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Russia's Mars spacecraft falls in Pacific Ocean

2012-01-16T01:32:00.000-08:00

MOSCOW: Doomed Russian Phobos-Grunt Mars probe spacecraft, which had been stuck in Earth orbit for two months, crashed down in the Pacific Ocean late Sunday. Launched Nov 9, Phobos-Grunt was designed to bring back rock and soil samples from the Martian moon Phobos. However, it had been stuck in a so-called support orbit since its engines failed to put it on course for the Red Planet. "Phobos-Grunt fragments have crashed down in the Pacific Ocean," said Russia's Defence Ministry official Alexei Zolotukhin, adding that the fragments fell in 1,250 km the west of the island of Wellington. The spacecraft fell at about 9.45 Sunday. As of 8.15 Sunday, the spacecraft was moving in the near-Earth orbit with an altitude that varied between 113.8 km at perigee and 133.2 km at apogee, said the Russian space agency Roscosmos. The head of Roscosmos, Vladimir Popovkin, previously said the probe would break up during re-entry into the atmosphere and none of the fragments were likely to reach the Earth. According to NASA, Russia has failed in all 17 of its attempts to study the Red Planet close-up since 1960. The most recent failure before last month occurred in 1996, when Russia lost its Mars-96 orbiter during launch.

Web addicts have brain changes

2012-01-16T01:31:00.000-08:00

BBC Online

Web addicts have brain changes similar to those hooked on drugs or alcohol, preliminary research suggests.

Experts in China scanned the brains of 17 young web addicts and found disruption in the way their brains were wired up.

They say the discovery, published in Plos One, could lead to new treatments for addictive behaviour.

Internet addiction is a clinical disorder marked by out-of-control internet use.

A research team led by Hao Lei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Wuhan carried out brain scans of 35 men and women aged between 14 and 21.

Seventeen of them were classed as having internet addiction disorder (IAD) on the basis of answering yes to questions such as, "Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop Internet use?"

Specialised MRI brain scans showed changes in the white matter of the brain - the part that contains nerve fibres - in those classed as being web addicts, compared with non-addicts.

There was evidence of disruption to connections in nerve fibres linking brain areas involved in emotions, decision making, and self-control.

Dr Hao Lei and colleagues write in Plos One: "Overall, our findings indicate that IAD has abnormal white matter integrity in brain regions involving emotional generation and processing, executive attention, decision making and cognitive control.

Prof Gunter Schumann, chair in biological psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, London, said similar findings have been found in video game addicts.

He told the BBC: "For the first time two studies show changes in the neuronal connections between brain areas as well as changes in brain function in people who are frequently using the internet or video games."

No plans for Western military action on Syria, Iran: UK

2012-01-16T01:30:00.001-08:00

William HagueAfp, London

Western nations have no immediate plans for military action to stop the repression of protests in Syria or to halt Iran's nuclear programme, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said yesterday.

Asked if there was a possibility of a no-fly zone in Syria like the one imposed over Libya last year, Hague said there was "no serious prospect" of a UN resolution on the subject.

"We haven't been looking at a no-fly zone," Hague told Sky News, saying it would be only effective in tandem with other measures, and that the Syrian regime had not been relying on air power to repress protests.

"There is no serious prospect certainly at the moment of the United Nations Security Council agreeing any resolution at the moment, let alone agreeing a resolution comparable to anything that happened in Libya."

But he said that if the current Arab League monitoring mission in Syria does not work "I hope they (the Arab League) will come to the UN and suggest a way forward that we can all get behind."

Hague was also cool on suggestions by Qatar that Arab forces should be sent into Syria to stop the deadly 10-month crackdown on dissent by President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

On Iran, Hague warned that Tehran's "dangerous" nuclear drive threatened proliferation across the Middle East.

"We must not be put off further sanctions by bluster or statements from Iran," Hague said, adding that he hoped European Union foreign ministers would agree new measures when they meet on January 23.

"If it continues it will produce nuclear proliferation across the Middle East, which will then be extremely dangerous for the people of Iran, for the whole region and for the peace of the world."

Hague refused to rule out military action against Iran but said Britain was not calling for it.

"We've never ruled anything out, we've not ruled out any option, or we've not ruled out supporting any option, we believe all options should be on the table, that is part of the pressure on Iran, he said.

Nigeria strikes set to resume today, govt sees more talks

2012-01-16T01:28:00.001-08:00

Nigerian labour unions said they would resume nationwide strikes today, crippling the second largest economy in Africa, after failing to reach a compromise with the government over scrapped fuel subsidies.

However, the main oil union said it was maintaining the output of Africa's No. 1 crude producer, not joining walkouts for the time being, and the government said more talks were held yesterday despite the unsuccessful round the day before.

"There will be further negotiations today. The government is still open for dialogue. Further consultations will carry on today and by the evening something definite will have to come out," presidential spokesman Reuben Abati told Reuters.

Assad gives amnesty for uprising crimes

2012-01-16T01:24:00.000-08:00

BBC Online

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has granted a general amnesty for all crimes committed during the 10-month uprising, state-run media report.

It would apply to army deserters who turned themselves in before the end of January, peaceful protesters and those who handed in unlicensed weapons, Sana state news agency is quoted as saying.

The UN says more than 14,000 people are in detention.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Assad to end the violence.

"Stop the violence. Stop killing your people. The path of repression is a dead end," Mr Ban said in a speech at a conference on Arab world democracy in Beirut.

President Assad has issued several prisoner amnesties since the start of the uprising in March, but thousands of people are believed to remain in prison.

The BBC's Jonathan Head in neighbouring Turkey says the latest amnesty offer still does not address the issue of how the conflict may be brought to an end.

Tens of thousands of people across Syria continue to take to the streets calling for an end to the Assad regime - defying a crackdown that, the UN says, has killed 5,000 people.

In a rare public address last week, President Assad again accused international powers of trying to destabilise Syria, and vowed to crush "terrorists" with an "iron fist".

On Saturday, the ruler of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, said Arab countries should send troops into Syria to end the bloodshed.

"For such a situation to stop the killing... some troops should go to stop the killing," he told US television channel CBS for a programme aired yesterday.

It is the first time an Arab leader has publicly called for military intervention in Syria.

Ulemas delivering sermons on 2nd day of Ijtema

2012-01-14T03:18:00.000-08:00

This January 13 photo shows thousands of devotees gathering at the Biswa Ijtema ground in Tongi as the second largest congregation in the Muslim world begins. Star Online Report

The first phase of Biswa Ijtema entered its second day on Saturday with Islamic scholars from different countries delivering sermons on various aspects of Islam.

Abdul Majid, 65, hailed from Barisal died of cardiac arrest on the Ijtema ground in the morning, Bangla daily Prothom Alo reports. His namaz-e-janaza will be held afer Zohr prayer.

Abdul Wahab of Pakistan started the day's first sermon after Fazr prayer.

Muslims from home and abroad gathered the bank of Turag in Tongi turning the venue into a human sea.

A dowry-free mass wedding programme will be held at the venue today as is traditionally done every year.

Devotees from 33 districts including Gazipur, Narsingdi, Mymensingh, Kishoreganj, Sherpur, Faridpur, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Chittagong, Khagrachari, Rangamati, Bandarban, Chandpur, Sylhet, Habiganj, Rajshahi, Natore, Sirajganj, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jessore, Narail, and Kushtia are attending in the first phase.

The first stage of Ijtema will continue till Sunday while the second will commence on January 20.

UK’s secy for int’l development in city

2012-01-14T03:08:00.002-08:00

UK’s Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell MPStar Online Report

UK’s Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell MP has arrived in Dhaka Saturday afternoon on a three-day official visit to Bangladesh.

Mitchell will highlight the planned scale-up of Britain’s aid programme in Bangladesh and the British government’s commitment to results, value for money and transparency.

He will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, government officials, political leaders, development partners, and officials of non-government organisations, said a British High Commission press release.

During his visit, Mitchell will reiterate the UK’s partnership with Bangladesh, discuss the country’s governance and economy, and highlight the opportunities for growth and development.

The UK, through the Department for International Development (DFID), is the largest bilateral grant donor in Bangladesh and has set ambitious goals for its support to the country over the next three years.

Mitchell will visit UK-funded projects in urban and remote areas to see for himself how UK aid is helping Bangladesh meet the challenges of urbanisation, climate change and social exclusion.

Prior to his arrival, Mitchell said: “Aid spent well has the power to transform lives. I am delighted to be in Bangladesh and see for myself the difference that UK aid is making to the lives of the poor.”

Nigeria fuel strike suspended

2012-01-14T03:08:00.001-08:00

Bbc Online

Nigeria's trade unions yesterday suspended their protest over fuel for two days to allow more talks with the government.

The announcement comes on the fifth day of a general strike over the removal of a fuel subsidy, which has caused fuel prices and transport fares to double.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets, while several people have died in clashes with police.

The unions said Thursday's talks with the president were "fruitful" and would continue today.

The main union organisations jointly announced there would be no mass rallies or protests over the weekend for Abuja talks.

Court martial sought against Manning

2012-01-14T03:06:00.000-08:00

Afp, Washington

A US military tribunal is recommending a court martial for Army Private Bradley Manning for allegedly funneling thousands of classified US documents to WikiLeaks, the US Army said Thursday.

"The investigating officer concluded that the charges and specifications are in the proper form and that reasonable grounds exist to believe that the accused committed the offenses alleged," according to the US Military.

"He recommended that the charges be referred to a general court martial."

The charges include aiding the enemy, wrongfully causing intelligence to be published on the Internet knowing it is accessible to the enemy, and theft of public property or records.

Manning, 24, was the focus of a seven-day hearing last month to determine whether or not he should face a court-martial for what authorities have described as one of the most serious intelligence breaches in US history.

Manning, who served in Iraq from November 2009 until his arrest the following May, faces life in prison if convicted.

The young soldier from Oklahoma, who was trained on various intelligence systems by the US military, is accused of giving WikiLeaks a massive trove of US military reports from Iraq and Afghanistan, classified State Department cables, Guantanamo detainee assessments and videos of US air strikes.

Arab League fears civil war in Syria

2012-01-14T03:05:00.000-08:00

Russia says sanctions aim only at regime ouster

Afp, Damascus

Arab League head Nabil Elaraby said yesterday he feared a possible civil war in Syria that could have consequences for neighbouring countries, as longtime Damascus ally Moscow kept up its opposition to calls for tougher action against the regime, saying they were flagrant attempts to bring about its downfall.

"Yes I fear a civil war and the events that we see and hear about now could lead to a civil war," said Elaraby, whose body deployed the monitors on December 26 to check whether Syria was respecting an Arab peace plan.

Meanwhile, both France and Syria announced investigations into the death of French TV correspondent Gilles Jacquier, the first Western newsman to die in Syria since anti-regime protests erupted in March.

Security forces were out in strength as they have been each Friday for the main weekly demonstrations.

Security force fire killed one protester in Idlib province in the northwest and another in the central city of Hama, a human rights watchdog told AFP in Nicosia.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 20,000 people had turned out in the Idlib town of Ariha calling for the overthrow of the regime, and another 15,000 in the Damascus suburb of Douma.

The rallies, following a day in which security forces killed 15 civilians in their crackdown, come after the largest civilian opposition group agreed to boost ties with the rebels.

They agreed to "formulate a detailed plan, to include the reorganisation of FSA units and brigades, and the creation of a format to accommodate within FSA ranks additional officers and soldiers, especially senior military officials, who side with the revolution," it added.

Formed from deserters from the regular army who mutinied over the regime's deadly crackdown, the FSA says it has some 40,000 fighters under its command.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov rejected Western-proposed amendments to a draft Security Council resolution on Syria which Moscow circulated last month.

"Unfortunately, the West's approach radically differs from ours," Gatilov said.

"Judging by the contents of their proposed amendments, their goal is clearly aimed at removing Assad's regime in Damascus," he said.

Gatilov said that Russia had full confidence in much-criticised Arab League observer mission in Syria since December 26 to oversee a deal to end the b bloodshed.

Gilani called UK, fearing coup

2012-01-14T03:04:00.000-08:00

Ap, Islamabad

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani telephoned the top British diplomat in the country this week expressing fears that the Pakistani army might be about to stage a coup, a British official and an official in Islamabad said yesterday.

The Pakistani and British governments denied the report, which comes as tensions between Pakistan's army and government have soared in recent days, leading to speculation that the army might try to oust the civilian leadership.

Pakistani leaders have often looked to foreign powers, especially the United States and Gulf countries, to intervene in domestic affairs, mediate disputes between feuding power centers or ”guarantee” agreements between them.

The army, which has staged four coups in Pakistan's history and is believed to consider itself the only true custodian of the country's interests, has never liked the civilian government headed by the prime minister and President Asif Ali Zardari.

But a scandal centered on an unsigned memo sent to Washington last year asking for its help in heading off a supposed coup has put the military and the government on a seeming collision course. The note enraged the army, which was still smarting from the humiliation of last year's unilateral American raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

The reported phone call, which one official said was ”panicky,” would suggest a genuine fear at the highest level of the Pakistani government that army might carry out a coup or support possible moves by the Supreme Court to topple the civilian leadership.

Gilani asked High Commissioner Adam Thomson for Britain to support his embattled government, according to the officials, who didn't give their names because of the sensitivity of the issue. It's unclear if the British government took any action.

The British Foreign Office, however, said in a statement yesterday there was ”no phone call on this matter.”

The prime minister's office also said Gilani had ”not spoken to the British High Commissioner in this regard.”

A Supreme Court commission is probing the memo affair. Any ruling from the court that strengthens suspicions that Zardari may have had a hand in the memo could be politically damaging to him.

Lebanese people protest against UN policies

2012-01-14T03:02:00.000-08:00

Lebanese people rally outside United-Nations headquarters in Beirut yesterday to protest the policies of the UN regarding the Middle East as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrives at the organisation's headquarters. Ban arrived in Lebanon for talks on a controversial UN-backed court probing the assassination of the country's ex-premier and on the bloodshed in Syria. Photo: AFP

Media must help bring South Asians closer: journalist

2012-01-08T03:13:00.000-08:00

Rajat Sharma

The media must speed up efforts to bring people in South Asia closer so that they can move across the region without any visa restriction, said a top Indian journalist yesterday.

“People in the Saarc region will come closer when they are empowered," said Rajat Sharma, chairman and editor-in-chief of India TV.

“The media have already played a role in bringing people together. But a lot more needs to be done,” said Sharma, who is the host of one of the longest-running programmes on Indian television -- Aap Ki Adalat.

Sharma spoke at a discussion, "What does it take to evolve and grow?" as part of a two-day convention, LEAD2012, at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

The Saarc Chamber and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry jointly organised the event, themed, "Youth of rising South Asia: promises and dreams".

Sharma, one of the best-known faces on Indian news television, said when he asked his staff about the similarities in the eight Saarc nations they came up with all negatives. "Most of the people are poor. Governance is poor, and so is infrastructure."

"I asked them what the positives are. They replied that the spirit of living together. That is what we need to work on. Let all eight nations come together and build a South Asia free of poverty, infrastructure bottlenecks and bad governance."

In response to a question, Sharma said he also dreamt of a South Asia with a single currency and no visa requirement.

Sharma also shared his rags-to-riches story with the audience. "My stories are not of a privileged one. I grew up in a slum and used to live in a room with another 10 members of the family."

"My home had no water and electricity connection. My brothers had to wake up in the morning and lined up for water from a nearby municipal supply tap.”

“I had to walk to a faraway school because my family could not afford bus fares. But there were people who helped me with books, uniforms and tuition fees,” he said

Sharma urged the audience including the young ones not to get scared. "There are always opportunities available. You just have to be sincere and honest. You will have to trust people."

"If you have credibility, then nothing can stop you.”

Sharma co-founded India TV with wife Ritu Dhawan in April, 2004 from a swanky studio in Film City, Noida.

In a short period, India TV has created benchmarks in innovation, impact, ratings and viewer-support. Indeed, India TV's newsbreaks have inspired talk-shows on rival channels, Bollywood films, BBC documentaries and articles in Time Magazine, even Amul hoardings.

Sharma said when he decided to set up a TV channel he had to convince people that it would be successful one day. “They trusted me. You have to earn the trust of the people."

Students, young entrepreneurs, executives, social activists, intellectuals, political leaders and renowned media personnel from Saarc nations attended the session.

Obama vows to do 'whatever it takes' to grow economy

2012-01-08T03:11:00.000-08:00

Afp, Washington

US President Barack Obama promised Saturday to do "whatever it takes" to maintain growth in the US economy as he announced a summit with business leaders dedicated to job creation at home.

"This year, I'm going to keep doing whatever it takes to move this economy forward and to make sure that middle class families regain the security they've lost over the past decade," Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address.

"That's my New Year's resolution to all of you," he added.

The comments came after new government statistics showed US unemployment had fallen for the fourth straight month in December and jobs creation picked up.

In its keenly awaited monthly jobs report Friday, the Labor Department said the unemployment rate slipped to 8.5 percent as 200,000 jobs were added last month.

The jobless rate is the lowest since February 2009, the month after President Barack Obama took office amid the worst US recession in decades.

As recently as August the rate stood at 9.1 percent, and economists cheered the new numbers as evidence that economic growth, feeble throughout much of 2011, was gaining traction.

Sony's Stringer 'to step down' as president

2012-01-08T03:10:00.000-08:00

Afp, Tokyo

Howard Stringer, the Welsh-born American head of Japanese games, music and electronics giant Sony, is to step down as the firm's president, reports said Saturday, while remaining CEO and chairman.

The move puts his reported successor Kazuo Hirai, a games and music veteran who is currently executive deputy president, in pole position to ultimately take over at the top of the company.

Sony is planning a drastic restructuring under Hirai to try to return to profit, the Nikkei economic daily said, pointing out the group is braced to report its fourth consecutive annual loss for the year ending in March.

Sony has been mired in the red with its television business losing money. It has been hit by a strong yen, hacker attacks on its PlayStation Network, and both Japan's earthquake-tsunami disaster and floods in Thailand last year.

Stringer became chairman and chief executive in 2005 as the first foreign chief at Sony, and added the presidency to his roles in 2009.

The 69-year-old has dismissed speculation that he will be stepping down at the end of the company's fiscal year.

Jiji Press news agency said he had decided to shed the post of president because of the unusual concentration of power in him holding the company's top three positions.

Hirai, 51, has spent most of his career at Sony in videogames, movies, music and other software businesses, playing a major role in developing the PlayStation in the 1990s.

Italy, France meet as eurozone under pressure again

2012-01-08T03:09:00.000-08:00

Afp, Paris

The eurozone's debt-wracked economies came under renewed pressure on Friday as bad economic data undermined leaders' attempts to reassure markets that an end to the crisis is in sight.

Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti met France's President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris as the single currency bloc's second and third biggest economies sought to head off doubts about their deficit reduction plans.

The pair announced a mini-summit with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on January 23 but also revealed a split in Europe's position, with France warning that it may go it alone on a financial transaction tax.

European governments and markets were also confronted with a raft of gloomy economic figures from Brussels -- unemployment stuck at a record high, retail sales down and consumer and business confidence sinking.

The eurozone's economy contracted in the last quarter of 2011 and will likely shrink again in the first quarter of the year, putting it in recession, analysts said.

India's auto expo and publicity blitz

2012-01-08T03:07:00.000-08:00

Top left, Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif poses with Audi's new SUV Q3 car at an auto-expo in New Delhi on Thursday. Bottom left, A model poses with TVS new RTR-250 bike. Right, Visitors look at Mercedes-Benz's concept A.Photo: AFPReuters, Mumbai

After fighting through the sea of camera-wielding car enthusiasts clutching their bags filled with corporate gifts to meet with Anand Mahindra, vice-chairman of the Mahindra group, it was difficult to argue with his rosy view of India's car industry.

“Just look at all these people,” said Mahindra. “If these crowds translate into market appetite, it's not much of a slowdown,” he added, shaking his head at the view from a glass-walled office high above the teeming masses at the India Auto Expo on Friday.

Mahindra has reason to be cheerful. Sales of cars by his group's autos arm have remained strong this year. But he wasn't the only executive shrugging off a slump in India's car industry with glib comments about the sharp elbows of hundreds of thousands of excited punters that thronged the India Auto Expo this weekend.

The data is much less encouraging. Come April, the same executives could likely be digesting a year that saw sales volumes fall. Just a year previously, they were toasting 30 percent growth. But the Auto Show, held every two years in the capital, didn't give the impression of an industry filled with ideas to tackle the slide.

SUVs, green technology vehicles and cutting-edge concept cars stole the headlines and drew in the crowds, aside from the free calendars and the chance to catch a glimpse of a Bollywood star or two.

But conspicuous by its absence amongst a sea of oversized SUVs was a new offering for the low-cost compact space, the segment that has accounted for most of the sales slump, as first-time buyers and those requiring financing baulk at high interest rates and rising fuel costs.

Many executives offered reasons for the struggles of Tata Motors' much-touted low-cost Nano model, and the company's struggles to shift anywhere near its targeted sales volume appear to have spooked an industry that couldn't get enough of cheap, small cars just two years ago.

Strikingly, few initiatives to stimulate sales were offered, as most industry players that spoke to Reuters batted away suggestions of financing schemes or price cuts, and instead offered suggestions that the slowdown was just a passing cloud that would soon move along. A “temporary blip” was the most popular way of dismissing the gloom.

The market may well recover, and India's rising salaries, growing middle-class and young population are all huge advantages that carmakers in the country can reassure themselves with. But, as Maruti Suzuki's chairman RC Bhargava said, overall economic growth, which will likely struggle to scrape in at 7 percent for the current financial year, needs to recover before the heady heights of 30 percent car sales growth can be contemplated again.

Mahindra would later use Twitter to complain of the lack of crowd control [8] at the event. The stages were certainly packed with potential customers excited by the products on offer. But when the concept cars are wheeled back to the research centres and the new launches arrive in showrooms, the near future of India's car industry will be measured in sales volumes, not camera flashes.

World's biggest tech show searching for "wow"

2012-01-08T03:06:00.000-08:00

Reuters, Las Vegas

The world's biggest technology trade show will feature razor-thin laptops, powerful new smartphones and fancy flat-screen TVs, but talk in the cavernous halls of the Consumer Electronics Show, which kicks off on Monday night, may focus on whether the show itself has a long-term future.

Apple Inc, which has set the agenda in consumer electronics for the past decade, does not even attend the show. Microsoft Corp, desperately trying to catch up, is making this show its last. It has been a few years since Las Vegas-based CES had the "wow" factor.

"There's a lot of hype. The promise exceeds the deliverable a lot," said Todd Lowenstein, portfolio manager at HighMark Capital Management, which owns several technology stocks. "I take an interest in it only to the extent that there's market-moving information that comes out of there, which I find is rare."

Steve Jobs' stylish and dramatic product launches came to dominate the popular tech world, and rivals are looking to copy that outside of the hubbub and razzmatazz of CES in Las Vegas.

Speed up trial of war criminals, arrest those still at large

2012-01-08T03:03:00.001-08:00

Demand rallies, processions across the country

Awami League-led grand alliance brings out processions in Dinajpur town, Barisal city and Rajshahi city during yesterday's countrywide programmes demanding speedy trial of war criminals and immediate arrest of the perpetrators who are still at large. Photo: STARStar National Desk

Awami League (AL) led 14-party alliance and their associate bodies organised processions and rallies in different districts across the country yesterday demanding speeding up the process of war criminals' trial.

The participants of a rally in Barisal city stressed speedy trial and punishment of war criminals and immediate arrest of those who are still at large, reports our correspondent from Barisal.

District and city units of AL-led 14-party alliance and their associate bodies organised the programme led by Barisal City Corporation Mayor and city AL convener Shawkat Hossain Hiron.

Among others, AL lawmakers Talukdar Md Yunus, Monirul Islam Moni, Manabendra Batobayal, KBS Ahmed Kabir, Mohiuddin Manik Bir Protik, addressed the rally on the premises of Central Shaheed Minar in the city.

Speakers at the programme urged making the common people aware about the happenings during the Liberation War through socio-cultural-political activities to keep the nation free from extremism and militancy.

They demanded ensuring the war criminals' due punishment to uphold humanity, establish rule of law and safeguard the country's independence as well as culture and heritage.

They also criticised BNP-led alliance of a few opposition parties for their alleged role in creating obstacle in the way to the trial of war criminals.

The Awami League led 14-party alliance and district unit of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad brought out a procession in Rangpur town demanding trial of the perpetrators of war crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War, reports our correspondent.

The procession began at 12:15pm from Rangpur Central Shaheed Minar and paraded the main roads in the town.

Lawmaker Tipu Munshi, former lawmaker Shah Abdur Razzak, and Rangpur district commander of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Mosaddek Hossain Bablu took part in the procession, among others.

Earlier a discussion was held on Rangpur Shahid Minar premises.

Abul Monsur Ahmed, president of Rangpur district Awami League, presided over the meeting.

"The war criminals are still hatching conspiracies and committing crimes. We have gathered here to demand speeding up their trial,” Rezaul Karim Razu, general secretary of Rangpur district unit of AL, said at the discussion.

Leaders and activists of local AL and its associate bodies as well as thousands of people from cross section of the society joined a procession in Narail town yesterday demanding speedy trial of war criminals, reports our correspondent.

Later a meeting was held in Rupganj bus stand area of the town. Brig Gen (rtd) SK Abu Baker, lawmaker from Narail-2, attended the meeting as chief guest while district AL President Subash Bose presided.

The speakers urged the government for speedy trial for the criminals who were involved in massacre and other inhuman activities during the Liberation War.

Our Mymensingh Correspondent reports: Veteran freedom fighter principal Motiur Rahman MP, also president of district unit of Awami League, led a huge procession in the town yesterday afternoon while people from all walks of life joined it demanding early trial of the war criminals.

Among others, lawmaker Muslem Uddin and Abdul Matin Sarker, district unit AL secretary, attended the programme.

Earlier at a rally, the speakers urged the government to expedite the war crime trial process to complete it during the present government's tenure.

Our Manikganj Correspondent adds: Leaders and workers of the 14-party grand alliance brought out a procession and held a rally in the town demanding increasing the number of tribunals for speeding up the trial of the war criminals.

Local lawmakers Zahid Maleque Swapan and ABM Anwarul Haque and Manikganj district AL President Golam Mohiuddin attended, among others.

The Awami League-led grand alliance held similar programmes in other districts across the country.

Jamaica 'to break links with UK'

2012-01-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

Simpson Miller Photo: ReutersBbc Online

Jamaica's new Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, has said she intends to make the island a republic, removing Queen Elizabeth as the head of state.

In her inaugural address, Simpson Miller said the time had come for Jamaica to break with the British monarchy and have its own president.

The announcement comes ahead of celebrations to mark 50 years of Jamaican independence from Britain.

The Queen's grandson, Prince Harry, is due to the visit the island this year.

No 'war' with Pakistan military: Zardari

2012-01-08T02:57:00.002-08:00

Afp, Islamabad

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari says his government is not "at war" with the army and judiciary after a scandal over an unsigned memo asking for US help in curbing the might of the military.

Tension between the powerful army and Zardari's weak civilian administration soared over the note, allegedly delivered to then US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen in May and made public by an American-Pakistani businessman in October.

"We are not at war with the court. We are not at war with the military. There is no war," Zardari said in excerpts of an interview to private Geo television which is to be broadcast late yesterday.

"You think it is a clash, but I say it is part of evolution. This clash will evolve and then simmer down."

The businessman, Mansoor Ijaz, has claimed that Zardari feared the military might overthrow his government and accused then Pakistani ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani, of crafting the memo with the president's support.

Haqqani, who later resigned his post, has denied the allegations and told Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper earlier this week that the charges were "false" and part of a "psychological war" against him.

He also voiced fears about his safety saying "there are clear security concerns given the hysteria generated against me".

The United States on Friday appealed for Pakistan, Washington's uneasy ally in the "war on terror", to treat Haqqani "in a way that is fair, that's transparent".

Zardari's deeply unpopular government is opposing an investigation ordered by the Supreme Court into the unsigned memo, contending that only a parliamentary committee on national security is entitled to investigate.

"In my view, the parliament is supreme," Zardari replied to a question about the outcome of two separate judicial and parliamentary probes.

The opposition and intelligence chief want an independent inquiry.

The court probe puts fresh pressure on the president, who visited Dubai in December over health fears, with most observers expecting early elections sometime in 2012.

Chinese media slams US 'look east' policy

2012-01-08T02:57:00.001-08:00

SHANGHAI: China's state-run news media warned Washington on Friday not to "recklessly practice militarism" or engage in "war mongering," a day after the Obama administration outlined a new military strategy with an increased focus on China. The sharply worded commentary , published by the official Xinhua News Agency, also urged the United States to play a constructive role in the region. The official media also warned that the revamped national defence strategy and identifying China as a security threat may challenge mutual trust and cause potential military tensions between the two countries. The new defence strategic document titled 'Sustaining US Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defence' calls for the US military to strengthen its presence in Asia-Pacific and identifies China as a security threat in long term. The military review says US economic and security interests are "inextricably" connected with the area and the US military accordingly will "of necessity rebalance toward the Asia- Pacific region" , including strengthening Asian allies and investing in the strategic partnership with India, state-run China Daily reported. China's state media also accused US of being a "troublemaker" . President Obama introduced a new defence strategy on Thursday, aimed at creating a leaner, more dynamic American fighting force with an enlarged presence in Asia and the Pacific. The US had signaled its intention to bolster its military presence in Asia last month, and analysts say that has heightened concerns here that Washington is trying to counter China's rise. Relations between the US and China have often been strained over military issues. The Xinhua commentary, published under the byline Yu Zhixiao, does not represent China's official position. But because Xinhua is the official propaganda arm of the Communist Party, its editorials often mirror Beijing's positions . The commentary echoed earlier statements by military officials.

Japan to shut nuke reactors after 40 years of use

2012-01-07T01:40:00.000-08:00

TOKYO: Japan says it will soon require atomic reactors to be shut down after 40 years of use to improve safety following the nuclear crisis set off by last year's tsunami. Concern about aging reactors has been growing because the three units at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant in northeastern Japan that went into meltdown following the tsunami in March were built starting in 1967. Among other reactors at least 40 years old are those at the Tsuruga and Mihama plants in central Japan, which were built starting in 1970. Many more of the 54 reactors in Japan will reach the 40-year mark in coming years. The government said Friday that it plans to introduce legislation in the coming months to require reactors to stop running after 40 years. Japan does not currently have a limit on years of operation.

Musharraf to return home on Jan 25 or 27

2012-01-07T01:37:00.000-08:00

Ians, Islamabad

Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf, who has been in self-imposed exile, has said he is ready to face the courts and would be returning Pakistan on Jan 25 or 27.

The former army chief on Thursday expressed the hope that he would be acquitted after two to three court hearings. He was talking to reporters in Dubai during an event Thursday, Geo News reported.

Musharraf also said that he would return to Pakistan Jan 25 or 27, accompanied by about 500 to 600 people from all over the world.

Musharraf is wanted by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan over accusations that he failed to protect former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto from being assassinated in December 2007.

China agree to review Ai Weiwei tax case

2012-01-07T01:36:00.000-08:00

Bbc Online

Authorities in China have agreed to Ai Weiwei's request to review a $2.4m fine imposed by the tax bureau for ''back taxes''.

The outspoken artist was charged with tax evasion linked to his Fake Cultural Development Ltd company in November.

He paid a $1.3m bond required by law for an appeal and his lawyers filed a 9,000-word request last week.

He said officials told him over the phone on Wednesday that the review would be completed in two months.

He was able to pay the bond after some 30,000 supporters sent money to him.

Mr Ai says that the allegations against him are a bid by the authorities to silence his criticism of the government.

The world-renowned artist was arrested in April 2011 and detained for 81 days, his whereabouts unknown.

He was given a gag order when released in June, but continued to tweet and speak to international media. He was then charged with tax evasion.

The artist was named by ArtReview magazine last year as the most powerful artist in the world.

"We hope that the tax bureau will earnestly review the case," Mr Ai's lawyer, Pu Zhiqiang, told AFP.

"If we are not satisfied with the results, we can bring the case to court," he added.