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Japan PM under pressure TOKYO, Nov 10: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s reforms were in doubt today after the main opposition party made big gains in a....more Saudi
media say attacks RIYADH, Nov 10: Saudi media said today the deadly suicide bombing in Riyadh at the weekend was aimed at the political and economic stability of....more Armitage
says Al-Qaeda DUBAI, Nov 10: US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage told Al-Arabiya ...more Indonesian
teenager JAKARTA, Nov 10: Indonesian teenagers stabbed a fellow high school student to death over the weekend after the boy.......more |
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Afghan beauty wins special award in miss Earth Pageant MANILA, Nov 10: The first Afghan woman to join a beauty contest in three decades has won a special "beauty for a cause"....more Swiss
President for ‘’brain NEW DELHI, Nov 10: Swiss President Pascal Couchepin today proposed a "brain exchange" programme with India....more China’s
endangered BEIJING, Nov 10: China has built a biscuit factory to cater exclusively to its captive giant Pandas, giving them a more......more Afghan
official admits ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: Resurgent Taliban are in control of four districts in Afghanistan’s southeastern province of Zabul....more |
Japan PM under pressure after disappointing poll TOKYO, Nov 10: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s reforms were in doubt today after the main opposition party made big gains in a weekend election, squeezing his ruling coalition’s Parliamentary majority. Koizumi’s dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which is divided over his agenda for change, lost the simple majority it had held on its own, although it looked likely to claw it back as several independents announced their intention to join the LDP. The three-party ruling coalition won a total of 275 seats in Parliament’s 480-seat lower house, down from 287, according to state broadcaster NHK. Home Affairs Ministry Officials said the final tally had not yet been compiled due to confusion in some constituencies and would not be available until late today or even tomorrow. Pictures of a grim-faced Koizumi appeared on the front pages of Japan’s leading newspapers. Other photos showed a beaming Naoto Kan, leader of the opposition Democratic Party. Japan’s stock market was lower after the LDP’s disappointing performance, with investors worried that economic reforms might get bogged down. The yen was slightly weaker although dealers said the election was not a big factor. One of Koizumi’s closest allies, former LDP secretary general Taku Yamasaki, lost his seat after his support was undermined by a sex scandal. Maverick independent Makiko Tanaka, who turned fiercely critical of Koizumi after being fired as his Foreign Minister, was a notable winner. "Election undermines ruling coalition’s mandate," was the headline over the conservative English language daily Yomiuri’s editorial. Both the Yomiuri and the right-wing Sankei Shimbun criticised the LDP for failing to capitalise on signs of an economic upturn and the personal popularity of Koizumi and his youthful party secretary general, Shinzo Abe. The Yomiuri said voters were probably "frustrated with the Koizumi administration’s policies and lack of achievement". Many in the long-ruling LDP oppose Koizumi’s reforms but had hoped that the telegenic, wavy-haired Prime Minister’s popularity would help them win a decisive victory in the first general election since he took office in April 2001. The failure of the LDP, a mix of reformists and foot-dragging conservatives, to maintain its own majority was likely to weaken koizumi’s hand against the anti-reformers. But he appeared likely to stay at the helm of Government, given his coalition’s overall majority. The Democratic Party, a generally pro-reform group, took 177 seats, up from 137 but short of Kan’s target of 200. Koizumi, 61, leapt to power in April 2001 on a wave of public support for his promises to cut spending, privatise money-guzzling government corporations and fix the ailing banks. But he has a mixed record on reform, with some criticising him for going too fast and others saying he is too timid. The strong showing by the democrats moves Japan closer to the two-party system that many voters seem to want after nearly 50 years of what has effectively been single-party rule. "This is one step towards a change in Government and a big move towards a two-party system," said Yasunori Sone, a Professor at Keio University in Tokyo. Koizumi will have to rely heavily on his alliance with the number two partner in his coalition, the Buddhist-backed new Komeito, which won 34 seats, up from 31. The democrats had deployed a detailed manifesto — including pledges to cut public works spending and loosen the grip of bureaucrats on policy — to persuade voters that they were the true party of change. "One thing that stands out is that the democrats did quite well despite a low turnout. This is a blow to the LDP," said Shuji Shirota, an economist at dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein. "What this tells us is that for the voters, Japan’s economic recovery has not been tangible," he said. Turnout was 59.86 percent, a Home Affairs Ministry official said. This was only slightly higher than the record low of 59.65 percent in 1996. Political analysts had said a strong showing by the democrats would require high voter turnout, which usually means more ballots cast by "floating voters" who tend not to like the LDP. (AGENCIES) |
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Saudi media say attacks threaten kingdom RIYADH, Nov 10: Saudi media said today the deadly suicide bombing in Riyadh at the weekend was aimed at the political and economic stability of the world’s largest oil exporter. Newspapers, which usually reflect Government thinking, said the attack on a housing compound in the capital which killed 17 people, mostly Arabs, had robbed militants of their claim of fighting "infidels" in the cradle of Islam. "What terrorists are doing is a new development...An attempt to seize power and widen violence," the leading Al-Riyadh daily said in an editorial. "If there are objections to the Government’s internal and foreign policy for some reason, do these people want revenge instead of dialogue and reform? do they want to destroy our institutions and the gains we have realised over the years?" Saudi Arabia has vowed not to be shaken by the attack, which followed triple suicide bombings in Riyadh in May that killed 35 people — both blamed on Saudi-born Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda. Bin Laden, who recently vowed more suicide attacks inside and outside the United States, has accused the pro-western Saudi Government of betraying Islam and repeatedly called for expelling westerners from the Arabian peninsula. Okaz daily said there could no longer be any sympathy for Muslim militants after the murder of women and children. Saudis have been bombarded with brutal media images of the carnage caused by the explosion at the compound during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Five children were killed and 36 were wounded, mostly Arab expatriates. Newspapers splashed pictures of children in hospital and one daily showed two bereaved veiled women consoling each other. "Once again terrorism shows its ugly face and its contempt for humanitarian values, violating this holy time to shed the blood of children and women during a month of fasting and forgiveness," Okaz said. "We all have a responsibility to obey the call of religion and country and close all doors before these criminals...Who have earned the hatred of everyone. There is no sympathy after they revealed their true colours," it added. Another newspaper, Al-Watan, said condemning terrorism had become a matter of patriotic duty. "You are either with the country or with terrorism," it said in an editorial. (AGENCIES) |
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Armitage says Al-Qaeda aims to topple Saudi royals DUBAI, Nov 10: US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage told Al-Arabiya television that Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network wanted to topple the pro-western Saudi royal family. "It’s quite clear to me that Al-Qaeda wants to take down the royal family and the Government of Saudi Arabia," Armitage told the Dubai-based satellite channel in an interview, excerpts of which were broadcast today. His comments, during a visit to Riyadh, followed a suicide attack by suspected Al-Qaeda bombers at a housing compound in the Saudi capital which killed at least 17 people and wounded some 120, mostly Arabs. Saudi Arabia, a key regional ally of the United States and the world’s biggest oil exporter, has been battling rising Muslim militancy since the September 11, 2001 attacks on US cities, in which 15 of 19 hijackers were Saudis. Al-Qaeda is believed to be responsible for the airliner attacks. Armitage has said that Sunday’s bombing was the work of "Al-Qaeda terrorists" and that more attacks could be on the way. Suspected suicide bombers posed as Saudi police when they blew up an explosives-laden car in the compound. It followed triple suicide bombings in May in Riyadh which killed 35 people. Saudi-born bin Laden, who recently vowed more suicide attacks inside and outside the United States, has repeatedly accused the Saudi Government of betraying Islam. US-Saudi relations came under strain after the September 11 attacks and the Gulf Arab state is under intense pressure to crack down on Al-Qaeda cells and implement reforms. (AGENCIES) |
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Indonesian teenager dies for cigarettes JAKARTA, Nov 10: Indonesian teenagers stabbed a fellow high school student to death over the weekend after the boy refused to give them some cigarettes, police today said. Police have arrested two boys, identified as Eko Supriyanto, 18, and Niko Wira Andika, 17, as prime suspects in the slaying on Sunday of Arif Kuswanto, 16, in Semarang, 405 kilometres east of Jakarta, said the state-run Antara News Agency. "We’re hunting for two other boys suspected of being involved in the murder," said Semarang Police Spokesman Arif Busi Winofa. He said police believe the boys, who are students at the Ronggolawe secondary school, killed fellow student Kuswanto after he refused to share his cigarettes with them. (DPA) |
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Afghan beauty wins special award in miss Earth Pageant MANILA, Nov 10: The first Afghan woman to join a beauty contest in three decades has won a special "beauty for a cause" award in the miss earth pageant held in the Philippines, organisers today said. While 23-year-old miss Afghanistan vida Samadzai was not a finalists she caught the attention of many for her courage to join the pageant despite being derided and threatened with a lawsuit in her home country. Samadzai won the first "Beauty for a Cause" award for "symbolizing the new found confidence, courage and spirit of today’s women", organisers said. Miss Honduras Dania Prince was crowned Miss Earth 2003 during the ceremonies held late Sunday in Manila’s suburban city of Quezon, but Samadzai received a lot of attention being the first from Afghanistan in three decades. The Judges also cited the US-based Samadzai for her determination to represent "the victory of women’s rights and various social, personal and religious struggles". Samadzai has been based in the United States since 1996 to pursue her studies. She has, however, expressed desire to return to Afghanistan and help her people. Afghan officials had condemned Samadzai for parading in a red Bikini, along with other contestants, during one of the contest’s presentations. Under the hardline Taliban regime women in Afghanistan were ordered to hide their bodies head-to-toe with burqa when appearing in public. While the regime has been ousted, the new Afghan Government remains squeamish over allowing the country’s women to show flesh in public. (DPA) |
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Swiss President for ‘’brain exchange’’ with India NEW DELHI, Nov 10: Swiss President Pascal Couchepin today proposed a "brain exchange" programme with India saying he was well aware of the huge potential of this country. "Instead of ‘doing brain drain’ like others are trying, we want to have a brain exchange with India so that the movement is not in one direction but in both directions," Mr Couchepin told reporters after he was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning. President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and senior Civil and Defence Officials were among others present. Mr Couchepin said India was an important country of which the world has to take note of in all negotiations including the WTO. "It is important to know what is happening in India and what the leadership of this country thinks," he added. The Swiss President, accompanied by a high-level delegation, will hold extensive talks on bilateral and international issues with Mr Vajpayee, followed by the signing of two agreements between the two countries. The accords are for cooperation in disaster management and science and technology. He will also call on President Kalam and have meetings with Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and Mr Sinha. He will have interactive sessions with CII and FICCI with the focus on potential for cooperation in science and technology and IT. Mr Joshi will call on the Swiss President tomorrow. Mr Couchepin will also visit the national museum and the historic Qutab Minar during his stay in the capital. (UNI) |
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China’s endangered Pandas take the biscuit BEIJING, Nov 10: China has built a biscuit factory to cater exclusively to its captive giant Pandas, giving them a more healthy choice than the usual steamed bread, the China daily today said. "The cream-coloured biscuit, made of bamboo, is rich in vitamins and trace elements and the fibre content is up to 30 percent," the newspaper quoted Panda researcher Yu Jianqiu as saying. The factory was built in October and so far 30 Pandas had tried the biscuits. "They seemed to love our new recipe very much as they all have a good appetite for the biscuits," Yu said. "Later, all Pandas in captivity across the country will be provided with the new food." Experts estimate that 1,000 giant Pandas live in the foggy mountains around the Sichuan basin in southwest China, while about 140 live in captivity around the world. Logging has been the biggest threat to the endangered black-and-white Panda, destroying its habitat of forests with undergrowth of bamboo, its staple food. China imposed a logging ban in Panda-inhabited areas in 1998 in a bid to help save an animal cherished as a national treasure and a worldwide symbol of conservation. The staple for captive Pandas is steamed bread which the newspaper said had its drawbacks. "(IT) loses much of its nutritional value in cooking, resulting in malnutrition for many Pandas." (AGENCIES) |
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Afghan official admits Taliban
control in ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: Resurgent Taliban are in control of four districts in Afghanistan’s southeastern province of Zabul and threatening the provincial capital Qalat, the province’s Deputy Governor said in an interview published today. Molvi Mohammad Omar told the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) agency the day after a bomb attack on the Governor’s House that the Government had no presence in Atghar, Naubahar, Shinkay and Shamalzi districts. "Undoubtedly it was a Taliban job. The bomb exploded in the room next to where Governor Hafizullah Hashim was sleeping. But he escaped unhurt," he said. Omar said he impressed on the Governor following the attack that the first task should be to establish Government control in the four districts. A six-member committee has been formed to investigate the attack, the agency added. (DPA) Jazz Saxophonist Buddy Arnold dead at 77 LOS ANGELES, Nov 10: Saxophonist Buddy Arnold, who performed with such jazz greats as Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich and Tommy Dorsey and co-founded a program to help musicians suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, died at age 77, his publicist said. The bronx-born Arnold, who fought his own battle with drug addiction for years and served time in prison, died yesterday of complications from open-heart surgery, publicist Ronnie Lippin said in a statement. Born Arnold Buddy Grishaver, he began playing the Saxophone at age 9. And by the time he was 16, he was touring as a professional sideman and performing at the Apollo theater in harlem with Bandleader George auld. After serving in the army during World War II, Arnold joined the band of super-drummer buddy rich on a west coast tour. Arnold earned his first recording credits in 1949 on the mercury records release of Gene Williams and the junior Thornhill band, and he toured with clarinetist Buddy Defranco’s Orchestra in 1951. But he soon descended into a decades-long struggle with drug addiction. Although he landed a recording contract with ABC paramount in 1956 following an 18-month hospitalisation, he was sentenced to prison in 1958 on an attempted burglary conviction. Pardoned two years later, he played with the Dorsey band and toured with Stan Kenton. He later settled in Los Angeles and recorded four albums for capitol records. After a brief period of sobriety he began using drugs again and in 1981 was sentenced to seven years in state prison for forging prescriptions and impersonating a doctor. Arnold took a job in a drug treatment program after his early release from prison and went on to establish the musician’s assistance program with his wife, Carole fields, in 1992. The organization, dedicated to helping needy musicians obtain treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, has served more than 1,500 individuals during the past decade. Arnold is survived by his wife, his son Rob from a previous marriage, and a sister, Elaine Weiner. (AGENCIES) |
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