The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

special to The Tribune
At UN, Obama vows to dismantle Islamic State’s ‘network of death’
Ashish Kumar Sen in Washington DC

US President Barack Obama on Wednesday urged the world to join the fight against Islamic State terrorists in Syria and Iraq and vowed that the US and its allies would work hard to “dismantle this network of death.”

“No God condones this terror. No grievance justifies these actions,” Obama said, referring to the IS terrorists’ brutal actions that have included beheadings of Western hostages, mass executions, rape and ethnic cleansing.

“There can be no reasoning, no negotiation with this brand of evil. The only language understood by killers like these is the language of force,” Obama said in his address to the United Nations General Assembly.

India is not part of the more than 50 countries that have joined the coalition to take on IS terrorists in Syria and Iraq. US officials have not said whether they have actively sought India’s support, but this may come up in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meetings in Washington next week.

The US and five Arab allies — Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — on Tuesday for the first time conducted air strikes against IS targets inside Syria. The strikes continued for a second day on Wednesday and involved a combination of bombers and drones. So far, 20 air strikes have been conducted against IS targets inside Syria.

The US military, acting on its own, has conducted 198 air strikes against IS targets in Iraq.

Obama’s decision to take military action in Iraq and then expand those operations to Syria is an about turn for a leader who was elected on the promise of ending the US’ involvement in wars in the Middle East.

Obama sought to justify his actions in his UN speech. A more lethal and ideological brand of terrorists has “perverted” Islam, Obama said while emphasising that the US "is not and never will be at war with Islam.”

“When it comes to America and Islam, there is no us and them; there is only us, because millions of Muslim Americans are part of the fabric of our country,” he said, while rejecting the suggestion of a clash of civilisations. He said the “cancer of violent extremism that has ravaged so many parts of the Muslim world” risks a cycle of conflicts that could derail much progress.

He said Muslim communities around the world should “explicitly, forcefully and consistently reject the ideology of organisations such as Al-Qaida and ISIS.” He also urged the countries of the Arab and Muslim world to focus on the potential of their people, especially the youth.

In remarks addressed to young people across the Muslim world, Obama said: “You come from a great tradition that stands for education, not ignorance; innovation, not destruction; the dignity of life, not murder. Those who call you away from this path are betraying this tradition, not defending it.”

Obama listed three issues — the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa, Russian aggression in Ukraine, and the brutality of terrorists in Syria and Iraq — that he said require urgent attention.

He also exhorted Iran, which is involved in nuclear talks with the West, to seize the opportunity to reach a solution that meets its energy needs while assuring the world that its nuclear program is peaceful.

Seize ‘opportunity’ for N-deal, US tells Iran
United Nations: President Barack Obama on Wednesday asked Iran to seize the “historic opportunity” of reaching a deal with the world powers on its contested nuclear programme. “America is pursuing a diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, as part of our commitment to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. This can only happen if Iran takes this historic opportunity," Obama said.

IS-linked group beheads French hostage

Rabat, September 24
Algerian extremists allied with the Islamic State group have decapitated a French hostage after France ignored their demand to stop airstrikes in Iraq, according to a video obtained today by a US-based terrorism watchdog.

A group calling itself Jund al-Khilafah, or Soldiers of the Caliphate, had said they would kill French mountaineer Herve Gourdel after abducting him Sunday unless France ended its airstrikes against Islamic State fighters in Iraq within 24 hours.

The French government insisted it would not back down. — AP

Boko Haram chief dead, claims Nigerian military

Abuja, September 24
Nigeria's military today claimed for the first time that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was dead, saying troops had shot a lookalike who had been posing as the militant commander.

Defence spokesman Chris Olukolade told reporters in Abuja that a heavily bearded Islamist fighter identified as Mohammed Bashir died during fighting in the town of Konduga, in Borno state.

Bashir, who was said to have had several aliases, had "been acting or posing on videos as the deceased Shekau, the eccentric character known as leader of the group", he said.

Nigeria's military has, for the first time, said publicly that Shekau was dead after two previous claims by other security sources that he had died in 2009 and 2013.

The military did not, however, say when Shekau was killed.

Earlier this year, the spokeswoman for the country's secret police, Marilyn Ogar, said: "The original Shekau is dead and that the person appearing in videos was an imposter."

Olukolade said name "Shekau" had become a "brand name for terrorists". "Nigerian military remains resolute to serve justice to anyone who assumes that designation or title and all terrorists who seek to violate freedom and territory of Nigeria," he said. — AFP

50 militants held
Nearly 50 suspected members of Boko Haram were arrested on Wednesday in Nigerian state of Borno, a top military officer said
They were nabbed when a truck ferrying them was intercepted by troops in Biu, Xinhua quoted the source as saying
The suspects were taken to a detention centre in Biu, the source said, adding that they were in transit to Gombe when a youth vigilante group alerted the security operatives

Japan slaps more sanctions on Russia over Ukraine

Tokyo, September 24
Japan said on Wednesday that it is imposing additional sanctions on Russia, toughening its stance against Moscow to bring it more in line with steps taken by other nations, including its key ally the United States.

The new measures include banning certain Russian banks from issuing securities in Japan and increasing inspections to prevent arms being shipped to Russia, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.

Japan imposed sanctions after Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in March but they were lighter than those of the European Union or US, reflecting Tokyo's courting of Moscow in hopes of forging stronger economic and energy ties.

A visit to Japan by Russian President Vladimir Putin, widely expected to take place in September, now appears unlikely, but he and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are eyeing talks on the sidelines of the APEC regional leaders' meeting in November.

‘Disappointed’ Russia

Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday it was disappointed with new sanctions imposed on the country by Japan, calling them an "unfriendly step". "We see this unfriendly step as fresh evidence of the inability of the Japanese side to enforce an independent foreign policy line," the statement said. Tokyo said it had also formally protested at the visit to acontested island off northern Japan by an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin. — Agencies

NATO sees pullback of Russian troops
Brussels: NATO has observed a significant withdrawal of Russian forces from inside Ukraine, but many Russian troops remain stationed nearby, an alliance military spokesman said on Wednesday. "There has been a significant pullback of Russian conventional forces from inside Ukraine, but many thousands are still deployed in the vicinity of the border," Lieutenant-Colonel Jay Janzen said. — Reuters

Hamas, Fatah begin talks in Cairo to resolve disputes

Cairo, September 24
Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah began talks in Cairo today aimed at resolving internal disputes and reviving their unity government.

The two-day talks will focus on "The return (of the unity government) in the Gaza Strip and the implementation of its authority without obstacles," said the head of Fatah's delegation, Azzam Al-Ahmad.

The talks come after a joint Palestinian delegation and Israel agreed to hold indirect talks in late October to thrash out a lasting truce in Gaza.

The split between the Islamist movement Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction relates to several key issues, including the control of Gaza. The disagreement could undermine any broader deal with Israel.

The ceasefire struck last month between Israel and the Palestinians to end the Gaza war, including stipulations that the Palestinian Authority, led by Abbas, should take over civil administration in Gaza from Hamas. But a dispute over the Palestinian Authority's non-payment of salaries to Gaza's public sector workers has brought tensions between the two main Palestinian factions to near-braking point, raising the risk of a return to conflict. Sakher Bseiso, a Fatah central committee member taking part in the talks, told Reuters Fatah and Hamas would discuss issues, including security, elections and governance of the Gaza Strip.

"The Cairo talks will discuss enabling the unity government to undertake its role in Gaza Strip and (conduct) bilateral relations between the two movements," he said. — Agencies

Palestinians seek $3.8 bn aid
New York: Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah has said he has asked for $3.8 billion in urgent aid to help rebuild Gaza following its devastating 50-day war with Israel this summer. Hamdallah said Saudi Arabia has pledged $500 million and other nations have indicated they would join in. — AP

Paris court ‘suspends’ Sarkozy probe

Paris, September 24
A corruption and influence-peddling investigation launched in July against former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been suspended, days after he dramatically announced a political comeback.

The Paris appeals court decided yesterday to freeze the probe pending a study of a request by Sarkozy to have it dismissed, a source close to the inquiry told AFP today. The suspension could last several months.

Sarkozy is widely seen as aiming to reclaim the presidency he lost to Francois Hollande in 2012. The next presidential election is in 2017. . In the meanwhile, Sarkozy hopes again to take over as chief of his UMP party, which is fractured by dissent.

The suspended case relates to an alleged attempt by Sarkozy to seek inside information from a magistrate in a high court concerning him, in return for help in securing the magistrate a lucrative job in Monaco. The magistrate, Gilbert Azibert, did not get the posting but was charged, along with Sarkozy's lawyer Thierry Herzog. — AFP

Queen ‘purred’ over Scotland, says British PM

London, September 24
British Prime Minister David Cameron was embroiled in an extraordinary breach of protocol over a phone conversation with Queen Elizabeth II when he was overheard as saying that she 'purred' with joy on hearing Scotland's rejection of independence.

Cameron was having conversation with ex-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the Bloomberg offices in New York when the camera crew overheard him saying that he had "never heard someone so happy".

"She purred down the line. I've never heard someone so happy. Never heard someone tear up like that. It was great," he was caught saying when he had called the 88-year-old monarch to say "it's all right." However, some reports indicate that the words he used were "cheer up" and not "tear up".

Buckingham Palace and Downing Street declined to comment on “private conversations”, it is believed that Cameron is extremely embarrassed and is set to apologise for his public gaffe. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Australian police kill 'terror suspect'
Melbourne: A “terror suspect” who made threats against the Australian Prime Minister after stabbing two police officers has been shot dead, a day after Islamic State group called on its supporters to wage terror in their home countries. The 18-year-old attacker, named in parliament as Abdul Numan Haide, was killed on Tuesday evening after he stabbed two police officers in Melbourne. Agencies

US drone attack kills 10 in Pakistan
Islamabad: At least 10 militants were killed on Wednesday in a US drone attack in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region, officials said. The pilotless aircraft attacked a compound in the Alwara Mandi area near Datta Khel town. A security official said 10 militants were killed. PTI

Campaign laws violation: Indian author escapes jail term
New York: Indian-American author and Obama-critic Dinesh D'Souza, who had pleaded guilty of violating federal campaign laws, has been spared a prison term but sentenced to five years of probation, mandatory community service and fined $30,000. D'Souza, 53, of California was sentenced on Tuesday before the US District Judge for violating the federal campaign election law by making illegal contributions to a United State Senate campaign in the names of others. PTI

Japan's bullet train turns 50: Visitors look at a “C57” steam locomotive at a rail museum in Omiya, Japan. Fifty years ago, the first bullet train pulled out of Tokyo station and hurtled across the countryside. AFP

Imran Khan allowed to hold rally on Sunday
lahore: Pakistan's Punjab government on Wednesday allowed Opposition leader Imran Khan to organise a rally of his party in Lahore on Sunday. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will not be refrained from holding a rally in Lahore after the party submitted an application to the district coordination officer seeking permission, Geo News reported. pti

Mumbai attack trial: Pak court summons witnesses
Lahore: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court holding the trial of seven accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case on Wednesday directed the prosecution lawyers to present witnesses in the hearing next week. pti

Indian-origin cabbie to face molestation trial in Oz
Sydney: An Indian-origin taxi driver in Australia will face trial for sexually assaulting a woman, media reports said on Wednesday. A West Australian taxi driver, identified as Suni Kumar Saharan, 28, molested the woman (28) after picking her up along with her four friends from Victoria Park in Perth on September 7. IANS

Baghdad car bomb kills at least 14
Baghdad: A car bomb exploded near a market in the Shiite neighbourhood of Sadr City in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing at least 14 persons, Iraqi police and medical sources said. "The car was parked near a market, there are at least 14 killed," a police colonel said. A medical source in the capital confirmed the death toll said at least 37 were also wounded. AFP

Iraqis gather at the car bomb site in Sadr City, Baghdad, on Wednesday. Fourteen persons were killed in the car bomb explosion. AP/PTI

After 13 years, Belgian 9/11 victim identified
New York: More than 13 years after the September 11 attacks in New York City, one Belgian victim has finally been identified. The New York medical examiner identified the man as Patrice Braut, 31-years-old at the time of the attacks. AFP

Men travel to 19 nations in 24 hours, set record
London: A Norwegian trio has set a world record for the most countries travelled in a day after passing through 19 nations in 24 hours. The new record was set by Gunnar Garfors, 39, Tay-young Pak, 42, and Oyvind Djupvik, 38, after they made it to 19 countries in just 24 hours, surpassing the previous record of 17 nations. pti