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Pak rules out ceasefire
for Ramzan
Trouble Down Under-IV
UN supports Afghan vote fraud probe
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Athens fire outbreak enters 4th day
Gunmen kill Afghan journalist in Pak
Dormitory fire kills 12 girls
in Tanzania
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Pak rules out ceasefire
for Ramzan
Islamabad, August 24 Malik declared that the security forces would continue their operations against the Taliban even during the holy month of Ramzan, considered a time of peace. His comments assume significance as the Pakistan army is poised to strike against Taliban and Al-Qaida strongholds in Sacristan and is continuing operations against militants in Swat, Dir and Buner. The minister ruled out a brief halt in the fighting even as a powerful North Waziristan-based Taliban faction led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur declared a 40-day unilateral ceasefire for Ramzan and asked its fighters to stop attacks on security forces and government facilities. "There will not be a ceasefire during Ramzan. We are not interested in a ceasefire. They haven't kept their commitment in the past. We will continue targeted actions against the Taliban," Malik told CNN. The Interior Minister said the government had not accepted this ceasefire as the Taliban violated accords with the authorities in the past. Malik also said the father-in-law of Baithullah Mehsud and some of his relatives had been killed by the militants after being accused of providing information that led to the rebel commander's death in a US drone attack on August 5. The Taliban had killed Mehsud's father-in-law Malik Ikramuddin, his son, a brother and a nephew on charges of spying, he added. Pakistani and US officials say they are certain Mehsud was killed in the drone attack though this has been denied by the Taliban. — PTI
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Trouble Down Under-IV Besides demanding delinking of immigration from education, India has been regularly apprising the Australian authorities of the weaknesses and inadequacies of some of its international education programmes, including the Vocational Education Training (VET) courses run by private colleges. Senior members of the Indian High Commission, including Deputy High Commissioner VK Sharma and Consulate-General in Melbourne, Anita Nayar, blame the mushrooming of dodgy colleges with inadequate infrastructure for the rising intake of international students and linkage of education with migration programmes. Announcements made by the Australian government to tighten control on the grant of visas to prospective international students, including re-introduction of face-to-face interview, aim to streamline the migration system. Rapid audit, amendments in the Education Services for Overseas Students, and setting up of one-member Bruce Baird Committee to review the international education programmes, they feel, are steps in the right direction. Former MP Bruce Baird is expected to give his interim report in November this year and final report early next year on the issue. The Australian authorities will have a round table conference with a select group of international students on September 14 and 15 in Canberra here as a part of the review of its international education policy. For Australia, India is an important destination for export of education. A number of Australian ministers will be visiting India in the coming weeks to assure Indians. Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard is coming to India on August 30 on a four day visit. Australia’s Foreign Minister will also undertake a visit to India before Prime Minister Rudd visits India in November this year. The Premier of Victoria is also coming to India next month. Indian officials find no problem with higher education courses offered by recognised universities. The problem is that private colleges that offer VET courses were exploiting students from lower middle-class and poor families for making quick money. The sole objective of many of these students is permanent residency in Australia. VK Sharma, who had his earlier stints in the Middle East, says that this migration through education was running on the lines of the Gulf racket where agents take unsuspecting skilled labourers and exploit them. There was 164 per cent increase in Indian students in 2007, compared to the 2006 figures, and in 2008, the increase was 94 per cent. Both VK Sharma and Anita Nayar point out that international students in Victoria and New South Wales are not allowed transport facility at par with other students. They have to pay much more for their local travel besides paying three times the fee than their local counterparts for their educational courses. Another grey area is the health cover. While Australian institutions require students to have health cover for the entire duration of the course, many students do not get their health cover renewed after the expiry of the initial policy. “In a country like Australia, even calling an ambulance costs the patient a lot of money that no insurance company reimburses. Unfortunately, if a student has to take an ambulance, he has no choice but to work extra for several months to clear his health bills alone,” reveals another source close to the Indian mission here. Even Indian agents, who misguide students about the facilities here, are responsible for their plight, feel Indian mission officials.
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UN supports Afghan vote fraud probe
Kabul, August 24 Several candidates, Afghan and international election monitors and voters have alleged widespread irregularities during Afghanistan's second ever presidential and provincial council polls, held last Thursday. The ECC, where three out of five top officials were appointed by Eide, said it had registered 225 complaints, of which 35 were high priority and could affect the outcome of the results. "The ECC has my full confidence," Eide told reporters after meeting ECC members in the Afghan capital. Eide said there was no doubt that irregularities had taken place and stressed it was critical for the whole electoral process that the ECC detect and address fraud. "It is not my job to define how significant and how widespread those irregularities have been. That is up to the process that now follows and where the ECC will play a critical role," he said. Eide congratulated Afghans for voting despite Taliban intimidation and security concerns. He called on all parties involved to be patient and give the ECC enough time to investigate all complaints. "I know that the ECC would work as intensively as they possibly can in a way that demonstrates respect for the voters and for the process," he said. — AFP
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Athens fire outbreak enters 4th day
Athens, August 24 A dozen Greek, Italian and French fire-fighting planes tried to douse flames fanned by strong early morning winds. The operation is testing state resources, as well as a conservative government facing the threat of an early election by March. While thousands abandoned what are mainly holiday homes around Athens, many frantically used garden hoses and tree branches to try to stop the flames reaching their properties. — Reuters
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Gunmen kill Afghan journalist in Pak
Jamrud (Pakistan), August 24
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Dormitory fire kills 12 girls in Tanzania Arusha (Tanzania) August 24 The victims who died Saturday night were between the ages of 13 and 16 in the rural Iringa district, some 285 miles southwest of Dar es Salaam. They are due to be buried tomorrow near their school. Fires at school dormitories are common in parts of Africa where there is little access to electricity and students study by candlelight at night. Iringa’s Regional Police Commander, Evarist Mangalla, said investigations indicate the fire was caused by a candle after a student fell asleep studying. — AP
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