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N-armed Iran a grave threat, says Bush
Violence in Baloch province leaves 18 dead
Sikh student asked to shave off beard
Pak lodges protest against air strike |
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16 Maoists killed in
western Nepal
Indian firms to cut prices of AIDS test
2 Lankan sailors die in blast
UN reforms: Annan appoints panel
39 Indians killed in stampede identified
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N-armed Iran a grave threat, says Bush
President George W. Bush said on Friday a Nuclear-armed Iran posed a "grave threat" and insisted it was "logical" that the regime be dealt with by the United Nations Security Council.
Presenting a united front with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House, Mr Bush said he was not going to prejudge what the Security Council should do, but added, "I recognise that it's logical that a country which has rejected diplomatic entreaties be sent to the United Nations Security Council." Mr Bush said Iran's decision to resume Nuclear research was "unacceptable," and warned that Iran, armed with Nuclear weapon, "poses a grave threat to the security of the world." Earlier this week, Iran broke the UN seals at its nuclear plant in Natanz and announced it was restarting "small-scale" research. Iran insists its Nuclear programme has peaceful intentions. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday dismissed the threat of the UN sanctions saying Iran "is not frightened by threats from any country, and it will continue the path of production of Nuclear energy." Mr Bush, who shared a distant relationship with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, described the conservative Ms Merkel as "plenty capable." Ms Merkel echoed Mr Bush's condemnation of Iran. "Iran refused every offer we made, even the Russian offer," she said, referring to Russia's offer to enrich uranium for Iran on Russian soil instead of at Iranian plants. "Now we refer this matter back to the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). But they, too, do their utmost to try to enlist a large number of member states to join in on a proposal that will then be made to the Iranians. And I think this is going to be absolutely crucial for the Iranians to see how serious we are about all of this," she said. Mr Bush noted that the USA and its allies had an obligation to send a "common message to the Iranians that it was their behaviour -- trying to clandestinely develop a nuclear weapon, or using the guise of a civilian nuclear weapon programme to get the know-how to develop a Nuclear weapon- was unacceptable." Asked about China's coolness to the UN action, Mr Bush said: "Our job is to make it clear to all parties that it is in the world's interest that Iran should not have any nuclear weapon. In other words, share the same goal." |
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Violence in Baloch province leaves 18 dead
Islamabad, January 14 The 18 persons were killed in separate gunbattles, a landmine blast and a rocket attack in Dera Bugti district and Margat coalmine area over the past two days. Railway traffic between provincial capital Quetta and the border town of Chaman was also suspended as saboteurs blew up a railway line. Operations in different areas of Kohlu district were also reported, local daily Dawn reported. In a separate development, the Secretary-General of the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) Agha Shah Bugti accused security personnel of killing 12 Bugti tribesmen in custody. — PTI
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Sikh student asked to shave off beard
Kuala Lumpur, January 14 “I find the ruling absurd as according to our religion, a Sikh is not supposed to remove hair on any part of his body,” Jasmel Singh, father of the 17-year-old student Ranveer Singh said, the Star newspaper reported. The father claimed that the school Principal had told him that if Ranveer refused to follow her instructions, the student should get himself transferred to another school. A state Education Department official, however, said at present Ranveer would not be forced to shave off his hair and suggested that he should instead write to the Director of Schools under the Education Ministry.
— PTI |
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Pak lodges protest against air strike
Islamabad, January 14 “The Foreign Office has lodged a protest with the USA Ambassador in Islamabad,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said, adding “Pakistan will also take up this matter in the next meeting of Tripartite Commission.” The protest came as Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed denied any knowledge of killing of Zawahiri but admitted the presence of some foreigners in Bajaur Agency, bordering Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, where the 18 persons including women and children were killed while sleeping in their houses in the early-morning attack
yesterday. — PTI
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16 Maoists killed in western Nepal
Kathmandu, January 14 According to the local channel Nepal One Television, the security personnel were attacked by the Maoists and the crossfire continued for more than six hours in Manakamana area, a Maoist stronghold 225 km west of the capital. This resulted in the death of at least 16 rebels and one soldier, it added. The Army said it recovered arms and ammunition apart from electric equipment used for placing landmines, Maoist literature and logistic materials, the television added. — UNI
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Kathmandu, January 14
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Indian firms to cut prices of AIDS test
New York, January 14 Qualpro Diagnostic and Strides Acrolab from India are also involved in the deal. “With more than one million people on treatment in developing countries, we face a growing challenge to keep costs affordable as we reach out to millions more in need,” Mr Clinton said announcing the agreement here. As a result of their agreements with the Clinton Foundation, countries will be able to reduce the cost of HIV diagnosis by 50 per cent. — PTI
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Colombo, January 14 The Defence Ministry said a mine blast at Kayts islet off the Jaffna peninsula killed two sailors as troops elsewhere found more mines that had been set up to target security forces. The pre-dawn bomb attack against the Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in the eastern district of Batticaloa damaged four vehicles. — PTI
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UN reforms: Annan appoints panel
United Nations, January 14 “The reform of the UN will be incomplete if we do not fix the internal system of justice,” a UN spokesman said here yesterday. “Unless staff have confidence in the system, cynicism could erode morale and undermine our mission,” he said. The establishment of the Redesign Panel responds to a request by the General Assembly and builds on recently announced initiatives such as the creation of the ethics office, the promulgation of a whistleblower protection policy, and the introduction of financial disclosure requirements for senior officials.
— PTI |
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39 Indians killed in stampede identified
Dubai, January 14 Bodies of 39 Indian victims have been identified, Indian Consul-General in Saudi Arabia Ausaf Sayeed told PTI over phone from Mina today. He said the identification process was still on and feared there could be more casualties among Indians who were not pilgrims but working with various Saudi agencies. Earlier, the Saudi Interior Ministry said 44 Indians were among 364 persons killed in the stampede.
— PTI |
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NY Times reporter’s murder: 2nd suspect held
Washington, January 14 Arrested yesterday, the suspect, Percy Jordan Jr, is a cousin of Michael Hamlin, who was arrested on Thursday and was also charged with felony murder in Rosenbaum’s death.
— AP |
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President George W. Bush said on Friday a Nuclear-armed Iran posed a "grave threat" and insisted it was "logical" that the regime be dealt with by the United Nations Security Council.
Mr Bush said he was not going to prejudge what the Security Council
