Kuala Lumpur, December 13
India and ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) today held their fourth annual summit here wherein they reaffirmed their strategic relationship, considered new initiatives that can be undertaken and exuded confidence in achieving their target of 30 billion US dollars worth trade by year 2007.

The big picture that emerged at the India-ASEAN Summit was a major realignment of political forces and India was in the frame.

This was reflected by keen interest shown by virtually every leader of the region, and also during the bilateral meetings Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had today with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun. Japan and South Korea are not members of ASEAN but are part of ASEAN Plus Three with China as the third power.

ASEAN members as well as Japan and South Korea asked India for vigorous cooperation in IT, bio-technology and pharmaceuticals — indicating rapid progress made by New Delhi in these sectors. Secretary (East) Rajiv Sikri in the Ministry of External Affairs and Dr Sanjaya Baru, while briefing the Indian and foreign media in the evening, said leader after leader from ASEAN and East Asia wanted an intensive and vigorous engagement with India.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal called for ASEAN-India cooperation in information exchange, education and training, joint exercise programmes and joint

patrol operations. She also urged India to consider cooperating with ASEAN in maritime security, safety and environment protection.

The two sides at the India-ASEAN Summit noted with satisfaction that the Rules of Origin clause in the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with ASEAN had been amicably resolved and the two sides needed to expedite the negotiations.

Malaysia reiterated its concerns on the high percentage of items on the negative list of India. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured that New Delhi was mindful of ASEAN concerns and said pragmatism should be the watch word for resolving all contentious issues.

To demonstrate India’s sincere intentions, Dr Manmohan Singh suggested the following proposals:

1. India to set up Centres for English language training in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to equip students, civil servants, professionals and businessmen with adequate English language and communication skills.

2. India to create a tele-medicine and tele-education network for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

3. India to run special training courses for diplomats from ASEAN countries.

4. India to host an India-ASEAN Technology Summit in 2006.

5. India to conduct education fairs and road shows in ASEAN countries in 2006.

6.India to organise an India-ASEAN IT Ministerial and Industry Forum next year.

ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea have agreed that the East Asia Summit (EAS) would meet annually whenever and wherever the ASEAN Summit is held. Malaysian

In clearing the air on the emergence of the nascent EAS, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the new forum was neither a replacement nor an alternative for Asean+3.

Sydney, December 13
Eleven persons were injured and seven arrested in a second night of racial violence in Australia’s biggest city, Sydney, the police said today.

Vehicles and shops were trashed as carloads of men swept into the suburb of Cronulla in apparent retaliation for attacks by mobs of whites on people of West Asian appearance at the beach there on Sunday.

Residents said around 30 to 40 cars full of young men armed with baseball bats and crowbars drove through the suburb, smashing shop windows and parked cars.

Gunshots were heard but there were no immediate reports of any casualties.

In the adjacent suburb of Brighton-Le-Sands, crowds threw rocks at police cars and passing motorists before dispersing as the riot police converged on the area.

In the mainly Muslim suburb of Lakemba, about 500 young people blocked roads near the local mosque after the evening prayers, believing an attack was imminent. They later dispersed, some hurling rocks at the police.

Prime Minister John Howard and Islamic community leaders have condemned the violence, in which more than 30 persons were injured and 16 arrested on Sunday.

The rampage began when more than 5,000 people gathered at the Cronulla beach after e-mail and mobile phone messages called on local residents to beat up “Lebs and wogs” — racial slurs for people of Lebanese and West Asian origin.

The move followed assaults the previous weekend on two white volunteer lifeguards at the beach, a popular gathering place for Muslims from inner-city suburbs, and allegations that local women were being harassed. — AFP

Washington, December 13
Convicted killer Stanley Tookie Williams was executed today at a Californian penitentiary with the US Supreme Court refusing to step in to save the gangster- turned-anti-violence activist who was at the centre of a high-pitch campaign against capital punishment in the country.

Williams was given a lethal injection at the State Prison at 9.05 AM IST as frenzied attempt by his supporters to reopen the case failed.

The execution of the leader of the ex-gang Crips attracted a lot of national and international attention and the last several days witnessed a heightened debate in this country on capital punishment.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had rejected a clemency petition of the 51-year-old, saying for a person who claimed redemption, he had not shown remorse or even apologised for the grisly 1979 killing of four persons.

“Stanley Williams insists he is innocent, and that he will not and should not apologise or otherwise atone for the murders of the four victims in this case,” the California Governor said while rejecting the clemency petition.

Willaim’s supporters, which included many celebrities, contended that he should be spared as he had used his time in prison to write a series of books warning youngsters against violence and gangs.

Williams, who had been nominated for Nobel Prizes in peace and literature while on death row, was found guilty in 1981 of four murders during two robberies. He had insisted he was innocent of the murders. — PTI

London, December 13
Vitamin D may play a role in preventing slow loss of lung function, says a study that found greater concentrations of the vitamin contributes to greater lung health benefits.

"The difference in lung function between the highest and lowest quintiles of vitamin D is substantial and greater than the difference between former and non-smokers," he added.

"Although there is a definite relationship between lung function and vitamin D, it is unclear if increases in vitamin D through supplements or dietary intake will actually improve lung function in patients with chronic respiratory diseases." Overall, male gender, younger age, white ethnicity, non-smoking status, and regular, vigorous physical activity were associated with the highest lung function.

Vitamin D was higher in men than women, was inversely related to body mass index and declined with age. Vitamin D also was lower in non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican-Americans, compared with non-Hispanic whites, and it was lower in participants smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day compared with non-smokers.

"Chronic lung conditions compromise quality of life for millions of people in the United States and around the world," said W. Michael Alberts, president of the American College of Chest Physicians. — IANS