Market Support Fund in Next Two days

KARACHI: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tareen said Friday that Rs 20 bln stock market stabilisation fund will be launched in the next couple of days and much before the removal of flooring. Addressing the members of Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE), he said that NIT is managing the fund which has four shareholders having an investment of Rs 5 billion each.

They are National Investment Trust (NIT), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), State Life Insurance (SLIC) and Employees Old-age Benefit Institute (EOBI).

He said the government will provide a guarantee to them that they will not lose value of their money. We do not force these institutions to form up a fund. We are doing this for the government itself because we are buying government’s scrips.

“We have decided to make a bouquet of these scrips and sell the fund to non-resident Pakistanis. This will convert rupee into dollars and serve as an investment instrument to overseas Pakistanis, he added.

Shaukat Tareen made it very clear that first of all small investors will benefit from this fund followed by other players in the market. NIT will handle this fund very, very professionally, he observed.

However, he categorically said the removal of flooring was a total discretion of KSE board of directors and the government will not interfere in this affair. “You have to decide when you want to remove the floor on 100-Index and not me”, he maintained.

He said the stock market serves as the barometer of any economy and the government will take care of the interest of its stake-holders. “Your interest will be taken care of.”

Referring to the fears of business community about the future of the economy, PM’s Advisor on Finance said the government will stabilise some macroeconomic indicators by improving liquidity and foreign exchange reserves to boost the confidence.

However, the Advisor suggested that nobody should tamper with the market. “Markets go up and markets go down. It is a “tough luck” when your bet goes down and it is “good luck” when your bet goes up. It is the part of the market. Once you tamper it you are, in fact, tampering with your reputation.”

He said in his opinion, the putting up of flooring has not done much good to their reputation.

Shaukat Tareen said that from now on the country will move with production-led growth and focus on productive areas of the economy which are agriculture and manufacturing and trade.

We have not focussed on agriculture sector in an organised manner and therefore agriculture growth has been falling by one percent every decade and we are currently having under 2-percent growth, the Prime Minister’s Finance Advisor said.

“This is unfortunate, because two-third of our population lives in rural areas, while its share in GDP is 20 percent. As a result we are importing food”, the PM’s Advisor observed.

Similarly, the growth rate in manufacturing sector is negative, 3.8 percent in the first quarter of current fiscal. Last year too, this sector grew at 3.5 percent. “We need to look at the reasons whether it is high cost of doing business or fragmentation.”

“We have to tackle all this to ensure a sustainable growth rate in our industry. We have to make all our industry competitive so that it can compete in the international market as well as have a defence against imports”, he said.

Tareen said once the industry is competitive, the country will have a balance in its trade.

He pointed out that the country needs to have an integrated energy plan so that there is uniformity in tariff and investors feel that there is a fair market based system.

This plan should also look at how coal, alternate energy sources and hydel energy is utilised, he said and added that human resource should also be developed by focusing it.

Talking of financial market, Shaukat Tareen said the banks need to cater to the needs of all stakeholder, offer new product and they must expand their reach.

Besides, we need to develop debt market and expand capacity of stock exchanges in terms of more products, more sophistication and more investors and the government must help the investors in this regard.

The government has taken a lead by establishing a “yield curve” through a regular auction of Pakistan Investment Bonds and long term paper auction, the PM’s Advisor on Finance said.

He said Planning Commission is being restructured and strengthened and it will devise future policies in consultation with all stakeholders.

Responding to a question about IMF’s conditionalities, the Advisor said inflation has to be brought down to enable the economy to grow on a sustainable basis.

“If headline inflation is 25 percent and core inflation is at 17 percent then nothing is going to be competitive in the country including the manufacturing sector. We will do whatever we can to bring down inflation in the country”, he noted.

He said the IMF was buying whatever Pakistan was telling them. “It is a homegrown plan. We are not trying to inflict any more pain than necessary. I assure you that we will not take any step which is not necessary,” he maintained.


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OGRA Decreased Petrol By Rs5/lit

ISLAMABAD: The federal government Friday decided to give relief to the people after the prices of petroleum products plummeted down in international market.

The government decreased the price of petrol by Rs5 per liter; whereas, the prices of high speed diesel and light diesel have been kept unchanged.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has issued a notification to the effect, which said price cut-down will be applicable from today’s midnight.



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Zardari for Providing shelters to quake victims

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday directed that the arrangements be made on emergency basis to provide temporary shelters to the homeless people of earthquake affected areas in Balochistan before the onset of winter.

He made these remarks while chairing a meeting of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr to review the relief and rehabilitation work in the earthquake affected areas of Balochistan.

The President said that it was important to provide corrugated sheets and financial assistance to earthquake affected people to build their temporary shelters before they were forced to migrate to other areas because of the severe winter weather.

President Zardari was also briefed about the ongoing relief work being carried out by the National Disaster Management Authority in the quake-affected areas of Balochistan.

He was informed that three medical teams and one field hospital are operational to provide immediate medical cover to around 3375 displaced people in Balochistan.

Fifteen (15) helicopters were made available for relief work, while damage assessment is being made through aerial and ground reconnaissance parties.

The meeting was also informed that 8,185 blankets, 4,300 tents, 5,600 warm jackets, 4,000 plastic mats, 1,000 sleeping bags and 10,000 ration packs with stoves were being distributed among the quake victims.

While highlighting disaster management strategy for the next five years, Chairman NDMA Lt. Gen. (Retd) Farooq Ahmad Khan informed the President that NDMA has been able to mobilize donors to support capacity building programmes costing over $ 46 million in the next five years.

United Nations Development Programme for Pakistan (UNDP) and Economic Affairs Division have already signed an agreement in this regard.


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Pak International Migraine: Albright

Washington: Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has described Pakistan as an "international migraine" and argued that the South Asian country will be one of the hot spots that the next American president will have to contend with.

Albright, who served President Bill Clinton in his second term of office, said Pakistan gives you "an international migraine" with its range of problems linked to nuclear weapons, corruption, poverty, extremism and a weak government.

The former Secretary of State described nuclear-armed and poverty stricken Pakistan as one of the hot spots when she was asked on CNN to reflect on the challenges for the next President who will assume office in January 2009.

"Pakistan. Pakistan has everything that gives you an international migraine," she underlined.

"It has nuclear weapons, corruption, poverty, extremism, a terrible financial situation, a government that's just come in that's not very strong, and it is in a location that is absolutely essential in terms of dealing with Afghanistan. So the kind of Afghanistan-Pakistan part, and then the Iraq issues and the neighborhood there," Albright stressed as she reflected on the challenges for the next President.

The former top US diplomat also highlighted the problems linked to nuclear proliferation in regard to North Korea and Iran.

"I think we know what the really serious issues are. They have to do with nuclear proliferation, and Kim Jong-il and North Korea and whether those talks will really be carried out. What happens with Iran," Albright said in the interview.

5 Pakistanis in Guantanamo prison

Five Pakistanis are currently being held in Guantanamo Bay, the US detention facility in Cuba, a foreign office spokesman said here today.

The government has secured the repatriation of 68 Pakistani detainees from the prison since 2003 and is in regular contact with the Office of War Crimes in the US Department of State regarding treatment of the other detainees and their early repatriation, the spokesman said.

"We are committed to seek the return of all Pakistani detainees back to the country," he said.



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US missile attack kills 20 NWA

MIRANSHAH: As many as 20 people have been reported dead when a suspected US plane attacked a North Waziristan Agency area on Friday.

According to sources, at least two missiles were fired at a house of a local tribal leader in North Waziristian Agency. According to the preliminary report, the house was attacked with guided missile by US spy plane.

"Fifteen to 20 people are feared dead," said an intelligence official, who declined to be identified. He said 2 missiles were fired at a house in NWA tehsil Mir Ali town.

The sources claimed that an Al-Qaeda leader has been killed in the attack. A foreign news agency reported quoting Pakistani official that Al-Qaeda leader Abu Akkaash belonged to Iraq.

Soon after the missile attack, the vehicles present at the house, caught fire.

It should be noted that Prime Minister while talking to Foreign Minister of Belgium, Karel De Guelt, asked the NATO forces in Afghanistan to stop violation of Pakistan’s airspace as it is counter‑productive and negatively impacts Pakistan’s efforts in the war against terrorism.

Also, Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said today that US drone attacks are antagonizing people in the tribal areas and undermining Pakistan’s efforts to seek broader support for the efforts against terrorism.

Responding to questions at a media briefing here at the Foreign Office, the spokesman said Pakistan has repeatedly expressed its position on the US drone attacks inside its territory, calling them unproductive as they strengthen the militants instead of helping the war on terror.

“We condemn these attacks. These are most unfortunate and constitute a gross violation of our sovereignty and territory,” he said.

“We have raised the issue of attacks with the US authorities at every level and underscored that these attacks should be stopped immediately,” he added.



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SBP Governor for Amendments in Banking Ordinance

KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has proposed major changes in the Banking Companies Ordinance-1962 to bring all deposit taking Non-Bank Financial Companies (NBFCs) like Investment Banks, Leasing Companies and Housing Finance Companies completely under the fold of SBP.

The major rationale behind this move is that these NBFCs are engaged in activities which are quite incidental to banking both on the liability as well as asset side. Bringing such entities under SBP would lead to greater supervisory efficiency as being regulator of banks. Its supervisory approach was well-equipped for their kind of business.

The proposed amendments would enable Pakistan to ensure compliance with this principle said Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar while delivering her key-note address on Pakistan : Framework for Consolidated Supervision at the 58th Annual General Meeting of Institute of Bankers Pakistan (IBP) here on Friday.

She indicated that SBP is positioning itself for moving to consolidated supervision, in anticipation of amendments in Banking Companies Ordinance (BCO)-1962 to empower SBP to launch this initiative. This is a timely move in the wake of potential risks arising from complex structures of financial groups and emergent supervisory challenges.

Dr. Akhtar stated that the SBP has proposed significant amendments in the Banking Companies Ordinance.

The objective of these proposed amendments is to strengthen the oversight of financial sector in accordance with the 10- year Strategy and Blueprint of Financial Sector Reforms of the State Bank. Although Pakistan’s financial sector as a whole has a lot to gain through increased integration and conglomeration, the newly emerging phenomenon has to be properly monitored and governed under proper legal framework to mitigate the potential risks, Dr. Akhtar added.

The SBP, as part of its overall financial sector reforms launched in July 2008, has been advocating the need for legislature to empower the Central Bank to augment its oversight of the financial sector, she said adding that the legislative reforms proposed by SBP in this area have recently been approved, in principle, by the Cabinet and will be tabled for consideration of the Parliament.

The SBP Governor said the banking sector being at the core of all activities of the financial sector, its safety and soundness is critical for public, financial sector itself and the economy as a whole. However, the current legislation and regulatory tools are not adequate to effectively address the threats to safety and soundness of the financial sector, she observed.

Dr. Akhtar said the amendments proposed by SBP would result into significant benefits in the form of operational efficiency, lower costs, reduced prices and innovation in products and services.

She said one of the Core Principles for effective banking supervision (CP-24) issued by Basel Committee on Banking Supervision requires that a banking supervisor should be able to supervise the banking groups on a consolidated basis.

Presently, Pakistan is either compliant or largely compliant with all the core principles except those dealing with consolidated supervision, she said.

Dr. Akhtar said another change being sought in BCO is to authorise SBP to designate and regulate the financial groups. Financial group for this purpose will be any group containing at least one of the entities, directly regulated by SBP. This is an extremely important step because it will enable State Bank to effectively monitor the intra-group potentially dubious transactions involving banks and NBFCs and also will enable it to curtail the possible contagion risk.

The proposed amendments will also enable SBP to seek information from the unregulated commercial entities and conduct limited inspection for verification of such information, she added.

SBP Governor observed that for entities in a financial group, which are falling under securities regulator’s supervision, current supervisory mechanism also needs to be amended to move towards greater consolidated supervision. She further said that the time is ripe for the introduction of a Financial Holding Company (FHC) concept.

For facilitating the FHC model, we are also seeking several amendments in the BCO covering its definition, licensing and supervision (which will be done by SBP), capital requirement and various other aspects, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar said.

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Last Flight From Berlin's Tempelhof Airport

BERLIN: The last flight lifted off from Berlin's Tempelhof Airport late Thursday, bringing an end to an era of aviation that spanned World War II, the Cold War and the rebirth of the German capital.

Shortly before midnight, a vintage DC-3 "Candy Bomber" and a Junkers Ju-52 - both from the 1930s took off from the historic airport. Then the runway lights went black forever.

Tempelhof is now officially closed. Yet the future of the 900-acre site is uncertain. Proposals have included turning the airfield and building - one of the biggest in the world, protected as a historic landmark - into a luxury spa, some condos, a museum, a park, a trade center or even the centerpiece of a new Olympic bid.

Tempelhof opened as an airfield in October 1923, but had already been used for flights well before that.

The current complex took shape under the Nazis when Adolf Hitler decided to create a monolithic "air stadium" with massive stone blocks and pillars, boasting 49 buildings, seven hangars and 9,000 offices.

During the World War II, German fighter planes scrambled from its runways in desperate but futile attempts to protect the capital from Allied bombers.

After the war, Tempelhof became a major U.S. Air Force base. It became the central point of a massive U.S.-led airlift in 1948 when the Soviets blockaded all land and water traffic to Berlin in an attempt to squeeze the western allies out of the city.


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Shujaat Asked to Hold Party Polls

ISLAMABAD: A group of senior PML-Q leaders have presented a two-point formula to Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, asking him to hold snap polls for party’s top slot by December this year, so as the new team could start functioning by January 2009 to keep the party intact and active, informed party sources confided to a local news agency here on Friday.

When contacted, former Federal Minister Salim Saifullah Khan confirmed that a formula had been submitted to the Chaudhry brothers to resolve all the issues harming the party image. However, he refrained from elaborating the details of the formula.

“Since Chaudhry Hamid Nasir Chattha has not elaborated the issue, I would not offer any comments. Let us resolve all the party issues in private, rather than in public,” he remarked.

Another senior leaguer, when approached, on condition of anonimty, confirmed that the proposal had been submitted to Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain who had sought some time to review the proposal.

“He has been given three days to answer to the formula which is a part of hectic efforts by senior party leaders who want to keep the party intact and operative,” he said.

“You see, there is a room for the party to play its due role as a robust opposition since the government is failing on many fronts. But the inactive leadership and lack of commitment is a huge hurdle in this regard,” said the PML-Q leader.

The sources said that Chaudhry Shujaat during the meeting with senior members of the party said he was ready to review any proposal to keep the party intact. However, when he was asked to hold snap party polls and none of his family members should vie for any slot in the elections, he said he needed some time to discuss the proposal with his aides.

Salim Saifullah further said that the meeting on Friday was held in cordial atmosphere and they had voiced his reservations openly and frankly.

“I am not aspirant for any slot and I am striving to strengthen the party rather than prolonging the crisis like situation,” he stated.

Hamid Nasir Chattha along with Gauhar Ayyub Khan, Humayon Akhtar Khan, Jam Muhammad Yousaf, Lala Nisar and Salim Saifullah Khan had held important parley with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Friday.



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Nicole Kidman Tells How HerMarriage Went to ‘Hell and back’

Washington: Nicole Kidman has spoken publicly about her married life, confessing that during the first three months of her marriage with countrysinger Keith Urban, the pair went to “hell and back.”

The ‘Margot at The Wedding’ actress revealed that her marriage with Urban hit a rocky patch much before expected, when he entered rehab for drug addiction.

However, she added, they came out of it with flying colours.

“We were thrown into his alcohol problem three months into the marriage, and that was big,” she said in an interview with Parade magazine.

“We became the closest we could become, because we had to bare our souls. We did 10 years of marriage in three months,” she added.

Kidman, who has a daughter Sunday Rose with Urban, revealed that the singer is a great husband and she loves him deeply.

She said: “You go to hell and back with this—when the addiction takes control of the life, it’s terrifying. But there is hope, and we work on it every day, and we are in a place of actual peace right now, which is a beautiful place."

“I love him so deeply, and he has done an amazing amount of work, and he is an amazing husband, and I am just very, very grateful. I think we are both in a place of humility.”



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Shah Rukh Khan Grants start to Finish Dates to Karan

Mumbai: It pays to be friends with Shah Rukh Khan. The man, who is known for winning pals and confidantes with his charisma, surely knows how to keep them happy and glued to his side. The actor in a rare gesture to please his good old pal Karan Johar has grated him back-to-back dates for the director’s close-to-heart project ‘My Name is Khan’.

Going by King Khan’s jam-packed schedule next year, the start to finish dates surely comes as a big surprise. But when it’s concerning Karan, then we are sure that badshah does not mind walking a few extra miles.

A news daily quoted a source as saying, "Yes, Shah Rukh has given a bulk dates from December 15. He will be shooting in various places in America in a start-to-finish schedule. This will be for the first time that a SRK film will be completed in one schedule".

Well, good deed King Khan! But going back in time, we are reminded of the same gesture by Salman Khan to the filmmakers of ‘London Dreams’. Just like Shah Rukh, Sallu too had finished the shoot of the film in a single start to finish shoot.

Hmmm…looks like they are competing to score a point over each other in goodness!



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Death Toll Goes up to 77 in Assam Blasts

NEW DELHI: The death toll went up to 77 on Friday in Assam serial blasts when 11 more persons died due to serious injuries in hospital.

Media reports quoting official spokesman in Guwahati said eight people died in Guwahati and three in Bareta town.

Eighteen blasts struck Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Barpeta of Assam state on Thursday killing 77 people and injuring 470.

RDX was used in two explosions out of eighteen which caused extensive damage.

In recent days, Assam state has witnessed massive ethnic and communal violence between Muslim migrants from Bangladesh and local Hindus. The state has been witnessing such violence since 1980s and ULFA‑sponsored insurgency.

Meanwhile, the authorities clamped curfew in blast-hit Ganeshguri in Guwahati city following massive protests by the people against the government.



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WFP to Provide Food to Quake Victims

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will provide food assistance to nearly 20,000 people who lost homes and belongings in the earthquake that struck parts of Balochistan on Wednesday.

“We need to move fast, so we are going to start distributing food stocks from our warehouses in Quetta and Peshawar, so we can reach the people who need it most,” said WFP Pakistan Country Director, Wolfgang Herbinger.

He said WFP would coordinate its response with the government and other UN agencies.
WFP plans to initially provide 700 tons of dry food rations to affected communities. The package includes wheat flour, pulses, edible oil and salt for two months.

An earthquake of 6.5 magnitude hit Balochistan province in south‑western Pakistan leaving more than 149 dead and hundreds injured.

According to the meteorological office, the epicenter of the quake was in Chiltan mountains, some 80 kilometers northwest of Quetta.

A wide area comprising small villages in Pishin, Ziarat, Qilla Abdullah, Chaman, Quetta, Loralai, Sibbi, Kachhi and Mastuj have been badly affected.




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ISF-IM claim responsibility for Assam blasts: Report

Guwahati: While the investigating agencies were probing a possible involvement of HuJI-ULFA link behind the deadly Assam blasts on Thursday that claimed 77 lives, a local news channel said it was contacted by an unknown terror outfit named Islamic Security Force that claimed the responsibility of the blasts along with the notorious Indian Mujahideen.

Zaheer Hussain, the Managing Editor of News Live, a local Assamese channel, said that the claim was made by the terrorist outfit in an SMS sent to them.

The police today picked up a person named Zulfiquar Ali from Nagaon for alleged involvement in the blast. His vehicle was supposed to have been used in the blasts.

Earlier in the day the police questioned over 20 persons on lines of a possible HuJI-ULFA link while curfew was clamped in worst-hit Ganeshguri after protesters went on rampage.

The scale and planning behind the blasts have led the police to suspect local militants joining hands with terrorist outfits to carry out the coordinated strikes.

A team of NSG experts from New Delhi visited the blast sites at Ganeshguri, the deputy commissioner's office and Fancy Bazaar here to make an on-the-spot assessment of yesterday's terror strikes that left over 450 wounded. ULFA had yesterday denied any hand in the blasts.

"We are not taking seriously the denial by the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA-of being responsible for the blasts) because on earlier occasions also they have done so", a top Assam police official said. The ULFA cadres are being trained by the Jehadi militants and there is definitely a link between the two which is being investigated, he said.

Schools and educational institutions remained closed in Guwahati while a total shut-down was observed in Kokrajhar following a bandh call by VHP and BJP.

The toll in the serial blasts in Assam has risen to 77 with 11 more people succumbing to their injuries overnight.

Ganeshguri had witnessed protests soon after the blasts on Thursday with the mob torching a police vehicle, a fire tender and two ambulances.

They had also tried to storm the secretariat carrying two charred bodies in a push cart.

The entry and exit road to the area has been sealed since the blasts and only a few vehicles were plying on the Ganeshguri flyover, which connects the Guwahati-Shillong road.

Linking HujI to Assam blasts 'irresponsible': Bangladesh

Bangladesh today termed as "irresponsible" Indian authorities' pointing of needle of suspicion towards the outlawed HuJI militant group over the Assam serial blasts that claimed 77 lives.

The allegation about the Bangladesh-based HuJI's involvement was being made without any proof which "is an irresponsible act," a senior Home Ministry official here said preferring anonymity.

"The Indian authorities earlier also could not come up with any evidence to prove the engagement of any Bangladesh-based outfit in terror attacks on their territory," the official said.

His comments came as Indian security officials probed a possible link between Harkat-ul Jihad (HuJI) and the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) behind yesterday's serial blasts in Assam.

A spokesman of the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) had recently said the outlawed HuJI lost its "organisational strength" due to a massive security clampdown in the past two years leading to the arrest of most of its top leaders, including its chief Mufty Hannan.

Bangladesh banned HuJI in October 2005 while the United States earlier this year designated it as a "foreign terrorist organisation".

Indian security officials suspected the outfit's involvement in the Jaipur serial bombings also several months ago.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government condemned as "a cowardly act of terrorism" the serial blasts in Assam.

"It is a cowardly act of terrorism. Violence cannot be a tool for achievement of political objectives," Interim Cabinet's Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said in a statement.

Bangladeshis "stand firmly beside their Indian neighbours at this sad hour," he said.



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Shahbaz Sharif Presents Rs100 Million Cheque To CM Balochistan

ZIARAT: Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif visited the earth quake-hit areas of Balochistan and presented a cheque of Rs100 million to Chief Minister Balochistan Sardar Aslam Raeesani.

Talking with media on this occasion, he said that he, the people of Punjab and his coalition government stand with the affected people of Balochistan.

He told that he has brought, from the government of Punjab, ten trucks of relief goods. They included four trucks of dry food.

He said that 50 trucks containing flour, sugar and other consumer items would also reach by tomorrow whereas blankets worth Rs1.5 million are also being sent by the government of Punjab.



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Rapper, Beyonce lead US singles chart

NEW YORK: Rapper TI claimed the top two spots on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart for a second week on Thursday, while R&B singer Beyonce surged to No 3 with her 10th top 10 solo single as a solo artist.

T.I.'s "Whatever You Like" was No. 1 for a seventh non-consecutive week, while "Live You Life" featuring Rihanna was No. 2 for a second consecutive week.

Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy" bounced 65 places to No. 3. She was last in the chart's upper tier with "Beautiful Liar," her duet with Shakira, in the spring of 2007.

Pink was No. 4 with "So What," Britney Spears at No. 5 with "Womanizer," and Katy Perry at No. 6 with "Hot N Cold." Each was down one place. Kevin Rudolf's "Let It Rock" featuring Lil Wayne and Ne-Yo's "Miss Independent" held at Nos. 7 and 8, respectively.

Rihanna's "Disturbia" dropped three to No. 9, and Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" rose three to No. 10. British singer Adele's "Chasing Pavements" was the top debut at No. 82.

On Billboard's airplay-based rock charts, Metallica's "The Day That Never Comes" was No. 1 at Mainstream Rock for a fifth week, while the Offspring's "You're Gonna Go Far, Kid" led Modern Rock for a sixth. Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" debuted at No. 12 on the former.

Carrie Underwood earned her seventh No. 1 hit on Hot Country Songs as "Just a Dream" jumped two places.





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WI Super Stars Beat Middlesex in T20 League

ANTIGUA: The West Indies Super Stars XI defeated English county Middlesex by 58 runs here on Thursday.

Middlesex opted fielding after winning the toss and put the West Indies Super Stars in trouble by capturing three early wickets for 66 runs.

However, Andre Fletcher holding one end intact took his team to 173-4 in the allotted 20 overs.

The 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman remained not out at 90, slamming seven sixes and three fours in his brilliant innings lasting a mere 66 balls.

Sylvester Joseph was the second top-scorer with 29.

Middlesex could not bat with confidence and the whole team were all out for 115.

Their top-scorer was Evan Morgan with 22 while Darren Powell, Darren Simmie and Dave Muhammad claimed two wickets each.



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Cross-Border Raids Necessary: US

LONDON: A country should have the right to attack another if it is harbouring a potential terrorist threat, the US homeland security chief said in remarks appearing to justify recent US raids in Pakistan and Syria.

Laying out what amounts to a broadened definition of self-defence, Michael Chertoff said international law should accommodate a country's need to deter a possible threat abroad even if it meant taking pre-emptive action.

His remarks, at a discussion on democracy held in the British parliament, follow recent secret raids by U.S. forces into Pakistan and Syria that were justified using a similiar rationale and drew condemnation from those countries.

"International law must begin to recognise that part of the responsibility of sovereignty is the responsibility to make sure that your own country does not become a platform for attacking other countries," Chertoff told an audience on Thursday night.

"There are areas of the world that are ungoverned or ungovernable but nevertheless technically within the sovereignty of boundaries. Does that mean we simply have to allow terrorists to operate there, in kind of badlands, where they can plan, they can set up laboratories, they can experiment with chemical weapons and with biological weapons?" he said.

His remarks, challenged by some members of parliament in the audience, follow comments made by U.S. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates on Tuesday in which he said Washington would hold countries fully accountable for their actions.

Gates' remarks, made to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, included a warning that the United States should modernize its nuclear arsenal as a hedge against "rogue nations" such as Iran and North Korea.

The expanded definition of what constitutes self-defence and could be permitted under the concept of deterrence has important implications for U.S. foreign policy at a time when it is engaged in two wars in unstable regions and when it has expressed frequent concern about actions by Iran.

In Afghanistan in September, the United States conducted a raid across the border into Pakistan, striking at suspected Taliban militants hiding there despite objections from Pakistan, which said its sovereignty had been violated.

Last weekend, U.S. troops went across the border from Iraq into Syria and attacked a suspected insurgent hideout. The U.S. military says the head of a militant cell and his accomplices were targetted. Syria says eight civilians were killed.

Chertoff described a world in which the United States, and other democracies, were facing extraordinary threats that required them to be super-vigilant and responsive. Waiting to see if others would attack was not good enough, he said.

"If country X, within its borders, is openly tolerating or incapable of managing a location where people are consistently attacking a neighbour, is it sufficient to say, 'well, it's within their sovereign territory, nobody can do anything about it'? I think that's not true and I think there's a serious question about whether that's what the law ought to be.

"The larger question of the responsibility to make sure your own country is not a platform for attacking others is a matter that needs to be seriously considered in terms of what the law should be," he said.



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Black Day to Be oBserved On Nov 3: Aitezaz

LAHORE: Chaudhry Aitezaz Ahsan said that black day would be observed all over the country on November 3 and lawyers would boycott the courts.

Addressing at a press conference in Lahore, he said that the deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry would address the Rawalpindi Bar on November 3 and the Sialkot Bar Association on November 8.

The deposed chief justice will go on November 15 to the United States where the New York Bar will award him an honorary membership while the Harvard University will give him medal of freedom which was earlier given to Justice Marshall and Nelson Mendela.

Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry will be the third world personality to receive this award.


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Six Belgians Killed in Egypt Accident

CAIRO: Six Belgian tourists were killed and 29 injured when their coach overturned in southern Egypt on Friday, a local news agency said.

The coach was travelling on the road between the southern town of Aswan and Abu Simbel, the site of two temples dating from the time of the Pharaoh Ramses II, it said.

The injured have been taken to hospital, it added.



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Ponting Leads Out Of Crisis Vs India

NEW DELHI: India removed dangerous opener Matthew Hayden for 83 before Australia reached 237-2 at tea on the third day of the third Test here on Friday.

Hayden, 37, looked in ominous form, belting 13 fours and a towering six in his 154-ball knock for his highest score in the series so far.

The left-handed Queenslander also shared 123 runs for the opening wicket with Simon Katich (64) and another 79 with captain Ricky Ponting to lay the platform for Australia's reply to India's mammoth 613-7 declared.

His fine innings was brought to an end by India's part-time spinner Virender Sehwag who trapped him leg-before with a ball that dipped in sharply.

At the break, Ponting was batting on 61 with the in-form Mike Hussey on 13.

Ponting looked at ease during his 147-minute stay on a Feroz Shah Kotla track that was offering some turn to spinners, having hit nine fours so far.

The hosts, leading the series 1-0 after their 320-run win in Mohali, found themselves in an injury scare involving leg-spin veteran and captain Anil Kumble.

Kumble had to be taken to the hospital for precautionary scans after he hurt the little finger of his left hand while attempting to take a sharp catch of Hayden at short mid-on.

Australia, 50-0 overnight, were off to a steady start with Hayden and Katich putting on their highest opening stand of the series.

Katich looked fluent in his strokeplay, hitting 10 fours and completing his 10th Test fifty in the process.

Three times he hit paceman Ishant Sharma for fours and also appeared at ease against Kumble, who has conceded 53 runs off his 17 overs so far.

Katich was undone by Kumble's leg-spin partner Amit Mishra who lured him into playing a flick from outside the off stump and then watched as the ball sneaked through the gap and knocked off the middle stump.

Hayden looked determined to end a poor run of scores, having hit 0, 13, 0 and 29 in the two Tests, and played each ball on its merit.

He pulled Mishra over mid-wicket for a huge six to bring up Australia's 100 in the 29th over and remind of his earlier aggressive knocks on tours of India.

The fourth and final Test will be played in Nagpur from Nov 6-10.

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U.S. justifies cross-Border strikes

WASHINGTON: A country should have the right to attack another if it is harbouring a potential terrorist threat, the U.S. homeland security chief said in remarks appearing to justify recent U.S. raids in Pakistan and Syria. Laying out what amounts to a broadened definition of self-defence, Michael Chertoff said international law should accommodate a country's need to deter a possible threat abroad even if it meant taking pre-emptive action. His remarks, at a discussion on democracy held in the British parliament, follow recent secret raids by U.S. forces into Pakistan and Syria that were justified using a similar rationale and drew condemnation from those countries. "International law must begin to recognise that part of the responsibility of sovereignty is the responsibility to make sure that your own country does not become a platform for attacking other countries," Chertoff told an audience. "There are areas of the world that are ungoverned or ungovernable but nevertheless technically within the sovereignty of boundaries. Does that mean we simply have to allow terrorists to operate there, in kind of badlands, where they can plan, they can set up laboratories, they can experiment with chemical weapons and with biological weapons?" he said. His remarks, challenged by some members of parliament in the audience, follow comments made by U.S. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates on Tuesday in which he said Washington would hold countries fully accountable for their actions. Gates' remarks, made to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, included a warning that the United States should modernize its nuclear arsenal as a hedge against "rogue nations" such as Iran and North Korea. Via

Curfew in Blast-hit Area of Assam ahead of Patil’s visit

Guwahati: In a bid to control violent protesters, the authorities on Friday clamped curfew in blast-hit Ganeshguri in Guwahati, Assam. The decision to clamp curfew was taken after police resorted to firing to disperse protesters accusing police of delayed action after as many as 13 explosions rocked the state on Thursday and claimed 77 lives while injuring 470 others. Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil will visit other blast sites, Kokrajhar and Barpeta, later in the day.

Patil is also scheduled to hold a high-level meeting at the Lokopriyo Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in the evening.

Meanwhile, a total shut down was observed today in Kokrajhar on a call given by VHP and the BJP, while schools and educational institutions remained closed in Guwahati in the wake of the blasts.

A team of National Security Guards (NSG) experts has completed the survey of blast sites and concluded that car bombs were used in blasts.

Security has been beefed up across the state.

BJP leader L K Advani this morning visited the blast site near the Deputy Commissioner's office where he faced a group of angry lawyers who shouted slogans 'Advani go back'.

He also visited the Guwahati Medical College Hospital and met the injured in the blast.

Meanwhile, all examinations scheduled under the Gauhati University and State Education Board of Assam (SEBA) have been cancelled till further directive.

Attendance in the offices was thin and in many areas shops and business establishments, particularly those in and around the blast site remained closed. Few public transport were seen plying on the roads in the morning.

Opposition Asom Gana Parishad is observing a 'Black Day' today with all its leaders and cadres sporting black badges.

Lawyers of both Gauhati High Court and Sessions Court in Guwahati abstained from work and held protests outside the court premises.

Earlier in the day, the Union Cabinet had expressed serious concerns over the serial blasts in Assam.

"The Cabinet expressed serious concerns over the incident and extended sympathy to the next of kin of those who lost their lives," Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters today.

Police have also reportedly detained about a dozen people for questioning in connection with the serial bombings.




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Power Outages Be Overcome, Directs Zardari

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday directed the ministry of Water and Power that all the available resources should be tapped in to overcome the power crisis currently in grip of the whole country.

Presiding over a high-level meeting in connection with the power crisis here, he directed the concerned authorities to ensure all the steps to minimize the duration of the load shedding.

Zardari directed that the uninterrupted supply of gas to power plants should be ensured so that load shedding problems could be managed, adding he directed the special committee instituted for power tariffs cuts to expedite the recommendations and that these should be summarily implemented.

The President said there was no alternative to reducing the pass-through cost of electricity and asked the Ministry to consider whether it can be done through commodity trading enabling the government to book oil in the international market on long term basis.

He also appreciated the decision regarding the 60 percent payment of the power bills.

Earlier during the meeting, the president was told in the briefing that the power crisis aggravated owing to the low inflow of water from water reservoirs and decreased gas supply; however, after the water inflow from water resources improves, hydel power generation would also improve and this will result into decreasing duration of power outages.

Earlier the Water and Power Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf gave a detailed presentation on the availability of power, the specter of load shedding and the prevalent tariff.

The Water and Power Minister said the Special Committee constituted to review the increased power tariff had already decided to provide interim relief to the consumers and a sub committee had been set up to review the tariff structure.

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said there was a power deficit of over 4700 mega watt in the country which had necessitated long hours of load shedding.

The Minister also outlined the steps already undertaken to end load shedding by the end of next year.

According to this plan rental power plants at Faisalabad, Guddu, Sialkot, Multan and Quetta will generate 1000 megawatt power.

It also includes setting up of another four power plants run on LPG with a total capacity of 900 megawatt and these projects will be set up on fast track basis. Over 1200 megawatt of power will be generated by IPPs and another 72 megawatt from hydro sources, the Minister said. (Last updated at 2015)


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Eight Killed in Mardan Suicide Attack

MARDAN (Musarrat Aasi): At least eight people were killed and 25 other injured in a suicide attack on a high-rank police official here Friday, reported ARY OneWorld.

According to details, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the residence of DIG Mardan killing at least eight people on spot.

The deceased include four policemen and four other citizens as DIG Akhtar Ali Shah remained unhurt in the incident.

Twenty-five people including passersby were also injured in the attack and were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals.

Heavy contingents of police and other law enforcers arrived at the blast site and ceased the area for general public.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani have condemned the suicide attack on DIG Mardan.




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Yahoo, Google may walk away from search deal

SAN FRANCISCO, US: Google Inc and Yahoo Inc could announce a decision to walk away from their search deal by the middle of next week, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The two Internet companies have so far failed to reach an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice on implementing their search advertising partnership.

Earlier this month, the companies said they had decided to delay implementing the controversial deal, struck in June, due to ongoing discussions with regulators.

The deal, which allows Google to sell advertising for some of Yahoo's online advertising space, has drawn fierce criticism from advertisers, who fear higher prices.

Google and Yahoo together owned more than 80 percent of the web-search market in August, according to ComScore Inc.

Following a Thursday meeting with the Justice Department, the companies could decide to back away or announce a last-minute resolution -- if one is reached -- by next week, the Journal reported.

Yahoo spokesman Tracy Schmaler said discussions between the two companies are ongoing and they are working with regulators.

Google spokesman Adam Kovacevich said they continue to have "cooperative discussions" with the Justice Department.

Yahoo struck the search deal with Google as a way to fend off Microsoft Corp's unsolicited bid.

By collecting the revenue from placing Google ads alongside its search results, Yahoo's cash flow could grow by $250 million to $450 million in the first year of the deal, the companies had said in June.

The deal has since been mired in the regulatory process. In September, the Justice Department hired Sandy Litvack, its former antitrust chief and Walt Disney Co's former vice chairman, to consult on its probe of the search deal.

Separately, Yahoo is in advanced discussions with Time Warner Inc about buying the content and advertising operations of its AOL unit, sources have told Reuters.

Yahoo and AOL are presently conducting due diligence to see what a combined company would look like, one source said.

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Land mine blast injures 17 cops in Chhattisgarh

The incident took place on a state highway in Narayanpur district, some 250 km south of capital Raipur.

"It was a huge blast but fortunately it missed the target. The mine exploded 10 metres in front of the mini bus with 25 policemen on board," Inspector General of Police AN Upadhyay said.

"The blast created a huge crater on the road, and flying stones smashed window panes of the vehicle, injuring the policemen," the officer said.

The injured men were rushed to a hospital in Narayanpur town, 18 km from the attack site.


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Hangu: Tribal Chief killed in Attack

HANGU: A tribal notable was killed and his driver was injured in militants’ attack, reports said. The deputy chief of Alikhel clan who was travelling to attend a tribal jirga in Dabori was killed and his driver seriously injured in the militants’ attack. In retaliatory action of Lashkar two militants were also killed and one captured with suicide jacket. Malik Bahadar Khan, a spokesman of Alikhel clan, said that the deputy chief of Alikhel tribe Momin Khan was going to attend a tribal jirga at Dabori Markaz, which was being held to review the situation after transporters closed edible items supply to the area in result of threats from the militants. Momin Khan was killed in the attack of militants and his driver was wounded and has been transferred to local hospital for treatment, the spokesman added.



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Pairing With Hubby Dear Excites Aishwarya

Mumbai: Aishwarya Rai is excited about teaming up with hubby Abhishek Bachchan for Mani Ratnam's next film but reluctant to reveal much about the movie.

"It's a really exciting thought for me and Abhishek to be coming together again with Mani Ratnam. All I can say about the film is that it goes into a completely different theme from 'Guru'," Aishwarya, who turns 35 Saturday, told reporters.

"You can't expect Mani sir to go into the same space twice. Working with him is an exciting thought for any actor. The way he connects to his actors is very clear in the films that he makes. He creates magic on screen," she added.

Aishwarya considers "Guru", in which she paired with Abhishek, a very precious experience.

"It has been a very precious experience on every level, and not just on a personal level. I'd say it was professionally very fulfilling."

The last couple of months have been very hectic for the actress.

"I had joined Abhishek in Jaipur where he was shooting for 'Dilli 6'. Then I was with him in Miami for 'Dostana'. I also packed in Cannes and Paris. Life is beautiful. It really is. You know, life is as special as you make it for yourself. Of course, you can't live your life in a bubble. There're people who want to rain on your parade. It's up to you how you protect your space," said Aishwarya who just finished the first lap of the world tour 'Unfogettable'.

She is also doing Shankar's "Robot" and has teamed up with Tamil superstar Rajnikant in the movie. It got delayed because the film's writer passed away in February this year, thereby pushing the project back by some months.

"After Sujatha sir's sad demise, the project got delayed slightly. People chose this tragedy as an occasion to spread all kinds of rumours when the fact is death slowed down 'Robot'. But we're back on track, though now we need to work on a tighter schedule."

Explaining why the film needs extra planning, she said: "'Robot' has loads of special effects. And the film will be using a lot of crew from overseas. All this needed re-scheduling."

"Robot" wouldn't be the first FX driven film in Aishwarya's career.

"There was 'Dhoom 2'. And right at the start of my career I did 'Jeans'. And that too had very complicated special effects. And I had to do it in Tamil. So I learned a lot during 'Jeans', as I hope to do during 'Robot'."

Clearing another misconception about "Robot", she said: "People seem to think it's in Tamil and Hindi. But it's only in Tamil."

Tell her she's now equipped to direct a film, and Aishwarya laughs. "Everyone says that. I don't know, maybe one day."




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U.N. slams Suicide Raids in Breakaway Somali regions

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council on Thursday sharply condemned the wave of suicide attacks that killed at least 23 people in two breakaway Somali regions.

The 15-member council adopted a non-binding, British-drafted statement that "condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks" in the towns of Hargeysa and Bosasso Wednesday.

It stressed the need "to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice and urges all states to cooperate actively with the authorities of Somalia in this regard."

The council reaffirmed that "terrorism in all its forms and manifestation constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable."

Meanwhile, investigations were underway to identify the perpetrators of Wednesday's bombings, which drew international condemnation and came as regional leaders gathered in Nairobi in a bid to boost peace efforts in Somalia.

At least 20 people were killed in addition to the three bombers when three suicide car bombs struck Hargeysa, the capital of breakaway Somaliland.

The simultaneous attacks struck the presidential palace, the United Nations Development Program's compound -- which housed five other UN agencies -- and Ethiopia's diplomatic representation.

Residents said thousands of police and soldiers were patrolling the streets and setting up checkpoints.



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Hrithik Spending lavishly To make Barbara Mori feel comfortable!

Mumbai: Heartthrob Hrithik Roshan is making sure that Barbara Mori, his co-star in Anurag Basu's ‘Kites’, feels at home while shooting in India. Hrithik is reportedly planning to present her with a lavish vanity van as soon as she arrives in Mumbai to proceed with the shooting schedule.

Reports reveal that the special vanity van for Barbara will be lavishly done up with all modern amenities. Since this is the first time she will be working in the city, Hrithik has planned to make it a memorable experience. The cost of the van is estimated to be anywhere between Rs1.5 to 2 crore.

According to our source, the actor’s concern for the Mexican model-turned-actress is because he feels that she may not be able to take well to the work environment in Bollywood, and so wants her to feel very comfortable.

An industry insider said, "As she is new to Bollywood and its style of functioning, Hrithik wants to ensure that she has a pleasant experience here."

Well, with that, Hrithik seems to be very protective about Barbara. Wonder how wife Suzanne would react to hubby’s concern for the hottie!




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Suicide Attack in Mardan; 7 Killed

MARDAN (Musarrat Aasi): At least seven people were killed and eight other injured in a suicide attack on the residence of a high-rank police official here Friday, reported ARY OneWorld.

According to details, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the residence of DIG Mardan killing at least seven people on spot.

The deceased include two police guards and a driver of DIG Akhtar Ali Shah who remained unhurt in the incident.

Eight people including some passersby were also injured in the attack and were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals.

Heavy contingent of police and other law enforcers arrived at the blast site and cordoned off the area for general public.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the suicide attack on DIG Mardan.


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Rani Disguises As Sardar in YRF New Film

MUMBAI: There have been several rumors about Rani Mukherjee’s character in Yash Raj Films’s next directed by Anurag Singh. But the truth is finally out. You must have guessed by now that Rani disguises herself as a Sardar in the movie.

Rumour is that Rani plays the role of a cricket enthusiast, who is obsessed with the sport, so much so that she will go to any level to play it. This obsession pushes her to disguise herself as a man and enter in all male cricket squad.

Shahid Kapoor, who plays the male lead opposite Rani Mukherjee in the movie, also seems to be a part of the cricket team. However, no official confirmation about the movie’s storyline has come from YRF, hence, we will have to wait and watch how Rani makes her way in to the cricket team and how well she is at playing the sport.

Also, it will be interesting to see the chemistry between Rani and Shahid on screen since the camaraderie between the two looks marvelous in the above picture.



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China Plans Ethnic tour for Dalai Lama Envoys

Beijing: China plans to take the Dalai Lama's envoys to visit a non-Tibetan minority, a source said on Friday, as they try to persuade their wary visitors that Beijing is sincere about talks on the Himalayan region's future.

Meanwhile, the United States called on China to review its policies that it said had raised tensions in Tibet.

The United States "encourage China to examine policies that have created tensions due to their effect on Tibetan culture, religion and livelihoods," State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said.

The envoys arrived in Beijing on Thursday for fence-mending talks days after the Dalai Lama, currently visiting neighbouring Japan, expressed dismay at China's attitude.

The rare trip out of the capital would be a chance for officials to showcase ethnic relations less fraught than those of Tibet, which erupted into deadly anti-Chinese riots in March.

But it is also a risky gamble because there are few areas of the country where minorities are entirely content, and most major ethnic groups have vocal advocates abroad who would be keen to undermine any picture of harmony presented by the government.

The latest round of talks is the first since Beijing hosted the Olympics in August, and comes amid growing concern about the Dalai Lama's health and the diminishing possibility of a meaningful settlement.

Tibetan exiles are frustrated with the lack of progress in talks with China and the Dalai Lama said by e-mail last week that Beijing seemed to be making little effort to engage.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, revered by Buddhists in Tibet and elsewhere, has said he wants a high level of autonomy for Tibet, but not outright independence, while China considers him a trouble-making separatist. The Dalai Lama fled into exile in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule.

But a source familiar with the negotiations said the Chinese government has insisted it is sincere and there is room for progress in these meetings.

The trip out of the capital could be an effort to break an apparent deadlock and build trust.

"The delegation will be taken to a province populated by a non-Tibetan ethnic minority," said a source with knowledge of the talks who declined to say which area or discuss the reason for the visit.

Inner Mongolia would be a likely destination because it shares a common religious heritage with Tibetans, which is linked to Chinese claims Lhasa has been under its rule for centuries.

However, Tibetans worried about becoming a minority in their own land as waves of Han Chinese migrants flood in on a recently built railway may find cause for concern in Inner Mongolia's population data -- only around a fifth are Mongolian.




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Govt. Rresolutely Pursuing Tasleem Solangi Case: Sherry

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Women Development Sherry Rehman has said that the government is resolutely pursuing Tasleem Solangi case, and those involved in the murder of the 17-year-old would be brought to book.

“The Federal Government took immediate action when the case was reported early this week. The President and the Prime Minister have personally intervened in the matter and have directed the authorities to initiate an investigation into the case,” said the Women Development Minister while talking to the media here on Thursday.

Sherry Rehman said that the Federal Government has directed the Inspector General Police Sindh to reinvestigate the matter.

“A high level committee has been constituted by the IGP Sindh for the investigation into the matter. The three-member Committee includes DIG, SSP and SP Sukkur. We want a thorough probe by a team of professionals. The Committee has been assigned the dual task of investigation as well as to probe any cover-up and involvement of any influential individuals or groups.”




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Two Charged in latest Obama Effigy incident

Lexington: Two men faced criminal charges for hanging an effigy of Barack Obama from a tree with a noose, the latest in a string of racially-tinged incidents targeting the man who hopes to be the first black president.

The effigy hung at the University of Kentucky on Wednesday was seen as particularly offensive because it was reminiscent of the lynching that once took place in the former slave state.

Its discovery prompted strong rebukes from the Kentucky Governor and University president, an apology letter sent to Obama by the Lexington Mayor on behalf of the city's residents, and a campus forum.

The two men who turned themselves in to campus police said the effigy was hung in response to the highly publicised effigy of Republican vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin hung from the roof of a California home.

Four students at a small Christian college confessed to hanging an Obama effigy from a tree in Oregon last month, while homeowners in Indiana, Ohio and California have also used Obama effigies as Halloween decorations.

Meanwhile, two white supremacists remained jailed in nearby Tennessee for threatening to kill Obama during a "killing spree" of more than 100 African-Americans.

And in late August, the alarm was also raised when it was revealed three men were arrested with a weapons cache in Denver, Colorado, where the Democratic party convention was being held. US attorneys later said there had been no credible threat against Obama.

Obama said on Monday that he was not worried about the threats to his life, saying that hate groups have been marginalised by his candidacy.





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A more Dangerous World

Some of Barack Obama's advisers have talked publicly of keeping on Robert Gates as secretary of defense in a Democratic administration.

Gates, who has been widely praised for his pragmatic stewardship of the Pentagon, says firmly he wants to go home to Washington state. But he agreed to talk to NEWSWEEK's John Barry about the national-security challenges he sees ahead. Excerpts:

Barry: So, what awaits the next president?

Gates: I entered the CIA 42 years ago, and I think that the world is as complex and in a real way more dangerous than at any time since then.

More dangerous than the cold war?

In the cold war, you had the cosmic risk of nuclear war with the Soviet Union. But the truth is that, other than the Cuban missile crisis and maybe one or two other occasions that threat was really theoretical. The missiles were real, but both powers had learned to deal with each other. We had rules of the road even between the KGB and CIA. And so there was a fair amount of predictability; we kind of observed red lines.

And now there are no red lines?

Look around. Iran. North Korea. A Russia that people have a hard time figuring out what to make of. The Chinese are not so much a security challenge, but they clearly have some very significant military modernization programs underway that are worrisome. North Korea: what's going to happen now? The entirety of Central Asia, where you have pressures on them from Russia to toe the line, and their wanting to maintain some sense of independence — but how much? Again, nobody knows where that line is … The problems that Pakistan faces. So you've got all of these. You've got the whole Israeli-Palestinian-Syrian challenge. In our own hemisphere, Venezuela. And then, of course, there is Al Qaeda and a variety of violent extremists that are still very much out there. That's a pretty long list of challenges that the new guys need to be prepared to deal with from day one.

But a more dangerous world?

The reason I said it was a more dangerous world ... is that the consequences of conflict, or an attack, are not nearly as cataclysmic as had there been a conflict with the Soviet Union. But the risks of one are far greater.

And, of course, the next president will inherit two wars …

We are engaged in two very difficult wars. One of them, [Iraq], seems on the way toward a positive outcome — particularly given where we were. But the other is going to be a slog, and it's more complicated because we have many more nations involved — not just on the military side, on the civilian side, too. So … managing that is much more difficult in Afghanistan.

You took over from Donald Rumsfeld …

One of the things that annoys me is that everyone is always trying to contrast everything I do with everything Secretary Rumsfeld did. But the transformation that he started has totally changed the American military, and, I believe, for the better.

I was going to ask what you found that surprised you?

If there's one big surprise I've had since taking this job, I haven't found a single country that didn't want a stronger, better relationship with the United States and that did not think the U.S. was still the key player. I've probably traveled to 50 countries now. Not one—Indonesia, India, China, Russia, the Middle East. Places where I kind of expected to get beat up, places where, when I traveled when I was DCI [director of Central Intelligence], in some ways there was a more negative attitude toward the United States then than now. For all of the criticisms, all of the mistakes that we've made, we're just kind of there. To a considerable extent we are still the only multidimensional superpower—political, military, economic, cultural. I mean, American culture? Even those who hate us the most wear American college sweatshirts and want to go to American colleges and universities.

So you don't see the damage to America's prestige in the world from Abu Ghraib, Guant á namo and so on as permanent?

One of great strengths of America is that, maybe more than any other country, we have the ability to correct course when we go too far in one direction.

Are we locked on a collision course with Iran?

I have not by any means given up on the possibility that the Iranians can be pressured into arrangements that salve their national pride but provide a verifiable way of demonstrating that they don't have a nuclear-weapons capability and are not building one. I mean, that's got to be the objective. Whether it's an enrichment bank in Russia that they rent [uranium] from—whatever. I think the international community, including the United States—if Iran were willing to forswear nuclear weapons—would probably be pretty forthcoming in trying to figure out an arrangement that would let them do what they say they want to do, which is to have a civil nuclear program.

And if they do insist on pursuing a nuclear-weapons program?

One of the many concerns about Iran getting nuclear weapons or having a nuclear-weapons capability is that some of their neighbors may decide they just can't stand it. I think that North Korea and Iran are particular problems—beyond the immediate military danger their having nuclear weapons may pose—in the incentive they provide for others to go ahead and develop their own nuclear weapons. And the credibility of our deterrent is really going to be put to the test, it seems to me, if we can't do something about both of those programs.



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