सजा पूरी होने पर भी पाक जेलों में बंद 25 भारतीय

लाहौर। सजा पूरी होने के बावजूद 25 भारतीय कैदी पाकिस्तान की जेलों में बंद हैं। पाकिस्तान के मशहूर मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता अंसार बर्नी ने राष्ट्रपति आसिफ अली जरदारी के समक्ष इन कैदियों का मामला उठाया है।
जरदारी को लिखे पत्र में बर्नी ने भारतीय बंदियों की हिरासत को 'गैरकानूनी' करार देते हुए उन्हें तत्काल रिहा करने की मांग की है। बर्नी के अनुसार, 'सजा पूरी होने के बावजूद भारतीय बंदियों को हिरासत में रखना गैरकानूनी और मानवाधिकारों का सरासर उल्लंघन है।' पाकिस्तान के पूर्व मानवाधिकार मंत्री बर्नी ने भारतीय कैदी किरपाल सिंह और सरबजीत सिंह की मौत की सजा को उम्र कैद में बदलने की गुहार लगाई है।
जेल में बंद भारतीय कैदियों में मुंबई निवासी 38 वर्षीय टीना पेका भी हैं। पेका को 12 साल पहले गिरफ्तार किया गया था। उन्हें एक हजार रुपये जुर्माने के साथ एक वर्ष की सजा दी गई थी। मानसिक रूप से विक्षिप्त भारतीय महिला बोला को 2007 से अपनी रिहाई का इंतजार है।
सजा पूरी करने के बावजूद पाकिस्तानी जेलों में बंद अन्य भारतीय कैदियों के नाम हैं:-
नकाया
राम प्रकाश
साजू राम
गणेश पांदी (29)
गोमघ सिंह
दीन मुहम्मद
शहाबुद्दीन मीर (63)
इलियास
गोपाल दास (49)
मुहम्मद मुस्लिमुद्दीन
रामू राम
खुर्शीद अहमद
आरिफ हिदायत
कासिम मुहम्मद अमीन (66)
सुरजीत सिंह (69)
कुलदीप सिंह (37)
कुलदीप कुमार (41)
मंगा सिंह (34)
बिरजू (28)

Pitt donates $1m to cancer ward

Hollywood actor Brad Pitt and his siblings have donated $1m (£612,000) to help open a new paediatric cancer centre in the US.
The ward will be named after their mother in honour of her passion for children's issues.
The money was given to St John's Hospital in Springfield, Missouri - the town where Pitt and his brother and sister grew up.

Swine flu: Three more cases in Wellington

There are now 109 confirmed cases of swine flu in New Zealand, with 23 of them coming in the last 24 hours.
Of the 23 latest cases, seven cases are in Auckland, three in Wellington and 13 in Christchurch.
The Health Ministry said that while the number of cases was increasing, there are still relatively few cases and only isolated instances of community transmission.
The public interest in swine flu had been significant with 1500 calls answered at Healthline yesterday, almost double the usual amount.

There is a possibility of a Russian thaw in Indo-Pak relations. For the first time after 26/11, there will be a one-on-one meeting between the heads of the two countries.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari will meet on Tuesday on the sidelines of a BRIC summit.
There are two views on whether they should meet at all. Some say that Pakistan has just released Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed and they are not serious about tackling any terrorism that targets India. A second view believes that what the terrorists want is a cold war between India and Pakistan, and a warmer peaceful relationship would defeat that,But the Indian government has hinted at a softening of its stand, and a possible thaw with Islamabad - something even the Prime Minister confirmed.
"During my visit, I look forward to meeting and exchanging views with the other world leaders who will be present in Yekaterinburg," said Manmohan before leaving for Russia.
Singh and Zardari will have a bilateral meeting, but sources say the comprehensive dialogue process may not restart, yet, the dialogue even if it resumes, could be in a different form

Making Honesty a Policy in Indonesia Cafes

SAMARINDA, Indonesia — A country not known for its transparent practices in business, politics and many other areas, Indonesia is pressing ahead in its long-running anticorruption drive by opening up cashier-free “honesty cafes” across the archipelago.

During a break at a high school here one recent morning, Selica Erlindi, 15, a 10th grader who wants to be a pediatrician, picked a drink and a bag of spicy cassava chips from the local honesty cafe’s shelves. Then, in keeping with the cafe’s goal of nurturing probity among its customers and society at large, she deposited, on the honor system, the equivalent of 60 cents inside a clear plastic box. As part of a national campaign led by the attorney general’s office, the provincial government here on the eastern shore of the island of Borneo opened a dozen honesty cafes last month alone in schools and government offices. By 2010, the provincial government here plans to have more than 1,000 such cafes in operation, including in private establishments.
The attorney general’s office says the honesty cafes will nip in the bud corrupt tendencies among the young and straighten out those known for indulging in corrupt practices, starting with civil servants. By shifting the responsibility of paying correctly to the patrons themselves, the cafes are meant to force people to think constantly about whether they are being honest and, presumably, make them feel guilty if they are not

England surrender to Windies

Hosts England went from elation to despair in the space of a few minutes as West Indies eliminated them from the ICC World Twenty20 at The Oval.
Facing an adjusted target of 80 off nine overs after a rain interruption, Chris Gayle's side were teetering on the brink when they were reduced to 45-5.
But Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivanarine Chanderpaul kept their heads to see their side home on 82-5 with four balls to spare, after England had earlier made 161-6 from a full allocation of 20 overs.

Iran to recount votes in disputed election

TEHRAN-- Iran's election authority has agreed to recount votes in the disputed presidential election, government-funded Press TV said Tuesday.

The Guardian Council -- which is made up of top clerics and judges -- said it will recount votes that the opposition questioned in Friday's race.
The surprise announcement came as supporters of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and those of the man he claims to have trounced in last week's vote were planning rival marches -- raising the specter of more violence as the country entered a fourth day of post-election unrest.
Seven people were killed on Monday night in the capital, Tehran, after they allegedly attacked a military post. Earlier in the day, another person was reportedly fatally shot at the end of a massive rally by supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi.
Press TV said Tuesday that the seven were killed when they tried to damage a military post near Azadi, or Freedom, Square.

Tehran tense as Iran's supreme leader endorses vote outcome

Iran's supreme leader gave his blessing to the outcome of the country's presidential election Sunday despite widespread allegations of fraud, calling the results "a divine miracle," the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the record voter turnout in Friday's election showed Iranians value "resistance against oppressors," the agency reported.
"Pointing to enemies' massive propaganda campaign to discourage people from taking part in the elections, Ayatollah Khamenei also said there was really a divine miracle behind this elections, given its results that was 10 million higher than any of the previous ones in the 30-year history of elections in Iran," IRNA reported.
Official results showed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected with more than 62 percent of the vote. But the hardline incumbent's leading opponent, former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Moussavi, has disputed the results, and his supporters have fought in the streets with police and Ahmadinejad's supporters since the vote.

Leaders gather for Shanghai talks

Chinese President Hu Jintao and other leaders are gathering in Russia for the ninth Shanghai Co-operation Organisation summit.
Some will also attend the first summit of the four emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India and China.
The main agenda item at the meetings in Yekaterinburg will be how to deal with the global economic crisis.
Putting the two top-level meetings next to each other highlights the dominance of the economic crisis for both groups.
The two meetings are further signs of a global power shift.
The Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, or SCO, was formed in 2001 by China, Russia and the four Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to curb extremism in the region and enhance border security.
India, Pakistan, Iran and Mongolia later joined as observer members.
It was China's answer to a multi-polar world and increasingly it has played a role in promoting regional security, for example by contributing to reconstruction in Afghanistan.

Internet chat 'dupes Castro son'

A Cuban exile blogger from Miami says he used a female internet alter ego to gain access to a member of the usually impervious family of Fidel Castro.
Luis Dominguez said he used the character to begin an online relationship with 40-year-old Antonio, the son of ex-leader Mr Castro.
He refused to apologise for the deception, saying he wanted to show the "opulent lifestyles" of the Castros.
Cuban authorities have made no comment regarding the online chats.

Palestinians dismiss Israel plan

Palestinians have rejected the Israeli prime minister's conditions for a two-state solution, saying he has "paralysed" the peace process.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a major policy speech, accepted the creation of a Palestinian state but only if it was demilitarised.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas's spokesman said his comments challenged Palestinian, Arab and US positions.
But the US said Mr Netanyahu's stance was an "important step forward".
In a landmark speech, weeks after US President Barack Obama urged him to agree a two-state plan, Mr Netanyahu said the Palestinians must accept Israel as a Jewish state.
He said a Palestinian state must have no army, no control of its air space and no way of smuggling in weapons.

His speech provoked anger among Palestinian officials.

Pakistan targets Taliban leader

Pakistan has ordered its military to carry out an offensive against the Pakistani Taliban leader in the north-west of the country, an official says.
Provincial governor Owais Ahmad Ghani said troops had been told to eliminate Baitullah Mehsud and his fighters.
Mr Ghani did not say when the operation would begin, but he suggested that it was imminent.
Baitullah Mehsud's group are reported to be behind a string of attacks in Pakistan in recent weeks.
Mr Ghani told reporters in Islamabad: "Baitullah Mehsud is the root cause of all evils."
He has been accused of involvement in the death of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto - an accusation he denies.
He is also believed to be linked to attacks over the border in Afghanistan.

England 153-8 beat India 150-5 by three runs

England kept alive their hopes of reaching the World Twenty20 semi-finals by eliminating holders India in a nail-biting Super Eights encounter.
Kevin Pietersen top-scored with a battling 46 off 27 balls as he and Ravi Bopara put on 71 for the second wicket and helped their side post 153-8.
England then shone in the field as Graeme Swann (2-28) and Ryan Sidebottom (2-31) put their side on course to win.
India were restricted to 150-5 as the hosts claimed a three-run victory.
The result puts England level on points with West Indies in Group E, while it means South Africa have now qualified for the semi-finals.
England play the West Indies at The Oval on Monday and the winner of that game will join the Proteas in qualifying for the last four.
India face South Africa at Trent Bridge on Tuesday but they will be playing for pride alone after seeing their title defence crumble at an electric Lord's, where their supporters were in the majority and the atmosphere was sensational.

Crowds join Ahmadinejad victory rally

Tens of thousands of people have joined a rally in central Tehran to celebrate the re-election of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Crowds thronged the main thoroughfare, Vali Asr street, waving Iranian flags and chanting in jubilation.
The president's closest opponent in the election, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, has lodged an official appeal against the result amid continuing angry protests.
Mr Ahmadinejad denied any vote-fixing, saying the result was "very accurate".

Vietnam holds high-profile lawyer

Mr Dinh defended pro-democracy activists

Vietnamese authorities have arrested a high-profile lawyer for allegedly conspiring against the government.
Le Cong Dinh, 41, one of Vietnam's most respected lawyers, has defended a number of pro-democracy activists.
He was alleged to have been found with a copy of a new constitution he wrote aiming to replace the current one.
The police said they will charge Mr Le with Article 88 of the Vietnam's Criminal Code for distributing anti-government materials.

Rebels seize 9 foreigners in Yemen

Nine foreigners, including three children, were kidnapped by Shiite rebels in northern Yemen, the state-run news agency reported Sunday.
Seven Germans, a Briton and a South Korean were seized by Houthi rebels in the volatile province of Saada, state-run SABA said. The foreigners were working at a hospital in the region.
Houthi rebels are Shiite militants who have been fighting the government for years. The militants are hoping to derail the peace and reconstruction process in Saada, which has been rocked by war in the past year, according to the news agency.
The abduction comes after the release of 24 medical workers kidnapped by armed tribesmen in Amran province.
The tribesmen stopped a bus Thursday and seized the medical workers, who were from India, Egypt, Philippines and Sudan, SABA said.
After the kidnapping, the captors demanded the release of tribesmen arrested in connection with a war between troops and the Houthi rebels last year, according to the news agency.
The hostages were released unharmed, the news agency said

Poll: Half of Israelis back bombing if needed to stop Iran nukes

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Roughly half of Israelis support bombing Iran's nuclear facilities if international efforts fail to stop the Islamic republic from developing nuclear weapons, according to a Hebrew University poll released Sunday.
Some 52 percent of Israelis say the country should bomb Iran's nuclear reactor, while 35 percent are against, the poll found. The margin of error in the poll of Israelis is 4.5 percentage points.
Palestinians are somewhat more evenly divided, with 43 percent saying a nuclear Iran would be good for the Arab world and 33 percent saying it would be bad, according to the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah, which conducted the poll along with Hebrew University. The margin of error for the Palestinian sample is 3 percentage points.
Hebrew University released the poll shortly before Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to make what he called a major speech to lay out his plan for the country's peace and security.

Biden expresses 'doubts' about Iranian election

Iranians demonstrate near the Iranian Embassy in The Hague against the President Ahmadinejad's victory.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden expressed doubts Sunday about the validity of Iran's presidential election, but said it would take more time to analyze the results.

"I have doubts, but withhold comment," Biden said on NBC's "Meet the Press" program.
Biden said the Iranian government has suppressed crowds and limited free speech by shutting down social networking sites such as Facebook, which he said raised questions. He also called the strong showing by incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "unlikely," based on pre-election analysis.
"Is this the response, is this the accurate response, is this the wish of the Iranian people?" Biden said.Israel warned Sunday that the re-election of Ahmadinejad represented "an intensification of the Iranian threat," and called for redoubled international efforts to halt its nuclear program.

Moussavi Web site letter wants election results thrown out

Mir Hossein Moussavi is asking that Iran's election results be annulled, according to his campaign Web site.

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Fresh clashes broke out between police and protesters Sunday as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held a victory rally and opposition supporters claimed ballot fraud in Friday's presidential election.

Ahmadinejad, the hard-line incumbent, defeated reformist rival Mir Hossein Moussavi, a former prime minister, in the election, according to official results.
Backers of Moussavi have been denouncing the results.
On Sunday, a letter that appeared to be written by Moussavi requested that the government annul the contested results. The letter was circulated among Moussavi's supporters and posted on his campaign Web site, which has published previously confirmed statements from Moussavi.
"I see this as the only solution to restore the public trust and support of the people for their government," it states.
The letter calls on Iran's Guardian Council to nullify the results. The Council is a constitutionally mandated body of six clerics and six jurists, which functions as Iran's electoral authority and has other powers.

Venezuela to help Nicaragua after U.S. rebuff

Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega expressed disappointment in U.S. President Barack Obama's decision

(CNN) -- Venezuela has promised to give Nicaragua $50 million to replace money that the United States said this week it would withhold from the Central American country, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega Saavedra said Saturday.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez promised the aid after Ortega learned that the United States was canceling $62 million of aid that was to have come from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S.-government-funded anti-poverty fund set up by former President George W. Bush.
Ortega expressed disappointment in President Barack Obama for the decision. "He expresses good will, but in practice, he has the same policies as President Reagan," Ortega told a crowd of supporters in Managua's Plaza of the Revolution.
In 1982, then-President Reagan supported funding the contras, the forces opposed to Ortega and his socialist Sandinista Party, which had come to power after overthrowing the U.S.-backed Anastasio Somoza in 1979.
Ortega called this week's decision not to follow through on the payment "disrespectful."
"The United States had given its word to the people of Nicaragua and in particular to the people of the cities involved in the program," he said.
Wednesday's decision to cut the funds altogether came after the United States announced last November that it was suspending aid to Managua in the wake of what it said were fraudulent municipal elections.

Israel PM to outline Middle East peace plan

Mr Netanyahu is under pressure to accept a "two-state" solution

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to outline his policy for the Middle East peace process in a major speech, officials say.
His spokesman said the PM's "vision" involved "reconciliation" with all parties in the region, Reuters news agency reported.
Mr Netanyahu has come under pressure from the US to back a two-state peace solution with the Palestinians.
He is also expected to respond to the re-election of Iran's president.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be wiped off the map, was re-elected in Friday's poll.
Mr Netanyahu has previously called Iran the greatest threat to Israel since its creation in 1948.
Since becoming prime minister three months ago, Mr Netanyahu has called for the resumption of talks on the Middle East peace "road map", including conditions for establishing a Palestinian state.
In his speech at Bar-Ilan university on Sunday "the prime minister intends to articulate a clear view as to how he wants to move forward in the peace process with the Palestinians," said Mark Regev, Mr Netanyahu's spokesman.
"His vision is to move forward towards a historic reconciliation, and it is clear that all parties must play a role if this process is to succeed."

EU's Solana meets Hezbollah in Beirut

A senior EU official has for the first time held talks with a politician from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana met Hezbollah official Hussein Hajj Hassan at the Lebanese parliament building in Beirut.
Mr Hajj Hassan is one of Hezbollah's 11 members of parliament, following recent elections which were won by a rival Western-backed alliance.
Hezbollah is regarded by the United States as a terrorist group.
The EU has previously rejected public contacts with Hezbollah, which also controls Lebanon's most powerful military force.
But Mr Solana said: "Hezbollah is part of political life in Lebanon and is represented in the Lebanese parliament."
Mr Hajj Hassan described the meeting with Mr Solana as a "goodwill gesture from the European Union towards Hezbollah."
He said it was an attempt by the EU to "get to know" Hezbollah.
Britain said earlier this year it favoured re-establishing links with Hezbollah's political wing.

Big economies 'stabilising' - G8

The world's largest economies are beginning to stabilise but still face major risks amid an ongoing global recession, G8 finance ministers say.
At a meeting in Italy of G8 nations, the ministers said stock markets were rising, interest rates more stable, and consumer confidence was returning.
However, US Treasury chief Tim Geithner led warnings that it was too early to wind down economic stimulus packages.
He said they should remain in place until a global recovery was under way.
At the meeting in Lecce, which aimed to lay the groundwork for a full G8 heads of government conference next month in the earthquake-hit town of L'Aquila, the finance ministers conceded that the global situation "remains uncertain".
"Significant risks remain to economic and financial stability," the ministers said in a statement released at the end of their meeting.
It highlighted the possibility that unemployment could continue to rise even after output growth resumes.
Joint problems
But they agreed a joint statement which offered signs of hope after nine months of gloomy economic news.
"We have taken forceful and co-ordinated action to stabilise the financial sector and provide stimulus to restore economic growth and there are signs of stabilisation in our economies," the statement said.
Mr Geithner said the "early signs" were encouraging, but injected a note of caution.
"The global economy is still operating well below potential and we still face acute challenges," he said.

Ahmadinejad defiant on 'free' Iran poll

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has defended his "completely free" re-election as Iran's president, amid violent clashes on the streets over claims of election fraud.
Mr Ahmadinejad condemned the outside world for "psychological warfare" against Iranians during the election.
Thousands have protested against the result, burning barricades on the streets of Tehran and clashing with police, who responded with tear gas.
Reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi urged his supporters to avoid violence.
Mr Ahmadinejad is due to hold a news conference on Sunday, followed by a huge victory rally.
'Down with the dictator'
Speaking on national television, Mr Ahmadinejad praised the Iranian people for choosing to "look toward the future" rather than returning to the past.
"This is a great victory at a time and condition when the whole material, political and propaganda facilities outside of Iran and sometimes... inside Iran, were total mobilised against our people," he said.
He blamed "foreign media" for instigating a "full-fledged fight against our people".
"Nearly 40 million people took part in a totally free election," he said.
BBC Iranian affairs analyst Sadeq Saba says the margin of the win was so wide that it made a lot of people suspicious.
He says given the high turnout, it was expected that Mr Mousavi would have won at least half of the votes.

Ayatollah's call
Mr Mousavi urged calm in his website statement.
"The violations in the election are very serious and you are right to be deeply hurt," he said.
IRANIAN ELECTION
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: 62.6%
Mir Hossein Mousavi: 33.8%
Mohsen Rezai: 1.7%
Mehdi Karroubi 0.9%
Turnout: 85%
Source: Interior ministry
In pictures: Election clashes
"But I firmly call on you not to subject any individual or groups to hurt."
Mr Mousavi earlier said the election was a "charade".
"I personally strongly protest the many obvious violations and I'm warning I will not surrender to this dangerous charade.
"The result of such performance by some officials will jeopardise the pillars of the Islamic Republic and will establish tyranny."
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who wields ultimate power, urged all Iranians "including yesterday's competitors" to support the re-elected president.
He described the count as a "real celebration", praised the high turnout of 85% and called for calm. "Enemies may want to spoil the sweetness of this event... with some kind of ill-intentioned provocations," the ayatollah said.
Mr Mousavi had been hoping to prevent Mr Ahmadinejad winning more than 50% of the vote, in order to force a run-off election.
Our correspondent, Jon Leyne, says the result has been greeted with surprise and with deep scepticism by many Iranians.
The figures, if they are to be believed, show Mr Ahmadinejad winning strongly even in the heartland of Mr Mousavi.
Our correspondent says Mr Ahmadinejad will feel emboldened in his global vision - one that foresees the death of capitalism - while at home many Iranians will fear a clampdown on society and cultural life.
Surge of interest
There had been a surge of interest in Iran's presidential election, with unprecedented live television debates between the candidates and rallies attended by thousands.
There were long queues at polling stations on Friday, with turnout reaching 85%.
Four candidates contested the election, with Mohsen Razai and Mehdi Karroubi only registering about 1% of the vote each.
Iran is ruled under a system known as Velayat-e Faqih, or "Rule by the Supreme Jurist", who is currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
It was adopted by an overwhelming majority in 1979 following the Islamic revolution which overthrew the autocratic Western-backed Shah.
But the constitution also stipulates that the people are the source of power and the country holds phased presidential and parliamentary elections every four years.
All candidates are vetted by the powerful conservative-controlled Guardian Council, which also has the power to veto legislation it deems inconsistent with revolutionary principles.

Ahmadinejad wins landslide in disputed election

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has won a landslide election victory despite protests by his main challenger of "blatant violations."

Ahmadinejad won 62.63 percent of the vote while chief rival Mir Hossein Moussavi received 33.75 percent, the Iranian government said Saturday.
Before the final results were announced Moussavi addressed the people of Iran in a sharply worded letter. "I recommend to the authorities that before it is late to stop this process immediately, and to return to the path of the rule of law and the holding of the public trust through the votes of the people," he said.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, called the voters' turnout a show of Iran's "pride" and "honor."
Sadeq Mahsouli, the country's interior minister, on Saturday lauded the "unprecedented" turnout. He had said 70 percent of 46 million eligible voters had gone to the polls. Turnout could have been as 80 percent of eligible voters, Iran's poll chief said.
The Islamic Republic News Agency said Ahmadinejad will address the nation Saturday night.
Analysts had expected Moussavi, widely regarded as a reformist, to do well as his campaign caught fire in recent days, triggering massive street rallies in Tehran

China exports' slide a reality check on recovery

HONG KONG, China -- Hopes for a China-led recovery to the world economy got a reality check Thursday, as government data showed the country's exports in May fell a record 26.4 percent compared to last year.

With recent disappointing trade figures from South Korea, Taiwan and Germany, the numbers out of China suggests no light yet in sight at the end of the recessionary tunnel.
"We see evidence globally that productivity has slowed again," says Frederic Neumann, senior economist at HSBC in Hong Kong. "You look month-on-month, it's all very disappointing readings ... it was not the big bounce that people are looking for."
The drop in China was the largest ever year-on-year drop of exports, larger than April's 22.6 percent drop and worse than analysts predicted. Imports to China dropped 25.2 percent last month, compared to 23 percent in April.

Bill Gates: Don't cut aid due to recession

LONDON, England -- Billionaire Bill Gates has urged industrialized nations to honor aid pledges to developing nations despite the recession.

ONE, the advocacy group backed by Gates and rock musicians Bob Geldof Bono released a report Thursday attacking several Group of Eight nations for meeting financial aid goals, set in 2005, to countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
The report said that Italy, host to the next G8 summit, has "performed especially poorly" in its share of aid spending and that France has fallen behind on its commitment.
In an interview with CNN's Richard Quest, Gates said nations such as France had not been able to fulfill their promises due to pressures on budgets and suggested they needed to "raise the priority so the promises are met."

Are G8 nations doing enough during the recession to help developing economies?

Story Highlights
*Gates: If people could see direct benefit to nations then aid would not drop off
*Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation sends billions of dollars to developing nations
*Gates: China is a great example of a nation which has progressed in recent times

Flight 447 mystery likely to cast shadow over Paris Air Show

The world's premier air show takes place in Paris next week, with the recent loss of Air France flight 447 over the Atlantic Ocean likely to cast a shadow over the event.

The annual Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary, gives the air transport industry the chance to promote the latest innovations in aerospace technology and attract buyers for both commercial and military aircraft.
Manufacturing giants Boeing and Airbus are two of the most high-profile organizations at the show as a result of their stranglehold over the commercial airliner market. Paris provides them with a platform to demonstrate this might by announcing sales and showcasing new products.
But Airbus will be under closer scrutiny following last week's disaster off the coast of Brazil, that involved one of its Airbus A330 aircraft. Investigators remain in the dark about what caused Flight 447 to plunge into the Atlantic Ocean because the jet's data recorder has yet to be recovered. The only facts broadly agreed upon are that the airliner penetrated a region of severe weather, and the pilots were eventually confronted with a rapid series of system failures. Watch the latest on the crash »
The jet had been flying from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France, when it went down with the loss of all 228 people on board.
Unless French air accident investigators announce something more conclusive before Le Bourget opens on Monday, it's likely that Airbus will face some awkward questions.

Defiant North Korea 'to weaponize plutonium'

North Korea said Saturday it would strengthen its nuclear capabilities, a defiant protest against the U.N. Security Council's move to tighten sanctions against it.
North Korea officials said they were enriching uranium and would weaponize all plutonium, according to KCNA, the state-run North Korean news agency.
When enriched to a high degree, uranium can be used for weapons-grade material. Plutonium can be used in atomic bombs.
These moves are in response to Friday's U.N. resolution, according to the news agency, which referred to the resolution as a blockade.
"No mater how hard the U.S.-led hostile forces may try all sorts of isolation and blockade, the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), a proud nuclear power, will not flinch from them," KCNA said.
The U.N. Security Council unanimously voted Friday to expand and tighten sanctions on North Korea after the nation's recent nuclear test. Watch as China backs sanctions »

Iranian election could be test for women's rights

Zahra Rahnavard, wife of Iranian candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi, has taken a visible role in the campaign.

There's no doubt that Iran's election will be a major test for incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But many Iranian women hope the results will also shake the current status of women in the Islamic republic.

"Thirty-four million women demand to have female Cabinet ministers; 34 million women demand to be eligible to run for president," Zahra Rahnavard, wife of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi, told CNN's Christiane Amanpour.
"Thirty-four million women want the civil law to be revised; 34 million women want the family law revised."
Whether her husband wins or loses Friday, Rahnavard has broken barriers for women just by appearing on the campaign trail with her husband, a rarity for political wives in Iran.
"We look at her, and we say, 'We want to be like her in the future,' " said Shakiba Shakerhosseie, an Iranian woman who packed into Tehran's indoor Azadi (Freedom) sports stadium along with nearly 12,000 others to hear Rahnavard speak in March.
Rahnavard is a mother of three, as well as an accomplished artist and academic. She has been compared to first ladies in the United States, including Michelle Obama, for her visible role in her husband's quest for the presidency.
"I am here to say that men and women are equal," Rahnavard said.

Election officials: Ahmadinejad leading as final result nears

TEHRAN, Iran -- Final results in Iran's hotly contested presidential race were expected soon, election officials said Saturday morning, as hard-line Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held a commanding lead.

With 78 percent of ballot boxes counted, Ahmedinejad had 64.9 percent of the vote while his chief rival Mir Hossein Moussavi had 32 percent, election officials said.
Analysts expected Moussavi, widely regarded as a reformist, to do well as his campaign caught fire in recent days, triggering massive street rallies in Tehran.
An "unprecedented" voter turnout at the polls Friday was also expected to boost Moussavi's chances of winning the presidency.
Iran's Interior Minister Seyed Sadeq Mahsouli said 70 percent of 46 million eligible voters had gone to the polls Friday, according to Fars, another semi-official news agency.
Both candidates claimed victory. Moussavi's camp accused the Iranian establishment of manipulating the vote. Watch why each side is claiming victory »
Voting was supposed to end after 10 hours, but because of the massive turnout, officials initially said polling stations would remain open until everyone in line had a chance to vote. However, Moussavi alleged that doors were being closed with people still waiting outside.
Some private news agencies reported many Iranians were milling about on the streets late into the night. Mehr reported that the chief of police declared public gatherings of candidate supporters illegal.

U.S. pledges $73 million in aid to Zimbabwe

President Obama (right) praised Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at the White House on Friday.

WASHINGTON -- The United States will provide $73 million in aid to Zimbabwe, President Obama announced Friday after meeting with Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at the White House.

"I obviously have extraordinary admiration for the courage and tenacity that the prime minister has shown in navigating through some very difficult political times in Zimbabwe," Obama said.Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe "has not acted oftentimes in the best interest of the Zimbabwean people and has been resistant to the democratic changes that need to take place," Obama said. "We now have a power-sharing agreement that shows promise, and we want to do everything we can to encourage the kinds of improvement not only on human rights and rule of law, freedom of the press and democracy that is so necessary, but also on the economic front."
The U.S. aid will not be going to the government directly "because we continue to be concerned about consolidating democracy, human rights and rule of law," Obama said. "But it will be going directly to the people in Zimbabwe."
In a CNN interview following his meeting with Obama, Tsvangirai said he is grateful for the generosity. "Whether it is humanitarian aid or transitional support, it adds up to the relief that Zimbabwe is seeking," he said.

NASA scrubs Saturday launch of space shuttle Endeavour

A gaseous hydrogen leak on the space shuttle Endeavour forced NASA to cancel Saturday's planned launch, the space agency said.

NASA halted fueling of the shuttle after detecting the leak on a vent line that leads from the ground umbilical carrier plate to the launch pad and to the "flare stack" where vented hydrogen is burned off, the space agency said.
The leak is similar to the one that happened during the first launch attempt of space shuttle Discovery in March, NASA said.
Shuttle managers will assess the leak and meet Saturday morning to discuss what steps to take next, including setting a new launch date, NASA said.
Endeavour, carrying seven astronauts and a key component for Japan's Kibo science laboratory, is scheduled for a mission to the International Space Station.

Blast in pakistan kills cleric who denounced suicide attacks

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- A moderate Muslim cleric who denounced suicide attacks as forbidden by Islam was killed Friday in a suicide attack on his mosque in Lahore, authorities said.

Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi was the first imam in Pakistan to issue a fatwa, or religious edict, against suicide attacks in Pakistan.
On Friday, a suicide bomber approached Naeemi as he left the Jamia Naimia Mosque and religious school. The bomber detonated his explosives, killing Naeemi and four others, police said. Another 10 people were wounded in the attack.
Naeemi had recently received death threats because of his opposition to the Taliban and his support of the current Pakistani military offensive against Taliban militants, his son told local television.
It was one of two mosque bombings in Pakistan on Friday, which has suffered a series of attacks in the wake of its ongoing military campaign against Taliban militants.

Suicide bomber kills 17 in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- A suicide bomber blew himself up near a gas station in southern Afghanistan, killing 17 people and injuring 20 more, an official said Saturday.
The fatalities were nine security guards and eight civilians, said Gov. Abdul Ahad of Gereshk District.
Taliban militants claimed responsibility for the attack in Helmand province and said they had killed 33 guards, Ahad said.

UN toughens North Korea sanctions

The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to impose tougher sanctions on communist North Korea.
The move follows a nuclear test carried out by the North Koreans last month, in defiance of previous UN resolutions.
The sanctions include the inspection of North Korean ships, a wider ban on arms sales and other financial measures.
The US deputy ambassador at the UN, Rosemary DiCarlo, said the new vote was a strong and united response to North Korea's "unacceptable behaviour".
She said: "North Korea chose a path of provocation. This resolution will give us new tools to impair North Korea's ability to proliferate, and to threaten international stability."

The Chinese ambassador, Zhang Yesui, said the resolution showed the "firm opposition" of the world to North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

North Korea carried out a nuclear test - its second - on 25 May. It then launched a number of short-range missiles. The North has previously warned that it will use nuclear weapons in a "merciless offensive" if provoked.

Some in Qaeda Leave Pakistan for Somalia and Yemen

American officials say they are seeing the first evidence that dozens of fighters with Al Qaeda, and a small handful of the terrorist group’s leaders, are moving to Somalia and Yemen from their principal haven in Pakistan’s tribal areas. In communications that are being watched carefully at the Pentagon, the White House and the Central Intelligence Agency, the terrorist groups in all three locations are now communicating more frequently, and apparently trying to coordinate their actions, the officials said.

Some aides to President Obama attribute the moves to pressure from intensified drone attacks against Qaeda operatives in Pakistan, after years of unsuccessful American efforts to dislodge the terrorist group from their haven there.
But there are other possible explanations. Chief among them is the growth of the jihadist campaigns in both Somalia and Yemen, which may now have some of the same appeal for militants that Iraq did after the American military invasion there in 2003.
Somalia is now a failed state that bears some resemblance to Afghanistan before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, while Yemen’s weak government is ineffectually trying to combat the militants, American officials say.
The shift of fighters is still small, perhaps a few dozen, and there is no evidence that the top leaders — Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahri — are considering a move from their refuge in the Pakistani tribal areas, according to more than half a dozen senior administration, military and counterterrorism officials interviewed in recent days.
Most officials would not comment on the record about the details of what they are seeing, because of the sensitivity of the intelligence information they are gathering.

As Iran Votes, Talk of a Sea Change

Iranian women voting Friday at a mosque transformed into a polling station in Tehran.

TEHRAN — Iranians went to the polls Friday to elect a new president after an unusually intense campaign which saw the hard-line incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, seemingly thrown onto the defensive. Opposition leaders said they expected a huge turnout, with many reformists who sat out the last vote in 2005 saying they will take part this time.

Mr. Ahmadinejad’s main opponent is Mir Hussein Moussavi, a moderate who has mobilized huge crowds of his backers in Tehran and other large cities.
The official IRNA news agency reported long lines outside polling stations before they opened at 8 a.m. local time. State-run television showed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, casting his vote under the gaze of local and foreign media.
Mr. Ahmadinejad voted at a Tehran mosque as Mr. Moussavi showed up in the poor southern neighborhood of Shahreh-Ray to cast his ballot.
Less than two months ago, it was widely assumed here and in the West that Mr. Ahmadinejad would coast to another victory. Many of the reformists who sat out the vote in 2005 seemed dejected and unlikely to raise a strong challenge.

अमेरिका के लिए भारत महत्वपूर्ण

वाशिंगटन। अमेरिका के राष्ट्रपति बराक ओबामा ने एक निजी पत्र भेजकर स्पष्ट किया है कि उनके देश के लिए भारत बेहद महत्वपूर्ण मुल्क है, जिसके साथ उनका देश काम करने का इच्छुक है। यह जानकारी एक वरिष्ठ अधिकारी ने दी।
अफगानिस्तान और पाकिस्तान के लिए अमेरिका के विशेष दूत रिचर्ड हालब्रूक ने बुधवार को कहा विदेश उपमंत्री विलियम ब‌र्न्स राष्ट्रपति का यह खत भारत सरकार को सौंपेंगे। उन्होंने पत्र का विवरण नहीं बताया। मनमोहन सिंह सरकार के सत्ता में लौटने के बाद यह किसी अमेरिकी वरिष्ठ अधिकारी की पहली भारत यात्रा है।
हालब्रूक ने कहा कि यह निजी पत्र है लेकिन अहम बात यह है कि चुनावों के तत्काल बाद अमेरीकी विदेश विभाग के तीसरे प्रमुख व्यक्ति को वहां भेजा गया है। उन्होंने कहा कि ब‌र्न्स सकारात्मक भावनाओं के साथ नई सरकार के साथ बातचीत की शुरुआत कर रहे है। हालब्रूक ने कहा कि भारत की राजनीति में शामिल हुए बगैर मैं कह सकता हूं कि हम सभी विदेश मंत्री हिलेरी क्लिंटन, ब‌र्न्स, राष्ट्रपति ओबामा-सभी भारत की नवनिर्वाचित सरकार के साथ मिलकर काम करने के इच्छुक है।
हॉलब्रूक ने कहा कि वह उस संदेश को साथ ले गए है जो यदि मेरे पास भारत यात्रा का समय होता तो अपने साथ मैं लेकर जाता। हालब्रूक पिछले ही हफ्ते पाकिस्तान के दौरे से लौटे है। वह तालिबान के खिलाफ पाकिस्तानी सेना की कार्रवाई की वजह से विस्थापित हुए लाखों लोगों के पुनर्वास कार्यो की समीक्षा के लिए गए थे। उन्होंने कहा कि हम भारत को क्षेत्र का बेहद अहम देश मानते हैं। वह समस्या का अंग नहीं है बल्कि स्वयं काफी प्रभावित है और हम उनके साथ मिलकर बात करना चाहते है।
हॉलब्रूक क्षेत्र के दो शुरुआती दौरों में पाकिस्तान की यात्रा पर आ चुके है। उन्होंने कहा कि अगले सप्ताह वह अमेरिका में भारत की राजदूत मीरा शंकर से भेंट करेगे।

प्रभाकरण को मारने से पहले यातानाएं दी गई थीं?

कोलंबो ।। क्या लिट्टे प्रमुख प्रभाकरण को मारने से पहले काफी यातनाएं दी गई थीं?
अब ऐसी बातें अब कही जा रही है श्रीलंका के एक संगठन युनिवर्सिटी टीचर्स फॉर ह्यूमन राइट्स (यूटीएचआर)ने उच्चपदस्थ सैन्य सूत्रों का हवाला देते हुए कहा है कि प्रभाकरण को 'तमिल सरकार के एक राजनेता और एक जनरल' की मौजूदगी में यातनाएं दी गई थीं। इसके मुताबिक यातनाएं संभवतः आर्मी के 53 डिवीजन मुख्यालय में दी गई थी। यूटीएचआर के मुताबिक,'कई सैन्य सूत्रों ने बताया है कि प्रभाकरण के 12 साल के बेटे बालचंद्रन को उसकी आंखों के सामने मारा गया।' गौरतलब है कि प्रभाकरण की मौत किन परिस्थितियों में हुई, इसे लेकर विवाद पहले दिन से शुरू हो गया। कुछ लोगों का कहना है कि वह श्रीलंका सेना के साथ गोलीबारी में मारा गया, तो कुछ अन्य का कहना है कि वह सेना को मरा हुआ ही मिला। इन्हें भी पढ़ें श्रीलंका को वर्ल्ड कप से हटाओः तमिल प्रदर्शनकारी श्रीलंका का प्रस्ताव तमिल विरोधी : करुणानिधि अपनी लाश का विडियो देखकर हंस पड़ा प्रभाकरण? प्रभाकरण को बचाने में लगा था ब्रिटेन? लिट्टे ने माना प्रभाकरण जीवित नहीं और स्टोरीज़ पढ़ने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें उसने साइनाइड की गोली खाकर आत्महत्या कर ली। कुछ लोग यह भी कहते हैं कि प्रभाकरण आज भी जिंदा है, जो मरा वह उसका हमशक्ल था। मगर, उसके अब भी जीवित रहने के दावे को गंभीरता से नहीं लिया जा रहा। अब यूटीएचआर के इस दावे ने प्रभाकरण की मौत के विवाद को नया मोड़ दे दिया है। कहा जा रहा है कि प्रभाकरण ने आखिरी पलों में भारत या मलयेशिया भागने की दो कोशिश की थी। लेकिन, कामयाब नहीं हो सका क्योंकि श्रीलंका की नौसेना ने पूरे इलाके को अच्छी तरह से घेर रखा था।

Italy and France 'failing Africa'

Anti-poverty group One, set up by rock star Bono, said Italy had actually cut aid to Africa despite making ambitious pledges at a 2005 economic summit.
And it accused France of reducing its aid targets and cutting its aid budget.
The report, backed by figures like Bill Gates and Desmond Tutu, said Italy and France were holding back other members of the G8 group of rich nations.
In 2005, the G8 pledged to increase aid to Africa by $25bn (£15bn) by 2010 - more than doubling the 2004 level of aid to the continent.
The BBC's international development correspondent David Loyn says the research is underpinned by a fear that the global economic downturn could undo what modest progress has already been made.
Sir Bob Geldof and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan have written a joint introduction to the report in which they talk about the global financial crisis.
They say the world's poorest people have benefited least from globalisation, but they are now suffering the most from a crisis they did not cause.

अब कनाडा में भी भारतीयो पर नस्लीय हमले

वैंकूवर।। कनाडा के 4 लोगों पर मंगलवार को वैंकूवर शहर के उपनगर लेंगली में भारतीयों के एक समूह पर नस्लीय हमला करने का आरोप लगाया गया है। पुलिस के अनुसार भारतीय मूल के 6 लोग वीकेंड के दौरान टेनिस खेल रहे थे, तभी इन 4 संदिग्ध किशोरों ने उन पर हमला किया और नस्लीय टिप्पणियां की। हमलावरों में 3 लड़के और एक लड़की शामिल थी। पुलिस ने उन सभी को गिरफ्तार कर लिया, इनमें से तीन को बाद में रिहा कर दिया गया। पुलिस ने बताया कि हमलावरों में टेनिस कोर्ट में घुसने का प्रयास किया और मैदान पर लगी बाड़ के टुकड़े से टेनिस खेलने वालों पर हमला किया, जो एक व्यक्ति के सिर पर लगी। वहां से जाने से पहले इन लोगों ने भारतीय मूल के लोगों की व्यक्तिगत वस्तुएं उठा लीं। बाद में इन सभी गिरफ्तार किया गया और उनके पास से लूटी गई वस्तुएं भी बरामद हुईं। उन पर मंगलवार को हथियारों से हमला करने, डकैती, शरीरिक क्षति पहुंचाने और धमकी देने के आरोप लगाए गए। हमलावरों में एक 19 वर्षीय किशोर को 12 जून को जमानत पर होने वाली सुनवाई तक पुलिस हिरासत में रखा गया है जबकि 18,16और 15 वर्ष के तीन अन्य हमलावरों को कोर्ट आदेश से रिहा कर दिया गया। छहों पीड़ित व्यक्ति नजदीकी शहर एबोट्सफर्ड के रहने वाले हैं जहां की 100,000 की जनसंख्या में करीब 25 प्रतिशत आबादी भारतीयों विशेषकर पंजाबियों की है। प्रांतीय पुलिस की 'हेट क्राइम यूनिट' भी मामले की जांच में शामिल है। पिछले कुछ सालों में वैंकूवर में भारतीय मूल के कनाडाई कई नस्लीय हमलों का शिकार हुए हैं। पांच वर्ष पहले दो वृद्ध सिखों को अलग अलग घटनाओं में सरे शहर के पार्क में श्वेत युवकों ने हमला करके मार डाला था। इससे पहले भी एक मंदिर में काम करने वाले एक वृद्ध सिख की हत्या कर दी गई थी।

BEIRUT, 7 June 2009

Sectarianism is playing a more central role in Lebanon's highly contested parliamentary elections on 7 June, which analysts say could see the country facing increased political instability. The vote pits the Western-backed ruling coalition, predominantly made up of Sunni Muslim, Christian and Druze parties, against the Hezbollah-led opposition, mostly composed of Shia Muslims and Christians. This election is being held according to a revised electoral law adopted in September 2008 which increased the number of electoral districts from 14 to 26. On a recent trip to Beirut, US Vice President Joe Biden said that the United States would re-evaluate the shape of its assistance programs to Lebanon depending on the policies and shape of the new government. While the new election law was a key component of a 2008 Qatari-brokered peace deal between the feuding Lebanese factions, the country remains vulnerable to political turmoil, analysts say.Since the last election in 2005, Lebanon has witnessed a series of assassinations of public figures, a devastating war with Israel in 2006, a deadly battle with Islamists in 2007 and civil sectarian strife that left dozens killed in May 2008.

Iran elections 2009: Thousands rally for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as poll looms

The stewards in charge of the Tehran meeting hall reckoned the headcount was about 25,000, while the president's warm-up man optimistically put it near a million. But give or take a few hundred thousand sweating, bandana-wrapped foreheads, one thing was certain at Monday's campaign rally for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – when it comes to showmanship, Iran's leader is a hard act to beat.
The rally, one of the last before Friday's presidential election, combined the fever of a religious gathering, the jostling crowds of a rock gig moshpit, and the carefully choreographed build-up of a World Wrestling Federation grudge match.

Leaving absolutely nothing to chance, though, supporters sacrificed two sheep outside the hall's entrance, creating pools of blood to be stepped over as huge crowds arrived from all over the Iranian capital and beyond.
All the presidents' men - and it was mainly men, save for a few thousand women clad in black chadors - were then shoehorned into a hall roughly half the size of London's O2 Arena, and roughly a quarter of the size needed to avoid fatal crushing scenarios.
With the summer temperature outside already a sunny 30C, the sweat was dripping off the walls within minutes.
Rather like promoters for the Rolling Stones or the late James Brown, however, the president's aides like to keep his fans waiting to get them eager.
So for the next hour and a half, a string of warm up-acts were brought on, ranging from patriotic Iranian film makers to Reza Zadeh, Iran's Olympic weightlifter, a passionate Ahmadinejad supporter.
"We are here for the speech of Ahmadinejad, and so God is going to come and help us," yelled one speaker, with razzmatazz worthy of TV darts presenter Sid Waddell.
The crowd, some waving the yellow Kalashnikov-embossed flag of the Lebanese militant group Hizbollah, roared their approval.
As it turned out, however, neither the Almighty nor the president made a show.
First, a voice over the tannoy announced that Mr Ahmadinejad's motorcade was having trouble getting in through the crowd outside. Then, as the message was repeated half an hour later, more seasoned members of the Iranian media began rolling their eyes: Mr Ahmadinejad probably wasn't planning on turning up at all. Rather like the punk rock group the Sex Pistols, or the singer Pete Doherty, it is not unusual, apparently, for the president to plan a gig but then fail to show. It all adds to the mystique of the man, and in general his supporters don't mind as long as they get a chance for a good knees-up.
But as the crowds began streaming out of the hall again, supporters who hadn't been able to squeeze inside told a different story.
The president had indeed turned up, they said, but only to say hello to those in the overspill area, before shooting off again in his motorcade.
"He came and went about forty minutes ago, and we saw him," said a chador-clad old lady, proudly brandishing a mobile phone with footage of a procession of several cars swamped by people.

America dont want to interfere in Kashmir

वॉशिंगटन ।। अमेरिकी राष्ट्रपति बाराक ओबामा के अहम सहयोगी ब्रूस राइडल ने साफ किया है कि अमेरिका का कश्म ीर मुद्दे पर दखलंदाजी करने का कोई इरादा नहीं है। हालांकि अमेरिका भारत और पाकिस्तान के बीच तनाव कम करने की कोशिशों का समर्थन करेगा। इसके अलावा ब्रूस ने जोर दिया कि पाक मुंबई हमलों के लिए जिम्मेदार लोगों को कठघरे में लाने के लिए पहला कदम उठाए।
भारत में आशंका है कि हो सकता है कि अफगानिस्तान और पाकिस्तान के लिए अमेरिका के विशेष दूत रिचर्ड हॉलब्रुक को दी गई जिम्मेदारियों मे कश्मीर मुद्दा भी शामिल हो। ब्रूस अफगान-पाक पर नई अमेरिकी रणनीति बनाने वाली इंटर एजंसी कमिटी के सह अध्यक्ष हैं। सीआईए के इस पूर्व अधिकारी ने कहा कि भारत और पाकिस्तान के बीच तनाव में कमी और द्विपक्षीय समग्र वार्ता की बहाली देखना अमेरिका के हित में है।
ब्रूस ने कहा, मुझे नहीं लगता कि कोई भारतीय सरकार पिछले साल नवंबर में हुए हादसे को भूल सकती है। पाक सरकार सबूत मांग रही है। मुझे लगता है कि भारत ने सबूत मुहैया करा दिए हैं। अब समय है कि लश्कर ए तैयबा, जमात उद दावा और इस आतंकवादी हमले के साजिशकर्ताओं के खिलाफ कदम उठाए जाएं।
द्विपक्षीय संबंधों पर टिप्पणी देते हुए राइडल ने कहा, अमेरिका में यह द्विदलीय आम सहमति है कि भारत 21वीं सदी में अमेरिका का सबसे महत्वपूर्ण भागीदार और मित्र होगा।
आईएसआई के लश्कर, जमात के साथ संबंध बरकरार
पूर्व सीआईए अधिकारी ब्रूस राइडल ने कहा है कि पाक खुफिया एजंसी के लश्कर ए तैयबा और जमात उद दावा जैसे आतंकवादी संगठनों से रिश्ते बरकरार हैं। अमेरिका को पाकिस्तानी सरकार के प्रति कठोर रवैया अपनाने की जरूरत है और उसे स्पष्ट संदेश भेजना चाहिए कि वह इस तरह आतंकवाद विरोधी नीति पर नहीं चल सकता।

Sensex 15000+

Indian stock benchmark closes above 15,000
Mumbai: India's benchmark stock index rose, erasing earlier losses, after President Pratibha Patil said the government will focus on developing the nation's roads, ports and bridges. Construction companies advanced.
Jaiprakash Associates Ltd., India's largest builder of dams, advanced 2.7 per cent after Patil told parliament the government plans to remove delays in public works projects. Larsen & Toubro Ltd, the biggest engineering company, added 3.6 per cent. Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd. led declines by metal producers after copper prices fell in Shanghai.
"We are bullish on infrastructure companies," said Amitabh Chakraborty, president of equities at Religare Capital Markets Ltd. in Mumbai. Road, port and airport builders will be the biggest gainers, he said.

The Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensitive Index, or Sensex, rose 137.78, or 0.9 per cent, to 15,008.68, its highest since September 2.

Another problem in J n K

SRINAGAR: Clashes broke out between Sikhs and Muslims at Rangreth on the outskirts of Srinagar on Friday Several houses damaged. Leaders of the two communities swiftly brought the situation under control.Nisar Ahmad Dar, a resident of Rangreth, said the trouble started when a drunk Sikh driver beat four Muslim boys playing cricket on the roadside. The driver was then beaten by the residents. The Sikh families living nearby came out and clashed with the Muslims. Clashes between Sikhs and Muslims have never happened in the last 30 years,'' said Jaspal Singh, a driver who lives in the area. Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal condemned the incident and called up his Jammu and Kashmir counterpart Omar Abdullah, urging him to ensure security and safety of Sikh families. A statement issued by the state government on Friday said, "The CM asked Mr Abdullah to immediately initiate effective steps to maintain law and order in the trouble torn area to instill a feeling of confidence and belongingness amongst the affected Sikh families.'' A government spokesman said Omar Abdullah assured Badal that his government would accord "top priority'' to the issue. Omar Abdullah directed the chief secretary to extend all help to rehabilitate the affected families, he added.

Suicide blast at mosque in Pakistan kills 30

PESHAWAR, Pakistan -- A suicide bomber killed at least 30 people and wounded 40 attending Friday prayers at a mosque in Pakistan's northwest, violence that came as the country's leaders urged a visiting U.S. envoy for more aid to stave off Taliban-led militancy.

The attack also occurred as the Pakistani army said it had made more gains in the nearby Swat Valley, an operation that the army chief said had "decisively turned" in the military's favor.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast at the Sunni Muslim mosque in the Haya Gai area of Upper Dir, a rough and tumble district next to Swat.
Also Friday, four soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in South Waziristan, according to two intelligence officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

South Waziristan is a tribal region bordering Afghanistan that some suspect will be the next site of Pakistani military action against the Taliban. The military insists the Taliban are attacking troops there to distract the army from Swat.

http://www.newsobserver.com/nation_world/story/1555695.html for further info.

ऑस्ट्रेलिया पुलिस प्रमुख ने भारतीय छात्रों की सुरक्षा का आश्वासन

मेलबर्न।। ऑस्ट्रेलिया के पुलिस प्रमुख ने देश में हाल में हुए नस्ली हमलों के संदर्भ में भारतीय छात्रों
की सुरक्षा बढ़ाने का आश्वासन दिया, लेकिन साथ ही प्रदर्शनकारी छात्रों पर किए गए बल प्रयोग को उचित भी ठहराया। पुलिस मुख्य आयुक्त साइमन ओवरलैंड ने कहा कि भारतीय स्टूडंट्स की सुरक्षा सुनिश्चित करने के लिए पुलिस कड़ी मेहनत कर रही है और पढ़ाई के लिए ऑस्ट्रेलिया आने के इच्छुक छात्रों से सुरक्षा संबंधी विचार-विमर्श करने के लिए एक प्रतिनिधि भारत भेजा जा रहा है। साइमन ने कहा, 'हमने कई लोगों को हिरासत में लिया है और हम इस दिशा में कठोर श्रम करते रहेंगे। हम जानते हैं कि हमें सुरक्षा व्यवस्था को बेहतर बनाने की जरूरत है। इसके लिए हम लगातार काम करते रहेंगे और इस सप्ताह प्रदर्शनकारियों के एक समूह से मुलाकात करके हमें खुशी हुई है।' इसके साथ ही उन प्रदर्शनकारियों को तितर-बितर करने के लिए बल प्रयोग को साइमन ने जायज ठहराया, जिन्होंने मेलबर्न की एक व्यस्त सड़क से सोमवार सुबह तक हटने से इनकार कर दिया था। प्रदर्शनकारियों को तितर-बितर करने के लिए बल प्रयोग को हर तरह से उचित बताने वाले पुलिस प्रमुख साइमन ने प्रदर्शनकारियों से कहा, 'नस्लवाद सही नहीं है। मैं यहां इसलिए आया हूं ताकि मैं आपकी समस्याओं को समझ सकूं। आपने अपनी बात रखी, इस मामले पर हमें साथ मिलकर काम करने की जरूरत है। लेकिन, अब मैं आपसे घर जाने के लिए कहता हूं।' साइमन ने कहा स्टूडंट्स को वापस जाने का अवसर दिया गया था, लेकिन जब उन्होंने ऐसा करने से इनकार कर दिया तो कुछ बल प्रयोग किया गया। पुलिस ने लगभग 18 युवकों को रैली के दौरान कथित रूप से भंग करने के आरोप में हिरासत में लिया है, वहीं प्रदर्शनकारियों का आरोप है कि उन्हें धरने से हटाने के लिए पुलिस ने बल प्रयोग किया। साइमन ने कहा कि पूरे आयोजन को उन्होंने ऑपरेशन सेंटर से देखा और वह मानते हैं कि जो बल प्रयोग उन्होंने देखा, वह उचित था। बहरहाल छात्रों ने स्थानीय समयानुसार सुबह 5.15 बजे प्रदर्शन वापस ले लिया। साइमन ने कहा कि छात्र अपनी बात पहले ही रख चुके थे और उनसे वापस जाने के लिए कहा गया। यातायात के जाम को खत्म करना जरूरी था। भारतीयों पर हाल में हुए हमलों के बारे में साइमन ने कहा कि कुछ हमले नस्लवाद से प्रेरित थे, जबकि अन्य हमले अवसरवादी थे। उन्होंने कहा, चाहे जो भी रहा हो यह सही नहीं है। हिंसा सही नहीं है, लूटपाट सही नहीं है। उन्होंने कहा कि यहां नस्लवाद के लिए कोई जगह नहीं है। इस बीच ऑफ इंडियन स्टूडंट्स इन ऑस्ट्रेलिया, 'फेसा' ने एक बयान में कहा है कि रैली का मकसद विक्टोरिया में बढ़ते अपराधों के प्रति जागरूकता पैदा करना और नस्लीय सौहार्द एवं शांति को बढ़ावा देना है। विदेश मामलों और व्यापार विभाग के मुताबिक शिक्षा संबंधी मकसद से ऑस्ट्रेलिया की यात्रा करने वालों में भारत का बेहद अहम योगदान है और वर्ष 2007-08 के आंकड़ों के मुताबिक इससे दो अरब अमेरिकी डॉलर का लाभ हुआ।