W O R L D

Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Bush targets India, China
Washington, April 17
US President George W Bush has said any new international climate pact cannot spare growing economies like India and China from fulfilling binding targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions saying "none can be given a free ride." Bush also announced a timeline of 2025 for the US to curtail emissions which contributed to the climate change.

Maoists’ 4-week ultimatum to king
Maoist second-in-command Dr Baburam Bhattarai today gave an ultimatum to King Gyanendra to vacate the Narayanhity Royal Palace within four weeks. While talking to BBC Nepali services ‘common concern’ programme, Bhattarai said, “Gyanendra should vacate the palace within four weeks before commencing the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly.”

Pak polls were not fair, says EU monitors
The February 18 elections in Pakistan were not entirely fair and transparent and there were enduring problems with the framework and conditions under which they were held, the European Union Election Observation Mission said in its report.

Pak bypolls put off by 15 days
Move to help Sharif, Zardari
The Election Commission today revised the schedule for byelections to 38 national and provincial assembly seats, deferring it by 15 days. The commission claimed that it had rescheduled the byelections to “facilitate” political parties. The country’s two top politicians, Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, would benefit from the delay.

PROTESTING PRICE RISE: Members of South Africa's Labour Federation march against soaring food prices in Johannesburg on Thursday. Rice prices in world markets have climbed about 75 per cent in just two months, and the cost of wheat has rocketed by 120 per cent in the past year. The price of maize, an African staple, has more than doubled since the beginning of 2006. — Reuters

India, Brazil sign 4 pacts
Brasillia, April 17
India and Brazil have inked four agreements, including an extradition treaty and an MoU for cooperation in the oil and natural gas sector, cementing the relations between the two emerging economic powers. The agreements were signed in presence of President Pratibha Patil and her Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the last day of her three-day state visit to Brazil on Wednesday.

Malaysia bans Tamil daily
Singapore, April 17
The Malaysian government has imposed a ban on a Tamil newspaper Makkal Osai, rejecting its renewal application. The home ministry has turned down Makkal Osai's application for publication permit renewal, the Tamil daily's general manager, S M Periasamy said. The management received the rejection letter from the ministry on Thursday.

Suicide bomber slaughters 45 Iraqi mourners
Kirkuk (Iraq), April 17
A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd of mourners in northern Iraq today, killing at least 45 people, a police officer told AFP. The man detonated an explosives vest in the crowd in the Sunni Arab village of Bu Mohammed, 120 km south of the oil city of Kirkuk at around 11:00 am (local time), Capt Abdullah Jassim said.

Italy’s Prodi to quit party leadership: Reports
Rome, April 17
Outgoing Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will quit the leadership of the Democratic Party, trounced in this week’s elections, Italian media said today. Prodi announced his decision yesterday to reporters in New York, where he attended a meeting of the African Union and the UN Security Council on his last official foreign trip.

Harry promoted as lieutenant
London, April 17
Prince Harry, the third in line to the British throne, fresh from active service in Afghanistan, has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant. The Prince, on regimental duties at his barracks in Windsor, was elevated from second lieutenant because he has completed two years in the army. His salary has increased from £20,173 to £24,247. — PTI

Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Bush targets India, China

Washington, April 17
US President George W Bush has said any new international climate pact cannot spare growing economies like India and China from fulfilling binding targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions saying "none can be given a free ride." Bush also announced a timeline of 2025 for the US to curtail emissions which contributed to the climate change.

In a major environment policy speech at the White House, Bush blamed India and China for emitting increasingly large quantities of greenhouse gases with consequences for the global climate.

"Countries like China and India are experiencing rapid economic growth — and that's good for their people and it's good for the world. This also means that they are emitting increasingly large quantities of greenhouse gases — which has consequences for the entire global climate," Bush said.

"We're working toward a climate agreement that includes the meaningful participation of every major economy — and gives none a free ride," he said. Kyoto's binding commitments expire in 2012.

Bush's address came as 16 economies that together account for 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions gathered in Paris for the "Major Economies Meeting," the third in a series launched last September by Bush.

At the White House, press secretary Dana Perino said the way to go about climate change is to collectively agree on a goal that is accountable to all.

Unveiling US plans, Bush said "It is now time for the US to look beyond 2012 and to take the next step. We've shown that we can slow emissions growth. Today, I'm announcing a new national goal: to stop the growth of US greenhouse gas emissions by 2025." Bush said the Kyoto Protocol would have required the US to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "We're doing a lot to protect this environment. We've laid a solid foundation for further progress. But these measures will bring us a long way to achieving our new goal, we've got to do more in the power generation sector," Bush said. — PTI

Maoists’ 4-week ultimatum to king
Bishnu Budhathoki writes from Kathmandu

Maoist second-in-command Dr Baburam Bhattarai today gave an ultimatum to King Gyanendra to vacate the Narayanhity Royal Palace within four weeks.

While talking to BBC Nepali services ‘common concern’ programme, Bhattarai said, “Gyanendra should vacate the palace within four weeks before commencing the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly.” “We want to respectfully remove monarchy. The people have already given their mandate. He should vacate the palace”.

As per the existing interim constitution, the first meeting of the Assembly would enforce the parliamentary decision to declare Nepal a federal democratic republic by abolishing the 240-year-old monarchy.

Just a day after the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist and Leninist (CPN-UML) pulled out its party members from the coalition government, Prachanda requested the former to reconsider its decision to quit the government. Today, Prachanda reached the residence of Madhav Kumar who recently resigned from the post of party general secretary of the UML, and urged Nepal to rethink in this regard.

However, Nepal replied that all seven party members tendered their resignations from the government as the UML standing committee meeting held recently had decided to withdraw party ministers from the government respecting fresh mandate of the people that did not allow the party to remain in the government.

Meanwhile, at a time when people from different walks of life are skeptical about international cooperation continuing to the newly elected government to be formed under the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee said his government would continue support to Nepal. “India is willing to support the government to be formed by the Maoists,” said Mukherjee while talking to journalists here today. He said talks in this regard had been held with Maoists chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda.

Pak polls were not fair, says EU monitors
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

The February 18 elections in Pakistan were not entirely fair and transparent and there were enduring problems with the framework and conditions under which they were held, the European Union Election Observation Mission said in its report.

"A level-playing field was not provided during the campaign, primarily as a result of abuse of state resources and bias in the state media in favour of the former ruling parties," the report said adding: "As a result, the overall process fell short of a number of international standards for genuine democratic elections."

Launching the report at a news conference here, chief observer and member of the European Parliament Michael Gahler, however, said the general elections saw a pluralistic process in which a broad range of views were expressed and the polling process elicited greater public confidence in comparison to previous elections. This turned the polls competitive and the results were accepted.

The report said there was also a lack of transparency in the performance of the election administration and the results process. The elections took place in a difficult security environment in which the threat of violence and an atmosphere of fear prevailed.

"A more significant role was played in these elections by the media and civil society by providing greater scrutiny of the process," he said.

The final report also contains over 80 recommendations to improve future elections. It recommended that steps should be taken to ensure "there is an independent judiciary in which there is stakeholder confidence, so that effective oversight of the election process can be undertaken."

The mission also said that election legislation should be reviewed in a consultative manner. Specific issues to be addressed include the independence and transparency of the election administration, complaints and appeals procedures, and overly-restrictive candidacy requirements.

Gilani briefed on N-assets

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani received briefing on Pakistan's nuclear assets and strategic defence programme on Thursday.

Gilani visited the Joint Staff Headquarters in Rawalpindi where the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) had arranged briefing regarding country's nuclear inventory. He was accompanied by several senior cabinet ministers, including finance minister Ishaq Dar, defence minister Ahmed Mukhtar, foreign minister Shah Mahmud and information minister Sherry Rehman.

SPD chairman Lieut-Gen Khalid Qidwai apprised the PM of the nuclear command and control system. The chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Committee, Gen Tariq Majeed, briefed the premier on overall defence command system.

Zardari acquitted

The District and Sessions Court Hyderabad has acquitted Pakistan People's Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in a murder case registered against him 11 years ago, according to the official APP news agency. The defence counsel, Yousuf Leghari, told reporters that the Qasimabad police station had lodged a first investigation report (FIR) against nine people, including Zardari and his father Hakim Ali Zardari, for allegedly murdering former irrigation secretary Alim Baloch.

Pak bypolls put off by 15 days
Move to help Sharif, Zardari
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

The Election Commission today revised the schedule for byelections to 38 national and provincial assembly seats, deferring it by 15 days.

The commission claimed that it had rescheduled the byelections to “facilitate” political parties. The country’s two top politicians, Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, would benefit from the delay. It may also persuade leaders like Imran Khan, Mahmud Achakzai and Qazi Hussain Ahmed to end their boycott once deposed judges were reinstated.

Several high profile politicians, including Asif Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan and others, are likely to contest. Some of them face certain legal hurdles and the rescheduling is apparently designed to let them resolve these problems.

According to the new schedule, nomination papers can be filed till May 6. The scrutiny of papers will be completed on May 13 and objections to the nominations will be entertained and settled by May 17. Polling to the vacant national and provincial seats will be held on June 18.

The byelections are being held for eight national and 32 provincial assembly seats that have fell vacant for various reasons, including the death of the candidate before the February 18 polls, the election of certain candidates on more than one seat and the postponement of polls due to law and order situation in certain constituencies.

PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari will contest the elections from Larkana where the polls were deferred due to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. He is believed to have suffered disqualification due to the graduation condition, a matter which will be taken up for consideration in the Supreme Court from tomorrow and is likely to be settled before the last day for decision on objections. His sister Faryal will be the cover candidate.

The delay in the elections will also benefit Nawaz Sharif, who hopes the deposed judges to be reinstated well in time to decide any objection to his papers, which were rejected in the February 18 polls on the objection that he was a convict. Nawaz was sentenced to death on the charge of ordering the “hijacking” of Gen Musharraf’s plane on October 12, 1999, which triggered a revolt by Musharraf’s loyalist generals to overthrow him. Sharif was pardoned by the President and sent in exile to Saudi Arabia in December 2000.

Nawaz Sharif had accused Musharraf of pressuring the returning officer to reject his papers and later elevating the officer to high court as a Judge. He did not file any appeal against the rejection of papers, saying he did not recognise the newly constituted courts comprising judges who took oath under the Provisional Constitution Order promulgated by Musharraf after imposing emergency on November 3.

India, Brazil sign 4 pacts

Brasillia, April 17
India and Brazil have inked four agreements, including an extradition treaty and an MoU for cooperation in the oil and natural gas sector, cementing the relations between the two emerging economic powers.

The agreements were signed in presence of President Pratibha Patil and her Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the last day of her three-day state visit to Brazil on Wednesday.

The two countries agreed to extradite any person against whom an arrest warrant is issued by a competent court for a crime, which is punishable in both the countries with an imprisonment for at least one year or a more severe punishment.

"In case of a financial or revenue-related crime, the extradition may take place even if the two countries do not have the same penalty for the crime," said the agreement which was signed by the minister of state for non-conventional energy, Vilasrao Muttemwar and Brazilian foreign minister, Celso Amorin.

The other agreement was aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and establishing an institutional cooperative relationship between the two countries on oil and natural gas development.

Besides these two, the two countries also signed memoranda of understanding in agriculture and allied sectors and in civil defence and humanitarian assistance.

Patil’s address to Mexican Parliament cancelled

Mexico City: President Pratibha Patil’s maiden state visit to Mexico began on an unpleasant note as one of her important engagements -- an address to the joint session of parliament -- was today cancelled at the last minute in view of the blockade of the House by Left-leaning legislators.

The Left legislators have been blocking parliament for several weeks to protest against the presentation of the Energy Reforms Bill by Mexican President Felipe Calderon in the Senate.

The President’s secretariat had been sounded about the possibility of the cancellation of her address, but the Indian officials were hopeful that the issue would be resolved.

Despite intense last-minute negotiations, the Mexican officials informed the President’s secretariat about the cancellation of her address officially.

Authorities informed the President that it would be advisable if she could avoid the programme as Parliamentary proceedings had been blocked.

The cancellation of the event comes two days after Patil walked into a near empty Brazilian Senate for her address, leaving Indian embassy officials and the hosts there red-faced. Only 15 members of the 81-strong House had turned out to greet 73-year-old Patil. — PTI

Malaysia bans Tamil daily

Suicide bomber slaughters 45 Iraqi mourners

Kirkuk (Iraq), April 17
A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd of mourners in northern Iraq today, killing at least 45 people, a police officer told AFP.

The man detonated an explosives vest in the crowd in the Sunni Arab village of Bu Mohammed, 120 km south of the oil city of Kirkuk at around 11:00 am (local time), Capt Abdullah Jassim said.

Doctor Jawdat Abdullah from the hospital in Al-Tuz, near Bu Mohammed village, confirmed the attack, saying his facility was receiving the wounded, some of whom were seriously hurt.

Jassim said the crowd had gathered to present their condolences over the deaths of two members of a local group fighting Al-Qaida in Iraq who were killed two days ago.

Tens of thousands of Sunni Arabs have formed local groups across Iraq backed by the US military to battle Al-Qaida militants. — AFP

Italy’s Prodi to quit party leadership: Reports

Rome, April 17
Outgoing Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will quit the leadership of the Democratic Party, trounced in this week’s elections, Italian media said today. Prodi announced his decision yesterday to reporters in New York, where he attended a meeting of the African Union and the UN Security Council on his last official foreign trip.

The 68-year-old Prodi will formally step down as Prime Minister early next month when conservative leader Silvio Berlusconi takes office after his People of Freedom party and allies scored a convincing election victory on Monday.

Prodi, whose centre-left government collapsed in January with the defection of a small centrist party, had handed the torch to Walter Veltroni (52), who led the newly formed Democratic Party (PD) to defeat in the polls.

In New York, Prodi described the campaign as “extremely courageous and strong,” adding that he would remain a “strong and loyal supporter” of the PD. — AFP