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Omar
appeals to Muslim ISLAMABAD, Jan 15: The Supreme leader of Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, Mullah Mohammed Omar, appealed ......more
Two Bush presidencies, WASHINGTON, Jan 15: Father and son, they are veteran players in the grandest ritual of American......more
Laden’s group NEW YORK, Jan 15: Saudi dissident Osama Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda group operates about a dozen......more |
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Pakistan demands ISLAMABAD, Jan 15: Pakistan has asked India to increase the coaches of Lahore-Amritsar Samjhota Express from 10 to 13, ....more Search launched in Gaza GAZA, Jan 15: The Israeli Army and Palestinian security forces searched today for a jewish .......more US study finds kids CHICAGO, Jan 15: Aggressive behavior can be "unlearned" if children cut down on television, videotapes and electronic games,........more Crystal prompts LONDON, Jan 15: A tiny crystal of the oldest material ever found on earth has forced scientists to....more Thai police officer cleared BANGKOK, Jan 15: A senior Thai police officer was cleared today of allegations that he took a......more |
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Omar
appeals to Muslim countries to ISLAMABAD, Jan 15: The Supreme leader of Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, Mullah Mohammed Omar, appealed to fellow Muslim countries to unite behind his movement to oppose new United Nations sanctions, news reports said today. "Right now the Muslim world desperately needs unity and alliance," a Pakistani news agency quoted Omar as saying. "The Islamic emirate of Afghanistan cannot be threatened by sanctions. These sanctions will be the shame of those implementing them," he said. The new round of United Nations sanctions against the ruling Taliban take effect later this week. The sanctions impose a one-sided arms embargo on the Taliban, but not against their northern-based opposition, led by ousted President Burhanuddin Rabbani and his former Defense Chief Ahmed Shah Massood. The Taliban rule about 95 per cent of the country and the opposition the remaining five per cent. Pakistan is accused of supplying arms to the Taliban, while Russia, several central Asian states and Iran are said to be supplying arms and money to the opposition. Both Pakistan and the Taliban say the United Nations sanctions are discriminatory and will increase the fighting. The Taliban have pulled out of UN-mediated peace talks in protest. The sanctions also further restrict Afghanistan’s national airline, limit the travel of Taliban officials and reduces the size of Taliban diplomatic missions. (AP) |
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Two Bush
presidencies, 12 years apart, WASHINGTON, Jan 15: Father and son, they are veteran players in the grandest ritual of American politics. Twelve years ago, the father placed his hand on the bible and swore the oath of President as the son watched with pride from the west front of the capitol. On Saturday, they swap places as the son steps forward to take his turn and the father stands by. George Herbert walker Bush, the 41st President, and George Walker Bush, the 43rd, will go into history as the first father and son to hold the highest political office of the land since John Adams, the second, and John Quincy Adams, the sixth. In symbolic and substantive ways, the two Bush presidencies share common starting ground, each coming to power after long periods of economic growth. They both chose to take their oaths with hands on the same bible used by George Washington. Chief Justice Willia Rehnquist administered the Presidential oath to the elder Bush Rehnquist will do it again on Saturday. But the differences may outweigh the similarities. "Other than the last name, it seems to me almost everything is different," said brookings institution political scholar Thomas Mann. Known in national politics and policy-making and broadly experienced in foreign affairs, bush senior won the presidency decisively, standing on Ronald Reagan’s coattails to reach the oval office. The younger Bush won the White House with neither a majority nor a mandate and lacks his father’s impressive political resume. "George W. Bush has an almost surreal experience with his inauguration," Mann said. "The man who is swearing him in is the man who led the 5-4 majority to make his presidency possible. He’s the first president in over a century to lose the popular vote. He knows that reporters in the months ahead may well demonstrate that he probably also lost Florida in the electoral vote. He’s succeeding a two-term democratic President who goes out sort of very popular in his job performance. On inauguration day in 1989, the elder Bush claimed the presidency on the heels of the longest peacetime economic expansion in America’s history. "We live in a peaceful, prosperous time but we can make it better," the new President said. The younger Bush could make the same claim, taking office after America’s longest economic boom ever - with 22 million new jobs and the lowest unemployment and inflation in three decades. But the incoming President worries there are "warning clouds on the horizon" and that the economy could tumble into a recession. That, in fact, is exactly what happened to his father, who saw the economy fall into a slump in 1990 that helped propel Bill Clinton into the presidency. The senior Bush inherited huge budget deficits from the Reagan administration and the red ink continued to spill during his administration. Between 1981 and 1992, the Reagan and Bush years, the national debt quadrupled. Facing a hostile Democratic Congress, bush was forced to accept a deficit-reduction package that broke his no-new-taxes pledge. The younger Bush faces a dramatically different picture. Clinton leaves behind three consecutive years of growing budget surpluses that have opened up the possibility of tax cuts rather than tax increases. Twelve years ago, the elder Bush made a gesture of reconciliation toward democrats in his inaugural address, declaring, "I am putting out my hand to you." He said the American people "didn’t send us here to bicker." But a lot of bickering ensued, and bush used his veto 46 times to stop democratic legislation. The younger Bush, after the harshly bitter election recount in Florida, can be expected to seek reconciliation, too. Unlike his father, he faces a Congress controlled by Republicans - but by a razor slim edge. His biggest challenge on capitol hill will be to find a coalition of Democrats and Republicans to support his legislation. "His biggest battles are probably with the Republican right, trying to distance himself a tiny bit there in order to bring across some moderate democrats," said George Washington University political scientist Christopher Deering. (AP) |
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Laden’s group trained 5,000 militants NEW YORK, Jan 15: Saudi dissident Osama Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda group operates about a dozen Afghan camps that have trained as many as 5,000 militants who have created cells in 50 countries, the New York Times newspaper reported today quoting intelligence sources. In highly disturbing development, the sources revealed that the militant group was experimenting with chemical weapons in one of its camps and American prosecutors were quoted as saying that Al Qaeda has even more grandiose plans. They said Mohdiuh Mahmud Salim, an Iraqi member of the organization set up 13 years ago, even tried to buy enriched uranium in Europe. The group, according to the newspaper, has become a beacon for Muslim Malaysians, Algerians, Filipinos, Palestinians, Egyptians and even Americans who have come to view the United States as their enemy. In a story which traced the growth of ‘Jihad’ against soviets in Afghanistan, which was encouraged by the US and other western powers, to include American interests and moderate islamic Governments across the world, the times said Al Qaeda has now expanded its war to include Israel which, until recently, considered it to be a Washington’s problem. American and Middle East officials were quoted as saying that Al Qaeda had financed and trained an anti-Israeli group, Asbat Al Ansar, that operates in the Palestinian camps. The story quoted a French scholar Olivier Roy, who follows Islamic activities, as saying that Al Qaeda’s biggest asset is thousands of Jihadis around the world who no longer see their struggle in strictly local or even national terms. The group, investigators say, plans attacks months or even years in advance. They say internal crackdown on Muslim militants in different countries fuel the international Jihad. American officials admit that Al Qaeda and Bin Laden have proved resourceful and resilient adversaries. Much of the wealth of Bin Laden, a Saudi dissident millionaire who has taken refuge in Afghanistan, has now been spent, or is in frozen bank accounts. But he is raising money through network of charities and businesses. His group reconstitutes networks as quickly as they are discovered. The officials were quoted as saying that Laden’s business venture in Sudan raised money and served as cover for travel by his confidants. He had also invested 50 million dollars of his family money in a new Islamic bank in Khartoum. Laden, the times said, has not achieved his more ambitious goals — he has not brought more Muslims under the rule of Islamic law, topped any of the Arab Governments he took aim at, or driven the US out of the Middle East. But he and his small inner circle have preoccupied american officials, paralyzing embassies, thwarting military exercises and making American abroad feel anxious and vulnerable. (PTI) |
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Pakistan demands increase in Samjhota Express coaches ISLAMABAD, Jan 15: Pakistan has asked India to increase the coaches of Lahore-Amritsar Samjhota Express from 10 to 13, saying it was necessary to accommodate the increasing traffic between the two countries. A Pakistan Railways delegation would make a formal request in this regard during its meetings with Indian officials in New Delhi tomorrow, ‘The Nation’ newspaper reported today. It would also hold a six-month review of rail communication agreement 1991, signed between Pakistan and India under which the Samjhota Express runs between the two countries, the newspaper quoting sources said. The issue of spares for racks would also be taken up at the meeting expected to continue till January 22, they said, pointing that under the agreement, both countries are bound to provide spares of ‘guest rack’ at the time of arrival in the country. The Indian Railways request to increase the number of goods trains would also be considered at the meeting, the sources added. (PTI) |
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Search launched in Gaza for missing Israeli settler GAZA, Jan 15: The Israeli Army and Palestinian security forces searched today for a jewish settler missing in the Gaza Strip in a suspected kidnapping that could raise tensions just when both sides are trying to lower them. Israeli flares lit the night sky over the Palestinian-controlled town of Khan Younis, near the settlement of Kfar Yam where Roni Tsalach tended to his greenhouses before disappearing last evening. Tsalach’s empty car, which like many vehicles driven by settlers was equipped with a satellite locating device, was found burnt in Khan Younis, Palestinian security sources said. "The Israeli Army and security forces are carrying out intensive activities on a variety of levels in order to find (the settler) and return him home safely," the Israeli Defence Ministry said. Palestinian security forces were also looking for Tsalach. Israel radio said "very serious warnings have been relayed to the Palestinians not to hurt the man". The incident coincided with renewed efforts to end nearly 16 weeks of violence. An Israeli peace negotiator said Israel and the Palestinians would hold further political and security talks in the next few days, and perhaps as early today. But time is running out for a comprehensive Middle East peace deal. US President Bill Clinton leaves office on January 20 and Israel elects a Prime Minister on February 6. Opinion polls say right-winger Ariel Sharon is set to trounce Prime Minister Ehud Barak. "I think the fact that we are unable to reach an agreement should not undermine the fact that we have endeavoured in new ground," Palestinian Peace Negotiator Saeb Erekat told CNN. "We have left no stone unturned and we have come a long way and we as Palestinians appreciate very much the efforts that were exerted by President Clinton," he said. Clinton last month proposed five "parameters" for an agreement covering the key issues, but also requiring radical compromises neither side has been ready to accept. Nabil Abu Rdainah, a senior adviser to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, told Israel’s channel one television yesterday: "We hope in the coming 72 hours we might see some kind of understanding to follow up the peace process in the coming weeks." Arafat and Israeli Cabinet Minister Shimon Peres met late on Saturday for talks which both sides agreed should lead to further contacts. "I estimate that tomorrow (Monday) or in one of the coming days we will continue to meet both on the political sphere and of course in the sphere of security cooperation," said Israeli negotiator Gilead Sher. Over the past week, the level of Israeli-Palestinian violence has dropped in intensity, but gunshots still echo in the night in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinian hospital officials said a 10-year-old Palestinian boy died on Sunday, nine days after he was shot by Israeli soldiers during a clash near the West Bank town of El-Bireh. At least 308 Palestinians, 13 Israeli Arabs and 43 other Israelis have been killed since the start of the uprising against Israeli occupation. Barak yesterday denounced the Palestinian authority’s execution by firing squad of two men convicted, in lightning trials, of helping Israel pinpoint and kill Palestinian activists during the uprising. One of the condemned men, Majdi Mikawwi, died hooded and tied to a stake in the parade ground of a Gaza police station on Saturday. Israel’s channel two television broadcast a graphic videotape of the execution, which ended with loud cheers from a crowd that was out of camera range and a final bullet to his brain from a lone rifleman. A Palestinian security court in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Saturday sentenced two more Palestinians to death. Israel promised yesterday to investigate the treatment of a suspected Palestinian gunman whose body was filmed being dragged by soldiers through the West Bank city of Hebron. The case of 22-year-old Shaker Hassouni was portrayed by Palestinian officials and media as proof of the contempt Israeli soldiers had for a Palestinian life. Palestinians confirmed Hassouni was a militant but denied he was armed when killed. Israel says it does not have a policy of assassinating Palestinian political leaders, but will strike at individuals planning bombings and other attacks against Israelis. (REUTERS) |
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US study finds kids can ‘unlearn’ violence CHICAGO, Jan 15: Aggressive behavior can be "unlearned" if children cut down on television, videotapes and electronic games, according to a report. "What’s encouraging is that, in children, some of the effects of exposure to media violence can be reversed solely by decreasing that exposure," said Tom Robinson, a physician at Stanford University who was chief author of the report that was released yesterday. "Reducing ... Viewing really will work to decrease kids’ aggressive behavior," he added. "It’s not that once children learn aggressive behavior it becomes their only way of solving problems." The researchers compared 105 children in one school who cut down on their exposure to media violence for six months to 120 others in another school who did not. Both groups were from similar families in San Jose, California, and were in third and fourth grades, roughly ages 7 and 8. Those who cut down were asked to limit TV viewing to no more than seven hours a week and to be more selective with videos and games. The first group of children was given 18 lessons aimed a curbing the amount of time spent watching TV, videotapes and playing video games. No such intervention was done at the second school. At the end of six months, researchers said, the children in the first group had cut down television viewing by about a third and were less likely to see their peers as aggressive compared to their perceptions at the start of the study. In addition the first group was involved in about half as many aggressive playground behaviors — such as teasing, threatening and taunting — as the second group of children. Both boys and girls benefited from the intervention, the study said, and the most aggressive students as measured at the start of the study had the greatest drop in combativeness at the end. The report said earlier research found U.S. children are exposed to an estimated 200,000 acts of violence on TV by the time they reach age 18. The Stanford study will appear in the January issue of the archives of pediatrics adolescent medicine, published by the American Medical Association. (REUTERS) |
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Crystal prompts rethink on earth’s history LONDON, Jan 15: A tiny crystal of the oldest material ever found on earth has forced scientists to completely rethink what the planet was like early in its history, the journal nature reports in its most recent edition. Geochemists from the University of Edinburgh working with colleagues from the United States and Australia, read the tell-tale chemical signature of a tiny grain of the mineral zircon. The crystal, from western Australia, was dated at 4.4 billion years old - the most ancient earthly material ever discovered. As well as altering the accepted portrait of early earth, the findings may also undermine accepted views of how the moon was formed. "This is an astounding thing to find for 4.4 billion years ago," Professor John Valley of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States, who helped analyse the sample. "At that time, the earth’s surface should have been a magma ocean. Conventional wisdom could not have predicted a low temperature environment. These results may indicate that the earth cooled faster than anyone thought," Valley added. "Previously, the oldest evidence for liquid water on earth, a precondition and catalyst for life, was from a rock estimated to be 3.8 billion years old." The analysis was conducted at the University of Edinburgh geophysics laboratory run by Professor Colin Graham. It showed a ratio of oxygen isotopes - forms of oxygen with different atomic masses - that could only have originated from a wet, low temperature environment, according to the scientists. The accepted view is that shortly after the earth first formed 4.5 to 4.6 billion years ago it was little more than a swirling ball of molten metal and rock. Scientists had thought that it took several hundred million years for the earth to cool enough for oceans to condense out of the thick atmosphere. The picture is further complicated by the fact that for 500 or 600 million years after the earth’s formation, the young planet was pummelled by intense meteorite bombardment. About 4.45 billion years ago an object the size of mars is believed to have slammed into the earth, creating the moon by blasting pieces of the planet into space. "Now this theory is open to question. The zircon evidence suggests that the moon may have formed earlier than was thought, or by a different process. This is because the findings point to the development of continental-type crust during the bombardment, which seems unlikely," said Valley. One possibility is that it occurred during a quiet period between cataclysmic events, according to the professor. Another intriguing question is whether or not life may have arisen that early in the earth’s history. The earliest known biochemical evidence for life is estimated at 3.85 billion years ago, and the oldest microfossils are dated at 3.5 billion years. "It may have been that life evolved and was completely extinguished in catastrophic meteorite-triggered extinction events well before that," said Valley. The Zircon Grain, little thicker than the diameter of two human hairs, is more than 100 million years older than any sample found before. (DPA) |
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Thai police officer cleared of Rajan bribe charges BANGKOK, Jan 15: A senior Thai police officer was cleared today of allegations that he took a 25 million Baht (596,000 US) bribe to allow alleged mob boss Chhota Rajan to escape from Thailand, officials said. Last November Rajan escaped from the Bangkok hospital room where he was being treated for gunshot wounds sustained in a gangland attack. He was facing a bid to extradite Rajan. His lawyer Sirichai Piapichetkul denied a Thai Police statement that he had used knotted bedsheets to climb down from his balcony, and said police had been paid off to allow him to escape via an emergency exit. Later he named Police Major General Kriekphong Phukprayoon as the officer who took the money. However, a Thai Police Committee set up to investigate the charges said it had found no evidence to prove a bribe was paid. "After questioning more than a hundred witnesses and monitoring bank accounts belonging to Major General Kriekphong Phukprayoon, the committee found nothing irregular," said Police Lieutenant General Pongsak Roh Itopakarn. He said Sirichai’s tape of a conversation purportedly with Rajan, where he outlined the bribe plot, was fake. "We have checked the tape between Rajan and Sirichai and found that is not Rajan’s voice" he said. The committee ruled the escape was due to carelessness on the part of the Police who had been guarding him, and the Immigration Police who let him slip out of the country. However, Pongsak said the case could be re-opened if Sirichai cold produce a witness to confirm the bribe had been paid. Rajan was wounded in September by gunmen who burst into a Bangkok apartment and killed his associate Rohit Verma in what appeared to be a shooting ordered by Rajan’s rival, Dubai-based gangster Dawood Ibrahim. In an interview with an Indian television network last month Rajan denied bribing Thai Police and said he was forced to flee Thailand because cause he feared being killed by Ibrahim’s gang. "This is a lie. He is not a lawyer, he is a liar. After the period that he was my lawyer, I haven’t spoken to him since and I haven’t given money to anyone," he said of Sirichai’s claims. Rajan said a team of professional mountain climbers helped him escape from his fourth floor hospital room to his car, which took him to his yacht. He then sailed to an undisclosed port where his private jet was waiting, he said. "I am in Europe now," he said. (AFP) |
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