No US Mediation in Kashmir Issue

The Obama administration has made it clear that it is not in the mandate of U S Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke to deal with the Kashmir issue, thus allaying India's fears of a third party intervention in its ongoing tension with Pakistan.
''His (Holbrooke's) mandate is to go out and try to help bring stability to Afghanistan, working closely with Pakistan to try to deal with the situation in the FATA region,'' acting State Department spokesman Robert Wood said on Tuesday.

The spokesman said, ''With regard to Kashmir, I think our policy is well-known. I think India has some very clear views as to what it wants to do vis-àvis, dealing with the Kashmir issue, as well as the Pakistanis. But with regard to Ambassador Holbrooke's mission, as I said, is to deal strictly with the Pakistan-Afghanistan situation,'' Wood said.

When asked whether Holbrooke would play any role ''if there are heightened tensions again over, the Mumbai incident,'' the spokesman said, ''I don't want to speculate in terms of what he may or may not do, but his brief is focused solely on Afghanistan.'' This statement made it clear that the new US administration has no intention to mediate in the Kashmir issue, virtually accepting India's longstanding position to settle the issue bilaterally with Islamabad without any third party intervention.

Certain utterances of President Barack Obama during an election campaign led to the impression that his administration might try to mediate between New Delhi and Islamabad on the Kashmir issue.

FOR GALLANTRY - Ashok Chakra for Karkare, Kamte, Salaskar & Omble Mumbai:

PREZ TO CONFER MEDALS President Pratibha Patil will present the medals to the next of kin of these of- ficers and personnel during the Republic Day parade

The country's highest peacetime gallantry medal, the Ashok Chakra, would be conferred on nine security personnel including Anti Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte, encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar, Assistant Sub-Inspector Tukaram Omble and three others who were killed in 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
National Security Guards (NSG) commando, Gajender Singh who was also killed fighting the terrorists would receive the prestigious award, conferred for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice.

Meanwhile, Kirti Chakra, an Indian military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle has been conferred on Senior Police Inspector (Railways) Shashank Shinde who was killed by the bullets of the lone Pakistani terrorist captured, Mohammed Ajmal Amir alas Kasab.

Apart from Shinde, Police Constable (Security Branch) Ambadas Ramchandra Pawar and Mukesh Bhikaji Jadhav, Home Guard, would also receive the Kriti Chakra posthumously. Pawar and Yadav were both killed in the attack at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST).

THE NATION SALUTES THEM - 133 personalities conferred Padma awards

The country's high est civilian award -- Bharat Ratna -- has been conferred on noted 86-year-old vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.
Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar, noted environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna, first Olympic Gold medalist Abhinav Bindra, cricket captain M S Dhoni and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are among 133 personailties honoured with Padma awards this year. PADMA VIBHUSHAN Kakodkar, who was actively involved in bringing the IndoUS civil nuclear deal to fruition and 82-year-old Bahuguna, popular for his Chipko movement to save trees, were among the 10 distinguished persons to get Padma Vibhushan, the nation's second highest civilian award. The other recipients included ISRO Chief G Madhavan Nair, the man behind the historic unmanned Moon mission 'Chandrayaan', Sister Nirmala of Kolkata-based Missionaries of Charities and First Chancellor of Sweden-based World Maritime University Chandrika Prasad Srivastava. Historian D P Chattopadhyaya, Jasbir Singh Bajaj (Punjab) and Purushotam Lal (UP, both medicine), former Governor and noted civil servant Govind Narain and industrialist A S Ganguly(Maharashtra) were the other Padma Vibhushan awardees. PADMA BHUSHAN Shooter Abhinav Bindra, Information Technology and National Knowledge Commission Chairman Sam Pitroda, economist Isher Judge Ahulwalia and Editor-in-Chief of Indian Express Shekhar Gupta were among the 30 eminent personalities awarded Padma Bhushan. PADMA SHRI Among the 93 persons chosen for Padma Shri were Team India captain M S Dhoni, spinner Harbhajan Singh, singer Udit Narayan Bollywood actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Akshay Kumar, world billiards champion Pankaj Advani, R K Krishna Kumar of the Taj Group of Hotels and veteran broadcaster Ameen Sayani . PTI

MUMBAI ATTACK - Pak serious about India's dossier

Pakistan is taking India's dossier on the Mumbai terror attacks "extremely seriously" and will "have to act fast" to complete its probe, Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani has said.
"The dossier passed on to the government of Pakistan, we are taking it extremely seriously, and we have already started (an) investigation and the results will come soon," he told the 'Financial Times' daily in an interview.

Gilani also hinted that Pakistan could consider the option of extraditing terror suspects to India if relations between the two countries were normalised.

Replying to a question on whether he would ever agree to extradition of terror suspects to India, he said: "So far there is no such thing. But that depends on our normalisation of relations."

Asked how quickly the Pakistani investigation into the Mumbai attacks will proceed, Gilani replied, "I don't want to step into the domain of the Interior Ministry but at the same time we have to act fast."

The Premier said he had also spoken to his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh about extending full cooperation for further intelligence sharing. "And even for getting to the culprits, we'll be needing their assistance," he said.

If any culprits are detected during the Pakistani investigation, the government will "proceed according to the law and we will ensure...that justice will be done", he said.

The Indo-Pak ties nose-dived in the wake of the Mumbai attacks that killed over 180 people. India blamed Pakistan- based elements for masterminding and coordinating the attacks.

After weeks of denial, Pakistan recently acknowledged that Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested in India during the attacks, is a Pakistani national.

Asked if it was his understanding that the attacks were launched from Pakistan, Gilani said: "No, this is not the issue because the Government of India doesn't blame the government (of Pakistan), they don't even blame the organisations, institutions.

"They were only pointing out to the individuals, those people, are from every part of the world." Gilani described the New Year's greetings and peace message he had recently received from Prime Minister Singh as "a good sign".

Noting that Uzbek, Chechen, Arab and Afghan terrorists are operating in Pakistan, Gilani contended that such persons should be countered but an attack could not be launched on their country of origin.

Tales of crisis, courage and comedy

‘Sainik Samachar’ celebrates its centenary with a vivid collection of news and images from a century of military history

Few times in the recent past have the Indian Armed Forces been held in as high regard as they are right now. The special force operations during the Mumbai terror strike, the anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and the brouhaha over pay increases have kept the men in uniform continuously in the public consciousness. One cannot ask for a better time, therefore, to launch Soldiering On, a well-produced coffee table book to commemorate 100 years of Sainik Samachar, the Armed Forces’ news journal.

The book carefully and painstakingly chronicles the evolution of the Sainik Samachar from its launch in 1909 as the Fauji Akhbar—through various wars, a partition and a change in India’s status from domain to republic to, finally, its current avatar: A fortnightly published in 14 languages and read by thousands of soldiers and ex-servicemen.
Although positioned as a history of the Sainik Samachar, Soldiering On cannot help but become a visual history of the Indian soldier. This means that the book is illustrated with superb pictures infrequently seen outside military circles. The Armed Forces, in the sense of a national unified entity, may only be a few decades old. But as Soldiering On testifies, they have seen their fair share of trials and tribulations. The images in the book, even the ones blurred by age and poor preservation, do justice to these tales.
Two things stand out about the book. One is its balanced view of protagonists: The soldier, the politician and the passage of time are given adequate importance. So, for every few pictures of an Indian unit marching through pouring rain in World War I France, there is one of Indira Gandhi speeding up a ramp into a warship, officers trailing behind, and yet another of milling crowds around the Parliament building in New Delhi on 15 August 1947.
Second, the compilers of the book throw open the archives of the Sainik Samachar to readers and let them draw their own historical conclusions. This, from the Armed Forces, no less, shows a candour rare in popular Indian historiography. Without resorting to petty revisionism to show the evils of colonialism and the “British yoke”, Soldiering On sets the tone for its stance early on in its preface: “We leave it to our discerning readers to form their own opinion.”
Images of Jallianwala Bagh and old Sainik Samachar excerpts denouncing Mahatma Gandhi are left without interpretations or embellishments.
History buffs will enjoy how the book depicts the transient nature of our relationships with neighbours. A poignant picture shows Indian armymen bidding farewell to Pakistani counterparts shortly before the partition of both countries. Later ones show both war and friendship attempts between the countries. One of the final few images is that of armed black-helmeted commandos at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel.
All this might leave you thinking the book is all grim reportage and gritty soldier profiles. But the Sainik Samachar also carried delightful features by popular writers—Khushwant Singh, Ruskin Bond and Mulk Raj Anand (on Indian classical dancing)—and extremely funny cartoons. If the samples in Soldiering Onare anything to go by, the archives of Sainik Samachar should easily have enough material for a compilation of excellent humour in uniform.
Soldiering Onis a classic coffee-table book: Excellent eye candy for a quick flip-through, and plenty of insightful reading when you kick up your heels.

BARACK OBAMA KEEPS HIS DATE WITH DESTINY Sworn in as 44th President, first black to lead US

In a defin ing moment in US history, Barack Hussein Obama was Tuesday sworn in as the country's 44th and the first black President at a 150 million dollar extravaganza watched by some two million people with a blunt message to terrorists all over the world - "we will defeat you.'' Obama began his inauguration speech with: "My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors…'' Climaxing the unlikeliest of journeys to the White House, the 47-year-old African-American who has raised unprecedented expectations worldwide was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice John G Roberts Jr on a chilly morning at 12:06 PM (22.36 IST ), 12 minutes behind schedule, on the steps of the West Front of the Capitol Hill where the US Congress sits.
"...For those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us and we will defeat you,'' Obama told citizens of his country hungry for change after George W Bush's divisive wars in two distant lands and the economic troubles that shook the country and the rest of the world.

The huge crowd from across America and many from outside lapped up every idea that the charismatic Democrat propounded in his tryst with history during his 20-minute address after he took oath.

In an apparent reference to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama said, "our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred''. Conscious of the anti-American sentiments in some parts of the world, he reached out to the Muslim world saying the US seeks a new way forward based on 'mutual interest and mutual respect'. The country's fourth youngest president referred to the mix of nationalities living in the US saying, ''We know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non believers.'' Having come to power with a message of hope and promise of change, Obama said the nation is in the 'midst of a crisis' and urged people to usher in an 'era of responsibility'. ''Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America-they will be met,'' Obama said. Shattering racial barriers as the first Afro-American head of America, Obama, the son of a black Kenyan and white mother from Kansas, took his oath placing hands on the same Bible used at the 1861 inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, whose Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery.

Obama assumed office nearly 11 weeks after winning the November 4 Presidential elections defeating the Republican candidate John McCain. Significantly before Obama, a president had never been sworn in by a chief justice he voted against. Indian ambassador to the US Ronen Sen was among those present at the costliest inaugurals estimated to have cost 170 million dollars.

Obama told the world community that, ''America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.'' George W Bush, who attended the swearing-in ceremony with his wife Laura, was thanked by his successor for his service to the nation as well as the generosity and cooperation he had shown throughout his transition. Inheriting the economic troubles, the worst since the depression in the 1930s, Obama called for bold and swift action to revive the economy.

Bush, who leaves Washington as one of the nation's most unpopular and divisive presidents after a eight-year rule, watched the first change of guard since 2001 along with his wife Laura. Former presidents Jimmy Carter, George H Bush and Bill Clinton were also present. The incoming First Lady Michelle Obama carried to the platform the Bible on which the country's fourth youngest president placed his left hand, and repeated the 35-word oath of office with right hand raised promising to 'preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States', adding 'so help me God' at the end. Obama decided to use his full name-Barack Hussein Obama--for the swearing-in. TRYST WITH HISTORY MUSLIM CONNECT "To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect,'' Obama said in his inaugural speech MANDELA HAILS OBAMA Anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela compared Barack's inauguration as US president to SA's historic transition to democracy I am thankful, grateful, and joyful and will now take pride in being known as Citizen Bush, said the outgoing president BUSH GREETS OBAMA Outgoing US President George W Bush and wife Laura greeted his successor Barack Obama and wife Michelle at the White House


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MUSH TALKS TOUGH - 'Punish Mumbai attackers'

Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that anyone involved in November's terrorist attacks in Mumbai must be punished, but warned that "hysteria" in India over the deadly siege threatens stability on the Indian subcontinent.
"If there is proof, there must be action," Musharraf said during a speaking event at Stanford University on Friday. But he added, "Let us not get hyper about it and whip up hysteria in the country so that the process of peace gets totally disrupted." Musharraf offered his thoughts on combating terrorism, the roots of Islamic extremism, the state of Indian-Pakistani relations and other issues at Stanford University, where he gave a speech and answered questions from students.

The former military ruler is on his first speaking tour in the United States since he resigned as Pakistan's president in August to avoid impeachment. Musharraf said while it was important to bring extremist groups under control, it was even more important to resolve the Kashmir problem, an issue he says has inflamed tensions between the two neighbors and given rise to militant groups.

Musharraf said that poverty, illiteracy and political alienation - as well as political disputes over Palestine, Kashmir and other territories - were among the root causes of terrorism, and those issues had to be addressed in order to rid the world of terrorists.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Army Chief General Ashfaque Kayansaid Pakistan wanted to defuse tensions with India following the Mumbai attacks but without any compromise or under pressure. Agencies

JONBEEL FAIR - Royal allowance for Kings of Assam

At last the nineteen traditional customary kings under the ancient Kingdom of Gobha have got something to cheer for.
The government of Assam on Saturday announced 'annual royal allowance' for the nineteen customary kings of various communities. Assam education minister Goutam Bora on Saturday distributed the bank cheques among the customary kings at the Jonbeel Mela (fair).

There are nineteen customary community kings under the Gobha Kingdom, which includes parts of three districts of present Assam - Morigaon, Nagaon and Kamrup. Jonbeel (a wetland) Mela was first organised by the Ahom kings several centuries back to discuss the prevailing political situation.

The Assam education minister said that this is for the first time that the government has announced the royal allowance and added that the kings would receive monetary allowance of something between Rs 3000 and Rs 10,000 depending on the population count under them.

Expressing his happiness over the development, King of Gobha Deep Singh said, "It is a welcome move by the government of Assam. We have been demanding this for a long time as the economic condition of all these customary kings is going down. If we do not receive any assistance from the government, it would be difficult to maintain even the tradition of hosting the annual Jonbeel Mela, which has become an important tourist destination."

Echoing similar sentiments Ahom King Susenfa Pratap Singha said that the amount would help the kings in many ways. " The Mela was initiated by our predecessors to maintain cordial relations among all communities," he said while adding that the government assistance would help the kings to fulfil the predecessors' dreams.

Economic crisis result of greed: Dalai Lama

I am not an economist, but it is difficult for a common man to understand how market forces can be beyond human control, because markets are the creation of human beings themselves," Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, said at a press conference. In his view, the economic crisis was the result of unlimited greed, a lack of transparency and lies. The Dalai Lama opined that spirituality has the power to teach containment, truthfulness, honesty and morality.
Stressing that media has a very important role to play in the given situation, he said, "We write as if there is no future but it is also important to show that 'yes', there is a future". Media must play a more positive role in making and shaping the world.

MUMBAI ATTACK - PM tells Pakistan to come clean

Mounting pressure on Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday asked the neighbouring country to come out with a "full and complete disclosure" of all the facts surrounding the November 26-29 ghastly Mumbai terror attack - and made it clear that it should supplement its words with action.
"I urge the Pakistani authorities to come out with a full and complete disclosure of all the facts surrounding the case, without attempts at denial, diversion or obfuscation," Dr Singh said, addressing corporate leaders at a function at the Oberoi-Trident Hotel, which too was one of the targets of the Lashkar-e-Toiba-sponsored attack.

The 60-hour-long attack carried out by a group of 10 fidayeens had left more than 170 dead and over 300 injured.

He said Pakistan should act against the LeT and other ter rorist groups and their sponsors - in its own interest. "It should ensure that nothing like Mumbai, or the attack on our embassy in Kabul ever happens again," he said in a blunt message. He said that apart from hundreds of innocent Indians, civilians from 21 countries were either killed or injured in the attacks.

Dr Singh said that India has shared the evidence that it gathered so far on the incidents with Pakistan and others.

"Pakistan has admitted that the arrested terrorist is their national. We expect Pakistan to take all the consequent next steps against all those who have planned, organised and executed these horrific crimes," he said.

In its first formal response to India with regard to the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan had on Friday said it had initiated a "series" of actions in connection with the probe into the terror strikes and claimed to have shut down five training camps . Prime Minister Man mohan Singh on Saturday said India's woes due to the global meltdown will continue in the next fiscal, and predicted a lower growth of 6.5-7 per cent this year.

"I must emphasise that our problems will not be over in the current year," the Prime Minister said at The Economic Times Awards function at the sea-facing Trident Hotel. The function was attended by the who's who of corporate world.

"The difficult period will continue into 2009-10. The government will plan on continuing its efforts for a supporting environment next year also. Both the monetary and fiscal policies will have to be tailored to that objective." He said in no uncertain terms that growth in the current year will be lower than last year, as the country's gross domestic product had expanded just 7.7 per cent in the first half of 2008-09, against 9.1 per cent the previous year.

"The latest estimates for the final outcome in 2008-09 vary between 6.5 and 7 per cent. The exact figure is not critical. The important point is that although growth is lower, it is still much higher than most other countries." "Furthermore our agricultural sector is doing well. The brunt of the recession is being felt in the areas that had seen rapid growth earlier. This imposes pain but hopefully these sectors are more able to cope with temporary difficul ties." The Prime Minister said the Indian economy was fortunate that the inflation rate had eased considerably to around 5 per cent and was expected to decline further, giving ample flexibility for monetary policy.

"But on the fiscal side, our space is limited. The fiscal deficit in the current fiscal year will be much higher than originally planned. This is not something to be tolerated indefinitely."

The Prime Minister said business leaders in the corporate sector would have to cope with difficult and changing market circumstances, while responding to the challenges that lie ahead. "Crises are also opportunities to reposition oneself, overcome weaknesses and be ready to resume growth as the world turns upward."

According to Manmohan Singh, the governments of the industrialised world were well aware of the gravity of the crisis and were taking a series of unprecedented and proactive steps to counter the recession.

He said his government, too, has taken a number of measures to counter the global downturn, while asking the corporate sector to realise that the domestic policy action cannot completely negate the effect of a global downturn. "There will be a full recovery to our normal economic potential, but this will take place when global econo my reaches normalcy."

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Pakistan Government has taken stiff action against all LET operatives

JuD publications banned, 6 websites closed

Pakistan said on Thursday that its security forces had closed have training camps run by Lashkar-e-Toiba, the group blamed for the Mumbai attack, and arrested 124 of its leaders and those of a related charity, and added that Azhar Masood, chief of banned terror out?t Jaish-e-Mohammed, was not in the country.
Prime Minister’s adviser on interior affairs Rehman Malik told a press conference that the government launched a probe into the Mumbai attacks soon after the incident and as part ‘of our efforts we banned Jamaatud-Daawa (JuD) publications and shut down six websites and arrested 124 people for their involvement in militancy’.

Malik said that the law enforcing agencies throughout the country had arrested 124 people belonging to JuD including its chief Ha?z Saeed, Colonel (retired) Nazir Ahmed, Amir Hamza, the editor of Ghazwa, Mufti Abdul Rehman and Zakiur-Rehman Lakhvi.

He said that their publications - monthly Al-Dawa, Zarb-e-Taiba, weekly Ghazwa, Nane-Mujahid and Al-Rabita magazine - have also been banned.

The government has also closed down all websites of JuD including their main website www.jamatdawah.org that used to carry messages by the organisation’s leadership.

Malik said that 22 offices, two libraries, 87 schools, seven ma drasas and ?ve camps suspected to be used for training have been dismantled in Punjab. He said that Pakistan was taking action on information provided by India but ‘we should not be in a hurry’.

‘’Masood Azhar is not in Pakistan and we are also trying to locate him,’’ Malik said. He said that his government was committed to act against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks. He said that both Pakistan and India are nuclear states and need to act ‘with responsibility’.

The adviser with minister rank, who is considered a close con?dante of President Asif Ali Zardari, said that the government understands that the Indian government is under tremendous public pressure. Malik said Pakistan had assured India at every level of its ‘unconditional support to India in the Mumbai probe’. Agencies

'Slumdog Millionaire'

Music Maestro Allah Rakha Rahman, known as the Mozart of Chennai, becomes the first Indian to win a Golden Globe for providing the Best Original Music in a film He scored the music for British director Danny Boyle's movie 'Slumdog Millionaire'. Rahman dedicated the award to his musicians and the 'billion people of India' The movie also won the Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Motion Picture Drama awards. The cast includes Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Dev Patel and Freida Pinto M usic maestro A R Rahman, who became the first Indian to win the prestigious Golden Globe Award, dedicated it to the 'billion people of India', as British director Danny Boyle's Mumbaibased saga 'Slumdog Millionaire,' bagged four prizes at the ceremony on Monday.

Rahman made history by becoming the first Indian to win the Golden Globe for the Best Original Music Score for 'Slumdog Millionaire', which also won the best film and two other awards.

Directed by British filmmaker Danny Boyle, the rags-to-riches story of a Mumbai slumdweller swept awards in all the four categories it was nominated for, brightening its prospects at the Oscars next month. The film won the Best Director award for Boyle, the Best Music Score for Rahman, Best Screenplay for Simon Beaufoy and also the Best Motion Picture Drama prize. Rahman (43), who won the prestigious award for his music score 'Jai Ho' in the film, thanked the director and fellow musicians in Mumbai and Chennai, besides the 'billion people from India'. ''Unbelievable..! I thought, I would not win, so anyway thanks to the almighty God for bringing me here... Danny Boyle, Fox pictures, all my musicians in Chennai, Mumbai,.. and the billion people from India,'' the Chennai-based musician said while accepting the award at a star-studded ceremony in Beverly Hills in California.

Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, who was at the ceremony to represent India, introduced the film to the foreign audience with 'Slumdog' actress Frieda Pinto. Boyle's film depicts the heart-warming story of an orphan Jamaal, who goes on to win the Indian version of popular game show 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' to get his love back. It also stars Bollywood actors Irrfan Khan and Anil Kapoor, who played the host of the game show in the film.

The ceremony also saw Australian actor Heath Ledger being honoured posthumously for his portrayal of the villainous Joker in Batman sequel 'The Dark Knight'. Ledger became the second actor to win the award posthumous after Peter Finch, who had won the Best Actor award for his film 'Network' in 1976.

British actress Kate Winslet romped home with both the best actress and the best supporting actress awards for her performances in 'Revolutionary Road' and 'The Reader' respectively. She pipped aside the likes of Meryl Streep - 'Doubt', Anne Hathaway 'Rachael Getting Married,' Angelina Jolie - 'The Changeling' and Kristin Scott -Thomas in best actress category.

Actor Colin Farrell won the Best Actor award for his performance in the film 'In Bruges'.

The award for Best Animated Film went to 'Wall-E' and Israeli film 'Waltz With Bashir' was adjudged the Best Foreign film. Director Steven Spielberg was presented with the Cecil B DeMille award for lifetime achievement. Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt's drama 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button', 'Frost/Nixon' and 'Doubt' failed to get any awards despite being nominated in five categories. The event saw the A-listers of Hollywood - Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Robert Downey Jr, Sally Hawkins, Tom Cruise, and Steven Spielberg among others. PTI

Pakistani spy chief says no war with India

“We may be crazy in Pakistan, but not completely out of our minds. We know full well that terror is our enemy, not India, ” ISI chief Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shujaa Pasha told the German magazine, Der Spiegel
Reuters


Islamabad: The chief of Pakistan’s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, or ISI, has said there will not be a war with India over November’s militant attacks on Mumbai, Der Spiegel reported. Lieutenant-General Ahmed Shujaa Pasha told the German magazine in an interview terrorism, not India, was Pakistan’s enemy, and he said he took orders from the civilian president.
“There will not be a war,” Pasha said. “We are distancing ourselves from conflict with India, both now and in general.”
India blames Pakistan militants for the attack on Mumbai by 10 gunmen who killed 179 people. It has revived tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours who have fought three wars since 1947.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stepped up a war of words on Tuesday, saying for the first time the assault “must have had the support of some official agencies in Pakistan”.
Pakistan has denied any involvement by state agencies and rejected Singh’s accusation, saying India was ratcheting up tension and risked destroying all prospects of a serious and objective investigation.
Pasha said that soon after the Mumbai attack, Pakistan had anticipated an India military response.
“At first we thought there would be a military reaction. The Indians, after the attacks, were deeply offended and furious, but they are also clever,” he said.
“We may be crazy in Pakistan, but not completely out of our minds. We know full well that terror is our enemy, not India.”
The Pakistani government had initially offered to send Pasha to India to help with the investigation but withdrew the offer, apparently after objections from the top brass.
Pasha told Der Spiegel he had been willing to go to India.
“Many people here are simply not ready,” he said in the interview, published on Spiegel Onlne.
India sent evidence on Monday to Pakistan that it said linked Pakistani militants to the attacks, including data from satellite phones and what it describes as the confession of a surviving attacker
Pakistan said it had got a dossier and was examining it.
Pasha, a former chief of military operations, was appointed director-general of the military’s main security agency in September, two months after the government that came to power after February elections tried to bring it under the ambit of the Interior Ministry.
The government dropped the attempt in the face of objections from the military.
But Pasha said he and the military fully supported the government, led by the party of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Her widower, Asif Ali Zardari, replaced former army chief Pervez Musharraf as president in September.
“It is completely clear to the army chief and I that this government must succeed. Otherwise we will have a lot of problems in this country,” Pasha said.
“The result would be problems in the west and east, political destabilisation and trouble with America . Anyone who does not support this democratic government today simply does not understand the current situation.”
The dissolution of an ISI section responsible for spying on Pakistani politicians in November was seen as a military concession to the civilian government, Der Spiegel said.
“I report regularly to the president and take orders from him,” Pasha said.
Pasha said ISI officers were allowed to hold different opinions: “But no one can dare to disobey a command or even do something that was not ordered.”
Pasha also dismissed speculation of a secret agreement allowing the US to attack militants in Pakistan with missile-firing drone aircraft.
“But to be honest, what can we do against the drone attacks? Should we fight the Americans or attack an Afghan post, because that’s where the drones are coming from? Can we win this? Does it benefit Pakistan?”

Middle East & Africa Current Situation in Gaza is Appalling

WFP

A Palestinian family who fled from their house rest in a United Nations aid center in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip January 3, 2009. (Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters)

The current situation in Gaza is appalling and many basic food items are no longer available on the market," said Christine van Nieuwenhuyse, Representative of The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in the occupied Palestinian territory.

"Palestinian families living in Gaza are facing a variety of shortages of essential items and services," she added in a press release on Jan.3,2009.

WFP has said it urgently requires US$ 9 million to meet foreseen additional food needs caused by the upsurge in fighting.

The uninterrupted Israeli airstrikes on Gaza Strip have so far killed 442 Palestinians and injured over 2200.

WFP said is responding to growing humanitarian needs in Gaza by distributing bread to families in areas that have been badly hit by the recent upsurge in conflict.

As an emergency response to alleviate the suffering of families living close to areas affected by conflict, on Thursday WFP started an emergency distribution of bread in Beit Hanoun for 3,000 poor families - some 15,000 people who have not previously received WFP food assistance. This area in northern Gaza is one of the poorest and most heavily affected by the recent conflict.

Since the intermittent opening of the crossing points in November 2008, Palestinian families in Gaza have experienced a drastic deterioration in living conditions, with reduced quantities of food available on the market, shortages of cooking gas and fuel, and frequent power cuts.

The recent attacks in the Gaza Strip have prevented WFP and its partners from operating at full capacity and have delayed the normal distribution of food to 265,000 non-refugees and vulnerable individuals.

The difficulty of guaranteeing humanitarian access into Gaza over the last two months have reduced the availability of WFP food stocks, which would have helped address the new needs. WFP has 3,300 tons of food in warehouses which will be drawn down as food distributions resume, security permitting, over the next month. More food convoys are planned to replenish stocks for current and new food needs.

The scarcity of wheat has meant that the majority of mills and bakeries have stopped working in Gaza, and there is an acute shortage of bread, the staple food for Palestinian people.

"We are responding to the immediate food emergency needs as much as we can, but the destruction of local infrastructure, and the shortages of basic utilities such as fuel and gas mean that more people will fall into poverty, and have no other option than to be assisted by the international community," Nieuwenhuyse said. (Emirates News Agency, WAM)

Gaza school strike forces Barack Obama to break his silence

The death of forty-two people in an Israeli attack at a UN-run school in Gaza today finally forced Barack Obama to break his silence over the conflict.

"The loss of civilian life in Gaza and Israel is a source of deep concern for me," the US President-elect said.

But he would not be drawn further, promising to abide by his principle that only George W. Bush would speak for American foreign policy while he was still president. Mr Obama added that would have plenty more to say after his January 20 inauguration.

Gordon Brown said the recent fighting marked the "the darkest moment yet for the Middle East".
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The attack, which appeared to come from an air strike from two Israeli F16s, happened at the al-Fakhora school in Jabaliya refugee camp, causing carnage inside and outside the building, where hundreds of Palestinians had sought refuge from fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants. Initial reports had said the devastation was caused by a tank shell exploding.

Bodies lay scattered on the ground in pools of blood amid shredded clothing and shoes after the attack, in which several dozen people were also wounded.

As the death toll in the conflict rose, the United States administration appeared to be split on its stance towards the conflict. The US State department today made its first call for an end to the violence but a spokeswoman for the White House said she was confident Israel was taking care to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza.

"We would like an immediate ceasefire, absolutely,” said Sean McCormack, a State Department spokesman. “An immediate ceasefire that is durable, sustainable and not time-limited."

Israel has continued to defy international calls for a ceasefire and earlier moved its troops deeper into southern Gaza to intensify its ground offensive.

But Dana Perino, spokeswoman for the White House, said: “I saw the reports about the school. I don’t have any information about that. I think that we should not jump to conclusions and we should wait to find out what the evidence says.

“What we do know is that Hamas often hides amongst innocents and uses innocent people, including children, as human shields."

Those who died in the attack today were people sheltering in the school and local residents, medical officials at two local hospitals said. “I saw a lot of women and children wheeled in,” said Fares Ghanem, an official at Kamal Radwan Hospital. “A lot of the wounded were missing limbs and a lot of the dead were in pieces.”

The number of children killed in Gaza has now reached 100, according to Save the Children. The figure does not include those killed today.

Ken Caldwell, the charity's Director of International Operations, said: “Young children are suffering the worst of this crisis. They are under immense stress, often unable to sleep, some in such a state of shock that they are unable to cry.

“The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening hour by hour. Thousands of young lives are now in acute danger. Every world leader must urgently push again for a ceasefire and immediate humanitarian access, otherwise children will continue to die."
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Schools run by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) have opened their doors to provide shelters for thousands of Palestinians who have fled their homes. At least 17 schools are sheltering more than 5,000 people. Nine of the schools in the Jabaliya refugee camp are in the front line of fighting.

Three people were also killed at another UN-run school in the southern city of Khan Younis when Israeli tank fire showered the building where they were sheltering from the conflict. More than 600 Palestinians have lost their lives during the battle between Israeli forces and Hamas militants, which is now in its 11th day. A quarter of those are civilians, according to the UN. Three people also died in an air strike on a school in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, medics said.

Max Gaylard, the UN humanitarian co-ordinator for the Palestinian territories, said that Israel had the GPS co-ordinates of all UN buildings in Gaza – including its schools. “Neither homes nor UN shelters are safe” for civilians, he said in a statement that reaffirmed UN ceasefire calls.

“These tragic incidents need to be investigated, and if international humanitarian law has been contravened, those responsible must be held accountable."

John Ging, the top UN official in Gaza, said: "There's nowhere safe in Gaza. Everyone here is terrorised and traumatised."

Speaking from the largest hospital in the region, he said: "I am appealing to political leaders here and in the region and the world to get their act together and stop this. "They are responsible for these deaths."

Twenty-four Hamas rockets were fired into Israel today; one wounding an Israeli infant.

Five Israeli soldiers have been killed in the past 24 hours. One died in an attack by Hamas militants in the north of Gaza city this morning. Four soldiers were killed and 30 wounded in two separate “friendly fire” incidents overnight. Three of them were killed when the building in which they were taking cover was hit by one of their own tanks. The fourth soldier was also killed by an errant tank shell. Israel has lost six soldiers since the start of ground incursions into Gaza on Saturday.

The Israelis today moved troops into Khan Younis in southern Gaza widening the ground assault that it began four days ago after a week of air strikes failed to stamp out cross-border rocket fire.

President Sarkozy of France has travelled to Syria and Lebanon to seek a deal for a cessation of violence amid international efforts to broker a ceasefire.

Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, said that a ceasefire could be put in place only if Hamas were prevented from rearming and ended rocket attacks into Israel. "I have dedicated the past two years to reach a peace agreement with Syria and the Palestinians. I am not a man of war; I am a man of compromise. I am a man of peace, whose conditions of compromise may be painful, but will bring peace to the people of Israel," he said.
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Tony Blair, the Middle East envoy for the Quartet of the EU, the United States, the UN and Russia, said that a ceasefire was achievable if the supply of arms to Hamas was blocked through the border between Egypt and Gaza.

Gordon Brown said he was hopeful of a ceasefire in the region and that the international community had to work hard to achieve a sustainable and immediate solution to the fighting. "This is a humanitarian crisis," he said. "This is the darkest moment yet for the Middle East and it affects the rest of the world." The Prime Minister said he was in talks with world leaders and supported the reinstatement of European Union monitors on the border between Gaza and Egypt.

Israeli forces said that they had struck the home of one of the founders of the Hamas rocket division this morning. They said Iman Siam was in his house at the time of the air strike in Jabalya, in northern Gaza.

The British Government has announced that it will send £4 million for humanitarian aid to the region, the first tranche of the £6.8 million it recently agreed to send to Gaza to help to meet basic needs such as food, water and fuel.

DIPLOMATIC OFFENSIVE - India gives 26/11 evidence to Pak

Special briefing held for envoys of over a dozen countries
Stepping up its diplomatic offensive, India today handed over to Pakistan evidence linking that country to the Mumbai attacks and prepared to share the proof with the world community with an expectation that Islamabad would cooperate in punishing the culprits.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon held a special briefing for the Ambassadors and High Commissioners of over a dozen countries, including the US, UK, Israel, France, Japan, Germany, Turkey and Canada here to apprise them about the details of investigation into the Mumbai attacks.

Describing the Mumbai attacks as an "unpardonable crime", India asked Pakistan to promptly follow up on the evidence by holding further probe there and share the results with New Delhi so that the guilty are brought to justice. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said he had also written to his counterparts around the globe, giving details of the Mumbai attacks, and hoped that the "world will unite" in ensuring an end to cross-border terrorism faced by India. "We have today handed over to Pakistan evidence of the links with elements in Pakistan of the terrorists who attacked Mumbai on November 26, 2008," Mukherjee told reporters here. His statement came soon after Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik to hand over the dossier, which includes confession of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone Pakistani terrorist held during the Mumbai attacks, and other material. "What happened in Mumbai was an unpardonable crime," Mukherjee said and asked Pakistan to implement the bilateral commitments it has made at the highest levels to India and "practice its international obligations". The External Affairs Ministry said "this material is linked to elements in Pakistan" and "it is our expectation that the government of Pakistan will promptly undertake further investigations in Pakistan and share the results with us so as to bring the perpetrators to justice."

The evidence includes confession of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone Pakistani terrorist held during Mumbai terror strikes, records of GPS and satellite phones used by the attackers and transcript of conversations between the attackers and their handlers in Pakistan. Pak examining evidence Islamabad: Hours after India handed over evidence linking elements in Pakistan to the Mumbai terror strikes, Islamabad on Monday assured the US that it was examining the "information" and would frame a formal response soon. PTI

109-YEAR-OLD EX-C0P REVEALS SECRET OF LONGEVITY

The secret of longevity sounds simple. "To gain sound health, eat less than your full appetite and do not worry over petty issues," 109-year-old Bhiku Khandu Narute said here on Sunday.

Narute, who turned 109 on January 1, was felicitated by Federation of Senior Citizens Organisation Maharashtra (FESCOM), Pune zone, here on Sunday. Commissioner of Police Dr Satyapal Singh felicitated Narute calling him his 'ex-veteran colleague'. Narute had worked with the city police till his retirement in June 1968. Narute is hailed as the oldest surviving ex-policeman in the city.

"I don't have diseases that people commonly have, like diabetes and blood pressure. I can still hear, see and talk well," Narute told Sakaal Times after the felicitation function.

The grand old man said his crossing the century-mark was a bit unique, but he did not consider it as anything special.

Narute, who hails from Phaltan taluka in Satara district, retired as an assistant sub-in spector from the city police. He is presently living with his family in Gokhale Nagar. He married in 1937 and had three daughters and a son. His son, however, passed away after a brief illness.

Three generations of Narute's family are serving with the police.

"One of my three daughters is in the police force. My sonin-law is also a cop and recently my grandson joined the police force. It is a proud feeling for me to serve the nation," said Narute.

Recalling his special memories, he said, "I was on security duty of Mahatma Gandhi, when he was kept at Aga Khan Palace during the movement for freedom."

He also recalled the nabbing of dacoit Kondhya Navale in the hilly area of Junnar taluka in Pune district, which he said, occurred five to six decades ago.

Except for the wrinkles on his face, he does not show any major sign of ageing in his overall appearance.

Narute came by himself to attend the function. His wife, in her 90s, was slated to attend the function, but could not come.

FESCOM Pune zone president N V Kodolikar, secretary Arvind Kulkarni, president of Virangula Kendra Ramanbhai Shah were present on the occasion.

Narute, responding to the felicitation, made a brief speech. Referring to the recent terror attack in Mumbai, he said, "A handful of foreigners come to our land and do the damage they want. It is our duty as citizens to remain alert and avoid such tragedies in the future." Seeing the fervour and dutifulness of this veteran ex-policeman, Commissioner of Police Dr Satyapal Singh saluted Narute. Dr Singh later affectionately shook hands with him.