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Tuesday,
January 22, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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India pledges $ 100 m for Afghan rebuilding
Benazir may meet Pervez
in Washington |
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Israel reoccupies town 
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India pledges $ 100 m for Afghan rebuilding Tokyo, January 21 Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie, who represented the country at the meeting on reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan here, also met the Prime Minister of the interim Afghan Government Hamid Karzai and extended India’s help in all-round development of the war-ravaged country. Addressing the conference, Mr Shourie said as part of India’s commitment to long-term reconstruction in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has announced a contribution of $ 100 million for Afghanistan. Apart from this, India has also pledged to offer one million tonnes of wheat for internally and externally displaced Afghans and $ one million for meeting a part of the requirements of the interim
administration in that country. But, Mr Shourie said, the course of events of the past few years left one in doubt that for the reconstruction task to be achieved there were several imperatives. They include consolidation of process of broad-basing the government without outside interference and no part for Taliban and Taliban-type elements in governance. Mr Shourie said all parts of the country must be rid of terrorism and from those who would convert them into factories of terrorists, for inflicting suffering within the country and on people elsewhere. He said the singular focus must be reconstruction and the sections of society that had suffered the most — women, young girls, minorities — must receive special attention. The minister said India would work to ensure that specific schemes and projects under various heads are finalised at the earliest and committed to working closely with all international efforts that address the political and economic situation in Afghanistan as it evolved. “We have been doing so. And you can be assured that we will continue to do so,” he said. Complimenting Japan, the USA, EU and Saudi Arabia for bringing governments together for the “noble endeavour” of reconstruction, he said: “We have begun well. We have begun in hope and trust.” Afghanistan today required to address simultaneously needs across the board like providing immediate humanitarian relief, rebuild economic institutions and governance, infrastructure and to wield the nation together. At the conference, the world came together today to pledge billions of dollars to rebuild Afghanistan, whose interim leader told an international conference that his country has known “nothing but disaster, war, brutality and deprivation.” The USA, Japan and Europe promised about $ 1.3 billion of the more than $ 2.6 billion in aid pledged by conference participants. The money will help Afghanistan do such things as pay the bills of its interim government and clear the country of mines. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and other speakers who addressed the opening session of the two-day conference promised to stand by Afghanistan’s poverty-stricken people as they begin reconstruction efforts expected to cost more than $ 15 billion over the next decade. “President Bush has made it clear that the USA will not abandon the people of Afghanistan,” Mr Powell said after unveiling a US promise of $ 296 million in reconstruction assistance during the current fiscal year. Mr Powell and the other speakers at the opening session were upstaged by Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan’s interim Prime Minister, who prefaced his prepared remarks with an emotional plea for help for his nation. Participants at today’s conference, which brought together delegates from more than 80 countries and international organisations, emphasised their intention of following up their initial pledges with longer-term commitments. European Commissioner Chris Patten talked about the importance of keeping support coming “when Afghanistan is no longer front-page news.” But it appeared that the money pledged in Tokyo would fall far short of the target set by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, who said that $ 10 billion would be needed over the next five years. The world’s second-richest country will contribute up to $ 500 million to Afghan reconstruction over the next two and a half years, $ 250 million of which will be disbursed in the first year, Koizumi said. The European Union announced that it will contribute about $ 487 million this year, of which $ 310 million will come from member states and the rest from the European Commission. European contributions could total $ 886 million through 2006, but how much is ultimately approved depends on progress made during the early years. The aid will be administered through a special European representative office set up in the Afghan capital Kabul. China’s special envoy Wang Xue Xian also said Beijing would announce a one-shot disbursement of $ 1 million for 2002. Britain will donate more than £ 200 million ($ 288 million) over five years to the international fund for reconstruction of Afghanistan, the BBC reported today. India will pledge $ 100 million for the long-term reconstruction of Afghanistan and offer one million tonnes of wheat for internally and externally displaced Afghans, Indian privatisation minister Arun Shourie said on Monday. Canada said it will donate 100 million Canadian dollars ($ 61.80 million) in 2002 to help rebuild war-torn Afghanistan. Australia will contribute a further 17 million Australian dollars (US $ 8.8 million) to help rebuild Afghanistan, bringing total Australian assistance to 40.3 million Australian dollars.
PTI, AP, Reuters |
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Benazir may meet Pervez
in Washington Islamabad, January 21 The “unexpected encounter” is being arranged by a common friend at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington. Though the itinerary of Musharraf’s visit to the USA has not yet been finalised, the common friend has already sought the consent of both leaders to meet. The former Prime Minister will fly to the USA on a lecture tour ahead of the President’s visit. Musharraf has been invited by President George Bush. The invitation was extended through Secretary of State Colin Powell when he visited Pakistan last week. However, an invitation for the PPP chairperson, coinciding with the President’s official visit, would be arranged once the dates were finalised by Washington, sources said. Political observers are of the view that after the recent volteface in the approach of the establishment, Benazir has once again become the most appropriate choice, whose very election to the office of prime ministership can give Pakistan an image of moderate and modern society.
ANI |
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Golden Globe for Kidman, Crowe Beverly Hills, January 21 “Moulin rouge” star Nicole Kidman won the Best Actress Award in a musical or comedy last night for playing a romantic cabaret singer and composer Craig Armstrong won the award for the Best Original Score, even though most of the music in the film was derived from famous pop songs. “My hands are shaking,” Kidman said. “This is really, really special because I never thought I’d be in a musical — let alone win an award for one.” Russell Crowe won the Best Dramatic Actor Award for the role of a mentally-ill mathematician John Nash in “A Beautiful Mind.” Sissy Speck won the Best Dramatic Actress Award for the dark drama “In the Bedroom.” Gene Hackman, who couldn’t make it to the ceremony, won the Best Comedy Actor Award for his performance as the conniving head of a family of former child prodigies in “The Royal Tenenbaums.” Jennifer Connelly won for portraying Nash’s dedicated wife in “A Beautiful Mind,” which also earned the screenplay Globe for Akiva Goldsman. Jim Broadbent claimed the Best Supporting Actor Award for playing the husband of novelist Iris Murdoch who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, in “Iris.” Robert Altman won the Best Director Award for his murder-mystery satire, “Gosford Park,” which chronicles the scandals of aristocrats through the eyes of their servants. “I don’t know what a best director is, except that (it is) someone who stands in the same space with the best actors,” Altman said. “I feel that they do the work and I get to watch. And nothing is better than that.” Sting was the victor in the movie song category for his romantic waltz, “Until ...,” from the comedy “Kate & Leopold.” It also showed that Hollywood is largely maintaining a toned-down attitude since September 11. Absent were the outrageous antics or remarks that have given the Globes notoriety. Sela Ward, who was nominated as the Best Dramatic Actress for the television show “Once and Again,” arrived in a bright red midriff-baring dress by Valentino. In the television categories, HBO’s “Sex and the City” took the Best Comedy Award and star Sarah Jessica Parker won the Best Comedian Award. The cable network’s funeral home drama “Six Feet Under” won the award for the Best Dramatic series. Charlie Sheen got the Best Comedian Award for ABC’s “Spin City”.
AP |
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Israel reoccupies town Nablus (West Bank), January 21 “The Israeli tanks moved in through the northern, western and southern entrances to the town and deployed in the centre of Tulkarem,” the Governor said. The soldiers occupied several houses after forcing residents to leave, he said. The Governor did not know whether arrests had been made or if there had been casualties during the operation. MOSCOW: Palestinian President Yasser Arafat today warned Russia of an “extremely dangerous’’ situation in West Asia and a Palestinian envoy called on Moscow to step up its peacemaking efforts. Russia is, with the USA, a co-sponsor of the stalled West Asia peace process but its influence on events in the region has waned with its decline from superpower status.
AFP, Reuters |
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Pak restaurateur killed in London London, January 21 |
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more detainees arrive in Cuba Guantanamo Bay Base, January 21 |
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