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Top US Gen’s visit triggers speculations
An unannounced hurricane visit by Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen to Islamabad and high-profile meetings on Saturday have sparked speculations amid continuing warnings of the imminent US intervention in the tribal areas.

24 killed in Afghanistan suicide attack
Kandahar, July 13
A suicide bomber on a motorcycle blew himself up next to a police patrol in southern Afghanistan today, killing 24 persons, including 19 civilians, said a provincial police chief.

Row over membership of gurdwara in Canada
Toronto, July 13
A human rights tribunal in Canada has dismissed a complaint by two members of the Indo-Canadian Sikh community who were denied membership of a gurdwara because of their caste.

McCain scrubs Obama’s lead in new poll
New York, July 13
In what could ring alarm bells for Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, his Republican rival, John McCain, has virtually scrubbed the 15- point lead enjoyed by the African American till last month with the two now locked in statistic dead heat.



EARLIER STORIES


Prepare for a possible strike on Iran: Bush to Israel
London, July 13
US President George W Bush has given Israel the go-ahead to begin preparations for a military attack on Iran, in case talks over the country’s controversial nuclear programme fail to yield results, a media report said.

Sharif urged to rejoin cabinet
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif in London and invited his party to rejoin the cabinet it left in May because of the differences over restoration of the deposed judges.

Mediterranean Summit
Leaders for WMD-free zone

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (right) is greeted by France President Nicolas Sarkozy as he arrives at the EU-Mediterranean summit in Paris on Sunday. Some 43 heads of state and government are attending the French-inspired summit intended to revitalise cooperation between the European Union and Mediterranean countries. Paris, July 13
More than 40 nations today agreed to help create a zone free of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in the Middle East.
A final declaration from a summit launching the Union for the Mediterranean says the members will “pursue a mutually and effectively verifiable Middle East Zone free of weapons of mass destruction.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (right) is greeted by France President Nicolas Sarkozy as he arrives at the EU-Mediterranean summit in Paris on Sunday. Some 43 heads of state and government are attending the French-inspired summit intended to revitalise cooperation between the European Union and Mediterranean countries. — Reuters photo





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Top US Gen’s visit triggers speculations
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

An unannounced hurricane visit by Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen to Islamabad and high-profile meetings on Saturday have sparked speculations amid continuing warnings of the imminent US intervention in the tribal areas.

Mullen held back-to-back meetings with top Pakistani political and military leadership to share evidence of the American claims that responsible elements within the country's security agencies were giving comprehensive support to the Taliban and the Al-Qaida.

His short but crucial visit coincided with the reports that large-scale military attacks by the Nato-led coalition forces in the country's tribal areas were imminent. Notably, Mullen arrived here following the statement he made in Kabul that Pakistan's tribal areas had become a safe haven for "militants and extremists" and that the US had prepared a strategy for dealing with the alarming situation.

Mullen was accompanied by key CIA officials who were also present at the meetings he held separately with the Chief of the Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Director-General, Military Operations, Lt- Gen Pasha.

According to sources privy to the meetings, the evidence given by the Americans was "non-specific" and it was refuted by the government team using specific facts. Apparently, the Americans were quite aggressive in their claims.

Mullen also met some members of the Mini-Jirga Commission. As of now, the Jirga members include ANP leaders Afsandyar Wali Khan, Afrasiab Khattak and chief of the PKMAP, Mehmood Khan Achakzai.

General Kayani, in his meeting with Mullen, reportedly reiterated Pakistan's deep concern over the US attack on Pakistani posts in the Mohmand area on the Pak-Afghan border, which killed 11 Pakistani paramilitary troops.

The Mullen visit, which was kept under wraps by the government, was finalised a week ago, according to informed sources. While the Americans apparently leaked the information about his visit, the government remained tight-lipped about it.

The visit also coincided with the strongest- possible reaction from India’s National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan accusing Pakistan of involvement in the Kabul blast outside the Indian embassy. He called for a tit for tat response from India and also "liquidation" of Pakistan's main spy agency, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

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24 killed in Afghanistan suicide attack

Kandahar, July 13
A suicide bomber on a motorcycle blew himself up next to a police patrol in southern Afghanistan today, killing 24 persons, including 19 civilians, said a provincial police chief.

The attack in the southern province of Uruzgan also killed five police officers and wounded more than 30 others, said Juma Gul Himat.

The bomber struck the police patrol at a busy intersection of Deh Rawood district. The bombing also damaged or destroyed about nine shops in the area, he said.Most of those killed and wounded were shopkeepers and young boys selling cigarettes and other goods in the street, Himat said.Afghan civilians have suffered from a rash of bombings this month. Over 50 civilians were killed in a massive bomb attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul on Monday, while a government commission said this week that US airstrikes killed 47 civilians in eastern Nangarhar province on July 6.

Elsewhere, Taliban militants executed two women in central Afghanistan after accusing them of working as prostitutes on a US base.

The women, dressed in blue burqas, were shot and killed yesterday just outside Ghazni city in central Afghanistan, said Sayed Ismal, a spokesman for Ghazni’s governor. In eastern Logar province, gunmen today kidnapped parliament member Abdul Wali and his driver, said provincial police chief Gen Mohammad Mustafa. — AP

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Row over membership of gurdwara in Canada

Toronto, July 13
A human rights tribunal in Canada has dismissed a complaint by two members of the Indo-Canadian Sikh community who were denied membership of a gurdwara because of their caste.

Gurshinder Sahota and Sohan Shergill said they were discriminated against by the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha gurdwara because they belonged to a “higher caste”. The 900 members of the gurdwara are Dalits while the duo belong to the Jat community, which now makes up much of Metro Vancouver’s Sikh population. The tribunal in British Columbia province dismissed the complaint as it found that it did not have jurisdiction over the temple’s membership, Canwest news agency reported.

Also citing a prior decision regarding the United Native Nations, it agreed that the temple should be allowed to restrict membership to a minority group in order to promote the community’s welfare.

Sahota and Shergill argued that by denying them membership, the temple was promoting the “evil caste system,” according to the tribunal ruling. — PTI

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McCain scrubs Obama’s lead in new poll

New York, July 13
In what could ring alarm bells for Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, his Republican rival, John McCain, has virtually scrubbed the 15- point lead enjoyed by the African American till last month with the two now locked in statistic dead heat.

The latest poll by Newsweek which the magazine itself said surprised the analysts showed that Obama was just three points ahead of McCain (44 per cent to 41 per cent) which is within the margin of error.

Less than a month ago, Obama was leading by 15 points (51 per cent to 36) against the 72-year-old Vietnam veteran and analysts scrambled to pinpoint the cause for the sharp drop as to whether Obama's glow is fading or there is some sampling error.

The 47-year-old's rapid drop comes at a strategically challenging moment as he faces accusations of changing his position on major issues and is struggling to woo supporters of Hillary Clinton, whom he vanquished in the nomination contest, still not reconciled to her defeat. Obama's reversal of position on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and his decision to opt out of the campaign public finance system led to charges of flip flop.

In this context, a key finding of the poll was that 53 per cent of voters (and 50 per cent of former supporters of Hillary Clinton) believe that Obama has changed his position on major issues in order to gain political advantage. — PTI

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Prepare for a possible strike on Iran: Bush to Israel

London, July 13
US President George W Bush has given Israel the go-ahead to begin preparations for a military attack on Iran, in case talks over the country’s controversial nuclear programme fail to yield results, a media report said.

The Bush Administration was said to have informed Jerusalem that he would back an Israeli plan to strike Iran’s main nuclear sites with long-range aerial weapons, if diplomatic talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme broke down, the Sunday Times said quoting a Pentagon official.

The American President had given Israel an “amber light” to start preparing for a possible offensive, the official said.

“Amber means get on with your preparations, stand by for immediate attack and tell us when you’re ready,” the official said.

The US President’ s voice of support comes despite his military officials’ opposition to an attack on Iran, given the risks of an aerial strike. However, the US  would not deploy American forces for such a strike nor would Israel be able to depend on its military bases in Iraq for logistical support, the official said. — PTI

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Sharif urged to rejoin cabinet
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

Remains non-commital

Former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif was today non-committal on the issue of his PML-N rejoining the PPP-led cabinet as a top leader of his group said a "decisive meeting" would be held soon between chiefs of the two parties to decide the future of the ruling coalition.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani telephoned Sharif, who is in London, to discuss the proposed expansion of the cabinet and the appointment of the parliamentary secretaries and chairmen of standing committees of the National Assembly.

Gilani requested Sharif to let leaders of his party rejoin the cabinet slots they had vacated in May after the PPP-led government failed to meet two deadlines to reinstate judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf during last year's emergency.

However, Sharif was non-committal on the issue and said senior PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan would hold discussions on the matter with the PPP. — PTI

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif in London and invited his
party to rejoin the cabinet it left in May
because of the differences over restoration
of the deposed judges.

PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal, while confirming that Gilani talked to Sharif, reiterated the
stance that the party will not join the cabinet until the judges are reinstated. He said Sharif
had named PML-N parliamentary secretary Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to talk to the PPP leadership and the government on the question
of rejoining the cabinet.

Iqbal said the PML-N would continue to ensure that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led government is not destabilised.

Sharif had blamed the PPP for not consulting its allies on any major issue and for taking unilateral decisions. He was particularly critical of Khyber Agency operation against pro-Taliban militants.

Meanwhile, the expected meeting between Asif and Sharif in London has fallen through. Asif is likely to return to Islamabad from Dubai within next couple of days, PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar here said. Sharif is planning to visit the US before returning to Pakistan.

Political observers believe that the coalition between country's two main political parties is coming under severe strain, not only on the judges' issue, but on day-to-day running of the administration where both have trust deficit that is steadily growing.

Meanwhile, another coalition partner, the Awami National Party (ANP), has confirmed that PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari had contacted ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan from Dubai and discussed the expansion of the cabinet with him.

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Mediterranean Summit
Leaders for WMD-free zone

Paris, July 13
More than 40 nations today agreed to help create a zone free of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in the Middle East.

A final declaration from a summit launching the Union for the Mediterranean says the members will “pursue a mutually and effectively verifiable Middle East Zone free of weapons of mass destruction.” The statement says that includes nuclear, chemical and biological weapons as well as their delivery systems.

The statement says the countries will “consider practical steps to prevent the proliferation” of such weapons. Leaders at the summit included those from Israel, Syria and countries across North Africa and Europe. — AP

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BRIEFLY


People take a dip in a swimming pool in the Everland amusement park in Yongin, around 50 km from Seoul, on Sunday.
BEAT THE HEAT: People take a dip in a swimming pool in the Everland amusement park in Yongin, around 50 km from Seoul, on Sunday. — Reuters photo

Jolie gives birth to boy and girl in France
Nice
: Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has given birth to twins in southern France, People magazine reported on its website today. The celebrity magazine quoted her doctor Michel Sussmann as saying: “The babies are doing well. The operation went just perfectly. Angelina is in very good spirits. Brad Pitt was at her side. ” The girl has been named Vivienne Marcheline and the boy Knox Leon, the magazine added. Jolie (33) and partner Brad Pitt (44) already have four children. — Reuters

“Jammu and Kashmir” arrives for air show
LONDON
: Air India's newest Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range), named 'Jammu and Kashmir', has arrived in Farnborough for the International Air Show to be inaugurated on Monday. The aircraft will be on display during the air show highlighting its new livery, interior and passenger amenities. The aircraft is the 10th delivered to Air India from its December 2005 order of 68 Boeing jetliners, a press note said. — PTI

Ramayana paintings mesmerise the Swiss
ZURICH
: Ramayana is the flavour of the season in this Swiss city with ancient artworks depicting the mythological drama attracting a large audience in perhaps the first such exhibition here. On display at the Rietberg Museum are some of the masterpieces from the Pahari School of Art. Among the most splendid works on display are four folios belonging to a Persian translation of the Ramayana prepared during the reign of Moghul emperor Akbar. — PTI

Malaysia nod to fund for Indian community
SINGAPORE
: The Malaysian government has approved 120 million ringgit for the development of the ethnic Indian community over the next four years. Announcing this in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, the Malaysian Indian Congress president S Samy Vellu said 30 million ringgit would be spent each year on developing the living standards of low-income ethnic Indians. — UNI

UK daily’s campaign for Kerala grandmother
LONDON
: A leading newspaper in Portsmouth, South England, has launched a ‘Let Her Stay’ public campaign, requesting the government to allow a grandmother from Kerala, Mary Joseph (66), to continue staying in the UK. Over 1,000 people have signed the petition supported by the local daily,The News. — PTI

WWII bomb defused
TOKYO
: About 5,400 residents were evacuated in Osaka and highways were closed on Sunday as the army experts defused a large unexploded bomb, believed to have been dropped by the US military during World War II, the authorities said. An explosives disposal unit from the Japanese military safely defused the rusty one tonne bomb in the crowded residential area during a 50-minute operation, local army spokesman Shoji Matsumoto said. — AP

700 kg cocaine seized in Sierra Leone 
FREETOWN
: Sierra Leone made its biggest catch of cocaine on Sunday when it seized 700 kg ($35 million) of the drug on a plane which landed at Lungi international airport, a senior official said. Impoverished West Africa, with its unguarded coastline and sparsely populated interior, has become an important trafficking route for Latin American drug runners into lucrative European markets. — Reuters

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