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Mush mulls early Assembly poll
BBC Radio bulletins silenced in Pak
Protest in Hong Kong on anniversary
Pro-democracy protesters carry banners demanding universal suffrage during a march in Hong Kong on Sunday, marking the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to Chinese rule. — Reuters
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India, Kuwait reach deal on aviation row
Hope for kidney tumour patients
USS Nimitz - a floating mini-city
Dalai Lama’s envoys begin talks with China
India, Nepal assess border situation
Canada to deport physically challenged Indian
Britain at highest terror alert, four arrested
Iran rules out N-freeze
Rushdie not in hiding: son
Gandhi statue near Boston faces removal
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Mush mulls early Assembly poll
President Musharraf is contemplating to hold National Assembly elections ahead of schedule while retaining the provincial governments and assemblies till the expiry of their term, Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi has confirmed.
In an interview with Geo television’s ‘Meray Mutabiq’ programme on Saturday night, Elahi said the government was considering multiple options, including the dissolution of assemblies before the presidential elections. He said one option was to complete the National Assembly’s elections before the presidential election. “But I have recommended early dissolution though we have not finalised any option and are considering which direction the government would follow,” Elahi said. The National Assembly election prior to presidential election would somewhat blunt wide repudiation of Musharraf’s plans to get elected from the outgoing assemblies. He seems to be toying with the idea of seeking another term through a mixed electoral college of newly elected National Assembly and outgoing provincial assemblies that would lend a semblance of credibility and legitimacy to his election. Analysts say Musharraf will have to dissolve the National Assembly by mid-July to be able to hold its election by September. The presidential election is due from September 16 to October 15. With provincial assemblies in tact, Musharraf is assured of a built-in overwhelming majority while provincial governments of ruling coalition would facilitate positive results in the National Assembly elections to be held under their rule. It will also undercut opposition’s prospective decision at the upcoming all parties’ conference in London on July 7 to tender en bloc resignations if Musharraf opts to get elected from present assemblies. Pervez Elahi said Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had opposed Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad as the new secretary-general of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) as reshuffles in the party before elections might affect both Ahmad and the party. Elahi also advised President Musharraf to dissolve the National Assembly. The Punjab CM said the judiciary issue would end after the Supreme Court decision, adding that those supporting the CJP would return to their homes. He hoped the decision on the CJP case would be in the national interest, but did not elaborate on what the national interest might be. He strongly criticised former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif for being selfish, opportunistic and self-centred people. “The two brothers left the Pakistan Muslim League in a lurch and fled to Saudi Arabia without taking the party into confidence,” he said. He said the decision about his contesting the upcoming elections for the national assembly would be made by the party high command with mutual consultation. In reply to a question, he said Moonis Elahi was preparing to contest the elections for the provincial seat from Lahore. Discussing the Pakistan People’s Party’s negotiations with the government, he said everything would become clear after the elections. “We have to contest the elections with the support of Benazir Bhutto,” he added.
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BBC Radio bulletins silenced in Pak
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has stopped private radio channels from broadcasting BBC bulletins in an apparent attempt to tighten control on free flow of unpalatable information. The PEMRA has followed up its earlier gag orders to private channels to discontinue live telecasts. Scores of private radio channels have sprouted in recent years. Most of them are exclusively devoted to entertainment or religious programmes but some disseminate news and commentaries as well. While Indian news channels were subjected to a complete ban several years ago, some channels relay news broadcasts of BBC, Voice of America, Voice of Germany etc. One of these radio channels, FM 103, has been broadcasting hourly bulletins of BBC Radio that has attracted a large audience. According to Anis Mansoori, head of news and current affairs at FM 103, the radio station has stopped transmission after a PEMRA letter on June 28 warned it would shut down the station and seize its equipment if BBC broadcasts were not stopped. BBC Pakistan editor Aamer Ahmed Khan said in a statement that the BBC was fulfilling all PEMRA requirements for transmission and FM 103 supported his claim. PEMRA spokesman Muhammad Saleem said they had disallowed FM 103 from airing news from any organisation whose editorial policy was controlled from a foreign country. An amended law issued early last month extending wide powers to PEMRA to shut down TV and radio channels, close their offices and seize equipment for violation of the draconian curbs imposed in the ordinance. Amid world-wide denunciation, the government announced it has held in abeyance the operation of the law pending agreement over the code of conduct. The announcement, however, has not stopped the PEMRA from acting against non-conformist channels. Last month, it banned a TV channel and two radio stations operating in Azad Kashmir on the plea that they were disrupting broadcasts of official media, including the PTV, apparently beamed across the line of control in Kashmir.
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Protest in Hong Kong on anniversary
Hong Kong, July 1 The crowd, which occupied several football pitches in a park at the start, inched through downtown streets waving banners and chanting slogans, like "One man, one vote!" Police said 6,250 people were present at the start. Other witnesses said there were "tens of thousands". The protest march is an annual event, but it took on added significance on Sunday because of the decade anniversary and a visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao, which ended in the morning. Albert Ho, head of the Democratic Party, said attendance may have been boosted because of the visit by Hu, who stressed the need for harmony and for the people of Hong Kong to put aside their differences to advance the city's development. "Marching for democracy is not causing any harm to harmony," Ho said. "In fact ... if we want to build a harmonious society then we need to establish a democratic system of governance." Since July 1, 1997, China's ruling Communist Party has afforded Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy under a "one country, two systems" formula -- but Beijing has retained a grip on the pace of democratisation. Hong Kong's post-handover constitution, the Basic Law, says universal suffrage is the ultimate goal, but is vague on how to reach it. China's parliament has ruled out direct elections in Hong Kong until at least 2012. Democracy Calls
Several high-profile activists marched, including outspoken Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen and a well-respected former number two in the city's administration, Anson Chan. "When you look at the past 10 years we continue to enjoy the rights and freedoms laid down in the Basic Law. We are an open and pluralistic society," said Chan. "But I think there are a few areas of concern, particularly the lack of all progress on the constitutional front," she added, referring to legal reforms needed to pave the way to democracy. Jason Chan, whose family is from Hong Kong but who lives in New York, summed up what he thought the message of the protest march was: "We're patriots too. We love China as well. We're trying to get what we deserve after British rule. Everyone should get one vote for ourselves." Gordon Truscott, a Canadian who has lived in Hong Kong for over three years, said the democracy situation must improve on the mainland, too, for a stable future. "If they want progress, if they want economic security, there has to be democracy. The people have to be involved in government," he said. In addition to pro-democracy protesters, some people joined the march to seek protection of a public broadcaster that critics say is losing its editorial independence. Filipino maids demanded higher wages and Falun Gong spiritual group members protested China's ban on its activities.
— Reuters
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India, Kuwait reach deal on aviation row
Dubai, July 1 Under an MoU signed last night by civil aviation authorities of the two countries in Kuwait City after marathon negotiations lasting three days, both sides agreed to increase capacity entitlements of each side from 8,320 seats to 12,000 seats a week. Kuwaiti carriers were granted access to three additional points of call in India — Hyderabad and Kolkata with immediate effect and Bangalore with effect from winter 2008. The two sides also reached an understanding that increases in future traffic rights and capacity entitlements would be to serve only the direct India-Kuwait market and not indirect markets to and from third countries. India’s ambassador to Kuwait M Ganapathi told PTI after the MoU was signed that air services between the two countries will continue freely and unhindered, much to the benefit of thousands of passengers who were fearing a disruption in flights. “From the passenger and public view point, the MoU has been a big success,” he said. The talks were held in a cordial atmosphere and the final result showed the depth of the relations between the two countries, he noted. Under the agreement, the fifth freedom destinations will apply to the earlier 8,000 seats. The spat began when Kuwait decided to stop Indian carriers from flying into the country from July 1. In a bid to break the deadlock, a high-level Indian delegation led by joint secretary R K Singh of the civil aviation ministry and comprising representatives of Air India and Indian arrived in Kuwait on June 28 for talks. The two countries also agreed to continue the dialogue on cooperation in civil aviation. The Indian delegation returned early today. — PTI
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Hope for kidney tumour patients
Washington, July 1 “The room seemed to go black, then I could only envision a long treatment journey that would likely require open surgery, and intensive chemotherapy, both of which can have complications and result in a lot of missed time from work,” says the 68-year-old, whose clients include many top actors in town. Bershad revealed that his physician discussed treatment options with him and, keeping in mind his general health, the extent and location of his tumour, and the stage of the cancer, recommended radio-frequency ablation (RFA). “I considered my options carefully – and the choice was clear. I didn’t want to go through an operation or the loss of my kidney,” says Bershad The RFA procedure requires only local anaesthesia and avoids the scars and complications associated with traditional open surgery. Since the procedure does not involve cutting, it is also a viable option for individuals previously thought to be too old or sick to withstand surgery. During RFA, an interventional radiologist carefully guides an ablation needle into the centre of the tumour using imaging techniques such as ultrasound or CT scan. The probe is connected to a radio-frequency generator that delivers alternating electrical current to the tumour producing heat up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This causes cancerous cells to shrink and die, but healthy tissue is spared because the probe cools as it is removed. “My doctor asked me to come back for an MRI in three months, so that he could make sure the tumours were gone,” explained Bershad, who was diagnosed with stage II renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer that begins in the cells that line the small tubes within the kidney. In comparison with the surgical removal of kidney tumours that results in hospital admissions of 7 to 10 days and postoperative recovery time of 6 to 8 weeks, RFA is minimally invasive with a short recovery time, allows for the kidney to be preserved, and also avoids postoperative complications such as pain, pneumonia, injury to the organs and scars. “RFA has emerged as an alternative treatment for inoperable liver cancer, and has been shown to vaporize tumours as well as slow cancer progression in larger tumours,” said Dr. Peter J. Julien, director of the Radio-frequency Ablation Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center. While explaining that preliminary results in patients with liver, lung and kidney cancer are promising, Dr. Julian said, “It is possible that this procedure may someday completely replace surgery for kidney cancers in many patients.” Bershad, who underwent the procedure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center six months ago, said that he returned to work and resumed his daily activities only one day after the procedure. He said that he wanted people to know how effective the new procedure was. “I feel very lucky. My lifestyle remains untouched: I’m active and I work, swim and play with my Dobermans as if it never happened. If you have a cold, you lose more time than this,” he said. “I want people to know that this procedure is available, effective and painless,” he added.
— ANI
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USS Nimitz - a floating mini-city
On Board USS Nimitz, July 1 These are just two of the fascinating statistics of the USS Nimitz, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier bound for the waters off Chennai amid opposition from some political parties and environmental groups. A select group of Indian journalists, which visited the warship when it was over 450 miles from the port of Chennai, was taken around the vessel whose fighter jets are operational for all but four hours a day, when they are taken in for maintenance. Powered by two nuclear power plants and with a speed of over 30 knots, the Nimitz accommodates a crew of over 5,000 and more than 65 fighters, surveillance and rescue jets and helicopters. Its length of 1,092 feet and width of 252 feet make it a marvel of the seas. Commissioned on May 3, 1975, the Nimitz was named after Admiral Chester W Nimitz, who commanded the US Pacific Fleet in World War II. When sea-sickness struck one of the journalists, there were friendly smiles all around as a medical personnel attended to his problem. A medical department manned by six doctors, including a general surgeon, and a team of five dentists, one of whom is the Indian-American Lieutenant Commander Mohammad Kamil, take care of the medical needs of those on board. The warship has a 53-bed hospital ward and a three-bed intensive care unit and acts as the hospital ship for its strike group. Fresh drinking water is available in plenty, with four distilling units on board enabling engineers to make over four lakh gallons of fresh water a day. This is also used for the propulsion plant and catapults used to launch aircraft. Refrigerated and dry goods for at least 70 days are stocked on the ship. Over one million pounds of mail a year are processed on board the ship, which has its own post office. Nimitz receives mail every day either by air or through other ships. There are also three chaplains who conduct daily religious services in an inter-denominational chapel. Its nuclear power allows the ship to store 50 per cent more ammunition and almost twice as much aviation fuel as the largest conventional aircraft carrier. Repairs and sheltering of aircraft that are not in use are done in the hangar bay, which extends for the most part of the ship's length. For the Indian journalists, finding their way through the interiors of the ship was an uphill task. Even some crew members were seen asking for directions within the ship. The Nimitz resembles a mini-city, fully equipped to defend itself and to maintain security on the high seas.
— PTI
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Dalai Lama’s envoys begin talks with China
Beijing, July 1 Lodi Gyari, who represents the Dalai Lama in Washington, Kelsang Gyaltsen and two assistants, have reportedly arrived in the eastern metropolis, Shanghai from India for the sixth round of talks with Chinese government officials, sources said. As in the past, the official Chinese media has kept mum on the latest visit by the envoys of the Dalai Lama and their talks with officials from the ruling Communist Party's United Front Work Department. The Tibetan envoys have met with the Chinese officials five times since 2002, with the most recent round of talks taking place more than a year ago in February 2006. Pro-Dalai networks said the Tibetan envoys would return to India on July 5 after discussing a plan for the Dalai Lama to make a historic "pilgrimage" to China. A source said that the 71-year-old spiritual leader is keen to visit Mount Wutai, one of China's most sacred mountains for Buddhists, situated in northern Shanxi province. The Dalai Lama, who will turn 72 this week, has consistently said that he does not seek independence for Tibet but aims for a solution-based autonomy within the People's Republic of China. But China questions the Dalai Lama's sincerity and describes the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate as a "separatist". Chairman of the Tibet regional government, Qiangba Puncog claimed the majority of Tibetans do not want the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet as he was acting against their wishes. He alleged the Dalai Lama's call for a "high-degree autonomy for Tibet" is against the people's wishes and against the Constitution and basic system in place. — PTI
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India, Nepal assess border situation
Kathmandu, July 1 At a joint meeting of border security officials in Janakpurdham, both sides decided to cooperate more for checking crime in the region and making life safer for the people there, the Himalayan Times said. The meeting also decided that more is required to be done to curb cross-border smuggling, although work in that direction was progressing satisfactorily. The meeting was attended by security officials from Dhanusha, Siraha, Mahottari and Saptari districts from the Nepali side while Indian security officials from Darbhanga, Madhubani and Jaynagar represented the Indian side. The meeting discussed crime in border areas and about increasing patrolling there, the paper quoted Dhanusha CDO Ramsharan Chimoria. ''The Indian side has assured us of all possible cooperation for the CA polls,'' he added. CDO Chimoria also said that both sides agreed to greater mutual exchange of information on criminals and gangs operating in the border areas and for swifter and more active mutual cooperation in cracking down on such gangs. The meeting decided to cooperate in controlling damage caused by flood in the border areas and to check soil erosion. It also decided to control timber smuggling and theft of khair wood in the region, said CDO Chimoria. SSP Arjun Kumar Mainali, SP Bhog Bahadur Thapa, National Investigation Department official Mahendra Prasad Yadav, APF SP Rajendra Shakya and District Forest Officer Ganesh Roy from Nepal and Darbhanga divisional commissioner C Sauta and Madhubani district magistrate Rahul Singh among others were present at the meeting. — UNI
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Canada to deport physically challenged Indian
Toronto, July 1 Laibar Singh (48), a widower and father of two daughters, reached Toronto in November 2003 with a fake passport and since then has been trying to get refugee status. But the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) has refused his plea, a media report said today. The CBSA has never bought his story about the alleged torture by Punjab Police after being accused of having links with Khalistan militants, the 'Vancouver Sun' quoted Singh as saying. Nor does the agency believed his claims that he would be arrested for being a "foreign-trained militant" and would face "persecution or cruel and unusual punishment" if he went back to India, Singh added. A pre-removal risk assessment found the purported risks were based on facts that were "not credible". Applications for refugee status, a judicial review of his failed claim and an exemption on humanitarian and compassionate grounds have all been refused since 2004, the report said. Singh suffered aneurysm 20 days after he went to Vancouver to avoid deportation and was under treatment since then. Though the CBSA did not gave any specific dates for his deportation, Singh claimed that he would be deported on July eight. "This country is wonderful but if nobody has papers, what can they do?...I can do nothing. I have no options," he said. The government is still working out the logistics of deporting Singh, who would need medical attention during the flight. The move is expected to cost up to $ 70,000, the 'Vancouver Sun' said. The CBSA spokesperson Faith St. John said earlier this week she could not divulge information about specific cases but the government has no choice but to deport him. If someone has medical problems, she said, those are considered on a case-by-case basis and arrangements are made to deal with them, she said. "We do have a legal obligation to remove people who can't remain in Canada...If a removal order has been issued, it's our mandate to effect that," she said. Sudarshan Bakshi, president of the charitable organisation Janta Sewak Society, said Singh would be "finished" if he is deported because he wouldn't have the money for medical care. Bakshi said Singh worked as a labourer when he arrived in Canada and should be recognised for contributing to the country. — PTI
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Britain at highest terror alert, four arrested
London, July 1 Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Britain "will not yield despite a sustained threat from people associated with al-Qaeda" as police said the attack on the airport was believed to be linked to the three car bombs found in London. The country moved to its highest level of terror alert -- critical -- after a burning car crashed into the airport and the government's emergency response unit, Cobra, was to meet to review the situation. The critical threat level indicates terror attacks are "imminent". Four persons have been arrested in connection with the attack at Glasgow. Two men were arrested at the airport after their Jeep Cherokee crashed into the main doors and burst into flames. Two more arrests were made on the M6 motorway in Cheshire overnight. One of the suspects in the airport attack suffered severe burns and was in a critical condition in hospital. Police searched several houses in Renfrewshire in connection with the attack on the airport. "As part of the ongoing inquiry into the incidents at Glasgow airport and London, a number of houses in the Renfrewshire area are being searched," a police statement said. "It's obvious that we have a group of people-- not just in this country, but round the world-- who're prepared at any time to inflict what they want to be maximum damage on civilians, irrespective of who the religion of these people who are killed or maimed are to be," Brown
said. — PTI
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Tehran, July 1 “Suspending enrichment is not on the agenda,” foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told reporters. He was responding to media reports about a “time-out” proposed to Iran by world powers, which would halt a third set of UN Sanctions against Tehran if it stopped expanding its uranium enrichment work, in a bid to restart talks. Some media and European officials have talked about a plan which includes suspending our nuclear activities. This is nothing new, it was brought up by the (International Atomic Energy) Agency chief,” he said. IAEA chief Mohammed El Baradei had earlier proposed a plan which would lift sanctions against Iran if it froze all its enrichment activities. Hosseini said different aspects of the “time-out” plan were discussed in meetings between Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana. “No decisions have been made so far. If it is necessary, the plan will be further discussed,” he said. Iranian leaders vowed to press on with the country’s nuclear programme, which is feared to be a cover for secret weapons development. Iran denies the allegation, insisting its atomic work is aimed at peaceful ends. The UN Security Council has imposed two sets of sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend enrichment, a process which can be used to make nuclear fuel as well as atom bombs. — AFP
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Rushdie not in hiding: son
London, July 1 "We have taken extra security precautions, but he's going about his business in the normal way," Zafar told The Sunday Telegraph. He said, "The reaction to his knighthood has been very disappointing. I thought we were beyond all that." Rushdie first drew the wrath of the Islamic world following his controversial book "The Satanic Verses" (1988) which caused deep rumblings among the faithful Muslims, prompting protests and book burnings and even riots in which several people died. The furore reached new heights when late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran's supreme leader, joined in proclaiming the book a work of blasphemy and condemning Rushdie to death for "insulting Islam, the Prophet, and the Holy Koran". After death threats and 'fatwa' (religious edict) issued by Khomeini calling for his assassination, Rushdie spent years underground, appearing in public only sporadically. The recent knighthood of Rushdie provoked anti-British sentiments across the Islamic fraternity with hardliners in Iran reviving calls for his murder.
— PTI
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Gandhi statue near Boston faces removal
New York, July 1 The Peace Abbey situated in Sherborn, New England, needs $218,000 by the end of June in order to avoid insolvency. The centre was founded by Lewis Randa, a social activist, after a visit by Mother Teresa in 1988. It is the only place in New England to have a Gandhi The Peace Abbey is dedicated to creating innovative models for society that empower individuals on the paths of nonviolence, peacemaking and cruelty-free living. It offers a variety of programmes and resources that teach, inspire and encourage one to speak out and act on issues of peace and social justice. “The diminishing funds may be a result of the centre’s ideological leanings, Randa told the India New England magazine. Ever since the escalation of the war in Iraq, the memorial’s anti-war activities and protests have not gone down well with large donors, Randa
said. — IANS
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In a carnival-like atmosphere, thousands of people marched through Hong Kong on Sunday demanding democracy and raising a litany of other concerns on the 10th anniversary of the former colony's return to Chinese rule.
London, July 1
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