W O R L D

Iran ready to defend against Israeli attack: Ahmadinejad
New York, September 24
Iran does not take seriously Israeli threats of attack, but is prepared to defend itself, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday, while saying that Israel has “no roots” in the history of the Middle East and would be “eliminated”.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (L) of Iran shakes hands with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon at the UN headquarters in New York. — AFP

Film fury: Massive anti-US protest in Colombo
Colombo, September 24
Thousands of Sri Lankan Muslims marched towards the heavily barricaded the US embassy today calling for ban of American brands, denouncing an anti-Islam film that has triggered protests across the world.

Sri Lankan Muslims take part in a protest against an anti-Islam film made in the US, in Colombo on Monday. — AFP

Pak party disowns bounty offer
The Awami National Party (ANP) has disowned the bounty offered by its member and federal Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour for the head of the film-maker of an anti-Islam film.

Global torchbearers of Hindi honoured Johannesburg, September 24 One was from Italy, another from Thailand and yet another from Russia... Twenty scholars from across the world were honoured at the World Hindi Conference here on Monday for being torchbearers of the language. Marko Jolly of Italy with Preneet Kaur, Minister of State for External Affairs, at the 9th World Hindi Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Monday. — PTI

BO scandal
Former top cop in China gets 15-yr jail
Beijing, September 24
A Chinese police chief, whose defection to US Consulate sparked the biggest political scandal here, was today sentenced to 15 years in jail, paving the way for the prosecution of fallen politician Bo Xilai, ahead of a generational power transfer in the ruling Communist party.

Petition against Kayani’s extension dismissed
The Islamabad High Court on Monday dismissed a petition submitted against the extension of Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s service terming it as non-maintainable. A single-member Bench comprising Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court Justice Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman heard the case.

New SARS-like virus found, man critically ill in UK
London, September 24
A Qatari man struck down with a previously unknown virus related to the deadly SARS infection and the common cold is critically ill in a hospital in Britain, the World Health Organisation said on Monday.

Iran ready to defend against Israeli attack: Ahmadinejad

New York, September 24
Iran does not take seriously Israeli threats of attack, but is prepared to defend itself, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday, while saying that Israel has “no roots” in the history of the Middle East and would be “eliminated”.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted Israel could strike Iran’s nuclear sites and has criticised US President's position that sanctions and diplomacy should be given more time to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Iran denies that it is seeking nuclear arms and says its atomic work is peaceful, aimed at generating electricity.

“Fundamentally, we do not take seriously the threats of the Zionists. We have all the defensive means at our disposal and we are ready to defend ourselves,” Ahmadinejad told reporters in New York, where he is due to attend the UN General Assembly.

"While we are fully ready to defend ourselves, we do not take such threats seriously," he said, speaking through an interpreter. Ahmadinejad alluded to his previous rejection of Israel's right to exist. "The Israelis have been occupying those territories for the last 60 to 70 years with the support and force of the Westerners. They have no roots there in history," he said. — Reuters

gmail blocked

Iran blocked access to Gmail service on Monday amid first steps by the Islamic republic to establish a walled-off national intranet separate from the worldwide Internet. — AFP

‘Will target US bases if attacked’

London: Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of aerospace division of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, has reportedly said if Tehran is targeted by Israel, then Iran would target US bases in the region. — ANI

Film fury: Massive anti-US protest in Colombo

Colombo, September 24
Thousands of Sri Lankan Muslims marched towards the heavily barricaded the US embassy today calling for ban of American brands, denouncing an anti-Islam film that has triggered protests across the world.

Around 20,000 persons carried placards urging boycott of US brand names in the second anti-US protest in the capital since Friday. The US embassy had shut down today as a precautionary measure.

Today's peaceful protest march was led by the Governor of the Western Province, Alavi Moulana of the ruling UPFA coalition.

Muslims constitute only 7 per cent of the 20 million population.

Protesters were, however, not allowed to go near the embassy which is located within close proximity to President Mahinda Rajapaksa's office. — PTI

Pak party disowns bounty offer
Afzal Khan in Islamabad

The Awami National Party (ANP) has disowned the bounty offered by its member and federal Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour for the head of the film-maker of an anti-Islam film.

In a statement on Monday, the ANP which is also part of the ruling coalition, said it rejected the $100,000 bounty offered by Bilour to anyone who killed the person behind the “Innocence of Muslims” film.

Besides affluent persons, Bilour had also invited members of the Taliban and Al-Qaida to take part in the “noble deed”. He also said that given the chance he would personally kill the maker of the movie that has sparked furious protests across the Muslim world.

US slams Pak minister

The US State Department also slammed Bilour’s remarks on Sunday terming those as inflammatory and inappropriate.

Global torchbearers of Hindi honoured

Johannesburg, September 24
One was from Italy, another from Thailand and yet another from Russia... Twenty scholars from across the world were honoured at the World Hindi Conference here on Monday for being torchbearers of the language.

Among those recognised at three-day meet ending Monday was Marko Jolly, who teaches at Ca Foscari University in Venice. Jolly, an Italian, also runs a Hindi learning centre Santro Resource India.

"I was highly impressed with Hindi, so I trained in this language and started to promote Hindi in Italy. In my university, every year at least 30-40 students enrol in Hindi classes," Jolly said.

Bamrung Kham from Thailand, who also teaches Hindi at university level, says the language was growing in popularity in his country. He guides at least 30 undergraduate Hindi students.

Another Hindi lover is Katrina Balereeba Dowbanya, who says that her efforts to attract students towards the language in her country Ukraine has paid dividends.

At least 25-30 students have completed their graduation in Hindi from Ukraine University.

Among the other foreign Hindi scholars who were awarded at the ninth edition of the conference were Peter Gerard Fredlander of Australia, Sargai Serebriyani of Russia, Dagmar Markova of Czech Republic, Sarita Budhu of Mauritius, Vanya Jarjiwa Gancheva of Bulgaria, Bholanath Narayan of Surinam and K. Zabullah Fiqri of Afganistan.

Eighteen Indian scholars were also honoured for their enriching contribution in the promotion of Hindi. — IANS

BO scandal
Former top cop in China gets 15-yr jail

Beijing, September 24
A Chinese police chief, whose defection to US Consulate sparked the biggest political scandal here, was today sentenced to 15 years in jail, paving the way for the prosecution of fallen politician Bo Xilai, ahead of a generational power transfer in the ruling Communist party.

The Intermediate People's Court in southwest China's Sichuan province convicted Bo's right-hand man Wang Lijun, 52, the former vice-mayor and police chief of Chongqing city for misuse of power, defection and corruption and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.

The court also cancelled his political rights for an year. — PTI

Petition against Kayani’s extension dismissed
Afzal Khan in Islamabad

The Islamabad High Court on Monday dismissed a petition submitted against the extension of Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s service terming it as non-maintainable. A single-member Bench comprising Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court Justice Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman heard the case.

During the hearing, Justice Hameed said that according to the Army Service Act, matters related to the armed forces services cannot be taken up by a high court. Hence, the petition is not maintainable, he said.

The petitioner Col Inamur Rehman (retd) had challenged the extension granted to Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani till November 2013.

New SARS-like virus found, man critically ill in UK

London, September 24
A Qatari man struck down with a previously unknown virus related to the deadly SARS infection and the common cold is critically ill in a hospital in Britain, the World Health Organisation said on Monday.

The UN health body put out a global alert on Sunday saying a new virus had infected the 49-year-old man who had recently travelled to Saudi Arabia - where another man with an almost identical virus had already died.

Britain's Health Protection Agency and respiratory disease experts said there was no immediate cause for concern.

"This new virus ... is different from any that have previously been identified in humans," the HPA said.

Any suggestions of a link between the virus and Saudi Arabia will cause particular concern in the build-up to next month's Muslim haj pilgrimage, when millions of people arrive in the kingdom from across the world, then return to their homes. — Reuters