W O R L D

US to probe video showing Marines abusing corpses of Taliban
Washington, January 12
A shocking video has appeared online showing US Marines urinating on corpses of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, triggering protests from Muslim lobbies and prompting Pentagon to announce that it is investigating the authenticity of the film. n Video could aggravate anti-US sentiment in Afghanistan. n It was posted on YouTube and other websites. n US Muslim rights group condemns the alleged abuse

Washington-Taliban talks resume

Will reward firms that bring jobs and invest in US: Obama
Washington, January 12
US President Barack Obama has said his administration will soon come out with policies to reward companies that bring back jobs from overseas and invest in the US.

US President Barack Obama speaks at a Presidential poll campaign event in Washington — Reuters

US framing law to increase India’s share in H-1B visa
Hyderabad, January 12
The United States is in the process of making a law to increase India's share in the much sought after H-1B visas, an American Senator said here today.

Apologise for offensive show, India tells BBC
London, January 12
India has demanded an apology from the BBC over its presenter Jeremy Clarkson mocking Indian culture during a Christmas special programme while driving around the county, calling it a "breach" of agreement.

NRI, wife’s UK murders prompted by ‘revenge’?
London, January 12
British police today said they were keeping an "open mind" on the possibility that the twin murders of Indian-origin Avtar Singh Kolar and his English wife in Birmingham were prompted by revenge by someone affected by the work of their police officer son.

 

 

US to probe video showing Marines
abusing corpses of Taliban

Washington, January 12
A shocking video has appeared online showing US Marines urinating on corpses of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, triggering protests from Muslim lobbies and prompting Pentagon to announce that it is investigating the authenticity of the film.

The video shows what appears to be four US Marines dressed in full military uniform relieving themselves onto bloodied bodies on the ground, apparently aware they have been filmed.

“Have a great day, buddy,” one of the Marines is caught as saying after the act.

US media reports quoting military officials said that the weapons carried by the servicemen indicated that they could be members of elite sniper teams.

Some 20,000 Marines are deployed in Afghanistan, mostly around the southern city of Kandahar and Helmand province.

The Department of Defence is deeply troubled by the video, Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt John Kirby said.

“Whoever it is, and whatever the circumstances — which we know is under investigation — it is egregious behaviour and unacceptable for a member of the military,” he said.

A Marine Corps statement said, “The authenticity and the origin of the video has not been verified. The actions portrayed are not consistent with our core values and are not indicative of the character of the Marines in our Corps.”

“This matter will be fully investigated,” the Marine Corps said.

The comments from the Pentagon came as Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights group in the US, in a letter to the Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta, condemned “desecration” of corpses, demanding that the guilty be punished.

“Any guilty parties must be punished to the full extent allowed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice and by relevant American laws,” CAIR said in the letter, copy of which was released to the media. — PTI

Washington-Taliban talks resume

New York/Kabul, January 12
US efforts to seek an end to the war in Afghanistan have reached a "critical juncture", American officials have said, indicating that Obama’s pointman Marc Grossman is rushing to the region to resume preliminary talks with the Taliban. Grossman and his team are rushing back to the region to consult several allies. — PTI

Will reward firms that bring jobs and
invest in US: Obama

Washington, January 12
US President Barack Obama has said his administration will soon come out with policies to reward companies that bring back jobs from overseas and invest in the US.

At the same time, he has vowed to eliminate tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas.

The policies in this regard are expected to be announced in the next few weeks and when he submits his Annual Budget proposals to Congress.

"In the next few weeks, we're going to put forward new tax proposals that reward companies that choose to bring jobs home and invest in America. And we are going to eliminate tax breaks for companies that are moving jobs overseas," Obama said, addressing leaders of the corporate world at an event on insourcing convened at the White House.

Obama said he does not want America to be a nation that's primarily known for financial speculation and racking up debt on account of buying stuff from other nations.

"I want us to be known for making and selling products all over the world stamped with three proud words: 'Made in America'. And we can make that happen," he said amid applause. — PTI

Warns of tough race in polls

Washington, January 12
Barack Obama, who came to power riding a wave in 2008, has cautioned his supporters that four years later, it is not going to be the same and warned donors of a close race in the November 2012 presidential elections.

Addressing his supporters at fund-raisers held in his home town of Chicago, Obama warned that winning won’t be a sure thing this time.

"We've still got a difficult economy. And that's why this is still going to be a close race," Obama said at a fund-raiser in Chicago, where he owns a home.

"I've got to tell you that if we weren't coming out of this extraordinary recession, I think the American people would make their decision very very quickly. But we’ve gone through three tough years," he said.

"You know the other side has been able to just sit on the sidelines and say no to everything, not cooperate, and then simply try to point the finger and say that somehow, this should have been fixed. And I understand that. That’s politics. That’s how Washington generally works. So this is going to be a tough battle," Obama said. — PTI

Furious Iran wants action over scientist’s killing
US says it has nothing to do with the murder

Tehran, January 12
The assassination of one of Iran's nuclear scientists sparked deep fury in Tehran today against prime suspect Israel and against the United States, which said it had nothing to do with the murder.

Some hardline newspapers even called for retaliatory action, with one, Keyhan, saying in an editorial that "assassinations of Israeli officials and military are achievable." The Iranian government's reaction was just as angry, though more measured.

In a letter demanding a strong condemnation from the UN Security Council, it said it had evidence that unnamed "foreign quarters" were behind the killing of scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan yesterday.

The 32-year-old scientist and deputy director of Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility died when two riders on a motorbike rode by his car trapped in Tehran's rush-hour traffic and slapped onto it a magnetic bomb that directed a deadly blast inside the vehicle.

The blast also killed Ahmadi Roshan's driver/bodyguard and wounded a third occupant of the Peugeot 405.

The attack was similar to four others that have occurred in Tehran in the past two years. Three scientists, at least two of whom also worked on Iran's controversial nuclear programme, died, while another - who now heads the country's atomic energy organisation - escaped just in time.

The latest attack dominated Iran's media today.

Many outlets criticised what they said was the silence of the West over the killings.

"The only way to finish with the enemy's futile actions is retaliation for the assassination of Iran's scientist," the Resalat newspaper said on its front page.

"It is legal under international law to retaliate for the killing of the nuclear scientist," the Keyhan daily said. — AFP

US framing law to increase India’s share in H-1B visa

Hyderabad, January 12
The United States is in the process of making a law to increase India's share in the much sought after H-1B visas, an American Senator said here today.

According to a report, nearly half of H-1B visa holders in the US are Indians who are hired mostly in the IT industry.

Between 2000 and 2009, 46.9 percent of the total approved H-1B visa holders had India as their country of birth.

"We are working on a legislation right now of increasing India's share in H-1B visa," Senator Mark Warner, who is co-chairing Senate India Caucus, said. — PTI

Apologise for offensive show, India tells BBC

London, January 12
India has demanded an apology from the BBC over its presenter Jeremy Clarkson mocking Indian culture during a Christmas special programme while driving around the county, calling it a "breach" of agreement.

Clarkson, one of the highest paid BBC presenters known for his controversial comments, presented the Top Gear programme, which since its broadcast prompted several complaints and allegations of racism.

In its January 6 letter to the programme's producer, Chris Hale, and copied to Mark Thompson, director-general of BBC, the high commission said the BBC was "clearly in breach of the agreement that you had entered into, completely negating our constructive and proactive facilitation".

The letter added: "The programme was replete with cheap jibes, tasteless humour and lacked cultural sensitivity. This is not clearly what we expect of the BBC. I write this to convey our deep disappointment over the documentary for its content and the tone of the presentation".

In the programme, Clarkson allegedly made controversial comments about India's trains, toilets, clothing, food and history.

The BBC has confirmed receiving 23 complaints about the programme, and added that it would directly respond to the Indian high commission's letter.

Senior Labour MP Keith Vaz, who called for a BBC apology when the programme was broadcast over Christmas, told The Telegraph last night: "It seems that the reasons given by the BBC in order to obtain their visas to go to India did not disclose the true nature of the content of this programme."

"One ridiculous programme has done a lot of damage to this good relationship. A swift apology from the BBC and Clarkson may go some way towards restoring our good relations and the reputation of the BBC in India," Vaz added.

Before leaving for India, Hale had informed the high commission in a letter dated July 21 that the trip was intended to be "light hearted... focusing on the journey and the inevitable idiosyncrasies of the cars they will drive, as well as the country and the scenery we see along the way".

Clarkson was accompanied by two presenters, Richard Hammond and James May.

Hale's letter added: "There will be spontaneous interaction between the presenters and their environment, and potentially people they meet along the way. This will be in an incidental manner, not interviews. Key ingredients of what we film will be beautiful scenery, busy city scenes, local charm and colour within these locations, areas to illustrate the local car culture that exists in India." — PTI

NRI, wife’s UK murders prompted by ‘revenge’?

London, January 12
British police today said they were keeping an "open mind" on the possibility that the twin murders of Indian-origin Avtar Singh Kolar and his English wife in Birmingham were prompted by revenge by someone affected by the work of their police officer son.

Bodies of Avtar, 62, and Carole, 58, were found in their house by their son, a police officer with West Midlands Police, yesterday, when calls to their house went unanswered. The couple were due to look after their grandchildren. When they could not be contacted, the son went to their semi-detached home and discovered their bodies. — PTI