The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Prez Obama writes secret letter to Iran’s Khamenei Seeks support for military campaign against Islamic State Washington, November 7 US President Barack Obama has written a secret letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to seek his support for the military campaign against the Islamic State, drawing sharp reaction from Republican lawmkers who blame Tehran for the rise of the dreaded militant group. Obama wrote the letter to Khamenei last month, the Wall Street Journal said. "Mr Obama stressed to Mr Khamenei that any cooperation on Islamic State was largely contingent on Iran reaching a comprehensive agreement with global powers on the future of Tehran's nuclear programme by a November 24 diplomatic deadline," said the daily, which based its report on anonymous sources. This is the fourth letter that Obama has written to the top Iranian leader since coming to power in 2009. "The correspondence underscores that Mr Obama views Iran as important-whether in a potentially constructive or negative role-to his emerging military and diplomatic campaign to push Islamic State from the territories it has gained over the past six months," The Wall Street Journal said. Two top American Senators — John McCain and Lindsey Graham — expressed their outrage over the letter. "It is outrageous that, while the cries of moderate Syrian forces for greater US assistance fall on deaf ears in the White House, President Obama is apparently urging Ayatollah Khamenei to join the fight against ISIS," McCain and Graham said in a statement. The White House neither confirmed nor denied the existence of the letter arguing that it would not comment on the private communications between two world leaders. "I'm not in a position to discuss private correspondence between the President and any world leader. I can tell you that the policy that the President and his administration have articulated about Iran remains unchanged," the White House Press Secretary, Josh Earnest, told reporters at his daily news conference. — PTI Jihadists using cruise ships to reach Syria People trying to join militant groups in Iraq and Syria have been travelling on cruise ships in order to avoid airport surveillance to reach the conflicted areas in the Middle East, said the Interpol. Interpol said checks to passenger lists should be extended to cruise operators from airlines before the issue becomes more grievous There are no figures on how many militants have taken this route to travel to war zones in the Middle East as yet. A recent UN report said there were around 15,000 foreign jihadists from more than 80 countries fighting with Islamic State and other extremist groups in Syria and Iraq }Mr Obama stressed to Mr Khamenei that any cooperation on Islamic State was largely contingent on Iran reaching a comprehensive agreement with global powers on the future of Tehran's nuclear programme by a November 24 diplomatic deadline.~ Wall Street Journal }It is outrageous that while the cries of moderate Syrian forces for greater US assistance fall on deaf ears in the White House, President Obama is apparently urging Khamenei to join the fight against ISIS.~ John McCain and Lindsey Graham, american senators
	IS shuts down schools in Syria Plans religious revision of curriculum Beirut, November 7 Islamic State has shut all schools in areas it controls in eastern Syria pending a religious revision of the curriculum, residents and a monitoring group said on Friday. Islamic State is tightening its rules on civilian life in Deir al-Zor province, which fell under near-complete control of the Islamist militant group this summer. The government still controls a military air base and other small pockets. The announcement came on Wednesday, after Islamic State held a meeting with school administrators at a local mosque on the outskirts of Deir al-Zor city, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors all sides of the conflict. "Islamic State informed them that teachers shall undergo a religious instructional course for one month, and that Islamic State officials were currently developing a new curriculum instead of the current 'infidel' education," the Observatory statement said. At the start of the academic year in September, Islamic State revised the school curriculum in areas it controls, eliminating physics and chemistry while promoting Islamic teachings. "They've announced that they will only teach religion and a little bit of mathematics. Their rationale is that all knowledge belongs to the creator, so even the multiplication table shouldn't be taught," said an activist called Abu Hussein al Deiri. Some locals protested the school shutdown, according to footage posted online by activists. It showed two dozen girls and boys appearing to be under 12 years of age marching with a few female teachers clad in black veils as required by Islamic State since the beginning of the academic year. — Reuters Tightening the noose Islamic State is tightening its rules on civilian life in Deir al-Zor province, which fell under near-complete control of the Islamist militant group In September, Islamic State revised the school curriculum in areas it controls, eliminating physics and chemistry while promoting Islamic teachings Their latest move aims to further reduce the school day into several hours of religious learning at the expense of academic subjects
	HK protest leaders request formal meeting with Beijing Hong Kong, November 7 Hong Kong protest leaders made a formal request today to speak with China over political reform, calling on a pro-Beijing politician to act as their mediator. Protest numbers have dwindled since mass rallies mobilised tens of thousands demanding fully free elections for the city's next leader. But demonstrators are still entrenched at key intersections with a "tent city" spread across the main Admiralty site. Fruitless talks with the Hong Kong government two weeks ago have led to an impasse and protest leaders now want to bypass the unpopular local administration altogether. Leading protest group the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) presented an open letter today to the city's former leader Tung Chee-hwa requesting his help to arrange a meeting with Beijing officials. "We hope Tung can show political generosity... and help arrange a meeting between students and Chinese officials either in Hong Kong or in Beijing so that we can directly express the situation in the city," the federation said in the letter published today. The Hong Kong government "did not have the ability to respond" to student demands, HKFS said, adding that they hoped to hear back from Tung by Sunday. "Tung Chee-hwa is well-respected from the perspective of Beijing and was the former chief executive of Hong Kong so I think he is in a good position to mediate," political analyst Sonny Lo told AFP. "There is a window of opportunity here," he said. Tung's office had no immediate comment. HKFS had considered trying to gatecrash the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) global financial summit of global leaders in Beijing, but abandoned the plans saying the possibility of actually meeting Chinese officials was too remote. — AFP
	NATO sees increase in Russian troops along Ukraine border Brussels, November 7 NATO has seen an increase in Russian troops and equipment along the Ukraine border and is looking into reports of Russian tanks crossing the border into eastern Ukraine, a NATO military officer said on Friday. "We are aware of the reports of Russian troops and tanks crossing the border between Ukraine and Russia and are looking into these reports. We can confirm a recent increase in Russian troops and equipment along the eastern border of Ukraine," the officer said, on condition of anonymity. "If this crossing into Ukraine is confirmed it would be further evidence of Russia's aggression and direct involvement in destabilizing Ukraine," he said, after the Kiev military said a column of tanks, howitzer artillery systems and trucks had crossed into eastern Ukraine from Russia. Meanwhile, Kremlin said on Friday that Russia was committed to the peace process in eastern Ukraine and wants further talks on ending the conflict between government forces and separatists. Foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov also said Russia respects the will of voters in the east after a separatist leadership election regarded as illegitimate by the West. But, following Western criticism of Moscow's stance on Sunday's vote, Ushakov said Moscow had deliberately chosen the word "respect" rather than "recognise". "We support the continuation of the Minsk process and advocate holding another meeting of the Contact Group," Ushakov told reporters, referring to a ceasefire agreement reached at talks in the Belarussian capital, Minsk, on September 5. Ushakov was speaking before Kiev said an armoured column including 32 tanks had crossed from Russia into Ukraine on Thursday. Asked about the Russian government's use of the word "respect" instead of "recognise" for the November 2 elections in eastern Ukraine, he said: "These are different words." "The word 'respect' was chosen deliberately ... We fundamentally respect the will of the voters," he said. — Reuters
	Pak lobbyist under lens for ‘spying’ Washington, November 7 Veteran American diplomat Robin Raphel, known for her strong pro-Pakistan leanings, has been placed under federal counter intelligence investigation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) searched the homes of Raphel and also her State Department office, which has been sealed, according to media reports. At the time of raids, she was an advisor on Pakistan in Office of Special Representatives for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the State Department. Her contract with the State Department expired last week. It is unclear whether she is the target of the investigation, or what agents were searching for. “We are aware of this law enforcement matter. The State Department has been cooperating with our law enforcement colleagues,” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said. Raphel is “no longer a department employee,” she added. In 1993, she was appointed as America’s first Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs. She later served as the US Ambassador to Tunisia and in the 2000s, was appointed to or held a number of official positions related to her expertise on South Asia. She was also posted in Britain and India. According to The Washington Post, which first reported about it, US officials acknowledged that the FBI conducted a search at Raphel’s home on October 21 but would not provide details of the search. Agents removed bags and boxes from the home, but it is not clear what was seized there or at her office. At the State Department, Raphel’s office remained dark and locked, the daily said. The exact nature of the investigation remained unclear but the Post cited two U.S. officials as saying it was a counterintelligence matter, which usually involves spying allegations. After her retirement and before returning to the State Department, Raphel worked as a lobbyist for Cassidy & Associates, a Washington-based government relations firm. She represented Pakistan, Equatorial Guinea and Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government, according to federal disclosure forms. “Espionage cases involving State Department officials are relatively rare,” the daily reported. Because of her stand on Kashmir and pro-Pakistan leanings, Raphel was extremely unpopular in India. — PTI Veteran American diplomat * In 1993, she was appointed as America's first Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs * She later served as the US Ambassador to Tunisia and in the 2000s, was appointed to or held a number of official positions related to her expertise on South Asia * After her retirement and before returning to the State Department, Raphel worked as a lobbyist for Cassidy & Associates, a Washington-based government relations firm * She represented Pakistan, Equatorial Guinea and Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government, according to federal disclosure forms