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Obama: Pak’s anti-terror steps not effective
Meanwhile, Gilani claims ‘victory’ in stand-off with US
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Karzai reviews Taliban peace strategy
Thai PM's Twitter account hacked
Settling in UK could get tougher for immigrants
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Obama: Pak’s anti-terror steps not effective
Washington, October 2 "The return of militant-inspired violence after a 4-month lull following the 2010 floods demonstrated how insurgent elements have managed to survive and even return to many areas previously cleared by the Pakistan military," a White House report sent by Obama to the Congress said. In fact, the report informs the Congress that Pakistan has moved from "remaining static" to "decline" to "negative trends" in one of the key indicators and metrics of "Pakistan's efforts in counter-terrorism operations" as developed by the Obama administration at the direction of the Congress. The 25-page unclassified section of the Af-Pak report was submitted by Obama to the Congress on Friday which gives details of the progress made in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the war against terrorism from January to August this year. A copy of the report was obtained by the PTI. Informing the Congress on the progress on fourth metric -- 'Develop Pakistan's counter-insurgency (COIN) capabilities; continue to support Pakistan's efforts to defeat terrorist and insurgent groups', the White House report said indicators and metrics against this objective remained static during the reporting period of January 1 to March 31.
— PTI
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Meanwhile, Gilani claims ‘victory’ in stand-off with US
Islamabad, October 2 "It is due to the all parties' conference as well as the unity of Pakistan's political leaders that the US has sent a message that they need Pakistan and that they cannot win the war (against terrorism) without Pakistan," he said. "They have also distanced themselves from the statement of (former US military chief Admiral Mike) Mullen. This is the victory of the Pakistan nation," he said.
— PTI
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700 anti-Wall Street protesters held
New York, October 1 The arrests took place when a large group of marchers, participating in a second week of protests by the Occupy Wall Street movement, broke off from others on the bridge's pedestrian walkway and headed across the Brooklyn-bound lanes. "Over 700 summonses and desk appearance tickets have been issued in connection with a demonstration on the Brooklyn Bridge late this afternoon after multiple warnings by police were given to protesters to stay on the pedestrian walkway, and that if they took roadway they would be arrested," a police spokesman said. "Some complied and took the walkway without being arrested. Others proceeded on the Brooklyn-bound vehicular roadway and were. The bridge was re-opened to traffic at 8:05 pm." Most of those who were arrested were taken into custody off the bridge, issued summonses and released. Witnesses described a chaotic scene on the famous suspension bridge as a sea of police officers surrounded the protesters using orange mesh netting. Some protesters tried to get away as officers startedhandcuffing members of the group. Dozens of protesters were seen handcuffed and sitting on the span as three buses were called in to take them away, witnesses and organisers said. The march started about 3:30 p.m. (1930 GMT) from the protesters' camp in Zuccotti Park in downtown Manhattan near the former World Trade Center. Members of the group have vowed to stay at the park through the winter. In addition to what they view as excessive force and unfair treatment of minorities, the movement is also protesting against home foreclosures and high unemployment.
— Reuters
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Karzai reviews Taliban peace strategy
Karzai's pointman on Taliban talks, High Peace Council chairman Burhanuddin Rabbani, was assassinated last month by a turban bomber who had purported to be a peace emissary from the insurgents. A statement released by Karzai's presidential palace today said new evidence showed that Rabbani's killer was "a citizen of Pakistan". Many Afghans are suspicious of Pakistan's connections to the Taliban-led insurgency in their country but the statement was the strongest yet to suggest a Pakistani link to Rabbani's killing. Karzai spoke on Friday of the need for discussions with Pakistan to bring peace and of his frustration at the failure of talks to establish contact with senior Afghan Taliban chiefs such as supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar. Evidence shows that Rabbani's death on September 20 "was plotted in Quetta and the person who carried out the suicide attack... was a citizen of Pakistan,' the statement said, quoting an official investigation team. Afghan officials have already said that Rabbani's murder was planned by the Afghan Taliban's leadership body, the Quetta Shura, in Pakistan. But the militant group has not claimed responsibility for the killing. The statement added that the killer had been living in the Pakistani border town of Chaman, citing proof, including documents and confessions of a man arrested last month in connection with the death.
— PTI
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Thai PM's Twitter account hacked
In fact, the Thai PM's Twitter account has been used to post questions about her competence, particularly in regard to her handling of the recent floods that killed some 40 people and rendered nearly 1.5 million people homeless. At least eight false tweets accused her of cronyism and various failures. One questioned her promise to give tablet computers to school children, suggesting she concentrate on education reform instead. "This country is a business. We work for our allies, not for the Thai people. We work for those who support us, not those who differ with us," another read. The final post read: "If she can't even protect her own Twitter account, how can she protect the country?" Yingluck won a clear victory in
July. — Reuters
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Settling in UK could get tougher for immigrants
The Conservative Party-led coalition government will scrap a rule that gives foreign workers the right to live permanently in Britain after working here for five years and will also restrict the rights of their family members to join them, The Sunday Times newspaper said. Theresa May, the Home Secretary, is drawing up plans for a new 'hurdle' for immigrants that would prevent most of them gaining the right to remain here indefinitely. " Theresa May and Damian Green, the immigration minister, want to break the link between working and settling in Britain," the report quoted a government source as saying. "It has become almost automatic for people who keep their noses clean and don't get a criminal record. They are not against people coming here to work, but that shouldn't automatically mean they get to stay in Britain for ever," the source said. Once someone is granted indefinite leave to remain, they can apply for a British passport. The number of immigrants taking advantage of this rules has spiralled in the past 14 years, the report said. — PTI Stricter rules The government will scrap a rule that gives foreign workers the right to live permanently in Britain after working for five years and will also restrict the rights of their family members to join them, said a media report
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