ISLAMABAD: Taliban militants armed with automatic weapons attacked a military convoy in northwest Pakistan's restive tribal belt, killing at least five soldiers and injuring three others, officials said on Sunday.
The convoy was attacked on Saturday near Razmak, over 50 km from Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal agency.
The militants used rockets, grenades and automatic weapons to target the convoy.The troops retaliated but there was no report of Taliban casualties, the officials said.
They said five soldiers were killed and three others injured in the attack.
Some media reports said about a dozen soldiers were killed in the attack but military authorities in South Waziristan and Peshawar denied this.
Unnamed officials told The News that the dead soldiers were members of a bomb disposal squad who were travelling in a vehicle ahead of the convoy.
They said the attack was carried out by Pakistani Taliban militants based in Zangara.
Zangara is a mountainous area where Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan founder Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a US drone attack in August 2009.
The US has described North Waziristan as a safe haven for Taliban and al-Qaida elements.
US drones have carried out scores of missile strikes in the region over the past two years, killing several top militant commanders.
Despite pressure from the US to launch a military offensive in North Waziristan, Islamabad has insisted that any operation will be launched at a time of its choosing and in line with national interests.
Minggu, 06 November 2011
Bill Clinton Book Hails Barack Obama's Anti-Crisis Measures
WASHINGTON: US ex-president Bill Clinton next week presents his book " Back to Work", which analyses the nation's moment of crisis and suggests ways to create jobs and stimulate competitiveness in clear support for the strategies proposed by current President Barack Obama.
Local media say with this book Obama, who faces voter disillusion and a knock-down, drag-out fight in Congress over his jobs plan, receives the support of fellow Democrat Bill Clinton (1993-2001), who at the same time criticises his mistakes.
"Back to Work", published by Knopf, goes on sale next Tuesday.
The New York Times recalled Saturday in an article that during a sumptuous private party last month celebrating his 65th birthday, Clinton said he intends to help Obama but that, in his opinion, "he seems to have lost his narrative".
According to the daily, the book "marks a new and somewhat warmer stage in the two men's rivalry and relationship", since Obama defeated Bill Clinton's wife Hillary, now secretary of state, in the 2008 Democratic primaries.
Citing White House advisors, The New York Times said that Obama and Clinton have not had a "heart-to-heart talk" about the "ill will" between them since the 2008 campaign, though these days they do have "brief but positive meetings and shared beliefs".
Nonetheless, the Obamas still have not invited the Clintons over for dinner at the White House.
According to previous press articles, Clinton's book analyses the economic situation and generally praises the measures adopted by the Obama administration to ease the effects of the crisis, though the former president does criticise what he considers mistakes by the current resident of the White House.
One of them, Clinton says, was that he never raised the national debt ceiling in the brief legislative session of 2010 before Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives and the matter that became bogged down this year by the Republicans' unyielding attitude.
In 2010, Democrats lost control of the lower house and saw their Senate majority slashed, something that now stands in the way of getting a number of White House priorities passed.
From their minority position, Senate Republicans have managed to block Obama's $447-billion jobs plan, forcing the White House to try and get some of it approved, piece by piece. But the Republicans have also twice blocked separate elements.
Though Clinton's book is an effort to strengthen his legacy as president, it also attempts to aid the current president and his party with a view to the 2012 elections, when Obama will seek a second term.
According to observers, Clinton has a well-demonstrated talent for "economic storytelling and attracting white working-class voters", a segment of the electorate that Obama needs in order to be reelected next year.
Local media say with this book Obama, who faces voter disillusion and a knock-down, drag-out fight in Congress over his jobs plan, receives the support of fellow Democrat Bill Clinton (1993-2001), who at the same time criticises his mistakes.
"Back to Work", published by Knopf, goes on sale next Tuesday.
The New York Times recalled Saturday in an article that during a sumptuous private party last month celebrating his 65th birthday, Clinton said he intends to help Obama but that, in his opinion, "he seems to have lost his narrative".
According to the daily, the book "marks a new and somewhat warmer stage in the two men's rivalry and relationship", since Obama defeated Bill Clinton's wife Hillary, now secretary of state, in the 2008 Democratic primaries.
Citing White House advisors, The New York Times said that Obama and Clinton have not had a "heart-to-heart talk" about the "ill will" between them since the 2008 campaign, though these days they do have "brief but positive meetings and shared beliefs".
Nonetheless, the Obamas still have not invited the Clintons over for dinner at the White House.
According to previous press articles, Clinton's book analyses the economic situation and generally praises the measures adopted by the Obama administration to ease the effects of the crisis, though the former president does criticise what he considers mistakes by the current resident of the White House.
One of them, Clinton says, was that he never raised the national debt ceiling in the brief legislative session of 2010 before Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives and the matter that became bogged down this year by the Republicans' unyielding attitude.
In 2010, Democrats lost control of the lower house and saw their Senate majority slashed, something that now stands in the way of getting a number of White House priorities passed.
From their minority position, Senate Republicans have managed to block Obama's $447-billion jobs plan, forcing the White House to try and get some of it approved, piece by piece. But the Republicans have also twice blocked separate elements.
Though Clinton's book is an effort to strengthen his legacy as president, it also attempts to aid the current president and his party with a view to the 2012 elections, when Obama will seek a second term.
According to observers, Clinton has a well-demonstrated talent for "economic storytelling and attracting white working-class voters", a segment of the electorate that Obama needs in order to be reelected next year.
Ind Vs Wi: West Indies 256/5 On Day 1 At Stumps
NEW DELHI: Experienced batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit an authoritative century on Sunday to help the West Indies reach 256/5 against India on the opening day of the first Test at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium.
Scorecard | Match in Pics
Left-hander Chanderpaul struck 111 not out and put on a solid 108-run stand for the fourth wicket with Kraigg Brathwaite (63) that pulled the West Indies out of trouble from a precarious 72-3.
Chanderpaul smashed seven fours and two sixes during his 24th Test century to douse the enthusiasm of an inexperienced bowling attack that called the shots through spinners Pragyan Ojha and debutant Ravichandran Ashwin before the fourth-wicket stand.
Ojha finished the day at 3-58 and Ashwin at 2-79.
Chanderpaul enhanced his already impressive record against India by scoring his seventh century against the team and the second in consecutive Tests after also getting one in their last game in Dominica in the Caribbean in June this year.
Chanderpaul showed nimble footwork during his 167-ball knock, hitting both of India's specialist spinners for a six each over the long-on fence.
The 37-year-old dominated the stand with teenager Brathwaite, who compiled a painstaking 63 off 212 balls with only four hits to the fence. It was the second half-century in four tests for Brathwaite, who will turn 19 next month.
Braithwaite was Ojha's third victim when he was stumped by Mahendra Singh Dhoni in trying to reach a flighted delivery pitched outside the off stump.
Earlier, Ojha struck twice in the opening session and Ashwin took a wicket in the first over after lunch, pegging back a West Indies side that won the toss and elected to bat.
Ojha, who was introduced into the attack in the 10th over of the innings, dismissed opener Kieran Powell and Kirk Edwards to help India take the early advantage.
Ojha trapped Powell (14) lbw with a ball that turned in sharply to rap his pads. In his previous over, the left-arm spinner dropped a return catch opportunity from Powell.
Ojha made no such mistake when Edwards (15) offered a return catch when trying to drive down the ground, and finished the session with 2-14 in 10 overs.
Ashwin took the important wicket of Darren Bravo (12) when the left-hander shaped for a cut shot. Bravo, who had struck 195 in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur last week, played too close to the body and was clean bowled.
Ashwin also dismissed experienced batsman Marlon Samuels in the third session by inducing an edge that was collected neatly by Dhoni behind the stumps.
Ashwin was one of two Test debutants for India, the other being pace bowler Umesh Yadav.
The second Test will be played in Kolkata from Nov. 14-18 and the final Test in Mumbai from Nov. 22-26.
The Test series will be followed by a five-game one-day series with matches in Cuttack (Nov. 29), Visakhapatnam (Dec. 2), Ahmedabad (Dec. 5), Indore (Dec. 8) and Chennai (Dec. 11).
Scorecard | Match in Pics
Left-hander Chanderpaul struck 111 not out and put on a solid 108-run stand for the fourth wicket with Kraigg Brathwaite (63) that pulled the West Indies out of trouble from a precarious 72-3.
Chanderpaul smashed seven fours and two sixes during his 24th Test century to douse the enthusiasm of an inexperienced bowling attack that called the shots through spinners Pragyan Ojha and debutant Ravichandran Ashwin before the fourth-wicket stand.
Ojha finished the day at 3-58 and Ashwin at 2-79.
Chanderpaul enhanced his already impressive record against India by scoring his seventh century against the team and the second in consecutive Tests after also getting one in their last game in Dominica in the Caribbean in June this year.
Chanderpaul showed nimble footwork during his 167-ball knock, hitting both of India's specialist spinners for a six each over the long-on fence.
The 37-year-old dominated the stand with teenager Brathwaite, who compiled a painstaking 63 off 212 balls with only four hits to the fence. It was the second half-century in four tests for Brathwaite, who will turn 19 next month.
Braithwaite was Ojha's third victim when he was stumped by Mahendra Singh Dhoni in trying to reach a flighted delivery pitched outside the off stump.
Earlier, Ojha struck twice in the opening session and Ashwin took a wicket in the first over after lunch, pegging back a West Indies side that won the toss and elected to bat.
Ojha, who was introduced into the attack in the 10th over of the innings, dismissed opener Kieran Powell and Kirk Edwards to help India take the early advantage.
Ojha trapped Powell (14) lbw with a ball that turned in sharply to rap his pads. In his previous over, the left-arm spinner dropped a return catch opportunity from Powell.
Ojha made no such mistake when Edwards (15) offered a return catch when trying to drive down the ground, and finished the session with 2-14 in 10 overs.
Ashwin took the important wicket of Darren Bravo (12) when the left-hander shaped for a cut shot. Bravo, who had struck 195 in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur last week, played too close to the body and was clean bowled.
Ashwin also dismissed experienced batsman Marlon Samuels in the third session by inducing an edge that was collected neatly by Dhoni behind the stumps.
Ashwin was one of two Test debutants for India, the other being pace bowler Umesh Yadav.
The second Test will be played in Kolkata from Nov. 14-18 and the final Test in Mumbai from Nov. 22-26.
The Test series will be followed by a five-game one-day series with matches in Cuttack (Nov. 29), Visakhapatnam (Dec. 2), Ahmedabad (Dec. 5), Indore (Dec. 8) and Chennai (Dec. 11).
Kudankulam Nuclear Plant Safe: Kalam
CHENNAI: Former president APJ Abdul Kalam on Sunday visited the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu and said the plant was totally safe and a "boon to the people".
"The third generation nuclear reactor is totally safe and is a boon to the people," Kalam told reporters at the site.
"The nuclear plant is built at a correct height and there is no threat of tsunami (damage)," he added.
He said electricity is necessary for India's economic growth.
Kalam also said his visit to the plant was "purely as a technologist and scientist and not to mediate with the protesters and to verify the safety features incorporated in the nuclear power plant located on the Indian coast".
He viewed the safety features of the two Russian reactors being set up in Tirunelveli district, around 650 km from here.
Kalam also met a group that wants the plant to start generating power.
"He is fully satisfied with the active and passive safety features of the nuclear reactors in Kudankulam. The passive safety system is working very well. The reactor heat removal system is the most modern in the world," Kalam's adviser V Ponraj told IANS on phone.
He said Kalam was satisfied with the core catcher safety feature, whereby in the event of an accident, the reactor core will be contained.
"The fears of people are unfounded as everything at the plant is perfect," Ponraj said.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) chairman and managing director S.K. Jain accompanied the former president during his visit.
India's nuclear power plant operator NPCIL is building two 1,000 MW nuclear power reactors with Russian technology and equipment in Kudankulam.
The first unit is expected to go on stream in December. The project is estimated to cost around Rs.13,160 crore (over $2.5 billion).
However, villagers fear for their lives and safety in case of any nuclear accident and the long-term impact it would have on the population.
Their agitation has put a stop to the project work thereby delaying the commissioning of the first unit by several months.
"The third generation nuclear reactor is totally safe and is a boon to the people," Kalam told reporters at the site.
"The nuclear plant is built at a correct height and there is no threat of tsunami (damage)," he added.
He said electricity is necessary for India's economic growth.
Kalam also said his visit to the plant was "purely as a technologist and scientist and not to mediate with the protesters and to verify the safety features incorporated in the nuclear power plant located on the Indian coast".
He viewed the safety features of the two Russian reactors being set up in Tirunelveli district, around 650 km from here.
Kalam also met a group that wants the plant to start generating power.
"He is fully satisfied with the active and passive safety features of the nuclear reactors in Kudankulam. The passive safety system is working very well. The reactor heat removal system is the most modern in the world," Kalam's adviser V Ponraj told IANS on phone.
He said Kalam was satisfied with the core catcher safety feature, whereby in the event of an accident, the reactor core will be contained.
"The fears of people are unfounded as everything at the plant is perfect," Ponraj said.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) chairman and managing director S.K. Jain accompanied the former president during his visit.
India's nuclear power plant operator NPCIL is building two 1,000 MW nuclear power reactors with Russian technology and equipment in Kudankulam.
The first unit is expected to go on stream in December. The project is estimated to cost around Rs.13,160 crore (over $2.5 billion).
However, villagers fear for their lives and safety in case of any nuclear accident and the long-term impact it would have on the population.
Their agitation has put a stop to the project work thereby delaying the commissioning of the first unit by several months.
Ms Dhoni Goes Past Syed Kirmani As Indian 'Keeper With Most Dismissals
NEW DELHI: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Sunday completed another milestone as he pipped Syed Kirmani to become the Indian wicketkeeper with highest number of dismissals in his kitty.
Dhoni stumped Kraigg Brathwaite off Pragyan Ojha's bowling to bag his 199th victim in his 62nd Test match - one more than Kirmani who represented India in 88 Tests.
Among Dhoni's 199 victims, 173 are caught behind and 26 are stumpings.
Apart from Dhoni and Kirmani, only Kiran More and Nayan Mongia are the other two wicketkeepers who have recorded more than 100 dismissals. More had 130 dismissals from 49 Tests while Mongia had 107 victims from 44 Tests.
Dhoni stumped Kraigg Brathwaite off Pragyan Ojha's bowling to bag his 199th victim in his 62nd Test match - one more than Kirmani who represented India in 88 Tests.
Among Dhoni's 199 victims, 173 are caught behind and 26 are stumpings.
Apart from Dhoni and Kirmani, only Kiran More and Nayan Mongia are the other two wicketkeepers who have recorded more than 100 dismissals. More had 130 dismissals from 49 Tests while Mongia had 107 victims from 44 Tests.
Anna Hazare Being Made A Scapegoat By Team Members: Digvijaya Singh
NEW DELHI: "Simpleton" Anna Hazare is being made a scapegoat to fulfil the political ambitions of some "very smart people" in his own team, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has alleged.
The AICC general secretary, who is known for his swipes at Team Anna, said he stands by his every word on the issue and his perception of Hazare is shared by Congress leaders.
He, however, made it clear that it was not discussed with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
Wondering at the "U-turns" of Hazare on the issue of campaigning against Congress over Lokpal issue, Singh said he was being misused by some of his team members and that he changed his recent stand on not campaigning against any political party under pressure from some of his team members who have high political ambitions.
"He is a simpleton...Anna is a very simple man. He is susceptible to pressures and the all the people around him have their political agenda.... He is highly susceptible to being exploited by smart people," Singh said in a free-wheeling interview to a TV channel.
"Poor Anna is being made a scapegoat or a mask to fulfil their agenda because he has greater credibility than them... He is extremely simple (man), who is being exploited by some very wise people with huge political ambitions," he said.
Asked whether he is suggesting that Anna is something more than simple not to understand the gameplan, Singh said, "Baba Ramdev said something more than that. He said he (Hazare) was speaking the truth and he was lying".
Repeating his charge that RSS and BJP were behind Anna Hazare's anti corruption agitation, he asked, "Why Anna is hesitating to accept that RSS has not only planned his movement but even provided man-power and supported it?"
He also recalled that Hazare had thanked RSS and BJP from the stage for their cooperation in anti-corruption agitation and questioned his "double standards" for praising Narendra Modi who had not appointed a Lokayukta in Gujarat for so many years.
Singh said he has no regrets on whatever remarks he made against Hazare and his team so far and will do so in future if circumstances remained the same.
He said Hazare is unfortunately not realising that he is being misused by RSS and BJP and cautioned him, "Beware of RSS and BJP. They will lead you to a place from where it will be very difficult for you to come back."
Asked about Hazare's recent change of stand in which he said he would campaign against Congress in Uttar Pradesh assembly elections if the Jan Lokpal Bill was not passed by Parliament in the Winter session, Singh said, "I do not know how many times, he will go on U-turns."
He also took a dig at Arvind Kejriwal on the issue of Team Anna returning the donations by unknown persons saying he was not very sure of Kejriwal's accountancy.
"He (Kejriwal) is an IRS officer. I do not know what kind of accounting he did there. He has been taking money from unknown donors and returning money to unknown donors. That's why I said there is neither account nor any book but only that is true what Kejriwal says," Singh said.
He said this meant money was being taken without giving receipts so "it cannot be confirmed whether the amount was only Rs 42 lakh or Rs 42 crore".
The AICC general secretary, who is known for his swipes at Team Anna, said he stands by his every word on the issue and his perception of Hazare is shared by Congress leaders.
He, however, made it clear that it was not discussed with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
Wondering at the "U-turns" of Hazare on the issue of campaigning against Congress over Lokpal issue, Singh said he was being misused by some of his team members and that he changed his recent stand on not campaigning against any political party under pressure from some of his team members who have high political ambitions.
"He is a simpleton...Anna is a very simple man. He is susceptible to pressures and the all the people around him have their political agenda.... He is highly susceptible to being exploited by smart people," Singh said in a free-wheeling interview to a TV channel.
"Poor Anna is being made a scapegoat or a mask to fulfil their agenda because he has greater credibility than them... He is extremely simple (man), who is being exploited by some very wise people with huge political ambitions," he said.
Asked whether he is suggesting that Anna is something more than simple not to understand the gameplan, Singh said, "Baba Ramdev said something more than that. He said he (Hazare) was speaking the truth and he was lying".
Repeating his charge that RSS and BJP were behind Anna Hazare's anti corruption agitation, he asked, "Why Anna is hesitating to accept that RSS has not only planned his movement but even provided man-power and supported it?"
He also recalled that Hazare had thanked RSS and BJP from the stage for their cooperation in anti-corruption agitation and questioned his "double standards" for praising Narendra Modi who had not appointed a Lokayukta in Gujarat for so many years.
Singh said he has no regrets on whatever remarks he made against Hazare and his team so far and will do so in future if circumstances remained the same.
He said Hazare is unfortunately not realising that he is being misused by RSS and BJP and cautioned him, "Beware of RSS and BJP. They will lead you to a place from where it will be very difficult for you to come back."
Asked about Hazare's recent change of stand in which he said he would campaign against Congress in Uttar Pradesh assembly elections if the Jan Lokpal Bill was not passed by Parliament in the Winter session, Singh said, "I do not know how many times, he will go on U-turns."
He also took a dig at Arvind Kejriwal on the issue of Team Anna returning the donations by unknown persons saying he was not very sure of Kejriwal's accountancy.
"He (Kejriwal) is an IRS officer. I do not know what kind of accounting he did there. He has been taking money from unknown donors and returning money to unknown donors. That's why I said there is neither account nor any book but only that is true what Kejriwal says," Singh said.
He said this meant money was being taken without giving receipts so "it cannot be confirmed whether the amount was only Rs 42 lakh or Rs 42 crore".
Sabtu, 22 Oktober 2011
7.6 Magnitude Earthquake Hits South Pacific
Nuku'alofa, Tonga: A strong earthquake struck far off the South Pacific island nation of Tonga on Friday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports the magnitude-7.6 quake struck Friday at 1:57 p.m. (1757 GMT) about 541 miles (870 kilometers) south of Nuku'Alofa on Tonga. The quake struck at a depth of 24 miles (39 kilometers).
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami alert, but its report on the quake said sea level readings indicated that a tsunami was generated.
The quake hit 112 miles (180 kilometers) from New Zealand's remote, volcanic Kermadec Islands. The remote outpost is generally uninhabited aside from a weather station and a hostel for visiting New Zealand scientists and staff.
New Zealand Civil Defense officials issued but then quickly canceled a tsunami warning.
Another magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck the region in July, but the eight New Zealand staffers at the Raoul Island outpost at the northern end of the Kermadecs were unharmed.
The region lies on the "Ring of Fire" - an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones that stretches around the Pacific Rim. About 90 percent of the world's quakes occur in the region.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports the magnitude-7.6 quake struck Friday at 1:57 p.m. (1757 GMT) about 541 miles (870 kilometers) south of Nuku'Alofa on Tonga. The quake struck at a depth of 24 miles (39 kilometers).
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami alert, but its report on the quake said sea level readings indicated that a tsunami was generated.
The quake hit 112 miles (180 kilometers) from New Zealand's remote, volcanic Kermadec Islands. The remote outpost is generally uninhabited aside from a weather station and a hostel for visiting New Zealand scientists and staff.
New Zealand Civil Defense officials issued but then quickly canceled a tsunami warning.
Another magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck the region in July, but the eight New Zealand staffers at the Raoul Island outpost at the northern end of the Kermadecs were unharmed.
The region lies on the "Ring of Fire" - an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones that stretches around the Pacific Rim. About 90 percent of the world's quakes occur in the region.
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