W O R L D

Taliban suicide wing chief killed in drone strike
Islamabad, January 7 
A top Pakistani Taliban leader, said to be the chief of the terror outfit’s "fidai" or suicide wing, was among the 16 persons killed in a drone strike in the country's northwest tribal region, media reports said on Monday.

Obama nominates Hagel as Defence Secretary, Brennan as CIA chief
Washington, January 7 
US President Barack Obama today named former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as his next Defence Secretary and also nominated his counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan, who was involved in the planning of the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, as the new CIA chief.
Barack Obama (L) with John Brennan. — AFP file photo

Chinese stage rare protest against censorship
Guangzhou (China), Jan 7 
Scores of supporters of one of China’s most liberal newspapers demonstrated outside its headquarters on Monday in a rare protest against censorship, backing an unusual strike by journalists against interference by the provincial propaganda chief.

Eric Schmidt and Bill Richardson (L) leave after a meeting at a hotel in Beijing on Monday. — AP/PTI

Taliban suicide wing chief killed in drone strike

Islamabad, January 7
A top Pakistani Taliban leader, said to be the chief of the terror outfit’s "fidai" or suicide wing, was among the 16 persons killed in a drone strike in the country's northwest tribal region, media reports said on Monday.

Wali Muhammad alias Toofan Mehsud was believed to be killed in the attack in south Waziristan on Sunday, Xinhua reported citing local media.

However, there was no official confirmation about his death.

Five American drones had on Sunday fired eight missiles, destroying three militant hideouts.

The strike came a few days after a similar attack on Thursday that killed Taliban commander Mullah Nazir and nine other militants in south Waziristan.

Dawn News said Wali Muhammad was the cousin of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud.

One of the destroyed compounds belonged to Qari Imran, leader of the Punjabi Taliban, an outfit affiliated to the main terror group.

Sources told Dawn that Wali Muhammad had been recently elevated to head the "fidai" wing after the death of its leader Qari Hussain in a drone strike in Mirali, north Waziristan.

Another victim in Sunday’s drone strike was identified as Sailab.

Most of those killed belonged to the Mehsud tribe.

Pakistan has been regularly protesting the drone strikes, but the US has turned a deaf ear to it and continues to press ahead with air strikes in the northwest tribal areas along the Afghan border. — IANS 

Obama nominates Hagel as Defence Secretary, Brennan as CIA chief

Washington, January 7
US President Barack Obama today named former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as his next Defence Secretary and also nominated his counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan, who was involved in the planning of the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, as the new CIA chief.

Obama, while nominating Hagel, praised his "willingness to speak his mind" and said Hagel "understands that America stands strongest when we stand with allies and with friends." If confirmed by the Senate, 66-year-old Hagel would replace, Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta.

Brennan, a former CIA analyst and CIA station head in Saudi Arabia before he joined the 2008 Obama Campaign and then his administration, would replace Gen David Petraeus (retired), who resigned last year citing extra-marital affairs.

Obama, while nominating Brennan as the new director of the CIA, praised him, saying, "John is legendary even in the White House." Before Christmas, Obama had nominated Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as his next Secretary of State, to replace Hillary Clinton. — PTI

Chinese stage rare protest against censorship

Guangzhou (China), Jan 7
Scores of supporters of one of China’s most liberal newspapers demonstrated outside its headquarters on Monday in a rare protest against censorship, backing an unusual strike by journalists against interference by the provincial propaganda chief.

Demonstrators gather near the headquarters of Southern Weekly newspaper in Guangzhou on Monday. — Reuters

The protest in Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong province, comes amid an escalating standoff between the government and the people over press freedom. It is also an early test of Communist Party Chief Xi Jinping's commitment to reform.

The outcry began late last week after reporters at the influential Southern Weekly newspaper accused censors of replacing an original New Year's letter to readers that called for a constitutional government with another piece lauding the party's achievements.

The police allowed the demonstration outside the headquarters of the Southern Group, illustrating that the Guangdong Government, led by newly appointed and rising political star Hu Chunhua, wants to tread carefully to contain rising public anger over censorship.

The protesters, most of them young, laid down small hand-written signs that said "freedom of expression is not a crime" and "Chinese people want freedom". Many clutched yellow chrysanthemums, symbolising mourning the death of press freedom.

"The Nanfang (Southern) Media Group is relatively willing to speak the truth in China so we need to stand up for its courage and support it now," Ao Jiayang, a young NGO worker with bright orange dyed hair, said.

"We hope that through this we can fight for media freedom in China," Ao said. "Today's turnout reflects that more and more people in China have a civic consciousness." — Reuters

India should open up sensitive sectors, says US report

Washington, January 7
India should fully open “even supposedly sensitive” sectors such as finance, defence, atomic energy and FDI, a leading US think-tank said today. It also stressed that Washington and New Delhi cannot afford to fail as it was important to maintain "favourable" balance of power in Asia.

Observing that the evolving India-US strategic partnership holds great potential for both countries, the prestigious Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, stressed that both sides must now take steps to make the partnership fruitful.

It came out with a set of recommendations for both the Manmohan Singh Government and the Obama Administration, which is now preparing for its second term.

Recommendations for India include expanding the basis for collaboration, undertaking planned second-generation economic reforms, encouraging FDI, improving defence cooperation with key states and using its influence with Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons programme. — PTI

US Guv, Google boss arrive in N Korea

Seoul, January 7
Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt began a controversial private mission to North Korea on Monday that may include an effort to secure the release of an imprisoned American, the media reported.

The trip comes after North Korea carried out a long range rocket test last month and as the reclusive state continues work on its nuclear testing facilities according to satellite imagery, potentially paving the way for a third nuclear bomb test.

South Korean broadcaster MBC said the delegation comprising Schmidt, his daughter, Richardson and Google executive Jared Cohen were due to travel to Pyongyang from Beijing on North Korean state carrier Air Koryo.

North Korea's KCNA state news agency later said they had arrived. It gave no details.

The mission has been criticised by the White House due to the sensitivity of the timing. The United States does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea and the isolated and impoverished state remains technically at war with South Korea.

South Korea is in the midst of a transition to a new President who will take office in February. — Reuters

BRIEFLY

Malala top name, Apocalypse top word of 2012
Los Angeles: Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in her head by the Taliban, has become the top name of 2012 along with Apocalypse, reflecting a growing fascination with 'end-of-the-world' scenario, which emerged as the top word. Korean rapper Psy's infectious viral hit song 'Gangnam Style' was the top phrase of the year, according to the 13th annual global survey of English language done by Global Language Monitor, which analyses the latest trends in word usage and their cultural impact. — PTI

Actors from The Bankside Mummers group perform in a folk play near the Globe Theatre in central London on Sunday, in celebration of Twelfth Night, marking the end of the 12 days of winter festivities. — AFP

CJ’s impeachment: Panel appointed
Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed a four-member independent panel to review a parliamentary committee's impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, apparently in the wake of widespread criticism. Presidential spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said the panel would start work on Monday to review the report of the Parliament Select Committee, but did not name the members. — PTI

50 dead sharks found off Fiji
Suva: Around 50 baby hammerhead sharks were found dead along the Nukulau island beachfront in Fiji over the weekend, media reports said on Monday. The Great Fiji Shark Count will work with the ministry of fisheries to ascertain how the incident occurred, Xinhua reported citing the Fiji Times. Nanise Ledua, a member of the Great Fiji Shark Count, said a team would go to Nukulau island to gather samples of the dead sharks and determine the cause of their deaths. Ledua said the “toxic spill theory” was not possible as other species of fish and other marine creatures were not affected. The other possibility was the change in water temperature, but this could not be confirmed. — IANS

90-yr-old Saudi weds 15-yr-old girl
Dubai: A 90-year-old Saudi man's marriage to a 15-year-old girl in exchange for a fat $17,500 dowry has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights and social media activists in the kingdom. The frightened girl locked out her husband refusing him entry to the bedroom for two successive days before fleeing back to her parents’ home, the Al-Arabia reported. — PTI

Indian woman gets life for killing son
London: An Indian-origin mother, who beat her 7-year-old son to death “like a dog” for failing to memorise the Quran, was on Monday sentenced to life for killing him and setting his body afire to hide evidence after applying barbeque gel. A sobbing Sara Ege, 33, collapsed and had to be helped from the dock after being told that she would serve 17 years before she could be considered for parole. — PTI

Hillary returns to work after illness
Washington: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton returned to work on Monday after a month-long absence due to health scares, including a potentially dangerous clot in her head, as she met top officials at the State Department. She has not been seen in public since December 7. — PTI