposal for a consortium including India, China and other countries undertaking the Sonadia deep sea port because

Charge framing in Khalaf case Wednesday

A Dhaka court set Oct 31 for charge framing against the five accused in the Saudi Embassy official Khalaf Al Ali murder case on Monday.

Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 Judge Mohammad Motahar Hossain set the

date, said Special Public Prosecutor Mohammad Rafiqul Islam.

The accused were produced in the court for hearing on charge framing on Monday, but the court postponed the date till Wednesday, he said.

Jashimuddin Sarkar represented the Saudy Embassy in the court.

Khalaf, 45, an official with the consular section of the embassy, was murdered near his Gulshan residence on March 5. His body with bullet injuries was recovered from a roadside in Gulshan area.

Four people were arrested in connection with the murder on July 25.

Assistant Commissioner of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Obaidul Haque submitted the chargesheet under Section 396 to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court on Sept 20.

The five accused in the case are Saiful Islam Mamun, Al Amin, Akbar Ali, Rafiqul Islam and Selim Chowdhury.

Chowdhury is currently in hiding.

Al Amin, one of the four accused in the case, made his confessional statement in the Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court on July 30.

Al Amin said he, along with four others, was present at the scene.

Saiful shot Khalaf, Al Amin said.

Before shooting him, the muggers had a brawl with Khalaf when the gang demanded some dollars from him and he refused, he said.

The Investigation Officer mentioned Al Amin’s deposition in the chargesheet.

of the huge amount of investment needed for it and said it will benefit Bangladesh, India, China and Thailand as well, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Mobin said Khaleda had taken up the deep sea port issue with top Chinese leaders when she had visited that country in the third week of October and Beijing was receptive to India’s participation in the consortium.

Mobin said India has already expressed

keenness to join the proposed Sonadia deep sea port project and sought details and data about it.

He said Khurshid assured Khaleda that he will take a personal initiative to talk to all stakeholders, including West Bengal state, and resolve the Teesta water-sharing issue, a deal which could not be signed last September due to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s last-minute opposition.

Khaleda said clinching an agreement on Teesta will be the “first stop” before moving towards sharing of the water of other common rivers.

Responding to Khaleda’s concerns over border killings, Khurshid emphasised such incidents have to be eliminated and India will take all steps towards achieving that.

In the past, BNP had been in denial mode about the problem of crossborder illegal migration and presence

of militants in Bangladesh territory.

During her meetings with Indian leaders, Khaleda signalled her intention to break from BNP’s antiIndia stance in the past.

At a separate media briefing, the spokesperson of Indian External Affairs Ministry said Khaleda’s message during her interaction with Indian leaders was that “this marks a new beginning and let’s not look back in the rear view mirror”.

The Indian National Security Advisor conveyed to Khaleda that New Delhi would like the current momentum in bilateral ties to be maintained.

Khaleda is leaving for Jaipur on Wednesday on her way to Ajmer Sharif and will return to Delhi on Thursday night. A dinner will be hosted in her honour by Rajasthan Industry Minister on Wednesday night in Jaipur. She returns to Dhaka on November 3.

Bangladesh denies entry to Rohingya refugees

Border officials see refugees fleeing sectarian violence in Myanmar as economic burdens.

The United Nations has called for “urgent action” to prevent the spread of inter-communal violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, after recent clashes killed dozens of people and left tens of thousands homeless.

The government has estimated that more than 22,500 people have been displaced from their homes in the last week and more than 4,600 houses have been burnt.

Many Rohingya refugees trying to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh

have been denied entrance by Bangladeshi border troops because

they are viewed as economic burdens for the country.

BNP harboured separatists: Dipu Moni

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni on Tuesday lashed out at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia saying that she always provided shelter to terrorists and separatists whenever she came to power.

The foreign minister came up with the comments a day after the opposition leader assured Indian Prime

Minister Manmohan Singh that neither she nor her party would allow terrorists and separatists to use Bangladesh territory to harm India’s interests.

“The opposition leader not only promised but also sheltered terrorists and separatists whenever she came to power,” she told journalists at a programme in Forokkabad High School in Chandpur, reports a correspondent.

“She indirectly admitted the favour her government had for the global terrorism when she was in power.

We are happy that she recognised her mistake. She admitted that her government followed wrong policies,” the foreign minister added.

“She [Khaleda] created instability on the border by giving shelter to separatists and also allowed using our land for destruction to our neighbour,” Dipu Moni went on saying.

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WEEKLY REVIEW OF BHUTAN NEWS

His Majesty grans audience Bhutan’s intention to to RBA personnel become member of MIGA

His Majesty the King with RBA personnel

His Majesty the King yesterday, October 29, granted an audience and commended the Royal Bhutan Army personnel who had recently completed the last phase of the project to lower the level of Thorthormi Lake in Lunana.

The government had sought the assistance of the RBA as work was progressing slowly due to manpower shortage, given the difficult working conditions and narrow deadlines for the project.

The 145th Lhengye Zhungtshog held at the Raven House yesterday evening endorsed Ministry of Finance’s submission of RGoB’s intention to become member of Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).

In order to promote Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) by the private sector and corporation in Bhutan, the MoF proposed that RGoB consider subscribing to the membership of MIGA. Presently, of the 185 member of the World Bank, 175 are members of MIGA. All the SAARC countries are members except for Bhutan. Membership of MIGA is open to all member countries of World Bank.

Upon approval by the Cabinet yesterday evening and upon becoming a member, the private sector and corporations in the country will now have the option of directly applying to MIGA for issuance

Bhutan’s Agriculture Industry Goes Organic

The future of Bhutan’s agriculture industry will be organic. The country, which mainly grows oranges, apples, rice and potatoes, had decided to become 100% organic in the next 10 years.

Situated in the craggy foothills of the Himalayas, only 3% of the kingdom’s territory is actually farmland. However, 80% of the population of Bhutan, a nation of 700,000 citizens, depends on agriculture as their livelihood.

“Bhutan has decided to pursue the idea of a green economy, in light of the enormous pressure on the planet,” Bhutan’s Agriculture Minister, Pema Gyamtsho, said.

By taking up organic farming, which is particularly adapted to small farms and is a market which is vastly expanding around the world, Bhutan is hoping to offer new export opportunities to its farmers, who are struggling to compete with neighboring India’s intensive farming industry. Numerous villages dotted around the mountains do not have access to chemical fertilizers; therefore, organic farming would allow them to preserve their

traditional farming techniques.

Bhutan’s Prime Minister Jigme Thinley first announced that the country’s farming industry would be converted in 2008, while launching the label “Grown in Bhutan,” to be synonymous with “organically grown.”

“Organic farming will enrich and preserve our soil’s fertility in a sustainable way, rather than exhausting or damaging with chemical products. This will protect our biodiversity,” Jigme Thinley said in 2011. Thanks to this biodiversity, Bhutan is able to export rare varieties of mushroom to Japan and red rice to the U.S. It also produces natural dyes and aromatic oils that are very popular with perfume manufacturers.

Training the farmers In a 2008 report, the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said that Bhutan needed to invest in order to accomplish this conversion. “Organic farming requires expert knowledge and a large labor force to succeed, two resources that are extremely rare in this country.”

Bhutan will have to start training its farmers in quality control.

But first it will have to convince them to make the transition to organic farming and to create cooperatives, despite their geographic isolation from one another. Collaboration has already started between Bhutan and Nahdanya, a network of organic farmers and seed keepers in India, where Navdanya has trained more than 500,000 farmers in organic farming.

This conversion will also contribute to increasing the country’s “gross national happiness” index. This list of priorities for the country puts protection of the environment and the’ happiness of its people higher than an increase in the gross national product (GNP). On a site of 19 hectares (about 50 acres) at 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) above sea level, Bhutan has also begun building a center dedicated to human interaction and harmony with nature.

of guarantee to attract FDI and access ECB. Furthermore, MIGA’s guarantee can help investors obtain access to ECB with improved financial terms and conditions. Premium rates are decided on per project basis and vary

by country, sector, transaction and the type of risk insured.

In order to become a member, the RGoB is required to further sign the MIGA Convention and deposit its instrument of Ratification. The signed Convention will be submitted to the next session of the Parliament for ratification. Upon Ratification,

its instrument of Ratification will be deposited with the World Bank. And finally Subscribe to the the shares of MIGA’s Capital Stock. Under schedule A of the MIGA Convention, Bhutan has been allotted 50 shares with a par value of each share at $1082/-. Of the total subscription of $541,000/Bhutan is required to pay 10% in cash (3/4 in USD and ¼ in local currency) and deposit a non-interest bearing, non-negotiable promissory note representing another 10%.

Bhutan became a member of the World Bank in 1981, and it made it possible for Bhutan to get access the highly concessional IDA credit.

Subsequently, the RGoB subscribed to the membership of IFC in 2003 to facilitate private borrowing from the IFC. Besides advisory services, the IFC has financed one of the highend resorts (Aman Kora). Currently, Mountain Hazelnut Venture is negotiating a credit from the IFC.

IDA credit endorsed by Lhengye Zhungtshog

The 145th Lhengye Zhungtshog, held yesterday at the Raven House, endorsed the recently approved IDA credit of US $ 45 million by the World Bank for Development Policy Credit (DPC II) and for Remote Rural Community Development (RRCD). This was based on the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) agreed for Bhutan.

Of the total, US $ 36 million has been processed as DPC II which is a budgetary support credit and untied to any particular project.

This was done to improve the

fiscal position during the financial year 2012-13 in view of its flexibility in responding to changing priorities with swift disbursement.

This credit will be disbursed in one tranche which will be by December 2012.

From the total, US $ 3 million will be on0lent to BDBL as credit line to enhance access to micro and rural credit for financing small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The balance US $ 9 million is for the RRCD to be implemented by the MoAF from 2012-2016. The main objective of the project is to increase agriculture productivity by improving access to markets, agricultural technologies and community infrastructure such as irrigation channels in the remote rural areas of Samtse, Haa, Chhukha, Trongsa, Dagana and Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhangs.

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WEEKLY REVIEW OF INDIA NEWS

Government is anti-people: ex-Army chief V.K. Singh

In a stinging attack on the government at the Press Club here Monday, former army chief General (retd.) V.K. Singh, who has joined social activist Anna Hazare in his crusade against corruption, demanded immediate dissolution of parliament.

“The government is snatching food and work. People must act, otherwise nothing will be left. Why is the government silent on black money?

The government has surrendered to the market. The government is against the constitution. We demand that parliament should be dissolved,” Gen. Singh said.

The former army chief said that the government is “anti-people” and that it is “bending” before the corporates.

He also demanded immediate elections in the country.

“People should choose the new government. Both the ruling party and opposition are silent over corruption issues. The government should come clear on how they want to run the government; on the market demands or on the constitution,” he said.

Within months of retirement, in a direct attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Gen. Singh asked him on why the government is looting

people.

“How can the prime minister clear FDI when the government is in a minority,” he asked.

Gen. Singh was speaking to media persons alongside Hazare, who is expected to launch an anti-graft team after severing ties with Arvind Kejriwal and India Against Corruption (IAC) over the formation of a political party.

“This government has crossed all limits. Tribals are being left homeless and farmers’ land is being given away by the government to big companies,” Gen. Singh alleged.

He said that people of this country have rights over the land that is being gifted to corporates. “However, issues like land acquisition, water, jungles are important... who owns them? But no MP raises these questions,” he said.

In a long list of allegations, Singh said that corruption, scams, unemployment and poverty have left people discontented with the government. “Government has raised prices of fuel, every town is hurting.

Foreigners are given access to our natural resources, big industry is set up. Poor people don’t benefit from

this. It will not lead to progress,” he said.

Gen. Singh also said that people must have the right to recall their elected representatives as the country and its people have no future with ‘these parliamentarians’ and ‘this government’.

“The country belongs to the people, they must bring down this government. We need a new set of parliamentarians,” he said.

Hazare agreed with Gen. Singh and said this government is not working according to the constitution, adding that the fate of the poor of the country is “being decided by people sitting in America”.

“We are both from the army, we have fought wars. Now it is time to fight the enemy within,” Hazare said.

“What sort of freedom is this? These big dams that are built... where will water come from for our towns, our farmers?” he asked.

Hazare said that neither parliamentarians nor the government would bring the Janlokpal bill.

Banks staring at Rs 6000-crore writeoff on Mamata supports Hazare, says UPA govt in minority loans to debt-ridden Kingfisher Airlines

Banks are staring at a possible Rs 6,000-crore writeoff on loans to Kingfisher AirlinesBSE 3.07 %, the biggest writeoff in Indian corporate history, as the continuing delay in resumption of services means even vulture funds are unlikely to invest in the airline.

Lenders, which have been expecting promoter Vijay Mallya to bring in equity funds for more than a year now, are beginning to reconcile to the fact that chances of an equity investor coming forward is remote while the airline’s troubles are compounding.

Almost all banks have classified KFABSE 3.07 % as a bad loan and made provisions for some losses, but now they are preparing to write off these debt as unrecoverable losses, three

bankers familiar with the thinking at KFA’s creditors said on condition of anonymity.

The absence of collateral to back even a third of the total 7,500-crore loans makes it nearly impossible to recover the debt. It is not clear whether the potential write off will mean that the banks concerned will record losses in their September quarter earnings. State Bank of India BSE -0.13 % (SBI) has set aside 65% of its 1,400-crore loan.

“It is at a stage where it is doubtful that any reconstruction companies, or even vulture funds, would consider acquiring this portfolio from lenders,” said Siby Antony, managing director and chief executive at Edelweiss ARC, a company that buys distressed assets and makes a profit by reviving their operations.

Banks, including SBIBSE -0.13 %, Punjab National BankBSE 1.06 % and IDBIBSE -0.73 %, have lent about 7,500 crore to KFA over the past few years as working capital, even as the airline floundered. Its inability to raise equity prompted lenders to turn off the loan tap as well.

Announcing support for Anna Hazare’s demand for immediate dissolution of Parliament, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said the UPA government was a minority one with one party rule.

“This is a minority government and I totally agree with Hazare’s demands made on Monday. The UPA government

came to power with our support. After we left we wrote to the President that we have withdrawn support from the government.

This is a Congress government now, not a UPA government,” Banerjee told a press conference here.

“They don’t have any right now as it is a minority government,” Banerjee said.

Along with former Army chief General (retd) V.K. Singh, anti-corruption crusader Hazare had on Monday demanded immediate dissolution of Parliament.

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WEEKLY REVIEW OF PAKISTAN NEWS

Karachi factory fire put out after 30 hours The fire that erupted in a chemical factory located in Gulbai area of Karachi was put out after 30 hours, while the cooling process is underway, report.

A fire tender and two snorkels were used in putting out the fire, while more than 100 firefighters took part in the process.

Saturday night. While the fire brigade had reached the area immediately, it was struggling to control the fire. Such was the intensity of the fire, that it was

prevent adjoining buildings from catching fire. An adjoining warehouse containing rice had also caught fire, but it was quickly put out.

the fire locally, “but when they noticed it was beyond them, they called in the fire brigade.”

Syed said that despite their best efforts,

One of the factory workers told Express News that internally, the factory maintains a very good fire fighting mechanism, however all workers

A section of the chemical warehouse of a plastic packages manufacturing factory in the Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE), had collapsed after the fire erupted there.

The fires had severely weakened the five storied structure, and parts of it had collapsed. Firefighters continued to combat the blaze from outside.

The fire had reportedly started late

quickly elevated to a category three and fire tenders from across the city were called in to help put the blaze out.

Even PAF fire tenders from the nearby Masroor airbase tried to help in putting the blaze out. Several explosions were heard within the factory as well.

Failing to adequately control the fire, firefighters concentrated on containing the blaze in the affected building and

It is reported that the factory located near Gul Bai is nearly 30 years old and employs 600 workers.

Factory to be torn down Karachi administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed visited the burning factory on Sunday said that the fire started shortly before midnight on Saturday night. He said that the factory’s staff initially tried to control

the fire had severely weakened the structure of the building. “It will have to be torn down.”

No casualties Fortunately, no one was injured in the blaze as workers were off for Eid holidays.

However, after learning of the blaze, some visited factory to see the damage first hand.

were off for Eid. He was seconded by firefighter Imtiaz who said, “They had adequate fire safety measures according to the nature of their work.”

Another employee said that there were only four guards, including a factory firefighter who were present when the fire started. They were the ones who called the fire brigade, he said.

Zardari‚ political leaders discuss democratic process in the country

President Asif Ali Zardari in a telephonic conversation with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, Jamiat Ulemai-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Chief Minister

conversation discussed political situation, steps to promote democracy in Pakistan and other matters.

President Zardari and Altaf Hussain during the conversation also exchanged eid greetings.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ameer Haider Hoti and Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi discussed political situation‚ democratic process and terrorist incidents in the country.

During talks President Zardari and MQM Chief Altaf Hussain have agreed that PPP and MQM will jointly face the challenges confronting the country.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain in a telephonic

Both leaders condemned attacks on girls schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and an attack on Ziarat Kaka Sahib shrine in Nowshera. They called for struggle to curb extremism and terrorism in Pakistan.

The President during talks with chief of JUI Maulana Fazlur Rehman‚ Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amir Haider Khan Hoti and Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi discussed issues related to political stability and democratic development in the country.

Tuesday, 13th November, 2012 Cultural Activities Centre (C.A.C), International Islamic University Malaysia

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WEEKLY REVIEW OF MALDIVE NEWS

Heavy rain leaves 120 houses flooded in Hoarafushi

leakage from the roof had damaged the administrative documents of the center. “Children vaccination equipment was also damaged. That place is not in a state which can be used to provide services to the people,” he added.

In addition he noted that the flooding had polluted the fresh water layer of the island. He said the local residents use rain water in the tanks for cooking and bathing. Ahsan added that the Disaster Management Center had pledged fresh water for the island.

President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik is scheduled to visit the island today to assess the damages.

Many islands have been damaged due to heavy showers and subsequent flooding.

The relentless heavy rain in Maldives has flooded large parts Haa Alif Atoll Hoarafushi causing severe damage to many houses in the island.

Member of Hoarafushi Council Ahmed Ahsan said in some areas of the island were flooded up to two feet while 120 houses were damaged badly. He said the water had damaged furniture, electronic equipment and household items.

“Mattress, drawers, expensive televisions and other electronic equipment were damaged beyond use. 20 families were evacuated to other houses.” Ahsan detailed.

But the people who had been relocated have now returned to their respective homes.

Ahsan added that the flooding had damaged the health center and rain

Nasheed heaps praise on people aiding victims of heavy rains

Former president Mohamed Nasheed heaped praised on the people who are helping the victims of the heavy rains in Maldives by happily noting the fine example and Islamic principles shown by them.

In a short statement he stressed that heavy showers and subsequent flooding in Maldives has caused severe damage to various parts of the country. In addition he noted that the recent bad weather has disrupted transport, economic, social and communication in Maldives.

“From all these the greatest tragedy is the injury to the people and damage to their houses and property. Especially the damages to Haa Alif Atoll Hoarafushi Baarah, Hanimaadhoo, Addu city Hulhudhoo and Feydhoo and Gnaviyani Atoll Fuvamulah,” he said in the statement.

Nasheed further insisted that he is with the people during this time of need.

Many islands have been damaged due to flooding caused by heavy rains.

Cyclone Nilam heading away from Maldives: MET

Maldives Meteorological Service (MET) has revealed that the cyclone which formed over northeast of Sri Lanka’s Trincomalee is moving further away from Maldives.

Forecaster Hussain Waheed said that Cyclone Nilam was heading further north of Sri Lanka. Schools and ports shut down in southeast India on Wednesday as the cyclone headed towards the coast, with forecasters

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predicting it could make a direct hit on Chennai later in the day.

Waheed said though Nilam was heading away from Maldives, the country was experiencing effects of the cyclone.

“Because of the cyclone there are several storm clouds over the Maldives. So we’re predicting heavy showers to large parts of Maldives,” he added.

MET office further predicted heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas in some islands.

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has urged caution when travelling by sea.

A bulletin from the India Meteorological

Department warned of winds gusting up to 110 kilometres (70 miles) an hour and flooding of low-lying areas due to a sea surge and heavy rain.

The cyclone was expected to make landfall on Wednesday evening at some point along a 350-kilometre stretch of coast. Chennai, the state capital of Tamil Nadu, is in the middle of the affected zone.

Sri Lanka on Tuesday allowed thousands of people who had been evacuated to return to their homes after the storm, which had been expected to hit the island, changed course and moved towards India.

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WEEKLY REVIEW OF NEPAL NEWS

Nepali parties inch back to poll option

Nepali parties have formally resumed their negotiations to determine the political roadmap after a long festival break. While they have been swinging between two options, of either holding fresh elections for a new Constituent Assembly (CA) or reviving the old CA to promulgate a constitution, the momentum has shifted clearly in favour of fresh polls.

In the past week, Maoist chairman

Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ put forward a proposal to the Nepali Congress (NC) and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist). As the “best option”, Maoists suggested promulgating a constitution incorporating all issues agreed upon before May 27, when the CA expired, and leaving contentious issues for the next elected LegislatureParliament. The proposal added,

Nepal continues to experience tourism growth Despite recent mortal avalanches in its crowded Himalayan mountains, Nepal is heading into a record year in tourist arrivals in 2012. According to data for the first eight months of the year, arrivals

taking place for foreigners trying to visit Tibet. Talking recently to CNN, Grayson Schaffer, senior editor at Outside magazine, declared that Mount Manaslu proved particularly popular

by air progressed by 16.3%, reaching a record of 377,043 international arrivals. Strong growth is coming from Nepal’s two giant neighbours, India and China. Indian air arrivals jumped by 24.1% from January to August, topping 126,472 arrivals. China performed even better with a growth of 27.5%, reaching a total of 31,204 visitors. Other Asian markets showing strong performances are Japan, up by 17.9%, Korea (up y 12.3%) and Malaysia (up by 11.9%).

Surprisingly, Europe performed extremely well despite the current economic recession. Total air arrivals from the continent reached 91,042, a 14.8% improvement over 2011… Europe remains an extremely important market for Nepal, generating 24.1% of all arrivals between January and August of this year.

Tourism experts point out that the very good performance of tourism this year is also due to the restrictions

this year among travellers after Chinese authorities restricted tourist visas, making access difficult to Cho Oyu or Shishapangma, two 8,000m (26,000 ft) peaks on the border with Tibet.

Strong interest to trek in Nepal is likely to continue as the government unveiled early October new trekking routes, following promises made to former Maoist rebels to help them economically by promoting tourism.

The new trekking routes –named the “Guerilla Trek” pass through the battlegrounds of the country’s decadelong insurgency. Hikers will then be able to discover unspoilt natural landscapes, authentic centuries-old villages, which served once as bases for Maoist troups.

The government hopes that tourism will help spreading prosperity beyond the usual tourist sites of the the Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara and the Everest region.

“If no understanding evolves on the above-mentioned solution, or is not possible, there is no other option than to go for fresh elections.”

NC president Sushil Koirala and UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal have categorically rejected the CA revival option. A group of former Supreme Court Chief Justices warned the Prime Minister that CA revival to promulgate the statute would be unconstitutional.

President Ram Baran Yadav too has spoken in favour of fresh polls.

Major differences, however, persist between the parties on the question of government leadership. While the Maoists have said Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai should lead a unity government to hold polls, the opposition has made it clear that this would not be acceptable. “We will not accept either a budget or elections from this government. A new consensus government should work out a package deal on polls, and constitutional process to hold elections,” said former Premier and UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal. The Maoists have said they will not accept the leadership of the NC, and Mr. Prachanda has floated the idea of a “neutral figure” leading the election government as a compromise.

Leader Jaiswal commits suicide Kailash Chaudhary, Central Chairman of Madhesi Youth Forum (Madhes), a sister organization of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Bhagyanath Gupta Group) committed suicide on Saturday at 4:30 pm in his own bicycle shop.

Chaudhary (38) of Bhadrapur-8 hanged himself inside the shop, said Police.

Jaiswal is survived by wife and two sons.

Police has found a note from the room on Monday, the next day of suicide. According to family source, he was in tension from political issues for the past few days.

NC‚ UML stress unity govt to end crisis

Decide to launch joint agitation after festive season ends A day after the UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal came up with proposals to end the political and constitutional deadlock, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML leaders today said the proposals “have nothing new in substance” and reiterated their stand that nothing would be discussed unless the ruling party agreed to form a consensus government.

“There is nothing new in Dahal’s proposals,” UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal told mediapersons after an NC-UML meeting in Lalitpur.

Khanal said Dahal’s proposal intended to give continuity to the Baburam Bhattarai-led government, which, he said, was responsible for the CA’s dissolution.

UCPN-Maoist chairman had proposed either to form a consensus government under NC leadership and revive the dissolved CA to adopt a constitution accommodating the agreed issues or go for fresh elections converting the incumbent government into a national consensus one. Dahal had conferred with Khanal and NC president Sushil Koirala yesterday.

But the NC and UML rejected the offer, saying the UCPN-Maoist had to first agree to form a consensus government before discussing contentious issues.

UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal shaking hands with Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala at a tea party hosted by the NC in Lalitpur‚ on Monday.

“We have decided not to discuss political and constitutional issues with the UCPN-M unless it agrees to form a consensus government,” NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel said.

NC and UML leaders repeated their stance that the government must pave the way for formation of a consensus government if the UCPN-M was really sincere about finding a way out of the looming crisis.

Khanal also said the NC and UML would launch a joint agitation after the festive season was over. “We have agreed to launch a joint agitation against the government and we will make public our protest programmes soon,” Khanal said.

Paudel blamed UCPN-Maoist for not being sincere about adopting the

new federal, democratic constitution, saying that it had backtracked from the May 15 agreement, which had agreed to adopt the constitution incorporating all agreed constitutional issues, leaving the disputed ones for next parliament to settle.

Meanwhile, PM Bhattarai and senior UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal also discussed current issues.

After meeting the PM, Nepal said the main issue was whether or not the parties would be able to reach an understanding on constitutional issues.

“Reviving the CA or going for referendum are not the issues,” Nepal said, adding: “The crux lies in whether or not the parties will agree on constitutional issues.”

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WEEKLY REVIEW OF SRILANKA NEWS

Sri Lanka in for tough questioning at UN human rights review

Sri Lanka will face some tough questioning at the United Nations human rights body Thursday when the periodical review of its progress during the past four years on the human rights front gets underway at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s special envoy for human rights, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe will share the progress country has made in all aspects of the promotion and protection of human rights before the international human rights forum.

Under the Universal Periodic Review process, which scrutinizes the human right record of each member state every four years, Sri Lanka will face tough questions posed by several UN member countries as well as international

and local human right groups and other stakeholders.

A troika headed by India, with Benin and Spain as the other

following a vote.

Sri Lanka will have to answer questions not only from western countries like US, UK, Canada,

members, would review Sri Lanka’s responses and based on the responses will formulate the report of the review and the Council will adopt the review

and European states that have been critical of island nation’s right record for years but also from its friends, Cuba, China, and Pakistan,

Opposition legislators call for inquiry into Sri Lanka Central Bank’s investment in Greek Bonds A group of legislators from Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party (UNP) lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of

Bribery and Corruption calling for an inquiry into the Central Bank’s investment of public funds in Greek Bonds. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe declared in Parliament that the losses suffered from the decision by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to invest in Greek Bonds, has mounted to an estimated Rs 3.4 billion, and questioned the government to explain the rationale behind the decision.

UNP parliamentarian Sujeewa

Senasinghe along with MPs Thalatha Atukorale and Rosy Senanayake had lodged the complaint with the Commission.

Senasinghe has also filed a fundamental rights petition before the Supreme Court on the matter.

The Central Bank’s decision to invest in Greek Bonds had resulted in the loss of millions of rupees to the country, the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) said last week presenting its interim report on public institutions.

The Central Bank had allegedly invested the monies in violation of monetary regulations and without considering risk analysis.

The COPE also recommended a further investigation into the Central Bank’s investment in Greek bonds which has resulted in the loss of around US$ 15.6 million to the country.

Most countries have raised questions on the progress made in, among others, democratization of former conflict-affected areas of the Northern and the Eastern provinces, rehabilitation of child soldiers, investigations into disappearances and missing cases, prevention of torture, language rights of all communities and the implementation of the five-year National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights.

The international human right organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) has meanwhile urged the UN members to use the UPR process to question Sri Lanka on accountability for right abuses.

“Governments should use the UPR to question Sri Lanka’s deteriorating human rights situation and make recommendations for meaningful

change,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

UN member countries should express grave concern about Sri Lanka’s failures to act on the 2008 UPR recommendations and approach the 2012 UPR submission with skepticism, the HRW suggested.

The Ministry of External Affairs said Monday that Sri Lanka was ready to face the UPR process with confidence.

“We have prepared well to face the review,” Secretary to the Ministry Karunatilaka Amunugama said.

The high-powered Sri Lanka delegation led by Minister Samarasinghe and comprising officials from the External Affairs Ministry, Justice Ministry and the Attorney General’s Department had travelled to Geneva for the UPR.

Sri Lanka arrests asylum seekers deported by Australia

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan police arrested a group of asylum seekers deported by Canberra after they allegedly hijacked a fishing vessel to reach Australian shores, with some facing charges of attempted murder.

Fifteen Sri Lankans were picked up

by Australian authorities on Thursday north-west of the Cocos Islands in a boat apparently stolen from its owner in Sri Lankan waters two week ago, and Canberra sent 14 of them back on Saturday. Sri Lankan police said the 14 people were arrested at the island’s international airport as they disembarked from an Australian government-chartered plane.

“The 14 suspects were... immediately handed over to the police,” an official said, adding that they faced several charges including attempted murder, abduction and theft. The officer who declined to be named said they were trying to secure arrest warrants against the crew of two other trawlers which went missing this month and believed to have been used for people smuggling to Australia.

Australia’s Immigration Minister Chris Bowen told reporters in Sydney that one member of the group who was not deported on Saturday would be returned in the coming days. The minister said the deported Sri Lankans made “no claims for protection nor raised

* Australia’s immigration minister says deported Lankans made no claims for protection

any issues that engaged Australia’s international obligations”. “They did not hold visas and consequently had no legal right to enter or remain in Australia,” he said in a statement.

Sri Lanka sought help from Interpol to track down the trawler Thejan after it was apparently stolen by its own crew in a bid to illegally transport asylumseekers to Australia. A magistrate issued arrest warrants against the skipper and 13 others who staged the alleged hijacking to try to cover up the boat’s theft and use it in the highly lucrative people-smuggling business.

Two of the six crewmen were later found wounded and bobbing in the water off Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

They gave conflicting accounts of the events and are being detained for questioning. Sri Lankan authorities say they have detained more than 1,000

people trying to leave for Australia illegally this year.

In August, Australia announced it will send asylum-seekers offshore to the tiny Pacific state of Nauru and a Papua New Guinea island to deter boatpeople from attempting the sea voyage, which has cost hundreds of lives. Sri Lankans pay up to $3,000 for a place on trawlers that take around two weeks to make the treacherous crossing to Australia.

The Refugee Action Coalition said the group’s swift removal was extremely worrying. The organisation said it was reminiscent of recent cases in which detainees were “screened out” at initial interviews. “I am extremely concerned that the 14 alleged pirates were sent back to Sri Lanka without having the benefit of any independent legal advice,” coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said.

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New twist to Rajiv killing

Narayanan as IB chief ‘suppressed’ Rajiv assassination video 21 years after that tragic event.

Rajiv Gandhi was killed by an LTTE suicide-bomber who managed to get on to the stage at an election rally at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.

Was a video — shot hours before former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed at Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991 — that held crucial clues to the assassination never shared by the Intelligence Bureau (IB)?

A new book — Conspiracy to Kill Rajiv Gandhi: From the CBI files — by the former chief investigator of the CBI, K Ragothaman, claims that the then IB director and current West Bengal Governor MK Narayanan never shared this video with them.

Did the Research & Analysis Wing, India’s external intelligence agency try to cover up the role of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the gruesome assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on May 21, 1991? Was an effort made by R&AW, with more than a little help from the Intelligence Bureau, to intentionally wipe out the LTTE’s footprint?

These are two of the several questions raised by former chief investigator of the CBI, K Ragothaman, in his just-published book Conspiracy to Kill Rajiv Gandhi: From the CBI files which has sparked a major controversy

A letter written in this regard

by Narayanan to then Prime Minister Chandrashekar makes a reference to the video but it was never brought to the notice of the

Last Frame : You can see the woman in orange and green approaching

‘Barricading in the site of the meeting (to be addressed by Gandhi) was rudimentary. Neither double nor effecting barricade was evident. It was hence possible for

The bomber, Dhanu, shortly before the suicide bomb attack.

In his book, Ragothaman claims that the then R&AW chief GS Bajpai exerted himself to prevent the LTTE from being blamed for the assassination. According to Ragothaman, the Director of CBI and the Special Investigation Team members who had gone to Colombo to investigate the LTTE’s role were asked to return on Bajpai’s “insistence”.

A former CBI officer, who probed

Special Investigating Team, its then Chief Investigating Officer K. Ragothaman has said in his latest book ‘Conspiracy to kill Rajiv Gandhi - From CBI files’.

“The SIT came to know of the video following a mention by the Justice Verma Commission (constituted to probe the assassination) as it was never brought to SIT’s notice,” he said.

Narayanan was not available for

those in the unsterilized areas to have access to the sterilized zone.

It has not yet been possible whether the lady (assassin Dhanu) made her way into the sterilised zone once Rajiv Gandhi approached or whether she had previously managed to stand in line as one of those offering salutations to Rajiv Gandhi.

Video pictures of this part of the meeting are presently being

the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has claimed that a video purportedly showing the assassin Dhanu at the public meeting at Sriperumbudur on the fateful day had been suppressed by then IB chief M.K. Narayanan, now West Bengal Governor.

comments. Raj Bhawan officials in Kolkata said he is on a visit to Australia. The video was shot by a local videographer hired by the organisers of that fateful public meeting, he said.

The letter by Narayanan, published as Annexure in the book says:

scanned to try and identify the lady,” the letter by Narayanan said as mentioned in Raghothaman’s book.

“It is a suicidal note from him. Had he not written it we would not have come to know (about the video),” Raghothaman said.

Ragothaman alleged that the issue was not pursued by then then chief of the Special Investigation Team D.R. Karthikeyan and Narayanan was allowed to ‘go scot-free’.

Asked about Ragothaman’s charge against him, Karthikeyan said he has to read the book before deciding whether it deserves his comment.

“It’s 22 years back when the event took place and lakhs of pages have been written in newspapers, magazines in India and all over the world,” he said.

“Two Commissions have inquired.

And, the years of trial and the trial court and the matter has been also dealt with by the Supreme Court and the final verdict has been given,” he told Times Now. Karthikeyan said he ‘cannot recollect’ when asked about the video. “I must read the news item and also see the book and see in what context what is written and if it is worth reacting, I will do so,” he said.

The state police had claimed then that Dhanu had suddenly made her way near Rajiv Gandhi before detonating the bomb and that she was not at all present in the sterile zone prior to that, Raghothaman said.

Holding that many versions had floated around the mastermind behind the incident, Raghothaman said he decided to document the meticulous investigation that led the SIT to LTTE chief V. Prabhakaran and many other members of the outlawed group for the crime.

He said he penned the book in Tamil in 2009 only because the ‘accused had been killed,’ in armed conflict with Sri Lankan forces.

The English version again details the incidents that led to the murder of Gandhi and how CBI zeroed in on Prabhakaran with vital clues.

Indian women beat Pakistan to lift Asia Cup clinch the title by 18 runs Continued from page 32 >>

about the Indian bowlers was their discipline, giving away just a couple of wides from 19.1 overs, which they took to bowl out their opponents.

“So happy for the girls even though I’m disappointed not to have played because of my ankle. Winning this Asia Cup is a great achievement and what’s been special is how our team has become like a family over the years, everyone contributes and plays for each other,” said an elated skipper Mithali

Raj, who could not be a part of the team today.

Electing to bat first, Indian women did not have an good beginning as they lost both their openers within the first couple of overs.

Anuja Patil was the first one to be shown the way to the pavillion by Sadia Yousuf.

Sulakshana Naik soon followed suit to leave India tottering at two for four.

Punam Raut (25) and stand-in skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (20) tried to resurrect the Indian innings. The duo mixed caution

with aggression to raise 32 runs for the third wicket before Punam fall prey to tweaker Bismah Maroof.

With Amita Sharma returning to the dugout in a hurry, Harmanpreet joined hands with Reema Malhotra (18) to take the Indian innings ahead. However, the two couldn’t do much as skipper was made to pay for her impetuosity by leg-spinner Sana Mir. Indian tail couldn’t offer much with the bat as it was bundled out for just 81. Mona Meshram was the last casualty, playing the last ball of the innings straight down to long

on.

Pakistan, after an initial jolt in the form of Qanita Jalil (2), tried to build their innings on the back of Bismah Maroof (18) and skipper Sana Mir’s (11) stand of 27 runs.

But with both the batters falling within a span of one over things never looked the same for Pakistan as they kept on losing the wickets on regular intervals.

The team lost nine wickets for the addition of just 32 runs to hand India a comfortable 18-run win.

NEWS

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Saarc international I Thursday 01 November 2012

Salman Khurshid: India’s illustrious new Muslim foreign minister * Manmohan Singh brings seven new faces into cabinet in biggest reshuffle since re-election loyalist. The other newcomers include Rahman Khan who was named minority affairs minister, Ajay Maken who becomes housing minister and Dinsha Patel who is now mines minister.

They will be joined by Pallam

Indian premier Manmohan Singh brought seven new faces into his cabinet on Sunday in the biggest reshuffle since his re-election as he tried to revive his party’s flagging fortunes before polls due in 2014.

Singh named Salman Khurshid, 59, as a replacement for the 80-yearold foreign minister, SM Krishna, as he attempted to dispel the image of a struggling government, which recently lost its majority.

However there was no place at the cabinet table for Rahul Gandhi, the 42-year-old scion of the GandhiNehru political dynasty, who once

again turned down an offer to enter government.

Speaking to reporters after a swearing-in ceremony for the new ministers, Singh said he expected his new team to remain in office until the next elections. “Probably this is the last reshuffle,” the prime minister said at the presidential palace in New Delhi. “I don’t see early elections. Elections will be held in due course.”

The Law Ministry went to Ashwani Kumar, a ruling Congress party

Raju, who was promoted to human resources development minister.

Harish Rawat was placed in charge of water resources and Chandresh Kumari was appointed culture minister.

Singh named parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal as new railways minister, a post that became vacant following the pullout of a regional ally, Trinamool, from the ruling coalition in September.

Khurshid is the latest member of India’s most illustrious Muslim family to be entrusted with one of the highest offices in the world’s largest Hindu-populated country.

The 59-year-old was the most eyecatching appointment in a cabinet revamp designed to reinvigorate a government, which has shown distinct signs of fatigue.

As he moved into his new office in New Delhi, Khurshid made clear that he would get straight to work and said he had been briefed by Manmohan Singh to bring fresh thinking to his post.

“I have a lot of homework to do... as I want to take India’s foreign policy ahead,” he told reporters shortly after he was officially elevated from his post law minister. “In the last few years, foreign policy has vastly changed... We have to do out of box thinking and go beyond theology.

“We have to think of the great

opportunities the world offers today,” added Khurshid who is India’s first Muslim foreign minister in 16 years.

The government has been mired in scandal in recent months, most notably by revelations surrounding the tender process for stateowned coalmines. India’s two largest opposition parties scoffed at the shakeup, dubbing it a futile exercise by a scandal-tainted government. “It is a vain exercise by the government to refurbish its image in the face of the corruption charges it is facing,” Rajiv Pratap Rudi, spokesman of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, told AFP. Singh confirmed that he had offered a cabinet post to Rahul Gandhi, whose father, grandmother and great-grandfather all served as prime minister, but the offer was declined. “I wanted Rahul Gandhi in government but he wants to strengthen the party,” Singh said. Gandhi currently serves as a member of parliament and heads the youth wing of the main ruling Congress party. agencies

Patel in Parliament House on his 137th birth anniversary Wednesday.

The portrait of Sardar Patel, a stalwart of the freedom movement and the first home minister and deputy prime minister of independent India, was unveiled by the then President Rajendra Prasad, in the Central Hall of Parliament House April 23, 1958.

Among others who paid tributes to Sardar Patel were Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for

Development of North Eastern Region and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Paban Singh Ghatowar, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Kodikunnil Suresh, and Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and the Prime Minister’s Office V. Narayanasamy.

Rajya Sabha Secretary-General Shumsher K. Sheriff and senior officials of the Lok Sabha Secretariat also paid tributes to the leader.

Nation remembers Indira Gandhi

President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and other prominent leaders as well as the common people Wednesday paid tribute to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 28th death anniversary.

The president and vice president visited Shakti Sthal, Indira Gandhi’s memorial on the right bank of the Yamuna river here, along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son

and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

The leaders offered floral tributes as devotional songs played in the background.

Massive crowds gathered at the memorial as people from all walks of life remembered Indira Gandhi and paid homage to her.

Indira Gandhi, daughter of India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, was born Nov 19, 1917. She became the first woman prime minister of the country from 1966 to 1977 and later from 1980 to 1984.

She was assassinated by two of her bodyguards Oct 31, 1984.

Wednesday was also the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and a ceremony was organised in Sansad Bhawan - the British era cirular Parliament House - where the prime minister along with other leaders paid their tributes to the first home minister of independent India.

Manmohan Singh, Advani pay tributes to Sardar Patel Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of the Lok Sabha and union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Deputy Speaker Kariya Munda and senior BJP leader L.K. Advani paid floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai

Amir Khan to fight the undefeated

Continued from page 32 >> of the boxing ring, on 15 December, when he will take on the undefeated Californian Carlos Molina at the LA Sports Arena in a contest to be broadcast live on Showtime in the USA and Sky Sports closer to home.

Despite suffering back-to-back defeats at the hands of Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia, Khan remains box office in the USA, but his career is at a crossroads.

With this in mind, he has dispensed with the services of Freddie Roach and taken up with Virgil Hunter, the highly regarded American trainer who steered Andre Ward to his Super Six final victory over Carl Froch.

Undefeated in 17 fights, Molina is fast and skilful but not renowned as a big puncher. Going toe to toe with Khan will represent a big step up for the Californian but, with his career on the line, the Englishman is humble enough to recognise that he too has much to fear. “I’ve never taken any fight lightly and after two defeats it’s important I come back stronger,” he said. “Mentally I’m prepared and I know I’ve made mistakes, so I’m going to be training a hundred times harder than I’ve ever trained before.” If he cannot finish the task in Los Angeles against Molina, his reign as a contender is over in the light welterweight division.

Saarc international I Thursday 01 November 2012

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31

Amir Khan might have cheated on fiancee with 2 girls while holidaying in Spain Amir Khan has taken to Twitter to defend himself after it was reported that he cheated on his fiancée with two women while on holiday.

This is not the first time the sportsman has been accused of cheating on his fiancée, but while still on holiday he posted on Twitter: ‘U all know I’m engaged and love my fiance to @ faryalxMakhdoom to bits.’

He also tweeted: ‘All I’m saying is don’t believe what you read’.

The sportsman felt the need to defend himself after The Sun reported that the 25-year-old fooled around with two girls on the same day while on a lads holiday in Marbella. Amir Khan is said to have cheated on his beautiful fiancee Faryal Makhdoom with two women on the same day.

According to the Sun, the engaged 25-year-old British champion boxer fooled around with the girls whilst on holiday in Marbella with friends, the Daily Mail reported.

Solicitor Tanya Reed, told the paper how the boxer had kissed her in a hot

“Natalie and Amir were together most of the day. He was pouring champagne in her mouth and at one point they slipped in the pool together,” a source said.

After meeting, the pair reportedly spent a lot of time together during Khan’s lads’ holiday in Spain.

According to reports, Kane met up

with the boxer on four consecutive days and spent two nights at his villa.

Khan, who has been in his trouble with his fiancee before for alleged trysts with women, took to Twitter to defend himself while still on holiday.

“U all know I’m engaged and love my fiance to @faryalxMakhdoom to bits,” (sic) he wrote.

No anti-India terror support: Khaleda

Indian govt okays Pakistan series

tub once she’d stripped down to her underwear.

“I’d left my shoes on so I didn’t lose them but he ripped them off and threw them out of the pool. Then he started kissing me and I thought ‘I’m kissing Amir Khan’,” she said.

The 26-year-old then admitted that she hadn’t realised that the star had a

Continued from page 19 >> and a shared future”, according to BNP Vice Chairman Samsher Mobin Chowdhury.

“She (Begum Zia) told the Indian Prime Minister that she nor her party will never allow use of Bangladesh territory to be used against India or do anything which is against India’s security”, Chowdhury added.

He said Singh thanked Zia and said “I have every reason to believe you and we have a solid foundation to work on”.

“Both the leaders felt that terrorism is of great concern and agreed to continue cooperation on terrorism and insurgent groups,” the External Affairs Ministry said.

Singh and Zia discussed a range of issues including bilateral matters.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, former Foreign Secretary in Khaleda’s Cabinet, Shamser Mobin Chowdhury said the meeting was cordial and lasted nearly an hour at the PMO on 7 Race Course Road. Both leaders discussed a range of issues relating to mutual interests of the two neighbours.

In the meeting, Chowdhury said Khaleda expresses gratitude to the Indian government for its outstanding contribution to the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation.

The two leaders also talked personally for a while after the formal meeting, said Chowdhury, also a Vice-Chairman.

Both the leaders felt terrorism was an issue of great concern and agreed to continue cooperation to thwart terrorism and insurgency.

Khaleda said, “We should work altogether to fight against multi-pronged terrorist and separatist trends. On this issue, I want to make this pledge sincerely and firmly that we will not allow anyone to use the soil of Bangladesh to launch operations against India if we are in power.”

BNP’s main political rival Awami League has been giving the same assurance to the Indian government.

The Indian media feels Awami League is a close associate of New Delhi and admired the role of

girlfriend. “Now I know he’s engaged I think he’s an absolute slimebag. I feel sorry for her. If I could say anything to her, it would be ‘Don’t marry him because he is a cheat’,” she said.

Before meeting Reed a, the sportsman had allegedly chatted up someone else, promotions girl Natalie Kane, at a pool party on the same evening.

the current Awami League-led government in arresting a number of separatist leaders in the last few years.

Chowdhury said the Indian Prime Minister in the meeting expressed his keen interest to establish good relations with Bangladesh’s all political parties which represent the people, instead of any political party or group.

With only a year to the parliamentary elections, the BNP considers the visit ‘very significant’ while India says ‘is part of their engagement with Bangladesh’s democratic and multiparty polity’.

BNP Standing Committee Member Tariqul Islam, Khaleda’s Advisors Riaz Rahman, Sabih Uddin Ahmed, Chowdhury were present during the meeting with Singh, who was assisted by National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon, Principal Secretary Pulak Chatterjee and External Affairs Secretary Ranjan Mathai.

The meeting was followed by a lunch hosted by the Indian Prime Minister in honour of the BNP Chairperson.

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani, new External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, State Ministers Abu Hashem Khan Chowdhury and Deepa Das Munshi, Menon and several others politicians and MPs also attended the lunch.

After the lunch, Khaleda and her entourage returned to Hotel Taj Palace where she is staying.

Chowdhury briefed reporters there about the outcome of the meeting.

Khaleda pointed out in the meeting that it was possible to take effective measures to curb terrorism through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Resolution of the problems relating to sharing of waters of the common rivers, including Teesta, an end to killing of Bangladeshis on the border, reduction of trade deficit between the two countries, inclusion of renowned experts

and specialists in the Bangladesh-India joint survey team on the proposed Tipaimukh dam, border security and boundary demarcation in the disputed border areas were also discussed.

Khaleda told Singh that the two countries enjoy a historically good relation and hoped it would help play the key role in development of the socioeconomic condition in the region in the days to come.

The Indian Prime Minister recalled that he had met the BNP chief during her visit to Dhaka in September last year. “I hope that there will be scopes to talk to you in future,” Chowdhury quoted Manmohan as telling Khaleda.

He also recalled the contribution and role of Khaleda’s husband late President Ziaur Rahman during Liberation War in 1971.

Singh mentioned that both Bangladesh and India could jointly work in many areas including poverty reduction, to which Khaleda agreed.

“The Indian Prime Minister told the BNP Chairperson that it was in its own interests that India wants to see a strong democratic system in Bangladesh,” Chowdhury said.

“The BNP Chairperson said that there has been some progress in signing a fresh land boundary agreement and she thanked the Indian Prime Minister for this.”

Khaleda referred the political ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and said India should establish good relations with its neighbours.

She was scheduled to hold meet with Salman Khurshid in the afternoon.

The former Prime Minister is also likely to meet Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and ruling Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Khaleda is also scheduled to visit Ajmer Sharif in the Indian state of Rajasthan to offer prayers at the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

The opposition chief is likely to return on Nov 3 after winding up her first official visit as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. She last visited to India in 2006 as the Prime Minister.

Continued from page 32 >> for Cricket in India had in July extended an invitation to its Pakistani counterpart to send its team for a short limited-over series in December.

The Pakistani Cricket Board had welcomed the proposal that was subject to the approval of the Indian government. Now the clearance has been given, the bilateral cricket series between the two nations will resume after a gap of five years.

Top BCCI officials led by Rajiv Shukla on Tuesday called on Union home secretary RK Singh to tie up the security arrangements for the matches. The strict security measures will be taken for the safety of players. The BCCI has been assured of foolproof security to the venues and players by the concerned authority in the light of threat from Shiv Sena. Central forces will be deployed to aid the state police to guard the series.

Though India has played Pakistan in international events in the last few years, no Pakistan-India series was held in view of tension between the two neighbours after the 26/11 strikes.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chief efforts yielded fruit as the series was possible due to his hectic efforts and who is trying to bring back in Pakistan inches one step closer to fulfil his promise which he made with the nation.

The cricket crazy fans of both the countries were anxiously awaiting the series and wanted to see crunch matches between the two arch-rivals. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board authorities were waiting for information of the tour from its Indian counterpart after receiving the schedule they would be able to comment on the issue. On its part, the PCB had already postponed a tour to Zimbabwe in December in anticipation of the bilateral series.

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 01 November 2012

Amir Khan to fight the undefeated Carlos Molina on 15 December • Bout will be Khan’s first with Virgil Hunter as trainer • Khan: ‘He needs to teach me to stick to a gameplan’

Amir Khan convened a press conference in London to announce the details of his next, considerably less impromptu

fight. confirmed that his next bout will take place in the more familiar environs Continued on page 30 >>

SAT

Sports

Indian govt okays Pakistan series The vice president of Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) Rajiv Shukla has announced schedule for the upcoming Pakistan tour to India after getting nod from the Indian government, it has been learnt.

After receiving formal permission from the government for Pakistan tour, the BCCI has finalised dates for the Pakistan-India one-day cricket series to be played in India, with the first match will be played on December 25, Rajiv Shukla announced on Tuesday.

India’s home ministry has cleared Pakistan’s short limited-over tour in December-January, taking the series one step closer to reality. The

ODI series against India.

The five-match cricket series, including 3 one-day internationals and 2 Twenty20Is in the two-weeklong tour, will be the first to be held in India after the Mumbai attacks in 2008. Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Ahmedabad will host the matches, the last of which is scheduled to be played on January 7.

Earlier, the Board of Control Continued on page 31 >>

clearance was given at a meeting between the ministry officials and senior representatives of the BCCI - including its chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty, IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla and chief executive Sundar Raman - in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Pakistan is scheduled to arrive in India on December 22 for a series of three ODIs and two Twenty20s.

The series will commence from December 25, 2012 and will conclude on January 7 during the England tour to India as the Englishmen will proceed to their country to celebrate Christmas and New Year and will return to India on January 10 and will resume

Indian women beat Pakistan to lift Asia Cup clinch the title by 18 runs

The Indian women’s cricket team lifted the inaugural Asian Cricket Council’s Twenty20 Asia Cup after beating arch-rivals Pakistan by 18 runs in a low-scoring final in Guangzhou (China) on Wednesday.

India’s decision to bat first seemed to have backfired when the team folded for 81 but the bowlers did a splendid job to dismiss Pakistan to 63 in 19.1 overs.

What was particularly impressive Continued on page 29 >>

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