WASHINGTON, Jan 14: John Kerry, the first Catholic Secretary of State, would travel to Vatican to meet the Holy See Pietro Parolin, the new Secretary of State of the Vatican.
“This year also marks the 30th anniversary of our diplomatic relationship with the Holy See, and Secretary Kerry is, of course, Catholic, the first Catholic Secretary of State since Secretary Muskie,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson, Marie Harf, told reporters at her daily news conference.
During the meeting at the Vatican today, the two leaders would discuss the foreign policy priorities including the Middle East peace process, poverty, and humanitarian issues.
“The United States values the Vatican’s vital role globally, leading on international issues and peace efforts,” Harf said.
Kerry will also attend the Syria Donor’s Conference in Kuwait City. (AGENCIES)
Kerry, first Catholic Secretary of State to travel to Vatican
UN warns will thwart any M23 rebel return in DR Congo
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 14: The United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo will not “tolerate” a resurgence of the M23 rebel group, the top UN official there said.
In a statement to the Security Council, the UN Special Representative in DR Congo cited “credible reports that the military recruitment of the M23 did not cease” after a December peace deal.
“There are also credible reports of emerging M23 activities in Ituri in northeastern Congo,” Martin Kobler said.
“We should tolerate no military reemergence of the M23,” he said, referring to the latest incarnation of an ethnic Tutsi rebellion.
The group laid down its arms in early November after an offensive by Government troops backed by a special UN brigade.
Kobler insisted there can be “no roll back on what has been achieved so far.”
And he urged “the Governments of Uganda and Rwanda to do everything possible to prevent M23 elements from sheltering or training troops on their territory.”
UN experts have accused Kigali and Kampala of giving military aid to the M23, which both countries have denied.
Speaking to reporters later, however, Kobler sought to minimize the danger “M23 is militarily defeated, the ex-combatants have to be integrated.”
The UN mission in DR Congo should focus on what he called “our first priority” fighting the FDLR, a Rwandan rebel group that includes the remnants of the Hutu militia which carried out Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.
Kobler also encouraged “Congolese forces to do more and to intensify joint planning and execution of operations against the FDLR.”
After clearing several FDLR positions, Kobler said, the UN mission in DR Congo is preparing further operations.
“The (FDLR) leadership must be left with no choice other than surrender,” he insisted, recalling that this is the 20th anniversary since the genocide.
Kobler also said that “military actions against the ADF are expected soon,” naming another armed group active in eastern DR Congo.
Mary Robinson, the UN special representative for the Great Lakes region, told the Security Council “the positive atmosphere” from the December peace talks “has vanished.”
“The region is going through a period of renewed turbulence,” Robinson said via teleconference, referring to a series of attacks against the regime of President Joseph Kabila on December 30 in Kinshasa and Lumumbash.
She also announced plans to organize “in the first half of 2014.” a meeting aimed at attracting private investors to the Great Lakes region. (AGENCIES)
Indo-Pak Army officers exchange sweets at Aman Setu in Uri sector on Tuesday.
Indo-Pak Army officers exchange sweets at Aman Setu in Uri sector on Tuesday.
US express concern over Chinese hypersonic cruise missile test
WASHINGTON, Jan 14: Expressing concern over Chinese hypersonic cruise missile test, top American lawmakers have said the Asia-Pacific region is fast becoming a powder keg.
The House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard “Buck” McKeon, Congressman Randy Forbes and Mike Rogers in a statement said this situation does nothing to support peaceful coexistence in the Pacific.
“While round after round of defence cuts have knocked America’s technological advantage on its back, the Chinese and other competitor nations push towards military parity with the United States; in some cases, as in this one, they appear to be leaping ahead of us,” three Congressmen said.
“We have dithered for three decades now, delaying badly needed replacement equipment for our troops, relying on hardware that was built during the Reagan years,” they said.
“The Asia-Pacific is fast becoming a powder keg. Allowing nations that do not share our respect for free and open avenues of commerce to gain a strategic advantage over the United States and her allies only brings us closer to lighting the fuse,” the Congressmen said.
Forbes is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces and Rogers is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.
Last week, the Chinese military successfully concluded the first test flight of a hypersonic missile vehicle, according to US defence officials at the Pentagon.
The hypersonic missile could be a major milestone for China as it modernises its military technology for strategic nuclear and conventional military purposes.
The United States, Russia, and China are all engaged in a hypersonic arms race. All three nations are developing high-speed aerospace vehicles. India is also developing a hypersonic variant of its BrahMos cruise missile. (AGENCIES)
US challenges China on high-tech steel import
WASHINGTON, Jan 14: The US has challenged China’s failure to comply with the WTO’s ruling in favor of its dispute on high-tech steel and has requested consultations with Beijing on the issue.
“Because the Obama Administration is determined to fight for American workers and businesses in the global trading system and to not stop fighting until their rights are fully realized the United States today is challenging China’s failure to comply with the WTO’s decision in favor of the United States in our dispute on high-tech steel,” US Trade Representative Michael Froman told reporters.
The ruling concerns US exports of GOES (grain oriented flat-rolled electrical steel) used majorly in power industry. The WTO ruled in November 2012 that China had unfairly imposed antidumping and countervailing duties.
“Specifically, we have requested consultations with China on its failure to bring antidumping and countervailing duties on US exports of GOES (grain oriented flat-rolled electrical steel) into compliance with its WTO obligations,” he said.
Froman said today’s action shows that when the United States steps up to the plate on trade enforcement, we will follow through.
“We are committed to ensuring that our trading partners play by the rules – and respond with appropriate action when they are found to be in violation,” he said.
The United States brought this dispute because it considers that China had breached WTO procedural and substantive rules when it imposed duties on GOES from the United States.
China’s duties effectively blocked US exports of GOES to China. Before China imposed these duties, US exports of GOES amounted to more than USD 250 million a year. The year after China imposed the duties, the value of US exports of GOES fell to USD 3 million, he said.
“We were right, and China was wrong. The WTO found that China’s duties are inconsistent with WTO rules. And unfortunately, it appears that China has not corrected those inconsistencies,” Froman said.
He said the evidence was clear that China did not bring its duties into compliance with WTO rules.
“We support the fair use of trade remedies as fundamental to WTO rights and obligations. But we will not stand by while China misuses trade remedies to block US exports unfairly, to the detriment of US workers and businesses,” he said.
“Through this action, we are standing up for our trade rights, and we are enforcing trade rules so that our workers and businesses can compete and win in the global economy,” Froman said. (AGENCIES)
Massive searches against militants in Sopore
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Jan 14: Massive search operation continued in the Cherhar forests of Sopore in North Kashmir and adjoining villages today against the group of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant group, three members of which were killed in an encounter in Sopore yesterday.
The search operation against a 7-member group of JeM was launched by Police and army on Friday in Cherhar forests and so far 3 militants of the group including the divisional commander of JeM, Abu Hassan, were killed.
Sources said that the Army and police continued searches in Cherhar forest against the 4 members of the JeM who they feel are hiding in the forest area or nearby villages after their hideout was busted by security forces on Friday.
Today 22-RR conducted searches in village Botengu and Muqam after reports that some of the members of the group have fled to these two villages. The searches were on till reports last came in. However, no contact was established with the group so far.
Divisional commander of JeM, Abu Hassan his two associates Muzamil alias Farooq and Rizwan, were killed in Dooru yesterday by SOG and 22 RR of Army after police received information about their presence in the village.
Sources said that it was a group of seven militants who were hiding in Cherhar forests against whom operation was launched by police and Army on Friday. These militants were part of around 10-12 militants of JeM who were operating in Lolab area. All these militants have infiltrated last year and after continued operations against them by the security forces, part of the group had shifted to Cherhar forests.
Sources said that the chief of JeM, Adil, who was part of the group was first to shift out of Lolab to Tral area of South Kashmir two months ago. The entire group was tasked to revive the JeM in Kashmir but security forces have achieved major success against them by killing their three members.
It may be mentioned here that Army’s 27 RR and SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a massive operation in North Kashmir’s Sopore forests on Friday and it was extended to adjoining villages after security forces felt that part of the group had fled to nearby villages.
The operation was extended to nearby villages of Marbel, Chirhar, Hard Shiva, Yemberzal, Rishipora, Rampur and Rajpur of Cherhar forests on Saturday. Army’s 14, 22 and 30 RR and 5 Para joined the operation to assist the troops who had initially cordoned off the area.
BJP revokes suspension of 5 MLAs
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Jan 14: It is official now that Bhartiya Janata Party has revoked the suspension of five out of seven MLAs who were suspended from the party for cross voting in the Legislative Council election in April 2011.
These MLAs are Baldev Raj Sharma, Master Lal Chand, Durga Dass, Bharat Bhushan and Prof Gharu Ram Bhagat.
According to an official communiqué from the party’s State headquarters, the BJP national general secretary Jagat Parkash Nadda has formally conveyed the national president Rajnath Singh’s decision of revoking their suspension.
The suspension was revoked following individual letters written by these MLAs to Rajnath Singh expressing their `unconditional’ desire to work for the party as per the BJP priorities and directives and their requesting that their suspension may kindly be revoked and an opportunity be given to resume work for the party.
The Excelsior had exclusively reported on last Sunday that suspension of these five MLA was being revoked as the BJP Parliamentary Board had given its final nod for the same on the recommendation of Central Disciplinary Action Committee.
These five MLAs, along with Prof Chaman Lal Gupta and Jagdish Sapolia, were suspended from primary membership of the party for six years following crossing in the Legislative Council elections, held on April 13, 2011.
While there is no official word on the fate of Prof Chaman Lal Gupta and Jagdish Sapolia, sources said that a section of BJP high-command has reservations over taking the duo back in the party.
When contacted, Prof Gupta refused to comment on the party decision of revoking suspension of five MLAs but did not hide his displeasure over alleged double standards of the BJP on the issue thus hinting uncertainty over his fate.
Meanwhile, immediately after getting the formal communiqué over revocation of the suspension, the State BJP core group met this evening at the official residence of organizing secretary Ashok Koul. All the nine MLAs, including five those take back in the party, attended the meeting and expressed their full faith in policies and programmes of the BJP, sources said.
State BJP president Jugal Kishore, BJP legislature party leader Ashok Khajuria, former State presidents of the party Shamsher Singh and Dr Nirmal Singh were among those who attended the meeting and discussed the measures for further strengthening the party in Jammu and Kashmir.
Following the latest development, sources said, State BJP president Jugal Kishore and Legislature Party leader Ashok Khajuria are all set to formally convey the Speaker Legislative Assembly Mubarak Gul about the party decision of revoking suspension of five MLAs and taking them back in the party.
With the revocation of suspension, the number of members of BJP legislature party has risen from four to nine.
It may be recalled that even after suspension of seven MLAs from the party, the Speaker had not taken any decision on fate of the suspended MLAs on the ground that the matter was pending in the court.
Indo-Pak Secys meet today
NEW DELHI, Jan 14:
After a gap of more than a year, Commerce Secretaries of India and Pakistan will meet tomorrow to discuss trade-related issues and set the agenda for the ministerial meeting later this week.
“Besides taking stock of trade relations, Commerce Secretary S R Rao and his Pakistani counterpart Qasim M Niyaz are also expected to discuss issues like trade of power and petroleum products,” a senior official said.
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and Pakistan’s State Minister for Commerce and Textile Khurram Dastagir Khan will meet on January 18.
Khan is coming here for the SAARC Business Leaders Conclave.
The trade liberalisation process between the two nations was hit after the beheading of an Indian soldier in January last year.
Besides, Pakistan missing the deadline for granting the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India is also not going down well with Indian authorities.
Pakistan was to grant the status in December 2012 by eliminating the negative list of 1,209 items.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry has said that the meeting of the Commerce Ministers of the two countries could not be construed as resumption of dialogue process.
The Commerce Secretaries of India and Pakistan met last time in September, 2012. During that meeting, both the sides had emphasised on the need to increase trade traffic through the Railways.
They had also agreed to encourage two-way investment and enhance investor confidence on both sides. Besides, both had emphasised on the need to eliminate non-trade barriers and enhance air connectivity between the two nations.
The bilateral trade between the two countries stood at USD 2.60 billion in 2012-13. (PTI)
Centre shelves Jammu-Poonch rail line project
* Cost escalation major factor
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 14: Taken up as national project, the Union Government has shelved Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch railway line, which had to connect important towns like Akhnoor, Sunderbani and Nowshera by the rail link. The high estimated cost has been given as the reason for abandoning the project even after completion of survey on it, which had found the project feasible.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Union Government and the Railways Ministry have conveyed the decision to the State leadership on shelving the project due to high cost factor. The project was estimated to cost Rs 13612.81 crores and had been taken as national project in March 2012.
The then Railways Minister Mukul Roy of Trinamool Congress had announced Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch rail line as national project and excluded it from the rail budget in March 2012.
Sources said the railway line from Jammu to Poonch was being anticipated as a major project, which could have boosted the economic activity in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri and attracted tourists to various places of attraction there including the Mughal Road.
The Railways Ministry had ordered survey on Jammu-Poonch railway line and found it feasible. The Railways authorities had also prepared a Detailed Project Report on the railway line under which the rail was scheduled to touch Akhnoor, Kaleeth, Dori Daggar, Chowki Chowra, Bhambla, Sunderbani, Nowshera and Rajouri before reaching Poonch.
“The route was subjected to some minor changes at the time of launch of the project,” sources said but added that even before the launch, the Government of India has decided to shelve the project, thus, dashing hopes of a large number of people, who were hoping boost to tourism and economic activity in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, which have a lot of tourism potential.
The proposal for railway line from Jammu to Poonch via Rajouri had been mooted a long back but it was finally in March 2012 that the Government of India had conceived it as national project at the cost of Rs 13612.81 crores on the basis of survey conducted by the Railways authorities and DPR prepared by the engineers, in which the project had clearly been described as feasible.
Sources admitted that shelving the Jammu-Poonch rail line by the Government of India in the election year when both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are due in the State could cost the Congress, which was heading the UPA Government at the Centre, very dearly.
A hope had generated among the people of border districts of Rajouri and Poonch and 2008 when survey of Jammu-Poonch railway line was taken up, which had further gained momentum in 2012 when the Centre had declared it as a national project.
The long pending project was then set to see light of the day. The projects under the national category are taken up on priority with special financial provisions from the Union Government.
The rail link that has to pass through treacherous hilly areas was first approved during the UPA-1 when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the Minister. He had also got a survey for the railway line conducted.
Sources said the Centre has decided to shelve the project on the basis of reports of cost escalation as the project was likely to be delayed beyond prescribed time period due to treacherous route it had to cover beyond Akhnoor due to hilly terrain. The route would have proved very useful for the Army, which had been deployed in large number in the two border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
ED registers case in J&K exam scam
NEW DELHI, Jan 14:
Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case against former Jammu and Kashmir Chairman of Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) Mushtaq Ahmad Peer in connection with an alleged question paper scam in the State.
The central agency took over the case after going through the FIR of the Jammu and Kashmir Police registered in this case earlier.
ED, according to sources, has identified Peer’s assets and bank accounts in Delhi and Kashmir for possible attachment as “proceeds of crime” derived from alleged corruption money of the scam.
Peer may soon be questioned in this case.
The Crime Branch had submitted a charge sheet, in the Common Entrance Test paper leak case, against Peer and 24 others two days ago before the Special Judge (Anti Corruption), Kashmir, M L Manhas at his residence in Jammu.
The 31-page charge sheet, sources said, has been filed against Peer, the main accused in the scam along with his accomplices including Farooq Ahmad Yatoo, alleged broker Sajad Ahmed Bhat, Haroon and Farooq Ahmad Shah who allegedly purchased the papers from Peer and then sold them to students for a hefty fee.
The charge sheet has named 12 students and 9 parents of whom Bhat, Haroon and Shah have already been arrested.
As per the charge sheet, Crime Branch’s Kashmir wing had received a letter from the State Government on July 7 last year along with enclosures wherein it was alleged that reports were received about irregularities committed by BOPEE authorities while conducting the CET examination on June 23-24, 2012, during which question papers were leaked in return for money.
The Crime Branch, which was directed by the Government to probe the matter, conducted a preliminary enquiry into the conduct of Common Entrance Test during 2011, 2012 and 2013.
During preliminary probe it was learnt that Farooq Ahmed Itoo, owner of a computer institute and close associate of then BOPEE Chairman Ahmad, had sold question papers to some candidates of CET-2012.
The challan said the selection list of 2011 and 2012 obtained from BOPEE found that a number candidates from a particular area made it to the top of MBBS merit list in 2012, which was possible only by accessing question papers in advance.
The probe showed BOPEE officers and officials in league with Itoo and others had abused their official position to leak the questions. (PTI)