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Tackling Afghan roadside bombs priority for US
Pranab, Rajapaksa discuss issue of displaced Tamils
Afghan Policy |
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Mush was usurper: Gilani
English test must for immigrants: UK MPs
UN official all praise for India
Ex-US lawmaker gets 13-yr jail for bribery
Ex-US lawmaker gets 13-yr jail for bribery
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Tackling Afghan roadside bombs priority for US
Washington, November 15 The challenges faced by US troops in Afghanistan are different from those in Iraq, Gates said. He said most of the improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, in Iraq are based mainly on artillery shells and are triggered electronically. Those in Afghanistan are made primarily from fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate, with mines as detonators, Washington Post quoted Gates as saying. He also pointed out that Afghanistan's terrain is different, its road system is different - streets running from paved to unpaved to nonexistent - and the bomb builders' networks are structured differently
than in Iraq. Gates has recently expressed concern about whether the Pentagon groups working on the threat, the Joint IED Defeat Organisation (JIEDDO), the intelligence community and the commanders in the field -- are properly integrated and sufficiently flexible. JIEDDO is the multibillion-dollar agency set up to lead and coordinate the Defence Department's efforts against roadside bombs. Two weeks ago, however, the Government Accountability Office criticised the agency for not having a database that includes both its own projects and those being carried out independently by the individual
services. To head the new task force, Gates has selected Ashton B. Carter, the undersecretary of defence for acquisition, technology and logistics, and Lt. Gen. John M. "Jay" Paxton, the Joint Staff's director of operations. Calling this one of his top priorities for the next six months, Gates said he would meet monthly with the group, the Post said. Referring to a recent seizure in Afghanistan of a big cache of illegal ammonium nitrate, he said that the law has not been enforced up to now and that the goal is to get such substances under control. He added: "If we have to pay for some of it, I'm open to that." Gates also recommended looking back to the 1980s, when some of the Afghans who are fighting today as Taliban insurgents were, with CIA assistance, using similar IEDs against the invading Soviet Union. "So let's go back and look at the playbook that they used against the Soviets to see if there's something that we could learn in terms of adapting our tactics, techniques and procedures," he said.
— PTI
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Pranab, Rajapaksa discuss issue of displaced Tamils
Colombo, November 15 An official in the President's office described the breakfast meeting here as cordial. He said Mukherjee discussed with Rajapaksa issues pertaining to global economy during the meeting before proceeding to Kandy, 115 kms North East of Colombo. At Kandy, Mukherjee will visit the Sri Dalada Maligawa Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic before returning to India. During his meeting with Rajapaksa, Mukherjee discussed the current political situation in the country and issues relating to the internally displaced people in relief camps in the north, the Daily Mirror reported. Mukherjee, who delivered the 4th Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture here, said yesterday that Sri Lanka should find a political solution for the Tamil issue as a sequel to the victory over the LTTE and ensure that every stakeholder gains from the settlement irrespective of religion and ethnicity. Some 1,43,161 people were still living in welfare camps in the north and the east, Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe said recently. The government has claimed resettlements were taking place every day.
— PTI
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‘US must take Pak into confidence’
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday said the United States must take Pakistan into confidence before making any decision on its Afghan policy. The premier said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was already informed in this regard during her recent visit to Pakistan. Speaking to reporters in Multan, Gilani said Pakistan’s nuclear assets were safe and secure, adding that the US also acknowledged that. He said no military operation is underway inside Balochistan and promised to alleviate grievances of the province through a comprehensive package, which is being given final touches. Gilani said he also took opposition leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif into confidence on the package. Sharif advised him to bring all stake holders on the board including the nationalists residing within or abroad; halting military operation, ensuring no new cantonments would be built, the province will be extended ownership of its gas, oil and other natural resources and full authority over the Gwadur Port. Gilani refused to give any time frame for the completion of Operation Rah-i-Nijat in South Waziristan. He said the country’s army was fighting the militants with full responsibility and the people should support that. Gilani rakes up Balochistan
Multan: (ANI) Pakistan has once again raked up the issue of India's alleged involvement in fanning insurgency in Balochistan, with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani saying that Islamabad would provide the evidence to New Delhi at a 'suitable time'. "The evidence will be presented at a suitable time," Gilani told media persons at the Multan airport. Gilani reiterated that Pakistan wants good relationship with all its neighbours, including India, and stressed on need for early resumption of bilateral talks between both countries.
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Mush was usurper: Gilani
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said former president Gen. Pervez Musharraf was a usurper who should be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution for treason.
Addressing a press conference at the Multan airport, Gilani said he was willing to support Musharraf’s trial provided the House adopts a consensus resolution. He said the PPP had formed a coalition government while moving forward in the light of the spirit of reconciliation and believed that all coalition partners be brought on board on the question of Musharraf’s trial. The PM said in his opinion Musharraf’s colleagues who abetted in his unconstitutional acts must also be tried. The PM said former President Musharraf should not be compared with the present democratic leadership adding that he (Musharraf) was a usurper who came to power through military coup and referendum and not by election. To a question about National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), Gilani said President Asif Ali Zardari, other ministers and PPP workers had offered many sacrifices and suffered jail hardships for democracy and party’s manifesto and vision. He said: “We had faced false cases then and are ready to face court today, adding that judiciary is independent and we will accept whatever decision it makes”.
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English test must for immigrants: UK MPs
London, November 15 British lawmakers had warned that stringent new checks were necessary to curb abuses of the system and bring immigration “firmly and fairly under control”. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling and Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman Chris Huhne asked the three main parties to adopt a “common approach” to immigration as Prime Minister Gordon Brown vowed to curb immigration to the UK. Former Labour Social Security Minister Frank Field and former Conservative Party Defence Minister Nicholas Soames underlined the need for new restrictions on spouses coming into the country, the Daily Mail said yesterday. They were quoted as saying by the British tabloid that immigrants should demonstrate their ability to speak English so they can “participate satisfactorily in our society, be able to find work, and know their rights and responsibilities.” In an open letter to Home Secretary Alan Johnson, Grayling and Huhne said, “It is necessary to deal with a number of abuses in the present system if immigration is to be brought under control.” Those seeking entry to the UK currently have to complete such a test before they are granted British citizenship, but the parliamentarians want the “English language test” to be made part of the process to be extended to visa applicants.
— PTI
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UN official all praise for India
United Nations, November 15 Director of the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Francis Gurry recently wrapped up a five-day visit to India and stated that the renewed mandate of WIPO's Inter-governmental Committee on Intellectual Property presented “a real opportunity” to achieve tangible results. He called for more international cooperation in the areas of traditional knowledge, genetic resources and folklore. According to Gurry, India's publicly available Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), which houses an extensive database of thousands of formulations in patent search compatible formats in various languages was worth emulating by the developing world. The UN official also praised the “Indian Systems of Medicine” initiative which covers traditional healthcare systems and medicine and the legislation to protect traditional knowledge and genetic resources. The WIPO director also pointed out that intellectual property mechanisms could play a significant role in mitigating the consequences of climate change underlining that policies that stimulate the creation and diffusion of technology are directly relevant to an effective response to the challenges of climate change. In this context, he stressed that the WIPO had a positive contribution to make in relation to technology mapping and landscaping to identify existing technologies and their legal status as well as in the area of capacity building. “The WIPO is committed to building broader understanding of the important contribution that IP can make in generating and disseminating technological solutions to address the multi-faceted challenges that climate change presents,” Gurry said after his return here after ending his India visit on November 13. During his visit to the Intellectual Property Office in India, Gurry stressed the increasing importance of the office as the use of IP rights by Indian enterprises grows. He noted that this would be “a major event and will signal a new phase in the Madrid system and a proposal is currently under consideration by Indian Parliament and a decision is expected by early December”. An MoU was signed between India and the UN which commits to strengthening bilateral cooperation “through a more intense, active and systematic organisation and conduct of joint activities that will promote the goal of using IP for economic, social, cultural and technological development”. The MOU calls for cooperation in the strategic use of trademarks, geographical indications and industrial designs for promoting enterprise competitiveness and market access as well as use of the copyright system to promote creativity, particularly in the digital environment, and strategic management and use of IP by companies, particularly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
— PTI
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Ex-US lawmaker gets 13-yr jail for bribery
Washington, November 15 The 13-year prison sentence, far less than the 27 years recommended by prosecutors, is said to be the longest prison term ever for a US lawmaker convicted on charges of corruption. The previous record came in 2006, when former Republican congressman Randall “Duke” Cunningham received a prison sentence of eight years and four months for accepting bribes from defence contractors. Jefferson, 62, was also ordered to forfeit more than $4,70,000 in assets. “In a stunning betrayal of the public's trust, former Congressman Jefferson repeatedly used his public office for private gain,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman said. “The lengthy prison sentence imposed on Mr Jefferson yesterday is a stark reminder to all public officials that the consequences of accepting bribes can and will be severe.”
— AFP
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Ex-US lawmaker gets 13-yr jail for bribery
Washington, November 15 The 13-year prison sentence, far less than the 27 years recommended by prosecutors, is said to be the longest prison term ever for a US lawmaker convicted on charges of corruption. The previous record came in 2006, when former Republican congressman Randall “Duke” Cunningham received a prison sentence of eight years and four months for accepting bribes from defence contractors. Jefferson, 62, was also ordered to forfeit more than $4,70,000 in assets. “In a stunning betrayal of the public's trust, former Congressman Jefferson repeatedly used his public office for private gain,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman said. “The lengthy prison sentence imposed on Mr Jefferson yesterday is a stark reminder to all public officials that the consequences of accepting bribes can and will be severe.”
— AFP |
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Colombo, November 15
