W O R L D

Mush: NRO a mistake
Islamabad, December 22
Former President Pervez Musharraf has described as a "mistake" his decision to promulgate the National Reconciliation Ordinance, a graft amnesty that was recently struck down by Pakistan's Supreme Court.

Suicide bomber kills three in Pakistan
A suicide bomber on Tuesday blew himself up when checked at main gate of Peshawar Press Club killing three persons and wounding 17 others. It was the first such assault on a media centre in the war on terror that has seen repeated suicide attacks in major Pakistani cities, on top being Peshawar capital of NWFP.

Study math, Obama tells children
Washington, December 22
With countries like India and China fast catching up, US President Barack Obama asked children to concentrate on mathematics.

Prachanda spews venom against India
Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (UCPN-M) chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda, on Tuesday said he saw no point talking to Nepalese leaders and would instead like India to resolve the political crisis in Nepal. “Why should we talk with puppets here in Nepal. There is no point in talking to Nepali leaders?” said former rebels’ supreme Prachanda while addressing party cadres at the end of a three-day bandh called by the UCPN-M in Kathmandu.
Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal gestures during a protest rally on the last day of the three-day strike in Kathmandu on Tuesday. — AP/PTI

Indian ship leaves for destination
Washington, December 22
All 28 Indian crew members onboard a crippled bulk cargo freighter, which was stranded in mid-sea, were today headed for their destination of Portland after the vessel's engine was repaired. "They (crew) did not abandon the ship. They repaired the vessel and are currently underway headed to Portland, Oregon," Sean Terry, Petty Officer, US Coast Guard said.

Mayon Volcano spews ash anew in a mild eruption as viewed from Legazpi city in Albay province, 500 km southeast of Manila, on Tuesday. Almost all of the 47,000 residents living on the slopes of the rumbling volcano in central Philippines have moved to emergency shelters. — AP/PTI

Snow fails to halt Japan’s bullet train
Tokyo, December 22
When the mercury plummets in Japan, hot water is sprayed onto the bullet train’s tracks - one of several measures to ensure snow does not disrupt the high-speed services, famed for their punctuality. In contrast to the three-day shutdown of the Eurostar in the tunnel under the English Channel due to “fluffier” than expected snow, Japan’s “shinkansen” trains are rarely delayed significantly by a cold snap.

Cocktail to cure hangovers
London, December 22
An Indian-origin nutritionist claims to have invented an alcoholic cocktail that could prevent festive hangovers by "cleaning" the bloodstream. The vodka-based cocktail contains a string of "superfoods" that cleanse the system. "I want you guys to read and hit the books and do your math, because that is really what's going to determine how you do in the future," Obama told a group of 27 children in the age group of 6-11 of the Boys and Girls Club.

Mush: NRO a mistake

Islamabad, December 22
Former President Pervez Musharraf has described as a "mistake" his decision to promulgate the National Reconciliation Ordinance, a graft amnesty that was recently struck down by Pakistan's Supreme Court.

The apex court last week declared the NRO void, sparking the worst political crisis since the Pakistan People's Party came to power in last year's general election.
President Asif Ali Zardari and several close aides are among the over 8,000 people who benefited from the graft amnesty.

"The one clarification that I will make is that I committed this mistake on the strong advice of the political leadership at that time who are now blatantly disowning connections with it.

"My interest was only national, with absolutely no personal bias or agenda," Musharraf wrote on his page on the social networking website Facebook.

Musharraf - who has been active on Facebook for the past few weeks and has over 60,000 fans, including hundreds from India - was responding to a question.

The former military ruler took time off to respond to three questions from the public, including what compelled him to promulgate the NRO in October 2007.

He said he would have to keep a more detailed response pending for the time being "because of certain political sensitivities".

However, Musharraf promised that he would "take the nation on board at the appropriate time".

To a related question about the NRO bringing "corrupt politicians to power" and allowing Zardari to be elected President, Musharraf wrote: "NRO may have allowed Asif Zardari or corrupt politicians to contest elections but it certainly was not the cause of their coming to power. NRO is not responsible for electing the PPP as the majority party or allowing Asif Zardari to win an election.

"NRO is not responsible for corrupt politicians sitting in assemblies, or being appointed as ministers. All this happened through the votes of the people of Pakistan. NRO is not responsible for all parliamentarians of provincial and national assemblies and Senate having overwhelmingly voted for Asif Zardari as President," he said.

"The nation has to learn to cast their votes for the right person and the right party," he added.

Musharraf also defended the military operation against radical elements who had holed up in the Lal Masjid in Islamabad.

"The Lal Masjid operation is a case study of how an appropriately timed, meticulously planned and boldly executed operation launched in the supreme national interest can be distorted by vested interests who want to present it as a disaster," he wrote.

He said claims that hundreds of innocent people were killed were an "absolute lie".

Musharraf said: "Firstly, none of those killed were innocent. They were terrorists (including five foreigners) who took the law in their own hands and killed a number of policemen, kidnapped and physically tortured Chinese citizens...

"Secondly, the numbers killed were 94 and not a single woman or child was killed. This can be ascertained by digging their graves and counting," he said.

According to Musharraf, the siege of Lal Masjid and its affiliated seminary Jamia Hafsa was started about six months before the operation in July 2007.

"The operation was launched only after all efforts towards a negotiated settlement failed and maximum occupants, including all women and children, were drawn out. The individuals left were all hardened terrorists, including five foreigners, who refused to surrender and decided to fight it out."

In response to another question whether there was a way in the post-9/11 era for Pakistan to handle the US and the Taliban, Musharraf wrote: "I think we dealt with both in the best possible manner under the most difficult circumstances. — PTI

Suicide bomber kills three in Pakistan

Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad
A suicide bomber on Tuesday blew himself up when checked at main gate of Peshawar Press Club killing three persons and wounding 17 others. It was the first such assault on a media centre in the war on terror that has seen repeated suicide attacks in major Pakistani cities, on top being Peshawar capital of NWFP. In the past terrorists have targeted the police and security personnel, sensitive government installations and busy markets.

The explosion which destroyed front portion of the club building located in Peshawar Cantonment area, occurred at noon. “The bomber tried to enter the main club building but was checked by police constable Riaz deputed as guard,” police chief Liaqat Ali said.

The bomber strapped with explosives then detonated his vest. Constable Riaz, an accountant of the club and another female employee were killed while 17 others, including four journalists were injured. Most of the injured were passengers of a bus that was passing on the Shershah Suri Road where the club is located. Shortly after the explosion, the security forces cordoned off the entire area, witnesses said.

NWFP Information Minister Mian Muhammad Iftikhar and senior provincial minister Bashir Bilour reached the spot and supervised rescue work. Both reaffirmed resolve to combat and eliminate terrorism at all cost.

“The terrorists have now targeted the media because of its commendable role in arousing sentiments against militants and extremists,” Mian Iftikhar said.

“I was coming out of the canteen when I suddenly heard a huge blast. I reached the spot, I saw human organs littered on the ground,” said journalist Nisar Mohammad Khan.

Study math, Obama tells children

Washington, December 22
With countries like India and China fast catching up, US President Barack Obama asked children to concentrate on mathematics. "I want you guys to read and hit the books and do your math, because that is really what's going to determine how you do in the future," Obama told a group of 27 children in the age group of 6-11 of the Boys and Girls Club.

"There's nothing wrong with having fun and fooling around and playing sports and listening to rap music and all that stuff," he said.

"That's the most important thing you can do," Obama said in his concluding remarks after he read the award winning book Polar Express to these children who were excited to see the President.

"The thing that I want everybody to remember, the most important message I can leave is, is that you guys have so much potential -- one of you could end up being President some day. But it's only going to happen if you stay focused and you work hard in school," Obama said. As he ended reading the book, Obama told the kids he and his older daughter, Malia, had read all the "Harry Potter" books together.

The US President was surprised to know that kids wanted expensive and hi-tech gadgets like iPods, cell phones and video games as their Christmas gifts. "Whatever happened to, like, asking for a bike?" Obama asked. "Everybody has a bike," a kid said and others agreed. — PTI

Indian ship leaves for destination

Washington, December 22
All 28 Indian crew members onboard a crippled bulk cargo freighter, which was stranded in mid-sea, were today headed for their destination of Portland after the vessel's engine was repaired. "They (crew) did not abandon the ship. They repaired the vessel and are currently underway headed to Portland, Oregon," Sean Terry, Petty Officer, US Coast Guard said.

"All are fine. No one is injured. Everybody remained on board,"
Terry said. Earlier, the crew of the ship in distress APJ Suryavir, had planned to abandon the ship in stormy seas and fierce winds. — PTI

Snow fails to halt Japan’s bullet train

Tokyo, December 22
When the mercury plummets in Japan, hot water is sprayed onto the bullet train’s tracks - one of several measures to ensure snow does not disrupt the high-speed services, famed for their punctuality. In contrast to the three-day shutdown of the Eurostar in the tunnel under the English Channel due to “fluffier” than expected snow, Japan’s “shinkansen” trains are rarely delayed significantly by a cold snap.

“We have various methods to tackle snowfalls: Sprinkling hot water on tracks to melt the snow, putting ploughs on the front cars, and coating cables with a chemical substance that prevents snow sticking,” a railway official said. — AFP

Cocktail to cure hangovers

London, December 22
An Indian-origin nutritionist claims to have invented an alcoholic cocktail that could prevent festive hangovers by "cleaning" the bloodstream. The vodka-based cocktail contains a string of "superfoods" that cleanse the system.

The Times reported today. It is the brainchild of British nutritional therapist and Indian "superfood" guru 32-year-old Gurpareet Bains.

The "Christmas spice-infused acai and pomegranate cocktail", which has an alcohol by volume rate of 40 per cent, will still cause drunkenness, but its ingredients fight the symptoms of a hangover — commonly a splitting headache, parched mouth and the overwhelming desire to vomit. — PTI 

Prachanda spews venom against India
Bishnu Budhathoki writes from Kathmandu

Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (UCPN-M) chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda, on Tuesday said he saw no point talking to Nepalese leaders and would instead like India to resolve the political crisis in Nepal. “Why should we talk with puppets here in Nepal. There is no point in talking to Nepali leaders?” said former rebels’ supreme Prachanda while addressing party cadres at the end of a three-day bandh called by the UCPN-M in Kathmandu.

Dubbing the incumbent government as the puppet that has been acting in accordance with the Indian directives, he said, “I have no energy to talk to the leaders of Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, rather I will prefer to talk to their “malik” (lords/master), India.”

Coming down heavily against the Indian establishment, he said even after becoming free from British colonialism, the Indian mindset was yet to become free from it. He also lambasted India for its “naked interference” in Nepal’s internal affairs.
Referring to recent media reports that Indian Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor has suggested the visiting Nepalese Army Chief Gen Chhattraman Singh Gurung not to integrate “politically indoctrinated” Maoist combatants in Nepal, Prachanda asked, “Who gave him (General Kapoor) the right to speak against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement?” He claimed it was height of shameful insult and interference from India in Nepal’s sovereignty.

He also spat venom against the government for not making its stance clear against it.

While stepping down from the government on May 4 immediately after President Dr Ram Baran Yadav nullified the Maoists-led government’s unilateral decision to sack army chief Rookmangud Katawal, Prachanda had said he preferred to quit the government for the sake of national sovereignty instead of bowing before the foreign lords.

In a strong criticism of India, he said, “Our southern neighbour was suffering from colonial mindset and its attitude towards Nepal was dictated by that mindset. We want that not only the 1950 treaty of peace and friendship, but also all unequal treaties - open and secret - must be scrapped.” He also set preconditions before India to withdraw its military from Kalapani, the much controversial land in western Nepal, provide free access to sea-port in accordance with the international practice to maintain trade balance and frame a high-level India-Nepal-China mechanism to bring economic reforms in the region.