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| Aziz expects "substantive dialogue" during India visit COLOMBO, Nov 22: On the eve of his two-day visit to India, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said he expects.....more Terry
Melcher, a shaper LOS ANGELES, CALIF, Nov 22: Terry Melcher, a producer, composer and songwriter who worked with the beach boys........more Deployment
of Kurdish MOSUL, IRAQ, Nov 22: As US forces try to regain control of Iraq’s third largest city, they are turning to their old allies.......more Microsoft
targets older SEATTLE, Nov 22: For people trying to get their ageing parents on the web so they can read e-mail and get digital.......more |
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"Kargil-like conflict can be an impediment in Indo-Pak ties" LAHORE, Nov 22: The Kargil conflict of 1999 exposed the differences between the military.....more Paris club
agrees to PARIS/BERLIN, Nov 22: The Paris club of creditor nations agreed to cancel 80 percent of the debt Iraq owes its......more Powell
meets Israel’s JERUSALEM, Nov 22: US Secretary of State Colin Powell met Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today for talks that were......more Bush
disappointed SANTIAGO, CHILE, Nov 22: US President George W Bush expressed disappointment that an agreement on intelligence........more |
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Aziz expects "substantive dialogue" during India visit COLOMBO, Nov 22: On the eve of his two-day visit to India, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said he expects "substantive dialogue" on all bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, in his talks with the Indian leadership. "I expect substantive dialogue on all bilateral relations, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, in my talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," a Pakistani daily quoted him as saying. "The meeting with the Indian leadership is a follow-up to President (Pervez) Musharraf’s meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York," he told `The News’ daily on board the flight to Colombo. Aziz is currently on a three-nation tour of Sri Lanka, Maldives and India in his capacity as the SAARC Chairman. His visit to India comes at a time when the two countries are preparing to begin a second round of talks under the composite dialogue process. The Pakistani Premier said Islamabad is making sincere endeavours to turn the corner in its relations with India. "We are engaged in a twin-track process of Confidence Building Measures and composite dialogue. This would result in resolution of all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir," it said. He said he would avail of the opportunity of being in New Delhi and convey to his Indian counterpart that "we can ill-afford to lose this opportunity to resolve long-standing disputes." He said he was confident that Prime Minister Singh "would maintain the spirit demonstrated by him during his meeting with President Musharraf in New York in October." Aziz later held talks with Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and conveyed to both the leader’s Pakistan’s desire to work towards making SAARC a viable forum to benefit its people and bring the member states closer to each other. In another interview to the ‘Dawn’ daily, sources said Aziz would seek fresh assurances from the Indian leadership regarding its commitment to find a solution to the Kashmir issue and would stress the need to engage constructively and put in place a mechanism to explore what would be acceptable to all sides. The issue of Srinagar-Muzzafarabad bus service is also likely to figure in their discussions, the sources said. In a conversation with reporters on his way to Colombo, Aziz said he would also meet Hurriyat Conference leaders during his visit. When asked if he would be carrying with him any specific proposals on Kashmir to India, he responded by saying that he was going there to "hear and tell." The Baglihar dam issue is also expected to come up during his meeting with Indian leaders, sources said. After his visit to Colombo, Aziz is to travel to Maldives for a day-long visit and discuss various aspects of SAARC and explore avenues for increased bilateral relations. His entourage includes, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon, Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi, Minister for Railways Mian Shamim Haider and Minister for State for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar among others. (PTI) |
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Terry Melcher, a shaper of Calif surf sound, dies LOS ANGELES, CALIF, Nov 22: Terry Melcher, a producer, composer and songwriter who worked with the beach boys and helped shape the ‘60s era california surf music sound, has died, according to his publicist. He was 62. Melcher, son of actress-singer Doris day, also produced several hits for the Byrds including "Mr Tambourine man." Melcher died Friday at his Beverly hills home after a long battle with cancer, publicist Linda Dozoretz told on Sunday. Day was in carmel on Sunday and unavailable for comment. "She and Terry were extremely close and close in age because she was 17 when she had him," Dozoretz said. "They were amazing together. There wasn’t a day that went by when terry wasn’t involved with one of his mother’s projects," she said. Born Terry Jorden, Melcher was the son of day and her first husband, Al-Jorden. He was later adopted by day’s third husband, Martin Melcher, and took his name. He began his career as "Terry day," capitalizing on his mother’s famous name. However he later became known in his own right, singing background tracks, writing lyrics, playing the piano, composing, and producing. Melcher teamed with future beach boy Bruce Johnston in the early 1960s. The duo eventually formed the group the Rip Chords, who recorded the 1964 hit "hey, little cobra." He also wrote songs with Bobby Darin and Randy Newman. But it wasn’t until the mid-1960s, when he joined Columbia records as a producer, that he made his mark on the California sound. He was instrumental in helping craft the Byrds’ groundbreaking fusion of rock and folk and produced several of the group’s hits including their versions of Bob Dylan’s "Mr Tambourine man" and Pete Seeger’s "Turn, Turn, Turn." Melcher also co-wrote the hit "Kokomo" for the beach boys. The song, used in the movie "cocktail," was nominated for a golden globe in 1988 for best original song. During his career Melcher also worked with Paul Revere and the raiders, Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder, Glen Campbell, Gram Parsons and the Mamas and the Papas, among others. Melcher later worked more frequently with his mother. From 1968 to 1972, he served as the executive producer of her "the Doris day show" on CBS. He also co-produced "Doris day’s best friends," which ran in the 1980s, Dozoretz said. Melcher is survived by his mother, his wife, Terese, and one son, Ryan. (AGENCIES) |
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Deployment of Kurdish troops in Mosul alarms Arabs MOSUL, IRAQ, Nov 22: As US forces try to regain control of Iraq’s third largest city, they are turning to their old allies the Kurds to keep the peace in Mosul. That has caused resentment among some Arabs and Kurdish troops have been killed in at least one incident — three Kurds were found shot dead in the mainly Arab city yesterday. In the 10 days since Sunni Arab insurgents overran parts of Mosul, looting, burning and in several cases blowing up police stations, reinforcements have been sent in from across the nearby northern Kurdish region, especially Dohuk and Arbil. A battalion of Iraq’s paramilitary national guard has been sent in from both those towns and another could soon join them, raising the total to around 1,800 men, US commanders say. While now in national guard uniform and answerable to the Iraqi Defence Ministry in Baghdad, most of the Kurds were until recently "peshmerga" fighters, a well-organised and feared force set up by Kurdish leaders in the mountains who, with US help, fought Saddam Hussein’s army to a standstill after the Gulf war. Their deployment has provoked consternation among some Arab residents who fear that the Kurds, who want a fully independent state in northern Iraq, are trying to expand their territory onto the oil-rich plain to the south of their strongholds. "Nobody wants the Kurdish army here," said Abeet Ranam, 40, an Arab storeowner in an upscale neighbourhood of northeastern Mosul. "There have been Kurds living here for centuries and that is fine. But we do not want the Kurdish army." In the west of the city on Sunday, a reporter saw the bodies of three national guards, shot in the back of the head. A note by the bodies read: "These are Peshmerga soldiers." The US military said troops found the bodies of nine national guards in Mosul on Saturday, similarly shot. It was not clear whether they were Kurds. An Arab guerrilla group posted a video on a web site saying it showed two Kurdish "spies" being shot in Mosul. Another group said it had beheaded two national guards. Mosul’s two million people are among Iraq’s most ethnically and religiously diverse communities. As well as Arabs and Kurds, who mostly share a common Sunni Muslim faith, there are also Turkish-speaking Turkmen, Christian Assyrians and Yazidis. The city, in the far north of Iraq on the banks of the Tigris, has its roots in the 8th century when it was an important stopover on the Caravan route from the mediterranean to India. "The people of Mosul don’t like outsiders, that’s it. Whether it’s Kurds or Arabs from outside, they are not welcome," said Ala, a translator for US forces who is half Kurdish and half Arab. For the US military, the public suspicions about the Kurdish national guard units have created a conundrum. For well over a decade, the Kurds have been Washington’s strongest ally in Iraq against Saddam. Now, with Mosul threatening to turn to chaos after most of the city’s 4,000 police deserted, the Kurds are again proving staunch allies. "They’re well-organised, fierce and get the job done," said Captain Robert Lackey, a company commander with the US stryker brigade, which is responsible for northern Iraq. "They understand how we operate and what we need to do, so it’s great to have them working with us." Out on the streets of Mosul, the Kurdish national guards are far more effective than Arab peers, US commanders say. Many Arab guards are simply not turning up to work, partly out of fear of reprisals by insurgents against them or their families. "For the Kurds, this isn’t their neighbourhood, this isn’t their town, so they have nothing to fear," said Lieutenant Noel Rodriguez, a stryker brigade platoon commander. In one southeastern neighbourhood where a police station was blown up last week, Kurdish national guard units have moved in. The Kurdish commander was barely able to communicate in Arabic. One man in the street pointed in alarm to the Kurdish flag on the commander’s uniform — and absence of Iraqi symbols. US commanders say they are aware of such sensitivities but dismiss suggestions that they could stoke ethnic conflict. (AGENCIES) |
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Microsoft targets older people for web via TV SEATTLE, Nov 22: For people trying to get their ageing parents on the web so they can read e-mail and get digital photos of the family, microsoft corp. Has a message: don’t give up. The hassle of buying, installing and learning how to operate a personal computer remains a daunting task for a generation more comfortable sitting in front of a television set instead of a monitor, despite software and hardware advances that make it easier than ever to get online. But now microsoft, the largest player in the market, is using those advances to zero in on an age group that wants to surf the web and is estimated at 40 million strong. It’s all part of a way for the Redmond, Washington-based company to extend its software business beyond windows for the desktop and into living rooms and pocket devices. MSN TV 2, the latest version of an interactive platform once known as webTV, launched last month as part of a renewed effort to spread the use of microsoft’s software for browsing the web, reading news and e-mail, and accessing digital content. "Our average user is 57 years old," said Andy Sheldon, senior director of product marketing for MSN TV. "These people are getting to the age where they don’t want to deal with complicated ways of connecting to the web." Besides older people, Sheldon said microsoft is targeting all first-time web users, particularly in developing economies where the internet is out of many people’s reach because of the cost of a PC. MSN TV, the second generation of the product that launched after microsoft bought webTV in 1997, costs 200 dollars for a set-top box, remote and wireless keyboard. Users must also sign up for a subscription. Costs are 22 per month or 200 dollars per year for dial-up access and 10 per month or 100 dollars per year for those with existing high-speed broadband connections. Included in the plan packages are e-mail and instant messaging accounts, and for those with faster internet access, access to 200 radio stations and video clips. Viewers can also browse web pages or even digital photos stored on memory cards. Behind microsoft’s push to capture the often overlooked older segment of the population is the promise of carving out a chunk of the interactive television market, estimated to grow to 2.3 billion dollars in 2007. Besides MCN TV, that figure also includes advanced cable services, such as the ability to store TV shows and movies on set-top boxes that also double as digital video recorders. "Microsoft has pursued this market for some time with only marginal success," said Jupiter research analyst Joe Wilcox in a report. Indeed, microsoft invested billions in cable operators during the late 1990s, only to take huge paper losses when the value of those companies fell after the internet bubble burst. The goal then, as the company described it, was convergence, when television and computer technology would merge to become a comprehensive information platform. MSN TV is not the only route microsoft is taking toward that goal. It now has an edition of windows for PCs meant to be connected to TVs in the living room and also is making inroads in the set-top market, where its software will be used in digital recorder-enabled set-top boxes by cable operator comcast corp. Interestingly, though, MSN TV’s biggest competition may be older PCs. Sheldon, the product marketing executive, said these machines are increasingly being refurbished and given to older family members so they can connect to the internet. (AGENCIES) |
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"Kargil-like
conflict can be an impediment LAHORE, Nov 22: The Kargil conflict of 1999 exposed the differences between the military and political leadership of Pakistan and any such future adventure would cause major impediment in normalising Indo-Pak ties, Pakistan’s leader of opposition Fazlur Rehman has said. "We want the dialogue between the two countries to continue... The people on both sides are yearning for peace...There should be no new Kargil as this would lead to a major impediment," Rehman, the chief of Muttahida-Mahali-e-Amal, said while addressing the concluding session of fourth conference of South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) here last night. Singing a conciliatory tune, a day after President Pervez Musharraf expressed his disappointment over India’s attitude towards conflict resolutions, Rehman said "all issues can be resolved by dialogue and not through violence." The Muslim cleric accused leaders on both sides as being "insincere" towards resolving core issues, including Kashmir, and said it further complicated the peace process. Recalling the Kargil conflict, Rehman said the event led Pakistan to give an explanation before the international community. "There were talks between the two Prime Ministers (Navaz Sherif and Atal Bihari Vajpayee) and two days later Kargil happened," he said and added "whatever explanation Pakistan may give for Kargil war, the fact is that it made Islamabad’s intentions questionable and pushed the country to defensive." Rehman stressed that dialogue between India and Pakistan should be held at a political level and not left to the mercy of bureaucrats. "Bureaucrats cannot move the files beyond the drawn lines whereas politicians have the courage to explore new ways and path and open many other doors if one is closed," he said. The leader of opposition also stressed for inclusion of Kashmiri leadership in the talks. "Kashmiri leadership should be involved in the talks. If not, they should atleast be kept abreast of the progress made by the two countries in resolving the disputes," he said. Comparing the approach of NDA and UPA Governments towards resolution of Kashmir issue, Rehman said that during BJP’s regime, expectations were very high. "However, the present Government is maintaining low profile while discussing the issue seriously," he said. Rehman, who had led a delegation of Muslim clerics last year to India, hoped that all stumbling blocks in the course of the peace process would be removed very soon. In a veiled criticism of the US, the cleric said the situation emerging after 9/11 attacks on America and the subsequent attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq had only increased the threat potential and caused serious concerns on human rights across the globe. (PTI) |
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Paris club agrees to cancel 80 pc of Iraq’s debt PARIS/BERLIN, Nov 22: The Paris club of creditor nations agreed to cancel 80 percent of the debt Iraq owes its members, ending a trans-atlantic dispute and probably setting the framework for debt pardons from other creditors. Paris club president Jean-Pierre Jouyet told reporters yesterday in Paris that the agreement, which will slash Baghdad’s debt to club creditors to 7.8 billion dollars from 38.9 billion dollars, would be put into effect in three steps over the next four years. The deal, which was closed shortly after Russia agreed to the terms at meeting of the group of 20 developed and emerging market nations, ended a dispute between Washington and leading opponents of the US-led Iraq war over how much debt to cancel. "It’s a win-win agreement — for everybody," said Jouyet. "We (believed) ... It was necessary to accelerate the reconstruction of the Iraqi economy and to have an agreement which allows the Iraqi authority to have no more financial obstacles to this reconstruction," he added. Iraqi Finance Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said the agreement was "a very important step for Iraq — as important as the change of regime, as important as the transfer of sovereignty. This will open the way for the reconstruction of Iraq." "This is something historic for Iraq," added Mahdi, who signed the accord to applause and a standing ovation from Paris club negotiators. The Paris club’s 19 members include the group of seven industrialised countries — the United States, Japan, Canada, Germany, Britain, France and Italy — as well as other western European states, Russia and Australia. Other creditors who are not in the Paris club but could follow its lead include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and eastern European states. Mahdi was upbeat about the agreement leading to cancellation deals with Iraq’s other creditors. "What we have done today ... Will trigger bilateral negotiations with other countries," he told reporters. Iraq’s debts totalled 120 billion, Jouyet said. Under the deal, the Paris club nations will immediately cancel 30 percent of the debt owed to them by Iraq, Jouyet said. An additional 30 percent waiver would follow in 2005 once an economic programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is approved. A further 20 percent would be pardoned in 2008 after a review of the implementation of the IMF economic programme. The final deal ended a dispute between the United States and France over how much of Iraq’s debts they should waive. "This is a real milestone and shows that the trans-Atlantic alliance remains a strong force for good in the world. We look now to the non-Paris club members to take similar action," US Treasury Secretary John Snow said at the G20 meeting in Berlin. "It gives hope and promise to the Iraqi people that they can rebuild their economy," he said. The United States had been pushing for a 90 percent to 95 per cent reduction, but France had argued that, with the world’s second-largest oil reserves, Iraq should not be treated like impoverished African nations that lack such natural resources. Prior to the latest round of Paris club talks, which began last week, France claimed the backing of Russia, Germany and Italy for its proposal that the Paris club initially waive half of Iraq’s debts and review the situation after three years. France, Germany and Russia all opposed the Iraq war. (AGENCIES) |
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Powell meets Israel’s Sharon over Palestinian vote JERUSALEM, Nov 22: US Secretary of State Colin Powell met Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today for talks that were expected to focus on steps Israel could take to facilitate a Palestinian Presidential election scheduled for January. Powell, on his first visit to Israel and the West Bank in 18 months, was due to hold discussions later in the day with Palestinian leaders on the ballot and ways to revive peacemaking following the death of Yasser Arafat on Nov 11. US officials suggested before Powell’s one-day visit he would lean on Israel to pull back forces from West Bank cities and Palestinian officials to restrain militant groups to restore free movement and calm for the election slated for Jan 9. "This is a moment of opportunity ... The big step ahead of us now is to assist the Palestinian people getting ready for the election," Powell told reporters aboard his plane yesterday. "In my conversations with both sides, I’ll be encouraging them to do everything they can to make sure this election comes off and that the maximum number of Palestinians get the opportunity to participate." Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie said he would urge Powell to help bring about an Israeli army redeployment away from West Bank urban areas one month before the vote. Powell will leave office early next year. His resignation last week has somewhat sapped the strength of his message to the two sides as they will look to see if his nominated successor, Condoleezza Rice, shares his views, political analysts say. US President George W Bush has vowed to capitalise on what he called new opportunities for peace after the death of Arafat, who was spurned by Washington and Israel as a peace partner because they believed he incited violence. Arafat always denied the accusation. (AGENCIES) |
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Bush disappointed intelligence reform failed SANTIAGO, CHILE, Nov 22: US President George W Bush expressed disappointment that an agreement on intelligence reform collapsed in the face of republican opposition and vowed to renew pressure on congress to reach a deal this year. "When I get home I’m looking forward to working on it," Bush told a joint news conference with Chilean President Ricardo Lagos yesterday at the end of a summit of Pacific Rim leaders. At stake is a plan to overhaul US spy agencies to address weaknesses identified by the commission that investigated the Sept 11 attacks on America. Bush wants congress to create a new national intelligence directorship with "full budget authority" over the United States’ 40 billion annual intelligence budget. But a senate bill granting far-reaching fiscal powers hit a brick wall of opposition from republicans in the House of Representatives who want budgetary authority retained by the Pentagon. House and senate negotiators worked out a compromise after weeks of talks. But the deal fell victim on Saturday to unyielding house republican opposition despite backing from House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois, the White House and members of the Sept 11 Commission. "I was disappointed the bill didn’t pass. I thought it was going to pass up until the last minute. So I look forward to going back to Washington to work with the interested parties to get it passed," bush said. "Hopefully, we’ll get a bill done." Bush makes a stop in Colombia on his way back to the United States on Monday and will spend the week at his Texas ranch for the thanksgiving holiday. One opponent of the compromise was House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, a Wisconsin republican who wants reforms to include House immigration and law enforcement provisions that were dropped during negotiations. Civil liberties groups have raised objections to some of them, saying they denied immigrants due process. Asked about the immigration provisions, White House Spokesman Scott Mcclellan said: "We want to make sure that we move forward on the intelligence reforms. That’s the most important." Meanwhile, the White House echoed Hastert’s assertions that a reform deal could still be worked out in early December. "Speaker Hastert indicated they are just recessing, not adjourning," Mmcclellan said. (AGENCIES) Investment tax cuts pushed as Bush eyes tax reform WASHINGTON, Nov 22: President George W Bush has promised broad leeway to a panel he will appoint soon to consider an overhaul of the tax code but conservative allies of the White House see tax cuts on investments as crucial to any reform. Republican economists are floating ways to pay for reforms, which Bush has said must be "revenue neutral," but their proposals are already drawing fire. One idea would involve eliminating a provision in the federal tax code that allows individuals to write off the cost of state and local taxes. "Getting rid of a deduction that benefits high-tax states would be a way to pay for an overhaul of the tax code," said Stephen Moore, president of the club for growth, which advocates investment tax cuts as a way to spur economic growth. William Beach, a scholar at the heritage foundation, a conservative think tank, agreed. "We have been subsidizing state taxes for a long time," he said, adding that it was poor tax policy because it rewards high-tax states while penalizing ones with low taxes. Another idea favored by some conservatives would be scrapping a deduction businesses can take for employee health expenses. But amid news reports that quoted White House allies as advocating these ideas, house democratic whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland called them a potential backdoor effort to ease the tax burden on the rich and shift it onto the middle class. "The White House seems to be lowering expectations for serious reform, and instead is indicating that it may use this issue as a Trojan horse to shift the overall tax burden to middle-income taxpayers," Hoyer said in a statement. Rudolph Penner, a former Director of the Congressional budget office, said eliminating the deduction for state and local taxes likely would trigger fierce opposition. "I would think state and local Governments would very quickly begin to Holler bloody murder," he said. Similarly, he said unions probably would assail any proposal to eliminate business tax deduction for employer-sponsored health insurance. The White House insisted Bush has no fixed ideas on how to structure tax reform and would leave it to his panel to come up with ideas. "The first step will be to name a panel, which the President has said he wants to do before the end of the year," said White House spokesman trent duffy. Bush has pledged to include democrats and republicans on the panel. Potential democratic panelists include Leon Panetta, former White House Chief of Staff under President Bill Clinton, and Jerry Brown, Mayor of Oakland, California, and the state’s former Governor. Former House majority leader Dick Armey and former Rep Jack Kemp are among the republicans cited. Some wall street analysts think the administration is set to give a bigger push to social security reform than to taxes, noting treasury will run the tax effort, while the White House is expected to keep social security under its wings. In addition, observers expect the administration to move on social security first. "Social security reform is the likely 2005 issue, with taxes looking more probable for 2006," analysts at investment advisory firm ISI group wrote. The White House says the tax reform panel would have about six months to make recommendations to the US treasury, which would forward a plan to Bush by the end of next year. (AGENCIES) Stick-up comes unstuck at Australian restaurant SYDNEY, Nov 22: Bemused diners watched as three hapless thieves unsuccessfully tried to kick open a sliding door in a botched attempt to rob an Australian seafood restaurant, police said today. The men, wearing Balaclavas, ran off empty-handed but left their bootprints on the industrial-strength glass door in a robbery bid that Australian broadcasting corp. Radio said could have been mistaken as "a rehearsal for a slapstick comedy". Police said about 20 diners watched as the men, one of whom was carrying a knife, tried to push open the door of the restaurant in the coastal village of Gerringong, 140 km (85 miles) south of Sydney, and then began kicking the glass. "They’re probably more dangerous because they’re dumb," police investigator Jamie Williams said. Restaurant owner Greg Moore said diners remained calm as they watched events unfold while enjoying dessert and coffee. "The door’s open, the sign says ‘slide’ but obviously with their Balaclavas they couldn’t read too well," Moore said. Diners were given complimentary bottles of wine after the bizarre episode. Police later found what they believe to be a stolen car used in the robbery attempt, and are continuing their investigations. (AGENCIES) China iron mine fire death toll rises to 49 BEIJING, Nov 22: Rescue workers have recovered the bodies of 49 Chinese miners killed when fire swept through an iron mine complex in the northern province of Hebei, the state administration of work safety today said. Forty-six of 106 miners on duty at the time had been rescued but 11 had not been accounted for, the administration said on its web site, www.Chinasafety.Gov.Cn. Fire broke out at the mine in the Hebei city of shahe on Saturday morning and quickly spread to four nearby pits, trapping dozens of people. The most likely cause was an electronic cable catching fire, Xinhua news agency reported. China’s mining industry has a grim record, with coal mine disasters reported on a weekly basis. Mines have expanded with little regulation as they strive to keep up with booming demand to help fuel the world’s seventh-biggest economy. China’s worst coal mine accident in years killed 148 miners in the central province of Henan last month. (AGENCIES) Sheep flood Spain’s capital as shepherds assert rights MADRID, Nov 22: Visitors to Madrid could be forgiven for thinking they had stepped back into the middle ages when shepherds drove 1,200 sheep through Spain’s bustling capital, laying claim to ancient migration routes. In an annual tradition, shepherds assert their right to traverse paths used since time immemorial to move sheep from northern mountains to warmer southern pastures for the winter. The shepherds are trying to keep the old routes open even though many have been buried under tarmac and concrete. Hundreds of onlookers stared as the flock made its way yesterday through central Madrid accompanied by the shepherds and people wearing regional or historic costumes. The chief shepherd, Julio De La Losa Blasquez, urged people not to build on the migration routes. "It’s a tradition we should keep ... The droving routes belong to all Spaniards," he told Europa press news agency. Wool was the lifeblood of Spain’s economy in the middle ages. Scores of ancient migratory routes criss-crossed the country, stretching thousands of kilometres (miles). But in modern times, road and rail networks have cut across the ancient paths, forcing many shepherds to abandon the routes or use trucks to transport stock. (AGENCIES) |
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