The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	10,000 feared dead in typhoon-hit Philippines Manila, November 10 The death toll from a super typhoon that decimated entire towns in the Philippines could soar well over 10,000, authorities warned today, making it the country's worst recorded natural disaster. The horrifying estimates came as rescue workers appeared overwhelmed in their efforts to help countless survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan, which sent tsunami-like waves and merciless winds rampaging across a huge chunk of the archipelago on Friday. Authorities were struggling to even understand the sheer magnitude of the disaster, let alone react to it, with the regional police chief for Leyte saying 10,000 people were believed to have died in that province alone. “We had a meeting last night with the governor and, based on the government's estimates, initially there are 10,000 casualties (dead),” Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria told reporters in Tacloban. The Philippines government's disaster relief agency said at least 4.4 million people have become homeless in areas hit by super typhoon Haiyan. Around 86,513 families or 403,503 people were housed in 1,425 evacuation centres, Xinhua cited the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council as saying. Haiyan, the most powerful typhoon in the country's history, engulfed many areas in Leyte, Samar, Visayas, Bicol and Mindanao regions. "The sea water rose as high as 20 feet, causing hundreds of people to drown," said Leo Dacaynos of the Eastern Samar provincial disaster risk reduction council. As of Sunday, many parts of eastern Visayas are still without electricity. Downed communication facilities caused problems in gathering information from Tacloban city and other affected areas in Leyte province, the official said. Officials are relying on satellite phones and military radios to gather and convey information about the disaster. The number of deaths from the wrath of the super typhoon continue to pile up as authorities exert to retrieve bodies in Tacloban city and other worse-hit areas. Philippines President Benigno S Aquino III flew to Tacloban city on Sunday morning and was set to visit Roxas city in Capiz province later in the day to inspect the places hard hit by the super typhoon and to distribute relief goods to the affected residents. The military has sent 100 soldiers to join police efforts in restoring peace and order in Tacloban as residents looted the Gaisano mall and stole cash from automated teller machines in the city, said Ramon Zagala, who heads the Philippines armed forces public affairs office. The Philippines endures a seemingly never-ending pattern of deadly typhoons, earthquakes, volcano eruptions and other natural disasters. However, if the feared death toll of above 10,000 is correct, Haiyan would be the deadliest natural disaster ever recorded in the Philippines. — Agencies Trail of destruction Over 4 lakh people housed in 1,425 evacuation centres as 80 per cent structures along the typhoon's path destroyed. Many parts without power, communication facilities; Officials rely on satellite phones and radios to gather information Army joins police in restoring peace and order in Tacloban as residents looted malls and stole cash from ATMs Britain announces $9.58 million for relief operations Over 6 lakh evacuated in Vietnam Hanoi: More than 600,000 people were evacuated as super typhoon Haiyan bore down on Vietnam, authorities said on Sunday, after the storm smashed through the Philippines. Residents of the Vietnamese capital Hanoi were braced for heavy rains and flooding. "We have evacuated more than 174,000 households, which is equivalent to more than 600,000 people," an official report by Vietnam's flood and storm control department said. The storm is expected to strike Vietnamon Monday morning.
	Maldives SC postpones Presidential poll run-off Male, November 10 The Maldives Supreme Court Sunday blocked a second-round run-off to elect the new President of the republic and postponed it till Nov 16 as the country's vice-president resigned amid deep political infighting. Vice-president Mohamed Waheed Deen's resignation came after the country failed in its last-ditch attempt to elect a new President before the constitutional deadline of November 11, Xinhua reported. According to the Maldives' constitution, a new President has to be sworn in Nov 11. But the Supreme Court ordered that current President Mohammed Waheed should remain in power until the poll process is completed and a new President is installed. Former president Mohammed Nasheed, the front-runner in the long-drawn-out race for the Maldives' top-most post, has asked incumbent President Mohammed Waheed to resign and make way for a fresh replacement. "If there is an election under Waheed, it would be unconstitutional and it will be difficult. We hope that he resigns on Monday and we are seeking for an election where the Speaker of Parliament will be appointed as the head of state and he will oversee a transition of power," Nasheed said. Earlier, the Supreme Court ordered that by holding the run-off the very next day after the first round could undermine the constitutional rights of many people. Hence the court finds that November 16 is the best date to hold the run-off, the order said. "The order was issued after Jumhoory Party (JP) youth wing president Moosa Anwar asked the Supreme Court to postpone the run-off of the presidential re-vote scheduled for Sunday," Haveeru online website reported. In the presidential poll held Saturday, Nasheed garnered 46.93 percent of the votes cast but fell short of the 50 percent needed to win outright. Nasheed was to face former President Abdul Gayoom's half-brother Abdulla Yameen in a second round run-off Sunday. This is the third attempt being made to elect a new president in the Indian Ocean republic of 1,192 small and big islands. — IANS Political crisis Country's vice-president Mohamed Waheed Deen resigns after the country failed in its last-ditch attempt to elect a new President before the constitutional deadline of November 11. But the Supreme Court orders that current President Mohammed Waheed should remain in power until the poll process is completed and a new President is installed. Supreme Court postpones second-round run-off till November 16, saying holding the run-off the very next day after the first round could undermine the constitutional rights of many people. I believe vice-president Mohammad Waheed stayed in power to maintain a government we formed together. The constitution clearly states the government will end. Partaking in an election with Waheed as President will be taking part in an unlawful election. — Mohammad Nasheed, Former President and presidential candiate
	B’desh oppn activists clash with cops; 1 dead, 100 hurt Dhaka, November 10 At least one person was killed and nearly 100 injured in Bangladesh as opposition activists clashed with police and ruling party members as a four-day nationwide shutdown demanding a neutral caretaker government to oversee the next general election began today. A 40-year-old man was killed and at least 20 people, including policemen, were injured in clashes between strikers and police in the port city of Chittagong. At least 52 people were injured in sporadic clashes between BNP men and law enforcers in Brahmanbaria, where activists blasted at least 100 crude bombs. Incidents of vandalism and crude bomb explosions were also reported from Kishoreganj, Satkhira, Rajshahi, Bogra, Jhenidah, Comilla and capital Dhaka. State Law Minister Qamrul Islam today warned even BNP chief Zia might face arrest if the party continues "vandalism and terrorist activities". “If the BNP continues vandalism and terrorist activities, then BNP's top leaders including Khaleda Zia will have to face the same fate like the detained leaders," he said. — PTI
	Pravasi Bhartiya Divas kicks off in Sydney Melbourne, November 10 With an aim to connect the vast Indian diaspora and other parts of Pacific region with India, the Regional Pravasi Bhartiya Divas today began in Sydney. Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi and New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell will officially inaugurate the convention tomorrow by lighting the ceremonial lamp. A book, 'Mosaic of Faith', was launched by Ravi on the first day of the convention, which will go on for two days till November 12. Participation in the convention is expected from all states and territories of Australia and from neighbouring countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Manila, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Fiji and the Pacific Islands.— PTI
	Won’t abandon uranium enrichment, says Iran Tehran, November 10 President Hassan Rouhani said today Iran would not abandon its nuclear rights, including uranium enrichment, media reported a day after a fresh round of talks with world powers. “There are red lines that must not be crossed,” Rouhani told the conservative-dominated Parliament in remarks quoted by the ISNA news agency. “The rights of the Iranian nation and our national interests are a red line. So are nuclear rights under the framework of international regulations, which include enrichment on Iranian soil,” he said. His remarks came a day after negotiations with world powers — despite making progress — failed to produce a long-elusive deal that would curb Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Hopes had soared after top world diplomats rushed to Geneva to join the talks, but then faded as cracks began to appear among world powers when France raised concerns. The P5+1 group in the talks — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany -- suspects that Iran's atomic ambitions are aimed at developing nuclear weapons, despite repeated denials. Rouhani pleaded for Parliament's backing. “If we want to succeed in these negotiations, we need the support of the supreme leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) and of lawmakers,” he told them. With the final say on the nuclear issue, Khamenei had expressed support for Iran's negotiators but also voiced pessimism about the possibility of a breakthrough, citing decades of hostility and mistrust in the West. Hardliners in Iran had also been sceptical, fearing that the negotiating team led by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif would offer too many concessions. Rouhani said Iran would “not bow to threats from any power,” while also insisting that sanctions battering Iran's economy had not forced it to the negotiating table. — AFP No deal better than bad deal: Kerry Washington: Denying that there are differences among world powers on the nuclear deal with Iran, US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday said they are "not in a rush" and no deal is better than a bad deal. "We always said - (US) President (Barack) Obama has been crystal clear - don't rush; we're not in a rush; we need to get the right deal; no deal is better than a bad deal. And we are certainly adhering to that concept," Kerry said in a talk show. — PTI Israel to lobby against deal Jerusalem: Israel plans to lobby the US Congress to prevent a deal being reached on Iran’s nuclear programme, Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said on Sunday ahead of the November 20 resumption of talks. “Before the talks resume, we will lobby dozens of members of the US Congress to whom I will personally explain during a visit beginning on Tuesday that Israel's security is in jeopardy," he told army radio. — AFP
	Skipping CHOGM would damage C’wealth: UK London, November 10 Boycotting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit (CHOGM) in Colombo over alleged war crimes would damage the organisation while achieving no positive change in Sri Lanka, Foreign Secretary William Hague said today. British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he will be putting “serious questions" to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse at the 53-member organisation's biennial summit. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will skip the three-day summit, which starts next Friday, while Canadian PM Stephen Harper has urged his counterparts to follow him in boycotting the heads of government meeting. "We do understand that (boycott), but we're not joining that," Hague told BBC television. “If we were to stay away from this meeting in Sri Lanka next week, it would damage the Commonwealth without changing things positively in Sri Lanka," he said. — AFP

Manmohan, Obama set agenda for engagement over next six months

Washington, November 10
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama have set “a robust agenda” for the next six months to keep the two nations actively engaged during elections in India and lay the foundation for take-off of bilateral ties under a new government in New Delhi.

During their White House meeting on September 27 which lasted over three hours, Obama and Singh agreed that the relationship between the two countries — described by the US President as the most significant one for the 21st century — is too important to keep adrift for a period of six months as India enters a crucial election phase.

As such Obama and Singh, who share a personal affinity between themselves, laid out a robust agenda of active engagement for the next six months and prepared groundwork for what the sources familiar with the talks described as “take off” for the new Indian government formed after the general election before May next year. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Sri Lanka detains legislators from Australia, New Zealand
Colombo: Sri Lankan immigration authorities on Sunday briefly detained an Australian senator and a MP from New Zealand for alleged visa abuse after the duo reportedly visited Tamil-dominated north of the country. Leigh Rhiannon of Australia and Jan Logie of New Zealand were quizzed for being involved in media related activities having arrived here on tourist visas, said Chulananda Perera, the chief of immigration. — PTI

War veterans lay wreaths on the occasion of Rememberance Day, at the War Memorial in Valleta on Sunday. — Reuters

2 killed, 22 hurt in gunfire at party in US
Houston: At least two people, including a woman were killed and 22 others wounded when gunfire erupted at a birthday party here, triggering panic, police said on Sunday. Party-goers scrambled after the shooting broke out on Saturday night in Enchanted Creek Drive, in the Cypress area. Officials with the Harris County Sheriff's Office are looking for two people who are suspected of being the gunmen. — PTI

Pak pvt schools ban Malala’s book
Islamabad: Malala Yousufzai's book has been banned in Pakistan's private schools after the teenage activist was accused of becoming a tool of the West for writing "highly controversial" contents in her memoir. The All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSF) issued a statement, saying it has been decided that Malala's book, 'I am Malala', would never be made part of the libraries or the curriculum in private schools. — PTI

Artificial blood substitute developed
London: Scientists have created an artificial blood substitute with a protein extracted from marine worms, rather than based on synthetic hemoglobins. Researchers led by Professor Radu Silanghi-Dumitrescu, from Babes-Bolyai University, have been testing the blood substitute in both mice and in cultured cells. Initial findings suggest that many of the adverse effects normally associated with hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC) substitutes can be eliminated. — PTI