WASHINGTON, Nov 8: The Clinton administration has challenged India’s accusation that the United States is out to favour Pakistan over New Delhi even in the relaxation of its five-month-old nuclear-related economic sanctions.....more

Tibet takes centrestage
in Washington

BEIJING, Nov 8: Fresh from diplomatic triumphs in Northern Ireland and the Middle East, U.S President Bill Clinton is likely to turn the spotlight on troubled Tibet this week by meeting the ....more

ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: Former World Bank official and Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister in 1993 Moeen Qureshi says economic mismanagement and not sanctions is responsible for Pakistan’s current financial crisis.....more

Saying on form in winter
- with right food

POTSDAM (GERMANY), Nov 8: Grapefruit, Pineapples, Lemons, and Limes - some people eat these fruits by the kilo during the winter months. Their high vitamin C. ......more

WASHINGTON, Nov 8: The Clinton administration has challenged India’s accusation that the United States is out to favour Pakistan over New Delhi even in the relaxation of its five-month-old nuclear-related economic sanctions.

"There is no discrimination. Nor, is there any differentiation," Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Karl Inderfurth said yesterday, in an obvious reference to the External Affairs Ministry’s statement, alleging a "selective and discriminatory approach," on the part of the United States.

India’s objection appears to be related to the announcement here on Friday, along with the partial lifting of sanctions, of a one-time emergency bail-out plan for Pakistan which, according to Mr Inderfurth, faces a virtual economic collapse that will not be in the interest of any country in the region or outside.

Mr Inderfurth, however, said the decision, taken by the Group of Eight Industrial Nations (G-8) in June with respect to International Financial Institutions (IFIs) lending in case of India and Pakistan would remain in force.

Mr Inderfurth said the US would support humanitarian lending by the IFIs for both India and Pakistan. It would continue to oppose IFI lending for non-basic human needs for both countries with one exception, relating to addressing the economic crisisr, the President (Clinton) has decided that the US will consult and work closely with our allies to permit lending from multilateral development banks that would be necessary to support an agreement negotiated between imf IMF Pakistan,’’ he added.

Mr Inderfurth said, "implementation of this policy will require that Pakistan reach an agreement on a credible reform programme including resolving the IPPs (Independent Power Producers) problem."

He, however said this policy decision did not release any additional development lending for India, including from the World Bank. "Indian economy is far stronger than Pakistan and is not at risk. India has not sought nor does it need IMF balance of payments support as is the case with Pakistan," he added.

"Once this IMF programme and supporting lending from multi-lateral lending institutions has been completed, we do not envision further non-basic human needs lending for Pakistan under this emergency response," he added.

He listed some of the sanctions which had been lifted and enumerated the steps that still needed to be taken by both India and Pakistan to completely remove all the sanctions.

He said the pentagon would resume the International Military Education and Training (IMET) programme for both India and Pakistan. (UNI)

BEIJING, Nov 8: Fresh from diplomatic triumphs in Northern Ireland and the Middle East, U.S President Bill Clinton is likely to turn the spotlight on troubled Tibet this week by meeting the Dalai Lama.

International momentum is building to try to find a breakthrough in the Dalai Lama’s struggle to win real autonomy for his Himalayan Homeland from China.

The saffron-robed divine ruler, who heads a Tibetan Government-in-exile based in India, is visiting the United States. Aides have suggested he may use the trip to offer Beijing a concession that might secure dialogue.

There’s a huge sense of expectation and the Dalai Lama is keen to meet Chinese leaders, said Alison Reynolds, director of the London-based Free Tibet Campaign.

Clinton and his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin have an opportunity to cooperate on resoving one of the world’s most intractable problems, he said.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Communist rule. Since then, say critics of China, Beijing has engaged in a systematic attempt to crush Tibetan Buddhism and culture, swamp the region with ethnic Chinese settlers and silence dissident monks and nuns through jail and torture. (REUTERS)

ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: Former World Bank official and Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister in 1993 Moeen Qureshi says economic mismanagement and not sanctions is responsible for Pakistan’s current financial crisis.

Mr Qureshi, who was number two in the World Bank, was brought in to head the caretaker Government after the Nawaz Sharif Government resigned amid a bitter confrontation with President Ghulam Ishaq Khan in 1993. He is currently associated with an organisation, ‘emerging markets partnership’ in Washington.

Speaking to the Urdu Daily ‘Jang’ in Washington, Mr Qureshi said that for the past ten years, successive Governments in Pakistan have been spending one billion dollars in excess of their income on non-developmental work. The Government met this expenditure by borrowing at high interest rates from foreign and domestic sources, thus pushing the country into further debt.

Pakistan could escape the ignominy of being declared a defaulter, he said, if it fulfilled the conditions laid down by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Mr Qureshi also warned that though Americans had a soft corner for Pakistan for its support during the Afghan war, it must not expect that by signing the CTBT, Washington would grant it the aid it is hoping for.

The benefit from signing the CTBT will come in the form of improved relations with the United States and other countries and the lifting of the santions, Mr Qureshi felt.

The ‘Jang’ said the Pakistan Government was expecting five billion dollars from the US if it signed the CTBT. Pakistan has also demanded the lifting of santions in exchange for signing the treaty.

Mr Qureshi criticised the Sharif Government for its plans to impose Islamic laws in the country. This, he said, would further divide the people and create confusion about the interpretation of Islamic laws. (UNI)

Unfortunately, citrus fruits alone are no guarantee of a snuffle-free winter. The only way of really getting through the winter in good health is by eating properly and otherwise leading a healthy life.

The first place on the menu should certainly be reserved for fruit and vegetables. They supply the body with many vitamins, minerals, trace elements and roughage, thus strengthening the immune system. Most dieticians recommend eating several portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

The ingredients you choose to cook with or for the fruit basket are really up to you. "But whatever you do, don’t limit yourself to single items," says Ms Andrea Dittrich, a dietician at the German institute of nutrition research in potsdam.

"The main thing is variety. Apples, for example, are very healthy -but if you eat seven a day you’ll soon be sick of them."

And it doesn’t matter whether you choose apples, oranges or carrots - what’s important is that everything is fresh.

"It’s best to stick to seasonal products," says Ms Dittrich. Fruit and vegetables from the area where you live are preferable as fresh products do not generally travel well and tend to lose the nutrients. "Carrots, leeks, celery and cabbages, for instance, can be bought everywhere in the winter months," says Ms Annette Braun.

Lettuces, too, are widely available and come in many varieties. Among the different types are winter endives, Chinese cabbage, iceberg lettuce and watercress.

But the real star of the kitchen in winter is the potato. Mr Lutz Kindt, a general practitioner from the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, lists some their good points: "They contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, they aren’t fattening - and they’re cheap."

Winter is not the best time of year for fruits. If you have had enough of apples and pears, then all that is left are exotic imports such as bananas and mangoes. In contrast to home-grown fruits, they come from many thousands of kilometres away, a journey which robs them of many nutrients.

Occasionally, deep-freeze foods can also provide a change. In fact freezer foods are better than their reputation. "Fruits and vegetables are frozen immediately after picking and thus retain most of the vitamins and minerals they contain," says Dittrich.

To ensure that fresh vegetables and fruits do not lose their nutrients, they should be eaten fairly quickly and correctly stored.

"While a bowl of fruit on the table looks good, unfortunately vitamins are highly sensitive to light, air and heat," says Mr Braun. It’s better to keep cucumbers, tomatoes, apples and pears in a cool and dark place.

Care must also be taken when preparing fresh products. For example, they should never be overcooked or their nutrients will be entirely lost. Fat should also be used sparingly.

Drinks should also be chosen with a mind to calories. With freezing temperatures outside there is certainly nothing better than a hot chocolate or even a hot toddy. Much more healthy, though, are unsweetened fruit and herbal teas, fruit juices or mineral water. (PTI)

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