W O R L D

Sushil Koirala elected Nepalese PM
Kathmandu, February 10
Veteran Nepali Congress leader Sushil Koirala, who spent 16 years in India in self-exile, was today elected as Nepal's Prime Minister with the support of the CPN-UML, ending months of political crisis following last year's fractured verdict in polls.

Nepalese PM Sushil Koirala in Kathmandu on Monday. Reuters

Geneva talks begin on sour note amid violence in Syria
Beirut/Geneva, February 10
At least 40 people were killed by rebels in central Syria even as the second round of peace talks between the Syrian government and the opposition bogged down quickly today in Geneva in recriminations about who was responsible for escalating violence that has killed hundreds in the past few days and disrupted food aid for trapped civilians.

Men carrying children run out of a burning building following a barrel bomb attack in Aleppo city. AFP

Talks with Pak Taliban council ‘positive’
Peshawar, February 10
Pakistani Taliban's top negotiator today said dialogue with the banned militant group's political council was "positive" and its details would be discussed with the government in a day or two.

Swiss immigration vote angers Europe
Zurich, February 10
European partners threatened on Monday to review their relations with Switzerland after voters in the Alpine nation narrowly backed a proposal to curtail immigration from the EU in a referendum that has also unsettled Swiss business.

Musical protest: A musician plays a piano near barricades in Kiev on Monday. Ukrainian protesters kept up pressure on President Viktor Yanukovich with a mass rally, caling for an end to his “dictatorial” powers. Reuters

Terror charges on marines can hurt ties: Italy to India
Rome, February 10
Italy said on Monday that India's relations with Rome and with the European Union could suffer if two Italian marines accused of killing two fishermen are tried under an anti-piracy and anti-terrorism act.

special to the tribune
Wealthy Indians among top buyers of London homes
Wealthy Indians have once again emerged as among the top non-British buyers of premium homes in the British capital of London. According to a new survey Indian buyers spent some £449 million - just under 5,000 crores - to purchase 221 properties in key parts of London.

S'pore riot: Indian gets 15 weeks in jail
Singapore, February 10
An Indian, part of 25 compatriots charged with involvement in Singapore's worst riot in 40 years, today became the first person to be sentenced in the case - receiving 15 weeks in jail by a court here.

Iran won’t compromise on missile programme
Tehran, February 10
Iran's ballistic missile programme will not be discussed in nuclear negotiations with world powers, the deputy foreign minister said in statements published today. The remarks by Abbas Araqchi, who is also Iran's lead negotiator in talks with world powers, came a week before negotiations were to resume on an accord over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Sushil Koirala elected Nepalese PM

Kathmandu, February 10
Veteran Nepali Congress leader Sushil Koirala, who spent 16 years in India in self-exile, was today elected as Nepal's Prime Minister with the support of the CPN-UML, ending months of political crisis following last year's fractured verdict in polls. Koirala, 74, the sole contestant in the race for premiership, was elected with 405 votes in favour in the 601-member Constituent Assembly.

Indian connection

• Nepali Congress leader Sushil Koirala spent 16 years in India
• He served six years in prison in Nepal and India
• He went to India in 1960 after the then king suspended democracy and jailed dozens, including his relatives
• He expects assistance from India and China to bring stability to the Himalayan nation

Indian PM congratulates Koirala

Geneva talks begin on sour note amid violence in Syria

Beirut/Geneva, February 10
At least 40 people were killed by rebels in central Syria even as the second round of peace talks between the Syrian government and the opposition bogged down quickly today in Geneva in recriminations about who was responsible for escalating violence that has killed hundreds in the past few days and disrupted food aid for trapped civilians.

Talks with Pak Taliban council ‘positive’

Peshawar, February 10
Pakistani Taliban's top negotiator today said dialogue with the banned militant group's political council was "positive" and its details would be discussed with the government in a day or two.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-S) leader Samiul Haq, while addressing the media in a live press conference at Akora Khattak in northwest Pakistan, said issues cannot be solved in a few minutes as it needs patience.

"We appeal to nation for prayers as things are complicated," he said adding that one cannot be sentimental about the dialogue. Asked about Taliban's demands, he said, "I cannot share it with you. If I do then the talks will be hampered. I will meet with the government committee tomorrow or day after tomorrow. I will inform them." He described the interaction with the Taliban as "positive and encouraging". Haq, known as "the Father of the Taliban", runs Darul Uloom Haqqania, a madrassa where several Taliban leaders were educated.

In the 1980s, many young graduates of the madrassa, including Taliban chief Mullah Mohammed Omar, picked up guns to fight the Russians in neighbouring Afghanistan. — PTI

Swiss immigration vote angers Europe

Zurich, February 10
European partners threatened on Monday to review their relations with Switzerland after voters in the Alpine nation narrowly backed a proposal to curtail immigration from the EU in a referendum that has also unsettled Swiss business.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius described the vote, initiated by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) and opposed by the government in Berne, as a "worrying" move that showed Switzerland was withdrawing into itself.

"We’re going to review our relations with Switzerland," Fabius told RTL radio. Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said while Berlin respected the result, it would create "considerable problems" for Switzerland's relationship with the EU. The European Commission said it went against the principle of free movement between the Alpine nation and the EU that has existed for over a decade.

“The EU will examine the implications of this initiative on EU-Swiss relations as a whole," the Commission said. Switzerland is not a member of the 28-nation EU, but a pact with Brussels has ensured the free movement of citizens to and from the bloc since 2002.

The vote to reintroduce immigration quotas threatens that pact. — Reuters

France, Germany to review ties

• The vote has threatened the pact with Brussels that has ensured the free movement of citizens to and from the European Union since 2002
• The European Commission said it went against the principle of free movement between the Alpine nation and the EU that has existed for over a decade.
• France and Germany have threaten to review their bilateral relations with the Alpine nation

Terror charges on marines can hurt ties: Italy to India

Rome, February 10
Italy said on Monday that India's relations with Rome and with the European Union could suffer if two Italian marines accused of killing two fishermen are tried under an anti-piracy and anti-terrorism act.

Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, part of a military security team protecting a cargo ship off the Indian coast, say they thought the fishermen were pirates and fired shots to warn them off in February 2012.

In a case that has become politically sensitive in both countries, they deny killing anyone or aiming directly at the fishing boat. India's attorney general said on Friday the two would be tried for the deaths of the fishermen under anti-piracy and anti-terrorism laws but that the death penalty would not be imposed.

"Italy is not a terrorist country," a statement from Prime Minister Enrico Letta's office said. The Indian Supreme Court is due to decide later this month to validate or reject the attorney general's request. "This is a decision that would harm Italy's dignity as a sovereign state," a government statement added. "...It would bring about negative consequences in relations with Italy and the European Union, with equally negative repercussions on the global fight against piracy."

Charges have yet to be filed against the two marines, partly due to confusion as to which law should be used to prosecute the men, who are on bail but cannot leave India. — Reuters

special to the tribune
Wealthy Indians among top buyers of London homes
Shyam Bhatia in London

Wealthy Indians have once again emerged as among the top non-British buyers of premium homes in the British capital of London. According to a new survey Indian buyers spent some £449 million - just under 5,000 crores - to purchase 221 properties in key parts of London.

The survey was carried out by aviation firm Beechcraft Corporation and says that the number of London properties sold for more than £1 million (Rs 10 crores+) hit 6,145 last year (2013) and nearly half went to non-British buyers who spent some £5.1 billion to buy their properties.

The Russians were the biggest buyers, spending more than £536 million on 264 properties, followed by Indians and Italians.

A spokesman for Beechcraft was quoted as saying: "London is one of the most desirable cities in the world, and it is no surprise its prime property market is attracting so many buyers from outside of Britain." His company's research was based on figures released by the UK's Land Registry.

This is not the first time that Indians have been revealed as big players in the London property market. Super rich billionaires like Lakshmi Mittal have always been associated with plush London homes. But three years ago in 2011, London property specialists Knight Frank confirmed the new trend of millionaire Indians also buying London properties. Back in 2011 Indian buyers were third in place after the Russians and Chinese. This is the first time that Indians have overtaken Chinese property buyers in London.

Another property expert commented how "Indians are a force to be reckoned with this year as they continue to buy prime residences in London. The favourable exchange rate brought foreign investors to the city's property market in 2010."

Another expert added at the time, "Indians have a preference for areas such as Mayfair, Belgravia, Regent's Park, St John's Wood.

"The super high net worth individuals look for very substantial properties at the very top of the price range, probably in the £50 million plus bracket, while high net worth Indian buyers have budgets of £10 to 20 million".

Some British economists are concerned at how rich foreigners, including Indians, have not been put off by the massive jump in London property prices which rose 11.2 per cent last year to hit an average of £403,792.

These price rises, both current and those expected in the future, have prompted think tank Civitas to propose restrictions on foreign property investment in London, as a way of reducing house price inflation, as well as tackling the problem of young families being priced out of the market.

S'pore riot: Indian gets 15 weeks in jail

Singapore, February 10
An Indian, part of 25 compatriots charged with involvement in Singapore's worst riot in 40 years, today became the first person to be sentenced in the case - receiving 15 weeks in jail by a court here.

Chinnappa Vijayaragunatha Poopathi, 32, a construction worker, had pleaded guilty on Friday to an amended charge of failing to disperse during the Little India riot on December 8 under Section 151 of the Penal Code.

It was believed to be the first time that Section 151 has been invoked in Singapore.

He was initially charged with rioting, punishable by up to seven years in prison and caning. The charge was amended after the Attorney-General's Chambers considered factors that included the extent of the accused's involvement in the riot. — PTI

Iran won’t compromise on missile programme

Tehran, February 10
Iran's ballistic missile programme will not be discussed in nuclear negotiations with world powers, the deputy foreign minister said in statements published today. The remarks by Abbas Araqchi, who is also Iran's lead negotiator in talks with world powers, came a week before negotiations were to resume on an accord over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

"Iran's defence-related issues are not up for negotiations," Araqchi said, according to media reports. "We will not discuss any issue other than the nuclear dossier in the negotiations," he added.

US lead negotiator in the talks, Wendy Sherman, last week told a Senate hearing that Iran's ballistic missile programme would be addressed in the comprehensive deal. Talks on a comprehensive nuclear agreement will resume on February 18 in Vienna. — AFP