The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

9 foreign tourists, 2 Pakistanis killed in Taliban attack

Islamabad, June 23
In an unprecedented attack on foreigners, Taliban militants wearing paramilitary uniforms stormed a mountaineering base camp in northern Pakistan, killing nine foreign tourists and two Pakistanis, embarrassing the PML-N government just weeks after it assumed office and offered peace talks with the insurgents.

About 14 to 16 militants targeted the camp at the Buner Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan that serves as a base for mountaineers headed for the 8,126-metre Nanga Parbat, the world's ninth-highest peak.

The attack occurred late last night but the authorities were alerted today morning, officials said.

Confusion surrounded the number and nationality of those killed in the attack in Gilgit-Baltistan, a disputed territory between Pakistan and India.

Officials said nine foreigners and one Pakistani were killed but later revised the toll to 11, including two Pakistanis.

Speaking to reporters at a military airbase after the bodies of the victims were flown to Rawalpindi, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said only four of the dead had been identified so far.

They included one American national of Chinese origin, one Nepalese and two Chinese nationals.

Officials said the other foreigners could not be identified as the attackers had taken away their documents.

"The attackers were wearing the uniform of the Gilgit Scouts. They abducted two (Pakistani) guides and demanded they take them to where the foreigners were staying. One guide was killed and the other is alive. He has been detained by the police for questioning," Khan said.

The Gilgit Scouts is a paramilitary unit that is part of the army’s Northern Light Infantry regiment.

The outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out to avenge the death of the group's deputy chief, Waliur Rehman, in a US drone strike on May 29.

Taliban spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan told the media that the attack was carried out by a new faction named Junood-e-Hafsa. — PTI

Revenge killing

Taliban gunmen disguised as soldiers targeted a camp at the Buner Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan that serves as a base for mountaineers headed for the Nanga Parbat (pic)
One American national of Chinese origin, one Nepalese and two Chinese nationals were among the killed. The other foreigners could not be identified
The outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan on Sunday claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out to avenge the death of the group's deputy chief, Waliur Rehman, in a US drone strike on May 29

‘Brighter Supermoon’ lights up world skies

Washington, June 23
Supermoon — the largest and brightest full Moon of 2013 — lit up the world skies over the weekend as the Earth’s natural satellite passed the closest point to our planet.

‘Supermoon’ is a situation when the Moon is slightly closer to Earth in its orbit than on average, and this effect is most noticeable when it occurs at the same time as a full Moon, NASA said.

So, the Moon may seem bigger although the difference in its distance from Earth is only a few per cent at such times.

It is called a Supermoon because this is a very noticeable alignment that at first glance would seem to have an effect.

The Moon's distance from Earth varies because it follows an elliptical orbit rather than a circular one.

This year the Supermoon is up to 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than a typical Full Moon is. This is a result of the Moon reaching its perigree — the closest that it gets to the Earth during the course of its orbit, NASA said.

During perigree, the Moon is about 356,992 km away, as compared to the 405,696 km away that it is at its furthest distance from the Earth (apogee).

The effects on Earth from a Supermoon are minor, and according to the most detailed studies by terrestrial seismologists and volcanologists, the combination of the Moon being at its closest to Earth in its orbit, and being in its ‘full moon’ configuration (relative to the Earth and Sun), should not affect the internal energy balance of the Earth.

Scientists have dismissed notions that the phenomenon could cause bizarre behaviour or natural disasters. Its most significant impact is likely to be on the tide.

Experts say the next ‘Supermoon’ is expected to appear in August 2014. — PTI

14% larger, 30% brighter

‘Supermoon’ is a situation when the Moon is slightly closer to Earth in its orbit than on average

This effect is most noticeable when it occurs at the same time as a full Moon

This year the Supermoon is up to 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than a typical Full Moon

Next ‘Supermoon’ is expected to appear in August 2014

Snowden arrives in Moscow

Moscow, June 23
Former US spy Edward Snowden today arrived in Russia from Hong Kong, reportedly on his way to Venezuela, escaping the clutches of US justice at least for now in a shock development sure to infuriate Washington.

Snowden, the target of a US arrest warrant issued on Friday after he blew the lid on massive secret surveillance programmes, arrived in Moscow on a direct flight operated by Russian flag carrier Aeroflot.

The Hong Kong government said earlier it had "no legal basis" to prevent Snowden from leaving because the US government had failed to provide enough information to justify its provisional arrest warrant for the former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor.

Snowden landed at the Sheremetyevo airport in the north of Moscow at 5.05 pm (1835 IST) but there was no immediate official confirmation of where he would head next, an AFP correspondent at the airport said.

Meanwhile, Snowden has asked for asylum in Ecuador, its foreign minister today said. Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino made the announcement of Snowden's asylum request on his Twitter account. "The government of Ecuador has received an asylum request from Edward J Snowden," Patino said. — AFP

Kabul seeks Qatar’s reply on Taliban office

Kabul, June 23
The Afghanistan government today said it is still waiting for a full explanation of how the Taliban were allowed to open an office in Qatar that was akin to an embassy, flying the militant group's flag and using its formal name from the years it ruled the country.

But Foreign Ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai said the Afghan government remains willing to send a peace delegation to Doha to negotiate with the Taliban once it has its explanation, as well as assurances that the office will be nothing more than a place for talks.

"The Afghan government remains fully committed to pursue a process of peace negotiations with the armed opposition, including the Taliban, but within the confines of the conditions and the principles and the assurances that we have established," Mosazai told reporters in Kabul.

The diplomatic incident served as a reminder of just how difficult a task lies ahead in getting all sides to the negotiating table after nearly 12 years of war. — AP

38 Taliban militants killed

Thirty-eight Taliban militants were killed in separate military operations launched in Afghanistan since Saturday, the Afghanistan government said on Sunday. The joint security operations were carried out by Afghan National Police, the army and the NATO-led coalition forces in the provinces of Nangarhar, Parwan, Kandahar, Zabul, Uruzgan, Wardak, Logar, Ghazni and Helmand, Xinhua reported.

PM’s daughter honoured for work in human rights law

New York, June 23
Prominent legal activist Amrit Singh has been honoured for her groundbreaking work in the field of human rights law, along with a number of other noted Indian-Americans, including US Congressman Ami Bera and USAID chief Rajiv Raj Shah.

Amrit (43), the youngest daughter of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is a senior legal officer for the National Security and Counterterrorism at the New York-based Open Society Justice Initiative.

She received the India Abroad Publisher's Special Award for Excellence 2012, at the event organised by 'India Abroad' on Friday to honour Indian-American achievers in a wide range of professions.

Amrit's report 'Globalising Torture: CIA Secret Torture and Extraordinary Rendition', published by the Open Society Justice Initiative, received widespread attention in the international media for its close look at the global torture network, after its release in February. — PTI

Coalgate
Cong MP Jindal to be quizzed this week
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 23
The CBI is likely to question Congress MP Naveen Jindal this week for allegedly misrepresenting facts for the allocation of the Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand. The CBI has registered a case against Jindal, along with the then Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao, in this regard.

Earlier, Jindal’s residential and official premises were raided by CBI sleuths. At that time, Jindal was not in India. His absence meant that a few locked cupboards could not be searched.

The searches were completed this Friday when he returned from abroad.

A source said that the CBI had decided to question Jindal this week but he refused to give the exact date.

According to the FIR, Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) and Gagan Sponge Iron Limited - firms belonging to Jindal - had bagged Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand in 2008 by alleged misrepresentation of facts when Rao was the Minister of State for Coal.

JSPL had applied for the coal blocks in 2007. These were allocated in January 2008.

Brazil hit by fresh protests

Demonstrators clash with police near the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte on Saturday. — Reuters

Belo Horizonte, June 23
Fresh protests have rocked Brazil despite conciliatory remarks by President Dilma Rousseff, who pledged to improve public services and fight harder against corruption.

Rousseff's televised address on Friday appeared to have failed to sway protesters, as protests were held in over 100 cities yesterday and activists vowed to continue the struggle and ordinarily football-mad Brazilians once again protested outside Confederations Cup games. Over 70,000 people chanting "The Cup for whom?" rallied in the south-eastern city of Belo Horizonte.

The police fired tear gas when some protesters hurled stones and tried to break through the security perimeter around the Mineirao Stadium. Over 25 persons, including five police officers, were reported injured in the clashes, and another 22 protesters were arrested. — AFP