W O R L D

Indian-Americans pitch for Obama’s fresh energy
Virginia (USA), November 3
With less than 48 hours to go before American voters decide on who their 44th President will be, the Indian-American community appears to have already decided that the US is ready to have its first Afro-American head of state.

He has taste for Indian food
Chicago, November 3
Barack Obama, who may become the next US president after Tuesday’s election, learnt tales of the Mahabharata from his mother, says a former aide.

Kenya prays for ‘favourite son’
Nairobi: People in Kenya, the heartland of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's family, prayed for his victory.

Malik Obama, stepbrother to US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Obama, addresses a news conference on Nyangoma Kogelo village, 430 km west of Kenya's capital Nairobi, on Monday. — Reuters

A supporter holds up a sign at a midnight campaign rally with US Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain in Coral Gables, Florida, on Monday. — Reuters

Obama’s Kashmir remark reaffirms old US stand
Washington, November 3
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is toeing the old American line saying the US should make efforts to forge better relations between India and Pakistan by resolving the Kashmir problem peacefully and amicably, said Kashmiri-American Council head Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai.

Top political buzzwords: Change, climate change, gasoline
New York, November 3
With "Financial meltdown" also finding a place in the list of 30. The list of terms or phrases that become loaded with emotional freight beyond the normal meaning of the word was announced by the Global Language Monitor (GLM), which has been tracking the buzzwords in this election cycle for nearly 18 months.

Chinese envoy arrives in Taiwan
Taipei, November 3
The highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Taiwan since the two sides split in 1949, arrived on the island today for economic talks amid a warming of ties between the long-time rivals.

Iran continues furnace oil supply to Pak
Iran has agreed to provide furnace oil to Pakistan on deferred payments for three months to help Islamabad ensure an uninterrupted fuel supply for power generation and mitigate its economic woes, sources in the water and power ministry here said.

Online game sparks outrage among Muslims
Melbourne, November 3
A free online game, wherein a player has to kill as many Muslims as possible, has sparked an uproar in Australia, with members of the community accusing the government and the police of double standards in their efforts to stop the game.

Lawyers observe Black Day
Deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Monday said former president Pervez Musharraf imposed martial law on November 3 last year out of frustration that judges of the superior courts would no more submit verdicts as he willed in various important cases.

Pak cabinet expanded
Top Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim Monday took oath along with 39 other full and junior ministers in the federal cabinet increasing the number to 55.

No action against apolitical Mush, says Gilani
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has ruled out any criminal proceedings against former President Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf but warned that he may have to face serious charges if he enters active politics. The government will not make Musharraf’s life tougher as long as he stays out of politics, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Sunday.

India-born surrogate baby to unite with dad
Osaka, November 3
Manji Yamada, the baby born in India to a surrogate mother under contract to a Japanese man, has arrived in Osaka to unite with her father, ending months of uncertainty over the infant’s fate.

Local guardian of Japanese surrogate baby Manji, Sweta Vijay Vargiya (left), with her baby shares a moment with the Manji and her Japanese grandmother Emiko Yamada before their departure to Tokyo, in New Delhi on Saturday. — PTI

Indian-Americans pitch for Obama’s fresh energy

Virginia (USA), November 3
With less than 48 hours to go before American voters decide on who their 44th President will be, the Indian-American community appears to have already decided that the US is ready to have its first Afro-American head of state.

In their view, Illinois senator Barack Obama is on all counts, a transformational candidate, a man who has the potential to lead the country and a candidate who will bring fresh energy to the White House and to the administration in Washington.

“To his advantage, Obama is from all accounts, a transformational candidate who has been able to go beyond race, who is very thoughtful, very contemplative and in that sense, he looks more presidential and ultimately people want a leader who doesn't necessarily look like them or so on, but someone who can lead and he seems to have that,” Jaikishen Desai, a senior economist at the World Bank, said.

When asked to comment on the issue of outsourcing, Desai said the Democratic camp seemed to be in favor of greater checks and curbs than the Republican camp.

Some Indian-Americans like Sumathi Subramanium, a healthcare professional, said the Indian-American community was looking for change in the US, and therefore, it should come as no surprise that they were rooting for Obama as opposed to Republican candidate John McCain.

“I think he (Obama) represents fresh energy, I think, you know, it's Indian-Americans who are also looking for change in the country as opposed to people who have sort of seen George Bush over the last eight years and John McCain probably is going to be more of the same for them,” Subramanium said.

The comments from the Indian-Americans came as both camps (Obama and McCain) are positioning themselves for a long night on Tuesday. Both expect the closing stages of the race to be tight, as there is a potential for fraudulent voter registration.

The latest Investor’s Business Daily-TechnoMetrica poll out on Sunday showed the race with just a 2-point spread, with Obama at 46.7 per cent, McCain with 44.6 per cent and 8.7 per cent of the 844 likely voters still undecided. — ANI

Kenya prays for ‘favourite son’

Nairobi: People in Kenya, the heartland of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's family, prayed for his victory. At the famous Kisumu's Baptist church, dozens of Christian faithful sang and prayed for Obama, who has become the East African nation's "favourite son", who is all set to occupy the White House. Raising their hands in the air, the worshippers sang prayers into a chorus over keyboard tunes belting through a homemade woofer. — ANI

Obama’s Kashmir remark reaffirms old US stand

Washington, November 3
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is toeing the old American line saying the US should make efforts to forge better relations between India and Pakistan by resolving the Kashmir problem peacefully and amicably, said Kashmiri-American Council head Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai.

Commenting on Obama’s statement on Kashmir, Fai said the Senator, who is tipped to be the next US President, was in “full conformity” with previous statements made by US leaders and representatives.

“As early as 1962, US President John F. Kennedy requested the President of Ireland to sponsor a resolution on Kashmir in the UN Security Council (UNSC), reaffirming the resolutions of the UN Commission on India and Pakistan (UNCIP),” he said. He added that US secretary of state John Foster Dulles said on February 5, 1957, “We continue to believe that unless the parties are able to agree upon some other solution, the solution which was recommended by the UNSC should prevail, which is that there should be a plebiscite.”

Dr Fai said American representative to the UN Adlai Stevenson stated on June 15, 1962, “The best approach is to take for a point of departure the area of common ground which exists between the parties. I refer of course to the resolutions, which were accepted by both parties and which in essence provide for demilitarisation of the territory and a plebiscite, whereby the population may freely decide the future status of Jammu and Kashmir.”

More recently, President George Bush said on February 22 this year that the US supports any solution of Kashmir that was acceptable to India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri citizens, Fai said. — ANI 

Top political buzzwords: Change, climate change, gasoline

New York, November 3
With "Financial meltdown" also finding a place in the list of 30. The list of terms or phrases that become loaded with emotional freight beyond the normal meaning of the word was announced by the Global Language Monitor (GLM), which has been tracking the buzzwords in this election cycle for nearly 18 months.

"Change is the topmost concern. Both candidates- Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama - are benefiting from the mantra; however Obama holds a 3:2 edge over McCain in this regard," the GLM said.

"Taken as a whole, their concerns centre upon uncontrollable, cataclysmic events such as the global financial meltdown and climate change, while raising taxes or cutting taxes are lesser (though still important) concerns," said Paul J. J. Payack, president and chief word analyst of GLM.

The ranking is determined by GLM's PQI Index, a proprietary algorithm that scours the global print and electronic media, the Internet, and blogosphere for 'hot' political buzzwords and then ranks them according to year-over-year change, acceleration and directional momentum. GLM had used this methodology in the 2004 elections. — PTI

Chinese envoy arrives in Taiwan

Taipei, November 3
The highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Taiwan since the two sides split in 1949, arrived on the island today for economic talks amid a warming of ties between the long-time rivals.

Chen Yunlin waved at Taiwanese officials who greeted him and received a bouquet at the tarmac of Taipei's international airport after arriving on an Air China chartered plane.

A black limousine, escorted by police cars, then took him to the landmark Grand Hotel, where he is to stay during his five-day visit. Before his arrival at the hotel, the police dispersed a small group of protesters who unfurled a banner reading “Bandit Chen Yunlin get out” from the hotel’s 7th floor.

Thousands of policemen were deployed at the airport and hotel, where they prepared barbed wire barricades with large nets to block eggs or other items thrown by protesters. A pro-independence group, Taiwan Society North, has offered cash rewards for protesters who hit Chen with eggs.

Chen, head of China’s semi official association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, is to hold talks with his Taiwanese counterpart, Chiang Pin-kung, on cementing closer economic ties, especially transport links.

The pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party said it plans to greet Chen with protests and sit-ins, accusing China of using business deals to buy popular support for the island’s political unification with Beijing.

Chen’s deputy, Zhang Mingqing, was attacked and thrown to the ground by protesters during an informal visit to the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan on October 20, injuring him slightly and prompting him to leave two days ahead of his scheduled departure. — AP 

Iran continues furnace oil supply to Pak
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

Iran has agreed to provide furnace oil to Pakistan on deferred payments for three months to help Islamabad ensure an uninterrupted fuel supply for power generation and mitigate its economic woes, sources in the water and power ministry here said.

The decision came at a meeting between Pakistani and Iranian officials at the Iranian embassy in Islamabad.

According to officials of the ministry, Pakistan wanted the oil import facility on deferred payments over two to three years because of its balance of payment crisis. But the Iranian side said an approval from the competent authority in Tehran was needed for any such extension.

Pakistan also sought an Iranian grant in the shape of furnace oil for three months and was awaiting Tehran’s response.

Online game sparks outrage among Muslims

Melbourne, November 3
A free online game, wherein a player has to kill as many Muslims as possible, has sparked an uproar in Australia, with members of the community accusing the government and the police of double standards in their efforts to stop the game.

Islamic Friendship Association’s president Keysar Trad wrote to Attorney-General Robert McClelland expressing outrage over the game — ‘Muslim Massacre’ — saying it teaches young people to “further hate Muslims” and encourages them to carry out “acts of discrimination, vilification or outright violence against Australian Muslims”.

Trad, in his letter, said he believed the game was a breach of the sedition provisions of counter terrorism laws and laws that prevent the incitement of violence against sections of the Australian society.

He cited the case of Belal Saadallah Khazaal (38) from Lakemba who was found guilty in September of making a “do it yourself terrorism guide” knowing it could be used to assist a terrorist act.

Khazaal had compiled the online manual, which included an assassination hit list of prominent political figures, based on information sourced from the Internet.

However, response to Trad from the Attorney General’s Department was little more than a two-page explanation of Australia’s content classification and racial discrimination laws and the government bodies tasked with administering them.

The response noted that the game’s creator “has voluntarily taken the game down from the internet” despite the fact that the game was still freely available to download.

Trad said the letter looked like a standardised form response and accused the government and the police of selectively applying counter-terrorism laws. — PTI

Lawyers observe Black Day
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

Deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Monday said former president Pervez Musharraf imposed martial law on November 3 last year out of frustration that judges of the superior courts would no more submit verdicts as he willed in various important cases.

He was addressing the lawyers’ convention in Rawalpindi on the first anniversary of imposition of emergency by Musharraf last year when he also sacked Iftikhar and 60 other judges. Lawyers across the country, civil society activists and political parties observe the day as Black Day.

Lawyers boycotted courts and staged rallies and sit-ins in major cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Multan, calling for restoration of independent judiciary, rule of law, reinstatement of deposed judges, including Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and bringing Musharraf to justice for abrogating the constitution twice and fostering acts of terrorism against lawyers and political opponents. In most rallies, the participants raised slogans against President Zardari for blocking the restoration of judges, despite solemn pledges.

He said former prime minister Shaukat Aziz conveyed him Musharraf's displeasure over the Supreme Court verdict annulling the privatisation of the Pakistan Steel Mills. Then came the verdict on his reinstatement on July 20 last year and a series of important cases before the court whose verdict Musharraf preempted by imposing martial law on November 3 and dismissal of 60 judges. These cases included return of exiled leaders, defamation case for violating court orders by thwarting Nawaz Sharif's attempt to enter the country, voters’-list case filed by slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto, Musharraf’s qualification to contest election in uniform.

Pak cabinet expanded
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

Top Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim Monday took oath along with 39 other full and junior ministers in the federal cabinet increasing the number to 55.

Fahim, who was denied prime ministership despite early commitment, has been named senior minister in the cabinet. Among those taking oath on Monday were five women ministers, namely Dr Firdous Ashaq Awan, Hina Rabbani Khar, Samina Gurki, Fauzia Wahab and Mehreen Raja, to join the earlier lone gender colleague Sherry Rehman.

Among others who were administered oath as ministers by President Asif Zardari were Raza Rabbani, Mir Hazar Khan Bajrani, Aftab Shaaban Mirani, Makhdoom Shahbuddin, Dr Babar Awan, Shahbaz Bhatti, Nabeel Gabool, Mumtaz Alam Gilani, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Talha Mehmood,,Qayum Jatoi, Shahid Bhutto, Lal Khan, Sardar Asif Ahmed Ali, Tasneem Qureshi, Taj Jamali, Yaqub Bazenjo and Viqar Ahmed.

Gilani accommodated other coalition partners, including the ANP, Jui and tribal members, but the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was conspicuous by its absence despite wide speculations. Sources said the Rabita Committee of the MQM declined the offer because it did not come to its expectations. 

No action against apolitical Mush, says Gilani
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has ruled out any criminal proceedings against former President Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf but warned that he may have to face serious charges if he enters active politics. The government will not make Musharraf’s life tougher as long as he stays out of politics, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Sunday.

“Musharraf is history and the people have rejected him in the February elections,” Gilani told a Turkish paper, adding that his government was pursuing a policy of national reconciliation instead of unleashing a process of victimisation. “We want to focus on current problems and future projections such as terrorism, poverty, hunger, disease, health and education, instead of raking up the past,” he said.

“At present he [Musharraf] is keeping a low profile. If he is not politically active, then we would not want to open too many fronts,” he said.

“He was convinced that he lacked Parliament’s support, and he stepped down,” said Gilani. “Although Parliament has not made a decision on his fate until now, the government is not seeking further punishment. He is a relic of the past. Why should we bother about him at the moment?” Gilani said.

The Prime Minister said the government was committed to addressing the root causes of violence in the country and reserved the use of force as a last resort to deter terrorists. He also hinted that the government would be ready to talk to Taliban to end the violence provided that they were not involved in terrorism. “We are not talking to people who are militants. We are only talking to the people who have denounced terrorism,” he said.

India-born surrogate baby to unite with dad

Osaka, November 3
Manji Yamada, the baby born in India to a surrogate mother under contract to a Japanese man, has arrived in Osaka to unite with her father, ending months of uncertainty over the infant’s fate.

The three-month-old baby had been unable to leave India after birth because she holds neither Indian nor Japanese nationality. The issue was resolved recently after the Japanese government issued a one-year visa to her on humanitarian grounds.

The girl, who was born in late July, arrived at Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture from India yesterday, accompanied by her 70-year-old grandmother Emkio Yamada. The Japanese government issued the visa last week after the Indian government granted the baby a travel certificate in September in line with a Supreme Court direction.

The Japanese man, 45-year-old father Ikufumi Yamada, has not clarified what happens next.

According to the Japanese authorities, it is possible for the baby to become a naturalised Japanese citizen once a parent-child relationship has been established, either by the man recognising his paternity or through his adopting her, Kyodo news agency said.

Manji was born to a surrogate mother at Anand in Gujarat on July 25 and was brought to a hospital in Jaipur on Aug 3.

However, before the baby was born, the Yamadas separated, with the wife not ready to accept the child. The surrogate mother too abandoned Manji and in the absence of clear laws on surrogacy, the child's fate hung in the balance. — PTI